Chamber Connection Newsletter | April 2017 by The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | April 2017

November 2015

Belle-Scott Committee Hosts 67th Annual Enlisted Dinner The 67th Annual Belle-Scott Enlisted Dinner was held Thursday, March 9th at St. Clair Country Club in Belleville. The event honored 90 enlisted men and women, along with 4 veterans and Retired Congressman Jerry Costello. It provided an opportunity for community members to show their gratitude to our friends at Scott Air Force Base. The night began with a receiving line in which the enlisted men and women were greeted with handshakes and expressions of welcome and appreciation from civilians. It was a gesture of good will from community members and is a long-standing tradition of the Belle-Scott Committee. Community members were able to visit with the enlisted men and women before dinner with words of welcome from Wendy J. Pfeil, Executive Director of the Chamber. After dinner, the program continued with kind words from Civilian Chairman, Jay Tebbe, St. Clair County Chairman, Mark Kern, and City of Belleville Mayor, Mark Eckert. Next, Jay Tebbe presented Col. Laura Lenderman with an commemorative plate in honor of Scott Air Force Baseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100th Anniversary. Col. Lenderman accepted the award with gratitude and spoke about the many ways Belleville has become a hometown for families stationed at Scott throughout the years. TSgt. Brittany Lanahan issued the Enlisted Response on behalf of the men and women of Scott Air Force Base. TSgt. Lanahan described the ways in which the community supported her and her family during her time of deployment and thanked the Belle-Scott Committee for continuing the tradition of the Enlisted Dinner. ...continued on page 3

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Kevin Richter, President Mathis, Marifian & Richter, LTD Dr. Jeff Dosier, President Elect Belleville Township High School District #201 Mike McManus, 1st Vice President Memorial Hospital Bob Mueller, Immediate Past President TheBANK of Edwardsville

Board of Directors Dr. Brett Barger, Lindenwood University-Belleville Edmond Brown, ELB Enterprises Mayor Mark Eckert, City of Belleville Dr. Mark Eichenlaub, Southwestern Illinois College Grant Evitts, Illinois American Water Harlan “Skip” Ferry, Commerce Bank Pat Hill, Allsup, Inc. Rachel Jackson, Project Compassion, NFP Darlene Jones, Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois Jerril Jones, Center for Racial Harmony Jared Katt, Chelar Tool & Die, Inc. Matt Klosterman, Belleville Public School District #118 Mary C. Lamie, Bi-State Development Melissa Mason, Belleville News-Democrat Kevin Pesko, Bank of Belleville John Reichert, In-Focus Marketing Bill Rickher, Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc Peg Sebastian, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Scott Schanuel, Holland Construction Services Kevin Vick, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. Emily Vosse, Beno J. Gundlach Co. Joseph Weissert, Ameren Illinois Will Welsh, Gateway Region YMCA Roger Wigginton, Don Rodgers, Ltd.

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Chairman Mark Kern, St. Clair County Christine Spargur, Scott Air Force Base

CHAMBER STAFF Wendy J. Pfeil, Executive Director wpfeil@bellevillechamber.org Beth Tucker, Office Manager btucker@bellevillechamber.org Landon Brooks, Marketing and Communications Manager lbrooks@bellevillechamber.org Peggy Schifferdecker, Membership/Event Manager pschifferdecker@bellevillechamber.org Alicia Slocomb, Main Street Manager bms@bellevillechamber.org Cathleen Lindauer, Director, Belleville Tourism clindauer@bellevillechamber.org Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce 216 East A Street, Belleville,IL 62220 Phone: (618) 233-2015 Fax: (618) 233-2077 www.bellevillechamber.org

AMBASSADORS

SPECIAL PARTNERS Platinum:

Memorial Hospital

Gold:

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

Silver:

Illinois American Water Company

Bronze:

Ameren AT&T Belleville News-Democrat Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.

Friends:

Associated Bank Auffenberg Belleville Commerce Bank Eckert’s Country Store and Farms Gonzalez Companies, LLC Grey Eagle Distributors Korte & Luitjohan Regions Bank Scott Credit Union Southwestern Illinois College TerraSourceGlobal TheBANK of Edwardsville The ROHO Group

Alliance:

Abbott EMS Allsup, Inc Apartment Community of Our Lady of the Snows Balke Brown Transwestern Bank of Belleville Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative BMO Harris Bank BOS Metro East Banking Center Breakthru Beverage Group Casino Queen Century Brass Works Chelar Tool and Die CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP Cooling Concepts ELB Enterprises, Inc. Empire Comfort Systems FCB Bank First Bank FKG Oil Company Hilton Garden Inn & Regency Conference Center Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP Holland Construction Services International Paper Jack Schmitt Chevrolet Lewis Rice LLC Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. McDonald’s - Burris Management, Inc. Memorial & St. Elizabeth’s Cancer Treatment Center McKendree University National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows NAACP, East St. Louis Branch North Bay Produce NovaChrome Print Master Sam’s Club Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C. Strano & Associates UMB Bank Volkert, Inc. Walmart Willowcreek Rehab & Nursing Center

