In the last 16 years, the number of firms owned by minorities and women has grown, but they still lag behind all firms in terms of revenue and employment, according to a report commissioned by American Express OPEN.

2. Home Builders Groups Form West Tennessee Association - Saturday, June 15, 2013

The Memphis Area Home Builders Association is joining with two West Tennessee associations to form the new West Tennessee Home Builders Association.

The Jackson Area HBA, the Dyersburg Area HBA and the Memphis Area HBA are combining to form the new group.

3. Home Builders Groups Form West Tennessee Association - Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Memphis Area Home Builders Association is joining with two West Tennessee associations to form the new West Tennessee Home Builders Association.

The Jackson Area HBA, the Dyersburg Area HBA and the Memphis Area HBA are combining to form the new group.

4. Three Memphis Startups Chosen for Conference - Saturday, June 08, 2013

Three startups from Memphis will have a presence at Southland, Launch Tennessee’s new conference highlighting Southern culture and technology that will be held in Nashville June 12-13.

The three are Kufikia, Screwpulp and Everly. Screwpulp is a book publishing startup, while Everly makes drink flavor packets and Kufikia is a code school for programmers.

5. New EmergeMemphis Head Brings Big Ambitions - Wednesday, June 05, 2013

On his first day as the new president and CEO of EmergeMemphis, Carlton Crothers talked about a grand vision of “creating an innovation ecosystem” in Memphis.

Crothers is the new head of an organization formed in 2001 that serves as an incubator for high-growth companies. He comes to Emerge from Innovation Ecosystem Design in Dallas, with a long career of entrepreneurship-related endeavors behind him.

6. Three Memphis Startups Chosen for Conference - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Three startups from Memphis will have a presence at Southland, Launch Tennessee’s new conference highlighting Southern culture and technology that will be held in Nashville June 12-13.

The three are Kufikia, Screwpulp and Everly. Screwpulp is a book publishing startup, while Everly makes drink flavor packets and Kufikia is a code school for programmers.

7. EmergeMemphis Taps new President and CEO - Monday, June 03, 2013

EmergeMemphis has new leadership at the top.

The tech company incubator has chosen Carlton Crothers, previously with Innovation Ecosystem Design in Dallas, as its new president and CEO.

Former Pinnacle Airlines CEO Phil Trenary led the search to fill the role previously held by Eric Mathews, who recently left the post to focus on his leadership of the entity now known as Start Co. To fill the spot at EmergeMemphis, a search was conducted that included local and national candidates with the help of the National Business Incubation Association.

8. More Charges May Come in Case Involving Haslams - Friday, May 31, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sudden guilty pleas by a pair of mid-level executives show the investigation into the truck stop chain controlled by the family of Tennessee's governor and the Cleveland Browns' owner is picking up steam, with prosecutors likely setting their sights on higher-ups at the company, experts say.

9. House Backs Variable Rate Student Loans - Friday, May 24, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Dismissing a veto threat from President Barack Obama, lawmakers in the Republican-led House approved legislation that links student loan rates to the ups and downs of the financial markets.

10. Ousted IRS Chief Regrets Treatment of Tea Party - Monday, May 20, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service apologized to Congress on Friday for his agency's tougher treatment of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. He said they resulted from a misguided effort to handle a flood of applications, not political bias.

11. IRS Apologizes for Targeting Tea Party Groups - Monday, May 13, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Internal Revenue Service apologized Friday for what it acknowledged was "inappropriate" targeting of conservative political groups during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.

12. Pair of Health Groups Team Up for Happy Hour - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Healthy Habits is partnering with Get Fresh Memphis to host a “healthy happy hour” at 732 E. Brookhaven Circle later this month.

13. Pair of Health Groups Team Up for Happy Hour - Friday, May 10, 2013

Healthy Habits is partnering with Get Fresh Memphis to host a “healthy happy hour” at 732 E. Brookhaven Circle later this month.

