AMS names Williams president

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jun 1, 2000

Joseph B. (Bob) Williams has been appointed president of Advantage Marketing Systems effective June 1.

John W. Hail, chairman, said AMS has established three immediate goals -- to become an efficient, well-managed company capable of creating and sustaining long-term growth, to become a major force in the USA direct selling industry and to expand internationally as rapidly as prudently possible.

"It is fortunate for us that Bob is available to us as he closely matches all three of our objectives," Hail said. "Our new president must be capable of managing a dynamic and growing business. Bob has extensive experience in dealing with businesses of all sizes and types."

Williams has 30 years' experience in direct selling working with major direct selling companies such as Tupperware, Stanhome, Jeunique and Oriflamme. He has 25 years' experience in establishing and managing direct selling companies in Asia-Pacific, Europe and Canada.

Williams ahs a bachelor's degree in accounting, a master's degree in management and a doctor of business administration degree in international management. He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and the Singapore- American Business Association.

AMS markets more than 100 natural nutritional supplements, weight management products, skin and hair care products and cosmetics based on herbal-based formulations. The products are distributed by more than 72,000 independent distributors.

Cala signs agreement

Cala Corp. has signed a development agreement to build a five- star hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, Joseph Cala, chairman and CEO of the Oklahoma City-based company said Wednesday.

He said Cala Corp. has entered a joint development partnership with the Southern Italian engineering and architectural firm of AGS, based in Caltanissetta, Italy.

Cala Corp. will own a 51 percent interest in the development contract. The estimated cost of the hotel development project is $150 million, Cala said.

The Bank of Rome has an agreement with AGS to provide financing.

Cala said Cala Corp. is continuing negotiations to secure the management contract to operate the hotel.

In an unrelated matter, Cala announced that Cala Corp. an agreement to develop a Cascina Restaurant in the Radisson Hotel, Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco has been terminated. Cala said his recent acquisition efforts on behalf of Cala Corp. make ownership and operation of a single restaurant in California unrealistic.

Beverly Hodges honored

Oklahoma County Commissioner Beverly Hodges received the 2000 President's Community Excellence Award from Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

The ceremony was at the north end of OSU-OKC's new access road on the east side of campus. During the ceremony, Hodges also officially dedicated the new access road.

Jerry Carroll, president of the school, presented the award on behalf of the faculty, staff and students of OSU-Oklahoma City. The President's Community Excellence Award recipients are chosen for leadership and creativity towards solving problems within the community.

Scholars headed to OU

More than half of the 75 Oklahoma students receiving National Merit scholarships Wednesday plan to attend the University of Oklahoma.

The students receive scholarships of between $500 and $2,000 per year.

Forty-eight of the 75 are being provided scholarships from the University of Oklahoma. Nine are receiving scholarship from Oklahoma State University. Two have scholarships from the University of Tulsa and two from Oral Roberts University.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. in Evanston, Ill., chose more than 2,500 students as merit scholars nationwide. Colleges and universities pay for the latest round of scholarships. Those presented earlier this year were paid for by businesses and the scholarship corporation. The list released Wednesday is the largest of the four each year. Another list will be released in July.

Scholars are chosen based on scores from the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test taken during the junior year of high school.

Nextel calls the Red Cross

Nextel Communications is donating NextelOnline digital wireless- web phones with a value of about $500,000 to Red Cross disaster response teams in Oklahoma and Texas.

"With these high-tech phones, we'll be able to notify and activate our staff quickly, which means we can get help to disaster victims more quickly," said Roger Dahl, CEO of the Oklahoma State Red Cross Disaster Lead Unit based in Tulsa.

Nextel will also train Red Cross shelter teams in Oklahoma and Texas. Nextel is based in Reston, Va., with a regional office in Austin, Texas.

Preservation programs slated

Five workshops on national historic preservation programs will be conducted June 21-23 at the Stephen County Museum in Duncan's National Guard Armory.

All sessions will be open to the public without charge, said Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Melvena Heisch.

"These sessions will provide an introduction to the national preservation programs administered by the State Historic Preservation Office," said Heisch. "We encourage preservation professionals, government representatives and concerned citizens to take advantage of these free workshops." The registration deadline will be June 19.