March/April 2020 Commerce Connection by Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

for

MARCH / APRIL 2020

CONNECTION

Volume 27 | Issue 2

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

than

years

n invested in you. COMMERCE

C h a m pa i g n C o u n t y ’ s

t ru s t e d

b u s i n e s s - to - b u s i n e s s

p u b l i c at i o n

PRESENTED BY:

INSIDE: PGS. 10-11 Protecting Yourself From Coronavirus Scams

Take control of your business account.

Manage your First Mid Business Checking: • With our Business Mobile App, make decisions on the go.

Look for us in these area communities:

• With Admin Rights on your account, control user access to fit your needs.

CHAMPAIGN 398-0067 | URBANA 367-8451 SAVOY 351-3526 | MAHOMET 318-3750 MANSFIELD 318-3771 | MONTICELLO 762-2111 RANTOUL 893-8100

firstmid.com

Darlene Johnson

Vice President Treasury Management 114 W. Church Street • Champaign 217-373-8136 djohnson@firstmid.com

*Message and data rates may apply. **Some features are based on user permissions. 2

303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org

FY20 TOP INVESTORS TOP INVESTORS GOLD Busey SILVER Carle University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center BRONZE A & R Mechanical Contractors Amdocs BankChampaign, N.A. Christie Clinic First Mid Bank & Trust Health Alliance Hickory Point Bank & Trust Midland States Bank Napleton’s Auto Park of Urbana

CHAMBER STAFF Laura Weis President & CEO LauraW@champaigncounty.org

Lindsay Quick Director of Marketing & Events LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

Matt Bradley Business Growth & Development Director MattB@champaigncounty.org

Stephanie Smith-Jeffries Office and Accounting Administrator StephanieS@champaigncounty.org Megan Wenstrand Director of Membership Sales & Engagement MeganW@champaigncounty.org

Mindy Cain Director of Workforce Readiness MindyC@champaigncounty.org Madeline Herrman Public Policy Director MadelineH@champaigncounty.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OFFICERS Rachel Coventry

Justin Overstreet

Mike Estes

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS

Chip Craddock Clark Dietz, Inc.

Deb Reardanz Clark-Lindsey Village

Kyle Emkes

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Illini Radio Group - MIX 94.5, WIXY 100.3, Rewind 92.5, WYXY Classic 99.1, True Oldies 97.9, Extra 92.1, Hits 99.7

Linda Difiore

Julianna Sellett

Tonya Horn

Dan Hurley FedEx Ground

Amie Smith

Dan Kirby

R.J. Hynds English Brothers Company

Bill Walter

Dr. Jared Rogers

Stevie Jay Broadcasting - Q96-96.1FM, US105.9, Christian FM 95.3 & ESPN 93.5 PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE NewsTalk 1400 WDWS, Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS, Classic Hits 107.9 WKIO

150 PERCENT CLUB Awards, Ltd. / Stamps Direct Dish Passionate Cuisine Hyatt Place LongHorn Steakhouse TrophyTime, Inc. W.K. Cooper II Asset Management Corporation

Curtis Orchard, Ltd.

Silgan Closures

Susan Jepsen

Martin Hood LLC

Carle

BankChampaign N.A.

A & R Mechanical Contractors

Chrisrtie Clinic Illinois Marathon

Pradeep Khanna University of Illinois

Chair, Fisher National Bank

First Vice Chair, Dodd & Maatuka

Second Vice Chair, Rogards

Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen

Past Chair OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center

Laura Weis

Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Chuck McReaken TSM Ventures, Inc.

FINANCIAL SERVICES Provided by CliftonLarsonAllen

All information contained within this publication is property of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and cannot be reproduced without prior expressed or written consent. This publication contains paid advertising; the opinions expressed in those advertisements do not reflect the views of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information, contact the Chamber at 217.359.1791.

WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER >> members who joined between January 1 - February 29 agileResource

321 E. Adams St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.753.5742 www.agileresource.com Construction Materials Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re your local interior construction experts with the tools and know-how to harness the cost, schedule and performance benefits of the DIRTT integrated prefabricated construction method. Our architectural products division can provide you, your architect and/or your GC with the finishing touches that will complete your space, including floor and wall coverings and acoustics. Connect with us today to start your next project.

Alto Vineyards

4210 N. Duncan Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 217.356.4784 www.altovineyards.net Wine Bars Alto Vineyards Champaign is the second location of one of the oldest wineries in Illinois. We are located just outside of Champaign city limits. Alto has won over 500 National and International awards across the nation. Have a special event coming up? We offer rental space as well as custom labels for our bottles of wine. Visit our website for more details. Looking for something to do? We have fun events planned all year such as Murder Mystery Dinners, Comedy Nights, concerts, etc. Follow us on Facebook to see all of our events.

