Business in brief: Deaconess names chief executive
Deaconess Medical Center has hired William L. Gilbert as chief executive officer.
He is scheduled to take over leadership of Deaconess in early October after spending the past 10 years running Regional Medical Center, a 204-bed hospital in San Jose, Calif.
In a news release announcing the hire, Deaconess parent company Community Health Systems Inc. noted Gilbert’s work in expanding emergency services, intensive care and cardiovascular services at Regional Medical Center. He is credited with leading a significant financial turnaround at the hospital owned by HCA Inc.
He will be the third CEO at Deaconess in the past year as the hospital makes changes under the new ownership of CHS.
John Stucke
Bobcat closing Bismarck plant
Bismarck, N.D. – Bobcat Co., which makes small loaders and light construction equipment, announced Wednesday its Bismarck plant will be closed permanently and the bulk of the 475 jobs shifted to its plant in Gwinner in southeastern North Dakota.
Rich Goldsbury, president of Bobcat Americas, said the move was spurred by a weak worldwide economy and sluggish sales for the West Fargo, N.D.-based company.
South Korea’s Doosan Infracore Co. purchased Bobcat in 2007 from Bermuda-based Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd., in a deal worth $4.9 billion.
Southwest offers preferred check-in
Dallas – Southwest Airlines Co. said Wednesday that it will let passengers buy an earlier place in the boarding line for $10 with a new product, “EarlyBird Check-in.”
Southwest said the fee “automatically reserves a boarding position for customers prior to general check-in, allowing EarlyBird customers to begin boarding the plane after Southwest’s Business Select and Rapid Rewards A-List customers.”
Unlike most airlines, Southwest does not have assigned seating. Instead, it offers a first-come, first-seated policy, with boarding by groups determined by when the customer gets his or her boarding pass.
Since a customer can’t print a boarding pass until 24 hours before departure, those who want an early place in the line must go online soon after the 24-hour window opens.
Chrysler to make more Calibers
Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC said Wednesday it will boost production of the Dodge Caliber at a plant in Illinois in response to higher demand for the compact car, one of the most fuel-efficient in its lineup.
The automaker said it will return the second shift at its Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant starting Oct. 5 to build another 10,000 Calibers through the end of the year. The move puts another 850 employees back to work at the plant, Chrysler said.