MAY/JUNE 2014
CONNECTION
Volume 21 | Number 3
C O M M E R C E
this issue is sponsored by SERVPRO® Champaign/Urbana
PAID
t ru s t e d
BEFORE
Presorted Standard US Postage
C h a m pa i g n C o u n t y ’ s
When water and fire take control of your life, WE HELP YOU TAKE IT BACK!
Permit No. 29 Champaign, IL
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
for
more
than
20
years
A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AFTER
Minimize business interruption after a disaster - see pg. 15 for more information
Since 1865.
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WORKSITE WELLNESS Health and wellness workplace programs have been increasing in popularity. They can be focused on exercise, stress management, diet or any way to help employees have healthier lifestyles. Not only does this improve health, employees are more productive and feel a sense of community in the workplace. Below recognizes just a few of our Chamber members who have done a great job incorporating health and wellness into their workplace.
CUMTD provides a variety of short term seminars on nutrition, diet and a variety of health topics. They also have a wellness committee that operates an employee ran wellness center since 1985. It has aerobic & weight equipment that can be used by employees and their families. CUMTD has recently started using Myzonemoves.com. This is a website service that tracks activity through a fitness belt. One hour after activity, users can view a summary of their workout. CUMTD provides gift cards to employees every four months based on results. They are looking forward to continuing this program so employees can understand their wellness benefits that occur outside the fitness center.
75 percent of money lost in corporations is from presenteeism, which is lost productivity that occurs when employees come to work but perform below par due to any kind of illness or impediment. Obesity is associated with 39 million lost work days; 239 million restricted activity days; 90 million bed days; and 63 million physician visits.
As a growing business, Mid Illinois Concrete values healthy employees and a collaborative environment. As many of their employees run, they have created a reimbursement program for race fees. Additionally, they have a book club for the office. During the work day, employees meet to discuss books that can improve productivity and wellness in the workplace. These programs help to achieve both success and healthy employees that will be around to see the growth of their company.
The corporate HR department provides each Midland States Bank branch with a different health campaign each quarter. Past examples include reimbursement for Weight Watchers and a walking campaign with pedometers. These campaigns allow branches to meet by creating teams and naming champions in each branch. These programs have created cohesion in each branch and throughout the corporation. Healthier employees also have increased productivity.
A large-scale review of 42 published studies of worksite health promotion programs shows an average of 28 percent reduction in sick days.
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303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org
FY14 TOP INVESTORS TOP INVESTORS Busey Carle University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bronze A & R Mechanical Contractors Amdocs BankChampaign, N.A. Christie Clinic First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust Kraft Foods, Inc. Presence Covenant Medical Center Supervalu Inc. Champaign Distribution Center
CHAMBER STAFF Laura Weis President & CEO LauraW@champaigncounty.org
Lynette Lykins Director of First Impressions LynetteL@champaigncounty.org
Karly Combest Director of Member Relations & Programming KarlyC@champaigncounty.org
Samantha Mathis Marketing & PR Director SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org
Caryn Isenhower Accounts Receivable & Office Administrator Caryni@champaigncounty.org
Mary Murphy Events & Programs Coordinator MaryM@champaigncounty.org
Michelle Luna Membership Sales Director MichelleL@champaigncounty.org
Ryan Roth Public Policy Director RyanR@champaigncounty.org
University of Illinois Employees Credit Union IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS President’s Circle Illini Radio Group - MIX 94.5, WIXY 100.3, 92.5 The Chief, WYXY Classic 99.1, True Oldies 97.9, Extra 92.1, Hits 99.7 NewsTalk 1400 WDWS, Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS, Classic Hits 107.9 WKIO Stevie Jay Broadcasting’s - Q96-96.1FM, US105.9, Sunny 95.3 & ESPN 93.5 WCIA-TV / WCIX 49 Business Circle Fox 27 Illinois / WCCU-TV Shatterglass Studios WICD ABC NewsChannel 15 150 PERCENT CLUB Carmike 13 W.K. Cooper II Asset Management Corporation Hyatt Place
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OFFICERS Joe Alexander Mark Ballard
BankChampaign, N.A.
Mike Billimack Carle
Mike DeLorenzo
University of Illinois
Stephen Flynn Attie’s Bar & Grill
Perry Greene
Stone Creek Golf Club
Kurt Lenschow State Farm
Jim Lyons
Birkey’s Farm Store
Dennis Riggs
FIX-IT, Sidney Dairy Barn
Diane Ruedi
F.E. Moran Security Solutions
Chris Shroyer Busey
Cindy Guthrie
Three Degrees of Change
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.
Michael Wozniak
Chair, Livingston, Barger, Brandt & Schroeder Rod Roberts First Vice Chair, Thunderstruck Design
Beth Auterman
Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen
Tabatha Helm
Past Chair, Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc.
