p u b l i c at i o n
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b u s i n e s s - to - b u s i n e s s
days of
summer Tips and ideas for making the most out of your summer with the Chamber.
INSIDE: 12 - Building the Talent Pipeline Through Literacy 14 - Growing Business One Idea At a Time PAID
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Permit No. 29 Champaign, IL
C h a m pa i g n C o u n t y ’ s
Volume 26 | Issue 3
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COMMERCE CONNECTION A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
16 - 5 Tips to Master Instagram for Business 20 - Increase Your Influence 1
Giving your business the personal attention it deserves.
Business dreams work better with the right financing,
Darlene Johnson
Vice President Treasury Management 114 W. Church Street • Champaign 217-373-8136 djohnson@firstmid.com
smart cash flow solutions and the attention of our business banking experts.
Kyle McFarland
Commercial Lending 114 W. Church Street • Champaign 217-398-0067 kmcfarland@firstmid.com
Champaign County Banking Centers: Champaign (Crossing) • 2911 Crossing Court, Suite 100 • 866-0356 Champaign (Downtown) • 114 W. Church Street • 398-0067 Champaign (Marketview) • 913 W. Marketview • 378-8023 Savoy • 1251 Woodfield Drive • 351-3526 Urbana • 601 S. Vine St. • 367-8451 Mahomet • 502 E. Oak Street • 318-3750 2
firstmid.com
303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org
FY19 TOP INVESTORS TOP INVESTORS GOLD Busey SILVER Carle University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign BRONZE A & R Mechanical Contractors Amdocs BankChampaign, N.A. Christie Clinic First Mid Bank & Trust Health Alliance Hickory Point Bank & Trust Midland States Bank OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center
CHAMBER STAFF Laura Weis President & CEO LauraW@champaigncounty.org
Stephanie McCullough Director of First Impressions StephanieM@champaigncounty.org
Matt Bradley Business Growth & Development Director MattB@champaigncounty.org
Lindsay Quick Director of Marketing & Events LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org
Mindy Cain Director of Workforce Readiness & Member Relations MindyC@champaigncounty.org Garret Hill Public Policy Director GarretH@champaigncounty.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OFFICERS Rachel Coventry
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS 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 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 Hall of Fame Plaques & Signs Hyatt Place LongHorn Steakhouse TrophyTime, Inc. W.K. Cooper II Asset Management Corporation
Stephanie Smith-Jeffries Office and Accounting Administrator StephanieS@chmapaigncounty.org
Curtis Orchard, Ltd.
Chip Craddock Clark Dietz, Inc.
Gary Hackler
WCIA - TV / WCIX 49
Zachary Hillard Busey
Susan Jepsen
Reynolds Towing Service, Inc.
Pradeep Khanna University of Illinois
Justin Overstreet Martin Hood LLC
Julianna Sellett
Dr. Jared Rogers
Chair OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center
Mike Estes
First Vice Chair Fisher National Bank
Kyle Emkes
Carle
Second Vice Chair Dodd & Maatuka
Rogards
Amie Smith
Dan Kirby
Dan Hurley FedEx Ground
Bill Walter
Chuck McReaken
Tonya Horn
R.J. Hynds English Brothers Company
BankChampaign N.A.
A & R Mechanical Contractors
FINANCIAL SERVICES Provided by CliftonLarsonAllen
Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen
Past Chair, TSM Ventures, Inc.
Laura Weis
Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 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.
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WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER >> members who joined between March 1 - April 30, 2019 Behavioral Perspective
Fitness Premier
Behavioral Perspective began with a simple belief that utilizing high quality therapy services for children with Autism or other Neuro-intellectual challenges combined with a team of passionate, dedicated staff, it would yield maximum gains for our client. BPI has grown rapidly since it was founded in 2010, adding many highly trained professionals that help children, families and school systems thrive. We have seven locations in Northern Illinois/Chicago, Central Illinois and Austin Texas. No two clients or families are the same, so our programming is individualized—based on the needs, strengths and priorities of each client and their families. We meet every family right where they are, providing ongoing support and teaching valuable new skills that families can implement permanently. Our services include Apple Academy, an alternative to traditional school, along with Individualized Applied Behavioral Therapy (ABA), Occupational Therapy, and Speech and Language Therapy.
Fitness Premier is a full service fitness facility that focuses on real results for our members, from the beginner to a gym rat. Team training classes are tailored for anyone, at any fitness level. Our coaches will guide you out of your comfort zone and towards real results. We utilize MyZone fitness tracking so that you can track and reward your efforts as you train. We also offer Les Mills group fitness classes with both in person instructors and always accessible virtual classes. Fitness Premier is a 24/7 access facility for those who need to grab a quick work out whenever it is convenient in a hectic schedule. To keep everything well rounded, we also offer HydroMassage to aid in post workout recovery. Best of all, we are so confident that our service and facility will speak for itself that there are memberships that require zero commitment.