Shirley Bertelsmann, Community Member Sarah Biermann, King’s House Retreat Center Rebecca Boyer, Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC Justin Chapman, TheBANK of Edwardsville Terri Dambacher, CompuType IT Solutions Bob Dintelmann, Landscape Consultant RoseMarie Fitzgerald, Community Member Mary Jo Foerste, Community Member Cari Frick, Metro Lock and Security, Inc. Mona Friederich, Bank of Belleville Sharon Goff, Self-Employed Patty Gregory, Art on the Square Martha Holloway, The Apartment Community of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Dean Hardt, City of Belleville Dennis F. Korte, Sr., Belleville Township Supervisor Joyce Laux, Community Member Tracy McCollum, Standard Rule Promotions Dorothy Meyer, St. Clair County Mark Mueller, Mueller Furniture Al Orelt, Albert Orelt Allstate Agency Lisa Phillipson, Hospice of Southern Illinois Joy Prigge, Dieterich Bank Mary Reuter, Lindenwood University - Belleville Leslie Schmidt, Abbott EMS Loretta Stammer, Community Member Brandy Steely, BND Anne Thomure, Memorial Hospital Jack Weck, Community Member Sheri Welch, Independent Insurance Agent Susan Wobbe, St. Clair County Office on Aging John Wunderlich, Egyptian Business Furniture

2017 Advertising Rates Business Card:

$25 per month

1/4 Page:

$50 per month

(3.5 x 2.3)

(3.5 x 4.8)

1/2 Page:

$100 per month

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Full Page:

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Ads must be received by the 15th of the month, electronically as a pdf. Please call (618) 233-2015 to reserve your ad space.

Page 2

January 2016

Chamber Happenings ....continued from page 1 After TSgt. Lanahan’s response, Jay Tebbe presented Retired Congressman Jerry Costello a special award for his support of Scott Air Force Base throughout his career. Tebbe noted that Congressman Costello was instrumental in keeping Scott Air Force Base open during the BRAC closures in the early 2000’s. Terry Foerste introduced and described four veteran’s military experiences as a way of honoring them for their service to our country. The four honorees were Bill DeMestri (WWII Veteran), Lou Eisenbrandt (Vietnam War Veteran), Leroy Getz (Korean War Veteran), and Claude Cable (Korean War Veteran). Ms. Eisenbrandt also made Belle-Scott history as the first ever female honored veteran. Another noted veteran also in attendance was Robert Hahn, a WWII veteran who was happy to be able to attend the event. The 67th Enlisted Dinner was a tremendous success and the Belle-Scott Committee is already planning next year’s event. Thank you to everyone who was able to support the event! To learn more about the Belle-Scott Committee, visit BellevilleChamber.org

April 2017

Upcoming Chamber Events 4/4 4/5 4/6 4/6 4/10 4/11 4/12 4/13 4/14 4/18 4/18 4/20 4/20 4/21 4/22 4/26 4/27 4/28

Education Committee Meeting TRC Victory Celebration Ambassadors Luncheon Business After Hours at The Weingarten PR/Marketing Committee Meeting Coffee Cup Connections at The Arbors at Parkway Gardens Issues & Eggs Healthcare/CSA Committee Meeting Good Friday - Chamber Closed Economic Development Committee Meeting INforM Committee Meeting Government Affairs Committee Meeting Ladies’ Night Out Leadership Belleville Regional Growth Day 5th Annual Belleville Ale Fest Leadership Belleville Committee Meeting Lunch & Learn at Bel-Air Bowl Ribbon Cutting - Belleville Area Humane Soc.

Join us on April 22nd for the 5th Annual Belleville Ale Fest!

ALE FEST Visit BellevilleAleFest.com for tickets and more information. BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS

SWIC is just a

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Take classes, earn a certificate or work toward your degree at your convenience.

Classes start June 5. swic.edu/online Belleville Campus Red Bud Campus Sam Wolf Granite City Campus

The Chamber Connection

Page 3

“Advancing Business. Supporting Community.”

Thank You

The businesses and organizations below renewed their investment with the Chamber in February...

Allsup, Inc

Kings Point Sports Club

Apex Network Physical Therapy

KMA Certified Testing, Inc.

AT&T

Lewis Rice LLC

Balke Brown Transwestern

Liberty Tax Services

Bellecourt Banquet Center

Lindendwood University-Belleville

Belle Valley School District #119

Mailing Methods

Belleville School District #118

McCulllough’s Flooring

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Illinois

Meckfessel Tire & Auto

Carol Bartle Charles A. “Chip” Gray Chiro-Med Clinic

Melroy B. Hutnick Metro Lock & Security, Inc. Neville, Richards & Wuller

Commerce Bank

Northwestern Mutual - The Lowry Group

Dave Raetz-State Farm Insurance

Peak Communications

Eckert’s, Inc.

Peggy’s Pampering Services

First Student

Professional Therapy Services

Gateway Grizzlies Baseball Club

Sonnenberg Landscape Materials

George Renner & Sons Funeral Home

St. Paul’s Senior Community

Geo’s Wings & More

Stein Automotive

Greater St. Louis Area Council B.S.A

Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen

Harmony-Emge School Dist. #175

Turkey Hill Grange

Jack Schmitt Chevrolet Inc.

Willowcreek Rehab & Nursing Home

Upcoming Business After Hours April 6 The Weingarten May 4 Albert Orelt Allstate Agency June 1 Precision Practice Management July 6 Memorial Hospital August 3 Bel-Air Bowl September 7 Healthcare Committee October 12 Grimm & Gorly Florist & Gifts, Inc. November 2 Associated Bank December 2 Breakthru Beverage

Upcoming Coffee Cup Connections Tuesday, April 11th | 8:15am Hosted by: The Arbors at Parkway Gardens 375 Fountains Parkway | Fairview Heights Don’t miss this opportunity to network and learn about other member businesses! Click here to register Page 4

January 2016

“Advancing Business. Supporting Community.”

