September / October 2022

Patrick Pfeifer

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

CHAMBER STAFF

Mindy

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kelsie Woelfle

Mary Fourtne

BOARD OFFICERS

Emkes

Welcome to the Chamber

Bentley’s Pub

419 N. Neil St.

Champaign, IL 61820

217.359.7977

www.bentleyspub.com

Bars & Taverns

Bentley’s Pub has a long history in downtown Champaign. It started as Ole Ace’s in the ‘70s and has transformed into Bentley’s in the ‘90s. Much of the past is still seen in the original tin ceilings, bar and foundation. As of June 2016, owners Ashley Buerkett and Eric Meyer are working on revamping things while trying to keep the space’s original charm and history. It began with the drink menu. Bentley’s General Manager Matt “Fu” Kucera has been a bartender in the area for years and has created a fantastic array of house-infused cocktails, also known as InFUsions. Bentley’s offers many other seasonal craft cocktails and an ever-changing list of craft beers. But if that’s not your thing, there is a full bar complete with PBR, Jameson, Fireball, BudLight, and all of the classic options that will never go out of style.

Carrie Mattsey Photography

Champaign, IL 61822

217.549-4690

www.carriemattsey.com

Photographers-Portrait

Carrie Mattsey is a photographer in the Champaign County area, a second-grade teacher in Mahomet and the mom of two grown boys. Her business has grown from her love for photography, providing highquality boutique items to her clients. We strive to give our clients a full-service experience. From pre-session consultations to putting high-quality portrait products on your walls, we want to help create memories that will last for generations. High-end albums, canvas prints and metal images are just a few items we can offer that showcase families and memories. Call or message today to get on the calendar.

Cup of Tea Counseling, LLC

Savoy, IL 61874

217.369.0819

www.cupofteacounselingil.com

Counselors-Individual, Marriage, Family & Child

Cup of Tea Counseling, LLC is a virtual mental health therapy practice. The owner, Colleen Aziz, is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a decade of experience counseling adults, couples and teenagers. My counseling specialties include working

with people experiencing family and relationship conflict, career and identity issues, and alcohol and drug problems. I have special cultural competence in working with immigrants and refugees, people who practice minority religions or secular humanism, and people who identify as LGBTQ+. I use existential, cognitive mindfulness-based approaches and solution-focused work to help clients feel better. The best compliment I ever received was that I’m the human embodiment of a cup of tea, and I bring that same warmth, compassion, and calm to every counseling relationship. Contact Colleen via her website at cupofteacounselingil.com to schedule your first session.

Greater Champaign County AMBUCS

P.O. Box 592

Urbana, IL 61803-0592

217.552.3331

www.thegccambucs.org

AMBUCS is a national charitable service organization comprising a diverse group of men and women dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities. The Greater Champaign County Chapter has been making a difference in Champaign County since 1981. The organization’s main accomplishments are the 350 ramps built for low-income families in Champaign County and the 300+ AmTrykes given away in the last ten years. Visit the website to see the many wonderful things AMBUCS does and consider becoming a member. We can always use the help and love meeting new community members. We meet weekly at Urbana Gardens on Tuesdays at 12pm.

Jones Notary, LLC

Philo, IL 61864

314.780.9370

www.jonesnotaryllc.com

Notary

Jones Notary, LLC provides convenient mobile and traveling notarization services for all real estate documents, estate planning documents, power of attorney, adoption documents, apostille facilitation and more in the greater Champaign County area. We will travel to nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living facilities. We do the traveling, so our customers don’t have to, and we offer after-hours appointments as an extra convenience to clients. Jones Notary, LLC takes pride and pleasure in serving our community.

Loman-Ray Insurance Group, Inc.

108 S. Lincoln St.

Broadlands, IL 61816

217.834.3309

www.lomanray.com

Insurance

Trusting your insurance provider is critical, which is why Loman-Ray takes it so seriously. We are committed to providing the best experience for all customers, from buying a new policy to making a claim. We recognize that trust is foundational to your relationship with your insurance provider. Insurance is very personal—you need to know your insurance provider has your best interest in mind and will go the extra mile when needed. This philosophy is at the bedrock of Loman-Ray Insurance. As we earn your trust, we are confident you will come to the same conclusion.

