biz quiz ans 1

1. What consumer electronics firm acquired Champaign-based iCyt Mission Technology in February? And what Fortune 500 company acquired Trusted Computer Solutions, which like iCyt has offices in the University of Illinois Research Park? (2 points for each company)

2.Big deal: One of the nation's biggest retirement systems, TIAA, in late September acquired a Champaign-based company that manages more than $1 billion of agricultural assets worldwide. What's the name of the company?

3. What airline left Willard Airport in Savoy after 24 years of service there, and only a few weeks after expanding service there?

4. Who stepped down in August from the board of directors of Busey Bank's parent company after guiding the bank nearly 40 years?

5. What retail grocery chain left the Champaign-Urbana and Rantoul markets after decades here, with two of its stores being acquired by Niemann Foods and converted to County Markets?

6. The Champaign Downtown Association and the Campustown Business Group merged to form a new organization. What's the name of the new group?

7. For years, many East Central Illinois residents had land-line phone service provided by GTE. Later they became Verizon customers. What phone company acquired Verizon's land lines in Illinois last year?

8. For years, Four Seasons in Tuscola was a fashionable clothing store for men and women. After it closed, the Four Seasons Auto Plaza moved in. The building was acquired for a new purpose last year. What kind of business is there now?

9. SJ Broadcasting acquired four radio stations in Champaign-Urbana. Meanwhile, The News-Gazette Inc., which owns WDWS-AM and WHMS-FM, acquired a third station, marketing it as U-Rock 107.9. What are its call letters?

10. Devonshire Realty dropped the Coldwell Banker franchise for residential real estate last year but retained the franchise for commercial real estate. What company picked up the Coldwell Banker residential franchise in Champaign-Urbana, Danville and several other area towns?

11. The Parkland College Foundation presented its first V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year award in March. Who received it?

12. A new company came to Rantoul last year to take over the former Meadowbrook Farms facility. What's the name of the new enterprise?

13. What Urbana businessman made headlines last year with his attempt to become the new owner of the St. Louis Rams?

14. Bella, a boutique formerly located in Champaign's Shoppes of Knollwood, moved up the street to 1422 S. Neil St., C. What business was previously in the totally renovated building?

15. Gabe's Place founder Gabriel Omo-Osagie died in February of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He came to the United States in the 1980s and, with his wife, quickly built up a portfolio of apartment holdings in Champaign-Urbana. Mr. Omo-Osagie was an outspoken proponent of the American dream. From what country did he come?

16. The Corkscrew Wine Emporium in Urbana opened a wine bar in 2010. Its French name literally means "let us drink" or "we drink." What's it called?

17. The YMCA finally broke ground for its new site in southwest Champaign, thanks to a $5 million "lead" gift from Champaign businessman Rick Stephens and his wife Jeanene. What Champaign company is Stephens founder and chairman of?

18. One of the largest building projects in Champaign-Urbana last year was an apartment complex adjacent to the new YMCA site. The complex uses a geothermal heating and cooling system, reducing energy costs. What's the name of the $25 million 316-unit complex operated by Regency Apartments?

19. In the spring of this year the University of Illinois Foundation sold about 160 acres of farmland, made up of apple orchards and corn and soybean fields, at the southwest corner of Windsor and Philo roads in Urbana to a prominent farmland-owning family in Champaign. Who bought the property?

20. Jim Corley and Barbara Paynter purchased the former Walgreens building and a strip of retail spaces just south of Sunnycrest Mall in southeast Urbana. What is their featured business in the development?

21. Earlier this fall Xiao Jin Yuan, who operates a Hampton Inn in Crescent City, Calif., purchased a downtown Urbana hotel for $600,000 from Marine Bank, which foreclosed upon the previous owner. The hotel was once known as the Urbana-Lincoln Hotel and later as Jumer's Castle Lodge. What was its name when it closed in March 2009?

22. For two points, what was the median home sales price in Champaign County for the third quarter of 2010?

A) $107,500; B) $127,500; C) $147,500; D) $167,500.

For two more points, what was the median home sales price in Vermilion County for the third quarter of 2010?

A) $53,500; B) $63,500; C) $73,500; D) $83,500.

23. For two points, what was the unemployment rate for Champaign County in November?

A) 7.3 percent; B) 8.3 percent; C) 9.3 percent; D) 10.3 percent.

For two more points, what was the unemployment rate for Vermilion County in November?

A) 9 percent; B) 10 percent; C) 11 percent; D) 12 percent.

24. In November, UI administrators said they were beginning to negotiate a new contract with research park developers Peter Fox and Clint Atkins for the park's expansion south of St. Mary's Road and east of First Street. What was the competing firm that lost out on the bid?

25. In September, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois announced changes affecting its Champaign and Danville offices. What were the changes?

A) The Danville office would be closed, and some employees would be shifted to Champaign.

B) The Champaign office would be closed, and some employees would be shifted to Danville.

C) Both offices would be expanded significantly.

D) Both offices would be closed, and all employees would be required to work from home.

Answers

1. Sony and Raytheon, respectively.

2. The Westchester Group, now known as Westchester Group Investment Management.

3. Delta Air Lines, which took over Northwest Airlink's operations when Delta acquired Northwest Airlines.

4. Douglas C. Mills, who first bought an interest in the bank in 1971.

5. Jerry's IGA.

6. The Champaign Center Partnership.

7. Frontier.

8. Tuscola Home Center, a home improvement store.

9. WUIL-FM.

10. Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell, based in Joliet.

11. Clint Atkins of The Atkins Group.

12. Rantoul Foods, operated by the Carpentersville-based Trim-Rite Corp.

13. Shahid Khan, president of Flex-N-Gate Corp.

14. Illini Pest Control.

15. Nigeria.

16. Buvons.

17. Horizon Hobby.

18. Windsor West.

19. Renee and Adolf Lo.

20. Hot Slots, a slot-car racing center and retail shop.

21. Historic Lincoln Hotel.

22. C) $147,500 and A) $53,500.

23. B) 8.3 percent and C) 11 percent.

24. Carter, an Atlanta-based real estate firm.

25. B) The Champaign office would be closed, and some employees would be shifted to Danville.

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