Welcome

The businesses and organizations below joined the Chamber in February... Adrenaline Prints 126 East Main St. | Belleville adrenalineprints.com 618-277-9600

Club Fitness 20 Carlyle Plaza | Belleville clubfittness.us bgrosse@clubfitness.us

AFLAC - Bob Miller r15_miller@us.aflac.com 618-604-4599

Forks and Sticks (Seven/Shichi) 7 South High Street | Belleville stephaniegain81@gmail.com 618-277-6700

Bank of America New Location Coming Soon | Belleville bankofamerica.com 618-233-6600 Belleville Area Humane Society 1301 S. 11th St. | Belleville bahspets.org 618-235-3712

Imo’s Pizza 4801 West Main St. | Belleville imospizza.com 618-277-6024 Seafood by Crushed Velvet 121 East Main St. | Belleville crushedvelvetllc@gmail.com (314) 737-0707

6000 Old Collinsville Rd. Fairview Heights, IL 62208

Missouri: Illinois: Fax: E-Mail:

314-692-7979 618-397-7233 618-398-5887 sales@metrolock.net

www.metrolock.net (800) 422-2782 • www.illinoisamwater.com

The Chamber Connection

Page 5

Business After Hours Sponsor:

Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. welcomed Chamber members to their Belleville office, located at 23 Public Square, on March 2nd, 2017. Kevin Richter, Chamber Board President and MM&R Shareholder, addressed the crowd by thanking everyone for their continued support of the Chamber. The attorneys at Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. bring a broad range of experience to the firm in addition to their law degrees. Many of their attorneys have undergraduate and graduate business degrees as well as advanced tax degrees and CPA certifications. They are also known for having a team that has deep roots in the local community and for their commitment to tailoring personalized solutions and services to meet their clients needs. Over the past two decades, that combination has enabled MM&R to emerge as one of the most respected and trusted law firms in the Southern Illinois and St. Louis Metropolitan areas. Additionally, MM&R suppports many community outreach initiatives throughout St. Clair County and beyond. Their commitment to the local art scene is evident throughout their offices, which feature a diverse display of paintings, sculptures, glassware and other works of art showcasing the varied talents of local and regional artists. A big thanks to Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. for hosting the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March 2017 Business After Hours! ...............................................................................................................

To learn more about Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., visit: mmrltd.com

Ian Milster, Lindenwood University-Belleville Katie Davis, Belleville Area Humane Society

Barb Hohlt, St. Clair Co. Health Dept. Mel Weith, Taylor Roofing

Upcoming Business After Hours Thursday, April 6 | 5 - 7PM The Weingarten 1780 E. State Route 15 | Belleville Sponsors:

Kevin Richter, Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. Kevin Pesko, Bank of Belleville Lynne Clapp, Community Member Lynn Clapp, Vertical Performance, Inc.

Brandon Michalke, Bank of America Adam Brewer, Edward Jones

Visit facebook.com/GreaterBellevilleChamber for more pictures from the event! Page 6

January 2016

Ribbon Cuttings

General Shermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Food Truck

4204â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Event and Distribution Center

Saturday, March 11 Saturday, March 25 Mobile Truck 6435 West Main St. | Belleville Call (314) 609-5024 or email (618) 416-7261 generalshermanshotdogs@gmail.com mainstreetbrewingco.com for availablity. ......................................................................................................................................................................................

Celebrating a new business opening, anniversary or remodel?

Celebrate with a Ribbon Cutting! Contact Peggy Schifferdecker, Membership/Event Manager, for more info. Email pschifferdecker@bellevillechamber.org or call the Chamber Office at (618) 233-2015.

The Chamber Connection

Page 7

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Page 8

January 2016

Chamber Happenings COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AWARD

The Ambassadors presented Grey Eagle Distributors with the Chamber’s Commitment to Community Award on March 2nd, 2017. Since Grey Eagle acquired Illinois Distributing Co. in Dec. 2012, their ultimate goal has been to continue building upon the legacy of Illinois Distributing, who was a great partner to retailers and heavily involved in the community. Grey Eagle is the exclusive distributor of Anheuser-Busch products and other premium beverages in St. Clair County and several other counties in IL and MO. Their Illinois distribution center is located in Belleville off Highway 15, where they employ approximately 85 full and part-time employees. They are the largest beer wholesaler in the Midwest and among the upper echelon in the nation, selling nearly ten million cases of beer each year. Due to their close relationship with Anheuser-Busch, the Grey Eagle family of employees is dedicated to delivering the best service and highest quality products to their customers. Their employees take pride in Grey Eagle’s involvement and activity in many charitable organizations in the St. Louis metropolitan community and have the philosophy that if the communities they serve are not succeeding, they are not succeeding as a company. Grey Eagle’s support and investments in their retailers, organizations and festivals in Belleville and the surrounding area demonstrates their commitment to our community.

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................