Luxe Balloons & Backdrops by T. Nickole, LLC

Urbana, IL 61802

217.722.1707

www.luxeedd.com

Balloons-Novelty & Toy

Luxe Balloons & Backdrops by T. Nickole creates eye-catching balloon installations. We believe every celebration (birthday, grand opening, shower and corporate event) should include balloons. We specialize in organic balloon garlands. Balloons are not about the typical, old-fashioned, symmetrical arch anymore. Staying current with the latest trends, we focus on a more modern style of balloon decor. But we understand that some styles are timeless, so we still offer the Classic Columns. We only use high-quality, 100 percent biodegradable, natural latex balloons and we offer flower wall backdrop rentals if balloons aren’t your thing. Our flower walls are made with high-quality silk artificial flowers that look and feel real. We believe in providing exceptional customer service and going above and beyond. We are honored and truly grateful for the opportunity to serve and celebrate with our community.

Nicole Wellman State Farm

1204 E. Oak St., Ste. 2-4

Mahomet, IL 61853

447.647.1014

www.nicolewellmaninsurance.com

Insurance

At Nicole Wellman State Farm, we help our customers identify and mitigate everyday life risks and make the right insurance and financial decisions. We love to discuss our customers’ priorities and goals and help create a plan to achieve them. And, as a team, we promote health and wellness by supporting the community in related activities like races and sporting events—although we have been known to give away donuts now and then. For more information, please visit our website or call us for fast and free comparisons on cars, homes, life insurance, and more. We’d love to help make your life go right.

Raising Cane’s

411 E. Green St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.690.6446

www.raisingcanes.com

Restaurants

Our concept is simple and unique—we only have ONE LOVE—quality chicken finger meals. At Raising Cane’s®, you get an exceptionally high-quality product served quickly and conveniently. We can do this because of our limited menu. The specialized systems developed by Raising Cane’s® allow us to maintain a level of quality unmatched in the industry. Our commitment to this concept will not allow us to compromise our quality, cut corners or clutter our menu with new products that do not fit our core menu offering.

Republic Services, Inc.

2801 N. Willow Rd. Urbana, IL 61801 217.367.2278

www.disposal.com

Waste Reduction, Disposal & Recycling ServiceIndustrial

Republic Services is an American waste disposal company whose services include non-hazardous solid waste collection, waste transfer, waste disposal, single stream recycling, electronics recycling, universal recycling and energy services. Locally, Republic Services operates in Urbana with a hauling operation and a transfer station. Contact Matt Friel at mfriel@republicservices.com to schedule your Blue Print Waste Assessment today.

Sport Redi Mix LLC

401 Wilbur Ave.

Champaign, IL 61824

217.355.4222

www.sportredimix.com

Tools, Concrete-Ready Mixed

Sport Redi Mix LLC is a locally owned and operated one-stop-shop concrete ready-mix supplier and contractor. We are also a hard materials retailer/ wholesaler. Our IDOT-certified computer batching plants allow us to offer a wide variety of concrete mixes, including state-approved, integrally colored, high-strength, high-early, lightweight, freeze-resistant, pumpable and grout mix designs. At Sport Redi Mix LLC, we strive to make every experience with our customers one that makes them want to come back and do repeat business with us. Call today for information on special pricing for large orders. We return calls and supply free quotes within the day.

The Fringe Mini Golf & More

849 Stone Bridge

Rantoul, IL 61866

217.530.3393

www.thefringeminigolf.com

Golf Courses Miniature

The Fringe Mini Golf & More is multi-generational family fun for all. We offer two 18-hole courses, nine holes on each course connected to create an 18hole ADA-compliant course. We also offer a full bar, sharable appetizers, pizza and two state-of-the-art HD multi-sport simulators—our indoor and outdoor seating showcase incredible views of the sports complex.

Toast, Inc

1130 E. Bogardus St.

Paxton, IL 60957

217.778.6907

www.toasttab.com

Restaurants

Your restaurant. Even better. The point of sale is just the beginning. Learn how the Toast system—from handhelds and display screens to online ordering and email marketing—works together, making over 40,000 restaurants even better. If you want to own one location or 100, one thing is true; you need to keep core operations running smoothly, so you can focus on food and guests. By combining powerful cloud-based software, restaurant-grade hardware and transparent payment processing all in one place, Toast allows you to do what you do best.

Unity Construction Inc.

1401 N. Prospect Ave.

Ste. 6

Champaign, IL 61820

www.unityconstructioninccompany.com

Unity Construction Inc. has over 50 years of experience serving our residential and commercial customers across Central Illinois. We have built our reputation for detailed work for an honest price by delivering exactly what our customers want. We’ve taken a comprehensive approach to project management, providing our clients with a wide range of services to cover their needs. Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we can offer you or to request a free estimate.

