years
20 than more
Volume 21 | Number 1
C O M M E R C E
CONNECTION A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EXOTIC EXCURSION
Your Dream Getaway is within Reach p. 11
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Member News p. 14 In Your Business Tours p. 16
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Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
etiquette series with Beth Reutter Certified Business Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE How Etiquette Savvy are you? Tuesday, February 11th – 12:00 -1:30 p.m.
Powerful First Impressions: How to meet and greet Tuesday, February 18th – 12:00 -1:30 p.m. Mastering Mingle-Ability Tuesday, February 25th – 12:00 -1:30 p.m. Suit Up for Success Tuesday, March 4th – 12:00 -1:30 p.m.
Etiquette Luncheon – Urbana Country Club Tuesday, March 11th – 12:00 - 2:00p.m.
PERFECT YOUR ETIQUETTE SKILLS! www.champaigncounty.org
join us for the 2014 Spring Chamber
march breakfast
!
BREAKFASTSERIES
People don’t come with warning labels...dealing with difficult people.
april breakfast
What is the business community’s role in the University of Illinois’ Strategic Plan? with Chancellor Phyllis Wise
Thursday, March 13, 2014 | 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. Hilton Garden Inn | 1501 S. Neil St. Champaign Humorous characterizations are used to help attendees learn to resolve conflict and create a more productive work environment. As a result of this program you will… • Understand why people are difficult • Learn specific techniques for dealing with different types of difficult people • Be able to resolve conflict and improve communication • Decrease stress for yourself and others which results in higher productivity
Thursday, April 10, 2014 | 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. Hawthorn Suites | 100 Trade Center Dr. Champaign
The cost to attend each is $17 for Chamber members; $29 for non-members. Cost includes a full breakfast. To register, contact Caryn at 217.359.1791 or email caryni@champaigncounty.org. Sign up for both breakfasts for only $30.
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 University of Illinois Employees Credit Union IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS President’s Circle Illini Radio Group - MIX 94.5, WIXY 100.3, 92.5 The Chief, WYXY Classic 99.1, True Oldies 97.9, Extra 92.1, Hits 99.7 NewsTalk 1400 WDWS, Lite Rock 97.5 WHMS, Classic Hits 107.9 WKIO
CHAMBER STAFF Laura Weis President & CEO LauraW@champaigncounty.org
Lynette Lykins Director of First Impressions LynetteL@champaigncounty.org
Karly Combest Event & Programs Director KarlyC@champaigncounty.org
Samantha Mathis Marketing & PR Director SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org
Caryn Isenhower Accounts Receivable & Office Administrator Caryni@champaigncounty.org
Ryan Roth Public Policy Director RyanR@champaigncounty.org
Michelle Luna Membership Sales Director MichelleL@champaigncounty.org
Christopher Sheppard Membership Development Director ChristopherS@champaigncounty.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OFFICERS Joe Alexander Mark Ballard
BankChampaign, N.A.
Mike Billimack
Cindy Guthrie YG Financial
Kurt Lenschow State Farm
Jim Lyons
Stevie Jay Broadcasting’s - Q96-96.1FM, US105.9, Sunny 95.3 & ESPN 93.5
Carle
WCIA-TV / WCIX 49
Presence Covenant Medical Center
Dennis Riggs
Mike DeLorenzo
Diane Ruedi
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
Mike Brown
University of Illinois
Stephen Flynn Attie’s Bar & Grill
Perry Greene
Birkey’s Farm Store
FIX-IT, Sidney Dairy Barn
F.E. Moran Security Solutions
Chris Shroyer Busey
Michael Wozniak
Chair, Livingston, Barger, Brandt & Schroeder Rod Roberts First Vice Chair, Thunderstruck Design
Beth Auterman
Treasurer, CliftonLarsonAllen
Tabatha Helm
Past Chair, Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc.
Laura Weis
Secretary, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
Stone Creek Golf Club
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.
FINANCIAL SERVICES Provided by CliftonLarsonAllen
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ATHENA ATHENA and and YOUNG YOUNG PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AWARDS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Champaign Country Club | noon
Join Champaign County Chamber of Commerce members and representatives from local businesses as we honor the 2014 ATHENA Award® Recipient and 2014 ATHENA Young Professional Award® Recipient. Luncheon registration form available on our website!