Laura Weis
Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
FINANCIAL SERVICES Provided by CliftonLarsonAllen
BE A SPONSOR AND/OR VOLUNTEER! • Title Sponsor • Hole Sponsor • Golf Ball Sponsor • Hole-in-One Sponsor • Contest Sponsor • Raffle Prize Sponsor • Door Prize Sponsor • Meals provided by:
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Contact Karly Combest at KarlyC@champaigncounty. org or call 217.359.1791 to get involved!
save the date:
JUNE 5
“What’s not to enjoy about the Chamber Golf Outing? The energy level is high and the participation level is even higher. This outing is different than others because there are sponsors located at each hole talking about their products and educating the participants about what they do in the community,” - Tom Whooley of Commerce Bank, a 2013 golfer
GIFFORD STRONG how local organizations continue to give back
After talking with the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District and learning that many trees and rural wind breaks were lost during the November 17 storm that damaged Gifford and other communities, the Champaign County Farm Bureau saw a need and wanted to fulfill it. The Farm Bureau created a committee to help with the project and reached out to Bill Malone at Ludwig Brothers Landscaping in Champaign. They also partnered with the Champaign Rotary Club, who provided dozens of volunteers and money to help defray the cost of the trees and other supplies; the Rantoul and Piatt County Rotary Clubs were also involved. Bradley Uken of the Champaign County Farm Bureau said the “Let’s Get Growing Again” program “offered, to anyone impacted by the storms, three free trees (planting, staking and mulching of the trees)...Overall, 350 trees were requested. Bill Malone worked with Wandell’s Nursery and Moore Tree’s in securing a well-rounded variety of trees for this effort.” Uken also stated that Dustin Ehler, a Village trustee in Gifford, “was instrumental in getting this project done.” Individual donations, Champaign Rotary Club and many agribusinesses helped finance the project. Over 150 volunteers (including truck drivers, tractors, skid loader and fork lift operators) helped transport and plant the trees in Gifford using donated equipment on Saturday, April 5. There were eight planting crews and eight mulching crews working throughout the day. All the volunteers were provided lunch, which was served by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gifford and donated by a Rantoul business. “This project never was about the Farm Bureau, the Rotary Club or Ludwig Brothers Landscaping; it was about helping some individuals impacted by a severe storm start to get back on their feet and create new memories by planting trees...The memories of that big tree in the front yard where the family reunion was or drinking a glass of lemonade under the tree on a hot day after mowing the yard. We hope that these new trees will start to create some new memories for individuals impacted,” said Uken.
Nine businesses impacted by the tragic tornado that tore through Champaign County last November have been awarded funds from the Business Emergency Relief Program. This program was established by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois in response to the devastating event. With the help of generous Champaign County businesses, $16,832 was raised and $16,650 was awarded. The following businesses applied for and received the funds: D & H Rentals Duden & Silver Farmer’s Ag Services
Lenny’s Ice Cream Gallery Longbranch Pabco Tax Service
Rademacher Building Center Robin’s Body Shop, Inc. The North Forty
These businesses, along with those that sustained damages from the disaster and plan to rebuild, were also extended a complimentary membership to the Chamber for one year and a pass to the April breakfast. We cannot thank the 40+ businesses and individuals that generously donated to this fund enough. Together we are capable of so much and the outcome of this Emergency Relief Grant Program demonstrates that.
OFFICE SUITES READY WHEN YOU ARE Begin your business in an entrepreneurial environment focused on making your new venture successful. Whether you’re a new start-up, or a one person shop, we can provide you with the business support services and community resources you need to grow and thrive. (217) 359-6400 | www.505bic.com | 505 W. University, Champaign, IL
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HAVE YOU NOTICED OUR NEW SIGNAGE??
The unpredictable Illinois weather has finally been on our side. We were excited to announce the launch of our new branding this past winter, and we are even more pleased to share this next piece to the puzzle. The previous Champaign County Chamber of Commerce logo was reaching its fifteenth year anniversary. The current business community in Champaign County is drastically different than what is was in the early 2000s. The Chamber is actively working to create an environment that is welcoming to and encourages business, and ultimately facilitates the growth of member businesses. As the premier business association in the area, the brand generated by your organization should appeal to the modern business environment. We believe the new brand does just that. Thank you to Twin City Tent and Awning for helping us bring our new brand to life. Visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ ccountychamber, and tell us what you think!
HELP US WELCOME
Mary Murphy will be joining the Chamber this June as the Event and Programs Coordinator. As a long-time business owner, she brings with her a passion for business. For over 15 years, Mary has been a freelance interior consultant, with hundreds of residential and commercial clients in the Champaign area. She has also owned her own restaurant in Decatur, as well as operating Liga’s Restaurant in Tuscola with her family for many years. Currently, Mary is the Human Resources and Operations Manager for Ralph Lauren in Tuscola. As someone who is passionate for small business and has years of experience in planning events, Mary looks forward to this exciting new challenge at the Chamber of Commerce.
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WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER >> members who joined between March 1, 2014 and April 30, 2014 Athletico – St. Joseph 109 W. Main St. St. Joseph, IL 61873 217.352.3330 www.athletico.com Physical Therapists
Athletico is excited to announce the opening of its second physical therapy clinic in Central Illinois. It is located inside The Zone Fitness in St. Joseph at 109 N. Main Street. Gaby Marquez is the therapist who is working at this location. The clinic provides St. Joseph and the surrounding community with quality care and convenience through the following means: prompt scheduling of initial evaluation within 24-48 hours of the patient’s phone call; ongoing patient education on diagnosis; treatment plans and home exercise program; and hands on treatment provided by the same physical therapist.
