Netsales sells Off
Overland Park-based NetSales laid off nearly one-third of its 200 member workforce following a stock deal signed August 24th where the company sold its software division to Digital-River, A Minneapolis-based competitor.

NetSales Chairman Bob Fraser said the stock deal is a result of an effort to redefine the e-commerce company's focus and work solely with clients requiring assistance with business-to-business transactions.

Digital River (NasdaqNM:DRIV) provides b-to-b and b-to-c services to approx. 7,500 companies, including Block Financial, Staples.com and CompUSA. The terms of the sale were not disclosed.

 

The Plaza, North -- c'mon
The Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Committee of the Kansas City Council recommended zoning for a 1700 acre master-planned project to be constructed in the Shoal Creek Valley that would emulate the Country Club Plaza and neighborhoods similar to Brookside.

Shoal Creek Valley, proposed by a group affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah, would construct a community the size of Gladstone between I-435, Flintlock Rd. and Northeast 96th. The project could add 15,000 residents to the area over the next two decades.

 

Jeane Thorne To Staff KC
One of the leading staffing/training companies in the Midwest, Jeane Thorne, Inc. will locate their first KC office in Johnson County. The company will hire approx. 75 employees initially and intends to provides jobs to nearly 350 within three years.

Jeane Thorne Inc. has been in business for 30-years and provides free training to employees, and allows clients to utilize their training centers for staff development purposes. The operation has 9 offices and 5-state certified training centers in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Longview C.C. Wins Award
Lee's Summit-based Longview Community College was recognized last month by TIME Magazine and The Princeton Review as one of four institutions named as "College of the Year" in the Best College for You guide. Longview was honored as the two-year college for its writing program that encourages students to write, think and communicate clearly.

Longview, which serves 6,000 students a semester places an uncommon emphasis on teaching its students to communicate efficiently, TIME editors report.

 

Walmart Distribution in KC
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has selected Harrisonville, MO in Cass County, to locate a food distribution center. The 875,000-sq. ft. facility will create 600 new jobs early in 2001.

Wal-Mart has began construction on a site west of U.S. Highway 71, south of Harrisonville.

 

Olathe Chamber Recognized
At the national conference of the National Association of Membership Development in Washington D.C., the Olathe Area Chamber of Commerce was recognized for achieving the highest total new member dollars, therefor ranking them among the top 10 chambers in the Nation in its dues category. The Olathe Chamber has won the achievement certificate for six consecutive years and places in the top 50 percent nationally for membership retention.

 

Houlihan's Serves Changes
Houlihan's Restaurant Group announced on August 17th that Daniel R. Scroggin has been named Chairman of the Board and relinquishes his title to Suzanne Hopgood, who has been named the new President and CEO.

Houlihan's has witnessed exceptional performance under the leadership of Scroggin, who may be best known perhaps as being the founder of T.G.I. Friday's.

Hopgood brings a wealth of experience in the dining and hospitality industries as Houlihan's President and CEO. She is the President of Hopgood Group, LLC in Hartford, CT and former CEO of Furr's Restaurant Group. Hopgood is a Vice Chair of the Board of Houlihan's, and she serves on the board of directors of Boston Restaurants Associates.

 

Changing Networks
Integrated Network Solutions, Inc., an OP-Based telecommunications networking firm has changed its name to Raviant Networks, receiving the financing earlier this year from Crest Com-munications Holdings and Apollo Mngt. With this investment, the venture capital firm acquired 43% ownership.

Raviant develops the software that drives carrier-grade, packet-switch networks. Last year, the company's revenues were $33 million which were generated from telecommunications services for clients including Sprint Corp. and WorldCom, Inc.

 

Wagner Hits the Road
Wagner Industries, Inc. continues its steady growth in third party warehouse logistics through the addition of two new Logistical Service Center locations bringing total distribution center space operated to over 4,000,000 square feet while exiting the Kansas City over the road trucking business. With the closing of the trucking operation, there were 46 people laid off in the Kansas City market.

On August 1st, Wagner completed the acquisition of the assets of Herche Warehouse in Denver Colorado. They have likewise taken the occupancy in a new facility in Grand Prairie, Texas.

 

AIPC Opens Its Italy Plant
American Italian Pasta celebrated the completion of its $35 million production facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 28th. The project was completed less than 10 months after the initial site acquisition. The project was completed nearly $4 million under budget substantiating part of the reasons for building there.