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WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER >> members who joined between November 8, 2013 and January 14, 2014 Anywhere Anytime Journeys
P.O. Box 169 Rantoul, IL 61866 217.892.2526 www.anywhereanytimejourneys.com Travel Agencies & Bureaus Anywhere Anytime Journeys is the first step to the vacation or honeymoon of your dreams. Brad Martin, CTC, with nearly 30 years of travel industry expertise, is able to offer you his expertise to help personalize your special trip with unforgettable memories and breathtaking experiences. By having connections with the most exclusive hotels and must-see destinations, Anywhere Anytime Journeys offers benefits that travelers will not be able to find with other travel agencies at a price that cannot be beat. Contact Anywhere Anytime Journeys to plan your next getaway.
Ascend CHC
700 S. Gregory St., Ste. A Urbana, IL 61801 217.531.4796 www.ascendchc.com Mental Health Services Ascend is a comprehensive behavioral health clinic
Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell held a ribbon cutting on November 12 to celebrate their new location.
located near the campus of University of Illinois. They care for those who need a confidential, safe place for help with binge eating and other eating disorders. Their highly trained and nationally recognized team of psychologists, therapists, nutritionists and exercise experts also serves those struggling with self-injury, weight difficulties including obesity, addictions and anxiety disorders. They offer individual therapy, group sessions and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). Ascend was founded by Dr. Jenny Conviser, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. In addition to Champaign, Ascend also has locations in Chicago, Northbrook, and Wilmette.
Assisted Finances
P.O. Box 17488 Urbana, IL 61803 217.974.5009 www.assistedfinances.com Assisted Finances is a group of professional money managers that work with individuals, such as seniors, busy professionals, or anyone not wanting or not able to tackle their day-to-day finances. Some of the services that they offer are bill
Spherion held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their new location in Savoy on November 14. champaigncounty.org/
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Disc Replay held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their grand opening on November 7. paying, reviewing financial statements, balancing checkbooks, organizing financial records, setting up budgets, etc. They don’t care how you spend your money; they work with you to make sure your money is doing what you want it to do.
Attie’s Bar & Grill
2600 Stone Creek Blvd. Urbana, IL 61802 217.367.3000 www.atties.net Restaurants Attie’s Bar and Grill at Stone Creek Golf Club is a bit of a drive from the heart of Champaign, but that is part of what makes it so great. Once there, you can watch your favorite sporting event on one of their 11 TVs, admire the view of the golf course at the bar or bask in the outdoors on the wrap-around patio. “Attie” was the high school nickname of the late Clint Atkins, a local developer who founded Stone Creek Golf Club in 1999 because of his great love for the sport. His kids run the club now and decided a
Pampered Pet held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their newly remodeled location on November 21.
Country Inn & Suites held a ribbon cutting on November 14 to celebrate their remodel. community bar and grill was exactly what the place needed. They serve classic American sports bar food with some unique twists. Head chef and ice sculpture artist, Steve, infuses bar food with his own signature creativity. E.L. Pruitt 1302 W. Anthony Dr. Champaign, IL 61821 217.974.5611 www.elpruitt.com Mechanical Contractors E.L. Pruitt Co., founded in 1971, is a leader in Illinois providing complete mechanical contracting services which include engineering, design - build, installation and services for HVAC, plumbing, process piping systems, sheet metal fabrication, architectural sheet metal and refrigeration for commercial, institutional and industrial clients.
On November 21, Pear Tree Estate held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their grand opening.
On November 15, Attie’s Bar & Grill held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their grand opening.
On November 20, JT’s Brewery held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their grand opening.
Graybar Electric Co.
301 Mercury Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 217.560.1006 www.graybar.com Electric Supplies Wholesale
community near shopping and dining. They offer luxury living at affordable prices with an amenity package that is second to none. No other housing complex in the area offers the variety of activities allowing residents to meet one another and have an amazing experience.
Iroquois Federal
PlayMaker
108 Arbours Dr. Savoy, IL 61874 217.446.0184 www.iroquoisfed.com Banks
Nantucket Cove Luxury Residences 2001 N. Moreland Blvd. Champaign, IL 61822 217.344.8800 www.mckinley.com Apartments
Nantucket Cove is a premier luxury apartment
Dr. G’s BrainWorks - The Brain Fitness Store and More held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their grand opening on November 25.