4112 Fieldstone Rd., Ste. B Champaign, IL 61822 888.308.3728 bpiaba.com Medical Service Organizations
Confidentially Yours Inc. 1808 Round Barn Rd., Ste. B Champaign, IL 61821 217.366.0244 www.cybras.com Women’s Apparel-Retail
Confidentially Yours is a women’s bra boutique located in Champaign. Our store was founded in 1982 to help women regain their confidence after chemotherapy and surgery. Since then, we have expanded our offerings to include the latest styles in swimwear, lingerie, undergarments, shapewear, activewear, sleepwear and more for all women. We carefully curate our selections each fashion season to bring our customers the highest quality bras and lingerie for everyday and special occasion. Our goal is for you to have properly sized bras that fit your unique shape so that you not only look good, but feel your best. We make the bra selection and fitting process simple, easy and comfortable with complimentary bra fittings and certified mastectomy fitting services.
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2414 Galen Drive Champaign, IL 61821 217.531.2100 www.fitnesspremierclubs.com Health Clubs
Hola Destination Management
2702 Arden Dr. Champaign, IL 61821 217.417.7167 www.holadestinationmanagement.com Travel Agencies & Bureaus Hola Destination Management is a professional services company specialized in planning, coordinating and organizing customized incentive trips, special events, themed parties, group travel, and weddings or retreats. We create unique experiences for groups when traveling within our amazing destinations in Mexico. We are Baja experts. From the most visited and eclectic border city in the world—Tijuana, to the delightful Mexican wine country Valle de Guadalupe, to the peaceful golf and fishing destination—Loreto, to the world high-class Los Cabos and everything in between, we design the perfect program for each one offering detail oriented costumer service. With 15 years of experience working with international and local suppliers to ensure the best results with the available budget, we know where and how to find high quality entertainment, accommodations, food services, tours and activities, transportation services and travel routes for the best price. Rather than try to make arrangements long distance with unknown people we do it taking headaches out of your plans.
Industrial Donut 501 Commerce Dr.
Savoy, IL 61874 217.607.1323 www.industrialdonut.com Restaurants Industrial Donut is Chambanavoy’s newest donut shop! We specialize in fresh, made-to-order cake donuts, customized with a large assortment of icing and topping choices. The perfect complement to our donuts is our coffee, supplied by locally owned and operated, Columbia Street Roastery. Industrial Donut isn’t just a donut shop, it’s a donut experience where customers not only choose what they want on their donuts, but they also get to watch them being made right before their eyes. The donut revolution has begun.
Signarama celebrated their grand opening on March 28.
KleenRite
602 Ashford Ct. Champaign, IL 61822 217.351.4930 www.kleenrite.net Carpet & Restoration KleenRite is a locally owned and operated company with over 21 years of experience in cleaning and restoration. We are committed to bringing the highest level of customer service to our residential and commercial clientele. We offer carpet, tile, upholstery and air duct cleaning as well as water restoration, mold remediation, and fire/smoke remediation. We are confident you will enjoy working with our team.
Congratulations to Provident Financial Group, LLC for celebrating their 10th anniversary.
Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center 205 E. Wilber Ave. Champaign, IL 61822 217.398.6511 www.hopeforafuture.com Human Services Organizations
The Pregnancy Resource Center is a nonprofit 501C3. We exist to help women and families experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. We provide our services at no cost. They include pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound, pregnancy and parenting classes, assistance with clothing and baby items, adoption support and information, and referrals to community resources. Merci’s Refuge is a residential facility offering a 9-12-month program provided by the pregnancy center at no cost. We serve women who are seeking freedom from life controlling issues or past traumatic events.
Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites held a ribbon cutting on April 11 to celebrate their recent remodel and welcome their new management company.
Industrial Donut celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting on April 18. 5
Morton Buildings, Inc.
4100 Dewitt Ave. Mattoon, IL 61938 217.246.6711 www.mortonbuildings.com Buildings-Metal
Confidentially Yours celebrated their grand re-opening and new ownership with a ribbon cutting on May 9.
Morton Buildings leads the industry in post-frame construction. Since 1903 Morton Buildings has been constructing their buildings with the best materials and the warranties that cannot be matched. Morton Buildings main niches are commercial, farm, residential, suburban and equestrian. Morton Buildings means being the industry leader with a focus on innovation, service, and quality, but most importantly, making sure each customer is completely satisfied with their decision to build a Morton Building.
Sliced Right Nutrition
890 N. CR. 1500 E. Tuscola, IL 61953-8031 217.493.8970 www.facebook.com/slicedrightnutrition/ Nutrition Consultants
Behaviorial Perspective celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting on May 16.
Sliced Right Nutrition offers nutrition consulting, cooking demonstrations and corporate wellness events. The owner, Kristina Adams Smith has over 18 years’ experience as a registered dietitian working with patients in clinical settings at both Carle Clinic and Sarah Bush Lincoln. She received her master’s degree in dietetics from EIU. Her main areas of expertise are weight management, culinary nutrition, diabetes, heart disease and overall wellness. She can be reached through various social media accounts, text or email to schedule initial consultations or set up cooking demonstrations or wellness events.