ISSUES & EGGS INFORMS ATTENDEES ABOUT PROPOSED TAX INCREASES On Wednesday, March 1st, community members joined the Chamber at Bellecourt Place for an Issues & Eggs breakfast featuring St. Clair Co. States Attorney, Brendan Kelly, and Belleville Township High School District 201 Superintendent, Dr. Jeff Dosier. The duo discussed two proposed taxes that will be on the ballot April 4th, 2017. Kelly spoke about a one-cent sales tax hike that would strengthen public safety in St. Clair County by increasing firefighting capabilities and law enforcement staff, which would potentially lower insurance rates in some parts of the county. Dr. Dosier discussed a one-cent sales tax increase that would be used to improve school facilities in the county and would potentially lower property taxes. Each of the proposed taxes would bring in approximately $22 million dollars in revenue per year, until the program expires in 2030. The benefit of each of the taxes is that it allows the county and the local school systems to become more independent of the State of Illinois, whose budget crisis is leaving many social and educational institutions in dire need of alternative funding.

Sponsor:

Upcoming Issues & Eggs:

Wednesday | April 12th Cybersecurity: Looking forward to 2020, featuring:

Col. Terrence Adams, Commander, 375th Communications Group, Scott AFB Tony Bryan, Executive Director, Midwest Cyber Center Nick Powers, Vice President and Director of Enterprise Technology Solutions, Aegis Strategies, LLC The Chamber Connection

Page 9

Leadership Belleville Leadership Belleville Business Day

The 2017 Leadership Belleville class participated in Business Day on March 17th. The goal of the day was to witness first-hand how five different sized businesses operate at both the local and national level. They also learned about business leaders’ management styles and techniques, and how they achieve their business goals. The day began with breakfast at Bank of Belleville where Kevin Pesko, President, addressed the class. Next, the class traveled to ROHO, Inc. for a tour of their 74th Street facility. After the tour, the class headed to Eckert’s, Inc. for a homestyle lunch and a tour of the organization’s Country Store, Restaurant and Orchard Operations, led by Chris Eckert, CEO. The class spent the beginning of their afternoon at the Belleville News-Democrat printing facility with Jay Tebbe, President and Publisher. Finally, the class fittingly ended St. Patrick’s Day at the Robert “Chick” Fritz Distributing grounds for a tour with Scott Fournie, GM. A big thanks to Brandy Steely, BND, and Mona Friederich, Bank of Belleville, for serving as the coordinators and facilitators of Leadership Belleville Business Day!

Next Leadership Belleville Day: April 21st Regional Growth Day

Page 10

Spotlight on Education Technology is an integral part of our daily lives. It affects the way we work, shop, socialize, play, and just as importantly it affects how we learn. Our children are growing up in a complex yet extremely connected world because technology has made it so. District 175 has made a strong commitment to embrace both the challenges and the opportunities that technology in the classrooms can provide. Thanks to the leadership and vision of District Superintendent, Dr. Pam Leonard, and the District 175 Board of Education, the district has accomplished a student-to-computer ratio of 1-1 at Harmony Intermediate and 2-1 at Ellis Elementary. This improvement came despite the financial challenges schools have been enduring the past several years. The platform of choice for the district has been Google. Google Chromebooks serve as the main tool for students to gain online access. The Google platform is an integral part of the district’s technology plan. As an administrative team, the ability for teachers to use and access Google was an important factor in the decision to go with Chromebooks, because ultimately it’s the teachers who have to make lessons and teach within this platform. And to that end, the district has been so proud of the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of the teachers to grow professionally and implement some fantastic lessons utilizing technology in the classroom. This includes the widespread use of Google Classroom throughout the district. Over the past few years, the district has wittnessed significant growth among their teachers and students in the ability to utilize technology in the classroom. It’s used in nearly every phase of teaching now, including: a wide variety assessments, discussion, research, presentations, student management/ discipline, homework, peer-to-peer editing, writing skills, communication with home, and more. This year, students were even able to go on “Virtual Field Trips” with the use of Google Cardboard and Google Expeditions. Some classes were even able to do away with traditional microscopes in favor of electric microscopes that projected straight into the Chromebooks. The scope of how technology is used in the classroom is simply amazing and continues to grow each day. Simply put, technology is not just the future of education. It’s already arrived. It’s a vital part of nearly everything we do and advances in technology are made by the minute. It’s a world that we at Harmony 175 not only want our students to survive in, but to thrive in.

To Learn More About Harmony Emge District 175, visit: www.Harmony175.org

The Chamber Connection

Page 11

CARING TOGETHER

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NATIONALLY Memorial has the exceptional physicians and caring employees you know and trust right here in the Metro East. And they’re backed by BJC HealthCare’s renowned services and technology. Together, we’re making connections to bring outstanding care to our patients in the communities we serve.