2000 N. Neil St., Ste. 405 Market Place Mall Champaign, IL 61820 217.351.7529 www.goplaymaker.org Schools Expertise
ThirdSide, Inc.
701 Devonshire Dr., #C 40 Champaign, IL 61820 217.693.3919 www.thirdside.co Website Design & Services
Elite Entertainment held the first ever surprise ribbon cutting to celebrate their grand opening of their brand new location on December 11.
ThirdSide is an award-winning design firm focused on web design, logo creation, branding and copywriting. Established in the spring of 2011, ThirdSide has grown to be one of the most recommended graphic and web design firms in the area. With a base of clients ranging from small businesses to nationally-known corporations, ThirdSide has positioned itself as a local leader in business services. Although their primary focus is design and usability, they possess the technical skill to handle every step of a project from vague idea all the way through rollout and implementation.
Unity Performing Arts & Career Center 2001 S. Philo Rd. Urbana, IL 61802 217.298.2177 www.unitypacc.org Youth Organizations & Centers
Unity Performing Arts and Career Center project is a new not-for-profit that is looking forward to providing a family support center that offers classes for all ages. Institutions and agencies will have the opportunity to host classes,
IN CASE YOU MISSED THE ANNOUNCEMENT
training, counseling sessions and other career development workshops. UPACC will put Champaign at the forefront of meeting economic development needs with a unique career training program. Participants will receive life skills training and counseling to help their family achieve selfsufficiency.
Villas of Holly Brook
68 E. Airport Rd. Savoy, IL 61874 217.962.0943 www.villasofhollybrook.com Assisted Living Facilities
Villas of Holly Brook - Monticello 901 Medical Center Dr. Monticello, IL 61856 217.372.1075 www.villasofhollybrook.com Assisted Living Facilities
GREAT THINGS will happen here.
WE’VE CHANGED! new logo | new brand | new website
the logo & brand.
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demonstrates REFLECTS VIBRANCY energy and OF BUS. COMMUNITY passion SOLIDARITY engaged interactive S P O T -
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Anchored by the Carle Heart and Vascular Institute, the new Carle Tower features 136 private patient rooms and a comfortable healing environment. Just one more way we’re helping you BE GREAT. For more information visit carle.org
YOUR DREAM GETAWAY IS WITHIN REACH
How local travel agents take the stress out of planning
Wri t t en by S a m a n t h a Mat hi s f o r t he Ch a m pa i g n Co un t y Ch a m ber o f C o m m e r c e
T
ravel agents sell 51 percent of domestic airline tickets, 68 percent of international airline tickets, 87 percent of all cruises, 81 percent of all tour packages, 45 percent of all car rentals and about 47 percent of all hotels. “Travel agents must be doing something right, we are busy!” said Jennifer Busey, Manager of Rio Grande’s Franklin Travel, after providing the previous statistics. They know their stuff, but why else should you use a travel agent? Lisa Hettinger, co-owner of L&L Travel in Champaign, said taking advantage of a travel agent is important because the trip is planned faster and they save people time and money; “we know exactly where to go and have a multitude of resources.” When speaking of her experience in the travel industry, Hettinger said many of her clients also use a travel agent because they want to work with a person, not a computer. Jennifer Busey of Rio Grande’s Franklin Travel added that using an agent means less stress, travel expertise and getting the best value for your money. Busey also discussed her ability to provide clients with more options and price quotes because of their relationships with a variety of travel suppliers. She stressed the importance of being an advocate for her customers. “Travel
agents are constantly communicating with the travel community; giving [travelers] the most up-to-date information on airlines, hotels, car rentals, passport requirements, travel visas, travel insurance and more….It just makes sense to use a travel agent. We are going to be with you before, during and after the sale.” As travelers, we want experienced and knowledgeable agents. There are a variety of training methods in the travel industry; some companies do in-house training, while others bring in vendors and/or attend conferences. Jennifer Wayland, President at Island Bridal Travel, Inc., said “Our consultants undergo an initial training we call ‘What we do,’ ‘Why we do what we do’ and ‘How we do what we do’ before contracting with Island Bridal. We also require hands-on training before consultants are able to work with guests and two to four hours of continuing education each week.” Suzanne Roffey, Vice President of Suzi Davis Travel, said their consultants undergo “Inhouse vendor sponsored training along with online seminars to achieve continuing education designations.” Brad Martin, owner of Anywhere Anytime Journeys also talked about the training he received in order to become a Certified Travel Counselor. champaigncounty.org/
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L&L Travel Agency, Inc. Lisa Hettinger & Lori Tate Simon 715 S. Sixth St. | Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: 217.344.6001 www.lltravelchampaign.com Specialty: Destination weddings and group travel Favorite part of your job: “I love traveling and working with my clients!” Favorite place to travel: Negril, Jamacia
Destinations with Donica! Donica Halcom 113 W. Tomaras Ave., Unit C Savoy, IL 61874 Phone: 217.321.1792 www.destinationswithdonica.com Specialty: Escorting small group tours Favorite part of your job: “Traveling with small groups - experiencing moments - feeling the excitement!” Favorite place to travel: East Africa
Franklin Travel Jennifer Busey 1710 S. Neil St. | Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: 217.359.2525 www.franklintravel.com Specialty: Focus on corporate, leisure and group travel Favorite part of your job: “Making dreams come true.” Favorite place to travel: Italy, Belgium and Greece to name a few.