Autumn Fields Savoy
65 E. Airport Rd. Savoy, IL 61874 217.355.8182 www.autumnfieldssavoy.com Assisted Living Facilities
Premiere by building an elegant, high quality brick facility and staffing it with the best professional staff in the area, all at an affordable price. Their residents enjoy their autumn years in an interactive community that includes an elegant dining room, two large great rooms, five fireplaces, theater, large courtyards, activity center, exercise room, beauty shop, physical therapy room, baking room for mom, beautiful apartments, garages and 24 hour staff.
Being Apart of Change
P.O. Box 6273 Champaign, IL 61826 217.816.8862 www.beingapartofchange.com Social Service Organizations Being Apart of Change is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization that was created and formed to help all races of people in the United States. Being Apart of Change helps, supports, fundraises and receives donations for many causes. One of the main causes Being Apart of Change raises funds for is homelessness, hunger and poverty. They try to help provide housing for people so they won’t have to face the dangers of being homeless or evicted and have to sleep outside.
Autumn Fields Adult Community is a locally owned premiere assisted living facility located in Savoy.
Environmental Solutions Group held a ribbon cutting on March 27, 2014 to celebrate their recent expansion into the area.
Ace Hardware celebrated the grand opening of their new location in Champaign on March 31, 2014.
Dena Stockman, Broker/Realtor
2441 Village Green Pl. Champaign, IL 61822 217.202.4512 www.denashomes.com Real Estate Agents, Brokers & Independent Contractors Dena Stockman is a full-service realtor licensed in 2003 who assists buyers, sellers and investors with all of their real estate needs. She specializes in central Illinois real estate including Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, Savoy and all neighboring communities. Dena was born and raised in Villa Grove and she brings a sense of small-town service and values you cannot find just anywhere. She thoroughly enjoys helping people. Experience the difference. Dena’s H.O.M.E.S. (Honest. Organized. Meticulous. Enthusiastic. Small-town Service.)
Eichenauer Service
405 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 800.252.5892 www.esiquality.com Restaurant Equipment-Repair & Service Eichenauer Services Inc. (ESI) is a fourth generation family business that specializes in commercial cooking, refrigeration, sanitation and holding equipment repair throughout 90 percent of Illinois and nationally distributes replacement parts. ESI has been committed to being the experts in the industry since opening its doors in 1946. ESI provides many advantages to its customer base such as trained technicians, 24/7 service, access to factory support, large parts inventory and customizable service plans.
Flooring Surfaces Factory Store 1703 N. Dunlap Savoy, IL 61874 217.355.7500 www.flooringsurfacesinc.com Carpet & Rug Dealers - New
Gander Mountain
2006 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign, IL 61822 217.493.9345 www.gandermountain.com Outdoor Sporting Goods-Retail Gander Mountain Company headquartered in St. Paul, MN, is the nation’s largest and fastestgrowing retail network of outdoor specialty stores for hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor
lifestyle products and services. Since 1960, Gander Mountain has offered the best selection of outdoor equipment, technical apparel, active casual wear and footwear featuring national, regional and specialty brands at competitive prices. Focused on a “We Live Outdoors®” culture, Gander Mountain dedicates itself to creating outdoor memories. Gander Mountain has 133 conveniently-located outdoor lifestyle stores in 25 states.
GFI Digital
1102 W. Bloomington Rd. Champaign, IL 61821 217.352.2114 www.gfidigital.com Computers & Computer Equipment-Dealers-New
Grant Scofield State Farm 1405 E. Florida Ave. Urbana, IL 61801 217.384.5727 www.grantscofield.com Insurance
Grant Scofield State Farm has recently opened its doors at 1405 E. Florida Ave. in Urbana. Team Scofield is always ready to provide the remarkable service you deserve. His office keeps weekend and evening hours to ensure every client has an opportunity come in if they so choose. Grant was born and raised in the Champaign-Urbana area, and he enjoys being involved in the community and meeting new people.
His Kid’s Closet
2712 Willowpark Dr. Champaign, IL 61821 267.221.7693 www.hiskidscloset.org Social Service Organizations His Kid’s Closet takes donated clothing and redistributes it to those in need for free. It is distributed through school social workers, WIC, churches and any other community organization willing to participate. Taking care of these basic needs of the children in our community will ensure they experience life to its fullest, rather than concerning themselves with basic necessities.
Lenny’s Ice Cream Gallery
308 S. Main St. Gifford, IL 61847 217.568.7400 www.lennysicecreamgallery.com Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts-Retail
Mark Aardsma – Business Coach
Pabco Tax Service
As an entrepreneur, Mark launched and led two businesses from small startups to multi-million-dollar companies. As a young leader, with many fears and struggles, he engaged intensely in learning leadership and personal development. He remains an active CEO and coaches business leaders who want to grow themselves, grow their leadership and grow their businesses. Coaching conversations often focus on vision and goals, tough decisions, personnel issues and individual challenges that affect relationships and results.
Pure Lisa C.
1 E. Main St., Ste. 219 Champaign, IL 61820 815.206.8829 www.aardsma.com Business Consultants
Mr. Rooter Plumbing
809 E. Perkins Rd. Urbana, IL 61802 217.328.3025 www.champaign.mrrooter.com Plumbing Contractors
323 N. Main St. Gifford, IL 61847 217.568.7525 www.pabcotax.com Tax Return Preparation 1903 Meadow Lake Ct. Mahomet, IL 61853 217.778.3200 www.purelisac.com At-Home Parties
Rademacker Building Center 113 S. Main St. Gifford, IL 61847 217.568.7322 www.radbc.com Lumber-Retail
Mr. Rooter of Central Illinois is a franchise purchased by TCT General Construction in late 2013. As always, their number one priority is taking care of our customers. Mr. Rooter offers a full range of in-home and commercial plumbing services from cabling of sewer lines to installing new toilets to digging in a new sewer line. Customers can expect outstanding care and reliability to get the job done right, the first time. There’s a reason they’re called mister.
