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Show i r j , w - w k. i ! j r r . A i. ' ' --r 1 .. 'I if f ' 'i ; , .. ' t ! THE NATIONAL 'j Business news and commentary Volume 7 Number 4 Wednesday, July 27, 1977 Utah Edition 50 cents ell looms The probability that nearly half of Mountain Bells work force will walk off the job Aug. b as union contracts expire is "great. according to Bruce Thoren. director of the Utah-ldah- o Communications Workers of America (CWA). About 2,200 operators, installers and repair people are CWA members, Thoren says, comprising nearly half of Bells Utah workforce of 4500. Thoren sa s negotia- tions between CWA board Index PegeS Option V 1 vt nfiTtQ. Rr.tos..' I BUBkv Paae 13 Ten Cynthia Emerson and Mieka Vanderwalker are de eloper:, the Amelia Earkart Business Center nest of Salt lake International. They wear work hoots hut not pink hard hats. Lenc-e- ? aav a Pace 19 J . sf5 Sly these women mean business by Sheri Poe Enterprise Staff Writer we came back last spring and changed our minds." chose the International Center because "it was a high quality park," Vanderwalker elaborated. "With underground utilities and guttered streets, its the kind of place where we want to build. Itll cost a little more, but no one can say MC isnt first class. J. Ron Stacy is the developers contractor and Don Bateman the Earhart architect. MC "The Dynamic Duo" is a fitting title for two young Californians whose business at the International Center has brought them to Salt Lake City. Emerson and Mieke (Mee-ka- ) Cynthia Vanderwalker are developers of the Earhart Business Center, named after the renown pilot, Amelia Earhart. Like the designs they study at ornately carved antique tables in their plush condominium office, the women seem fresh and innovative, moving smoothly across the historic city they have adopted as home. Together, Emerson and Vanderwalker form MC Financial Inc., and have settled in their permanent office at 245 No. Vine St. to coordinate plans for construction of their project. Change of heart The women moved here in May from Newport Beach where they marketed industrial complex sites for William Davis, a prominent At ages 24 and 27, Newport developer. Vanderwalker and Emerson speculate they are among the youngest industrial developers in the country. "We wanted to develop properties for ourselves and came to Salt Lake in January to check out the possibilities," Emerson explains. "We visited the International Center during a blizzard, and decided it wasnt for us. Luckily, between union locals and AT&T subsidiary Mountain Bell. Job security The major issue which must be resolved prior to settlement at the bargaining table concerns job security, Thoren explains. "Too many people are unknown. (Sec STRIKE, page 15) the orofit-o- u aomo'w business k 3 nr'". V'vjik'" . ,.JSi Denver being replaced by machines due to technological improvements at Bell, Thoren argues. "There are 90.000 fewer employees at Bell systems across the nation than there were two years ago. Of those. 55,000 were caused by layoffs and 35.000 positions were lost through attrition." Bell public information officer Roger Gillespie says this technology makes the outcome of a possible strike Law takes the fun New business members and American Telephone and Telegraph officials have been ongoing for three weeks in Washington D.C. and in Financial Two Is better than one Emerson is primarily responsible for the companys detail work, while Vanderwalker usually handles marketing and public rela- tions. "But our parts arc interchangable," Emerson says, "and sometimes one of us will make an appointment and the other one will show up for it. Most of the time we go together, since we are more convincing as a team and enjoy the joint effort." With the backing of limited partners in California, MC Financial purchased the land at its current price of $60,000 an acre. Construction of 5,000 and 10,000 square foot office space at the complex will be financed through local banks and sold, rather than leased, to tenants. "Mortgage payments will run about the same as leasing," Emerson says. "But companies will have the benefit of ownership and identity within the complex." MCs market is small businesses looking for manufacturing, warehouse or office space. (See MYSTIQUE, page 16) Gambling is as foreign lo Utah as it is native to Nevada, r.vcn ihe clement of chance ir. advertising or promotion is illegal in the Rcehie State. And, as if to make that point perfectly clear, the Utah Trade Commission has issued 10 cease and desist orders to retail merchants since July 15. The first of their kind, the orders stem from an opinion issued by the Attorney Gen- erals office July 1. stating any promotion scheme appealing to the "gambling instincts of the public" is illegal. Quoting the state Constitution as well as case law, the opinion has generated a wave of confusion and anxiety among retailers, advertising agents, marketing executives and media representatives in Salt Lake City. having to I ms an amend- menf. and that could take two . wars." Aiming for the Legislature the process of inning an organized response to the In 2 1 crackdown, businesspeople have been conducting legal research of their own, investigating counterpoints and forming strategy groups. Their eventual target seems to he the January, 1978 legislature, when legislation may be considered to change the present law. Until that time, they intend to steer clear of the Attorney Generals spleen and try to find an oasis among the waves of confusion. "Enforcing this law is taking all the fun out of business," says Wes Anderson, president of Dees Hambur- - Besides eliminating the fun, the crackdown could also dampen profits Huddling in strategy meetings with each other and seeking clarification from the Attorney General and the director of the department of Business Regulation, these businesspeople seem to be readying for an extended period of tension and conflict with state authorities. "It looks like a long haul," says one ad agent. "Because the Attorney General has based his opinion on the Constitution, it will mean ger Drive Ins. "It takes the liveliness and happiness out of doing business," he adds. Generate publicity Besides eliminating the fun, the crackdown could also take much of the profit from those firms depending on e traffic to produce d sales. "This kind of promotion is very impor- high-volum- low-price- (See GAMBLING, page 11) |