As the travel industry continues to thrive, technology and higher customer expectations are pushing it to do more. There are a variety of features gaining popularity in the industry. Honeymoon registries for example. “Couples register online after choosing a hotel for their vacation. They tell their friends and family, who can go online and choose dollar amounts they would like to put towards their room, meals, room upgrade, bottle of champagne, etc.,” said Donica, owner and Travel Specialist at Destinations with Donica. Lisa Hettinger with L&L Travel also said friends and family can pay for the vacationers to do activities like parasailing, tours and spa visits. You have decided it is time for a vacation, but where should you go? Jennifer Wayland at Island Bridal Travel said one of the most popular destinations is Mexico. “It is a terrific value, where you can get the most luxury for the amount of financial investment.” She also added that there are places in Mexico and Jamaica that allow the whole family to travel. Brad Martin from Anywhere Anytime Journeys added that more exotic areas like South Africa; Bali, Indonesia; and the Maldives are gaining popularity. “Bali and Maldives are a little more expensive getting there, but once you are there the travel is inexpensive and it is very romantic.” He also said that cruises and all inclusive resorts are popular vacation options because they are more family-friendly. Whether traveling with the whole family, a partner or a group, most people become more money-conscious when a vacation is in the near future. Suzanne Roffey of Suzi Davis Travel explained how essential it is to “be upfront about what is important to you, whether it is a luxury hotel or perhaps a less expensive hotel to allow for extra money for sightseeing.” Being clear about what you want from the beginning allows agents to plan vacations within your means; that means no sticker shock or disappointment when the itinerary and pricing is presented. Consultants at Suzi Davis Travel also make sure their clients understand currency rates when budgeting and planning. Furthermore, Donica Halcom from Destinations with Donica explained that when clients are looking to cut costs, they can “travel in the off season (for example, Florida in the first two weeks of December and September to mid May for Europe)….pack light or fly airlines that do not charge for luggage…and if you need to rent a car, it is usually cheaper to do so over the weekend or for five days at a weekly rate.” There are also payment schedules available. Jennifer Wayland at Island Bridal Travel, said “once [a client] has paid their minimum deposit to confirm reservation and lock in the rate, they are able to schedule
payments or make payments at one’s leisure up until their final payment due date.” All of these agents want to make your dream vacation come true; they are there to make sure an affordable, yet memorable trip is in your future. Whether you are looking to plan a vacation because you want to get to warmer weather, are getting married, have not vacationed in a while or want to spend your tax return on a dream getaway, these fine Chamber member businesses are sure to be of help. Check out their spotlights on the outer edges of these two pages and ads and blurbs throughout the publication. 10 TRAVEL TRENDS TO WATCH FOR IN 2014:
Anywhere Anytime Journeys Brad Martin P.O. Box 169 | Rantoul, IL 61866 Phone: 217.892.2526 www.anywhereanytimejourneys.com Specialty: Honeymoons, destination weddings and luxury vacations Favorite part of your job: “Finding the perfect vacation for my customers!” Favorite place to travel: South Africa
• The American-US Airways Merger – Travelers will start seeing merged flight codes, frequent flier programs and other features. • Airlines Seek More Fee Revenues - Carriers haven’t had much success raising fares, but they’ve found many ways to make money through ancillary revenues. •Swipe for a Taxi – Check your mobile phone for transportation rather than get in a cab line. •The Bike-Sharing Explosion – In 2013, the bike-sharing fleet in the country doubled, and experts believe it will double again in 2014 as new cities launch programs. •Dealing with Dirty Air - Smog is a serious challenge, especially in major cities where the most business takes place. •The Comeback of Streetcars - Federal money and a resurgent interest in the gliding cars is sparking a comeback.