Myers Insurance Group – Todd Howe 108 Hessel Blvd., Ste. 202 Champaign, IL 61820 217.607.1652 www.myersinsgrp.com Insurance
Locally owned Property & Casualty Insurance agency located in Champaign. They represent about a dozen home, auto and umbrella personal lines insurance companies as well as at least 40 commercial lines insurance companies. Regardless of the type of insurance you need, Howe can find an insurance market for you at a value premium.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant 30 E. Anthony Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 217.651.6339 www.olivegarden.com Restaurants-Italian
Ardmore Associates, LLC held a ribbon cutting on April 9, 2014, to celebrate their new office space in Champaign.
From commercial properties to residential projects, F.E. Moran, Inc. Fire Protection has the experience and expertise to perform on time and under budget.
24-Hour Emergency Service Installation, Inspection and Repair Offices in Champaign, Carterville and Griffith, IN also DBA Prevention Fire Protection in Morton, IL 3001 Research Road Suite A • Champaign, IL 61822 Phone (217) 356-0700 • Fax (217) 356-0777
www.femoranfp.com
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Robin’s Body Shop, Inc. Robin’s Truck Sales
311 S. Main St. Gifford, IL 61847 217.568.7225 www.robinstrucksales.com Automobile Body Repair & Painting Automobile Dealers-Used Cars Robin’s Body Shop opened for business in September of 1980 in Thomasboro, IL. In July 1981, they moved to their current location on Main Street in Gifford, IL. It is owned by Robin and Maureen Clements and their son Matt. They do a variety of auto body repair and work with all insurance companies to get vehicles back into pre-accident condition. Their customer base has increased every year and say it was due to the attention to detail and their honesty policy. Robin has extensive knowledge and love for the older vehicles, and has done many restorations over the years. He is also a vehicle appraiser for these special interest vehicles for insurance purposes. In September 2005, they expanded and now buy/sell used autos.
Super 8
1007 E. Southline Rd. Tuscola, IL 61953 217.253.5488 Motels
TeeMo Event Photography 1010 Lancaster Dr. Rantoul, IL 61866 217.377.6950 www.teemophotography.com Photographers-Corporate
by principal photographer, Todd Modglin in St. Augustine, FL. Since that time, they have covered events in cities such as New York, Chicago, Nashville, Las Vegas, Miami and Tampa. After several years of moving around the country, Todd decided to return home and utilize his skills in Central Illinois. They specialize in awards ceremonies, reunions, grand openings, private parties, golf outings, trade shows and conferences. TeeMo Event Photography understands the need to capture the energy and enthusiasm of the event, and they work closely with event coordinators, public relations, marketing or creative teams to ensure they’re providing only the best, most useful photographs of your event.
WestPoint Financial Group
2506 Galen Dr., Ste. A106 Champaign, IL 61821 217.954.0575 www.westpointfinancialgroup.com Financial Services Located in Indiana and Illinois, WestPoint Financial Group consists of 250 financial professionals. They are dedicated to educating their clients to help them fulfill their financial goals. They offer relevant experience, personalized attention and outstanding resources. Their financial and insurance associates listen intently, recommend thoughtfully and care genuinely -- about the customer, their family and their business. Their associates are highly competent professionals, respected for their precise expertise, product knowledge and commitment to professional growth. WestPoint Finanical’s stringent code of ethics places the client’s needs above all others and demands uncompromising integrity in every aspect of their business conduct.
TeeMo Event Photography was founded in 2008
Willow Pond Golf Course celebrated recent renovations with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 24, 2014 in Rantoul.
Personal Finance Company held a ribbon cutting on May 1, 2014 to celebrate their new office space in Champaign.
Willow Pond Golf Club 808 Golf Course Rd. Rantoul, IL 61866 217.893.9000 Golf Courses
Willowbrook Memory Support Residence 400 Curtis Rd. Savoy, IL 61874 217.342.3233 www.willowbrookliving.net Alzheimer’s Care
Willowbrook is celebrating the beginning of construction of their newest addition to the Willowbrook family of memory support houses. They are an assisted living provider that specializes in memory care and support for those affected with illnesses. The new location will offer twelve private suites in each of the houses. Other services include certified and professional staff, medication management, three home cooked meals each day and all housekeeping/laundry services will be provided as well as beauty and barber services. The new community is projected to open in the Fall of 2014.
The Champaign Park District had their grand opening ceremony for the brand new Leonhard Recreation Center on Saturday, May 3, 2014.
Woodforest National Bank 2610 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 217.398.5017 416 S. Murray Rd. Rantoul, IL 61866 217.892.4499
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Snyder Real Estate celebrated their recent affiliation with a ribbon cutting on May 6, 2014.