SpotOn
Congratulation to Dr. G’s Brainworks on the opening of their new location in Market Place Mall.
205 Capitol St. Savoy, IL 61874 217.841.2980 www.spoton.com/leechassy Credit Cards-Merchant Services
Lifeline-connect celebrate the grand opening of their 6 24-man dorm and recovery center on May 30.
SpotOn is a business solutions company that empowers our merchants by providing multiple integrated solutions. We provide payroll services, appointment software, full spectrum website services, as well as online review management, card processing services integrated with customer engagement tools, incredible POS systems, as well as customer loyalty services. We’re focused on helping our merchants create meaningful relationships with their customers. SpotOn maintains continuous focus on our merchants’ business growth and success and we provide stellar customer service 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Our core values are centered on doing things the right way and in the most transparent and upfront way possible. SpotOn is flexible and will configure solutions that make the most sense for each business
using our nimble software and by offering a choice of state-of-the-art hardware. As icing on the cake, we are inexpensive and month-to-month with no long term contracts.
Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery 2005 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.607.1520 cupcakeschampaign.com Bakers-Retail
SmallCakes has landed in Champaign. Established in December of 2018, we are proud to be serving all of Central Illinois with our one of a kind cupcakes and ice cream. We offer a wide variety of desserts, including cupcakes and cakes for every occasion, ice cream made fresh daily and multiple grab and go options at our register. Our team of skillful bakers and decorators are ready to cure any of your sweet tooth needs. From custom cakes, to gluten friendly options, we offer more than just cupcakes! Stop by to see what we have in store for you. Don’t forget to ask our store associates about our loyalty program. Every twelfth cupcake is on us.
PARTNERSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST
Provident Financial Group is honored to be
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF SERVICE! FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS,
we have been fortunate enough to provide our services to a number of amazing clients. We look forward to meeting the needs of current and new clients in the years to come!
• Investment Services
• Retirement Planning
• Asset Management
• Trust Services
• Financial Planning
• Estate Planning
Waypoint Analytical
2906 W. Clark Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 217.359.7680 www.waypointanalytical.com Agriculture Suppliers Waypoint Analytical is the largest agricultural laboratory network in the United States. Founded in 1971 as A&L Analytical Laboratories in Memphis, TN, Waypoint has grown to eight locations across the country, analyzing over 1.8 million samples annually. We offer a number of agricultural tests including soil, plant tissue, water, manure, lime, fertilizer, feed, forage, herbicide residue, grain removal and more. Waypoint’s combination of fast turnaround time, extensive quality control, expert agronomy support and superior client service has allowed us to grow rapidly. In fact, our Champaign laboratory, which opened in 2015, will be expanding into a larger facility this summer to meet the demand. Waypoint Analytical is proud to be a new member of the Chamber and very happy to be a part of the growing Champaign County community.
S TA R L A S . C A R R ,
CRPC®
ROBERT E. ME YER, ERIC D. BOL AND,
ChFC®
C F P ®, A I F ®
M E L I N D A TA Y L O R ,
Office Manager
Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
3017 Village Office Place, Champaign, Illinois 61822 p 217 366 3456 www.providentfinancialgroupllc.com
11589 10th AnniversaryAd_Commerce Connection 4x10.indd 1
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lead Champaign
County
Leadership Exploration and Development
OPENING RECEPTION - Papa Del’s Pizza Thursday, August 22, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
ALLERTON CHALLENGE COURSE - Allerton 4H Camp, Monticello Thursday, August 29, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR TEST, PART I LEAD Champaign County aims to mold young professionals into strong local leaders. Participants will gain confidence, knowledge, professionalism and strong leadership skills they can bring back to their place of employment. The program is a great way to connect young professionals with their peers and build strong business relationships.
Thursday, September 5, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., (Breakfast included) Cindy Guthrie, Three Degrees of Change
MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR TEST, PART II
Thursday, September 12, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., (Lunch included) Cindy Guthrie, Three Degrees of Change
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE Thursday, September 19, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., (Lunch Included) Jennifer Hendricks-Kaufmann, The Carle Foundation
LEADERSHIP PANEL
Thursday, September 26, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (Breakfast included) Local business leaders from various industries and business sizes
OUR MISSION: Atract and identify the next generation of community leaders in order to grow Champaign County.
LEADERSHIP VS. MANAGEMENT
Connect young professionals with the surrounding community through unique opportunities in the areas of service, leadership and advocacy.
Tickets provided by H-Squared Leadership Institute Friday, October 11, 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Engage young professionals to have a vested interest in the success of our community.
Thursday, October 3, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., (Lunch included) Captain Anthony Corapi, University of Illinois NROTC
LIVE2LEAD - JOHN MAXWELL ACADEMY I HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER BOOK DISCUSSION - Facilitated Conversation
Thursday, October 17, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., (Breakfast included)
ETIQUETTE LUNCHEON AND GRADUATION Lincolnshire Fields Country Club
Thursday, October 24, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (Lunch included) Beth Reutter, Illini Training *Unless otherwise stated, events are held at the Chamber office.