Area-Wide Technologies, Inc.

and local hosting solutions, such as off-site backups, virtual servers, and many more, that provide a unique blend of cost savings and efficiency for our clients. We have been serving the CU location for over 20 years.

Blocher Consulting LLC

206 N. Randolph St. #412 Champaign, IL 61820 217.390.6462 Blocherconsulting.com Computers- System Designers & Consultants We are an agile software development firm that designs cutting-edge software. We pride ourselves on delivering technology solutions that give our clients competitive advantages in their respective fields. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a budding entrepreneur or an executive of a billion-dollar business, we give shape to your ideas.

Blue Dragonfly Catering 26 James Rd. Rantoul, IL 61866 217.714.9329 Bluedragonflycatering.com Catering& Delivery

Blue Dragonfly Catering, owned by Chef Leah Bodine, is a farm to table catering company focusing on local produce and meats. Started in 2009, Chef Leah has catered events from small private home gatherings to classic rock bands. We do lunch boxes, On The Go Meals and breakfast catering along with our buffet lunches and dinners. Our menus are custom to your budget and tastes and always using the freshest ingredients.

2110 Clearlake Blvd. Suite #100 CHAMPAIGN, IL 61822 217.359.8041 www.areawidetech.com Computers- Networking

Cricket Wireless

Area-Wide was formed in 1999 to fill a void in the level of IT services provided in the central Midwest. Since that time and with steady growth, Area-Wide has developed into a Midwest regional presence, providing IT solutions for small to enterprise level clients. We specialize in servers, workstations, laptops, storage solutions, virtualization, and Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery solutions for our clientele. We also provide Cloud based

Cricket Wireless has a great selection of phones and plans at affordable prices and no annual contracts on a big network.

2716 North Prospect Ave. Champaign, IL 61822 217.569.4299 www.cricketwireless.com Cellular Telephone Equipment & Supplies

First State Bank of Forrest

Molitor Financial Group, LLC

The First State Bank of Forrest is located on the east side of Mahomet and opened its doors in December of 2017. It is the sixth branch for the family owned organization representing a bank that opened in 1914. The bank has a modern lobby with free coffee and hot chocolate available. We work hard at partnering with our customers and making our bank’s motto, “A Strong Friend For Your Family” come true on a daily basis with an emphasis on friend. Stop by and see us or give us a call at 217.590.1010 for questions on full line of banking and lending products.

Founded in 2005, Molitor Financial Group, is a boutique residential lending firm focusing all of our resources on our clients. While MFG is new to the area, our Champaign team is firmly entrenched as community leaders locally. Molitor Financial Group offers clients the lending power of large corporate banks without treating clients like they are just another borrower. We take the time to get to know our clients as a person and assist them in every way possible to achieve their goal of home ownership.

1004 Purnell Dr. Mahomet, IL 61853 217.590.1010 www.fsbforrest.com Banks

Lochmueller Group, Inc.

201 W. Springfield Ave., Ste. 1012 Champaign, Illinois 61820 217.673.7633 Lochgoup.com Engineers-Civil Lochmueller Group is a full-service survey, planning, engineering and environmental firm serving clients throughout the U.S. and abroad. While maintaining its strong focus on planning, today the firm addresses a wide variety of needs from early data collection and modeling through public involvement, design, and construction oversight. This comprehensive range of services allows Lochmueller to better understand and appreciate client’s ultimate goals and how to achieve them. Planners and designers have access to a wide variety of expertise in-house readily available to provide insights on specific planning and design considerations, permitting, costs, and a host of other subjects.

Masco Packaging & Industrial Supply 290 North St. Springfield, IL 62704 217.744.0399 www.mascopackaging.com Distribution & Packaging Janitorial Supply

Wholesale Distributor specializing in janitorial, packaging, and floor equipment sales. Women Owned Business.

2309 Village Green Pl. Ste B Champaign, IL 61822 217.203.6100 www.molitorfinancialgroup.com Mortgages

Whether a first-time or seasoned homebuyer, looking to refinance or learn about specialty loan programs, complete customer satisfaction is our goal. Feel free to contact us or stop in the office for all of your home loan needs.

Resource One Illinois Ltd. 321 E. Adams St. Springfield, IL 62701 217.753.5742 www.resourceoneoffice.com Furniture Contractor

Bring us a blank space, a grand vision, or anything in between. We will meet your project with the same level of dedication and professionalism you expect of your own team. Quality Products. Responsive Service. Inspired Design. An overall experience that builds trust and loyalty. Our goal is to integrate these elements to create space for clients that communicates their culture while attracting the best clients and team members. Woman-owned in Springfield, Illinois since 1987. We know what your space IS, and we know what your space can BE.

