Protect yourself and business from identity theft p. 11-13 NEW Exceptional Employee of the Month program p. 14 this issue is sponsored by First Bank
Permit No. 29 Champaign, IL
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Volume 21 | Number 5
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A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Gain expsoure for your business p. 20-21
CINCINNATI, OH (August 14, 2014)—The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce has won a Grand Award in the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) 2014 Awards for Communications Excellence (ACE) competition for its “Business Emergency Relief Campaign.” They have also earned the “Best in Show” award. The chamber was recognized last night at ACCE’s Centennial Convention in Cincinnati. This year’s competition drew 163 entries. Eight were selected to win a Grand Award. Of the Grand Award winners, one was chosen for the “Best in Show” award. “National recognition by business association executives for producing a program that was innovative, responsive and relevant is larger than just recognition for our Chamber staff. What this award is really acknowledging is the strength of our Champaign County business community. It also recognizes the values of the Midwest where people pull together and they lend a ‘hand up’ to those who are experiencing tough times. This award is not only reflective of the excellent work by our Chamber staff, but it is also reflective of the Champaign County business owners and leaders who make this a great place to live and work,” said President and CEO Laura Weis. The goal of the “Business Emergency Relief Campaign” was to create a program that assisted businesses in neighboring communities that were negatively impacted by a disaster, regardless of whether or not they were members of the organization. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), forty percent of businesses do not reopen after a disaster and another twenty-five percent fail within the first year after a disaster. The US Small Business Administration indicates that it increases to ninety percent failure by the second year after a disaster. By establishing and promoting the fund, the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois and many generous business leaders and community members raised nearly $17,000 in merely 20 days. The funds were then awarded to nearly 15 businesses in Gifford, IL that were impacted by the disaster. Minimal restrictions were placed on how the affected business could utilize the funds. In many cases, the grants simply served as “cash flow” until insurance claims were processed. “Through the campaign, we were able to create awareness that the commercial core of a community is instrumental to the success of any thriving community,” said President & CEO, Laura Weis. The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce also earned an Award of Excellence for their 2013 Annual Meeting Campaign. The event was held last October and all members were invited to attend. “We threw out the traditional rubber chicken dinner and created an annual meeting the local business community did not want to miss. Using a game show theme, the interactive program celebrated members’ successes, chamber strengths and all the employees who make the Champaign County business community thrive,” said Weis. More than 275 people attended, there were three event sponsors, 13 members who sponsored tables and 18 businesses that donated more than 55 prizes. “The submission process was quite extensive, but it was neat to look back on the planning process and all the work that went into the event. In March, we submitted a portfolio that included photos, samples of promotional materials and testimonials to demonstrate the interactivity and excitement of the event. Winners were announced in June and we were very pleased to be recognized as a chamber with outstanding communication efforts,” said Marketing and Public Relations Director, Samantha Mathis. Celebrating its 30th year, the ACE program continues to be the vehicle for the chamber community to highlight outstanding initiatives by honoring best practices in chamber communications.
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
Michelle Luna Membership Sales Director MichelleL@champaigncounty.org
Karly Combest Director of Member Relations & Programming KarlyC@champaigncounty.org
Lynette Lykins Director of First Impressions LynetteL@champaigncounty.org
Samantha Hendon Marketing & PR Director SamanthaH@champaigncounty.org
Mary Murphy Events & Programs Coordinator MaryM@champaigncounty.org
Caryn Isenhower Accounts Receivable & Office Administrator Caryni@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, 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 Mike Billimack Carle
Mike DeLorenzo
University of Illinois
Stephen Flynn Attie’s Bar & Grill
Alan Gleghorn Christie Clinic
Perry Greene
Stone Creek Golf Club
Cindy Guthrie
Three Degrees of Change
Tabatha Helm DSC Logistics
Susan Jepsen
Rod Roberts
Kurt Lenschow
Jim Lyons First Vice Chair, Birkey’s Farm Store
Reynolds Towing Service, Inc.
State Farm
Chuck McReaken
Chair, Thunderstruck Design
Becky Von Holten
Tri Star Marketing, Inc.
Second Vice Chair, Midland States Bank
Dennis Riggs
Beth Auterman
Diane Ruedi
Michael Wozniak
Chris Shroyer
Laura Weis
FIX-IT, Sidney Dairy Barn
F.E. Moran Security Solutions
Busey
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.
Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen
Past Chair, Livingston, Barger, Brandt & Schroeder
Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
FINANCIAL SERVICES Provided by CliftonLarsonAllen
champaigncounty.org/5
WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER >> members who joined between July and August 2014 Bradley Leeb Photography
Savoy, IL 61874 217.721.9190 www.bradleyleebphotography.com Photographers-Commercial Bradley Leeb is a Champaign-based photographer. He works with businesses and their marketing goals to ensure they have the necessary quality imagery for their promotional materials. Leeb does regular freelance work for USA Today, Sports Images, Associated Press and other media outlets. His images have appeared in national publications such as USA Today and Sports Illustrated, as well as regional and local publications such as the Chicago Tribute, Sun-Times and dozens of others.
Dancing Dog Eatery & Juicery 126 W. Main St. Urbana, IL 61801 217.552.1344 www.dancingdogeatery.com Restaurants – Vegan
Doughbelly Subs
2504 Village Green Pl. Champaign, IL 61822 Restaurants
Elegant Nails Lounge celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting on July 2, 2014. They are located at 2202 S. Neil St. in Champaign.
Dragon Fire, Inc. 630.807.9274 Food Truck – Pizza
Joyful U, Inc.
2508 Waterbury Pl. Champaign, IL 61822 217.974.0263 www.joyful-u.org Wellness Programs Joyful U is a Champaign-based non-profit organization founded by Professor Barbara Minsker, Ph.D. Joyful U helps individuals step off a path of stress and frustration and onto a new path of success, happiness and peace. Their unique approach—called Mindful Living with Purpose and Resilience (MLPR)—is a synthesis of three methods not previously linked: purposeful living, mindfulness, and resilience. They offer training, workshops, retreats, coaching and educational tools which can be customized to an individual’s or group’s needs. Their programs feature carefully crafted exercises, readings, and activities that give participants the tools to discover new directions, tap into creativity, help weather life’s ups and downs and improve health and wellbeing.
Champaign Urbana Nursing and Rehab held a ribbon cutting on August 8, 2014 to celebrate the opening of their new unit called CUR.
Party On Productions has been providing successful and worry-free wedding entertainment throughout the Central Illinois area for the past nine years. Besides professional and experienced wedding DJ’s, they also offer custom event lighting—including their one-of-a-kind LED Light-Up Dance Floor. Awarded the 2014 Best Of Weddings Award by The Knot, they promise an engaging and interactive experience for people of all ages and interests.
State Farm Insurance – Brian Hanson Agency Express Employment Professionals held a ribbon cutting Thursday, August 14, to celebrate their new location at 2117 W. Park Ct., #1 in Champaign.
408 N. Race St., Suite A Urbana, IL 61801 217.344.1900 www.brianismyguy.com Insurance
Brian Hanson’s State Farm Insurance Agency opens its doors next door to Silver Creek Restaurant in Urbana on October 1, 2014. Brian and his team strive to provide their clients with the best individualized care possible while helping them manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and achieve their goals. Born and raised in the Champaign-Urbana area, Brian and his wife Natalie enjoy attending community events and rooting on the Fighting Illini. Sterling Math & Writing recently joined the Chamber and held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their opening on August 15, 2014.
Christie Clinic celebrated their new Vein and Vascular Center with a ribbon cutting on Monday, September 8, 2014.
Party On Productions
1801 E. Fairfield Circle Urbana, IL 61802 217.621.5102 www.partyonproductions.biz Disc Jockeys
Sterling Math & Writing
2110 N. Market St., Suite E Champaign, IL 61822 217.689.4353 www.sterlingmathandwriting.com Tutoring Sterling Math & Writing provides after-school and summer enrichment programs as well as tutoring to elementary and middle-school students. Their program—led by a certified instructor—integrates social skills, math and literature and is aligned with both the Common Core State Standards and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards. Students gain confidence through practice, math-focused enrichment activities and games, tech-based resources, homework help, oneon-one tutoring and learning-based play.
Tutoring and Test Prep CU
3402 Stoneway Ct. Champaign, IL 61822 630.532.0154 www.tutoringandtestprepcu.com Tutoring Tutoring and Test Prep CU specializes in ACT prep, GRE prep, math of all levels, English and ESL, among
others. Its founder and CEO, Michael Cheng, is an experienced teacher and tutor who has worked with hundreds of students. He scored a 34 on the ACT himself and is an expert on the best strategies for students to increase their score significantly. Cheng’s years as an educator has helped him gain multiple instructional strategies to reach students of all learning styles. He is able to communicate complex materials in ways that all students can understand, remember, and apply.
