January Business Journal

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JANUARY 2014

I L L I N O I S

Get pumped New New year year offers offers clean clean slate slate for for getting getting healthy healthy

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2014

YOUR CALENDAR

Thursday, Jan. 2

Friday, Jan. 10

Wednesday, Jan 22

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility, 3909 W. Main St. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave. Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y, 220 W. McKinley Ave. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr. American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 6 p.m., location varies.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building, 2715 N. 27th St.

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Friday, Jan. 3 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.

Monday, Jan. 6 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill, 101 S. Main St. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 7 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton, 333 W. Marion Ave., Forsyth.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan. 8 Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Speaker is Macon County Sheriff Tom Schneider.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., location to be announced.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Real Estate Investors Association, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant, 2999 N. Monroe St.

Thursday, Jan. 9 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Senior Resources Network (formerly Mature Resources Network), 11:45 a.m., Keystone Gardens, 1455 W. Mound Road.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., location varies.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.

Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Environmental Center, 3939 Nearing Lane.

Monday, Jan. 13 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 14 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., Doherty’s Pub and Pins, 242 E. William St. Central Illinois Ad Club, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan 15 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Christian Women’s Network, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 16 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Christian Women’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur AMBUCS, 6 p.m., Decatur Club.

Friday, Jan. 17 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Noon Women’s Network, 11:45 a.m., Decatur Club.

Monday, Jan. 20 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Thursday, Jan. 23

Wednesday, Feb. 5

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Nature Center.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Friday, Jan. 24

Thursday, Feb. 6

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

American Business Women’s Association (Monarch), noon, location varies.

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 11:30 a.m., location varies.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.

Monday, Jan. 27 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 28 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan. 29 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 30 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Friday, Jan. 31 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Monday, Feb. 3 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Tuesday, Feb. 4 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Friday, Feb. 7 Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Ag Cafe, noon, Beach House. Scheduled speaker is Don Borgman of John Deere.

To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at (217) 421-7976, at sperry@heraldreview.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

Looking Up answers Here are the answers to the December Looking Up in downtown Decatur clues. While some of the buildings have multiple tenants, only the major tenants on the first floor are listed.

1. Bizou 2. Soy Capital Bank & Trust 3. Franklin Travel 4. Busey Bank 5. Millikin Building (First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Romano Co.) 6. Poco’s Sol Bistro 7. Downtown Café/Decanter Fine Wine and Spirits 8. Christian Science Reading Room 9. Lincoln Square Theatre 10. Demirco Place (Hickory Point Bank & Trust, Talbots) 11. Chinese Tea Garden

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January 2014

FROM THE EDITOR There was a time, not too long ago, that the only glasses I needed to wear were sunglasses.

Then I turned 40 and it’s been downhill from there.

It started with a simple pair of reading glasses that helped ease the strain on my eyes at work. I could still read things on my phone, and a quick glance at the newspaper, mail or a menu at a restaurant was no problem.

Now I’m lost without them if I want to read just about anything. The only thing that could change that would be for my arms to magically grow to be six feet long. That’s not very likely and not very practical. Can you imagine buying a shirt?

I don’t have an issue with growing older, but this eye thing does make me want for the days when I could see everything just fine.

Apparently, I’m not alone. A Bausch + Lomb survey from two years back showed that 61 percent of the respondents said poor eyesight would be one of the most difficult outcomes of aging to cope with. Almost half (48 percent) said not being able to see well would make them feel their age.

While we’re in a wishing mode, why stop at eyesight. Remember the days when you could eat and drink anything you wanted without apparent consequences?

OK, maybe I have a little issue with this whole getting older thing. But I don’t have to grow up.

LOOKING BACK Town leaders reflect on 2013

Fred Spannaus . . . . . 17

Health calendar . . . . . 11 Liz Reyer . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Office Coach . . . . . . . . 8

SCORE counselor . . . 18 Wendy Gauntt . . . . . . 19

ISSUE 1

601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax)

PUBLISHER: Todd Nelson EDITOR: Scott Perry ADVERTISING: AnnaMarie Hanes

SUBSCRIPTIONS: To order additional copies call 217.421.7931 ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the February issue is Jan. 15. Call 217.421.7953 for rate information.

The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois is printed monthly and is a publication of Lee Enterprises Inc.

Free Time calendar . . 20

Professional profile . . . 7

VOLUME 20

STORY IDEAS: Email sperry@herald-review.com or call 217.421.7976.

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Business Clips . . . . . . 18

OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS

COVER PHOTO: Danny Damiani

January2014Contents Biz Bites . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

BUSINESS JOURNAL

LAYOUT & DESIGN: Ginger Wortman

Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois

Standing Features

BUSINESS JOURNAL

Healthy New Year We kick 2014 off with an expanded Your Health section that examines workplace safety, your winter workout, keeping your workplace healthy and much more

7 RETIREMENT Dr. Sinha highly recommends it

Information published is the responsibility of the author and does not reflect the opinions of The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois. To submit articles, mail typewritten and 500 words or less to: The Business Journal, 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523. Articles will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lee Enterprises Inc., DBA The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois.

Copyright 2014 Herald & Review All rights reserved for entire content.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2014

YOUR COMMUNITY

Macon County towns make improvements Forsyth Here’s a look at what happened in our community in 2013. n Forsyth issued 96 building permits through the end of October. A total of seven new residential homes were started and eight commercial permits were issued. n Approximately 104 residents moved into Forsyth. n New businesses in Forsyth include Petals, Willow Branch Boutique, Friar Tuck and Cocomero Frozen Yogurt. n South Elwood Street improvements were completed. n Hundley Road sewer extension project completed. n Cox Street Phase IV street improvement project completed. n Elected two new trustees and reappointed one. n Reinstated the hotel/motel tax. n It was a year of building improvements at the Forsyth Public Library. The year began with a construction project to reinforce the floor and continued with an ongoing window replacement project.

The library also increased digital offerings, adding access to digital magazines through Zinio, digital music through Freegal, and increasing the number of ebooks and audiobooks available through Library on the Go. Programming for all ages continued to be a priority, with Baby TALK expanding to once a week and a “Have Book-Will Travel” theme for summer fun.

— Marilyn Johnson, mayor

Harristown In April, the village elected a new mayor, treasurer and one trustee and we have made many exciting improvements since the election.

During the summer and fall, we made major modifications to improve our water plant’s capacity. These improvements included replacing the backwash line, cleaning pipes in the plant and to the aerator to eliminate the severe buildup up over the past 36 years. We also rebuilt six filters, which included changing the media, and four underdrains.

We are happy to announce that a new business, This and That Trading Post, opened at 8090 First St. In addition, three existing businesses in Harristown have added video gaming machines and appear to have increased their business.