Urbana Acupuncture, LLC

155A Lincoln Square Mall 300 S. Broadway Urbana, IL 61801 217.344.9118

www.urbana-acu.com

Acupuncture

We bring people together to rest and recover their healthy lives. Our mission is to make acupuncture accessible to the community. We achieve this at a welcoming place for community health, promoting acupuncture’s everyday usefulness and simplicity and providing an affordable sliding scale. Since 2011, we have served over 53,000 treatments, reducing pain and stress and promoting overall health. Thank you for sharing with us your friends and family.

Ribbon Cuttings

VitalSkin Dermatology celebrated a ribbon cutting on August

Interested in hosting a ribbon cutting of groundbreaking?

Chamber members have the

for ribbon cuttings to celebrate a

with

attend to help you celebrate.

team, a Chamber representative will be

will see

social media

well

hosting a ribbon

Biaggis Ristorante Italiano celebrated a ribbon cutting on August

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE: PROMOTING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

By: Ben Hannauer Marketing & Communications Intern

As the weather and leaves make their seasonal transformation, let us look towards another important day of change coming this fall. On November 8, voters across the state and, in turn, across the country will turn out en masse to elect new representatives for their districts.

Here in Champaign County, the intersection point of many separate county, state and national districts in Illinois, there is plenty that local businesses can do to ensure that civic engagement is at an all-time high. Community and civic engagement are not only defined by the willingness of individuals to try and engage others in meaningful change it is defined by that community’s response to the act. By spearheading local movements and becoming a leader in community engagement, the positives are nearly endless.

Already there are examples of businesses large and small setting the example by fronting voter participation efforts. On August 17, 2022, the NBA announced that it would not schedule any games on November 8, the day of the 2022 Midterm elections in an effort to encourage fans to get out and vote. While the NBA may enjoy a level of brand recognition shared by few others, the effort by an organization of such magnitude only further highlights the need, nationally and locally, for increased voter participation.

If you are struggling to find a place to start such a drive the Champaign Chamber of Commerce is an excellent place to start. The Chamber will be able to strategize with your business on how to launch such a campaign as well as register employees to vote by contacting deputy voter registrar and director of public policy Madeline Herrman.

In 2018, the last year in which a Midterm was contested, the turnout rate in Champaign County was 64 percent, or the national average for presidential elections. While it is a significant turnout rate in its own right, that number swelled to 75 percent during the 2020 Presidential election. Nine percent higher than the national turnout rate for the same election. Maintaining high voter turnout is something that all in the community can be proud of, and by encouraging customers and employees to vote, business owners have the

ability to create true change in a community’s civic habits.

In turn, the Midterms are also a time when vital local elections are held. The policymakers on the local level are the individuals who help shape and mold our community. These local officials are responsible for setting and enforcing local government revenue sources such as sales and property taxes. Through their decisions they directly influence the way every local business operates and mold the future for the local business community.

By supporting local elections, businesses can help customers and employees to see the importance of national and local elections while supporting the future of your local business. While there are infinite ways that a local business can show its support for local elections, community engagement efforts such as the organization of voter registration drives are a great way to encourage customers and employees to exercise civic rights. Through increasing local interest in elections, businesses can build brand recognition across the area and increase the amount of positive feedback it receives through local civic engagement.

Shaping our community’s future is good for residents in local elections and your business as well. A community that engages together is stronger for it and thus more prepared for the future.

We encourage you to join our advocacy efforts. To learn more on how you can be involved, email Madeline Herrman, director of public policy, at madelineh@champaigncounty.org or go to champaigncounty.org/advocacy.

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Entertainment Sponsor Gift Sponsor

Bell Market Sponsor

Starting October 1 - The Champaign Count y Chamber Association Health Plan brings together small, professional companies and organizations for educational purposes and to get the healthcare buying power of larger employers.

This association plan aims to save employers and their employees money, while giving them more options with their healthcare choices. Health Alliance™, well known throughout the state for high-quality care and excellent service, coordinates essential services, including claims administration, medical management, provider network access and pharmacy benefits for the Association. The integrated communications and processes in these key areas help set Health Alliance apart from other plans that employ less effective, piecemeal approaches.

Benefits o f joining t he Champaign Co unty Chamber Associat ion Heal th P lan

New rules permit Chamber of Commerce groups to band together to purchase their healthcare coverage and to be subject to a large group rating through association health plans.

• Improved pricing.

• Greater buying power.

• Provides renewal stability.

For more information, please contact the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce at (217) 359-1791.

