Boston Scientific gifts raise flags

Boston Scientific Corp., which employs about 5,000 in the Twin Cities, said in a regulatory filing Friday it has received a federal subpoena requesting information about contributions the company made to charities that have ties to physicians or their families. The Natick, Mass.-based company said it is working with the government to "understand the scope of the subpoena," but offered no further details. The subpoena came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General on Sept. 25.

Small is best

Barrie D'Rozario Murphy (BD'M) claimed 32 medals, more hardware than any other agency, at the recent annual awards ceremony of the Advertising Federation of Minnesota. The recognition follows being named "Best Small Agency of the Year" by the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

The 3-year-old agency, founded by veterans of Fallon, was recognized for work on behalf of United Airlines, Best Buy, Applied Materials, Chambers Hotel and others.

BD'M's "It's Time to Fly" commercials for United Airlines earned national awards this fall from the Association of Independent Commercial Producers and the Museum of Modern Art. BD'M's "Art Video" for the Chambers Hotel won a Gold Lion in June at the International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France.

Fallon won this year's top honor at the Minnesota ceremony, or "Best of Show" winner for its client, the Ladders, an online executive recruitment website.

Minority firms honored

The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce recognized several minority-owned businesses at its annual awards ceremony Friday evening at the Downtown Radisson Hotel.

Alan Reid, founder of EMPO Staffing, was recognized in the $10 million-plus-revenue category; Prince Wallace, co-founder of Independent Packing Services, was recognized in the $1 million to $10 million category; and Marie Lewis, founder of Associates by Design, was recognized in the less-than $1 million category.

Dave St. Peter, president of the Minnesota Twins, received the "Small Business Advocate of the Year Award" for efforts by the Twins to collaborate and help grow Minnesota's African-American small businesses. St. Peter also delivered the keynote address.

Frequent-buyer program

Have some holiday shopping to do on your way in or out of town?

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is trying to entice penny-pinching consumers to stop and shop at its merchants. It's offering coupon books to travelers that include everything from $3 off at Ike's Food & Cocktails to 15 percent off book purchases at Red Balloon and Simply Books. All in all, about 80 coupons are offered in the book, which can be downloaded online at www.shopsatmsp.com. The book, called "Jingle, Jingle Savings Days," is also available at directory kiosks and information booths at the airport. The coupons are good through the end of the year.

From the Legal Beagles:

Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand has launched a "sustainable business practice" targeted at the growing ranks of social-enterprise businesses.

"As attorneys practicing in the sustainable business area, we are driven by the opportunity to not only help our social enterprise clients succeed, but to support those interested in growing such ventures," said Terri Krivosha, head of the business & securities practice group.

To that end, Maslon is serving as the local host of Criterion Venture's "Structure Lab workshop" on Thursday. Criterion Ventures, with assistance from the Packard Foundation, mentors and helps launch social enterprises and works with nonprofits, foundations and others to develop sustainable, business-driven solutions in the areas of health care, education, energy, environment and poverty. More information: www.criterionventures. com and www.maslon.com.

• Also Thursday, the Lommen Abdo law Firm, the Grammy Foundation and Minnesota Law & Politics will address hot issues in the law and entertainment industry, including how the majority of professional athletes go broke three years after their careers, raising money for independent films and the latest saga in the digitalization of music. The all-day session is $100 for lawyers, including CLE credits and lunch, and $50 for law students. More info: www.lommen.com

NEAL ST. ANTHONY, JANET MOORE AND SUZANNE ZIEGLER