14. Grizz Buzz - Friday, May 10, 2013

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. “You need to do next week’s column on the Grizz,” the email from a regular reader opened.

“There is no better or more appropriate time than now when the whole city is watching. You can contest the Simers article in the LA paper about Memphis being a ‘rathole’ where they should be ‘handing out bullet-proof vests instead of growl towels’ and focus on how the team represents the diverse, working class mentality of our city. Also, new ownership, including local minority group with Justin Timberlake, Ashley Manning, etc. Memphians are soaking up the Grizz like a sponge right now. You should join in. Just a thought.”

15. Go Ahead, Make Someone’s Day - Monday, May 06, 2013

Many years ago when I began my career with a national CPA firm I was quickly bombarded with information related to numerous firm policies and procedures. I was told about everything including when to show up for work and which color pencil to use. I’m not kidding about the pencil choosing policy.

16. Consider Norwegian Approach - Thursday, May 02, 2013

Ray’s Take Modern Portfolio Theory argues it’s essential to determine the right mix of investments for your portfolio so your level of risk tolerance is balanced with opportunities gained. A portfolio of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds has long been considered a standard.

17. FedEx Wins $10.5 Billion Contract With USPS - Thursday, April 25, 2013

FedEx Corp. said Tuesday, April 23, it won a $10.5 billion contract to carry mail between domestic airports for the U.S. Postal Service.

18. Severance Pay Ups Ante in Auto Inspections Stand-Off - Monday, April 22, 2013

Some on the Memphis City Council weren’t certain Tuesday, April 16, about going ahead with a severance package for the city employees who now work at city-run auto inspection stations.

The council entered the budget season for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 just minutes earlier with Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s budget address.

19. UPS Appeals Decision Against TNT Deal - Saturday, April 13, 2013

United Parcel Service Inc. is appealing a European regulator’s ruling that blocked UPS’ attempted purchase of Dutch delivery company TNT Express.

20. UPS Appeals Decision Against TNT Deal - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

United Parcel Service Inc. is appealing a European regulator’s ruling that blocked UPS’ attempted purchase of Dutch delivery company TNT Express.

21. Council Ups Ante in Auto Inspections Standoff - Thursday, April 04, 2013

City funding of auto emissions inspections is still due to run out on June 30, the end of the current fiscal year at City Hall.

And Memphis City Council members are considering several options, including simply ending the inspections. The possible move comes after Shelby County government leaders announced last month the state has told them the state won’t assume responsibility for the auto inspections for at least a year, probably two. Until then, the auto inspections would apply only to Memphis vehicle owners and not those across the entire county.

22. Sammons Outlines Airport Strategic Plan - Thursday, April 04, 2013

The chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board got a view of just how devastating passenger air service cuts by Delta Air Lines have been to the airport this past Easter as his Delta flight landed in Memphis.

23. UPS Pays $40 Million to End Online Pharmacies Probe - Monday, April 01, 2013

Shipping company UPS has agreed to pay $40 million to end a federal criminal probe connected to its work for online pharmacies.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that the Atlanta-based company would also “take steps” to block illicit online drug dealers from using their delivery service. The DOJ says the amount is the money UPS collected from suspect online pharmacies.

24. Companies Need to Think Like Venture Capitalists - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Last week we discussed the concept of the intrapreneur and our conviction that companies must add the pressures of failure and constrained resources to get ingenuity. Real entrepreneurs have vision, resilience and fortitude. Their natural drive, focus on survival and ability to pivot with the market is what generates market winners. It is the natural selection process at work. This is why VCs think the team is most critical, and companies looking to innovate should too.

25. Purifoy’s Police Aspirations Evolve Into Legal Career - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Shayla Purifoy majored in urban studies – a mixture of history, political science and sociology – at Rhodes College. Her senior seminar was on community policing.

“It was so much fun, it was so exciting,” she said about her time spent shadowing police officers on the job. “They were helping people and they really were impacting that area, which was the Madison Heights area.”

