BUSINESS FOCUS
Briefs
Merck expanding in Durham
Merck & Co. Inc. plans to invest about $300
million to again expand its Durham vaccine manu
facturing facility, creating^in additional 150 to 180
jobs. The expansion will support the manufacture
and global distribution of several of the interna
tional pharmaceutical company's key vaccines.
Headquartered in Whitehouse Station, N.J.,
Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and mar
kets vaccine^ and medicines to address unmet
medical needs. In 2004 the company began con
struction of a $300 million, 235,000-square-foot
facility in Treyburn Corporate Park in Durham that
was completed this year. This facility is on sched
ule to become fully licensed to begin supplying
vaccines to markets around the world in 2009.
In December 2006, Merck announced Phase II
of the Durham facility: an expansion that includes
a sterile processing facility, quality testing labs
and high speed packaging line totaling approxi
mately 110,000 square feet. Construction is cur
rently underway and is scheduled to be completed
in 2010.
Last week's announcement of a Phase III
expansion, which will include a new bulk vaccine
manufacturing facility as well as expansions to the
utility, warehouse and administrative infrastruc
tures, is contingent upon approval of a grant by the
Durham County Commission. Assuming approval
of that grant, construction is scheduled to begin in
2008 and be completed in 2011, bringing the pro
jected total number of employees at the site to
approximately 400.
WSSU names new dean
Dr. Fidelis M. Ikem, associate and interim dean
of the College of Business at Kutztown University
in Kutztown, Penn., has been named dean and
u
CU1CI 1C5COICI1 UlilCCI U1 uic
School of Graduate Studies
and Research at Winston
Salem State University,
effective July 14.
In his new role, Ikem will
lead the school in the ilext
phase in its history and
achieve the vision of build
ing excellent graduate pro
grams supported by qualified
faculty in the various fields
of studies, and cementing the
reputation of the school. Ikem will continue the
mission of educating students, who will become
responsible community leaders and maintaining
the academic values, research focus and quality of
the school. He will collaborate with deans, gradu
ate program coordinators, department chairs and
faculty to administer emerging and high demand
graduate programs, within a supportive and nurtur
ing academic environment.
Ikem earned his Bachelor of Science degree at
Metropolitan State College of Denver, Colo.; a
Masters in Mathematical Sciences at Clemson
University, S.C.; and a Masters and Ph.D. in
Operations Research at Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland, Ohio.
I
Ikem
Raleigh to Charlotte
rail service is increased
Gov. Mike Easley recently announced that a
third intercity passenger train between Raleigh and
Charlotte will be added to the current service to help
meet growing demand as well as ridership increas
es. The new train service will run at midday, with
departures from Raleigh and Charlotte.
"Ridership is increasing significantly along this
route and adding a midday train run will meet the
growing demand and provide needed services to
North Carolina travelers who are looking for eco
nomical alternatives to driving," Easley said. "As
fuel prices continue to climb, more and more people
are turning to rail as their choice for transportation."
From October 2007 to April 2008, ridership was
up more than 22 percent with 197,126 travelers rid
ing either the Piedmont or Carolinian trains. On the
Piedmont (trains 73 and 74) ridership was up almost
26 percent from 28,309 to 35,681 passengers; the
Carolinian (trains 79 and 80) was up 18 percent
from 136358 to 161,445.
The North Carolind Department or
Transportation currently sponsors both the
Piedmont and Carolinian trains as part of North
Carolina's Amtrak service. Each train makes a
morning and evening run between Raleigh and
Charlotte, a trip that is competitive with auto travel
at 3 hours and 9 minutes, including intermediate
stops at Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro,
High Point, Salisbury and Kannapolis. The
Carolinian also makes stops in Selma, Wilson and
Rocky Mount, in the eastern part of the state. Fares
for the round trip between Raleigh and Charlotte
start at $50. G
The estimated cost to operate the additional
route is $3 million a year. The money will come
from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality program.
"Federal funds are going to cover startup and
operational costs for the next three years, so it's a
win-win," said Transportation Secretary Lyndo
Tippett. "Riding the train offers a safe, efficient and
environmentally-friendly way to travel."
Officials at the state transportation department
estimate that it will take between six and 12 months
to make the third run operational. Rail cars and
locomotives will need to be refurbished for the
service.
The Piedmont and Carolinian trains are sup
ported by the state transportation department,
Amtrak and passenger fares.
New directors
are added to
M&F Board
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Three new members have been added to
the Mechanics and Farmers Bank Board of
Directors.
William V. "Bill" Bell, Bishop George
W. Brooks and Lenny F. Springs II are
joining returning directors James A.
Stewart (chairman), Vice-Chair Connie J.
White, Willie T. Closs, Jr., Michael L.
Lawrence, Cedric L. Russell, Kim D,
Saunders, Maceo K. Sloan and Aaron L.
Spaulding.
Bell is currently
Mavor of the Citv of _____ ? ? ?
Durham and sefved
as chairman of the
Board of Mutual
Community Savings
Bank Inc., which
recently was
acquired by M&F
Bancorp.
A long-time
public official in the
Durham communi
ty. Bell currently is
a member of the
Greater Triangle
Regional
Committee and
Triangle Transit
Authority and has
served on numerous
boards of regional
nonprofit organiza
tions.