Ready to lead ? Email Lindsay Quick at LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org to register or for more information.
Class size is limited. Registration includes complimentary passes to all Business After Hours and First Friday Coffees for the months of September and October so participants can strengthen their networking skills. 8
PROGRAM FEES: $425 - Early Registration (Now - August 2) • $485 - Regular Registration (August 2 - August 21)
Local ownership. Unmatched experience.
Left to right:
Steve Tock TreMayne Joyner Dan Marker Jan Miller Kirk Harney Bobbie Butler Chuck Eyman Chris Haile
HICKORYPOINTBANK.COM
CHAMPAIGN
DECATUR
PEORIA
SPRINGFIELD
MEMBER FDIC
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Join us for
Come Wine With Us
brought to you by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee
THURSDAY, JUNE 27 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CURTIS ORCHARD & PUMPKIN PATCH 3902 S. Duncan Rd., Champaign Come Wine With Us celebrates Champaign County’s strong roots in agriculture and agribusiness. The event will be held outdoors at Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch. Curtis Orchard will be offering complimentary access to the putt n’ play, rope maze and observation tower as well as wagon ride tours of the orchard. They will also be serving samples of their apple crisp donuts, apple cider and honey. Enjoy food samples from Chamber member restaurants as well as wine & other beverages. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enter to win door prizes. You also have the opportunity to win 60 (yes, sixty!) bottles of wine. Wine raffle tickets are available for purchase for $10/ticket and enters you for a chance to win 60 bottles of wine. Tickets may be purchased over the phone by calling 217.359.1791, from any Chamber staff member or at the event. Proceeds from the $5 per person donation at the door will help fund Chamber programs. The donation for non-members and guests is $10.
Sponsored by:
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In Partnership with:
2019
AGRIBUSINESS
COMMITTEE
Committee Members: And organizers of Come Wine With Us Chair: Stacy Acton Bayer Come Wine With Us Chair: Beth Bolger Farm Credit Illinois
Vanessa Bechtel
CliftonLarsonAllen
Jon Blockman
Busey
Kirk Builta
Champaign County Farm Bureau
Jim Goss
The Atkins Group
Gabby Johnson
Granular
Jim Mansfield
Parkland College
Ben Mast
Fertilizer Dealer Supply
Amy Rademaker
Carle
Amy Sage The Anderson’s Dave Shenaut
Bayer
Brad Uken
Champaign County Farm Bureau
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Building the Talent Pipeline Through Literacy & Numeracy Workforce Development is a broad term and includes many different facets—internships, skills training, employee development and more. Literacy and math education is not often thought of as a workforce development strategy, but it is extremely important long-term strategy to the quality of an area’s workforce. The Illinois Standardized test results show an achievement gap that is not acceptable for Champaign County: Champaign Unit 4 2018 PARCC Data 3rd Grade Reading • 32% Meet or Exceed State Test 3rd Grade Math • 39% Meet or Exceed State Test
kindergarten students who needed help with reading. And, it produced some remarkable preliminary results: • An average 41% increase in letter identification • One student increasing from 8 identified to 22; a 175% increase • More than 1/3rd of the student increasing identification by more than 50% And now the iRead • iCount program is scaling-up for the fall of 2019 to address kindergarten reading, kindergarten math, and first grade reading. We need our existing workforce to be part of the community solution to help close the achievement gap for area students. This important early learning initiative will have tremendous impact on the lives of the students served and for the community as a whole.
We can do better. Unit 4 teachers and district personnel are doing everything they can to change this, but they simply do not have the capacity to tackle this alone. We as a community though, do have the capability to help the future generation of the workforce to succeed by laying the foundation for reading and math education for our kindergarten and first grade students now.
Why Does Reading and Math Education Matter to Our Community?
This is why the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce proposed an initiative to help tackle the issue with the iRead • iCount program. Several local organizations including the Champaign County YMCA, Champaign Community Coalition, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, United Way of Champaign County, Champaign Unit 4 School District and CU Schools Foundation came together to create this reading and math intervention pilot program.
Math is a vital and necessary skill needed to succeed in the workplace and in life today. Research show that those students who do not have basic math skills by third grade, will most likely not be able to catch up, and may continue to fall behind and be faced with fewer career options as an adult.
Spring 2019 iRead Pilot Program Success Story This pilot program had 80+ community volunteers who spent just one hour a week, for 11 weeks, at one of four Unit 4 schools working one-on-one with 12
Up until third grade, students are learning to read. After third grade, students are reading to learn. Studies show that if a student has not learned to read by third grade, they will continue to fall behind in future grade levels and will have fewer career options.