26. Tennessee Groups Promoting Trafficking Victim Hot Line - Monday, March 11, 2013

Human trafficking is happening in Tennessee, but the problem has gone largely unrecognized until recently, a group that includes former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said at a news conference Thursday.

27. Donor Recognition - Thursday, February 28, 2013

For more than 50 years, Lifeblood has served an invaluable function to the local community by working with hospitals to meet the constant demand for clean units of blood to be used for traumas and other surgeries.

28. Application Period Now Open for ZeroTo510 - Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The application period is now open for ZeroTo510, a local accelerator program in Memphis designed to help start-ups bring medical device products and services to market.

Applicants have until March 25 to line up for the program, which begins May 11 and for which six companies will be chosen to participate. The six that are selected will go through an intense, mentor-driven 12-week program with instruction and hands-on activities designed to shape their ideas and hone their entrepreneurial skills.

29. Environmental Groups Announce TVA Pollution Suit - Thursday, February 14, 2013

TUSCUMBIA, Ala. (AP) – A coalition of environmental groups has announced plans to sue the Tennessee Valley Authority over violations of the clean water act.

The Southern Environmental Law Center says the Colbert Fossil Plant in Tuscumbia has been illegally discharging pollutants into the Cane Creek – a Tennessee River tributary – and has been polluting groundwater as well.

30. Still Knee High - Thursday, February 14, 2013

Few columns have drawn as much feedback as the one I wrote in May 2011 about the PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection I had in my left knee – the knee that was on the list for replacement.

In that column, among other things, I wrote that at coimed.org, you could learn that PRP therapy is a non-surgical treatment used to treat sprains, cartilage tears, tendonitis and osteoarthritis. The injection of this concentrated mixture of one’s own blood “has been shown to relieve acute and chronic pain and accelerate healing of injured tissues and joints.”

31. Lighting the Spark - Saturday, February 09, 2013

Somewhere, there’s an entrepreneur scribbling an idea on little more than the back of a napkin. Someone else has all the pieces of a new company in place, and now they’re ready to dial for dollars. Entrepreneurs are a talented bunch, but that talent doesn’t always include a knack for management or finance – skill sets that plenty of experts in Memphis stand ready to help explain.

32. Rix Discovers Everyone’s Perfect Chocolate Flavor - Friday, February 08, 2013

“What does your business taste like?” That’s one of the first questions Chef Phillip Ashley Rix asks when company leaders commission his signature chocolates to represent their brands. It’s an unusual way to start a business conversation, and it usually jolts people into thinking outside the box, he says.

33. Economic Development Through Entrepreneurism - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Last week we visited downtown Las Vegas to tour and learn more about what Zappos founder Tony Hsieh is doing to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and urban revitalization through his Downtown Project initiative. Hsieh is personally investing $350 million to transform downtown Las Vegas into the most community-focused large city in the world in less than five years.

34. UPS Quarterly Results, 2013 Outlook Miss Estimates - Saturday, February 02, 2013

United Parcel Service Inc. says weak global trade and a disappointing holiday-shopping season slowed it down in the fourth quarter.

35. Filling the Voids - Saturday, February 02, 2013

Last year was a banner year for adaptive reuse projects in Midtown and Downtown.

Developers announced plans for the Sears Crosstown building, Overton Square, Hotel Chisca, James Lee House and old United Warehouse in the South Main Historic Arts District. Construction began on The Pyramid, turning it into a 220,000-square-foot mega-Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World, and Memphis in May moved into its new headquarters at 56 S. Front St., a 14,600-square-foot building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

36. UPS Quarterly Results, 2013 Outlook Miss Estimates - Friday, February 01, 2013

United Parcel Service Inc. says weak global trade and a disappointing holiday-shopping season slowed it down in the fourth quarter.

37. It’s Personal - Friday, February 01, 2013

IT’S NOT BUSINESS ANYMORE. IT’S PERSONAL. This is our town, and you’re not welcome here.