100 S. High Cross Rd. Urbana, IL 61802 217.344.2437 www.woodforest.com Banks Woodforest is a community built bank built upon the needs of the customers they serve. They are committed to earning customer loyalty by offering the highest level of customer service as well as competitive products and services by employees who are fair, responsive and professional. With three convenient locations open seven days a week located in the Walmart supercenters in Champaign, Urbana and Rantoul and hundreds of others across the seventeen states in which we operate there is something for everyone at Woodforest National Bank.
Ambar India held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, to celebrate the opening of their location on Wright Street. champaigncounty.org/
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SERVPRO® OF CHAMPAIGN/URBANA
Like it never happened.®
3813 N. Cunningham Ave. Urbana, IL 61802 217-355-0077
MINIMIZE BUSINESS INTERRUPTION FOR FREE DOES YOUR BUSINESS HAVE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN? SERVPRO®, industry leaders in fire and water clean up & restoration, can help you get back to business after a disaster. By developing a SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Know what to do and what to expect in advance in order to minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business. A NO COST assessment of your facility. A concise Profile Document that takes little time to complete and only contains critical information needed in the event of an emergency. A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster; minimizing the time your business is inactive.
Establishes your local, industry leading, SERVPRO® Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin. Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact info.
Email emergencyready@servprocu.com today to begin your free Emergency Ready Profile for your business.
Ask us about the SERVPRO® Ready Plan App - get help quicker and easier! RESTORATION: CLEANING:
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Everyone has a plan to get out...No one has a plan to get back in - let us help.
ARE YOU READY?
Let the Experts Help You Prepare HAVE A COMMUNICATION PLAN
There’s nothing we can do to prevent severe weather, but you can take steps to prepare yourself and your family to take swift action to protect themselves, regardless of where they are when severe weather strikes. Every home should be equipped with a NOAA All-Hazards Radio. To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan. Many communities have installed outdoor warning siren systems to provide additional warning of impending tornado danger. As their name implies, these sirens are intended to warn people out of doors not those inside buildings. It is important to have a plan on where you will seek shelter when a warning is issued. Things to do after a tornado or severe storm: continue to monitor your battery-powered radio or television for emergency information, be careful when entering any structure that has been damaged, in general, if you suspect any damage to your home, shut off electrical power, natural gas and propane tanks to avoid fire, electrocution or explosions, and only respond to requests for volunteer assistance by police, fire fighters, emergency management and relief organizations, but do not go into damaged areas unless assistance has been requested; your presence could hamper relief efforts and you could endanger yourself. Tip provided by: John Dwyer of the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT Water (one gallon per day and person) Food (non-perishable 3-day supply) Manual can opener Battery operated radio (NOAA Weather Radio) Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Clothing Dust masks or bandannas Plastic sheeting, garbage bags and duct tape Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Hygiene items Important documents; copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account info Cash Fire extinguisher Matches in a waterproof container
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REVIEWING YOUR POLICY
Insurance policies should be reviewed on an annual basis or when a change has been made to the policy. For example, when a new car is purchased many times coverage can be purchased to cover the line amount owed on the vehicle and a review of deductibles may save premium dollars. Reviewing the coverages on an annual basis with your agent can also save premium dollars. Typically many business owners renew “as is” instead of securing alternate quotes for deductibles or adding vitally needed coverages. In today’s litigation society, many insurance companies have responded to that condition by adding coverages to policies. Employment Practices Liability Insurance is a recent added coverage to help offset the rising claims brought on by disgruntled employees. By reviewing your policy or getting alternate quotes every couple of years from another agent the business owner will be able to save premium dollars and add coverages, or delete unnecessary coverages as their needs merit.
Tip provided by: Mike Tennant, President of InsureChampaign
KEEP AN ACCURATE INVENTORY OF PROPERTY
The best and easiest way to start and maintain a personal property inventory is through taking photos and videos. I encourage my customers to “interview” their home; going room to room either taking photos from two sides of the room or video taping the room while describing what they see, where they bought it and approximately what they paid for it. Having up-to-date information on anything unusual like antiques, jewelry, collections and hobby equipment is essential. I stress the importance of including items in the closets, in storage and especially in the garage. If you would prefer getting help with this activity, there are companies that will do this for you for a fee. Booklets that allow you to write descriptions of personal property on a room-by-room basis are also available. Once this information is collected, make sure that at least one copy is stored somewhere besides the home or business you are insuring. If someone ever had to go through a total loss on a home, condo, business or apartment, this type of documentation is crucial in getting them back to where they were before the claim occurred.
Tip provided by: Steve Tarrant of State Farm
FLOODING ISSUES
After a disaster, a business owner might encounter flooding issues and there are many important do’s and don’ts every business owner should know when it comes to this type of water damage. Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage. Remember to also wash hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated item. Do not spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas. If there is a possibility of spreading contaminated air, turn on the HVAC system. You do not want to use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants. If you believe you or any of your staff has been exposed to harmful waste, OSHA recommends a post-exposure medical evaluation.
