The most influential people in business of 2011
It is not a stretch to say that the biggest business stories of the year in Pittsburgh were in no small part shaped by the people behind the news.
Post-Gazette business writers were asked to outline the people who set the tone for the region's business in 2011.
While the list of movers and shakers -- presented in random order -- speaks to our homogeneous nature, there are some surprises and people who are sure to continue to impact the region in 2012 and beyond.
The Highmark-UPMC contract impasse has been called a battle of giants -- the region's largest insurer pitted against the region's largest health system. But after UPMC decided that Highmark's plans to acquire the West Penn Allegheny Health System made a new contract untenable, the backlash was both immediate and personal -- and primarily directed at UPMC president and CEO Jeffrey Romoff.
Despite UPMC's statements that board members unanimously support the no-negotiation position with Highmark (board members are not speaking publicly), Mr. Romoff has become a lightning rod for people unhappy about being told to change insurers or lose affordable access to UPMC services. One letter writer likened him to the Mr. Potter character from "It's a Wonderful Life."
But, noted former Allegheny County commissioner Bob Cranmer, Mr. Romoff is also the primary architect of a world-class health system as well as head of Western Pennsylvania's largest employer. Give Mr. Romoff credit, he said, for keeping "the lifeblood of our regional economy pumping."
With both UPMC and Highmark now agreeing to continue the current contract until July 2013, just six months shy of the launch date for the major national health care overhaul, the heated discussions may subside -- or not. But the reach and influence of Mr. Romoff and the health system he leads cannot be denied.
-- Steve Twedt Nearly eight years after his sudden -- and much-chattered-about -- departure from UPMC, John Paul resurfaced in 2011 to take the reins of Highmark Inc.'s new hospital and provider division, which will operate the West Penn Allegheny Health System if and when that acquisition is completed.
Student Loans Bad Credit Investors - News
2 for-profit education company. Students at for-profit colleges make up 12 percent of those in college nationwide, but they represent almost half of those who default on student loans. Members of Congress laid out a plan in June to protect taxpayer
(adds up to) consumers taking on student loan debt at an alarming pace." Without the means to pay debts off, an increasing number of Americans are defaulting on their student loans. That's bad news for schools mostly populated by students that use
NEW YORK, NY - (IBWire.com December 7, 2011) - Financial aides and consultants are attempting to spread the word to students that bad credit student loans can still be obtained even with a poor credit rating. Not many people can deny that education is
You will still have to pay student loans, child support, alimony, taxes and any court-ordered damages. Filing for bankruptcy will also drag down your credit score for up to ten years, making it difficult for you to buy a home, get any kind of loan,
Later, Chris Pieper, general counsel for the DED, testified it does not matter if an officer with a prospective company is a crook or has bad credit. What counts is whether the company meets the rules for investment and job creation.
Getting Student Loans With No Cosigner for Support Even With Bad ...
ByJoycelyn Crawford
Getting the funds necessary to pay for college fees can be tricky. There is no such thing as a cheap university education, and so the sum required for each year on campus can be high. Most students have come straight from high school, making student loans with bad credit the only loan option open to them.
The problem is convincing a lender that repayments can be made on time and without any hitches. One way that this can be done by providing income details, but for those without an income, the use of a cosigner is ideal. This helps greatly when applying for loans for students with bad credit and, in fact, is often the difference between success and rejection.
But not everyone can get their hands on an individual willing to act as a guarantor, and in the absence of one, it may seem that the chances of getting student loans approved despite bad credit are next to impossible. But there are a number of alternative loan sources to consider that require no such security.
Why a Cosigner is So Valuable
Exactly why such a fuss is made of cosigners is that their value in an application is huge. For many applying for a student loan with bad credit, the lack of an income and any of the normal securities that lenders usually seek, make the chances of approval very slim. But if a cosigner can guarantee that the repayments will be made, then the situation is improved greatly.
Basically, when it comes to applying for loans for students with bad credit, a cosigner ensures that should the borrower not be able to make repayments, that someone will. Often, this is made by a family member, like a father, which is an infinitely stronger link than a business associate. Family ties generally mean greater levels of support, so the lender is even more satisfied.
Of course, getting student loans approved despite poor credit requires more than a cosigner, but they play a significant part if they have good credit scores and a steady income.