Soft drinks and beverages major Pepsico has appointed India-origin Jaya Kumar as the President of its Quaker Foods & Snacks division. Based in Chicago, Kumar would lead the $2 billion operating unit that has Quaker hot cereals and Chewy granola bars, Life and Quaker Oatmeal Squares ready-to-eat cereals among others in its portfolio.
He would report to PepsiCo Americas Foods CEO John Compton, the company said in a statement. Pepsico is led by India-origin CEO Indra Nooyi. Kumar, who joined PepsiCo in 2005, received his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India. "Jaya (Kumar) brings a powerful combination of innovation, marketing and retail capabilities to his new role at Quaker. "... Jaya's passion for growth, coupled with his deep expertise in consumer and shopping insights, is an unbeatable recipe for taking Quaker through its next chapter of growth," Compton said. Prior to joining PepsiCo's Frito-Lay business, Kumar had 18 years of international and domestic brand management and sales experience with a number of consumer goods companies including Kraft Foods.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Conoco moving ahead on Louisville campus
Now that demolition of the buildings on the former StorageTek campus in Louisville is complete, ConocoPhillips is focusing on architectural planning and getting the necessary approvals to start construction. Since ConocoPhillips started preparing the 432-acre campus for construction last November, it has recycled 1 million pounds of concrete and removed refrigerants, chiller water, lighting systems and furnishings, said Tracy Harlow, a spokeswoman for the company. "Metals and concrete were sorted and recycled," she said. "We've been using the term 'deconstruction' because it indicates we looked at every opportunity for recycling."
Over the next 18 months, the company will be working on its master plan for the campus with St. Louis-based planning and design firm HOK. It has not yet determined the budget for the project. It is targeting occupancy for 2013. "They're going full-bore ahead, working with the city of Louisville and the state of Colorado and the county of Boulder to make sure this happens," Louisville Mayor Chuck Sisk said. "They're working as a partner." While the company doesn't know exactly how many people will work on the campus, it has said it plans to seek approval from Louisville to accommodate at least 7,000 over the next 20 years.
The company plans to locate a new global technology center and corporate learning center on the site. It will bring a core group from its Houston headquarters, but most of the employees will be hired locally. The jobs will include scientists, researchers, trainers and managers. ConocoPhillips also will build an incubator to create space for small businesses with niche technologies. The company will help launch and partner with the businesses. "ConocoPhillips has been very vigilant about meeting with city of Louisville staff and keeping them apprised of what they are doing," Sisk said. "They have not submitted a development plan or any formal documentation. "Officials from the energy company were scheduled to meet with the Louisville City Council on Tuesday night.
Over the next 18 months, the company will be working on its master plan for the campus with St. Louis-based planning and design firm HOK. It has not yet determined the budget for the project. It is targeting occupancy for 2013. "They're going full-bore ahead, working with the city of Louisville and the state of Colorado and the county of Boulder to make sure this happens," Louisville Mayor Chuck Sisk said. "They're working as a partner." While the company doesn't know exactly how many people will work on the campus, it has said it plans to seek approval from Louisville to accommodate at least 7,000 over the next 20 years.
The company plans to locate a new global technology center and corporate learning center on the site. It will bring a core group from its Houston headquarters, but most of the employees will be hired locally. The jobs will include scientists, researchers, trainers and managers. ConocoPhillips also will build an incubator to create space for small businesses with niche technologies. The company will help launch and partner with the businesses. "ConocoPhillips has been very vigilant about meeting with city of Louisville staff and keeping them apprised of what they are doing," Sisk said. "They have not submitted a development plan or any formal documentation. "Officials from the energy company were scheduled to meet with the Louisville City Council on Tuesday night.
Missing Sikh girl in US found with brother-in-law
Police in Nevada state say they have found a 16-year-old Sikh girl who went missing last week. Karamjit Kaur, 16, was with her
brother-in-law Parvinder Singh in Indiana state.
The two were traced to a hotel in Merrillville city in Indiana. No reasons have been given why she disappeared with her brother-in-law.
The girl was last seen on her bike September 30.
Kaur, who had moved to the US months ago with her family from India, told her family that she was going out on a bike ride.