Tip provided by: SERVPRO® of Champaign/Urbana
GET THE MOST VALUE FOR YOUR INSURANCE DOLLAR
There are ways to get a better value from your insurance dollar. Know your insurance. Review your policies and know your limits. Property companies typically increase limits annually. If you don’t understand something on your policy, ask your agent. Decide on your needs. Many businesses have coverage for areas they don’t need or deductibles that are too low. If you wouldn’t turn in a loss for under $5,000, why is your deductible lower than that? Consider increasing it. If there is coverage you don’t feel is needed, ask. Have a safety team. Many businesses have a safety manual, but no one updates/ reviews it. As your business evolves, so do the areas of safety concerns. Pick one topic/month, discuss it with employees and get input. No one knows the hazards of a job better than the person doing the job. Implement their recommendations and be consistent in adhering to them to see the best results. Classify your workers compensation and general liability correctly. Wrong classifications on the policy could end up costing you more at year end audit or could end up getting a claim declined by the company as an “undisclosed exposure.” Incorrect classes might be less expensive as the policy is issued, but could cost a lot more in the long run. Find a good agent. Think of it like a job interview. When taking comparison bids ask about the agent’s experience and knowledge of your industry. Don’t be afraid to ask for references. You are looking for a trusted advisor for one of your most valuable assets…your business. Tip Provided by: Sarah Marshky of Snyder Insurance
POLICY COVERAGE
Two very important risks to which a business owner should give attention in their review are Business Interruption and Backup of Sewer Drain and Sump Pump coverage. Business Interruption replaces your business revenue during a loss. Backup of Sewer Drain and Sump Pump provides funds to repair or replace your structure or business personal property due to damage caused by backup of sewage or water – typically in a basement or lower level. Whether these losses are excluded or if you are covered for these losses, or for how much, depends on the company with whom you are insured. If your business is insured with a Business Owners Policy, you may have Business Interruption and limited Backup coverage, and the limits may be sufficient. But if the limits are insufficient, you may not be able to adjust them to suit your requirements. Typical Business Interruption limits are 12 months for Actual Loss Sustained. Typical Backup limits are between $5,000 and $10,000. Consult with your insurance professional to determine if your current coverage limits are sufficient. If they are not; a Commercial Package Policy may be your best option. A Commercial Package Policy can be tailormade to provide insurance features and limits that better suit your requirements.
Tip provided by: Todd Howe of Myers Insurance
MEMBERSHIP NEWS Murray Wise, the chairman and chief executive officer of Champaign-based Murray Wise Associates, was named Parkland College’s V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year and will be honored on June 12 at a fund-raising banquet for the Parkland College Entrepreneurial Program. The honor is particularly meaningful to him because Dale Cozad played an integral part in his business life. After acquiring the Champaign division of The Sandage Companies in 1986, Wise formed Westchester Group. After growing it into a leading farmland management and farmland marketing company through real estate and auction services, he sold a majority interest in 2010. Part of the Wetchester business (the auction side) is now part of Murray Wise Associates, which conducts farm and land auctions in 14 states and provides real estate transaction and farm management services for individual investors. For more information, contact their office at 217.398.6400. Spherion Staffing Services, a national recruiting, staffing and workforce solutions provider, recently announced that the company’s Champaign and Decatur offices in Illinois received a Performance Forum Award for exceptional sales performance. Cindy Somers, owner of the Spherion offices, has attributed much of this success to her dedicated, professional team and their client partnerships. “We are proud to be recognized for our performance,” said Somers. “We aim to provide the best workplace solutions for businesses in this community by delivering excellent service to our clients and finding jobs for our local workforce. Although quality employees are becoming harder to find, we strive to continue sourcing the best candidates for our clients.” Each year, Spherion recognizes a select number of local offices across the nation for top revenue performance. In 2013, the Champaign and Decatur offices received this award, having consistently demonstrated outstanding revenue growth and performance. Somers also received this award in 2012.
the ninth year out of the past ten years that the company has earned this distinguished award. CBCDR serves the central Illinois region with offices in Champaign, Peoria and Springfield. The Champaign office, located at 201 W. Springfield Avenue on the 11th floor, provides commercial real estate brokerage, property management services and development consulting to the central Illinois market. They are also affiliated with Allied Capital Title, located on the 1st floor of Huntington Tower at 201 W. Springfield. Presence Covenant Medical Center recently announced the recipient of the Brightest Star award and recognized years of service at the annual Employee Service Awards Banquet. Presence Covenant proudly congratulates Elliel Martinez in Environmental Services, who received the Brightest Star award. The Brightest Star, or employee of the year, was selected from the 2013 Shining Star recipients, or employees of the month. In addition to Elliel Martinez, those nominated were Karla Duitsman, Procedure Center; Lincoln Sheiding, PRO Ambulance; Isabel Jurado, Laundry/Linen; Kurt Bloomstrand, PRO Ambulance; Tasia Gooden, Behavioral Health; Lance Thurlow, Respiratory Therapy; Larry Smith, Radiology Support; Christina Grider, Cardiac Services; Nelda Plotner, Administration; Bob Tharp, Plant Operations; and Tamara Plummer, Cardiac Services. Employees who reached various years of service also received recognition at the award banquet. Those with anniversary dates for every five years of service to the ministry were honored, and more than 125 were recognized in all. Jill Butler, Delores Hendricks, Paulette Sanders and Jeanette Hunt each celebrated their 40th anniversary with Presence Covenant Medical Center. Triptych Brewing recently received a silver medal in the 2014 World Beer Cup competition. More than 1,400 breweries participated in the event. Triptych’s winning entry was an English-style brown ale known as Dirty Hippie.