UniFirst Corporation
1103 Martin Luther King Dr., Suite 2A Bloomington, IL 61701 309.828.0200 www.unifirst.com Uniforms UniFirst is one of North America’s largest workwear and textile service companies, providing managed uniform, protective clothing and custom corporate image apparel programs to businesses in diverse industries. In addition to outfitting more than 1.5 million workers in clean uniforms each workday, UniFirst also has a hand in keeping businesses clean, safe, and healthy through its Facility Service Program.
INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS ing n r a e l g n i AND EMPLOYEES upcoopmportunities Mobile app v. mobile website? Think you need to “go mobile” but aren’t sure where to begin? There are many confusing options when it comes to marketing a business today. We know the power of going mobile, but may not necessarily know how it can apply to the daily operation of our business or if it is even a good fit for our market. Come learn how much mobile is growing and how some simple tools like mobile apps, mobile websites and text marketing can change the way you reach customers. Which one is right for you?
How to Find, Connect and Engage with your future customers - LinkedIn is a very powerful relationship building tool, but it can seem kind of mysterious. You may have signed up and made some connections, but now what? • How can you make the most of your time? • How do you find people who will become customers or centers of influence? • How do you stand out from competitors? • How do you make yourself more visible? Get the answers to these questions and more in two 90-minute seminars.
Recent amendments to the Workers’ Compensation Act will greatly affect employers in terms of their costs as well as their responsibilities to maintain a safe work environment. Protect yourself and get the facts at this informative seminar presented by Inman and Fitzgibbons.
Accepting card-based payments at your place of business is a must these days, but at what price? It is vitally important to know the related costs and the latest technologies designed to increase security and prevent fraud. Please join us at this highly informative seminar designed to provide business owners with practical, hands-on knowledge of the merchant services business.
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THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS LOCALLY: 114 W. Church St. Champaign, IL 217.398.0067
1500 E. Grove Ave. 1251 Woodfield Dr. Rantoul, IL Savoy, IL 217.893.8100 217.351.3526
SAFEGUARDING YOUR FINANCIAL DATA PREVENTING PAYROLL FRAUD: Payroll is a cornerstone of any successful business. Unfortunately, far too often, so is payroll fraud. While larger businesses have switched to direct deposit for their payrolls, many smaller businesses continue to issue physical payroll checks. These days, however, any business can take advantage of the new technologies available through online banking. Issuing a check always entails risk: checks can be lost, stolen, or forged, and data thieves are always looking for new ways to use sensitive financial information, like the business account number found on a payroll check, to perpetrate electronic fraud. Instead of payroll checks, consider using the E-ACH (Automated Clearing House) capabilities in their online business accounts. It’s a convenient way to handle payroll, but you and your employees’ financial information is still protected by the multiple layers of security. It may seem counterintuitive, but the best way to protect your business from payroll fraud is to leave the paper behind and make use of the same E-ACH technology that large corporations have been using for years.
What does First Bank specifically do to ensure that their clients’ information is secure?
We protect clients’ information in a number of ways. From a consumer standpoint, we partner with MasterCard and utilize a dedicated, 24/7 fraud prevention service. A team of specialists and sophisticated computer programs look at every debit, credit and online transaction and aggressively monitor those for any indication of fraudulent activity. From an account standpoint, the bank naturally uses the latest Brandon Nash technology to safeguard customer data. We also provide Banking Center a sophisticated online banking platform that uses multiple Manager layers of security. Sometimes it can seem like a hassle, but complex passwords, security questions, personal greetings and images are all part of protecting our clients’ sensitive account and personal information.
What can account holders expect First Bank to do if their accounts are compromised?
While we can’t stop every instance of fraud before it happens, First Bank operates under a Zero Liability policy toward fraud and unauthorized transactions. If an account appears to have been compromised, we will investigate what happened and present our findings to the customer. If the charges are, indeed, fraudulent, the customer will not be held liable and we will credit the missing funds back to their account. If needed, we will close their current account and open a new one, and we frequently replace potentially compromised debit cards with new cards at no cost to the customer.
Will banks ever be able to eliminate fraud?
No. I wish that wasn’t the case, but I believe it is. Banking has become faster and more convenient for everyone and one of the consequences of that is that it is also more enticing for criminals. It’s risk versus reward. In order to minimize that risk, we encourage customers to do what they can to help protect their own data. A great deal of fraud depends on the customer not being aware of what is going on with their account. We are very diligent about monitoring our accounts and we ask customers to help us with that. While we can’t eliminate fraud, catching it early makes it much easier to prevent and far less impactful for our customer.
FEATURES OF OUR BUSINESS CHECKING ACCOUNTS: E-BANKING
• Direct Deposit Payroll • Accept Direct Business To Business Payments • Create Multiple Sub-Users On Your E-Banking Account With Different Permissions
ACCOUNT ANALYSIS
• Allows business with high volume to minimize costs while maximizing financial resources. Let us look at your past statements and see how much you could save.
