Hiring an intern

BizSense is looking to hire a reporting intern for the summer. Turns out, it's harder than we though it'd be. We’ve emailed all the journalism schools around Virginia and D.C., and emailed editors at the all the college papers we could think of. No dice.

Corporate Mumbo Jumbo

Whenever I’m interviewing a new business, I try to translate corporate lingo into language non-business people understand. Some musician might want to start a company or have an idea, after all, and he or she likely has no idea what "implementing strategic solutions" means. Nor do I, for that matter.

Healthcare is area’s largest private employer

Healthcare is now the largest private employer in the Richmond area, according to the Times-Dispatch’s Top 50 Employer story. VCU Health Systems ranked as the No. 1 private employer for the first time. Bon Secours and Richmond Health Systems were both in the top 10.“Today health care firms in the top 10 account for 19,315 workers,” writes Emily Dooley.

Qimonda to cut 10% of global workforce

Struggling computer chip maker Qimonda will layoff 10% of its global workforce, according to Reuters, which may include cuts at the company’s North American plant in Sandston.

The company has not confirmed cuts, but 10% of the 2,300 local workers would amount to 230 layoffs.

Virginia college savings plans best in class

Virginia’s college savings plans ranked as some of the best in the nation by Morningstar, which examines diversification, fees, flexibility, and the underlying funds of the plans.

According to the research firm’s recent report, the Virginia Education Savings Trust and Virginia College America funds have low costs and some of the best returns.

“We also consider the direct-sold Virginia Education Savings Trust and Virginia's advisor-sold CollegeAmerica best in class. The Education Savings Trust offers an appealing collection of stellar active managers and proven index offerings in its age-based option, including Vanguard, Templeton, and Capital Research and Management (aka, the American Funds). It also boasts a collection of single-fund choices that investors can pull together for ample diversification, such as a REIT index, an inflation-protected securities fund, and an international fund.”

Mary G. Morris, executive director of the Virginia College Savings ...

BlockCity?

The movie-rental chain Blockbuster announced this week that it wants to buy Circuit City for more than $1 billion. What sort of movie would this be? A horror film? Maybe a romantic comedy? Blockbuster CEO James Keyes said Monday that combining the companies would create a 9,300-store chain that could sell portable entertainment (DVDs) and the equipment to play it. (Read Keyes' letter here.)

#1 Dad

Sean McGlynn wasn’t so sure he wanted to start working with his dad again. The 37-year old tried that once before, and it didn’t turn out so well. Of course, that was immediately after graduating from Radford University with a degree in business. At the time, working for his dad’s drug testing company seemed like a good idea. Sean lasted three months.

Circuit City + Block buster =

So Blockbuster wants to buy Circuit City. What sort of movie would this be. A horror film? Maybe a romantic comedy? Blockbuster has been trying to swoon Circuit City with love letters, and now the movie rental company has gone public with its affection, saying it will pay $6 to $8 a share for the Richmond-based electronics retailer. Blockbuster CEO James Keyes said Monday that combining the companies would create a 9,300-store chain that could sell portable devices and the entertainment for those devices (more on that idea later).

T-D looks in the mirror

Newspapers have a hard time covering themselves. On Sunday the T-D looked inward. John Reid Blackwell, wrote about the mighty struggles at the paper’s parent, Media General. “In the past two decades, the company’s strategy has been to build a newspaper and television empire in the Southeast and to combine and find collaborative opportunities at its television, newspaper and online operations,” Blackwell writes.

Really easy being green

Virginia Business Magazine goes green for the April issue. (No, the paper doesn’t feel recycled, but the stories are all about the greening of businesses around the Commonwealth.)

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