So pack a plane with all your meaningless spin, all your lackeys and suck-ups, all your apologists, all your legal but unethical tactics, all your eye popping price gouging, all your cold and calculated manipulation of lives, your own employees’ lives, and a city’s pride and get the hell out. There’s so much of all of that in the massive fuel dump you just dropped on Memphis that I’m sure it’ll take more than one plane to haul it all off and we may never be rid of the stench it’s leaving behind.

38. Ravens’ Cox Long Snaps Way Into Anonymity - Friday, February 01, 2013

There’s more than one way to reach the big game.

For Briarcrest Christian School graduate Michael Oher, his journey was storybook and he’ll start on the offensive line for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Feb. 3, when they play the San Francisco 49ers at the Superdome in New Orleans.

39. UPS Scraps $6.9 Billion TNT Buyout - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

United Parcel Service Inc. has scrapped plans to grow in Europe through the acquisition of Dutch delivery company TNT Express because European regulators were getting ready to reject the $6.9 billion deal.

40. UPS Abandons $6.9 Billion Takeover for TNT Express - Monday, January 14, 2013

AMSTERDAM (AP) – Shares in package delivery company TNT Express NV lost almost half their value Monday after that United Parcel Service Inc. had decided to ditch its €5.2 billion ($6.9 billion) takeover of the struggling Dutch company, citing objections from European regulators.

41. Fitzpatrick Lends Hand to Nonprofits, Startups - Friday, January 11, 2013

When Brittany Fitzpatrick first came to Memphis a few years ago for graduate studies at the University of Memphis, journalism professor Dr. David Arant welcomed her to the city with three words.

42. A Fitting Place Keeps Women in Proper Form - Monday, January 07, 2013

The realm of the professional bra fitter is a delicate one.

In this landscape of lace, silk, tiny hooks and feminine lingo, you could find yourself dancing around unintentional puns like landmines. During a professional conversation (or a business publication interview), phrases like “supportive work environment,” “boost in sales” and “uplifting outlook” become a little awkward.

43. Horseback Rides With Weddings - Friday, December 28, 2012

BRIDAL PATHS When I was little, I was pretty sure you went to cool weddings by horseback. After all, Roy and Dale were married, and they sang “Happy Trails To Us” from the back of a horse every week. Mom and Dad were married, and they spent the first year of their marriage in Arizona riding horses and doing cool-sounding things like punching cattle, shooting rattlesnakes and smoking Old Golds.

44. Starbucks Cups to Come With a Political Message - Thursday, December 27, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Starbucks is using its coffee cups to jump into the political fray in Washington.

The world's biggest coffee chain is asking employees at cafes in the Washington, D.C., area to scribble the words "Come Together" on cups for drink orders on Thursday and Friday. CEO Howard Schultz says the words are intended as a message to lawmakers about the damage being caused by the divisive negotiations over the "fiscal cliff."

45. Christmas Magic - Monday, December 24, 2012

For Rick Jamison of Cordova, the transformation from corporate IT director to Santa Claus began with a hat.

46. Groups: $12 Million Mystery Donation was Crime - Friday, December 21, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Two election watchdog organizations on Thursday urged the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission to investigate more than $12 million in campaign contributions that were mysteriously funneled through two little-known companies in Tennessee to a prominent tea party group. The origin of the money, the largest anonymous political donations in a campaign year filled with them, remains a secret.

47. Timely Delivery - Saturday, December 08, 2012

On Dec. 10 FedEx Corp. is expected to have its busiest day in the 40-year history of the global shipping company.

Each year, the corporation plots out the day when shipments across its portfolio of services are expected to reach their peak for the year, which always occurs during the holiday shopping season.

48. Citibank Cuts FedEx Earnings Estimates - Tuesday, December 04, 2012

The string may have run out in the air cargo market, Citibank said Monday, which cut its FedEx Corp. earnings estimates for this year and next.