But she never returned. Her bike was found the next day at a skateboarding park.
Police said they were investigating the case and hadn't ruled out criminal charges. But they confirmed that the brother-in-law was visiting Reno before Kaur disappeared.
Disappearance of newly arrived Indian girls and brides in the US and Canada is not uncommon.
There have been a few cases when the girls, who married NRI grooms based in Canada or the US, disappeared after coming here.
brother-in-law Parvinder Singh in Indiana state.
The two were traced to a hotel in Merrillville city in Indiana. No reasons have been given why she disappeared with her brother-in-law.
The girl was last seen on her bike September 30.
Kaur, who had moved to the US months ago with her family from India, told her family that she was going out on a bike ride.
But she never returned. Her bike was found the next day at a skateboarding park.
Police said they were investigating the case and hadn't ruled out criminal charges. But they confirmed that the brother-in-law was visiting Reno before Kaur disappeared.
Disappearance of newly arrived Indian girls and brides in the US and Canada is not uncommon.
There have been a few cases when the girls, who married NRI grooms based in Canada or the US, disappeared after coming here.
Indian scientists want Nobel laureate 'Venky' to tour country
Indian scientists are elated at Venkatraman Ramakrishnan winning the Nobel Prize in chemistry and want him to tour the country to inspire
young students towards studying science.
"It is a wonderful piece of news," said Thirumalachari Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology.
Ramasami, himself a renowned leather scientist, said Ramakrishnan's achievement needs to be showcased across the country to inspire the youth to take up science.
"It is a great day for Indian science," Samir Brahmachari, Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said pointing out the Ramakrishnan was a product of the Indian education system of the 1970s when resources were scarce in the country.
"We all are very delighted," said M Vijayan, President of the Indian National Science Academy.
Ramasami reminisced about the days when Ramakrishnan had visited Chennai in 2001 to deliver the G N Ramachandran lecture. He had impressed the scientific community who believed that he was "high quality material", Ramasami said.
"He is more like a guy next door and more closer to home," the DST Secretary said adding that it was notable that the Nobel Prize came at a relatively young age.
"We can use his goodwill in the country to attract more students to science," Ramasami said.
Better known as Venky among his friends, Professor Venkatraman Ramakrishnana, an India-born US scientist, won this year's Nobel Prize for Chemistry jointly with Thomas E Steitz (US) and Ada E Yonath (Israel).
young students towards studying science.
"It is a wonderful piece of news," said Thirumalachari Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology.
Ramasami, himself a renowned leather scientist, said Ramakrishnan's achievement needs to be showcased across the country to inspire the youth to take up science.
"It is a great day for Indian science," Samir Brahmachari, Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said pointing out the Ramakrishnan was a product of the Indian education system of the 1970s when resources were scarce in the country.
"We all are very delighted," said M Vijayan, President of the Indian National Science Academy.
Ramasami reminisced about the days when Ramakrishnan had visited Chennai in 2001 to deliver the G N Ramachandran lecture. He had impressed the scientific community who believed that he was "high quality material", Ramasami said.
"He is more like a guy next door and more closer to home," the DST Secretary said adding that it was notable that the Nobel Prize came at a relatively young age.
"We can use his goodwill in the country to attract more students to science," Ramasami said.
Better known as Venky among his friends, Professor Venkatraman Ramakrishnana, an India-born US scientist, won this year's Nobel Prize for Chemistry jointly with Thomas E Steitz (US) and Ada E Yonath (Israel).
Friday, October 2, 2009
U.S. immigrant population flat, Census numbers show
After nearly 40 years of recorded increases, the number of immigrants living in the United States remained flat between 2007 and 2008, recent statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau show. According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the U.S. foreign-born population represented about 12.5 percent of the population in 2008, down from 12.6 percent in 2007. Taking into account the margin of error, it was possible that the immigrant population remained even.
"Between '07 and '08 there really wasn't that much of a change," said Elizabeth Grieco, chief of immigration statistics staff at the Census Bureau.
But given the steep upward trend in the foreign-born population since 1970, no change is big news.
The American Community Survey collects data from about 3 million addresses each year, and provides one of the most complete pictures of the population, according to the bureau.