Island Bridal Travel, Inc. Jennifer Wayland 2134 CR 1800 E | Urbana, IL 61802 Phone: 217.202.3406 www.islandbridal.com Specialty: “Finding the perfect fit” Favorite part of your job: “Saving guests tons of money...Steering them somewhere they had no idea they wanted to go and have them continue to return year-after-year...no better feeling! Favorite place to travel: Tahiti
•Paying More to Check Bags •A Friendlier TSA? - Passengers are advised how long it will take to clear lines. Some airports have a new lounge area that has soothing music, eye-friendly lighting and sofas. Meanwhile, some TSA officers have the power to wave through passengers, if they judge them to be low security risks. •The Cushy Bus - Megabus says it has carried 30 million passengers since its plush buses hit the road in 2006. Ridership is expected to climb in 2014, with the service available in more than 100 cities. The buses are cheap when booked in advance and offer Wi-Fi. •Amtrak’s Mixed Performances - Amtrak set a ridership record in its 2013 fiscal year, when 31.6 million people rode the rails. But with more people crowding onto trains, delays cause some on-time performance headaches. These trends were found at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ groupthink/2014/01/14/how-you-can-drive-customerloyalty-in-the-commoditized-travel-industry/
Suzi Davis Travel Suzanne Roffey 2137 S. Neil St. | Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: 217.398.1980 www.suzidavis.com Specialty: International travel with a focus on Europe and exotic destinations Favorite part of your job: “Hearing a clients vacation is all they wanted and more” Favorite place to travel: Mexico, Jamaica, Italy and France
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
The Illinois District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration Department (SBA) released its Lender Performance report for fiscal year-end September 30, 2013. According to the report, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust is the 10th largest provider of SBA 7(a) loans in Illinois and ranked fourth among those banks headquartered in Illinois. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s mission focuses on maintaining and strengthening the overall economy, recognizing that small business is critical to economic strength. First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust helped support that economic strength by providing 24 SBA 7(a) loans totaling over $5 million during the fiscal period noted. Eric McRae, Executive Vice President and Senior Lender for the company stated, “First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust is committed to the economic growth of the communities we serve. We’re proud to help fuel the local economy by providing SBA loans that help small businesses acquire the property and equipment they need to do more. As we head into our 149th year of business, our focus remains strong; we will continue to contribute to the well-being of the 25 communities we serve throughout Illinois.” Presence Covenant Medical Center recently named Feiteng Su, MD as the 2013 Physician of the Year. Dr. Su is a psychiatrist and is the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Presence Covenant. The Physician of the Year award was designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding physicians who contribute daily to the success of Presence Covenant. Physicians are nominated by peers, staff, patients and their families. ESS Clean, Inc. has been named the Best Company Website for a Mid-Size Company and were recognized in the August/September issue of SERVICES magazine as well as online at www.bscai.org/awards. The award was presented by the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI). BSCAI bestows the awards annually to organizations that have enhanced the image of the building service contracting industry. The 2012 Image Award winners are selected in 2013.