If we can help students to grasp the basics of reading and math early on, they will have a better chance to ultimately go on to have better-quality careers and become a more skilled workforce for our area companies. Beverly Baker, director of community impact for United Way, is enthusiastic about the opportunity to help in this capacity. “We are very excited about this new partnership to support young learners at Unit 4. Working together as a community we can ensure they get their education started on the right track,” Baker said.
Denise Martin, CPA and Partner with Martin Hood said “Math is everything! I know that sounds contrite coming from an accountant but think about it – without math you couldn’t measure your ingredients for a cake, figure out how to give or get change at a store or determine the best deals when shopping. More importantly, it is the building block for problem-solving and analytical skills needed in all careers, and in life, for that matter.” Due to their extensive experience working with area children, the YMCA is also a great partner in this process. “The YMCA has always been committed to developing the youth in our community and this sounded like a great fit for the employees at the YMCA. The majority of our management team have worked with children in their roles at the Y. When our team heard about the opportunity to help with literacy and math development, they were instantly excited and eager to learn more,” said Jeff Scott, CEO of Stephens Family YMCA. “We are committed to helping our great schools further the academic progress of the students in Champaign. This is a great way to support teachers, families and the children in our community. We are eager to be participating.” In order to build on the initial success of the pilot program, this fall the iRead • iCount program will need almost triple the number of volunteers to spend one hour a week to work one-on-one with students who need the most help with reading or math. Volunteers will work with up to four students for a one-hour time slot each week. The volunteers will be able to select the school and time that works best for them. The main objective will be to help students develop the skills necessary to build a firm foundation for learning in reading and math. The learning and activity curriculum is age-appropriate and all volunteers will be trained to help students master the fundamentals of reading and math which was developed by Unit 4 literacy and math specialists.
Parkland College sponsors a program for adult literacy, called Project READ, which is a great complement to iRead • iCount. Tutors volunteer to help adult learners with low literacy or numeracy skills. Nearly 2.2 million Illinois residents have difficulty performing reading or math tasks or using printed or verbal information in English. Project READ wants to help change those statistics one learner at a time. For more information, contact Program Manager for Project READ, Dr. Amanda Harris at 217-353-2662. This Parkland program, coupled with the iRead • iCount program will help members of this community have the life-long reading and math skills necessary for the modern workforce. This ensures a higher quality of life for all and a better environment for the students of the future. To help Champaign County to be an economically thriving community, the Chamber and our partners are committed to establishing a pipeline of skilled workers through this long-term workforce development strategy. For more information, visit: champaigncounty.org/workforce-development.
iRead • iCount PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS
“The Community Coalition is pleased to be a partner and supporter in the iRead • iCount program,” said Tracy Parsons, facilitator for Champaign Community Coalition. “Innovative Initiatives and with strong community partnership are critical in enhancing student academic success. We must do all that we can to support our future leaders.” 13
Growing Business One Idea At a Time Thankfully, Teri found the Business Advisors’ Council (BAC), a committee of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce committed to growing business one idea at a time through complimentary business counseling. Since opening Quednau Quality Hearing, Teri has continued to learn and grow. She is passionate about educating everyone, regardless of age, about hearing loss and the effects of leaving this condition untreated.
When Teri Quednau received her first hearing aid more than 20 years ago she didn’t realize how much it would shape her future. She would go on to work for various businesses in the hearing aid industry. Then, in 2018 Teri decided it was time to open her own hearing aid business. “I’m passionate about educating my customers about hearing loss. I understand there are a lot of options in the market and I love to help my customers determine if hearing aids are right for them.” Because of her personal connection with hearing loss and hearing aids as well as her experience working in the industry, Teri has a wealth of knowledge about the toll hearing loss can take on a person’s life. That being said, Teri admits, “I just didn’t know how to run a business.”
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Like many industries, technology is advancing hearing aid technology quickly. By using Bluetooth technology, you can now control you hearing aids from smart phones. Music can also be streamed directly into your ear without the distortion that was so common in older hearing aids. Furthermore, batteries are now rechargeable and fuel cell batteries are on the horizon.
“
The BAC volunteers were great. They helped me through the entire process of planning, opening and operating my business. One volunteer helped me write a business plan and define my customers, another talked about financials and yet another coached me on the physical and emotional aspects of being an entrepreneur. Teri Quednau
”
Regardless of how technology changes the hearing aid industry Teri believes that personalized attention and building relationships are key in gaining consumer trust.
At Quednau Quality Hearing, Teri offers complimentary comprehensive hearing evaluation and testing. All customers get a 45-day risk free trial and programming adjustments for most major hearing manufacturers. They also do multiple fitting and orientation appointments and offer individualized training on manufacturer’s apps. If patients can’t make it to her office, Teri will even go to their homes to perform evaluations (within 50 miles of Champaign). According to Teri, “These are the reasons why customers will choose Quednau Quality Hearing over our competitors.” She adds, “I want our customer to start to live again with the power of sound.” For Teri, the process of opening her own business has been full of challenges and successes. She relies on her ability to relate to patients and her vast experience in the industry to drive her busi-
ness forward. Being able to make changes and decisions for her business has been rewarding for Teri. As she continues on her journey as an entrepreneur, Teri divulges, “I still call the Chamber and the BAC counselors from time to time with a quick question or two.” BAC is committed to helping entrepreneurs like Teri start and continue growing their businesses. Counselors come from a variety of different backgrounds and have knowledge in a number of different industries. Looking to start or grow a business? BAC is here and ready to help every step of the way. Learn more at www.champaigncounty.org/ business-advisors-council or call Matt Bradley at 217.359.1791.