Savoy Therapy/ FYZICAL West Champaign 1907 W Springfield Ave. Suite B Champaign, IL 61821 217.903.01.99 www.fyzical.com/westchampaign Physical Therapists

FYZICAL West Champaign provides outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services. We also provide in-home therapy through our affiliate Savoy Therapy in Central IL.

Screenmobile

2801 Hundman Dr. #5 Champaign, IL 61822 217.281.3939 www.screenmobile.com/champaign Awnings & Canopies Blinds-Venetian, Vertical, etc.-Dealers Home Improvements Retractable Screens Sunrooms Screenmobile is East Central Illinois’s choice for screen installation and repair. We offer a one of a kind customer experience by coming to you. We are 100 percent mobile and offering all screening products directly to your door. We strive to make the hardest thing our customer has to do in fixing your screens, is pick up the phone and call us. We offer basic screen repair plus sales and service of roll down screens, retractable door’s, sliding doors and specialty screens, plus more. Gives us a call today and let us take care of your screening problem.

Sensory Sanctuary

331.551.6493 www.sensorysanctuary.com Home Healthcare-Equipment & Supplies We are dedicated to providing safety equipment, sensory tools, and resources to individuals with sensory processing disorder.

Town2Gown

303 West Green St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.377.8359 Restaurants Town2Gown is a restaurant business dedicated to providing food services to college students. Our focus is on investing in restaurants in college towns and on college campuses in the United States. The owner of Town2Gown, Aaron Goodman, lived in China for eighteen years and is currently focused on providing restaurant services to Chinese exchange students at universities in the US. Town2Gown is in the process of finding investors to open a restaurant in Campustown of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. If you are interested in becoming an investor, please contact Aaron Goodman.

Widmer Interiors

2203 E. Empire Ste A Bloomington, IL 61704 217.355.5000 Widmerinteriors.com Office Furniture & Equipment Dealers Widmer Interiors provides furniture to create modern, high-performance workspaces. For well over 50 years of crafting innovative corporate, government and healthcare office environments, we’ve developed a core perspective that applies to every project — great workplace designs are as much about people, culture and collaboration, as they are about furniture, ergonomics and aesthetics.

Ribbon Cuttings

>> held between December 1 and January 31

Waypoint Analytical celebrated the opening of their new, larger facility with a ribbon cutting on February 4.

Congratulations to Haymakers - Champaign at the Fields on their grand opening. They held a ribbon cutting on February 21.

Cricket Wireless celebrated the grand opening of their new location on North Prospect with a ribbon Cutting on February 27.

Interested in hosting a ribbon cutting?

Chamber businesses have the opportunity to sign up for ribbon cuttings to celebrate their grand opening or ground breaking. Along with your staff members and support team, Chamber staff and ambassadors attend the event to help you celebrate. A photograph of your event will be seen by thousands through the Commerce Connection, as well as the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page. If your business is interested in hosting a ribbon cutting, contact Megan at MeganW@champaigncounty.org or call 217.359.1791.

Your dreams shouldn’t wait. With more than 150 years of strength and service, Busey has your backing. Since we opened our doors, it’s been our honor to help generations of families own homes, attend college, open businesses, retire worry-free and leave a lasting legacy.

busey.com 217.365.4500

Member FDIC

SHOP • DINE • SUPPORT LOCAL APRIL 11-18 ILLINOISLOVELOCAL.COM

Help Us, Help them.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses in our community are feeling the effects economically. Temporary closures can be devastating to these businesses and to those that own and work at them. Help us, help them. The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable foundation. Donations made to the Foundation will be used for micro-grants to help our small businesses get back on their feet in the aftermath of COVID-19. Contributions to the Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business Relief Fund are tax deductible. Our foundation also supports the chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts in the areas of education, workforce development and leadership development. The foundation supports its mission by developing strategic partnerships and initiatives with schools, businesses, community leaders and other supporters. Support our economic development, education and workforce through a tax deductible donation to the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc.

www.champaigncounty.org/chamber-foundation

Protecting Yourself From Coronavirus Scams Reprinted from www.commercebank.com

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has captured headlines lately, and has disrupted numerous routines and businesses. Now, scammers may try to take advantage of fears surrounding the virus as well. Just like in other situations, there are steps you can take to protect your health, your technology and your finances from people who might try to exploit the uncertainty surrounding this disease. Working from home? Protect your devices. A lot of people will be logging on remotely in the coming weeks. Now is the time to make sure your computer and mobile phone’s software are up-to-date. Check security software, your operating system, computer programs and apps for any updates that need to be installed. For help, call a representative from your company’s IT department, your internet provider or visit a tech service. There are also products available that scan your device for viruses and recommend security patches. Avoid fake cures and treatments. According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are currently no vaccines, pills or other prescription or over-the-counter products available online or in stores to treat or prevent the coronavirus disease. Beware anyone offering to give you medical advice or sell you a treatment— these may be not only unproven and useless, but also dangerous. Working from home? Protect your devices. 10

