Hixson architects and engineers has pledged “continuous employment” to its work force since 1983. In a surly economy that has many potential clients backing down from capital expenses, Hixson is honoring its pledge to 105 employees and has the financial losses to show for it.

        “It's not without its pain,” president Wick Ach said. “But we manage the business on a set of values rather than objectives. We have objectives. But they change, and the values don't change.”

        With fewer clients, Hixson has employees busy researching new areas and developing new software. It also has resigned itself to losing money, at least for now, Mr. Ach said.

        “I wish I could sugarcoat it, but I can't,” he said. “The alternative is, don't allow yourself to get bloated when times are good.”

Comings and goings

        Chiquita Brands International Inc. will hold its annual meeting Friday at the Hilton Netherland Plaza, downtown. It will mark the coming of new company chairman Cyrus Freidheim and the going of former chairman Carl Lindner.

        Chiquita will recognize Mr. Lindner, who resigned as a director after Chiquita's emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March. His American Financial Group Inc. still is one of Chiquita's biggest shareholders.

        The star of Friday's show will be Mr. Freidheim, the former Booz Allen & Hamilton executive conducting a global review of Chiquita's operations.

Jumping ship

        Seeking a home that would emphasize independent investment advice, two investment managers at Scudder Private Investment Counsel jumped to a local firm last week.

        Valerie Newell, managing director at Scudder's Cincinnati office, and Leon Loewenstine joined O'Sullivan Sims & Hogan. With some clients moving as well, the deal will more than double the firm's assets under management to about $500 million.

        Renamed RiverPoint Capital Management, the firm will relocate at the end of August to the Scripps Center overlooking Third Street.

        After European powerhouse Deutsche Bank — complete with its investment banking and brokerage business — bought Scudder a couple of months ago, Ms. Newell started looking for a move. She and Declan O'Sullivan will be co-chairs of the firm.

        “We have a tradition of managing money independently in Cincinnati, and we wanted to continue that,” she said. “A lot of people perceived conflicts with a big firm like that.”

        Mr. O'Sullivan, who started the firm with Russell Sims in 1995 after leaving Provident Bank, called the combination “the opportunity of a lifetime.”

        E-mail cpeale@enquirer.com or call 768-8573.

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