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5 Tips to Master Instagram for Businesses Reprinted from dccmarketing.com Instagram isn’t just avocado toast and FitTea—in fact, it’s one of the most critical platforms for consumer engagement. With over 500 million daily active users, utilizing Instagram to its full potential is becoming increasingly important for brands to stay relevant and connected to their audience. • 2 Million + advertisers worldwide use Instagram • 60% of people say they discover new products on Instagram • 200 Million + Instagrammers visit at least one business profile daily From analyzing insights to encouraging sales, Instagram has integrated functionality to help you reach your goals. New to Instagram? When you set up your account be sure to set it up as a business page rather than a personal page. Here is a quick guide for setting up a business account. With a business account you get additional features such as profile contact information, category listing, call-to-action buttons and profile analytics. Wondering how your business can master Instagram? You’ve come to the right place.
Here are our top 5 tips: Identify Your Audience Before developing your content strategy, you need to firstly identify your audience. Using insights and analytics from your other social media channels and your website can help determine what market segments engage with your content and purchase your products and services. Also be sure to complete some in-depth competitor research, consider the following: • What channels they are on • Following size and growth across platforms 16
• Posting frequency by platform • Post engagement and what type of content receives the highest engagement • Tools like Buzzsumo help make the competitive analysis a breeze. Post Regularly To continually grow your following and engagement, your business profile will need to be posting regularly. Aim for at least 3-5 posts per week to start, you will eventually want to be posting 7-10 times per week. To help keep you on track, develop a social media posting calendar. In all of your posts, incorporate trending hashtags to increase your chance of discovery also tag individuals when appropriate. When sharing content, also utilize Instagram stories and live video for exclusive behind the scenes content, how-tos, polls and announcements. User Generated Content In addition to posting your own content, also leverage user generated content (UGC). keep your eyes open for any mentions and hashtag uses related to your brand, these can be used for social content and tend to receive higher engagement. With all of your postings engagement is critically important. Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes posts by the engagement received, higher engagement equals higher placement in the Instagram feed. Instagram Ads Utilize Instagram ads to display your content to much a wider audience beyond your followers. Instagram ads can target user locations, demographics, interests & behaviors—making
your campaign extremely targeted. Instagram ads also display a call-to-action of your choosing, encouraging users to convert. Analyze + Optimize With any social media channel, regularly analyzing and optimizing performance is essential. At least once a month review your profile analytics to learn who is following your account and what content is performing well. Make sure you implement your findings into future content strategies. Also take a look at what time of day your followers are using the app, schedule future postings for when they are online to maximize engagement. In addition to analyzing your own account, also regularly monitor your competitors. As part of your analysis, set performance benchmarks and also compare performance to industry averages.
Intrerested in learning more about social media for businesses? Join us on Tuesday, June 18 for the next Business Success and Solutions Seminar: Navigating the Social Media Landscape & Cultivating Your Content presented by Melissa Amedeo, SVP Chief Development Officer for DCC Marketing. This two-part, half-day workshop is designed to first, educate attendees on the various social media platforms & strategies; and second, help attendees cultivate their very own digital content and campaign plans. To learn more or to register, visit www.champaigncounty.org/events/calendar
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MEMBER ACCOLADES & NEWS ILLINOIS AMERICAN WATER Padma Paan is one of only 54 individuals accepted into the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Water Leadership Institute (WLI). The intensive program was developed by WEF for emerging water industry leaders from across the world, allowing them to engage in management training and leadership development. Lori Stenzel, senior water quality and environmental compliance specialist for Illinois American Water, was awarded the 2019 Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association (ISAWWA) Women in Water Outstanding Woman award (WiWOW). The award was presented at ISAWWA’s annual conference, WATERCON, in March. This award was created to honor an individual making significant contribution to the advancement of women in the water industry. Recipients of the WiWOW award are recognized for achievement in female leadership; demonstrating significant impact in the water industry; advancement of the Women in Water committee’s mission; inspiring participation of women in the industry; and community outreach programs targeting young girls and women. HOVELN HEATING AND COOLING, INC. Hoveln Heating and Cooling, Inc. has been recognized by Bryant® Heating & Cooling Systems as a Circle of Champions winner for the 5th year in a row. As a top Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealer chosen from HVAC dealers across the United State and Canada, Hoveln Heating and Cooling, Inc. has made a steadfast commitment to quality in the products they sell and the services they provide. REGENCY MULTIFAMILY For the twelfth straight year, Regency Multifamily has earned national recognition for customer service excellence in its apartment communities located throughout the Midwest. The National Multifamily Customer Service Award for Excellence is presented by CEL & Associates, Inc. and recognizes companies whose management performance and commitment to the highest level of quality of service are considered to be the “Best in the Industry”. CLARK-LINDSEY Kim Cabello and Deanna Wright are this year’s recipients of the Paul V. Howard Award of Excellence. The annual award, named for former Clark-Lindsey CFO Paul Howard, is given to an employee or employees who consistently provide 18