completing a milestone build this spring. The Bautista Family has been working alongside the UIUC Student Chapter to complete the 10th UIUC Student Chapter home. This amazing group of students has coordinated all fundraising and construction efforts for 10 homes in Champaign County. Kudos to the incredibly dedicated students who have provided a “hand up” to 10 families in this community over the past 20 years. Hickory Point Bank is pleased to announce Valerie Anderson-Vogel has been promoted to Vice PresidentMortgage Lending, announced Dan Marker, Vice President and Sales Manager. “One of the top mortgage lenders in the area, Valerie offers dedication, integrity and a wealth of experience to our customers,” commented Marker. “Valerie’s 30 years of banking experience, coupled with her deep knowledge of the East Central Illinois area, is just one more way that Hickory Point Bank is demonstrating our commitment to our customers and the values we share”, commented Marker. For a locally owned bank that knows where you are, understands where you want to be and promises to invest in you. Petry Kuhne Company is excited to announce its new ownership and management team. Longtime Petry Kuhne employees, Chris Uhlarik, Nick Walder, and Ann Schilling Deedrich have transitioned to ownership of the company and will serve as the new management team. Chris Uhlarik, who previously served as an Estimator and Vice President with the company, has been named the new President. Chris has nearly 20 years of service with Petry Kuhne. Nick Walder will serve as the Executive Vice President and has been with the company for 12 years serving as Senior Project Manager. Taking over the role of Senior Vice President, will be Ann Deedrich. Ann has served as the company’s Controller and has been with Petry Kuhne for over 20 years.
McGladrey LLP was recently selected as a member of the Bob Scott’s VAR Stars for 2013, a group of 100 organizations honored for their accomplishments in the field of middle market financial software. Members of the VAR Stars ESS Clean, Inc. is Central Illinois’ Premier Contract Cleaning, were selected based on factors such as growth, industry leadership and recognition, and innovation. Firms chosen Office Cleaning and Commercial Janitorial Service. They represent a wide range of size and different software have been in operation since 1995 and currently employ over three hundred. ESS service area includes Champaign- publishers of accounting software. “Each year, 100 VAR Stars are chosen from the best organizations that market Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, Springfield, financial software,” said Bob Scott. “It is always an honor to Effingham, Peoria and surrounding areas. Their mission is recognize those who contribute to the development of our to provide every customer with a clean, healthy, safe and business.” “McGladrey has clearly established itself as a productive workplace. leader when it comes to middle market enterprise resource Habitat for Humanity will be completing their 70th home in planning,” said Steve Ems, national leader – enterprise Champaign County this spring. The Signature Home for the resource planning and customer relationship management technology consulting for McGladrey. Sexton Family is being built with donations raised through Habitat’s 20th Anniversary fund raising in 2012-2013. Do you have news to share with the Champaign County Community donations and volunteer efforts are helping business community? Tell us about it and get featured the Sexton Family to build their home in Urbana. The home in the Chamber’s next Commerce Connection. Send an is expected to be completed in late spring. The University email with your news to Samantha Mathis, SamanthaM@ of Illinois Student Chapter of Habitat for Humanity is also champaigncounty.org.
PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE
In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court said state legislatures with both a house and senate (or some version thereof) had to draw districts as equal in population as possible following the census. Since then, political parties nationwide have tried to draw districts to protect or target certain legislators. The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce took the position to support redistricting reform; to that ends we are assisting the YES! For Independent Maps campaign gather signatures to place an amendment to the Illinois Constitution on the 2014 November ballot. The amendment, if adopted will change the way state legislative districts are drawn in Illinois. An 11 member commission of registered voters appointed by the judiciary and the legislative leaders from all areas of the state will draw districts without regard to party affiliation. This bi-partisan effort needs over 400,000 signatures of registered Illinois voters by April 1 to gain ballot access and survive petition challenges. Petitions can be signed at the Chamber office from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the following locations: • Blossom Basket Florists (both locations) • Dick Van Dyke Appliance World • Berns, Clancy & Associates • Carter’s Furniture • Bank of Rantoul • Remax • Cramer Siding & Window Co. • Wagner Machine In December, Champaign led the state in the number of petitions gathered. Since early January, the Chamber has gathered over 200 signatures from walk-ins and at events, and distributed more than 70 circulation packets to businesses and individuals. If you would like more information or are willing circulate petitions or place petitions in your business, please contact Public Policy Director Ryan Roth at RyanR@champaigncounty.org.
champaigncounty.org/
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s s e n i s u B In Your
We care about our members. To learn more about you; how we can help; and to better promote our members to other members, the Chamber ambassadors and staff have been touring your businesses. The tours have been both interesting and informative, and we are looking forward to more in the future.