We are excited to announce that we have added three new houses to the town, and issued 30 building permits. Our ordinance and building codes are constantly improving to meet the village needs. You can keep up to date by visiting http://ecode360.com/HA3057.

We also hired a new public works superintendent in May. The village decided to join the Illinois Municipal

Retirement Fund and provided pension opportunities for its three full-time employees. This year, we signed a twoyear contract with Constellation that is expected to save the village on its electricity bills.

The Harristown Food Bank again helped 42 families throughout the year with the support and contributions of the village residents. We also have reinstituted our Christmas Light Contest.

We strive to make Harristown a wonderful place to live and look forward to many more improvements in 2014.

— Rose Marie Ross, mayor

Long Creek The village of Long Creek has finally completed the extension of Long Creek Road.

This enables better access to East U.S 36. The plan to extend Long Creek Road has been in the works for several years, with its design, construction, etc., but it’s been worth the wait. With the extension of Long Creek Road, we were able to complete needed drainage projects in the village.

The village board is committed to keeping Long Creek a great place to live.

Thanks to the generous donation from the Dave Corman family, Corman Park and its covered pavilion are available for spring/summer outdoor picnics. To make a reservation, call (217) 864-5263.

Every year in the early spring (usually April), we partner with Long Creek Township to sponsor Sparkle & Shine.

This program enables residents to dispose of items they want to purge from the basement, garage or yard. We attempt to recycle as much of this material as possible. Regardless, it’s an opportunity to properly dispose of unwanted items.

If you are looking for a high-visibility, high-traffic area to locate a business, please consider the village of Long Creek. If you talk to other business owners in the village, I’m sure you will find that the village is a great place to locate a business.

— Cheryl A. Smith, village president

Macon One of the things were most proud of during 2013 was putting the electrical aggregation proposal on the ballot for our residents to vote on. This measure passed by a substantial margin, thus allowing the residents of Macon the opportunity to save on their electricity bills. This has been a positive for our community, giving everyone the choice.

During the past year, we have seen multiple individuals take advantage of the tax increment financing district to start the process of revitalizing our old downtown business district. The city has sold the old city hall and we look for-

ward to a new business going into this location this year. Another building that has been vacant for 30-plus years will be home to a new woodworking business.

We have new owners that want to convert the old grocery store into a hardware store. Lastly, new construction was completed for a construction business that is along Front Street.

Speaking of Front Street, 2013 saw the first Macon Street Fest and BBQ Contest. The feedback surrounding this event was extremely positive. Plans are being put together to hold the event again this year.

Phase I has been completed on the new Meridian High School construction project. The results look beautiful. State funding has been secured for Phase II. Bids should be going out and construction should begin this year for the remainder of the new school project.

This will be a nice facility that everyone in the Meridian School District can be proud of.

A couple more tile projects have been completed, along with a few more drainage issues corrected. Additionally, multiple infrastructure improvements have been made to our water distribution system. To ensure continued reliable water service, the city of Macon will start drilling a new municipal water well this year.

Once again, we are happy to report that all is well and we continue to move forward into 2014.

— Ed Aukamp, city administrator

Mount Zion The village of Mount Zion had an exciting 2013 and is looking forward to 2014.

Besides the normal day-to-day operations, village employees worked tirelessly to accomplish many projects.

The Mount Zion Public Works Department conducted street repairs, sidewalk installations, park improvements, a village-wide meter change out program, and many other projects that help save Mount Zion taxpayers money.

Our police department continued to offer top-notch service to our residents and business owners.

The village hired Kelly McCourt Edwards as an event coordinator to assist with community events, manage the Mount Zion Village East Convention Center and assist with activities in Fletcher Park. McCourt Edwards created many family-oriented events such as Chill on the Hill at Fletcher Park and Breakfast with Santa, as well as The Village Idiot Comedy Club, Haunted Halloween Masquerade Ball, and Mount Zion’s very own New Year’s Eve Bash – The Great Gatsby Casino Night Gala.

Upcoming events at the convention center include a valentine’s dinner featuring Dueling Pianos to benefit Splash Pads for Fletcher Park on Feb. 8, and

Jim Belushi and the Chicago Board of Comedy on March 7. Information about events at the convention center or Fletcher Park is always available at www.mtzion.com or by calling (217) 8645424.

The convention center also has hosted many public and private events including the spring and fall craft shows, the Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Small Business Expo, the Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association Home Show, Mount Zion’s Quality for Education Foundation fundraiser, the St. Mary’s Hospital/Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Annual Prayer Breakfast and much, much more. Information about renting the convention center is also available at our website or by calling the office.

Fletcher Park received many visitors and swings were added for the kids. The grass will be repaired and reseeded in key areas including around the playground and amphitheater, and between the open pavilion and recreation center.

Judy Roessler, Parks and Recreation director, and the Parks and Recreation Commission have begun fundraising efforts to help with the purchase and installation of splash pads. Splash pads will offer a unique way to cool off in the summer. As always, visitors to Fletcher Park also can fish in its stock pond.

Thanks to efforts by the village and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the pond is available for catch and release fishing.

Chill on the Hill features local bands from Central Illinois every Thursday evening. Music lovers bring their chairs and blankets, can purchase food and beverages and enjoy a night of music under the stars. A portion of the proceeds for each night go to a local not-for-profit.

Chill on the Hill 2014 will kick off Thursday, June 5, with the Kentucky Headhunters.

Village staff continues to work on economic development opportunities to retain and bring retail businesses to Mount Zion. In 2013, the Village of Mount Zion welcomed many new businesses including Mount Zion Auto Service, Sav Mor Pharmacy, Decatur Orthopedic Center, Krave, Paulson & Paulson Dentistry and Scott State Bank.

Mount Zion’s future is looking bright and 2014 is sure to be even better than 2013.

— Julie Miller, village administrator

BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 63% have household incomes of $60,000 or greater. 36% have household incomes of $80,000 or greater.

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January 2014

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BIZ BITES

Now open Jason Reinhardt wants his new gym to be known as more than just a place to learn how to fight.

Reinhardt Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness at 117 N. Main St. in Decatur offers a variety of classes for its students, some of whom are as young as 4.

“We have something for everybody,” Reinhardt said. “It teaches so much discipline and respect. It sets the pathway to really hold on to the values.”

Students learn about discipline, which includes aspects such as proper nutrition, not smoking or cussing, which Reinhardt said in turn can help them, in some cases, turn their lives around. Selfdefense can be important, too, he said.

The business, which opened this summer, features 1,000 square feet of mat space. More space is being added in the building’s basement.

“I want to improve by continually reinvesting in the gym,” Reinhardt said.