superior quality work and maintain an atmosphere of personal interest when working with others. Howard fostered trust, stability, and comradery in those around him. Recipients of the award also demonstrate these qualities. Clark-Lindsey is also excited to announce the 2019 recipient of its Rising Star Award: Philip “Mick” Howrey. This annual award is presented to an individual who demonstrates an extraordinary performance within his or her first 24 months of employment. Winners of the Rising Star award show a strong work ethic, as well as commitment, initiative and leadership in a team environment. FIRST STATE BANK First State Bank’s Champaign office was recognized by Central Illinois Rental Property Professionals as their Vendor of the Year for 2018. The award was presented to Gerry Smith, Brice Hutchcraft and Kip McDaniel in recognition of outstanding contributions in the support and advocacy of the organization. BARHAM BENEFIT GROUP Barham Benefit Group is pleased to welcome Carol Timms as Administrative Manager. Carol will share her skills as a business owner, nonprofit manager, community organizer and educator to assist in enhancing our ability to serve our clients. FEHR GRAHAM Fehr Graham, a leading Midwest engineering and environmental firm, is pleased to announce the hiring of Tiffany Miller as the marketing coordinator. Miller will help with marketing and brand development efforts for the entire firm, which has 170 employees and 10 offices in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. The firm, is also pleased to announce the hiring of Caryn Hovey as a senior accounting clerk. Hovey’s duties include accounts payable and receivable and invoicing. She provides accounting support for each of the firm’s 10 offices in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Prior to joining Fehr Graham, Hovey worked in the accounting department at Kunes Country Ford in Sterling SPHERION Congratulations to Spherion Staffing franchise owner Cindy Somers on 20 years of success.
Dedicated to recruiting and staffing excellence, she has spent two decades putting hundreds of people to work to help businesses grow. With offices in Decatur, Champaign and Charleston, Spherion provides flexible, temp-to-hire and directhire solutions for businesses in a broad range of talent disciplines, including administrative/ clerical, contact center, light industrial, non-clinical healthcare and professional. O’SHEA BUILDERS O’Shea Builders welcomes Jackie Ritter, project engineer. Ritter is based out of the Champaign office. Ritter comes to O’Shea Builders from Taylor Studios Inc. in Rantoul after eight years of serving as a project manager and three years overseeing the design & project management departments. She also worked for Bonham Construction in Mahomet as a project manager. She received her Bachelor’s in architectural studies form the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ritter resides with her husband south of Paxton, Ill.
The 2019 rankings were guided by an exclusive study conducted by Livability.com in partnership with Ipsos. More than 1,000 millennials across the country were surveyed to determine what matters most to them when making relocation decisions. The top responses, affordability and job opportunities, were factored into this year’s ranking criteria, including, a cap on housing costs. No city on Livability’s 2019 Top 100 Best Places to Live has a median home value exceeding $250,000. 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, or submit the news via our website: www.champaigncounty.org/news/
They also welcome Kasey Hawkins, operations administrator. Hawkins is based out of the Champaign office. Hawkins graduated from Greenville College with a degree in organizational leadership. She comes to O’Shea after six years with Stetson Building Products as an operations manager for their Decatur location. She resides in Sidney, Ill. SVN-RAMSHAW REAL ESTATE SVN, International Corp. awarded Alex Ruggieri with the Partnership Circle’s Award and recognized him as a top advisor in 2018. Ruggieri serves as senior advisor for SVN-Ramshaw Real Estate in Champaign, Illinois. He was presented with the prestigious award recently during the company’s National Conference in Miami, FL. The conference was attended by nearly 500 SVN advisors from across the country.The company has over 1,600 advisors worldwide—Ruggieri was in the top ten in sales. Specializing in the sale of commercial real estate in east central Illinois, Ruggieri’s sales volume was valued in excess of $60 million in 2018. CITY OF CHAMPAIGN Champaign has been named one of the 2019 Top 100 Best Places to Live by Livability.com, outpacing more than 1,000 cities (with populations between 20,000 and 1,000,000). 19
Influence
in The Workplace Written by Lee Ann Piano www.leeannpiano.com
Whether on an individual level or for an entire organization, who wouldn’t want to leverage the power to sway the opinions and behaviors of others? On a professional level, when influence is properly used, you have the ability to help shape the course of something much bigger than an individual agenda – there’s the ability to have an impact on the lives of many. This is a heady thing for many people, but with great power comes great responsibility. When looking to increase influence in the workplace, it’s important to understand the foundation required to achieve it and the responsibility that comes with its use. Building Blocks for Professional Influence There are three basic attributes that influencers possess: 1. Trust 2. Reliability 3. Assertiveness To be influential, your peers and leadership first have to trust you. They need to know your knowledge (or ability to gain it) is sound, your word is good, your promises are realistic and solid, you can handle adversity & setbacks and that you have a level of belief within your peer group so that you can get things done. Consistently succeeding in these areas, over time, establishes your reliability. If you are authentic, trustworthy and reliable; then you can add to your foundation of influence the skill of assertiveness.