Also a former
MCSB Director,
Bishop Brooks is
the senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist
Church in Greensboro, where he has
served since 1975. Recognized and
respected in the faith-based community
throughout the state. Bishop Brooks is the
Bishop of Administration of Full Gospel
Baptist Church Fellowship International.
He holds a B.S. degree in Industrial
Technology from NC A&T SU in
Greensboro, a Master of Divinity degree
from Shaw University in Raleigh, and doc
torate of Ministry degree from Friends
International Christian University in
Merced, Calif. Under his guidance and
leadership. Mount Zion 's membership has
grown from 35 in 1975 to over 5,000 today.
Springs is a well-known, highly
respected former banker who currently is
president and CEO of The S-Group, an
organizational development and strategic
management firm in Charlotte; and presi
dent of Queen City Venture Partners, a
minority-owned investment company.
Springs joined First Union Bank (now
Wachovia Corporation) in 1983, and
served in several senior finance positions,
most recently as SVP/Director of Supplier
Diversity. He specializes in promoting
public awareness and instituting progres
sive initiatives for community and busi
ness development.
Retiring from the board are long time
Directors Genevia Gee Fulbright (who also
served on the Board of the parent company,
M&F Bancorp, Inc); J. ,C. "Skeepie"
Scarborough III; and Joseph M. Sansom,
who will step down from the bank's board
but remains on the parent company's
board.
Bell
Brooks
BB&T supports
WSSU program
-w? ? ? ^ ^
Bank's
Foundation will
- shell out
$125 million
-CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
City-based Branch
Banking & Trust (BB&T)
Corp., is helping to jump-start
a proposed program at
Winston-Salem State
University that will expose
students to the moral underpin
nings of the capitalist econom-C
ic system.
BB&T, the nation's 14th
largest financial holding com
pany, has given $1.25 million
to the program, which is
called. Ethical Values of
Capitalism.
The gift - from the BB&T
Charitable Foundation - will
be payable over 10 years in
renewable annual installments
of $125,000 beginning Oct.
15.
Ethical Values t>f
Capitalism is a seven-part pro
gram offered through WSSU's
^ File Photo
Students will learn link between morals, capitalism in new
Winston-Salem State business program.
School of Business and
Economics (SBE). It is not
only designed to give students
the opportunity to examine the
moral foundations of capital
ism and other economic sys
tems through the critical exam
ination of Ayn Rand& Atlas
Shrugged, but will also feature
global, regional and local out
reach components to:
? mobilize university stu
dents to apply knowledge
gained in the classroom to
real-world situations, includ
ing travel abroad opportuni
ties;
? establish an entrepreneur
ship and social responsibility
series for high school students
and youth aging out of foster
See Foundation on A9
Tribute at the Track
Photo by Kevin Walker
John Singleton, director of communications for Reynolds American, holds the award that
was presented to him by members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association last
week in Louisville, Ky. The honor is a thank you to Singleton and Reynolds American for
supporting NNPA, an organization of black publishers. Reynolds American sponsored a
luncheon and horse race at famed Churchill Downs (the home of the Kentucky Derby) for
NNPA members during the organization's convention last week in Louisville. Here,
Singleton and members of the NNPA leadership pose above the famous race track.
RDU Terminal 2 to open this fall
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE .
The countdown has begun for the opening of Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International
Airport. Phase One of the airport's $570 million terminal will open this fall
"Terminal 2 has been 20 years in
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change the travel experience for our
region's travelers," said Teresa
Damiano, the Airport Authority's
director of marketing and customer
service. "Our customers tell us that
what they love most about RDU is
convenience. With Terminal 2, the
Airport Authority takes convenience
to the next level with the latest in air
port design and innovation."
Terminal 2 will feature a column
free design that guides passengers
easily from the curb to their gate. The
architecture also je fleets the Research
Triangle Region, combining large
wood trusses with the extensive use of
steel and glass curtain wall to reflect the region's history of craftsmanship and its reputation as
a leader in technology and education.
See RDU on
riaj images
Construction is ongoing on the new terminal.
N.C. developers honor commerce secretary
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
North Carolina Department of
Commerce Secretary Jim Fain has
received the North Carolina
Economic Developers (NCEDA)
President's Award in recognition
of his extraordinary leadership in
economic development in North
Carolina.
NCEDA is the leading
statewide association of profes
sional economic developers and
their allies, with nearly 600 mem
bers who promote the state and its
communities as places for new
economic activity.
Fain received his award June
12 at the NCEDA 2008 Annual
Conference in Raleigh.
m uja mow
Scott T. Hamilton, NCEDA vice president (from left); Sec. Jim Fain
and NCEDA President Donny Hicks.
i
secretary rain oas oeen a irue
leader in economic development."
said Donny Hicks, President of
NCEDA. "NCEDA is proud to
honor Jim for his years of hard
work and dedication to the state of
North Carolina."
Fain was appointed Secretary
of Commerce by Gov. Mike
Easley in 2001 and reappointed in
2004 when Gov. Easley was re
elected.
As secretary, Fain works to
grow well -paying, sustainable jobs
in North Carolina by recruithijg
new companies, growing existing
businesses ? large and small ? and
encouraging start-ups while keep
ing North Carolina competitive in
today's global economy.