He wants to get back to fighting, so having his own space provides him a chance to stay close to home while training. He eventually wants to open locations in surrounding towns.

Classes are offered Monday through Friday during the evening, and Saturday afternoons, Reinhardt said. Call (217) 853-5533. nnn Archers Alley has opened at 3113 N. 22nd St. in Decatur to offer hunters and other enthusiasts a place to buy new equipment, get theirs repaired and to hone their craft on one of 10 indoor practice ranges that are 30 yards long.

The owner is Nathan Frazier, who has also moved his lawn care business, Pathway Lawn Grooming, out of his home in Forsyth and put it under the same roof as his new business.

“After the drought last year and this year another six weeks without rain, I needed to have something less dependent on Mother Nature,” Frazier said. “My cousin, who’s an avid archer, gave me the idea.”

An observation gallery is under construction so family members can watch loved ones take target practice. Frazier’s other plans are to make deer tags available on site and to start some bow-andarrow leagues after hunting season ends in January.

For more information, call (217) 8535961, check Facebook or visit www.archersalley.com. nnn A Friar Tuck store, with its large selection of wine, liquor, beer and sodas, has opened in Forsyth.

The refurbished building at 1085 South U.S. 51 is at least temporarily the biggest of the stores for the franchise until a new store is built in Springfield.

Selection is a huge part of what sets Friar Tuck apart, said Chad Yates, assistant store manager.

The selection makes Friar Tuck stores a destination for customers. Yates said residents in the Decatur area would travel to Bloomington, Savoy or Springfield to choose from its offerings. Yates said the store offers a variety of beers in kegs

available for purchase.

“We keep it stocked,” store manager Ben Cox said.

If the store doesn’t have a particular item in stock, Yates said the staff will do what they can to find what a customer is looking for, provided it’s distributed in the area.

Cox said the store will host wine tasting events typically on Saturday afternoons, along with times on Fridays and occasionally during the week.

Yates said being located along the busy stretch of U.S. 51 in front of Hickory Point Mall was an attractive option in choosing a site. The building required extensive remodeling and updating of its systems before it was ready to open, he said.

Friar Tuck is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Call (217) 875-1450. nnn A familiar name in the world of jewelry and clock repair is back in downtown Decatur.

Decatur Gold & Coin, 111 E. North St., is owned and run by Joe Laramee. His late father Duane was involved in jewelry and clock and watch repair for 40 years and ran his own business near Central Park.

The son followed in the father’s footsteps, except for the watch repair, but also specializes in buying gold and silver coins and gold and silver in pretty much any form. Joe Laramee grew up in the jewelry trade and has worked for and ran various businesses before opening Decatur Gold & Coin in April. “We buy jewelry all day long: broken jewelry, scrap jewelry, any kind of precious metal,” Laramee said.

He cites the example of a four millimeter-thick solid gold, 20-inch-long rope chain that was worth $350 in 1997 and would sell for $1,150 today. “Gold is skyhigh,” he added.

Most of his customers are interested in selling but there is a sizeable other group who want to buy. Laramee says “Preppers,” people who fear the impending collapse of society, like to stock up on small amounts of precious metals. “If there is a catastrophe, they can use it to trade for food, fuel, whatever else they need,” he explained.

Decatur Gold & Coin is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (217) 422-4653.

On the move The auto repair business that occupied the building in Forsyth prior to Friar Tuck has relocated.

Ryder’s Auto Service, formerly known Hickory Point Auto Service, has found a new home at 2575 S. Mount Zion Road.

The business offers a full range of auto repair and maintenance services, said co-owner Crystal Ryder, who runs the business with her husband, Scott.

“The one thing we don’t do is we don’t rebuild motors,” she said. “We’ll help you find one.”

Prior to operating in Forsyth, the Ryders ran the Mount Zion Marathon service station.

The latest move has offered the opportunity for their sons, Grant and Garrett, to open a storefront for their landscaping business, RyderSons. They offer a range of services and products, including dirt, rock and mulch.

Plans are to start a greenhouse in the spring, Crystal Ryder said.

The new location had been another landscaping business prior to the Ryders starting their operations there.

Auto service is available from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday by appointment. Call (217) 864-1747 or (217) 864-1218. Appointments are encouraged.

To reach RyderSons for landscaping, call (217) 620-6883. nnn An August robbery proved financially devastating to Prairie Compounding Pharmacy, causing the business at 2801 N. Main St. to close.

Compounding pharmacist Mike Hammel and the staff from Prairie have since joined Victory Pharmacy in the Pines Shopping Center and are continuing to serve the community and physicians by offering the unique custom compounding necessary for patients with allergies to ingredients, special hospice medications and specialized hormone creams.

“It’s a good opportunity,” said Wole Adeoye, owner of Victory Pharmacy. “It’s a way for us to diversify our business.”

Adeoye said they have been reaching out to doctors letting them know the service, which is unique to Victory Phar-

macy, continues to be available.

To reach Victory East, call (217) 4221000.

New everything Ted’s Garage, an American classic grill destroyed by fire Easter Sunday, is back in business at a new location in Clinton, thanks in part to a $30,000 loan from the DeWitt County Development Council.

Delfino Naxi is the eatery’s owner. The executive chef for Ted’s during its nineyear tenure on West Van Buren Street, Naxi was the general manager at the time of the fire.

He received permission from former owner Scott Baum to use the name after Baum decided not to rebuild. “I’ve brought back everything on the menu, plus some new Mexican and Italian choices,” Naxi said.

A wooden model car salvaged from the March 31 fire is also parked in its usual spot inside the entryway.

Ted’s is at 602 S. Center St., the former home of Soto’s Mexican restaurant. Hours begin at 7 a.m. daily and end at 9 p.m.

Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. Call (217) 935-8008.

Biz Bites highlight businesses that are opening, closing, expanding … you get the picture. If you have information for our Biz Bites column, contact Tony Reid at treid@herald-review.com, Chris Lusvardi at clusvardi@herald-review.com, Theresa Churchill at tchurchill@herald-review.com or call them at (217) 421-6979.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2014

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January 2014

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YOUR CAREER

Meet Dr. Sushant Sinha Hometown: Lives in Decatur. Born in rural India.

Family: Solveig Johannsdottir is my wife and she is a retired physical therapist. Dr. Michael Sinha is my son. He is an internal medicine resident at Yale University. His fiancee is Dr. Kristina Dzara who is a sociologist working at Yale University. My daughter Dr. Joanna Sinha is a school psychologist in St. Louis. Her partner is Jamal Toure, currently a pharmacy student in St. Louis.

My granddaughter is Maya Lily Toure, and she is 4 years old and my favorite fishing companion.

Occupation: Retired ophthalmologist.

My “I’d rather be …” bumper sticker would read, “I’d rather be fishing.” I love the solitude and to be in nature.