To qualify, you must:

• Be a member in good standing with the Champaign County Chamber.

• Maintain your membership in the Chamber

S P R T S O F

O C T O B E R

We are celebrating October with our Spirits of October! Spirits of October features some of the best specialty cocktails and spirits in the community. Follow along on our social media pages with our President & CEO Laura Weis as she visits some member restaurants and tries some wickedly good cocktails. See a cocktail you are interested in trying? Visit these restaurants and be sure to tag us. Below is a sneak peak of a couple of restaurants that we will be visiting. As part of Spirits of October, we ’ re raffling a scary number of bottles of spirits, wine and beer. Each $2O ticket gives you one (1) chance to win the BOOze Basket. Purchase multiple tickets to increase your chances of winning. purchase your raffle ticket(s) at: www.champaigncounty.org/store

Hamilton Walker’s: House Old Fashioned Biaggi's: Sicilian Margarita

LIVE HERE. WE LEND HERE.

Ironworkers

Laborers

Painters

Carpenters

MEMBER ACCOLADES & NEWS

BARHAM BENEFIT GROUP

Barham Benefit Group is a leading local broker providing employee benefits packages. We are pleased to announce our newest team member Jeanne Bohlen. Jeanne is a human resources and benefits specialist with 24 years of experience whose goal is to serve as an advocate for the insured. A continuous learner, Jeanne has attained multiple certifications throughout her career, including Certified Administrative Professional through the International Association of Administrative Professionals, the Group Benefits Associate from the Wharton School, SHRM Certified Professional certification from the Society for Human Resource Management and SHIP counselor certification from the Illinois Department of Aging. Jeanne is a SHIP volunteer at the Community Resource Center at OSF in Urbana where she helps seniors navigate the scope of Medicare options. She is a member of the Central Illinois Human Resource Group (a chapter of SHRM) and has served on the board for the past 5 years, most recently as chapter president.

CLA WEALTH ADVISORS

(CLIFTONLARSONALLEN WEALTH ADVISORS, LLC)

CLA Wealth Advisors (CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC), an SEC-registered investment advisor, is pleased to announce that Stacey Jolley has joined the firm as a wealth advisor. She will be helping individuals and businesses in the Champaign and Danville areas. Jolley has an extensive background in the financial services industry. She can provide comprehensive financial, estate, college and insurance planning. Jolley works closely with individuals and businesses to develop investment strategies designed to help meet their financial objectives, while also delivering a high level of client service.

REGENCY MULTIFAMILY

Regency Multifamily is excited to announce the addition of three individuals to the company’s Leadership Team. Laural Collins

joined Regency as the new director of human resources, Keith Hardyman was promoted to director of IT, and Jessica Lewis was promoted to director of operations.

As the director of human resources, Laural is responsible for developing, implementing, directing and coordinating human resources policies, practices and programs covering employment, benefits, training, placement, safety and health of all employees. Areas of focus include payroll, employee benefits, personnel conflict resolution, recruiting, as well as claims related to disability, workers’ compensation and unemployment per local, state and federal guidelines as well as Regency standards.

As the director of IT, Keith is responsible for Regency’s server implementation and maintenance, SaaS management, helpdesk support, network security, domain management and technology contract negotiations. Keith also plays a critical role in the company’s acquisition and development efforts, assisting with the due diligence process and development planning.

As the director of operations, Jessica is engaged in the overall operations of Overture Flats, The Pines of Rochester and Red44. Jessica is accountable for budgeting, financial reporting, training and supervising office staff, as well as collaborating on marketing strategies, negotiating and evaluating contracts, and inspecting each property to ensure the highest standards are maintained.

THE CHAMPAIGN URBANA SCHOOLS FOUNDATION (CUSF)

The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF) is pleased to welcome Jeff Scott, CEO Stephens Family YMCA and Yavonnda Smith, director of professional development at Urbana District 116 to the board of directors. CUSF recognized J. Steven Beckett, retired University of Illinois College of Law and Vanna Pianfetti, Outreach Specialist at the University of Illinois

Extension, who completed their terms in June.

EVERDAY KITCHEN

Just in time for autumn, Everyday Kitchen, 1807 S. Neil St., at the corner of Fox Drive in Champaign, is rolling out a brand-new all-day menu, plus dinner entrées, craft cocktails and $5 happy hour features – all in celebration of comfort food. Everyday Kitchen Head Chef and Champaign-Urbana local Michael Maggi is the architect of the menu remix.

