Business Outlook 001 22J aLli a 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 8 Advertisement