Con artists will often entice you with an amazing opportunity that requires you to enter sensitive information to redeem it. Keep your credit card number, social security number and other private details safe by avoiding suspicious emails, links and pop-up windows. If something seems too good to pass up, do some research online to make sure the seller and offer is legitimate. If you have questions about your health, consult your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional. Watch out for online scams. There have been several email phishing campaigns to try to capitalize on people’s confusion about the virus. Attackers may pose as authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) in emails, offering information about the virus in order to trick victims into downloading malicious software or handing over their login credentials. Here are some things you can do to avoid being a victim of these types of scams: • Check the URL of the website you’re using to make sure it’s secure. If it starts with “https” (rather than “http”), it’s using a secure connection. • Be skeptical of URLs and emails with multiple misspelled words or use the wrong domain in their name (CDC.com, for instance, instead of CDC.gov.)

• Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. When in doubt, copy and paste URLs into your browser rather than clicking on them directly. • Never download anything from an unfamiliar site—it could download viruses or malicious files to your computer or device. Give wisely. Research charities and crowdfunding sites before you make a donation to coronavirus research or aid. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you shouldn’t let anyone rush you into making a decision or pressure you into giving money. And if someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t give it to them. Be wary of phony job offers. With many people being forced to take time off work or becoming unemployed during the coronavirus outbreak, scammers are creating fake job postings to collect personal information such as your name, address and Social Security number, as well as personal financial account information. They are also trying to trick job seekers into becoming money mules through money laundering schemes that appear on the surface to be work-at-home job offers. If you receive a job solicitation via email that sounds too good to be true, beware. And if you get a phone call that requests that you share any personal or medical information, hang up. Stay informed and take action when necessary. The FTC has put together a site to keep you informed of the latest information on avoiding coronavirus fraud and give you additional information to help you avoid scams. You can also visit the official CDC site for situation

updates, recommendations on how to prevent illness and what to do if you get sick. If you suspect you’ve become a victim of a scam, contact your bank or credit card company right away. Commerce Bank customers are encouraged to take advantage of security features to help prevent fraud, including Online Banking account and card alerts, cardholder security tools and Commerce’s ID Theft Services. You can contact a member of our Security Team, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 866-203-1396. They are specialists in fraud detection and mitigation and can provide insight and assistance if you run into a situation that you think might be a scam. We’re here for you, in every situation. Commerce Bank believes that every financial situation is unique and deserving of a personal response. We understand that the current situation may cause financial uncertainty and can be very difficult for many Americans. For more than 150 years, our priority has been to do what’s right for our customers. We remain committed to that guiding principle. If you are having financial difficulties due to job loss, reduced hours or other impact from the coronavirus, we’re here for you. If you are a Commerce Bank customer facing financial hardship due to the impact of the coronavirus, please call us at 833-518-3458 to discuss your current accounts. Please know Commerce is taking the coronavirus matter very seriously and will continue to take appropriate measures as the situation warrants to help you protect your health and safety and to minimize any disruption to our day-to-day operations. We will continue to follow the recommendations from the CDC as the situation warrants.

For more information, visit www.commercebank.com

In uncertain times, no matter what tomorrow holds, we remain invested In Investors In Optimism In Guidance In Security In Kindness In Service In Clarity In Your Needs In Your Satisfaction In Your Tomorrow

We remain invested in you.

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION COVID-19 has taken over our airwaves and headlines. In the middle of all the new regulations coming down, Illinois had an election. The 2020 General Primary Election took place March 17, 2020. Despite pandemic, the results are in and taking a look at these now will prepare us for November’s General Election. Primary elections’ purposes are so that intraparty races can be decided prior to the general election as only one candidate from each party can receive their party’s nomination. Illinois has what is called a closed-primary. This means that voters must select either a democrat or republican ballot. This only applies to primary elections in the state. In November, there will be only one, general ballot for all voters in the state. The race for the United States Presidency is at the top of the ticket this year. At the time of Illinois Primary, three democratic candidates were still in the race: former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Tulsi Gabbard. Biden emerged the winner overall in Illinois; however, Sanders took the lead on a micro-level here in Champaign County. Gabbard did not reach a threshold for delegates and has since dropped from the race. President Donald Trump had a clear victory here in Illinois for the republican nomination. Both democrats and republicans held primary contests for the U.S. Senate. Sen. Dick Durbin won the democratic nomination, and republican former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran will be on the ticket as well. Turning our attention to the 13th and 15th Congressional Districts, there are some other contested races. In the 13th, Rep. Rodney Davis and Betsey Dirksen Londrigan will be campaigning for votes as they compete against each other again as they did in 2018. Londrigan

