| New
beginnings by
Paula C. Squires
Virginia
Business
January 2004
A new year. A new look. Virginia Business begins 2004
with a fresh design for some of our departments. Publisher
Doug Forshey and Associate Editor Leila Ugincius toiled
and tinkered for hours to come up with our bold, easy-to-read
look. We hope you like it as well as our new emphasis
on being more interactive. Beginning with this issue,
we invite readers to respond to poll questions in major
stories at our Web site. Depending on the level of response,
we may work this feedback into later stories. At any
rate, it’s fun to weigh in on an issue and to
see how others are casting their votes. While visiting
our Web site at www.virginiabusiness.com,
be sure to check out the fresh content with weekly updates
to our popular For
the Record report of company news from throughout
Virginia. We think these changes will make us more timely
and relevant.
Of course, January brings the drama of the Super Bowl.
Yet just as intense as this annual football contest
will be our own big game being played out at the state
Capitol. In our annual special report on the General
Assembly, Richmond-based freelance writer Garry
Kranz lays out some possible scenarios of what might
happen to Gov. Mark Warner’s tax-overhaul plan.
With the state facing yet another budget shortfall —
$1.2 billion — the Democratic governor wants to
raise some taxes. But he’s up against a split
GOP, now in control of both the House and the Senate.
What’s in store is a test of leadership. Will
the pragmatists or the no-new-tax crowd carry the day?
Will the GOP compromise and move the state forward on
the tax and budget issue or will Virginia suffer another
bruising budget impasse? Hanging in the balance is more
than a prized ring. As the story notes, the business
community is concerned about the state’s ability
to retain not only its rock-solid AAA
credit rating but also its ability to invest in
the future.
Also in this month’s issue is a report on how
hospitals recruit doctors.
You might be surprised to learn that money isn’t
the biggest drawing card, although it always helps.
The health care package includes charts on the doctors
and hospitals that perform the highest number of in-patient
procedures in seven selected areas.
Today, consumers and businesses can shop for doctors
and hospitals much like any other major investment,
by shopping around and making comparisons, thanks to
data readily available from the nonprofit Virginia
Health Information.
Besides pledging to live healthier lives, many people
think about traveling in the new year. Whale- and bird-watching
are some of the special tourism niches hotels are targeting
to drum up business. In a report on the hotel and convention
industry, we also explore why so many cities are building
convention centers.
This
month’s regional report focuses on Bristol,
Va., a Southwestern city that’s looking to broadband
to boost its economy.
Making more money is frequently at the heart of many
people’s New Year’s resolutions. If you’ve
ever considered going to a business school, our story
on page 50 about the Darden
Graduate School of Business Administration at the
University of Virginia should answer some of your questions.
My resolutions for 2004? To create a magazine —
with help from the Virginia Business team — that
is a must read for the state’s business community,
to inspire our writers to tell compelling stories and,
as always, to meet those never-ending deadlines.
Paula
C. Squires
Managing Editor
psquires@va-business.com
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