mymemorialnetwork.com Page 12

January 2016

Chamber Member Update KORTE & LUITJOHAN CONTRACTORS, INC. WELCOMES SCOTT MUENTNICH, LEED AP TO ITS STAFF Korte & Luitjohan Contractors (K&L), is pleased to announce that Scott Muentnich has joined the K&L team as Director of Client Relations. Scott comes to K&L with over 20 years of construction and development experience overseeing a variety of projects both as a project manager and manager of multi-state commercial/industrial business development. Scott has the designation of LEED Accredited Professional. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He resides in Collinsville with his wife Stephanie Muentnich and their two children. Korte & Luitjohan is a full-service general contracting firm based in Highland, Illinois. Since its founding in 1958, the company has been providing quality construction throughout the Metro St. Louis area and Southern and Central Illinois. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL RELEASES 2016 MARKET REVIEW & INVESTMENT UPDATE The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois is pleased to announce the release of the 2016 Market Review & Investment Update, revealing significant continuing investment activity in Southwestern Illinois during 2016. “The projects highlighted in this year’s report play a pivotal role in the shaping of the region’s economy for many years to come,” noted Ronda Sauget, Executive Director of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, the member-based economic development corporation that complies the economic data for Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois. “The projects under construction in 2015-2016 were essential and have potential to attract investments for Southwestern Illinois in the years to come.” Among the essential projects under construction in 2015-2016 was the $50M New Madison South Harbor Project and the continued restoration of the American Bottoms levee system. The American Bottoms levee system protects more than 156,000 people, 4,000 businesses and over 56,000 jobs from Alton, IL to south of Columbia, IL located in Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties. This $110M restoration of the American Bottom Levee restoration and utility infrastructure enhancements competitively positions Southwestern Illinois as a top development site. The report provides sampling of many other individual projects completed in Madison and St. Clair counties in 20152016, paving the way for economic expansion in the region for many years to come. The completed $130M Memorial Hospital East in Belleville, IL, $23.5M FedEx Distribution Center located in Sauget, IL, the $8M Roxana Water Treatment Plant in Roxana, IL, $5.8M Fire House & Parks Maintenance Facility in O’Fallon, IL, $2M expansion of Alton Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Health & Childbirth Center in Alton, IL, and $4.5M completion of the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities in Edwardsville, IL. In addition, several schools were completed including the $30M Father McGivney Catholic High School, $17.5M Wingate Elementary, $19.1M Liberal Arts Building, $4.1M Maryville Christian School. These projects not only give options to help improve the lives of Southwestern Illinois residents but it also gives stateof-the-art, high tech employment facilities in the region. In addition, the report lists millions of dollars of projects that are under construction during 2015-2016. The Southwestern Illinois region is growing and continues to be a great place to do business. If you look geographically, Southwestern Illinois is situated in the midsection of America serving as a central corridor for economic activities now and in the future. Other areas highlighted in the report include Southwestern Illinois America’s Center for transportation, infrastructure enhancements in Southwestern Illinois, the Manufacture/Craft Your Future Campaign, Scott Air Force Base – National Security Asset, foundational businesses over 100 years old, educating the workforce for the future, residential housing market update, demographics, labor force, private sector employment, and other economic development assets of Southwestern Illinois. The PDF version of the complete 2016 Market Review & Investment Update is now available online at www. leadershipcouncilswil.com. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

SWIC STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR STEM SCHOLARSHIPS You still have time to apply for the Southwestern Illinois College STEM Scholars Program for science, technology, engineering or mathematics majors. The application deadline has been extended to April 17 for fall 2017 scholarship awards that cover full tuition and fees, and provide money for living and transportation expenses. Twelve to fourteen new scholarships will be awarded each year to students who qualify for financial aid, are studying a STEM subject and are planning on transferring to a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. SWIC received National Science Foundation S-STEM grant of a more than $600,000 to develop the program. STEM Scholars also will be paired with faculty mentors, participate in study groups, take part in off-campus activities, such as college visits, and enroll in special topics courses. For details or to download an application, visit swic.edu/STEM. For questions, contact Branlund at 618-931-0600, ext. 7451, or STEMScholars@swic.edu.

The Chamber Connection

Page 13

Chamber Member Update EGYPTIAN STATIONERS ANNOUNCES CORPORATE REBRANDING, CHANGING NAME TO EGYPTIAN WORKSPACE PARTNERS Egyptian Stationers Inc, a leading supplier of business products and interiors, will officially bring together its two operating divisions, Egyptian Stationers and Egyptian Business Furniture, under the name “Egyptian Workspace Partners” on March 27, 2017. “The new name – Egyptian Workspace Partners – allows us to emphasize all of our business categories rather than just the traditional office products and office furniture we had come to be known for,” said Brett Baltz, Treasurer. The new Company looks to be a turn‐key solution for workspace environments supplying all interior needs from the design and installation of furniture, modular walls, integrated technology, carpet, and art– everything to make the workspace smart and functional. Furthermore, the Company can help establish cost and time saving procurement solutions for office, technology, facility, break room, safety, and medical supplies as an ongoing partner serving the Healthcare, Education, Government, and Corporate industries. The unified brand boasts a rich history of over 146 years serving Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro Region. “By uniting our brands, we are positioning ourselves to better serve our partners (customers) with more convenience and efficiency than ever before,” said Kevin Baltz, President. “And now together, our customers will have a stronger solution with access to more products across more categories. We will continue to provide our customers with the workspace solutions they need to succeed.” Please call 800-642-3949 for more information. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