REMOTE CAPTURE
• Save time by taking advantage of technology to make check deposits from your business location and eliminate trips to the bank.
DON’T BE ANOTHER STATISTIC. PROTECT YOUR TRAVEL SAFETY • Let your bank and credit card companies know about your travel plans. This keeps them from shutting down your cards when charges from unusual places are made by you. It also lets them know that if you are in South Carolina, charges from Europe should not go through. • Refrain from posting travel plans on social media sites. This is a clear message to thieves that nobody’s home for the next week. • A full mailbox is another indication that a home is likely empty. Request that your mail/newspaper subscriptions be held by the post office. • Slim down your travel wallet. There is no need to bring your checks/library card/employee ID on vacation if you plan not to use them. Bringing unnecessary identifying information only increases the tools a thief has at hand if your wallet is stolen. • Speaking of stolen wallets, keep your important documents and money in a location that would be difficult for a pick-pocket to access, such as an interior coat pocket or under a layer of clothing. • If at all possible, avoid using public computers. With auto-save features and web history recorded, retrieving information accessed is a cakewalk for identity thieves. • Keep a password on your cell phone. While this isn’t exactly fool-proof, it does create a hurdle for anyone that tries to access the information on your device. Tip provided by: Commerce Bank
OUTSOURCING YOUR SHREDDING? In today’s environment of identity theft and privacy compliance it’s become a best practice for businesses of all sizes to outsource their document shredding to a professional company. Outsourcing is absolutely the best option in order to create a documentable audit trail and provide proof of a responsible process when it comes to the disposal of private corporate data. But what should a company look for in a vendor? • Is the vendor security-certified by N.A.I.D.? The National Association of Information Destruction (N.A.I.D.) is the shredding industry’s trade association that helps set standards and guidelines for security and ethics in the proper handling procedures of outsourced shredding companies. • Offsite shredding from a plant-based shredder or on-site? On-site shredding has emerged as the process of choice in most cases since it allows the user to know with certainty that their materials were turned into waste product before the vendor leaves their facility. • In the event of paper loss for any reason (accident, negligence or even intentional acts), does the vendor have the insurance to offer protection and restitution in the event of data loss…an information breach? In today’s liability climate, the policy all companies should adopt is: “No Professional Liability Insurance…No Contract!” Vendors should carry a $1 million Professional Liability Insurance to cover all of its clients. Tip provided by: Confidential On-Site Paper Shredding
CREDIT V. DEBIT - DOES IT MATTER WHEN ACCOUNT INFO IS STOLEN? Banks are starting to make debit cards and their liability more like credit cards but the fact is, if someone has access to your debit card and PIN, they have full access to your bank account associated with that card. It is also important to understand that debit and credit cards are not treated equally by consumer protection laws. Under federal law, your personal liability for fraudulent charges on a credit card can’t exceed $50. If a scammer uses your debit card, you could be liable for $500 or more, depending on how quickly you report it. A typical compromised credit card or debit card will not affect your credit score. What will affect your credit score is someone taking the information they can garner from the account to actually create new accounts you may not be aware of. Also, if your debit card is used by a scammer, they could empty your account causing checks not to be honored or automatic payments not to be made. That can affect your credit score. Consider setting up alerts on your accounts to notify you if a transaction occurs that is not normal for you. Tip provided by: UScore Financial Services, Inc.
IDENTITY. MAIL AND PHONE SAFETY • Never give your account information to anyone claiming to be from your bank unless you initiated the call. • Do not give your account number or personal information (social security number, etc.) over the phone unless you initiated the call. • Make sure your mailbox is secure and promptly remove delivered mail. • Never leave outgoing mail containing personal or financial information in your unsecured mailbox. Deposit your mail in a secure, official Postal Service collection box. • Notify the Post Office immediately if you change your address. • Have your mail held by the Post Office when you are away or on vacation. • If you stop receiving regular bills, contact the company to find out why. Someone may have filed a false change-of-address notice to divert your mail and steal your identity. • Shred credit card application forms and financial statements before disposing of them.
Tip provided by: Heartland Bank
PREVENTING POINT OF SERVICE (POS) FRAUD: With the increase in holiday shopping, there is increased targeting of cyber-criminals on retailers large and small. If you accept credit card payments (whether by computer, mobile phone, point-of-sale machine or credit card terminal) online criminals are compromising these devices with increasing frequency. To avoid becoming the next target make sure whatever device you use for accepting payments is used only for that purpose (no web surfing, e-mail, mobile apps other than for accepting payment), make sure your network is protected by a firewall; make sure you always update the device whenever updates are available and to use strong passwords. Also, make sure all “default” passwords (i.e. user: admin, pass: admin) are removed or changed. The biggest breaches you hear about in the news usually come down to one simply security failure that usually costs very little to address.