MATZNER CLINIC:
Dr. Doug Matzner has been practicing in Champaign for the last 32 years. Matzner believes education is just as important as treatment, so he and his staff work to ensure patients know their options, and customize treatment to their needs and wishes. Matzner Clinic is also the home of Jump Start Weight Loss, as they were the first to bring the Ideal Protein diet to Champaign County. Dr. Matzner and his staff of 14 give their practice a “family doctor feel,” as they get to know their patients personally to provide the best treatment possible. They now offer free consultation to businesses looking to create a wellness program and will happily come to speak with businesses about some ways to improve overall health, and therefore increase productivity. For more information, visit www.matznerchiro.com.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY & RESTORE OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY:
If all they did was recycle over 460 tons of materials they collect each year, that alone would make a huge contribution to bettering Champaign County, but the Habitat for Humanity ReStore’s impact is even greater. Located at 119 E. University Ave. in Champaign, they accept donations of nearly anything home-related and then resells items at a deeply discounted price. The sale of these items fully covers all of the expenses of the organization including rent on the building; salary for the employees; and administrative costs. Residents and businesses that are replacing furniture can call ReStore to pick up old furniture they are replacing. ReStore receives many donated surplus items from new-home builds making it a great place to shop when doing any renovations or remodeling. Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County’s (the parent organization) goal is to build 8 homes in 2014. The success of ReStore allows Habitat to focus efforts on other sources of income including grant writing which helps to cover a portion of the house builds’ costs. ReStore can be reached at 217.355.6460.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS WILLARD AIRPORT:
Originally, built as a location to train pilots in WWII, the completion of University of Illinois Willard Airport did not occur until after the war was over. Ownership was given to the University of Illinois through a change in state legislation at that time. Given the governance structure of Willard, there is less access to capital than other neighboring airports. The airport operates on an annual budget of $1.5M (by comparison Rockford Airport has an annual budget of $8M) limiting airport management from being able to entice additional airlines due to a lack of incentive dollars available. For an airport with 110,000 take-offs and landings annually, airport manager Steve Wanzek operates with a crew of just five people who are responsible for mowing roughly 1,000 acres; snow removal and overall maintenance.
LITANIA SPORTS GROUP:
Willard Airport also has its own fire department with fire fighters specially trained in aircraft rescue. The sevenperson fire department also has a mutual-aid agreement with the other fire departments in Champaign County, so in case of an emergency, all departments come to the aid of the others. They make themselves available to the public, and welcome parents to call ahead and set up interactive tours for the kids. For additional information, you can contact the airport at 217.244.8618.
Litania Sports Group is made up of four smaller companies, each focusing on a different product. Gill Sports (established in Urbana in 1918 by Harry Gill) was the first of the companies. Gill Sports engineers and manufactures equipment that allows the worlds greatest track and field athletes to reach ever increasing levels of performance. In 2006, they purchased Porter Athletic (founded in 1868 in Ottawa, IL), one of the largest manufacturers of basketball equipment and backstops in the world. The newest additions to the Litania Sports Group are PowerMax (manufacturers of gym equipment for weight lifting and Cross Fit) and Upper 90 (manufacturer of soccer goals). The equipment Litania Sports Group provides can be seen world-wide. They have an impressive showroom that allows customers a closer look at the equipment in action. On the factory floor at Litania Sports Group, they make the majority of the items they sell. They have eight welding areas using MIG (metal inert gas) and TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding techniques for all of the different items they produce. They manufacture and ship over 4,000 basketball hoops each year, starting with 20 foot sections of raw steel, and shipped as the painted, assembled and tested finished product you can see on courts worldwide. They are also the only javelin manufacturer in the United States, building between 1,500 and 2,500 javelins each year. The current world record stands at 323 feet 10 inches and was thrown with a javelin manufactured in their factory. They also make equipment for hurdles, discus and pole vault, producing around 50 vaulting poles each working day. Litania Sports Group ships all over the world, shipping an average of 40,000 orders annually, accounting for $35 million in sales. champaigncounty.org/ 17
Chamber Store Mailing Labels
An exclusive benefit of Chamber membership, we sell mailing labels containing the names and addresses of Chamber member businesses for the purpose of member-to-member communication. Two lists are available for purchase: Long list (approx. 2,500 names and businesses).................................. $175 Short list (approx. 1,000 names and businesses)..................................$125
Commerce Connection Advertisement The Commerce Connection is a bi-monthly publication that gets sent out to more than 3,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County. Content always relevant to local business, the publication is fullcolor, full-gloss and all around awesome. Ads start at only $90. Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Website Sponsorship
Contact Caryn Isenhower to place your order, Caryni@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
E-Connection
Recently redesigned, our electronic newsletter gets sent out to more than 4,000 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County each week. Sponsor an e-Connection and get your business seen by THOUSANDS. Header sponsorship (one week)............................................................$100
The Chamber redesign of our website is complete. There are multiple opportunities for businesses to sponsor pages, host banners and showcase themselves on the Chamber site. If you would like more information, please contact Samantha Mathis at SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org.
