in the news

regional tidbits of business news from around the metropolitan area

KU Med Forms Alliance with Mid-America Cardiology

The University of Kansas Medical Center has formed an alliance with Mid-America Cardiology (MAC) and MidAmerica Thoracic and Cardiovas-cular Surgeons to build a new heart and lung program at the hospital.

MAC and Cardiovascular Consultants have both been involved in providing care for the Mid America Heart Institute at St. Luke’s. In 1999, Cardiovascular Consultants received the contract to manage the Heart Institute. This alliance will provide KU Med a much-needed credibility boost in the arena of cardiac care.

MAC physicians will soon move their base of operation to the medical center. MAC will then open a new clinic at KU MedWest, and in early 2001, KU Med will open the new heart center.

Lee Company Selects BE&P 

The Lee Company, maker of Lee Jeans and other casual apparel, has selected Barkley Evergreen & Partners, Inc., Kansas City, as its public relations agency of record.

BE&P will provide media relations, cause marketing and crisis communica- tions services to support Lee’s brands.

eScout.com and UtiliCorp Communications Align

eScout.com (SM) has announced an alliance with UtiliCorp Communications Services (UCS), a subsidiary of UtiliCorp United (NYSE: UCU) to deliver broadband Internet access, Web-hosting and e-business solutions to several hundred thousand nonmetropolitan households and independent businesses throughout the Midwestern region served by both UtiliCorp United and eScout.

eScout is a rapidly-growing e-commerce and e-business network for independent businesses.

American Italian Pasta Finalizes Mueller’s Acquisition

American Italian Pasta Company (NYSE: PLB), the leading producer of dry pasta in North America has announced the closing of its acquisition of Mueller’s pasta brand from Bestfoods.

On October 25, American Italian Pasta Company (AIPC) filed an 8-K that disclosed the purchase price of the Mueller’s brand at approximately $38.2 million in cash and stock.

Sprint Forges Deal with Comp USA

Sprint PCS (NYSE:PCS), currently with service in more than 330 metropolitan markets, has announced the availability of Sprint PCS Phones in CompUSA stores nationwide.

Sprint PCS phones are now available at more than 220 CompUSA stores located within Sprint PCS’s nationwide wireless network.

Euronet second on Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500

Euronet Worldwide (Nasdaq: EEFT), a global provider of secure electronic financial transactions, has been ranked second overall on the 2000 Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500, a list of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in North America. Its five-year revenue growth rate is 66,790 percent.

Euronet’s applications enable banks, financial institutions and wireless operators to provide clients with the ability to access personal financial information and perform secure financial transactions. The company’s client roster includes Citibank, ING, GE Capital, ABN-AMRO, Deutsche Bank, and EuroTel.

Yellow Names Senior Execs

Yellow Corporation (Nasdaq: YELL) has announced Donald G. Barger, Jr., as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Yellow Corp. and appointed Gregory A. Reid as Senior Vice President and Chief Communi-cations Officer.

Barger joins Yellow from Hillenbrand Industries, Inc., based in Batesville, Indiana, where he has been VP and CFO since 1998. From 1993 to 1998, he was VP and CFO for Worthington Industries, based in Columbus, Ohio.

Earlier, he held a variety of finance, planning and marketing posts with increasing responsibility at the B.F. Goodrich Company. He‘s a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and received an MBA from the Wharton School at the Univ. of Penn.

Reid was previously Senior VP — Sales & Marketing for Yellow Freight System. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing and implementing all corporate external and internal communications strategies through public relations, advertising and promotion, and community and government relations.

At Yellow Freight System, he led all activities related to marketing and sales of transportation services, pricing, customer service, market planning, advertising and promotion.  Prior to joining Yellow in March 1997, he was VP and General Manager for Ryder Integrated Logistics’ Western Region.

Yellow is a major investor in Transportation.com, an Internet transportation marketplace for information-rich products and services targeted to shippers, carriers and private fleet operators.

Headquartered in Overland Park, KS, it employs approx. 32,000 people.

KCATA Names New Driver

The Kansas City Area Transpor-tation Authority (ATA) has named its new general manager. Mark Huffer, a division director with the Bi-State Development Agency in St. Louis, was named the new general manager during the ATA Board of Commis-sioners’ meeting on Nov 21st.

He will succeed Richard F. Davis as the Authority’s top administrator. This summer, Davis, the agency’s GM since 1977, announced his retirement effective Nov. 30. ATA conducted a nationwide search for his replacement.

Heffer’s Bi-State Development Agency career spans nearly a decade. As director of service planning and scheduling, he redesigned the existing St. Louis bus route network so that it would be compatible with that city’s new $350 million light rail system. Bi-State’s ridership jumped 23% during the 1st year of the multi-dimensional transit program.