At your service

The flip of the humble hamburger and the delivery of sophisticated new medical techniques have something in common. They're both parts of the service economy, which is the topic of this second edition of Pulse 2001.

We've devoted a large portion of this section to the banking business, which is one of the most fascinating elements of the North Shore's service economy these days. The merger of Fleet Bank and BankBoston created not only the seventh-largest bank in the country, but also an opportunity for the North Shore's regional and local banks.

This edition also features pieces on how North Shore Community College and Endicott College have positioned themselves for success at a time when other schools are feeling the pinch of competition _ or closing their doors entirely.

On all these pages you'll find the stories of new ideas in the service economy, and the people who are making them work. We hope you'll enjoy them.