Tip provided by: Bambenek Consulting
IDENTITY THEFT. WHAT IS IT? According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, identity theft includes one or more of the three types of incidents: (1) unauthorized use or attempted use of an existing account; (2) unauthorized use or attempted use of personal information to open a new account; (3) misuse of personal information for a fraudulent purpose. Person level identity theft is captured in the Identity Theft Supplement (ITS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Household level identity theft is captured by the main NCVS.
WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS? The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) collects information about consumer fraud and identity theft from the FTC and numerous other organizations, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, Attorney Generals Offices, and various State and local law enforcement agencies.
Over 2 million consumer complaints in 2013
16.6 million American adults experienced identity theft in 2012
Over 34.2 million adults, or 14 percent of Americans 16 or older, had experienced some form of identity theft in the past Identity theft is one of the top five consumer complaints
The majority of identity theft incidents (85 percent) involved the fraudulent use of existing account information, such as credit card or bank account information. Sources: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/identity-theft-risesconsumers-rage/ http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=4821
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PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE George Washington once said that “The mass of our citizens require no more than to understand a question to decide it properly.” On Tuesday, November 4, there will be a lot of issues to understand. Illinoisans will vote for a U.S. Senator, U.S. Congressman, Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller, State Senator, State Representative, County Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer and Board Members. There will also be a number of ballot measures asking voters to amend the Illinois Constitution; or if they think income taxes should be raised on millionaires; if the minimum wage should be increased; if employers should be responsible for providing birth control coverage to employees and for some, if we should build a new high school. Employers know well what an increase in taxes, the minimum wage, more regulations and inaction on workers’ compensation reform mean. Business owners and entrepreneurs are often focused on growing their business and making sure employees and families are successful. Our members have made an investment in the community by starting and operating businesses here. That is why this November it is so important to understand where the candidates stand on the issues. The Chamber has several avenues for members to find where candidate’s stand. We have posted the written responses to candidate’s survey questions asked by the Business Empowered Political Action Committee on our website, www.champaigncounty.org. Also, on Thursday, October 9, as part of our Breakfast Series, we will host a panel of candidates who are facing opponents in November. We also have a deputy registrar on staff from 8 :00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays to register people to vote. On November 4, use your vote and decide the direction of your county, your state, and your country.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS John Bambenek of Bambenek Consulting recently presented at the Blackhat Conference on Ransomware and the firm’s role in eliminating Cryptolocker. The Blackhat Conference is a globally recognized conference attended by over 8,000 security professionals each year from all over the world. The presentation titled “The New Scourge of Ransomware: A Study of CryptoLocker and Its Friends” focused on the technical details of the ransomware threat and the role threat intelligence placed in finding the infrastructure that controlled the malicious software and systematically taking it down costing online organized crime tens of millions of dollars in the process. The ransomware infected hundreds of thousands of consumers globally and they can now recover their files without paying ransom. The University of Illinois College of Business is asking local business people to make an impact on freshmen and sophomores exploring career paths. By posting your Job Shadow opportunity on I-Link today. One day during the winter break between January 5th - 16th, 2015 you have the opportunity to help a freshmen or sophomore learn about potential career opportunities in business while providing exposure to your company. This is a great way for Illinois alums to be involved. Please pass along this invitation as anyone in your organization is welcome to host an Illinois Business student for the day. For maximum publicity to students please post your Job Shadow position(s) on I-Link in advance of our upcoming Fall Business Career Fair (Sept. 17 & 18). To learn more about Job Shadow Timeline and Employer Guide can be found on their website: http:// business.illinois.edu/bcs/recruiters/engage/onsite.aspx. Joyful U, a Champaign-based organization focused on helping busy professionals, parents and others define and pursue their own paths of success and happiness, is offering FREE introductory workshops on Mindful Living with Purpose and Resilience throughout September. They invite you to join them at one of their free workshops to learn how Joyful U’s unique synthesis of mindfulness, purposeful living and resilience can help you and your employees improve health and well-being, as well as increase productivity and creativity. Introductory workshops are being held in Urbana and Bloomington or they can come to your organization and host a custom workshop. All workshop participants receive discounts on future Joyful U retreats that begin in October. For more information, visit their website or contact Susan Roughton at 217.418.2159 or susanjoyroughton@gmail.com. Nine out of 10 executives at small and mid-size manufacturing and distribution companies expect solid growth over the next 12 months and two-thirds plan to add jobs during that period, according to the 2014 McGladrey Manufacturing and Distribution Monitor. The survey, which was conducted by McGladrey LLP, the leading provider of assurance, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, includes responses from more than 900 executives at small and mid-size U.S. manufacturers and
