2011 BusinessWest Difference Makers: Robert Perry

Robert Perry

Retired Partner/Consultant, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.

Robert Perry admits that he's not much of a handyman.

So he makes no apologies for the fact that, over the course of more than a decade's work with Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, he's probably spent three or four days "working," at least by his estimation.

And while others would disagree with that math--they say Perry enjoys getting his hands dirty and is always ready, willing, and able to pitch in--they usually don't quibble with his numbers, or his leadership, for that matter.

That's because Perry's contributions usually haven't been with a hammer, shovel, or level, …

Ireland holds key vote on EU treaty

Irish citizens voted Thursday on whether to accept or reject the European Union's new reform treaty, and the result could damage or destroy the painstakingly negotiated pact.

The Lisbon Treaty seeks to reshape EU institutions and powers to cope with the bloc's near-doubling in size over the past four years from 15 to 27 nations with 495 million people. It contains many of the same reform plans as the EU's previous master plan _ a constitution that French and Dutch voters rejected in 2005.

This time, only Ireland's 3.05 million registered voters pose a serious threat to ratification, because the other 26 members are requiring approval only through their national …

Gun prompts review at Argonne

Argonne National Laboratory is reviewing its security proceduresafter an employee was able to bring a gun inside its facility lastweek for the first time in the lab's 60-year history.

The Department of Energy worker died of a gunshot wound to thehead April 21, according to the Cook County medical examiner, whichruled the death a suicide.

The 39-year-old employee, who had worked at Argonne for only amonth, was in his cubicle at the time, said Brian Quirke, aDepartment of Energy spokesman. The gun was a 9mm, Quirke said.Although there were two other workers in the area, no one else washurt in the 5:30 a.m. incident.

Still, the breach raised concerns about …

Army Installations: Supporting the War And Transforming

September 11, 2001 changed the nation, and it changed the Army. The Army is now at war and transforming, and installations are a key part of both. Make no mistake, "Army Installations" is big business: a $12+ billion per year budget supports 181 Army installations that contain more than 110,000 housing units and 138,000 barracks units and encompass over 16.7 million acres of military land worldwide. If Army Installations were a Fortune 500 company, it would be ranked slightly behind Delta Air Lines and ahead of Office Depot.

Installations are a key part of achieving the Army's three goals: to win the war, to transform the Army and to secure the resources needed to accomplish the …

Del. judge rules in pacemaker patent dispute

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A federal judge in Delaware has ruled that certain heart pacemakers sold by Medtronic Inc. do not infringe patents claimed by rival medical device manufacturer Boston Scientific Corp.

Ruling in a long-running dispute between the two companies, the judge granted a request by Minneapolis-based Medtronic for a ruling that certain implantable heart …

Heather Mills squares off against nanny in court

Heather Mills, the ex-wife of Paul McCartney, defended herself from accusations made by a former nanny at an employment tribunal in Britain.

Sara Trumble says Mills was a rude, angry and dishonest woman who forced her to lie to McCartney.

But Mills said Tuesday she treated 26-year-old Trumble like a daughter, showering her with gifts and foreign travel.

…

Ex-chief of NATO joins CNN

NEW YORK--Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark, formerly thesupreme NATO commander, has agreed to serve as an on-air militaryanalyst for CNN.

Clark commanded the Allied military operation in Kosovo in 1999.He became NATO …