49. UPS Offers Regulators Concessions on TNT Bid - Monday, December 03, 2012

United Parcel Service Inc. says it has offered the European Union’s regulatory watchdog some concessions in its proposed €5.16 million ($6.8 billion) takeover of TNT Express NV.

50. Fire Suppression Systems Urged in All Cargo Planes - Thursday, November 29, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The government should require fire suppression systems in all cargo containers or compartments of planes to prevent the kind of ferocious in-flight blazes that have killed four cargo pilots over the past six years, federal accident investigators said Wednesday.

51. Lawsuit: FedEx Fires Driver Over Russian Accent - Thursday, November 29, 2012

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A Utah truck driver alleges FedEx fired him because of his Russian accent, even though he offered to appear before corporate higher–ups to demonstrate his English–speaking abilities.

52. Garage Demolition First Step for Downtown Project - Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Downtown parking garage attached to the 147 Jefferson Ave. building is being demolished, the first of many steps the property owner is taking to redevelop its adjacent 12-story masonry office building for a proposed mixed-use facility.

53. Securities and Exchange Official Elisse Walter Chosen to Lead Agency - Tuesday, November 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama has chosen Elisse Walter, one of five members of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to head the agency. Chairman Mary Schapiro will leave next month after a tumultuous tenure in which she helped lead the government's regulatory response to the financial crisis.

54. Madison Automotive Wants to Brighten Holidays for Car Owners - Monday, November 26, 2012

Cars are indispensable necessities for many Memphians who don’t live close to their jobs. When they break down, the repairs often are costly and can force some tough choices to be made.

Many drivers are delaying those repairs. That’s according to Memphis-based AutoZone Inc., which says the average car on the road today is a little past the decade mark.

55. FedEx, UPS Investigated for Online Drug Shipments - Monday, November 19, 2012

The nation’s two largest shipping companies said they are targets of a criminal probe related to their dealings with online pharmacies at the center of an international crackdown on prescription drug abuse.

56. Countywide Board to Consider Closing 21 Schools - Monday, November 19, 2012

When countywide school board members finish their work session Tuesday, Nov. 20, the real work will begin.

That’s when the school board will get back to the work of acting on schools merger recommendations from the consolidation planning commission.

57. School Board Delays School Closing Decision, Green Lights Other Merger Moves - Friday, November 16, 2012

Countywide school board members didn’t get to a decision Thursday, Nov. 15, on the schools merger recommendation to close 20 schools in Memphis.

But at a special meeting Thursday evening, they approved a group of 29 other recommendations from the consolidation planning commission on a variety of schools operations fronts.

58. UPS Expects to Deliver 527 Million Holiday Packages - Tuesday, October 30, 2012

UPS expects to deliver 527 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, surpassing last year’s record high by 10 percent.

The world’s largest package delivery company estimates 28 million of those will be delivered on Thursday, Dec. 20 – projected to be the busiest day of the year. That’s nearly double what the Atlanta company moves on an average day.

59. Connecting Tenants With Space Keeps Acker Robison Thriving - Monday, October 29, 2012

For 11 years now, Acker Robison Realty has been helping businesses around the Memphis area with their commercial real estate needs.

The boutique firm, founded by Michael Robison in 2001, handles the full gamut of commercial brokerage services, representing landlords and tenants, purchasers and sellers in the office, industrial and retail sectors.

60. Cohen, Flinn Sparring Heats Up as Election Nears - Monday, October 29, 2012

It’s been an election year in Shelby County dominated by something other than candidates in a local political arena where personality and name recognition usually go far.

There have been significant problems with the accuracy of the vote count, presidential campaigns only momentarily interested in the local Republican and Democratic bases and the politics of tax increases and municipal school districts.

61. UPS Says Consumers Driving Shipping Growth - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — UPS says online shoppers are propping up its business in a tough global economy.

The world's largest package delivery company believes that consumer demand for gadgets will drive its shipments and earnings this year, making up for slower trade between businesses.

62. Weak Earnings Reports Pummel Stocks - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — Nobody was expecting this round of corporate earnings reports to be great. But companies' underwhelming results are still rattling investors.