was on the democratic ticket against Stefanie Smith. As Rep. John Shimkus retires, an open seat race for the 15th begins. Republican Mary Miller and democrat Erika Weaver will be asking for your vote in November. None of the races for the Champaign County’s Illinois General Assembly delegation had contested primaries, but there were five county-level races that saw primary contests— all on the democratic ballot. The democratic nomination for Circuit Clerk will go to Susan McGrath who opposed Robert Burkhalter. Incumbent Charles Young lost his nomination for a County Board District 6 seat to DeShawn Williams. County Board 8’s primary race saw Emily Rodriguez gain the nomination against current County Boar Chair Giraldo Rosales. Jennifer Straub won against sitting member Cynthia Fears in District 9. Mary King received the nomination in District 10 over sitting-member Connie Dillard-Myers. In general, winning a party’s nomination does not mean that one is guaranteed to win the general election in November. Republicans, democrats and third-party candidates can all be on the ballot in the General Elections. This merely sets the stage. The Champaign County Clerk oversees elections here and maintains all records. If you would like to take a look, you can view the full election results there. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out: Madeline Herrman Public Policy Director MadelineH@champaigncounty.org 217.359.1791

Pandemic Doesn’t Have to Mean Pandemonium in the Workplace With heavy media coverage and employee concerns on the rise regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), what should employers be doing to prepare? By now you’ve read about the virus and steps to protect yourself. Here we’ll provide items to consider about the impact the outbreak could have on your employees and your business operations. In addition to the laundry list of policies, benefit programs, and labor laws to consider and address, we’ll also include potential employee questions so you can be prepared to share with your workforce what you are doing and how you would handle a widespread outbreak of the coronavirus. While this list isn’t all-inclusive, these points provide a foundation for employers to begin discussions and create a plan. Begin with a policy review Review internal policies to determine if changes need to be made due to the coronavirus: • Paid time off • Leave of absence • Telecommuting • Business travel • Office or business closure • Business continuity • Absenteeism • Communication • Return to work • Common area cleanliness Make a tailor-made plan Even if a review of your business policies brings up no new issues, there will be questions and situations you’ll need to be ready to address. Begin by thinking about how your business is different. What works for a business with an office environment would not necessarily work for a 14

Written by: Lori Demeyer Kim Orsolits

retail employer. Then think about whether you can apply your policies consistently in similar situations. Consider these questions: • If your business must close for several weeks, will employees be paid? Will they be required to use accrued time off? State and local authorities could advise businesses to close or for citizens to be quarantined. • Can employees work from home? Which parts of your business, if any, have remote capabilities and technology? Not all employees perform tasks that can be done remotely, but there still may be alternative options available. We’ll take a deeper dive in the telecommuting section below. • Will employees continue to be required to travel on company business? Again, this guideline can differ based on the business, industry, and role. A salesperson’s role may be to travel, but perhaps they can set up systems via teleconferencing to reach prospects and customers. Telecommuting can be a money- and sanity-saving option. • If your business is public facing, set a policy to handle any employee preferences to avoid working with the public due to health concerns. Can employees be assigned another role? If not, will they need to use paid time off or will they not get paid? • How will your organization handle local school closures? Parents will need to make childcare arrangements, stay home, or bring children to work. Telecommuting can help with this situation. • Will the company require a fitness for duty or return to work notice from a health care professional for employees returning to work after time off to recover, self-quarantine, or other reasons? To ensure that employees are

fit to work, decide what documentation, if any, you will require. • Should the company consider holding video meetings rather than in-person meetings? Do you have this capability? If so, you’ll need to communicate how meetings should be conducted and expectations for attendance and participation. • Who in your organization is responsible for monitoring state and local advisory updates and making decisions on business operations? The virus is already affecting different communities around the country and world in unique ways. Ensure someone monitors each of the local environments impacting your company locations. Assemble the appropriate team within your organization to review information discussed in recent city, county, and state coronavirus communications that may impact your business and workforce. • Who is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the office and common areas? What additional measures need to be taken and by whom? If a cleaning company is involved, contact them to ensure the correct cleaning materials are being used at an appropriate frequency. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for specifics. • How will employees be notified if a positive case is identified in the workplace or office building? What is the employer’s responsibility? Proceed with caution regarding employee privacy (refer to HIPAA laws) and balance that with the continued safety of your other employees. • Consider how to respond to situations in which an employee chooses to selfquarantine due to being a high-risk individual. Will your business allow time off or remote working privileges? Employees who are deemed high-risk based on their medical history or age may have concerns about coming to work. This is a sensitive area, so proceed with caution; your employees’ medical history should remain private.