distributors, and provides an annual update on the state of middle-market companies in the industrial sector. In Illinois, 174 executives participated in the survey. Chad Osterbur, PE, PLS, of Fehr Graham, a local engineering and environmental firm received his Professional Engineer License in the State of Indiana. Chad is a Project Engineer at the Champaign location and is also licensed in Illinois. Heartland Bank and Trust Company’s Zurkamer Appointed as IBA Women in Banking Committee Chair. The Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) President and CEO Linda Koch announced Heartland Bank Senior Vice President and Director of Risk Management Andrea Zurkamer as the 2014-2015 Women in Banking ommittee Chair. As chair of the committee, Zurkamer will assist the IBA in developing the Annual Women in Banking Conference and other networking and educational opportunities for female bankers.The Illinois Bankers Association is a full-service trade association dedicated to creating a positive business climate that benefits the entire banking industry and the communities they serve. Founded in 1981, the IBA brings together state and national banks and savings banks of all sizes in Illinois. Collectively, the IBA represents nearly 90 percent of the assets of the Illinois banking industry, which employs more than 100,000 men and women in over 5,000 offices across the state. Fehr Graham, a leading Midwest engineering and environmental firm, announced today the appointment of Matthew Johnson as the new Branch Manager of the Champaign, Illinois office. Johnson was elevated from his Project Manager position to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Champaign office. Johnson will continue to focus on Water and Wastewater projects while also leading business development initiatives. 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 Hendon, SamanthaH@champaigncounty.org.
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busey.com 217.365.4500
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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. For more details and photos from the tour, visit www.champaigncounty.org.
CATERPILLAR INBOUND LOGISTICS:
The Caterpillar Inbound Logistics Center opened in 1995, and in their 19 year history they have since expanded and now have three facilities in Champaign with more than 370,000 square feet for receiving, storing, and shipping material. Their main function is to distribute parts to Caterpillar manufacturing facilities and Caterpillar suppliers worldwide. They ship four different sized boxes. On average, employees ship 20,000 boxes per day and package 10,000 boxes per day. They have 42,447 active part numbers in stock that they ship daily. One out of 30,000 boxes is incorrect. This is an excellent percentage and while it shows how accurate the facility is the focus of all employees is to reduce incorrect shipments even further. Caterpillar’s top three goals are safety, quality and productivity. They strive to keep their employees safe and are always looking for ways to improve safety on the job. An interesting feature of the facility is a lock-on track which allows the forklifts to lock on to a magnetic track. The aisles throughout the warehouse are close in order to make the most of the space and be more efficient. This lock-on track allows employees to make their way down the aisles without steering. Caterpillar also partners with the Developmental Service Center which helps employ people with developmental disabilities. The DSC employees attach o-rings to fittings which are then shipped out to customers.
BACON & VAN BUSKIRK GLASS COMPANY:
Bacon & Van Buskirk Glass Company is one of Illinois’ largest fullservice glass companies, offering retail, residential, wholesale and commercial glass, mirrors, windows and doors throughout Central Illinois and West Central Indiana. Bacon & Van Buskirk Glass Company has been a prominent part of Central Illinois since 1937. The original company, T.M. Bacon and Sons, began as a small local paint and glass company in 1906 in downtown Champaign. After Verne Van Buskirk bought T.M. Bacon’s Glass Department in 1937, Bacon & Van Buskirk was located in downtown Champaign where Radio Maria restaurant is now. In 1947, they moved down the road to South Neil Street and have been located at 801 South Neil Street since 1973. Bacon & Van Buskirk also has a second office and showroom in Springfield. Bacon’s Windows & Doors is a new division being promoted by the company highlighting their quality residential window & door brands. They invite you to stop in to see their new Bacon’s Window & Door Showroom addition, finished earlier this year. When visiting the 801 South Neil Street showroom, you’ll also find the area’s top custom glass shower door displays, the area’s largest selection of framed mirrors, and a wide array of unique glass products.
Bacon & Van Buskirk employs 50 employees and has been a Chamber member since 1948. Roy Van Buskirk (retired) was instrumental in forming the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and was its first Chairman. Rod Van Buskirk is the company’s third generation owner.