“When the days get shorter and a chill begins to fill the air, we all start craving comfort food,” says Maggi, who also serves as Everyday Kitchen’s Operations Manager. “Our updated menu is the best of the best in local comfort food and a mix of familiar favorites and new dishes with a couple of fun twists along the way. It’s designed to be a taste of the kinds of things we love here in Champaign-Urbana.”

The star of the craveable All-Day menu, which is a collection of shareables, signature handhelds, a build-your-own burger and savory

sides, is a twist itself, literally.

More items winning rave reviews include Irish Nachos, heaped with corned beef; spicy Mushroom Diablo Tacos, and Maggi’s take on a Central Illinois classic - the Horseshoe. His version features hand-carved, ovenroasted turkey breast and beer-battered sidewinder fries smothered in a luscious queso blanco sauce. The all-day menu is available Wednesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

We want to help you share your company’s accomplishments, recent hires and good news. Email it to KelsieW@champaigncounty.org. Then look for it on our website AND in our bi-monthly publication. There is no fee to do so it’s an added feature of your membership.

Customers and Sales Made Possible with Affordable, Effective Marketing Opportunities

Website Banner Ads

A banner ad on our website means that your company name, logo, product or service is seen by 150K unique visitors annually. With pricing starting at just $300, where else can you find this affordable and effective exposure for your business?

Email Blasts

Is there a new product, service or information about your business that you would like the entire Chamber membership to learn about or utilize? Through our email blast program, we’ll send an email on your behalf to our 4,000 email contacts for just $500. We’ll even throw it on our Facebook page at no additional cost.

*Only ONE email blast will be sold per month on a first contact, first sold basis.

e-Connection Banner Ads

Every Monday, without fail, over 4,000 decision-makers receive our e-newsletter. People want to know what’s going on, we are a trusted source of infor mation, so they open our e-Newsletter. That is what you want as an advertiser. Purchas ing a banner ad to be placed at the top of the e-Connection gets you exposure to thousands for just $100 per week.

Website Directory Enhancements

Our website directory gets hundreds of views each day. We are like the modern-day version of 411 for people trying to find a business, resource or service. An enhanced listing makes you stand out against your competitors. Turn your standard listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized marketing tool for just $79 annually.

Commerce Connection Ads

Do you know what happens when you add magazine print to your marketing strategy?

According to Magazine Networks, you get the multiplier effect. They say, “people are 3.2 times more likely to identify the brand as one they wanted to find out more about and a 43 percent increase in their likelihood to purchase.” Our bi-monthly publication, Commerce Connection, gets mailed to all chamber members (and then some). Those chamber members employ an estimated 59,000 people. Imagine 59,000 people looking at an ad for your competitor? The Commerce Connection is not only your B2B best bet; it is also a strong force for B2C marketing.

Do you really want to be seen? There are a variety of ad sizes available starting at just $100. Member businesses can also purchase the magazine’s cover. You get exposure before readers even open the publication.

Mailing Labels

Sometimes, when you are trying to break through the internet noise, it pays to go ‘old-school’ with good old snail mail. We have names, and we will sell them. An exclusive benefit of Chamber membership allows you to purchase mailing lists containing names and physical address es of Chamber member businesses to enhance your B2B marketing. Two lists are available for purchase:

Long list (approx. 2,000 contacts): $195 Short list (approx. 900 contacts): $125

We can help you maximize your businessto-business marketing strategies. We can put your company in front of consumers. Most importantly, we can do it in the most affordable way to meet your budget.

Tell your customers where to find you.

These opportunities are exclusive to chamber members. Are you taking advantage of it?

calendar of event

HR Webinar Series: Best Practices to Avoid Wage and Hour Claims

Tuesday, October 18

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Webinar

Business After Hours Thursday, October 20

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by: Wells Fargo Advisors

2237 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL

HR Webinar Series: Employment Law Update

Tuesday, November 15

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Webinar

Business After Hours Thursday, November 17

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by: SYNERGY Home Care at Lodgic Everyday Kitchen

1807 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL

First Friday Coffee

Friday, December 2

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Hosted by: Parkland College 1315 N. Mattis Ave. Champaign, IL Featured Event

For more information or to register for an event, go to www.champaigncounty.org/events/calendar/

The Chamber office is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: The Chamber complies with the state mandate and asks that members follow the CDC guidelines and/or state mandate at Chamber functions. While masking is now optional, please remember that people will have different comfort levels as we return to in-person events. Handshaking and standing close may still make people uneasy. So, we ask that all participants be respectful of this. Bring your best fist bump, reconnect and enjoy.