Saturday, August 29, 1998

Businesses move out of Innovation Center

By Doug Williamson / Business Editor

They aren't wearing caps and gowns, but there are two new graduates at the Abilene Business Innovation Center.

These companies have grown big enough and strong enough to move out of the local small business incubator, said BIC General Manager Todd Whisenhunt.

Summit Scholastic Service has moved to the Tower Suites inside Musgrave Plaza (the old NationsBank Tower).

The company offers a full range of services in the academic tutoring and diagnostic testing areas. A certified reading specialist is on staff who diagnoses and treats Scoptic Sensitivity Syndrome, a perceptual disorder affecting a large percentage of people labeled as dyslexic.

Sharon Haigler is principal of the business.

Also, MultiComp Inc. has moved to 833 E. Highway 80.

The manufacturer of erasable product labels was founded by Steve Cates. The products include labels for diskettes, videotapes, hanging file folder tabs, food containers and workshop bins.

MultiComp has grown from one employee to eight.

Workplace literacy seminar

A seminar on workplace literacy, intended especially for department managers and human resource directors of local businesses, will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept 29 in the upstairs conference room at the Abilene Civic Center.

The seminar, presented by the Taylor County Adult Literacy Council, is co-sponsored by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Abilene Industrial Foundation and Abilene Education Council.

Fee for the session and lunch is $20.

The seminar will focus on how to identify adult education needs in a company, including basic literacy, English as a second language, high school equivalency and job-specific training. Options for meeting those needs also will be explored.

To register or get more information, call the Adult Education office at 671-4419.

Suggestions from a life underwriter

Dowe Mayfield, CLU, ChFC, will speak to the Abilene Association of Life Underwriters Friday.

The 39-year veteran of the life insurance industry from Lubbock is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and has held numerous leadership positions in the industry statewide.

He will share "Uncle Dowe's Eleven Suggestions."

The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. at the Abilene Country Club. More information is available from AALU President Rob Ruth, 692-9808.

Strategies for women entrepreneurs

The local American Business Women's Association chapters, Edward Jones, the Small Business Development Center and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the second part of a national satellite series for women business owners.

"Wired to Win: Leading Edge Technology for Women Entrepreneurs" will cover topics including doing business on the Internet, investing on the Internet and the year 2000.

The free seminar begins at 6 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Region 14 Education Service Center, 1850 Highway 351. Seating is limited, so RSVP to Jon Bos of Edward Jones, 677-1568.

Investment fair in Lubbock Sept. 12

Kenneth S. Janke, president and CEO of the National Association of Investors Corp., will speak at the Lubbock Investors' Fair on Sept. 12.

The organization is an international nonprofit group of investment clubs and individual investors.

The fair will be held at the Holiday Inn Lubbock Plaza, 3201 S. Loop 289 from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost is $35.

Locally, Jim Woltjen, 677-6914, is point of contact. His job is to help investors and investment clubs with educational information on investing.

New business in town

OfficeMax has opened a 23,500-square-foot store next to Toys 'R Us on John Knox Drive.

The store features office products, computer, business machines and related items. CopyMax and FurnitureMax also are housed in the building. Obviously, they are the copy-making and furniture-selling branches of the company. TeleMax features the latest electronic wizardry.

OfficeMax has 58 Texas stores and 760 stores nationwide in 320 markets.

Doug Williamson can be reached at 676-6707 or williamsond@abinews.com.