The survey doesn't give a reason for the leveling off, but experts pointed to the economic downturn and the resulting high unemployment as factors behind the shift.
"The recession has had a significant effect on immigrants' decisions on whether to come to the U.S.," said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of communications at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.
Would-be unauthorized immigrants and legal temporary workers are mostly the ones who have decided to stay put in their home countries for now, Mittelstadt said.
The largest declines in the foreign-born population were in states that were hardest hit by the recession, including California, Florida and Arizona.
Mittelstadt noted, however, that those immigrants already in the United States appear to be staying.
A recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center concluded that emigration from Mexico, the largest source of immigrants to the United States, slowed at least 40 percent between mid-decade and 2008, based on national population surveys in the United States and Mexico, as well as Border Patrol apprehension figures.
The Mexican-born population in the United States dropped by about 300,000 between 2007 and 2008, according to census data.
The new Census statistics show that for the first time since the American Community Survey was fully implemented in 2005, the number of noncitizens decreased, Grieco said.
There were about 21.6 million noncitizens in 2008, down from 21.9 million in 2007. The label noncitizens includes both legal residents and illegal immigrants.
Along with the decline in the noncitizen population, however, there was a notable increase in the number of naturalized citizens, Grieco said.
The number of individuals who are naturalized citizens increased to 43 percent of the foreign-born population in 2008 from 42.5 percent in 2007.
The Census survey matches reports from the Department of Homeland Security on the rise of naturalization applications.
"Naturalizations grew at a record pace between 2006 and 2008, with a total of 2.4 million immigrants becoming new citizens in the United States," according to a DHS statement.
A significant fee increase imposed in 2007 for naturalization applications and an awareness of citizenship brought on during voter registration drives for the 2008 election help explain the increase, Mittelstadt said.
"Between '07 and '08 there really wasn't that much of a change," said Elizabeth Grieco, chief of immigration statistics staff at the Census Bureau.
But given the steep upward trend in the foreign-born population since 1970, no change is big news.
The American Community Survey collects data from about 3 million addresses each year, and provides one of the most complete pictures of the population, according to the bureau.
The survey doesn't give a reason for the leveling off, but experts pointed to the economic downturn and the resulting high unemployment as factors behind the shift.
"The recession has had a significant effect on immigrants' decisions on whether to come to the U.S.," said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of communications at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.
Would-be unauthorized immigrants and legal temporary workers are mostly the ones who have decided to stay put in their home countries for now, Mittelstadt said.
The largest declines in the foreign-born population were in states that were hardest hit by the recession, including California, Florida and Arizona.
Mittelstadt noted, however, that those immigrants already in the United States appear to be staying.
A recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center concluded that emigration from Mexico, the largest source of immigrants to the United States, slowed at least 40 percent between mid-decade and 2008, based on national population surveys in the United States and Mexico, as well as Border Patrol apprehension figures.
The Mexican-born population in the United States dropped by about 300,000 between 2007 and 2008, according to census data.
The new Census statistics show that for the first time since the American Community Survey was fully implemented in 2005, the number of noncitizens decreased, Grieco said.
There were about 21.6 million noncitizens in 2008, down from 21.9 million in 2007. The label noncitizens includes both legal residents and illegal immigrants.
Along with the decline in the noncitizen population, however, there was a notable increase in the number of naturalized citizens, Grieco said.
The number of individuals who are naturalized citizens increased to 43 percent of the foreign-born population in 2008 from 42.5 percent in 2007.
The Census survey matches reports from the Department of Homeland Security on the rise of naturalization applications.
"Naturalizations grew at a record pace between 2006 and 2008, with a total of 2.4 million immigrants becoming new citizens in the United States," according to a DHS statement.
A significant fee increase imposed in 2007 for naturalization applications and an awareness of citizenship brought on during voter registration drives for the 2008 election help explain the increase, Mittelstadt said.
Colorado economy predicted to rebound quickly
Colorado, one of the last states to succumb to the U.S. recession, appears poised to be among the first states to escape its grasp, according to the University of Colorado at Boulder's leading economist.
"We may be one of the first states out," Richard Wobbekind told a gathering of clients of Denver-based financial-planning firm Sharkey, Howes & Javer on Thursday in Denver.