Hobbies/interests: Fishing, nature walks, volunteer eye surgery, learning about history through old coins and stamps.

My first job: Research associate, Renal Division at Washington University Medical School.

Why I do what I do: I am dedicated to setting high goals and achieving them.

Personal approaches to challenges: I am disciplined and enjoy hard work. I reinvent and learn from my own mistakes. I have failed many times, but never give up trying to succeed.

What prompted you to become an ophthalmologist? During medical school, I discovered that many systemic diseases manifest in the eyes, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and endocrine related disease. The eyes can be a window into many aspects of a person’s health. I also wanted to combine my fine motor coordination and manual dexterity in microsurgical precision in ocular surgery. It is a field of challenge and creativity.

Any idea how many surgical procedures you did, how many patients you saw during your career? Approximately 30,000 surgeries and laser procedures. Our clinics collectively took care of 61,000 patients during the 21 years of practice in Decatur. I have also cared for patients abroad during volunteer mission trips.

How did you end up in Decatur? My wife and I grew up in very different parts of the world, Iceland and India, but we both grew up in small communities. We wanted to raise our family in a similar community. We wanted to be near St. Louis, where we met as students at Washington University. Decatur seemed like a lovely community with a beautiful lake and, at the time, the community had a need for an ophthalmologist. We have enjoyed the 23 years being a part of the community

Business Journal/Jim Bowling

Dr. Sushant Sinha is spending some of his post-retirement time expanding his knowledge of coins. and living in Decatur.

How are you enjoying retirement? I like retirement very much and highly recommend it.

How do you spend your time? I spend a great deal of time with my family and friends. My wife and I take short trips to visit our granddaughter, Maya. I also like to spend time at the Decatur Gold and Coin Store in downtown Decatur. I intend to learn more about coins and currency, as well as stamps. I enjoy helping my friend Joe Laramee in the store. Joe is an excellent jeweler and very knowledgeable about repairing all types of antique clocks. I find the business to be fascinating and enjoy learning about history through these antique items and old coins.

What do you miss most? I miss seeing my patients and taking care of them. I miss the members of my staff and my colleagues. I also miss the challenge of diagnosing and treating eye disease and conducting surgery.

Tell us a bit about the Blind Mission Project of Central Illinois. Blind Mission Project of Central Illinois is a nonprofit established

in 2002 in memory of my mother. On a yearly basis, BMP sponsors 150 to 200 cataract surgeries in rural India. Since its founding, BMP has supported 2,100 cataract surgeries and provided care for more than 8,000 patients. I am planning a mission trip to India this year. During these trips, I participate in evaluation, diagnosis and ocular surgical care.

Are you concerned that people take their eyesight for granted? Most people take their eyesight for granted, especially patients with diabetes.

How important is it to get regular eye exams?

Regular eye examinations in schoolchildren is very important, as children who cannot see well will not be able to have the full benefit of their education if they cannot see the board and classroom materials. As well, individuals with diabetes and with a family history of glaucoma need regular eye exams. Prevention and early intervention has saved many patients from experiencing a loss of vision.

What is the most important thing people can do to protect their eyes? I suggest that people eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and reduce stress. The eyes are part of

an entire system and increasing one’s overall physical and mental health prevents illness. Inactivity, obesity and careless lifestyle promote disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which negatively affect the eyes. Also remember to wear protective eyewear.

Has our increased use of computers, smartphones, etc., had a negative impact on our eye health? Is there anything we can do to lessen the impact? Increased use of computers and smartphones can produce eye fatigue and dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome can be treated with regular use of artificial tears. Frequent short breaks from computer (5 minutes every two hours) allows the eyes a break and decreases the dry eye problem. Sitting for long periods and a sedentary lifestyle is linked to obesity/weight gain and low back pain. Taking short breaks to relax the eyes and stretch your muscles and increase circulation can help those whose professions require significant screen time.

I would like to encourage all of my patients and friends in the community to exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet (a great New Year resolution!) Happy New Year!

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2014

Profanity in the workplace is preventable Q: During business discussions in our company, I have increasingly heard the F-word being used, even by managers and supervisors. While this doesn’t seem to bother some people, others are noticeably disturbed by it. Personally, I do not understand when or how this became acceptable workplace language.

As a woman, I sense that men sometimes use profanity as a means of intimidating female colleagues and limiting their participation in meetings. However, I’m not sure how to respond when someone throws an F-bomb into the conversation. Do you have any suggestions for addressing this problem?

A: Casual profanity is definitely more prevalent these days, but the degree to which expletives are tolerated in the workplace depends largely on the climate established by executives.

Apparently, management in your Office Coach company either has no problem with such language or is too spineless to tackle the issue.

From a business standpoint, managers who are not offended by profanity need to recognize that many people are. This group may include important customers, key staff members and highly recruited job applicants. So regardless of their own feelings on the matter, wise executives take steps to discourage vulgarity and promote professionalism.

If your own objective is to create a widespread cultural change, you will need to recruit some allies from the ranks of those who are “noticeably disturbed.” This group can then ask to meet with human resources or top management and present the business case for a language clean-up.

But if you simply wish to stop the offenders from swearing at you personally, then you must politely, but firmly, make that request. Just be sure to deliver this message with a smile and a friendly tone.

For example: “Bob, even though I’m not a prude, I find the F-word to be very offensive. I would really appreciate your not using it during our conversations.”

This approach should work quite well with reasonable adults who do not wish to offend anyone. Unfortunately, it will have no effect on those immature folks who get a secret thrill out of using naughty words.

Q: Ever since a close friend helped me get a job in her office, our relationship hasn’t been the same. “Christie” frequently reminds me about deadlines and reviews my work for errors. But if I ask her to show me how to do certain tasks, she says I’ll learn faster by figuring it out myself.

Christie agreed to train me on our proprietary software, but her presence makes me nervous. If I screw up, she makes comments like “it’s not difficult” or “just look in your notes.” These remarks are very annoying. I don’t want to lose our friendship, so how should I handle this?

A: When friends turn into co-workers, tensions often arise. While friendship is a voluntary association, co-workers have required interactions which may create conflicting expectations. In this case, not only do you and Christie have different views of her role, but you yourself seem unable to decide just how much help you want.

You get annoyed when Christie offers unsolicited advice, but you’re also irritated when she fails to respond to requests for assistance. You would like her help in learning the software, but resent her comments about your performance.

Actually, you appear to be bothered by almost everything she does.

Although Christie might be a bit overzealous, odds are that the real source of your discomfort is a sudden downgrade in status. Previously, you and your friend had a relationship of equals, but Christie’s job knowledge has temporarily placed her in a superior position. This unexpected shift is understandably disconcerting.