SUPERVALU DISTRIBUTING:
Supervalu Inc., located in Urbana, is one of 30 distribution centers around the country. The company’s regional office is located in Minneapolis. The Urbana facility is the second largest location in the region and the fourth largest by volume in the country. They have been at their current location since 1963. The company started in 1900 in Champaign County. It was J.M. Jones until it was purchased by Supervalu in 1963. The name change did not take effect until 1994. W. Newell & Co. is their produce facility which is located on Apollo Drive, Champaign. Supervalu operates 24 hours a day, 7-days a week. They carry all items in a grocery store except non-edibles such as soap and shampoo. They stock 22,000 items in different temperature zones, including cigarettes and tobacco. Their inventory turns over within three weeks, which means all of the inventory they currently have will have been shipped out within 22 days and they will be completely restocked with new product. The distribution center has 270 primary customers across six states. They average 80 loads of product per day and 35-40 loads of produce per day. County Market, IGA and Rural King, among others, are customers of Supervalu. They employ 380 employees; 60 part time workers who are usually students. They also offer marketing, accounting and payroll services to their customers. Supervalu has noticed several changes in the industry in the past five years. Health foods and protein bars are up in demand and frozen foods are down. Protein, dairy and produce are up as well. The single fastest moving item in the grocery business is the banana. Technology advancements have permeated throughout their company over the years. For example, employees wear headsets during their shifts. These automated headsets tell employees what product to pick for each order and where the product is located to ensure pallets are created in the most efficient manner. This system along with refrigerated trucks and containers has drastically improved productivity and quality.
THE ANDERSON’S:
The Anderson’s was founded by Harold Anderson in Maumee, Ohio in 1947, and the company headquarters is still located there. Today, they operate more than 30 facilities throughout Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee and Nebraska with a total storage capacity of more than 134 million bushels. Their recent acquisition of The Grain and Agronomy facilities of Green Plains Grain Company has allowed them to diversify their business unit into new territories in Tennessee and Iowa. In addition to operating their own grain facilities, they provide services to the ethanol industry through plant management, corn origination and the marketing of distiller dried grains (DDGS) and ethanol. The Champaign facility was the second facility The Anderson’s built in 1968. It can accommodate 500-600 trucks per day during harvest season. They have 25 full-time employees and pride themselves in building strong relationships with the farmer to help them manage risk and maximize profit in their operation. Through the Anderson’s AgVantage Agency they are able to offer crop insurance as part of their risk management philosophy. They also have innovative marketing strategies that provide farmers with flexible options in their marketing plan. Despite the ups and downs of production agriculture, The Anderson’s has remained a constant building unique relationships with their customers, employees, business partners and with the communities in which they operate. champaigncounty.org/19
5 REASONS WHY SPONSORING LOCAL EVENTS SHOULD BE ON EVERY SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING PLAN Written by Matthew Telfer for MarketingNerd
S
ponsorship is a tried and tested marketing tactic that the majority of large companies use to some degree. Popular forms include sponsoring people, content and events. The benefits of sponsorship include branding through association, increased awareness amongst the target audience and an increase in feelings of good will towards the sponsor. Whilst large international or national events are often too expensive for small businesses, there are hundreds of much smaller events that I would argue are as equally, if not more, effective as a marketing channel than their larger counterparts. Whether you are simply sponsoring an event, or also attend in some capacity (e.g. stand/stall), you can use local events to create both breadth and depth of engagement. Regardless of whether you trade nationally or regionally, here is why sponsoring local events should be on every small business marketing plan:
With such a variety of sponsorships at the Chamber, there is an opportunity for small and large companies.
1. Amazing value for money At a fraction of the cost if you went for a national event, you can associate yourself with an event that is closely targeted at your target audience. Although the number of people coming to the event, and the amount of media coverage may be smaller, the return on investment is typically much higher. I have known some national events to cost upwards of $19,400 for a middle of the road sponsorship package. Compare that to the $650 to $3,000 I’d expect to pay for a local event, and you can see why it starts to make financial sense. 2. They are more accommodating From my own experiences of sponsoring both national and local events, I have always
UPCOMING SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT ANNUAL MEETING: • Table Sponsor - includes table for eight, mention at event, name on program and in Commerce Connection after event ($400) • Mid-Level Sponsor - includes table for eight, mention at event, logo on all promotional materials, special mention in video presentation, email footers, logo in Commerce Connection after the event, quarter page ad in Commerce Connection ($900) • Title Sponsor - includes table for eight, name mention in event title, logo on promtional materials, large logo on banner, mention in video presentation and at event, email blast, email banners, logo in Commerce Connection after event and half page ad in Commerce Connection ($2,750)
found the organizers of the local events to be much more responsive and flexible in accommodating your requests. Fancy a larger stand, a description on their website, supplying a hand out to all attendees…? Most local events will like the fact you want to do more, whereas national events are much stricter in what they will, and won’t do.
