COLONIE -- Consumer confidence in New York state gained last month while the national index fell, according to a monthly survey released Tuesday by Siena College's Siena Research Institute in Loudonville.
The state confidence index was 68, up from 65.2 a month before. The national index, compiled by the University of Michigan, was 77.6, off from 79.9.
The survey combined the opinions of 621 randomly selected New Yorkers about their confidence levels now and what they expect those levels to be in the future. Officials at the research institute attributed March's gains to future optimism among New York City residents; there, the index climbed 4 points, to 68.3.
Upstate confidence levels rose slightly, from 66.8 in February to 67.7 in March.
The index starts with a base of 100. Results higher than that indicate confidence; a lower number indicates worry.
-- Kenneth Aaron
JLT SERVICES INKS DEAL TO ADMINISTER MEDICARE PLAN
COLONIE -- JLT Services Corp. will administer a 17,000-member Medicare plan available in four states through a Las Vegas-based insurance company, according to a deal announced Monday.
The contract between Latham-based JLT and Sierra Health and Life Insurance Co. could generate $13 million to $15 million in revenue over the next five years, the companies said.
JLT will handle the marketing, claims processing and billing for Sierra's Medicare Select program, which is available in Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana and Texas.
JLT is the U.S. subsidiary of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc, a global insurance broker and benefits consulting firm based in the United Kingdom.
-- Jeremy Boyer
TELECONFERENCE TO BRING CEOS TO HVCC CAMPUS
TROY -- Microsoft Corp.'s chief executive is coming to Hudson Valley Community College. So are executives from Coca-Cola Co. and Mattel Inc.
They'll be there via satellite, as WMHT Educational Telecommuni- cations and the Tech Valley chapter of the Alliance of Technology and Women co-sponsor the local showing of a global teleconference focusing on leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Viewers at more than 250 sites in 20 countries -- including HVCC -- will have a chance to e-mail and fax questions to the MainEvent 2003 panel, which is composed of business leaders from more than 15 companies.
The teleconference will be broadcast April 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at HVCC's Bulmer Telecommunications Center. For registration information, go to http://atwinternational.org/ chapters/nytechvalley.
-- Kenneth Aaron
COMPETITORS FOR NORI AWARDS WHITTLED DOWN TO 222 FINALISTS
ALBANY -- More than 200 finalists have been named in this year's Nori Awards program.
The group was culled over the weekend from 450 entries submitted by Capital Region communications firms, including advertising agencies, graphic designers, audio and video production facilities, and public relations firms. A six-member panel judged the entries and picked the 222 finalists; 95 categories were available for entering work produced during 2002.
The Noris, which recognize creativity, will be presented May 16 at a gala in the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza in Albany.
The awards program is sponsored by the Ad Club Association of Communication Professionals, which initiated it in 1972.
-- Staff report