Consider telecommuting and teleconferencing options Unified communications are key to keeping your business running seamlessly. For many, the ability to work from home has gone from being a privilege to a necessity during the coronavirus outbreak. Today’s technology allows us to work as efficiently as possible, even in emergencies. Many companies are moving toward conducting video meetings versus office meetings or conferences, and ensuring employees can still receive phone calls when outside the office. With a simple data connection, you can support your flexible workforce by providing voice and video conferencing accessibility from any location. Your business can set up a remote work environment that can include phones, soft phones, and audio/video conferencing, in as little as a day, to ensure collaboration among your employees continues. Being able to see your employees, share presentations and documents, and be interactive allows you to continue to brainstorm and drive business growth as a team. Teleconferencing can help with sales and client communication as well. Take this time to evaluate the benefits of a remote workforce as a way to reduce costs, increase productivity, and provide a better work-life balance for employees. Conduct a benefit plan review Review your organization’s benefit plan documents to understand what benefits are offered and the coverage options. It’s a good idea to communicate to employees now about their benefit coverage and how to use it if needed. • Health insurance — What does the plan cover? Does it charge a co-pay, deductible, or other fees? • Workers’ compensation — If any employee contracts the virus at work, will the carrier cover medical and lost time? • Short term disability — What is the waiting period for benefits, and is the coronavirus covered? Article continued on page 16 15

Pandemic Doesn’t Have to Mean Pandemonium in the Workplace (continued) • State paid disability programs — What is the waiting period for state benefits, and is the coronavirus covered? • Employee assistance programs (EAP) — How can your EAP provide employees with information and resources? Finally, employers need to be sure they understand labor and employment laws impacting the workplace and how these laws apply during a pandemic. These resources can provide a starting point. • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) • Discrimination laws • Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) • Moving forward

As you can see, there are many areas employers must understand and consider when deciding on their next move. Your employees will likely surprise you with questions you hadn’t considered, and you will need to address their concerns. Remind them that you’re all in this together, and that much of this is new and uncharted territory for both employers and employees. Seize the moment to make decisions and communicate with employees as much as possible. How we can help If you have questions about the ongoing concerns and impacts of the coronavirus on your business and its employees, CLA’s HR consulting and outsourcing professionals can help you better understand and manage these big moments within your business. If you need to act quickly to have a remote presence established or just want to enhance what you have today, CLA’s telecommunications professionals can help begin building that foundation for you.

This article was originally published on CLAconnect.com. The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, accounting, investment, or tax advice or opinion provided by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CliftonLarsonAllen) to the reader. For more information, visit CLAconnect.com

A very special thank you to the

150+ volunteers

who participated in the fall iRead â&#x20AC;˘ iCount program. Collectively, these volunteers helped

200+ kindergarten students

improve their literacy and numeracy skills throughout the Champaign Unit 4 elementary schools. Community challenges can only be overcome with community participation. When you volunteer one-hour a week, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be helping to improve Champaign Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future workforce. Please consider volunteering for the fall 2020 program. Many volunteer opportunities will be available in both Champaign and Urbana elementary schools. Learn more at:

www.champaigncounty.org/iread-icount

Sponsorship opportunities THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020 (potential postponement date: 6/18/20) Lincolnshire Fields Country Club / 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

TITLE SPONSOR

$3,500 - only one available!

• Foursome to compete in the golf outing (includes lunch, green fees, golf cart, use of driving range, course refreshments, dinner) - $596 value • Name mention in title: Chamber Golf Outing brought to you by ______. • Large logo on all promotional materials - Including, but not limited to: save the dates, registration forms, all Facebook and website materials, signage at other events leading up to the outing, newsletters, calendars, etc. • Logo on scorecard • Listed on event poster • Special mention at the event • Opportunity to hang a banner or other signage • Hole Sponsorship - $375 value • Opportunity to distribute promotional items to golfers in gift bags or at sponsored hole • e-Connection banners (4 weeks) - $400 value • Logo in the Commerce Connection magazine after the event • Half page ad in the Commerce Connection magazine - $370 value

Package Value: $4,200

HOLE - IN -ONE SPONSOR

$1,250 - only one available!

• Two entries into the Outing - $298 value • Sign with logo at Hole 3 - $375 value • Listing on all promotional materials as Hole-in-One sponsor • Logo on scorecard • Listed on event poster • Special mention at the event • Opportunity to distribute promotional items to golfers in gift bags or at sponsored hole • Four complimentary tickets to dinner following the outing - $100 value • e-Connection Banners – 2 weeks worth - $200 value • Logo in the Commerce Connection magazine after the event • Quarter page ad in the Commerce Connection magazine - $190 value *Hole must be manned at all times

Package Value: $1,900

HOSPITALITY SPONSOR

$1,000 - only one available!