The good news is that this problem should gradually resolve itself as you gain more experience. But until you’re ready to fly solo, the best way to preserve your friendship is to cut Christie a little slack. Otherwise, resentment and frustration will inevitably drive you apart.

Q: Last week, I accidently overheard my supervisor talking about me to another manager. Based on that conversation, it sounds as though my position might be eliminated soon, and I may have to find another job in the company.

This has me very worried, but I don’t

Q: After 18 months with this company, I just had my first performance review.

Because I have more than 20 years’ experience in my field, I was extremely disappointed to be rated “needs improvement” in several categories. I suspect this review was only done because of

Marie McIntyre

know whether I should mention it.

A: Since you weren’t engaging in deliberate office espionage, you should have no problem raising this issue. To either ease your fears or confirm your suspicions, simply ask your supervisor a direct question.

For example: “Last week I accidentally overheard a conversation that seemed to imply that my job is going to be eliminated. Is there any truth to that?”

You may learn that the discussion you heard was about something entirely different. But if your interpretation is correct, at least you will be in a better position to begin planning for the future.

WEEKLY TIPS Can't get enough advice from the Office Coach. Get weekly column updates at www.thebusiness-journal.com. some recent challenges with difficult projects.

According to company policy, new employees should be evaluated after 90 days, and everyone should receive an annual appraisal. My boss previously told me that he had no time for these reviews. Should I have been more persistent in asking for an earlier evaluation?

A: People naturally avoid discussions which may invite criticism, but it’s always good to know what the boss is thinking. Since managers often fail to share their opinions about job performance, soliciting feedback can help to prevent unpleasant surprises. In retrospect, therefore, requesting those interim reviews would have been a wise move.

Nevertheless, the fault in this situation clearly lies with your boss, because he’s the one responsible for following the appraisal policy. So if you’re under any threat of disciplinary action, you should discuss this matter with human

resources. But if not, just forget about the blame game and focus on fixing the problems with your projects.

Q: One woman in our group is extremely nosy. Whenever someone takes vacation or leaves work early, “Rhonda” tries to find out where they are going or why they need time off. Since I have no desire to share this information, I always give a neutral response like “I just have some things to do,” but Rhonda continues to ask until I finally tell her. How can I put a stop to this?

A: Although Rhonda certainly sounds like a pest, you are also contributing to the problem. Every time you succumb to her persistent probing, you reward the very behavior that you wish to discourage. The solution, therefore, is to stiffen your backbone and stop giving out information.

Instead of prolonging these interactions until Rhonda wears you down, just give your generic answer, then end the conversation. If you feel this would be impolite, please remember that Rhonda is the one who’s being rude.

Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author of “Secrets to Winning at Office Politics.”

Send in questions and get free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter @officecoach.

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January 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Work-life balance concept has flaws It all depends on way we respond

By JENNIE WONG McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

Whenever I hear the term work-life balance, I picture a giant, old-fashioned scale. On one side, there’s work: a desk, a computer, a phone and customers. On the other side, there’s life: a house, a television, a family and friends. The two sides tilt back and forth precariously.

(And if you did something like add a dog to the “life” side, you could lose your balance entirely.)

This notion never seemed like a game that I could win, and lately it has become clear that work-life balance, as a concept, has a couple of flaws.

First, despite everyone’s good intentions, work-life balance has become polite code for working less. As a phrase, it is never used to signal, “Hey, I have way too much leisure time, and I would like to balance that out with some more challenging work.”

And the problem with focusing on working less is that it makes work the bad guy.

For a great many people, work is not just something we do to earn a living.

Work is far more than a paycheck or a means to an end. It is, rather, an expression of one’s gifts, talents and strengths and an important anchor for our place in the world and relationship to others. And when we relegate work to the role of a necessary evil, that’s when it starts to become problematic.

It’s sort of like food. We all have to eat to stay alive, just like most of us have to earn money to keep a roof over our heads. But what if there was a problem with the food? What if it didn’t taste good or wasn’t nutritious? One response to flavorless food could be to eat less, or to only eat the minimum amount you needed. But a different response could be to fix the food.

So if work doesn’t feel good, remember that you have options. Yes, you can set boundaries around your work or seek to work less. But you also can strive to fix the work. Whether you are a bartender or a building inspector or a business owner, it is possible for your work to feed your bank account and your soul.

The second problem with the concept of work-life balance is the underlying assumption that less work will automatically lead to more life. In actuality, what

‘... work tends to be elastic. It will stretch or retract around other things in your life.’

I’ve seen time and again with my coaching clients is that having a life takes work. So many people focus on the “stop working at 6 p.m.” part of the equation, and not enough people focus on the “meet friends at 6:30 p.m.” part.

If you’re feeling in need of work-life balance, chances are, what you’re really saying is that you want more of something, not less of something. More fun, more relaxation, more connection, more joy, more meaning. What would you choose to have more of in your life? The

trick is to name it — for example, “I want more energy.” Then figure out a specific action you can take to go get it.

The good news is, work tends to be elastic. It will stretch or retract around other things in your life. And while it may seem like a leap of faith initially, go ahead and sign up for that 6:30 p.m.

Zumba class. You will be amazed at how your work will find a way to flow around that appointment, once you put it on your calendar.

By the same token, if you’re looking to dedicate more of your working time to a particular area of focus, remove some things from your calendar and watch how your chosen activity expands to take advantage of the extra space.

So stop thinking about balance and throw away the scale. We weren’t meant to approach our work or our personal lives as bookkeepers. Picture instead two beautiful gift baskets, both overflowing with good things, including learning, serving others, positive relationships and good health. Picture instead “work-life abundance.”

Jennie Wong is an executive coach, author of the e-book “Ask the Mompreneur” and the founder of the social shopping website CartCentric.com.

Email her at TheJennieWong@gmail.com.

Envision positive future to build up confidence Q: I’m starting over in a new career after 20 years. This requires schooling, probably with much younger classmates.

I’m anxious about the age difference and about studying again after all these years. How do I manage this with confidence?

A: Let the vision that led you to this path give you the assurance you need.

The inner game: Your strong center will be your best resource as you go through this major change. Invest time into anchoring your inner confidence, using your breath and taking plenty of time for reflection.

Start by creating a vivid vision of your future, defined by the reasons you chose this direction. What do you hope to gain?

What do you hope to contribute to others? Imagine what a “day in the life” of your new job may be. Develop a positive vision ... and notice negatives that emerge for future consideration.

Now compile an inventory of the attributes you bring, including skills and characteristics that you’ve developed in the past. You’ve undoubtedly had to adapt to new situations and learn new skills during your previous career. You

Liz Reyer

can draw on the same tactics that have helped you before.