Stocks plunged Tuesday in one of the worst days on Wall Street this year. Big-name companies reported weak quarterly revenue and lowered their forecasts for the rest of the year.

63. Seeking Foundation Grants the Right Way - Friday, October 19, 2012

Part one of a three-part series on proposal writing. If there is a mythical “pot-of-gold” in the nonprofit world it is the foundation grant. Many start-ups – as well as established nonprofits – look to grants from foundations as a cure-all; the answer to all fundraising problems. You can spot this tendency when you hear phrases such as “Bill Gates has a foundation, let’s submit a proposal.”

64. Take Another Look at Officials’ Split-Second Calls - Friday, October 19, 2012

Hindsight, especially from press row or your seat in the 17th row of the upper bowl at FedExForum is a wonderful thing. After all, with the benefit of a gigantic video board and replay, we can see when the official got the call wrong and we got the call right.

65. Six Groups Back Countywide Sales Tax Hike - Friday, October 12, 2012

A coalition of six political and nonprofit groups has come out in support of the countywide sales tax increase on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The groups who announced their support are the Shelby County Democratic Party, Stand for Children, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Latino Memphis, Our Kids Our Future, and Fight Crime, Invest in Kids.

66. Wal-Mart Tests Same-Day Delivery for Holidays - Wednesday, October 10, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart is testing a same-day delivery service in select markets for customers who buy popular items online during the holiday shopping season.

The move comes as the world's largest retailer faces increasing competition from online giants like Amazon.com., which is testing same-day delivery service in 10 markets. The Bentonville, Ark.-based discounter is trying to cater to Web-savvy shoppers who are demanding more convenience.

67. CEO of UPS Takeover Target Resigns - Tuesday, September 25, 2012

AMSTERDAM (AP) – Dutch express package delivery company TNT Express NV says its chief executive has resigned.

TNT is in the process of being acquired by United Parcel Service Inc. for $6.77 billion, pending negotiations with European regulators. TNT is Europe's second largest delivery company behind DHL.

68. Midtown Utopia - Monday, September 24, 2012

Of Memphis’ tales of humble beginnings, of which there are many, the fluctuating renaissance of the Cooper-Young neighborhood is certainly compelling throughout.

The area has cycled from its 19th century roots to 1970s crime and neglect to its present-day status as one of the largest historic districts in the Southeast, a magnet of all ages and walks of life. All thanks to individuals and organizations that wouldn’t settle for sub-par quality in their tiny town within the bustling Bluff City.

69. Local Entrepreneurs Will Soon Have ‘Urban Workspace’ - Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A shared open work space, modeled after incubators in Los Angeles and New York City, is on the brink of being launched in Downtown Memphis.

Urban Workspace Powered by Cricket Wireless, located in the City House Memphis Condos at 6 W. G.E. Patterson Ave., will provide an affordable, shared working environment for freelancers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups eager to collaborate and share resources. The co-working facility opens Oct. 1.

70. Mayors of Mississippi River Towns Seek Solutions - Friday, September 14, 2012

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Mayors from more than three dozen communities along the Mississippi River are coming together in hopes of drawing attention – specifically that of federal lawmakers – to the challenges they face on the banks of the nation's largest waterway.

71. UPS, TNT Delay Close of Deal Until 2013 - Thursday, September 06, 2012

United Parcel Service is pushing back the close of its $6.77 billion acquisition of Dutch delivery company TNT Express because of an extended regulatory investigation.

It now expects the deal, first announced in March, to close early next year. As of two weeks ago, it expected the deal to close before the end of this year.

72. Pickups Drive US Auto Sales in August - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – Strong pickup demand fueled a big jump in U.S. auto sales last month.

GM's August U.S. sales rose 10 percent compared with a year earlier, while Ford's rose 13 percent and Chrysler's 14 percent.