We’re open to your ideas. First State Bank sponsored a hole at the golf outing and wanted to do their own raffle. It wasn’t part of their package, but we gladly helped.
3. You can still publicize your involvement nationally Just because it is a local event doesn’t mean you can’t promote your involvement nationally. Your blog, social media, press releases etc. should all be used to publicize your sponsorship to a national audience. You can also run competitions to win tickets to the events and pay for people’s travel and accommodation to build interest. 4. You are seen as a grass roots supporter If you build up a solid number of local events you sponsor, you will position your Many sponsorships company as a supporter of “real” allow you to present people and affordable events. your product at the
event. At Come Wine
With Us, you’ll find the 5. Meet people and network Sidney Dairy Barn’s If your business is 100 percent Moo-Mobile, as well online, this is a great opportunity as other restaurant to get out there and meet people. samples. As well as meeting new people, you can get valuable feedback on your products and speak face to face to new prospects. If you already have face to face time with your customers, here are some new prospects for you! Local events are also a great networking opportunity to meet new b2b suppliers, or to become one yourself.
“We wanted to sponsor the Golf Outing because we thought it was a great way to get more involved in the Chamber. It was great for networking and we met a lot of new people across a wide variety of companies. Sponsoring the outing was extremely easy to do, which was another big benefit. The Chamber team took care of everything and not much was needed on our end.” -Garrett Runyon, The Roofing Dog
NUMBERS TO KNOW ABOUT CHAMBER SPONSROSHIPS:
131
Prizes Donated
76
15
avg. learning programs
Sponosorships Sold
27 avg. events each year
44.5 avg. First Friday Coffee attendees
122.7 avg. Business After Hours attendees
LARGEST EVENT BY ATTEDNANCE: Annual Meeting - 276 Come Wine With Come Wine With Us -Us 200- 106 -225
GolfOuting Outing- -125 100 Golf
“Come Wine with Us is a benefit to our Wood Refinishing & Repair business. It is a great way to mingle with prospective customers, visit with business friends and also catch up with past customers.” -Christina West, FIX-IT champaigncounty.org/21
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 Hendon for more information, SamanthaH@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 Hendon at SamanthaH@ 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 Hendon for more information, SamanthaH@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 Hendon for more information, SamanthaH@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Contact Samantha Hendon for more information, SamanthaH@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Event Sponsorship
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 Hendon for more information, SamanthaH@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
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 Annual Meeting sponsorship...............................................$400 - $2750 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 complimentary:
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 Ribbon Cutting Ascend CHC
Tuesday, September 23 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. 700 S. Gregory St., Ste. A, Urbana
Coffee with Unit 4 Superintendent
Tuesday, September 30 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
First Friday Coffee
Friday, October 3 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. United Way of Champaign County 404 W. Church St., Champaign
Ribbon Cutting Salt & Light
Monday, October 6 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 1512 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign
Business Success and Solutions Seminar Going Mobile? Wednesday, October 8 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. presented by LeadWise Consulting 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Meet the Candidates Breakfast
Thursday, October 9 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Hawthorn Suites 101 Trade Centre Dr., Champaign
Ribbon Cutting WICD ABC NewsChannel 15 Wednesday, October 15 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 250 S. Country Fair Dr., Champaign
Starting a Small Business
an event hosted by ECI SCORE Thursday, October 16 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Business After Hours
Thursday, October 16 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center 1907 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana
Connect @ Lunch
Monday, October 20 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Olive Garden 30 E. Anthony Dr., Champaign
Chamber Annual Meeting Friday, October 31 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn 1501 S. Neil St., Champaign
Fast Facts
7.3% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in July 2014
32 business licenses applied for in Champaign County in August 2014
106.0 August 2014 U of I Flash Index for Champaign County
529,018
rides were taken on CUMTD in July 2014
7,067 visits to the Chamber’s page, champaigncounty.org in August 2014
10,163 average amount of referrals PER DAY the
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory received via search engines and online sources in August 2014.
Chamber Picture Day Thursday, November 6 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
First Friday Coffee
Friday, November 7 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. COUNTRY FinancialÂŽ, Champaign Agency 801 N. Country Fair Dr., Ste. B, Champaign
Writing a Business Plan
an event hosted by ECI SCORE Saturday, October 11 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 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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