Stan’s Sportsworld Screen Printing and Embroidery celebrated their 40th anniversary in April. In 1974, Stan Wallace opened a “sporting store” on Kirby Avenue; the retail business led to the current business of creative imprinting, embroidering and promotional items using the same name. The business has had several locations over the past 40 years and is currently located at 47 E. Green St., Champaign. Sportsworld continues to be a family owned and operated business. Stan’s son, Cameron, took over as president in 1999. Sportsworld is proud of the many people they have employed over the years and especially the current staff, which has over 75 years of experience combined. The website (www.stanssportsworldinc.com) is a one stop source for advertising specialties, promotional products and business gifts.
The First Mid Insurance Group, a subsidiary of First MidIllinois Bank and Trust, recently earned a spot on the distinguished Illinois Top 10 list acknowledged by AutoOwners Insurance. The award recognizes the agency as a top producer in the State of Illinois and one of 10 agencies across the state to acquire the highest growth with property-casualty insurance business with Auto-Owners in 2013. Paul Saegesser, CEO of First Mid Insurance, stated, “To be named one of Auto-Owners’ Top 10 agencies in Illinois is truly an honor and a proud achievement for the agency. We are committed to providing superior service to our customers as we work with them to protect their assets and Auto Owners is a key player in helping us deliver on that commitment.”
Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty (CBCDR) has earned the 2013 Commercial Elite award, which is bestowed upon the top 15 Coldwell Banker Commercial® affiliated companies globally. This marks
Have news to share with the local business community? Tell us about it and get featured in the Chamber’s next Commerce Connection. Send an email with your news to Samantha Mathis, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org.
PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE Facebook has been awash lately with memes promoting an increase in the minimum wage saying CEOs make millions of dollars an hour and should not oppose low skill workers making $10 or more an hour. What is not realized is the large number of small businesses are organized as corporations. The best path to a true living wage is having valuable experience and skills. What is realized is, that the legislators need to hear the message. This should be an alarm to every person in business. As business leaders, we are often so focused operating our business and the general welfare of our employees -- that we forget advocacy is a cost of doing business. It’s important that we engage and interact with our legislators, city council members, and county board members. The laws that they pass can affect bottom lines and hiring decisions as much as sales reports and insurance payments. The legislature is in its final weeks of session and there are several bills business leaders need to contact your legislators about. Chamber opposed SB 2758, currently in the House, requires employers with 25 or more employees to automatically deduct three percent from employee paychecks to be placed into a state managed retirement fund unless employees opt out of the program. Senate Bill 68, which is still in the Senate, would increase the minimum wage to $10.65 an hour by July 1, 2016. CCCC opposed HB 5701, (once thought dead) and now in the Senate, prevents hiring agencies and businesses that employ more than 15 individuals from inquiring about past criminal convictions until an interview or conditional offer of employment is made. Finally, House Bill 5622 has the full support of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. HB 5622, currently in the Senate, places requirements regarding the use of payroll cards. Contact your legislators about these bills by going to www.voiceofchampaigncounty.org. Opponents are telling their story, now it’s time for you to tell yours. Contact Public Policy Director Ryan Roth at RyanR@ champaigncounty.org for more information.
champaigncounty.org/
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s s e n i s u B In Your
We care about our members. To learn more about area businesses; how the Chamber can help; and to better promote our members to other members, the Chamber staff and ambassadors have been touring member businesses. The tours are both interesting and informative.
RAGLE DENTAL LABORATORY:
Ragle Dental Laboratory, Inc. has been on the cutting edge of dental technology since the beginning. Jerry Ragle, owner of Ragle Dental Labs, started the company in 1979 offering only a handful of services. They have outgrown three other sites, are now located at 301 South First Street in Champaign and have become a full service dental lab to dentists across the area. They began offering digital dentistry in 2008, which has allowed them to work directly with dentists to use the latest scanning technology. Since 2008, the total number of dental labs has gone from 14,000 to 7,000, but Ragle Dental Labs has expanded with more offerings and now provides a facility to educate professionals in the local dental industry on the latest programs and techniques. Ragle Dental Labs started as a family business and has remained that way; Jerry’s daughter and son, Natalie and Nick, play essential roles in the business’ growth, as they now produce for over 150 other labs across the U.S. At times, they also work with groups at the U of I to allow students the use of their 3D printing technology for prototypes and projects. Named the 2004 Small Business of the Year, they employ 20 and operate around the clock. Visit their website at www.raglelab.com.
E.L. PRUITT CO.:
For the last 43 years, E.L. Pruitt Company has provided complete mechanical services (including installation of HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, fire sprinkler, etc.) for commercial customers in the Springfield area. In 2013, they added a new office on West Anthony Drive to better serve the Champaign County area. The Champaign staff of Paul Favero, Mike Marker, Shawn Royer and Stacy Smith have been involved as estimators, designers and project managers of numerous projects in the Champaign and surrounding area for many years. Their highly trained service department and courteous operations group work together to provide solutions for repairs, alterations and new installations of any size. Preventative maintenance programs are also offered for commercial mechanical installations. champaigncounty.org/
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PEORIA CHARTER:
In 1941, Peoria Charter Coach Company (PCC) was founded in Peoria, Illinois. Bill and Cindy Winkler are currently the third generation owners. Their Urbana facility, built in 1999, began as a three bay garage facility to store the coaches. It has since expanded to six bays with room to park twenty four coaches. The facility was designed to fit an expanding company, which is beneficial now that there are plans to expand their offices in the next one to two years. They employ twenty eight drivers locally with one facility manager. PCC started as a charter company, but have recently expanded their business to include shuttles to Willard Airport six times a day and a new student bus schedule, which has become very popular. The technology systems were recently updated, which allows their organization to run more efficiently. They are also in the process of designing a new website. Peoria Charter Coach Company treats their employees like a member of their own family. They pride themselves on their professional, clean, safe and friendly environments for their customers. Their meticulous preventive maintenance program provided for all coaches has given them a well-earned reputation for reliability and confidence among some 400,000 passengers.