73. First Co-Working Space Launched in Memphis - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Innovative Solutions Group, a community based organization that provides educational and workforce development training opportunities, has partnered with Cricket Communications Inc., a value-driven wireless services provider, to launch the first co-working facility in Memphis.

74. Women Groups to Elevate Business at Seminar - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Three years ago, three national women’s organizations began to gather in Memphis with a vision of preparing and excelling women in business.

The third annual “When Great Women Gather” event will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. It is being co-hosted by Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and the Women Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC South).

75. Groups Ask Arkansas Court to Strike Marijuana Measure - Monday, September 03, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A coalition of conservative groups asked the Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday to strike a medical marijuana proposal from the November ballot, accusing the measure's backers of not informing voters that if approved, medical marijuana users could still face prosecution under federal law.

76. UPS Extends Offer Period for TNT - Thursday, August 23, 2012

United Parcel Service Inc. is extending the offer period for its $6.77 billion acquisition of Dutch delivery company TNT Express.

77. Government Turns Heat on Employers Over Job Bias - Friday, August 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – It started with allegations of hangman's nooses, graffiti and racist comments targeting a handful of black workers at a trucking company warehouse in Chicago Ridge, Ill.

78. Judge Fowlkes Begins Federal Tenure - Thursday, August 16, 2012

U.S. District Court Judge John Fowlkes has been on the bench since taking the oath Aug. 2 from fellow Memphis federal Judge Hardy Mays and began hearing matters on Aug. 6.

79. Earnings Growth Leads to Big Payout for FedEx CEO - Tuesday, August 14, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – The founder and top executive at FedEx Corp. received a pay package worth $13.7 million in the most recent fiscal year, nearly double a year earlier.

80. FedEx to Begin Voluntary Buyouts - Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. is preparing for a voluntary employee buyout that will likely target workers in the company’s Express and Service units.

81. FedEx to Begin Voluntary Buyouts - Monday, August 13, 2012

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. is preparing for a voluntary employee buyout that will likely target workers in the company’s Express and Service units.

82. Finding Inspiration In an Ad - Friday, August 10, 2012

ADVERTISING. YOU GOTTA LOVE IT. From time to time, I’ve been invited to lecture on advertising, copywriting and the creative process in college classrooms – as opposed to the uninvited lectures I’ve given in all kinds of rooms. I tell students that advertising is a terrible business made up of itty-bitty margins, great big egos, volcanic eruptions and Richter 8 earthquakes – and those are just the staff meetings. I tell them it’s a constant emotional roller coaster of soaring ups and crushing downs, of inspired thought and amazing idiocy – and that’s all before lunch.

83. Postal Service Reports $5.2B Loss in 3rd Quarter - Friday, August 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The nearly bankrupt U.S. Postal Service on Thursday reported losses of $57 million per day in the last quarter and warned it will miss another payment due to the U.S. Treasury, just one week after its first-ever default on a payment for future retiree health benefits.

84. Lemmonds Keeps Startups On Track at LaunchYourCity - Friday, August 03, 2012

Entrepreneurship is as much about storytelling as it is product creation and company-building. The latest widgets, the hottest startups, the most game-changing ideas – they don’t sell themselves.

85. Shakeup Could Impact Wright’s Q2 - Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Wright Medical Group Inc. over the last two years has seen its fair share of restructuring, and some analysts anticipate that realignment, coupled with sales dislocations and customer losses, will likely result in some short-term pain surrounding the company’s Q2 reported earnings.

86. UPS: Global Financial Situation Getting Worse - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – UPS expects the global economy to get worse before it gets better. Again.

The world’s largest package delivery company is more pessimistic about U.S. growth than many economists. It predicts global trade will grow even slower than the world’s economies — a trend not seen since the recession. It’s making cuts in its business and reducing its earnings projections.

87. Earnings Preview: UPS Reporting Q2 Results - Monday, July 23, 2012

United Parcel Service Inc. is expected to report slightly higher second-quarter results Tuesday as strengthening demand for domestic packages and higher prices offset increasing uncertainty and slowing growth overseas.