Aggressive vs. Assertive In my 15+ years of training I have encountered an area of confusion more often than any other, especially with young professionals. There’s often some level of confusion between ‘assertiveness’ and ‘aggressiveness.’ 20
• Being assertive: Taking a level measured risk to put out ideas, suggestions, and to give/receive requests for help when needed for the betterment of the organization… confidently, because it’s within the limits of ability of the individual, or belief that the combined ability of the team, is present to perform; while recognizing and respecting the viewpoints, suggestion, and feedback of others. • Being aggressive: Taking a competitive, ‘all-out effort’ to “win” at any cost; thereby putting out ideas, suggestions, and demands for help for the advancement of one’s self or agenda. While often self-perceived as being forward, it’s often received as pushy and over-eager; without proper understanding of one’s place relative to the larger organization. Simply put, it’s too much, too fast, without proper buy-in of individual capabilities from the rest of the team.
Desperation or Dedication:
What is your workplace motivator? Many Hollywood movies put out the notion that the desperation to succeed will be seen as dedicated, competitive and will be nurtured by supervisors/co-workers that will become mentors. The reality for most is that behavior will isolate them within the workforce, limiting their ability to not only influence but to ultimately reduce their value to the organization. Leadership at any level begins by developing influence!
About the Author: Lee Ann is an empowerment expert in the areas of Leadership Development and Women’s Empowerment. The Amped Up Leadership, Go For It and Increase Your Influence programs are loaded with tools, techniques, concepts and strategies for achieving next-level performance in both leadership and personal achievement. She shares practical solutions for handling hard-to-handle people and situations, finding the right mentors, identifying and eliminating toxic thoughts, putting your dream to the test as well as finding the treasures in the trials of life. As a 17-year breast cancer survivor, Lee Ann knows firsthand how powerful determination and a positive mind-set can be.
Interested in hearing more from Lee Ann? Save The Date for our next Leading Ladies Event:
Increase Your Influence Presented by Lee Ann Piano
Tuesday, August 6 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. Location TBD More information will be available at www.champaigncounty.org/events/calendar
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CHAMBER STORE 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
• Come Wine With Us: Booth sponsor - $250 fee Food Vendor - $100 deposit
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
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.
COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES:
COMMERCE CONNECTION
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
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. Footer (one week): $75 Contact Lindsay for details at, LindsayQ@champaigncounty.org
Email Blast Advertisement: $500 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 Connect@Lunch
Come Wine With Us
Monday, June 17 Noon - 1:00 p.m. Neil St. Blues 301 N Neil St Suite 106, Champaign
BSSS: Navigating the Social Media Landscape & Cultivating Your Content Presented by Melissa Amedeo, DCC Marketing Tuesday, May 18 8:30 a.m. - Noon Chamber Office 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Ribbon Cutting
Kleenrite Tuesday, June 25 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. 703 N. Country Fair Dr. Champaign, IL 61821
Ribbon Cutting
Fitness Premier Wednesday, June 26 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. 2414 Galen Dr. Champaign, IL 618211
Sponsored by the Chamber’s Agribusiness Committee Thursday, June 27 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Curtis Orchard 3902 S. Duncan Rd., Champaign
Connect@Lunch
Monday, July 15 Noon - 1:00 p.m. Neil St. Blues 301 N Neil St Suite 106, Champaign
BSSS: Increase Your Profits by Engaging Employees & Reducing Turnover
Presented by Jerris Duncan, Giant Worldwide Tuesday, July 16 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. Chamber Office 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Business After Hours
Thursday, July 18 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Flightstar 7 Airport Rd., Savoy, IL 61874
Fast Facts
4.7% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in March 2019
28 business licenses applied for in Champaign County in April 2019
105.6
April 2019 U of I Flash Index for Illinois
1,203,603
rides were taken on CUMTD in April 2019
4,452 visits to the Chamber’s page, champaigncounty.org in April 2019
2,012 number of unique searches on the
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory in April 2019
2014 The year that the Champaign County
Chamber of Commerce was named the Illinois Outstanding Chamber of the Year
Bank on Kip McDaniel And, A FREE Appraisal Mortgage Officer NMLS ID 1147138 kmcdaniel@fsbcorp.com *This free appraisal offer is good from May 1st – October 31st, 2019. Offer applies to the purchase of a primary residence only.
Windsor & Neil St. NMLS ID 585460
303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org 23
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