It’ll also help to spend time defusing the negative. Try answering three questions about an aspect you’re really afraid of: n How realistic is it? Let’s say you worry you won’t fit in because of your age. First of all, you don’t know that your age will be unusual, so you’re just making predictions. Also, you’re all drawn to the same field, so shared interests may well trump any age differences.

So your concerns may not be realistic at all. n What’s the worst thing that could happen? If these concerns are realistic, worst case, you might not have an enjoyable social experience, but there is no reason why you still can’t succeed in your new profession. n What can you do about it? Since you can’t change your age, accept yourself as you are — this will increase your chances of building rewarding relationships and will make you happier.

The outer game: Develop an outer game plan so that you’re ready to start school. Include plenty of self-care, such as a personal energy management strategy that suits your temperament — if you’re more introverted, have plenty of opportunities to recharge.

Put as many support systems in place in advance as possible. For example, if some courses are likely to be especially difficult, look into getting a tutor before you get in over your head.

WEEKLY TIPS Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

Don’t be shy about asking for help. If you feel isolated or overwhelmed, reach out to others. Also, remember that others are also stepping into the unknown, so take the initiative to connect rather than waiting for them to come to you. Becoming a leader can be a very reassuring position, and may come more naturally

to you if you’re one of the older students.

Celebrate your courage! It’s a big deal to be willing to reinvent yourself, so don’t forget to acknowledge it.

The last word: Let go of “what if” stories that can hold you back, and live in the moment, enjoying your new adventure as it unfolds.

Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at liz@deliverchange.com.

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January 2014

YOUR HEALTH

Safety high priority for companies Training saves lives, lost wages

By DONNETTE BECKETT Business Journal Writer

The signs are becoming more prevalent in nearly every type of business.

“You are the key to safety.” “Stay alert, so you don’t get hurt.” Or the coveted, “This department has had 365 days with zero accidents.”

It’s about “taking care of the people we know,” said John Elliott, public relations manager for Kroger. “We are a family. This family rallies and takes care of each other.”

When the Airport Plaza Kroger posted the “1,000 days without an accident” sign near the customer services desk, store manager Sherry Niles understood its importance on her 118 employees.

“The associates are really proud of that,” she said.

The signs are used as an encouragement for employees to go throughout the day with safety in mind. But the business benefits as well.

“The signs represent a visual reminder as employees enter and leave our facilities that the work day starts and ends with safety,” said Chris Olson, vice president of community and government affairs for Tate and Lyle. “Our safety signage is part of a comprehensive safety program that reinforces the high priority we place on safety.”

Safety can be lucrative for the company as well. Companies can use the milestones to boast to customers and vendors of their safety record.

Stratas Foods Packaging Plant recently received an award for 2 million manhours without a lost-time incident.

“We know that our work is essential to our customers and the consumers they serve, and this awareness drives us to keep our operations running incidentfree” said Kevin Swanson, Stratas Foods vice president of operations.

“Safety is good business,” Carl Draper, president of the Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly. “Look at the cost of a fatality or a debilitating injury. You’re dealing with lawsuits, lost time, time and money into training them. Now you’ve got a person who could have a long-term disability who everyone is taking care of. A little bit of training at the beginning saves the public money in the long run.”

For many companies, the importance of safety is stressed during the training process.

“Safety is pushed from the time that you join,” said Joe Riley, business manager for Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 159.

The first week in the union employees will be trained in Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-hour train-

Business Journal/Jim Bowling

Head meat cutter Laurie Rhode shows the safety precautions of using a push plate, foreground, and taking the cut meat with her hand positioned behind the meat band saw while demonstrating how to safely cut meat at the Airport Plaza Kroger grocery store. ing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and flagging guards.

“It’s very stressed. It’s pushed,” Riley said.

Throughout the past 40 years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has provided training for companies and individual employees.

Richland Community College offers a 10hour and 30-hour class for OSHA instruction.

“The training is a proactive measure,” Training Coordinator Barry Schwalbe said.

The instructors emphasize preparation. Employees are taught to anticipate what may happen in the future. A task may be performed daily, but “you typically don’t see things immediately,” Schwalbe explained.

As a Kroger employee of 18 years and a member of the store’s cultural counsel, Dawana Cleary has seen the importance of safety progress.

“People are more conscious about what they are doing,” she said. “Nobody is in a hurry to get things done, they’re taking their time.”

Monument honors lives lost Annual ceremony remembers workers

By DONNETTE BECKETT Business Journal Writer

DECATUR — “Let us renew our vow to provide safety and health, dignity and justice in the workplace.”

These words, etched into the large granite monument, serves as a permanent reminder to work safely.

The Workers Memorial was established to honor those who have died while doing their job. Located on the west side of the Macon County Courts Facility, the monument displays the names of 108 workers from the area.

Every year on April 28, the Workers Memorial Day ceremony is held by the Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly in memory of those who have died on the job and to remind others of the impor-

tance of a safe workplace.

According to Carl Draper, president of Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly, the AFL-CIO began celebrating Workers Memorial Day in the 1970s after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration laws were passed.

“Since we started focusing on it in the early 70s, we have seen improvements,” he said. “It’s certainly not as dangerous out there working as it was when my grandfather or my dad was working.”

The names on the monument date back to the 1920s.

“It gets very real for you,” said Joe Riley, business manager for the Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 159.

“These people went to work that morning with the intention of coming home, and they didn’t,” Riley said.

“That’s enough for me to want to be safe and to see my family.”

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January 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Community health calendar Screenings Bone density screening, 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, Women’s Health and Breast Center, 302 W. Hay St., Suite 117A. Screening to check your risk for osteoporosis. Register online or call (217) 876-4377.

Cholesterol screening, 7-10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, 389 W. Weaver Road, Forsyth, and 810 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, 4455 U.S. 36.

Cost is $25. Register online or call (217) 8764377.

Kidney disease screening, Jan. 6-10, all DMH Express Care locations. Cost is $25. For more information, call (217) 876-5320.

Support groups TOPS Club IL 49 Decatur, 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Main Street Church of God, 2000 N. Main St. (enter from Garfield Street). Support group for Real People seeking Real Results with weight loss. For more information, go to www.topsclub.org or call Chris Granda at (217) 5212420.

Epilepsy support group, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For more information, call (217) 853-1655.

Diabetes support group, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 16, DMH Wellness Center, 2122 N. 27th St. Call (217) 876-4249.

Parkinson’s disease support group, 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main St. For information, call Kathy Broaddus at (217) 820-3096.

A New Season – Young Widowed Group, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 16. For more information, call Dawn Followell at (217) 864-2799.

Brain tumor support group, 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Essential tremor support group, 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For more information, call Don Klinker at (217) 423-9667.