• Two entries into the Outing - $298 value • Sign with logo at designated location - $375 value • Listing on all promotional materials as Hospitality Sponsor • Logo on scorecard Listed on event poster • Special mention at the event • Opportunity to distribute promotional items to golfers in gift bags or at sponsored tent • e-Connection Banners – 2 weeks worth - $200 value • Logo in the Commerce Connection magazine after the event • Quarter page ad in the Commerce Connection magazine - $190 value *Area must be manned at all times

Package Value: $1,300

Interested in golfing? Visit www.champaigncounty.org/events/calendar/ 18

GOLF BALL SPONSOR

$750 - SOLD!

• One entry into the Outing - $145 value • Logo on 144 golf balls distributed to each golfer • Logo on scorecard • Listed on event poster • Mention in the Commerce Connection magazine • E Connection Banners – 1 week worth - $100 value • Business card size ad in the Commerce Connection magazine - $100 value

GOLF CART SPONSOR

$750 - SOLD!

• Logo on 68 golf carts used by golfers during the outing • Logo on scorecard • Listed on event poster • Mention in the Commerce Connection magazine • E Connection Banners – 1 week worth - $100 value • Business card size ad in the Commerce Connection magazine - $100 value

PUTTING GREEN OR DRIVING RANGE SPONSOR

$500 - Puting Green SOLD!

• Signage with logo posted near putting green or driving range • Logo on scorecard • Listed on event poster • Mention in the Commerce Connection magazine • E Connection Banners – 1 week worth - $100 value • Business card size ad in the Commerce Connection magazine - $100 value

HOLE AND CONTEST SPONSORS

Hole Sponsorship - $375 - only 2 holes a available! Contest Sponsor* - $475 - only 1 contest hole a available!

• Longest Drive (Men OR Women)

• Longest Putt

• Closest to the Pin

*Hole must be staffed at all times

• Showcase your business at your hole with a display and promotional items giving you direct access to all golfersand other sponsors • Sign with logo at your sponsored hole • Logo on scorecard • Mention in Commerce Connection after event • Complete list of participants and their workplace Name: Business: Address: City, State, Zip: Phone: Email: Signature:

Please return completed forms to: Lindsay Quick via email at LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org Or mail to: Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

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Starting or Growing Your Business? The Chamber Has Your BAC. BAC Complimentary Services

Business Counseling: With over 15 experienced advisors with backgrounds in a variety of fields, BAC is committed to growing business one idea at a time. One-On-One Banker Consultation: The Chamber has partnered with local banks to provide existing business owners or aspiring business owners a neutral space to discreetly discuss their financials on a one-on-one basis with a banking professional without the pressure of sales.

www.champaigncounty.org/business-advisors-council 20

MEMBER ACCOLADES & NEWS HEYL ROYSTER Heyl Royster announces Tyler Pratt has become partner in the firm.

throughout the country in a variety of high-end restaurants, including under a Michelin star chef in Las Vegas.

Tyler Pratt focuses his practice on medical malpractice, professional liability defense, and trucking litigation. He regularly defends physicians, nurses, hospitals, and clinics in professional liability claims involving significant injury or death. Tyler also represents clients in business and commercial litigation and estate litigation. Tyler obtained his J.D., cum laude, from Valparaiso University and his B.A., magna cum laude, in History from the University of St. Francis. Tyler practices in the firm’s Champaign office.

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES CENTER Jodie Harmon joins Developmental Services Center as the director of development and communications. Jodie brings expertise in a multitude of areas including fundraising, donor stewardship and planned giving. DSC is thrilled to welcome her talent and leadership to the agency.

COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL DEVONSHIRE REALTY CBCDR has earned the 2019 Commercial Elite award which is bestowed upon the top 15 Coldwell Banker Commercial® affiliated companies globally. The company ranked #7 within the global network. This marks the 15th time in 16 years the offices have earned this distinguished award. CBCDR is also pleased to announce that Timothy Harrington has earned the organization’s Silver Level Circle of Distinction based on transaction revenue for 2019. The Circle of Distinction is an honor bestowed upon the top ranking producers among Coldwell Banker Commercial® professionals. CLARK-LINDSEY Clark-Lindsey is excited to welcome its newest leadership team member, Crystal Bailey. Crystal, a Certified Public Accountant, recently filled the role of Accounting Manager. A native of East Central Illinois and an alumna of the University of Illinois, Crystal brings a breadth of experience with her to ClarkLindsey. Professionally, as a finance and operations executive with a range of functional experience, she has a special interest in organizational structure and processes in support of growth strategies.