88. Criminal Probe led Gov't to Change Release of Data - Wednesday, July 11, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal criminal and civil investigators looked into possible leaks of economic data that the government provides early to news organizations, according to a report released Tuesday by the Labor Department.

89. New Law Gives US Companies a Break on Pensions - Tuesday, July 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A new law will let companies contribute billions of dollars less to their workers' pension funds, raising concerns about weakening the plans that millions of Americans count on for retirement.

90. Call 52-CLEAN To Keep Memphis Green - Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Last week we shared opportunities to enjoy the weekend while easily and affordably giving back to our community. This week let us spotlight a Memphis City Beautiful program that is empowering citizens to become more proactive in keeping our streets clean and curbing litter: 52-CLEAN.

91. Gill Presses on Despite Enduring 4th Recession - Monday, June 11, 2012

Ray Gill, president of Gill Properties, got into commercial real estate because of his interest in land but now wishes he’d spent some time reading palms and tarot cards.

92. Tina Fey’s ‘Bossy Pants’ Rocks - Thursday, June 07, 2012

After reading the 2009 novel that I dissed a bit last week, I read Tina Fey’s 2011 autobiographical “Bossy Pants.” Superb, stellar, well-written. Educational, insightful, witty and fun! What more could I ask?

93. Homes Sales Continue Upswing - Thursday, June 07, 2012

Shelby County home sales increased 25 percent in May compared to last year, as the historically busiest buying season kicked into full swing.

The Memphis area and its 34 ZIP codes registered 1,383 home sales last month compared to 1,109 recorded in May 2011, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, www.chandlerreports.com.

94. FAA to Reopen Fatigue Rules for Cargo Pilots - Monday, May 21, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration will revisit a decision to exempt cargo airlines from new rules to prevent pilot fatigue, saying it made "errors" in cost calculations used to justify the exemption.

95. Pickering Projects Show Activity on Upswing - Friday, May 18, 2012

If an uptick in engineering services is an economic indicator of recovery and stability, Memphis is progressing fairly well.

That’s the message Bob Pitts, principal at Pickering Firm Inc., shared to the Appraisal Institute of Memphis Wednesday, May 16, at Chickasaw Country Club. Pickering employs 150 engineers, scientists, architects and surveyors across six offices from its Memphis headquarters to the Gulf Coast.

96. Ritz: Districts Will See Cost Run-Ups - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Shelby County Commissioner Mike Ritz said municipal school districts could cost suburban towns and cities much more in expenses and taxes than initially estimated.

Ritz rolled out his critique of the numbers in the reports from earlier this year by Southern Educational Strategies LLC for each of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County.

97. ‘OBM’ is Symptom Of Business Sickness - Monday, May 14, 2012

Is your business haunted by the blinding ghosts that worked in another era? The wealthiest man in Japan, Tadashi Yanai, has a business plan that looks 300 years into the future, but allows for annual updates as a matter of course. To date, he’s worth more than $6 billion.

98. FedEx Ground Examines Shipping Cost Problems - Friday, May 11, 2012

Dave Rebholz hasn’t been to a shopping mall in a long time and he likes Shoes by Zappo, the e-commerce shoe site.

“They’re cheap,” Rebholz said. “They’re good and they have the big ones I need.”

99. 360 Photos Gives Companies Edge With Panoramic Tours - Monday, May 07, 2012

When people think of virtual tours, residential real estate typically comes to mind. Panoramic tours use a sequence of carefully assembled high-quality images stitched together, offering larger, clearer views, which makes the technology a valuable tool for real estate agents, who can offer potential buyers an in-depth look at property, regardless of their geographic location.

100. Attaboy, Jimmy - Friday, May 04, 2012

AND STRAIGHT ON TILL MORNING. Last week, Peter Pan was laid to rest. They came from all over Memphis, his Never Never Land and reality for everybody else, to overflow Midtown’s majestic Idlewild Presbyterian Church.