HOLLAND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES STARTS CONSTRUCTION WORK ON FOURTH NEW STORE AT HICKORY POINT MALL IN DECATUR Decatur, IL - Holland Construction Services (Holland) recently started construction work for Accent Construction Services and CBL Properties on the new 22,000 square-foot T.J. Maxx tenant space at Hickory Point Mall in Decatur, Illinois. This major renovation involves demolition work to the existing space currently occupied by Shoe Dept. Encore (which is moving to another location in the mall). The $2 million project will include new walls and floors, and exterior work including a new entrance, lighting, sidewalks and landscaping. Construction is scheduled for completion in July; the store plans to open later this year. This is the sixth project Holland has worked on for Accent Construction Services and CBL Properties and the fourth project at Hickory Point Mall. Most recently, Holland completed construction work for Accent and CBL on a new DXL tenant space located at South County Mall in St. Louis. This $541,000 project involved the reconfiguration of the existing Applebee’s into a DXL men’s store. Construction was completed in February and the store is scheduled to open this May. At Hickory Point Mall, Holland worked on tenant spaces for a new Ross Dress for Less and ULTA Beauty, both completed in 2014 and a new Hobby Lobby completed in 2015. The first project Holland completed for Accent and CBL was the Kirkland’s in Fairview Heights in 2013. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET APRIL 5 AT HSHS ST. ELIZABETH’S HOSPITAL To serve our patients and the community, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital offers a free stroke support group for stroke survivors and their families. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 5 at 2:00 p.m. in the Millennium Room of the hospital, located on the first floor of the Prairie Heart Institute Bldg., at 340 W. Lincoln Street, Belleville. The upcoming session’s topic is “Healthy Eating and Stroke Prevention.” The topic will be presented by a Registered Dietician from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. The goal the support group is to foster a better understanding of stroke recovery, rehabilitation and prevention of recurrent strokes while providing a way for stroke survivors to meet others with similar challenges. In addition, caregivers and family members of stroke patients are offered an open atmosphere for sharing and for supporting each other. Additional meetings during 2017 include June 7, August 2 and October 4. For more information, call Christy at 618-2342120, ext. 1519. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Share your news with Chamber members! Contact Landon Brooks at 618-233-2015 or lbrooks@bellevillechamber.org for more information. Page 14

January 2016

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• Business sales and acquisitions

• Business litigation

Shareholders Patrick B. Mathis George E. Marifian Kevin J. Richter Mark J. Stegman Mark S. Schuver Gregory W. Coffey William J. Niehoff Kelli E. Madigan Bradley W. Small Mary E. Lopinot Deanna L. Litzenburg Philip D. Speicher Laura E. Schrick Sandra J. Tatoian Beth K. Flowers Associates Natalie T. Lorenz Rebecca K. Wohltman Colin C. Clark Joseph R. Harvath Melissa C. Meirink Katharine A. Keefe Of Counsel Charles M. Lock Barry D. Dix

618.234.9800 | 618.656.2244 | 618.327.4300 | 314.421.2325 BELLEVILLE, IL | EDWARDSVILLE, IL | NASHVILLE, IL | ST. LOUIS, MO WWW.MMRLTD.COM

The Chamber Connection

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Chamber Member Update HSHS ST. ELIZABETH’S FOUNDATION RECEIVES $1.28 MILLION GIFT FOR HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER FROM RENTH TRUST HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation acknowledges the receipt of a gift of $1.28 Million from the W.E. Renth Trust. One million dollars of the gift is designated for the St. Elizabeth’s Replacement Hospital Capital Campaign with the balance placed in an endowment for maintenance and upkeep of the new facility. The gift originated from a trust established to benefit W.E. Renth’s sister, Betty Renth. Ms. Renth generously chose to release the trust in support of the campaign and the hospital. In honor of their generosity, W.E. and Betty Renth will receive special recognition in the replacement hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center. “The Renth family’s gift to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is a powerful testament to their commitment to the availability of high quality health in Southern Illinois and to the legacy of the Hospital Sisters ofSt. Francis” said Peg Sebastian, President and CEO of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. “I cannot help but be in awe of this unprecedented level of generosity and offer great appreciation on behalf of all of our colleagues, physicians, and future patients who will benefit from the mission-driven care available at our hospital.” The St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Capital Campaign supports the replacement St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and physician office building that is being built in O’Fallon along with future updates to the Belleville Health Campus. The replacement hospital project broke ground in June 2015 and is set to open in November of 2017. St. Elizabeth’s Foundation is conducting the campaign with a goal of providing a minimum of $4.9 million to the project. Recognition opportunities are available at both the replacement hospital in O’Fallon and the Belleville Health Campus. For more information, visit www.steliz.org/giving, email StEFoundation@hshs.org, or call 618-234-2120 ext. 2446. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

NEW RN CRITICAL CARE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE AT HSHS ST. ELIZABETH’S HOSPITAL HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is accepting applications now through April 3, 2017 for a new RN Critical Care Fellowship Program. The program is a great opportunity for Registered Nurses (RNs) with at least one year of acute care experience with a desire to work in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) or Emergency department (ED). The opportunity is open to all RNs meeting the requirements including current hospital RNs, HSHS Southern Illinois Division RNs and the public. “We are privileged to offer this special Critical Care Fellowship opportunity for nurses of our region,” shared Elizabeth Govero, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. “The objective of the program is to attract nurses who have the desire to work in specialty care areas, but do not yet have the necessary experience.” Participants of the program will work for one year on the Progressive Care Unit at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital to build their skills. After successful completion of the Fellowship Program, they will be eligible to transfer to specialty units including the emergency department or critical care unit. During the year-long program, the RNs will receive special classes, training and orientation to prepare them for serving patients and families in the ED or CCU. St. Elizabeth’s Hospital serves as a teaching hospital for the Metro East Region providing first-class residency programs and clinical educational opportunities. As a region leader in quality care and as a healing ministry founded on Franciscan traditions, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital offers the right mix of support and clinical expertise to develop high quality medical professionals for the future. For more information about this program or to apply, visit St. Elizabeth’s Web site at www.hshscareers.jobs. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

SWIC TO OFFER FREE PEOPLE’S LAW SCHOOL WORKSHOPS Learn more about our legal system through free workshops held at Southwestern Illinois College. Each People’s Law School workshop is conducted by a local attorney and consists of a lecture on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. Advanced registration is required.