If technology and business spending fuel the recovery, as some analysts expect given anemic consumer spending, then Colorado is in a strong position to benefit, Wobbekind said.
The higher energy and commodity prices that accompany a recovery should benefit Colorado, especially the more rural areas in the state.
A broader U.S. recovery will also result in more goods being transported, which will benefit Colorado.
Retail sales in the state, which are expected to fall 10 percent this year, are expected to rise 4.4 percent next year, Wobbekind predicted.
Forecasts call for the state's job growth to return to a positive 0.4 percent next year, fourth-best among all states.
Colorado, which experienced negative job growth this year, ranked 29th among states on that measure after being among a handful of states to see job gains in 2008.
Any recovery will be sluggish at best, Wobbekind cautioned. But unlike some economists, he doesn't expect a second downturn or double-dip recession later in 2010 or 2011.
"We think we have enough momentum to stay positive," he said.
The Leeds Business Confidence Index, which measures expectations of business leaders in the state, also is showing more positive signs.
Business leaders said they expect to see sales increase next year, although increasing profits remain a more questionable prospect.
"We may be one of the first states out," Richard Wobbekind told a gathering of clients of Denver-based financial-planning firm Sharkey, Howes & Javer on Thursday in Denver.
If technology and business spending fuel the recovery, as some analysts expect given anemic consumer spending, then Colorado is in a strong position to benefit, Wobbekind said.
The higher energy and commodity prices that accompany a recovery should benefit Colorado, especially the more rural areas in the state.
A broader U.S. recovery will also result in more goods being transported, which will benefit Colorado.
Retail sales in the state, which are expected to fall 10 percent this year, are expected to rise 4.4 percent next year, Wobbekind predicted.
Forecasts call for the state's job growth to return to a positive 0.4 percent next year, fourth-best among all states.
Colorado, which experienced negative job growth this year, ranked 29th among states on that measure after being among a handful of states to see job gains in 2008.
Any recovery will be sluggish at best, Wobbekind cautioned. But unlike some economists, he doesn't expect a second downturn or double-dip recession later in 2010 or 2011.
"We think we have enough momentum to stay positive," he said.
The Leeds Business Confidence Index, which measures expectations of business leaders in the state, also is showing more positive signs.
Business leaders said they expect to see sales increase next year, although increasing profits remain a more questionable prospect.
Rio wins right to host 2016 Olympics
Finally, South America gets an Olympics. The 2016 Games are going to Rio de Janeiro. In a vote of high drama, the bustling Brazilian carnival city of beaches, mountains and samba beat surprise finalist Madrid, which got a big helping hand from a very influential friend. Chicago was knocked out in the first round—in one of the most shocking defeats ever in International Olympic Committee voting.
Even Tokyo, which had trailed throughout the race, did better—eliminated after Chicago in the second round.
Rio spoke to IOC members' consciences: the city argued that it was simply unfair that South America has never hosted the games, while Europe, Asia and North America have done so repeatedly. "It is a time to address this imbalance," Brazil's charismatic president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, told the IOC's members before they voted. "It is time to light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country."
The bearded former union leader disappeared into a huge group hug with the joyous Rio team after IOC president Jacques Rogge announced that the city won. Football great Pele had tears in his eyes.
Madrid's surprising success in reaching the final round came after former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch made an unusual appeal for the Spanish capital, reminding the IOC's members as he asked for their vote that, at age 89, "I am very near the end of my time."
Even Tokyo, which had trailed throughout the race, did better—eliminated after Chicago in the second round.
Rio spoke to IOC members' consciences: the city argued that it was simply unfair that South America has never hosted the games, while Europe, Asia and North America have done so repeatedly. "It is a time to address this imbalance," Brazil's charismatic president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, told the IOC's members before they voted. "It is time to light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country."
The bearded former union leader disappeared into a huge group hug with the joyous Rio team after IOC president Jacques Rogge announced that the city won. Football great Pele had tears in his eyes.
Madrid's surprising success in reaching the final round came after former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch made an unusual appeal for the Spanish capital, reminding the IOC's members as he asked for their vote that, at age 89, "I am very near the end of my time."
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