ROSECRANCE Rosecrance announced today that effective February 2, David Gomel, Ph.D., has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. The appointment is the first step in the transition to retirement for current Rosecrance President/CEO, Philip Eaton. Eaton began his career with Rosecrance as a social worker in 1971, and has served as the agency’s leader since 1982. While Dr. Gomel will be responsible for Rosecrance operations, Eaton will remain as CEO for the coming months during the transition. It is anticipated that Dr. Gomel will take over full responsibility of Rosecrance Health Network and report directly to its board of directors beginning in January 2021. Have news to share with the local business community? Tell us about it and get featured in the Chamber’s next Commerce Connection. Email Lindsay Quick with your news, LindsayQ@ champaigncounty.org.

Please join Clark-Lindsey in extending a warm welcome to Sandra Jones, COTA/L, our new Therapy Director. Clark-Lindsey is excited to welcome Mario Cartagena, Executive Chef to its team. Cartagena has an eclectic background, having worked 21

CHAMBER STORE - Your Marketing Partner MAILING LABELS

EVENT SPONSORSHIP

An exclusive benefit of Chamber membership, we sell mailing labels containing the names and addresses of Chamber member businesses for the purpose of member-to-member communication. Target the local business community. Two lists are available for purchase:

From monthly First Friday Coffee and Business After Hours to our annual Golf Outing, the Chamber hosts a number of events each month. By sponsoring a Chamber event, your business obtains great exposure not only at the event itself, but also within all promotional materials (emails, mailings, e-newsletters, Commerce Connection, website, etc.). Here’s what’s coming up:

Long list (approx. 2,000 names and businesses): $175 Short list (approx. 900 names and businesses): $125

• Golf Outing- See availabe opportunities on pages 18 and 19 of this issue.

Contact Stephanie Smith-Jeffries at StephanieS@champaigncounty.org

E-CONNECTION

Our electronic newsletter is sent to nearly 2,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County each week. Sponsor an e-Connection and get your business seen by thousands. Header sponsorship (one week): $100 Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

WEBSITE MARKETING

With over 400 unique views PER DAY to the Chamber website, you’ll have the opportunity to reach thousands of customers each month. With pricing starting at just $300 this affordable and effective.Contact Lindsay Quick at LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

EMAIL BLAST

This is a bi-monthly publication that is distributed to over 2,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County. Content varies, but is always relevant to local business. There are a variety of ad sizes available. Ads start at only $90. Ask about the exclusive cover package that allows your business to gain exposure before the reader even opens the publication. Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.

EMAIL FOOTER SPONSORSHIP Footer (one week): $75

Contact Lindsay for details at, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

Email Blast Advertisement: $500

COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES:

COMMERCE CONNECTION

For a great price, place an ad in every email that is sent out of the Chamber office. That’s an average of over 12,000 emails per week. The best part? Link the footer wherever you would like.

Do you have a new product, service or information you would like to share with our entire Chamber membership? Take advantage of this exclusive offer to send broadcast emails to our entire nearly 2,000 email list. Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

Additional information for events available upon request. Contact LindsayQ@champaign county.org or call 217.359.1791 with any event sponsorship inquiries.

Rental of laptop computer; conference space and LCD projector; Certificate of Origin; Notary service; information, assistance and resources.

Reach thousands on a small budget. 22

WEBSITE DIRECTORY ENHANCEMENTS

Enhance your listing on the Chamber’s online business directory. The directory gets hundreds of thousands of views each day-turn your standard (complimentary) listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized advertisement. Basic upgrade: included w/membership Enhanced Listing: $79/year Contact Lindsay Quick for more information, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org

calendar of events UPCOMING WEBINARS: Thursday, April 9 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. How to Successfully Work from Home Presented by Mandi Simeone RSVP at www.champaigncounty.org/ events/calendar/

Thursday, April 16 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. COVID-19 Business Management for Small Businesses Presented by Sandra Jones RSVP at www.champaigncounty.org/ events/calendar/

In adherence with the CDC’s latest recommendation regarding large events and mass gatherings, the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce has decided to CANCEL the following upcoming events and programs: Thursday, April 16 Business After Hours Hilton Garden Inn

Tuesday, April 21 BSSS: Advanced Online Marketing* Chamber Office *Please note that this event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, July 21

Monday, April 20 Connect@Lunch Neil St. Blues

Friday, May 1 First Friday Coffee ResCare Home Care

Fast Facts

3.3% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in January 2020

34 business licenses applied for in Champaign County in January 2020

105.7

February 2020 U of I Flash Index for Illinois

1,331,716

rides were taken on CUMTD in February 2020

4,638 visits to the Chamber’s website, champaigncounty.org in February 2020

6,864 number of unique searches on the

Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory in February 2020

2014 The year that the Champaign County

Chamber of Commerce was named the Illinois Outstanding Chamber of the Year

In addition, the Chamber’s large and office conference rooms will NOT be available for outside use through the end of April.

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