Building a community assetThe Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park may not be one of the biggest projects that GDH, a division of the Hagerman Group, has ever built, but it has brought its share of special challenges and opportunities, as Keith Regan learns from Kent Forman. The Hagerman Group is marking its 100th year in business this year . . .  . . . and the companyÔÇÖs reputation as a major builder of higher educational, sports, commercial and institutional projects is well established across the Midwest.

Sustainable mobilityAt Ford, sustainability and environmental issues are as important as producing cleaner, more efficient vehicles, group vice-president Sue Cischke explains to Gary Toushek. These are challenging times indeed for the Big Three automakers in Detroit, as they re-focus and re-tool for more energy efficient and alternative energy vehicles. Along with its own major strategic initiative to produce vehicles with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the Ford Motor Company is formally recognizing its responsibility as a cooperative corporate citize

Food, glorious foodGreat food from interesting places is the business of European Imports Ltd. Ruari McCallion gets a taste from Trish Pohanka. As well as interesting dances and colorful parades, the immigrant heritage of the US brings us something else to enjoyÔÇöfood. Fancy a taste of Italy, a soup├ºon of France, a dash of Australia or a slice of Argentina? It shouldnÔÇÖt take long to find, and it may well be served in convivial restaurant surroundings.

A bright ideaThrough an expert blend of dental industry know-how and business prowess, Discus Dental employs an all-in-one approach to outshine competitors. Kate Sawyer reports. Sometimes, opportunity knocks during the most unlikely of circumstances. Take Robert Hayman and Dr. William Dorfman, of ABCÔÇÖs ÔÇ£Extreme MakeoverÔÇØ fame. The two met at a University of California, LA BachelorÔÇÖs Auction Charity Event in 1991.  With disparate backgrounds, the two found common ground between their respective professions of dentistry and business.

To boldly goÔǪMark Kolebaba explains to Gay Sutton how Diamonds North is doing things differently, not so much to lead the field, but to accelerate the diamond exploration process and stay ahead of the competition. The cold Northwest Territories of Canada are inhospitable, dark and icy for several months of the year, and yet they are potentially rich in quality diamonds that rank among the best in the world. The mines already operating there can yield gems priced at anything from $150 to $300 per carat, whereas diamonds from South Africa, for example, w

Strengthening the chain Keith Regan explains how Deckers Outdoor Corp. is in the midst of a shift in how it handles its supply chain and corporate responsibilities, an evolution that will enable sustainability to come to the forefront across the company. In some ways, Deckers Outdoor Corp. has stayed true to its roots.

After writing last year about De BeersÔÇÖ progress towards its first diamond mine in Canada, Martin Ashcroft finally has the opportunity to cover not one, but two official openingsAlong and winding road reached a milestone in July with the historic official opening of two new diamond mines in Canada. On Friday 25 July, De Beers Canada cut the ribbon on its Snap Lake mine, located 220-kilometres northeast of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories.

Mind over materialsDearborn Fabricating & Engineering Corp. and Mid-West Conveyor Co., two companies founded in 1947, merged in 1995 to become Dearborn Mid-West Conveyor Company. John OÔÇÖHanlon speaks to company president Frank Warmoth about the challenges facing the materials handling industry today. Dearborn Mid-West has spent most of the last 20 years as part of a UK industrial group, Tomkins plc.

The power of customer focusKeith Regan learns how Connecticut Light & Power CompanyÔÇÖs focus on the delivery side of the industry has enabled it to improve its customer service both in quiet times and during the worst storm events. ┬áConnecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) handles the distribution of electric power to 1.2 million customers in 149 communities across Connecticut.

Healthy outlookChristina Ayers, director of the Office for a Healthy Environment at Cleveland Clinic, one of the top five healthcare providers in the US, speaks to Ruari McCallion about sustainable improvement in the built and operating environment. You can tell a lot about the health of an organization by looking at its production of waste.   ┬áIf everything is going into the same waste stream, regardless of source, quality or content, then expect malfunction inside the walls.