Business Outlook
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BOUNCING BACK from page 7
No Time For Regrets
The newspaper's management team
didn't have time to watch the fire,
or to reflect on the past. Two things
were uppermost in their minds —
getting an emergency place for the
staff to work, and publishing the
paper on schedule.
"There was never any doubt that
we would publish a paper that
week," said Sklar. "We didn't want
to break our string of publishing a
paper every week for 60 years in
serving the Detroit Jewish commu-
nity."
"Phone calls were already being
made," said Neill, "trying to find a
location to set up shop immediately.
It had to be someplace big enough for
our staff of 55, and it had to have
direct inward phone dialing, so our
calls could be forwarded."
By 10:30 that night, the manage-
ment team had decided on the ball-
room of the nearby Embassy Suites
hotel. Early Monday morning,
Ameritech was bringing in more
phone lines. The ballroom was
divided into spaces for the editorial,
creative, advertising, circulation and
business staffs. Desks, tables and
chairs were being set up. Rented
computers were arriving. And the
staff was already at work, deter-
mined to get the paper out.
"What helped make it possible was
the football," said Neill.
Prepared For Worst
"9-11 was a wake-up call for us,"
said Day. "Some businesses in the
World Trade Center will never be
back in business because they lost
everything, all their files, their com-
plete business."
That's when Day decided to get a
new back-up system, a "snap-server,"
for the newspaper's most important
files. They call the back-up server the
"football."
"Someone takes it home with
them," said Day. "On the weekend_of
the fire, I had it, in the trunk of my
car. It didn't back-up all of our files,
but it did have the most important
ones. It was backed up to the previ-
ous week's paper. So We just plugged
our rented PCs and Macs and other
peripherals into it and we were back
in business."
If they hoped to get a paper out
that week, they had to get the editori-
al and creative departments up and
running first.
"Most of the current copy files were
lost," said Sklar. "So our reporters
went out and got their [new] stories,
then went home and worked on
them. People were working long, long
hours. We had to recreate about
three-quarters of the editorial materi-
Having the newspaper's design tem-
plates on the back-up server gave the
creative department a big head start
on putting together the new issue.
Most of the advertising archives were
destroyed, but some could be
retrieved from the newspaper's printer
in Port Huron, and other's could be
picked up from previous issues
backed-up on the football.
But in the middle of trying to get
out the paper under the most trying
of circumstances, the staff had to
move again.
BOUNCING BACK on page 10
THE TALBOT CORPORATION
POWERFUL ENGINEERING
Designing the electrical systems they install gives better service.
resident Stephen Talbot says he got his start with the Talbot
Corporation in grade school, mowing the office lawn – "using
an electric-powered mower, of course."
The electrical contracting company, which his father William
Talbot purchased and renamed in 1971, began as
McGee Electric, founded in 1946. The Talbot
Corporation is noted for constructing safe, cost-effec-
tive electrical systems for a variety of customers. They
include commercial and industrial businesses, schools,
hospitals and broadcasting stations.
"Our licensed, professional engineers design the
electrical systems we install according to our cus-
tomer's needs," said Talbot. "That's unlike most con-
tractors who rely upon the design work of outside
ELECTRICAL
),
firms.
Frequently recommended by Detroit Edison, the Talbot Corporation
has achieved ISO-9001 certification for its quality program. The com-
pany specializes in high-voltage installations and emergency backup
generators and UPS (uninterruptible power supply) systems in support
of customers. For largest customer DTE Energy, the Talbot Corporation
has completed numerous high-profile projects. Other clients include
Ford Motor Company, Visteon, Michigan CAT Engine Division and
Awrey Bakeries.
In the broadcast realm, the Talbot Corporation performs much of
the work for CBS television in the Detroit market and recently installed
the high-definition TV transmitters for UPN-50 TV & Detroit Public
p
Television.
Stephen Talbot, a licensed P.E. (Professional Engineer) and master
electrician, holds a degree in electrical and computer engineering from
the University of Michigan. He said his company is able to demystify
the complex issues concerning cost-effective electrical
installations for new and existing facilities.
"We design and install all of the electrical systems
needed by real estate and property managers for their
projects – from the utility pole to the coffeepot – and
everything in-between," he said.
The team at Talbot Corporation includes William
Talbot, design consultant, and Ralph Paschke, RE.,
manager of Power Quality Programs. With the excep-
tion of the apprentice electricians, all production staff
CONTRACTORS
members are either licensed journeymen or master
electricians and members of IBEW Local Union 58. Staff members are
experienced in all aspects of commercial and industrial electrical instal-
lations, ranging from signal cabling to high-voltage distribution. Safety,
National Electrical Code and technical upgrade training are part of the
ongoing regimen of education in which company employees participate.
In the coming years, Talbot seeks to expand his business within the
unregulated utility market in Michigan, providing a range of energy
consulting and installation services to assist customers.
Hours for the Talbot Corporation are 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at
11887 Belden Court in Livonia. For information, call (734) 261-3440
or visit the company Web site, www.talbotelectric.com
tu al bat
corps ration
4/12
2002
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