GREAT THINGS will happen here.
Anchored by the Carle Heart and Vascular Institute, the new Carle Tower features 136 private patient rooms and a comfortable healing environment. Just one more way we’re helping you BE GREAT. For more information visit carle.org
Chamber Store Mailing Labels
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. Two lists are available for purchase: Long list (approx. 2,500 names and businesses).................................. $175 Short list (approx. 1,000 names and businesses)..................................$125
Commerce Connection Advertisement The Commerce Connection is a bi-monthly publication that gets sent out to more than 3,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County. Content always relevant to local business, the publication is fullcolor, full-gloss and all around awesome. Ads start at only $90. Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Website Sponsorship
Contact Caryn Isenhower to place your order, Caryni@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
E-Connection
Recently redesigned, our electronic newsletter gets sent out to more than 4,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County each week. Sponsor an e-Connection and get your business seen by THOUSANDS. Header sponsorship (one week)............................................................$100
The Chamber redesign of our website is complete. There are multiple opportunities for businesses to sponsor pages, host banners and showcase themselves on the Chamber site. If you would like more information, please contact Samantha Mathis at SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org.
Online Business Directory Enhancements
Enhance your listing on the Chamber’s online business directory. The directory gets hundreds of THOUSANDS of hits each day--turn your standard (free) listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized advertisement.
Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Email footer sponsorship
For only $75, your business can place a banner on every email that gets sent out of the Chamber office. That’s an average of over 12,000 emails per week. You can’t get better (or cheaper) exposure!
Basic upgrade...................................................................................................$40 Value upgrade..................................................................................................$60 Deluxe upgrade...............................................................................................$90
Email footer (one week).................................................................................$75 Add email footer to the Chamber’s e-Connection..........Additional $50
Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Event Sponsorship
New! Email Blast Advertisement
Do you have a new product, service or information you would like to share with our entire Chamber membership list? We are now offering an exclusive offer to send broadcast emails to our entire 4,100+ email list. Email Blast Advertisement .....................................................................$500 Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org.
From First Friday Coffee to our annual Golf Outing, the Chamber hosts a number of events each month! By sponsoring a Chamber event, your business gets great exposure not only at the event itself but also within all our promotional materials (emails, mailings, e-newsletters, Commerce Connection, website, etc...). We have numerous opportunities throughout the year, here’s what’s coming up: Breakfast Series sponsorship (includes table of 8)........$1000 Golf Outing sponsorship........................................................$3500 Additional sponsorship information for events such as the Annual Meeting, Business Success Seminars and the ATHENA Award® Ceremony is available upon request. Contact Karly Combest at KarlyC@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791 with any event sponsorship inquiries.
Some things you get free:
LAPTOP COMPUTER
RENTAL
LCD ROOM CONFERENCE
PROJECTOR
RENTAL
RENTAL
ORIGIN &
INFO
S E R V I C E
ASSISTANCE
CERTIFICATE OF
NOTARY
- - A N D - -
For more information on any of these services, contact the Chamber at 217.359.1791. Services are available free to all Chamber members.
calendar of events Willowbrook Memory Support Residence - Groudbreaking Tuesday, May 20, 11:00 a.m. 400 Curtis Rd., Savoy
Financing a Small Business an event hosted by ECI SCORE
Saturday, May 31 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Starting a Small Business an event hosted by ECI SCORE
Thursday, June 12, 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Connect @ Lunch
Fast Facts
7.5% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in March 2014
24 business licenses applied for in Champaign County in April 2014
106 April 2014 U of I Flash Index for
Monday, June 16, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. LongHorn Steakhouse 2101 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign
Champaign County
Writing a Business Plan
April 2014
Monday, June 2 3:00 p.m. 108 Arbours Dr. Savoy, IL
Thursday, June 19, 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
6,695 visits to the Chamber’s page,
Ribbon Cutting - C.V. Lloyde
Come Wine with Us
Ribbon Cutting Iroquois Federal
Wednesday, June 4 11:00 a.m. 702 Killarney St. Urbana IL
Chamber Golf Outing
Thursday, June 5, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Stone Creek Golf Club 2600 S. Stone Creek Rd., Champaign
First Friday Coffee
Friday, June 6, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. First State Bank 101 Windsor Rd., Champaign
an event hosted by ECI SCORE
sponsored by BankChampaign, N.A. Thursday, June 19, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Birkey’s Farm Store
2202 S. High Cross Rd.,Urbana
1,487,050 rides were taken on CUMTD in
champaigncounty.org in April 2014
14,004 average amount of referrals PER DAY the
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory received via search engines and online sources in April 2014.
HR Mastery Series - Workforce Planning, Recruiting and Employment Tuesday, June 24, Wednesday, June 25 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
HR Mastery Series - Employee & Labor Relations Tuesday, June 10, Wednesday, June 11 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org
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