Call them sunshine ladies, the entertainment committee or the coffee lady. Title or not, almost every company and organization has a small group or individual who makes coffee for morning breaks, fills the candy dishes, organizes birthday parties and gives a whole lot extra of themselves without expecting anything in return.

Caterpillar Inc. announced Monday that the engines that power its generator sets will meet Tier 4 interim emissions regulations.

Unless you’re a true novice to the new-car market, you may have some preconceived notions about Korean-made products, and they may not be all that kind. But if you’re looking for a midsize sedan, you might want to erase your memory banks and start all over. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata should finally put to rest all those bad jokes and nasty reviews the Korean maker earned – often deservedly – during its early years in the U.S. market.

HD radio is off the endangered-species list but still takes patience. It’s worth the effort.

Knowing how to ask tech questions is the key to getting useful answers. It could be a query to a support line or a conversation over your backyard fence. The requirements are the same.

Before the term “financial planner” was coined in 1969, brokers, bankers, accountants, attorneys and insurance agents scattered the landscape of advice givers. I'd like to debunk a few myths that are perpetuated by mainstream media and others who know little about this profession.

Erik Piantedosi, owner of Piantedosi Butcher Shop in Plymouth, says shoppers are “better off going to an independently owned (shop), so you can see the meat when we cut it.”

I have spring fever like nobody’s business. That’s too bad for me though, because this year there’s no traveling wiggle room. Beyond dreaming of our coveted summer trip to visit family in North Carolina, we are bound to late winter in Chicago. We’ll survive though, because as spring break week approaches and “everyone” is going south, we’re making plans for a staycation. We’ll get creative and put our frugal minds to the test, go out on the town when we can and find ways to transform our gray days. 

Weekly auto rail, with tips for increasing your truck's gas mileage, Car Q&A with Junior Damato and more.

John Napolitano, CEO of U.S. Wealth Management in Braintree, Mass., has been working to help clients manage their finances for almost 20 years.

Weekly business rail, with tax tips, BBB warning about Olympic memorabilia and more.

In the male-dominated world of motorcycles in the 1960s, Kay Moneghan didn’t just sit back and let the men work on Harleys. She did it herself – becoming the first woman ever to become a Harley-Davidson certified mechanic, her employees said.

Weekly financial Q&A, with questions on debt and children and the right time to buy a home.

Homemade products from more than 60 Illinois companies are on the menu this weekend at the 2010 Illinois Products Expo.

Golf can be a tough sport to master, but one entrepreneur is selling a device that can make it much easier for golfers to perfect their swings. The Thumb Caddy is a small device slipped over the grip of a golf club to help stabilize a golfer’s left hand.