People’s Law School Workshops

April 5 – Personal Injury/Worker’s Compensation; Jon Rosenstengel April 12 – Family Law; Heather Dabler April 19 – Criminal Law; Justin Kuehn April 26 – Wills and Probate; Richard Erdmann

All workshops are held in the Information Sciences Building, Room 2014 at the Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave. The People’s Law School series is sponsored by the St. Clair County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and SWIC.

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Chamber Member Update THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS WILL CELEBRATE HOLY WEEK IN A UNIQUE WAY. Two special programs exclusive to the Shrine, will be presented during Holy Week. “We Were There,” a dramatic, prayerful presentation of Pope John Paul II’s scriptural Way of the Cross, will be presented on Tuesday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Church of Our Lady of the Snows. On Good Friday, April 14, at 1 p.m. Shrine visitors can experience “Journey of Decision,” a Way of the Cross presentation at the Outdoor Stations of the Cross, in which Pilate, Veronica, Mary, Herod and other witnesses of Christ’s Passion share their stories and experiences from that fateful day.

Holy Week Schedule

Services will take place in the Church of Our Lady of the Snows unless otherwise stated. • • • • •

Palm Sunday Masses - Sat., Apr. 8, 5 p.m. Sun., Apr. 9, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. (Spanish) “We Were There” Way of the Cross Presentation - Tues., Apr. 11, 7:30 p.m. Holy Thursday Mass - Thurs., Apr. 13, 7 p.m. (Spanish) - Christ the King Chapel Holy Thursday Mass - Thurs., Apr. 13, 7:30 p.m. Good Friday Way of the Cross - Fri., Apr. 14, 1 p.m.

Outdoor Stations (In case of rain, OLS Church) • Good Friday Service - Fri., Apr. 14, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. (Spanish) • Easter Vigil - Sat. Apr. 15, 7 p.m. (Spanish) - Christ the King Chapel • Easter Vigil - Sat., Apr.15, 8 p.m. • Easter Sunday Masses - Sun., Apr. 16, 6:45, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m. Amphitheatre (In case of rain, OLS Church) • Easter Sunday Mass - Sun., Apr. 16, 2 p.m. (Spanish) For more information, contact Shrine Pastoral Ministries at 618-397-6700 ext. 6276 or 314-241-3400 ext. 6276. www.snows.org/holyweek

Serving the Belleville Community Since 1897

YAEKEL & ASSOCIATES INSURANCE SERVICES AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFE INSURANCE

1915 WEST MAIN • BELLEVILLE, IL • 233-0024 WWW.YAEKELINSURANCE.COM

David E. Guymon Anthony R. Garavalia Michael J. Garavalia Brian D. Flynn Concentrating in: Personal Injury | Estate Planning, Trusts & Wills Real Estate | Family Law | Banking Law

Serving The Community For Over 35 Years

618-233-0480 300 W. Main St., Suite 4 Belleville IL 62220

The Chamber Connection

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Chamber Member Update PROTESTANT MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER (MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BELLEVILLE) NAMES NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Memorial Hospital Belleville has named the following new members to its Board of Directors:

• Geri E. Boyer of Belleville is president of Kaskaskia Engineering Group. Boyer is involved in a variety of civic and professional organizations; she also serves as first vice chair of Memorial Foundation Board of Directors. • Douglas W. Dothager, M.D. of Belleville is a pulmonary physician with Memorial Medical Group and serves on a variety of hospital committees. He is a past recipient of the Matthew B. Eisele, M.D. Physician Excellence Award and served as Medical Staff President from 2012-2014. • Matthew J. Klosterman of Belleville is superintendent of Belleville Public School District 118. He is a board member for the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce and Do the Right Thing, Inc. and is actively involved in a variety of community and professional organizations. • Claire S. Leopold of Swansea is president of Coldwell Banker Nester Realty. She has served on the board for Bank of Belleville and Realtor Association of Southern Illinois. Leopold is a member of Junior Service Club of St. Clair County. • Beatriz Ramos-Pardo, M.D. of Belleville is an internal medicine physician with Memorial Medical Group. She serves as medical director for Community Integration Services and is a Special Olympic physician for the Parent Teacher Organization for Exceptional Children (PTOEC). • Otto Roberts of Belleville is vice president of Strebor Specialties, LLC. He has been involved in a variety of community activities including serving on the Signal School Board and YMCA board. • Charmaine Y. Savage of East St. Louis is publisher and editor-in-chief of “I Am East St. Louis, The Magazine” and is a retired U.S. Navy Commander. Edward Hoering of Swansea is chairman of the board; Scott Givens of Belleville services as first vice chair; Robert Graebe of Belleville is second vice chair and Rev. Rob Dyer of Belleville is third vice chair. Memorial Hospital Belleville is part of Memorial Regional Health Services (MRHS), a non-profit organization jointly governed by Memorial and BJC HealthCare. It is the parent organization of Memorial Hospital Belleville, Memorial Hospital East, Memorial Care Center, Memorial Medical Group and Memorial Foundation. The Board of Directors includes equal representation from both Memorial and BJC. Mark J. Turner serves as president. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