Online Business Directory Enhancements
Enhance your listing on the Chamber’s online business directory. The directory gets hundreds of THOUSANDS of hits each day--turn your standard (free) listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized advertisement.
Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Email footer sponsorship
For only $75, your business can place a banner on every email that gets sent out of the Chamber office. That’s an average of over 12,000 emails per week. You can’t get better (or cheaper) exposure!
Basic upgrade...................................................................................................$40 Value upgrade..................................................................................................$60 Deluxe upgrade...............................................................................................$90
Email footer (one week).................................................................................$75 Add email footer to the Chamber’s e-Connection..........Additional $50
Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.
Event Sponsorship
New! Email Blast Advertisement
Do you have a new product, service or information you would like to share with our entire Chamber membership list? We are now offering an exclusive offer to send broadcast emails to our entire 4,200+ email list. Email Blast Advertisement .....................................................................$500 Contact Samantha Mathis for more information, SamanthaM@ champaigncounty.org.
From First Friday Coffee to our annual Golf Outing, the Chamber hosts a number of events each month! By sponsoring a Chamber event, your business gets great exposure not only at the event itself but also within all our promotional materials (emails, mailings, e-newsletters, Commerce Connection, website, etc...). We have numerous opportunities throughout the year, here’s what’s coming up: Breakfast Series sponsorship (includes table of 8)........$1000 Golf Outing sponsorship........................................................$3500 Additional sponsorship information for events such as the Annual Meeting, Business Success Seminars and the ATHENA Award Ceremony is available upon request. Contact Karly Combest at KarlyC@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791 with any event sponsorship inquiries.
Some things you get free:
LAPTOP COMPUTER
RENTAL
LCD ROOM CONFERENCE
PROJECTOR
RENTAL
RENTAL
ORIGIN &
INFO
S E R V I C E
ASSISTANCE
CERTIFICATE OF
NOTARY
- - A N D - -
For more information on any of these services, contact the Chamber at 217.359.1791. Services are available free to all Chamber members.
calendar of events Business Success and Solutions - Plan for the Certainty of Uncertainty an event hosted by Chesser Financial Thursday, February 6, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
First Friday Coffee
Friday, February 7, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC 2237 S. Neil St., Champaign
Starting a Small Business an event hosted by ECI SCORE
Saturday, February 8, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Etiquette Series - How Etiquette Savvy are you?
Tuesday, February 11, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
ATHENA Awards® Luncheon
Fast Facts
8.3% Champaign County Unemployment Rate in December 2013
Thursday, February 20, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Champaign Country Club 1211 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign
35 business licenses applied for in Champaign
Business After Hours
107.0 December 2013 Flash Economic Index for
Thursday, February 20, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Guido’s - lower level 2 E. Main St., Champaign
Champaign County
Connect @ Lunch
November 2013
an event hosted by Meyer Capel and Busey Bank
Monday, February 24, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. LongHorn Steakhouse 2101 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign
Etiquette Series - Mastering Mingle Ability Tuesday, February 25, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
County in January 2014
1,220,751 rides were taken on CUMTD in 5,675 visits to the Chamber’s page, champaigncounty.org in December 2013
14,905 average amount of referrals PER DAY the
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Online Business Directory received via search engines and online sources in December 2013.
Business Success and Solutions - Brand New Rules of Marketing
Nonprofit Organizations an event hosted by ECI SCORE
Thursday, February 13, 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
Etiquette Series - Powerful First Impressions Tuesday, February 18, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
an event hosted by BIGG Success Thursday, February 27, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign
2015 BAH/FFC Booking Day Monday, March 3, 9:00 a.m. Champaign County Chamber of Commerce 303 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign 217.359.1791
303 West Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 P 217.359.1791 | F 217.359.1809 www.champaigncounty.org
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