Helping Hands Bereavement for Children, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, 210 W. McKinley, Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Post Partum Emotional Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For more information, call Flo at (217) 464-2334.

Grief to Hope: Grief Education Group, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 7, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24. This grief education group is a time for individual or family bereavement support and care. For information, call Chaplain Marla at (217) 544-6464 ext. 41850.

Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. Monthly dinner gathering. For location or to register, call (217) 428-7733.

Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Pink Link breast cancer support group, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 9. To register, call (217) 8764377.

Breastfeeding support group, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13 and 27, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334.

Kids these days — they’re just not as healthy as we are, or our parents were.

That’s generally the sentiment of about 1,800 people surveyed this spring

by Harris Interactive for a study commissioned by Aetna.

The study asked people aged 25 to 64 which generation is the healthiest. Fortyfive percent said their own generation has that distinction, 32 percent said it was their parents’ generation, and 23 percent said it was a younger generation.

Twice as many boomers than either Generation X or Millennials defined “being healthy” as getting recommended medical screenings and checkups.

Asked if being healthy means good

Freedom from Smoking. This seven-week course, led by American Lung Association trained facilitators can help smokers identify their addiction and provide ways to break their habits. The first class is at 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan, 14, St. Mary’s Hospital conference Room 561. The cost is $25. To register, call (217) 464-5873.

Infant CPR Class, 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, Decatur Memorial Hospital OB Classrooms, 3rd floor. Register online or call (217) 8763400.

Real Dads Rock, 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Cafe Classrooms 1 and 2 – Ground Level. Program teaches new fathers how to handle, feed, burp, change, clean and respond to their baby’s needs. Register online or call (217) 422-6294.

Safe Sitter class, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, DMH OB Classroom. This program teaches 11 to 13 year olds how to handle emergencies and provide safe child care.

Cost is $30. Register online or call (217) 8763100.

Look Good, Feel Better, 6 p.m. Monday,

Jan. 13, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Cancer Care Specialists of Decatur Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. A program that teaches beauty techniques to female cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. To register call, (217) 876-6600.

Eat Right to Help the Fight, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Nutrition class for cancer patients. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Breastfeeding Basics, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, Decatur Memorial Hospital Classrooms, Lobby Level. Registration is required. Register online or call (217) 876-3400.

Sibling class, 5:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, St. Mary’s Hospital, OB Classroom. Children 3 to 12 learn about being a big brother or sister.

For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334.

More Community Health Lecture Series, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 21, Decatur Public Library. The St. Mary’s Hospital community health lecture service provides an informational lecture from a local health care provider. This month will feature dietitian Kristen Richman. For more information, call (217) 464-5125.

Renewal bereavement support group, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Classes Art therapy for cancer patients and families, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary

Generations define healthy differently McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Medicine Art Rooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Clay, paint watercolor, acrylic draw, print make, collage, weave and more. For information, call (217) 876-4750.

eating habits, the following agreed: 24 percent of Millennials, 14 percent of Generation X, and 12 percent of baby boomers.

Asked if it meant regular physical activity, the following agreed: 22 percent of Millennials, 14 percent of Generation X, and 12 percent of baby boomers.

Stress can lead to drinking alcohol and eating unhealthy food. The following said they reach for alcohol when stressed: 37 percent of Millennials, 23 percent of Generation X and 16 percent of boomers. The following said they snack on unhealthy food when dealing with stress: 51 percent of Millennials, 48 percent of Generation X and 36 percent of baby boomers.

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January 2014

Take food ‘sell by’ dates with a grain of salt Misconceptions causing waste McClatchy Tribune News Service

MINNEAPOLIS — Like many Americans, Michelle Liss of Eden Prairie, Minn., pays close attention to the “sell by,” “use by” and “best before” labels on the packaged and perishable foods in her kitchen.

“I get a little freaked out when an item is past the use by date,” she said. “I discard it when it isn’t fresh.”

Most people do the same thing, even though much of it is still perfectly good to consume. In fact, Americans have grown to rely so much on the food dating game since it was implemented in the 1970s that we now throw away 20 percent of our food, more than 160 billion pounds of it per year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It isn’t surprising that consumers take extra precautions when they hear regularly about salmonella, E. coli or other foodborne illnesses. But what started as a consumer demand that food be verifiably fresh has evolved into a confusing mishmash of laws that are different in each state. Only infant formula is regulated by the federal government.

The inconsistency is causing discarded food to be the largest single contributor

to the nation’s landfills and costing Americans money, according to a recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic. The average family of four that spends about $632 to $1,252 per month on groceries is throwing away about $112 to $190 each month on outdated food and restaurant leftovers, researchers concluded.

Obscene amounts of food are being wasted, consumer advocates argue, because of a misconception that eating food past its “use by” date is about safety, when it’s really about freshness.

Consumers are discarding items a day or two past their freshness date because they think the items are potentially harmful when they’re not, said Sarah Klein, an attorney at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

“It may not taste as good as it did the day before,” she said. “But it’s perfectly safe to eat. There’s no need to throw it away.”

The time to get rid of food is when it looks, smells or tastes bad, Klein said. In general, eat or freeze meat by its freshness date, and throw out fresh seafood when in doubt.

“Manufacturers put dates on nearly all of their food products because consumers want them,” said Ted LaBuza, professor of Food Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota But experts say that manufacturers

deserve some blame for excess waste, too. Many consumers and some at the NRDC think that manufacturers are shortening the date span on their products to get consumers to buy more often, LaBuza said.

“There’s no state law (in Minnesota) telling manufacturers how to determine the freshness date, so they’re free to choose the dates they want,” he said.

Nearly 70 percent of companies just follow what their competitors are doing, LaBuza said.

But shortening the “sell by” date range can also mean that supermarkets and wholesalers get stuck with food at its freshness date because safety- or freshness-conscious consumers won’t buy it.

Many consumers reach to the back of a display for an item with the newest date and avoid others.

What happens to the older items?

When they don’t sell, a retailer risks its reputation for freshness by not removing them. A supermarket can throw it out, but that’s often the most expensive choice with rising trash removal costs.

Some is returned to distributors and sold to food outlet stores.

Mike Abernathy, owner of Mike’s Discount Foods in Anoka, Minn., buys food that’s near its freshness date as well as surplus food.

“We keep dropping the price until it sells,” he said.

Because many consumers assume that

food past its freshness date is unsafe, they think selling it is illegal, which it isn’t. “The food is safe as long it’s been handled properly. The only thing you can’t sell past its freshness date is infant formula,” he said.

Canned food, for example, is generally safe for up to three years after its freshness date, according to the USDA, but Abernathy takes any canned goods off the shelf once they’re a year past their date.