ECKERT’S EXPANDS TO KENTUCKY Celebrating over 100 years of a family-owned farm and business, Eckert’s Orchards is expanding with the purchase of a family farm in Versailles, KY. Since opening in 1910, Eckert’s has grown into the largest family-owned and operated pickyour-own orchard in the United States, with existing locations in Belleville, Millstadt, and Grafton and over 600 acres of working farmland. “Over one hundred years ago, my great-great-great grandfather, Alvin O. Eckert, opened our first roadside stand, selling locally-grown produce to local residents,” said Chris Eckert, President of Eckert’s, Inc. “I can’t imagine how proud he would be to see what his family has done, in our seventh generation of growing this business and now expanding our operations to a beautiful area in Kentucky.” Boyd Orchards is an established pick-your-own fruit farm that offers plenty of family fun seasonally, May through October. Terry and Susie Boyd, previous owners of Boyd Orchards, approached the Eckert family over a year ago about the deal. The two families have known each other since the 1970’s. “It’s very rare that this happens,” Terry Boyd said about the purchase. Car dealerships may change hands, he said, but fruit farms rarely do, even more so when they have an entertainment component. Still, “there aren’t any better people I could have handed it off to,” he said, adding that he has confidence in the Eckerts’ technical expertise and personal character. The Eckert family is over-joyed that Megan Fields, who was born and raised in Kentucky and has been the retail manager for Terry & Susie Boyd, has agreed to stay on as the General Manager under the Eckert family management team. This is the first cross-state expansion for Eckert’s Orchards and according to the Eckert family; they are very excited about being party of the Versailles community and extending their mission of creating family memories to the Kentucky area. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

HSHS ST. ELIZABETH’S HOSPITAL INVITES COMMUNITY TO BASKET RAFFLE AND BOOK & GIFT SALE, APRIL 12 AND 13 The Mission Integration Committee (MIC) at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is hosting its annual Basket Raffle and Book & Gift Sale on April 12 and 13 in the Millennium Room of the Prairie Heart Institute Building, located at 340 West Lincoln Street, Belleville. Sale hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. The public is invited to purchase raffle tickets for the creatively themed baskets designed and donated by hospital departments. The event will feature a “pick to win” raffle format which allows participants to purchase raffle tickets – 1 for $1, 6 for $5 and take chances on items of their choice. Winners for each item will be randomly drawn and individually notified after the event. Cash only will be accepted for basket ticket purchases. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Franciscan Fund.

Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois “A Night Under the Stars” 10th Annual Gala | 6:00pm Bellecourt Manor | Belleville 618-236-2181 ext. 111 Sunday | April 9 Motorcycle Swap Meet | 12:00pm Belle-Clair Fairgrounds | Belleville 618-233-0052 Thurs. – Sat. | April 13 – 15 Men’s Holy Week Retreat Kings House Retreat & Renewal Center | Belleville 618-397-0584

Thursday | April 13 Spring Job Fair | 9:00am SWIC | Belleville 618-233-2700, ext. 5562

Wednesday | April 26 Lunch & Learn: Herbs in the Kitchen | 12:00pm Eckert’s, Inc. | Belleville 618-233-0513

Wine Class | 6:00pm Eckert’s, Inc. | Belleville 618-233-0513

Thursday | April 27 Yoga & Wine | 6:00pm The Weingarten | Belleville 618-257-9463

FireStone Walker Beer Tapping | 6:00pm Grappa Growlers | Belleville 618-234-9463 Saturday | April 29 Ladies Roller Derby | 12:00pm Belle-Clair Fairgrounds | Belleville 618-233-0052 Sunday | April 30 Belleville Philharmonic Society For the Love of Music Concert | 7:30pm Lindenwood University-Belleville 618-235-5600 We are constantly updating our community calendar. Please visit BellevilleChamber.org for an up-to-date list of events!

Upcoming Lunch & Learn

Tourism Thursday, April 27th | 11:45am Speaker: Cathleen Lindauer, Director, Belleville Tourism Location: Bel-Air Bowl | Belleville Don’t miss this opportunity to network and learn! Click here to register The Chamber Connection

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James A. Bock, Jr. Glen Carbon, IL Edward S. Bott, Jr. Belleville, IL Dominique de Vastey Glen Carbon, IL Ann Marie Fitzpatrick Maryville, IL Thomas F. Hennessy, III Swansea, IL

Greensfelder attorneys lead the way

Linda M. Italiano Shiloh, IL Dayna L. Johnson Glen Carbon, IL Cherie K. Macdonald O’Fallon, IL Garrett C. Reuter, Jr. Belleville, IL William A. Schmitt Waterloo, IL Donald K. Schoemaker Shiloh, IL Kurt S. Schroeder Shiloh, IL Russell K. Scott Belleville, IL Megha Shah Fairview Heights, IL George A. “Skip” Uhl Belleville, IL Kevin Vick Belleville, IL Donald E. Weihl Belleville, IL Patricia H. Wharton Belleville, IL David W. Ybarra Fairview Heights, IL

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. • www.greensfelder.com Offices in Belleville, IL • St. Louis, MO • Chicago, IL •

5th Annual

AleFest 04.22.17 ................ Location:

Event and Distribution Center 6435 West Main St. | Belleville, IL Music: The Rat Rod Kings