Much of the unsold food near its freshness date goes to local food pantries, said Bob Chatmas, chief operations officer at Second Harvest Heartland food bank in St. Paul. Second Harvest collects perishable food from Cub, Rainbow, Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Lunds/Byerly’s and Quiktrip. In 2008 the food bank collected 5 million pounds, but it’s on track to collect 30 million pounds this year.

When accepting donations, Second Harvest uses guidelines from the USDA and the Food Marketing Institute. “Our highest priority is food safety,” said Chatmas, whose organization will serve almost 600,000 people this year in 59 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

That means proper storage. It’s the key to product freshness and safety, LaBuza said. Refrigerator thermostats should be set at about 40 degrees or lower. “If you keep the thermostat at 34 to 36 degrees, you can get twice the storage life than if it’s kept at 50 degrees,” said LaBuza.

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Expect EXCEPTIONAL.

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January 2014

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Maintain wellness in your small business Preventative steps keep team healthy

By JENNIE WONG McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Dr. Marshall Silverman, a board-certified internist with Charlotte, N.C., medical practice Signature Healthcare, offered these tips for maintaining wellness in your small business during a recent interview.

Q: As cold and flu season gets under way, many business owners are thinking about wellness and their bottom line. What advice do you have for entrepreneurs for keeping themselves and their employees healthy and productive?

A: We’ve all encountered days (usually in late February) when walking through your office is like walking through a ghost ship. Half your crew has called in sick and everywhere you look, there’s lost productivity and profits.

Don’t let that happen to you this year.

Take preventative action now to ensure your business stays ship shape. Whether your team is two employees or 102 employees, you have the ability to create a wellness culture in your workplace.

There’s an APP for that: attitude, prevention and pliancy. n Attitude: How would your employees describe their office environment? Studies have consistently shown that a “high stress” work environment is one in which the worker has high performance expectations but little autonomy. What type of work-home balance are your employees enjoying? When that balance is disrupted or when stress levels are on the rise, your employees are not just less productive; they are more prone to accidents and illness.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, two of the major causes of workplace accidents are inattentiveness and fatigue.

Whether someone twists an ankle in the stairwell or puts a staple in his thumb, workplace accidents can slow down your entire business. What’s more, our bodies’ immune systems are less able to fight infection when we are physically or emotionally stressed out.

By fostering a work environment that gives your employees flexibility, autonomy and support, and by providing a fair balance between their work life and home life, you are creating an office attitude that is well-adjusted and healthy. n Prevention: Promoting a culture of wellness can be as easy as leading by example. Consider your ability to influence nutrition, exercise, safety and sani-

tation.

Make sure your employees have time for lunch and that they eat. If you offer snacks in the office, do your best to make healthy options available. And it should come as no surprise that those who sit all day at work suffer higher rates of morbidity and mortality than those who have nonsedentary jobs. But did you know that several recent studies have shown that those who sit at work all day and exercise for 45-60 minutes at least four days a week fared no better than their nonexercising counterparts? That means we need to encourage more frequent activity throughout the day. Get yourself and your staff up and moving around for five minutes every hour. Better yet, look into standing-desk or treadmill-desk options.

Instead of meeting over lunch, take your story walking.

And don’t forget workplace safety.

More people miss work because of injuries than illness. Providing a safe work environment includes everything from adequate lighting to clutter-free hallways.

During cold and flu season, disinfect commonly shared surfaces. Hand sanitizers have their proponents, but they are no substitute for old-fashioned hand washing. When someone in the office is sick with a bug, keep them home. And this brings us to the final piece of this wellness puzzle. n Pliancy: So your receptionist went home yesterday with a sore throat and a barking cough. Being proactive and health-conscious, you instructed him to stay home today as well. Even though we are most infectious before symptoms appear, it is sound advice to stay home until there are no signs of fever for 24 hours.

But now, you are down one receptionist, or one pastry chef, or one CFO. Maintaining a productive office means cross-training your employees so they can take over when a colleague is out sick. Make sure office protocols are centralized such that anyone who is filling in has access to the information needed to get the job done. Alternatively, if your business model allows, enable your “quarantined” employees to work from home.

As the captain of your ship, it’s up to you to ensure the wellness of your crew.

Have you battened down the hatches?

Don’t wait for injury or illness to strike.

Start preparing today.

Jennie Wong is an executive coach, author of the e-book “Ask the Mompreneur” and the founder of the social shopping website CartCentric.com.

Email her at TheJennieWong@gmail.com.

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January 2014

Stay active during winter season Movement of any kind can help

By RYAN VOYLES Business Journal Writer

DECATUR — As the temperatures drop to frigid and the nights come earlier and earlier, it can tempt people to stay indoors and hibernate until spring.

But there are ways to stay active and not get as big as a grizzly during the upcoming winter season.

Trainers, athletes, nutritionist and others have their own solutions for how people can prevent their guts from growing and their health from deteriorating during the cold season.

For Jenna Eccleston, a personal trainer at Snap Fitness in Mount Zion, people first need to be aware of their activities and make sure not to merely lie down on the couch and watch television.

“A little movement is better than nothing,” she said.

There is plenty of ways to stay active even for those stuck indoors, Eccleston said, whether it is a stationary bike or an elliptical machine. For those without equipment, simply running in place or walking around the home can provide some decent exercise.

“If you’re watching TV, commercial breaks are a great time to get moving,”

Business Journal/Danny Damiani

Jenna Eccleston, a personal trainer with Snap Fitness in Forsyth, coaches Richard Ishmael through lat pulldowns. Ishmael has been working with Eccleston for three months.

Eccleston said. “Household chores can be done some more that can give you activity.”

While working out seems simple enough, the incentive to do so can be especially lacking when it gets cold and dark outside, said Angela Foulke, director of health and wellness at the

Decatur Family YMCA. It becomes important for people to set realistic goals for themselves and to motive themselves to work out, whether at home or at a place like the YMCA. Foulke said the YMCA tries to set up programs in the winter that keep members and others coming in and give them

an incentive to stay active.

“We do something to keep them accountable to be active,” she said.

While the cold may turn people off of going outside, Eccleston said mundane activities like raking leaves, shoveling snow and taking dogs out for a walk can be great exercise. People who do that and other outdoor activities should be aware of their body and understand when they’ve pushed themselves too far.

“Just listen to your body,” Eccleston said.

It is not just about exercise though, as the food and vitamins taken in during the winter can be just as important, said Bonnie Sloan, a sales clerk and nurse who works at Country Nutrition in Decatur. She said people generally eat “hardier” foods in the wintertime such as beans and soups to help prepare the body for the cold. Though good for the body, she says it is important to take in Vitamin D3 and Vitamin C, as well as a probiotic, to help strengthen the immune system during the winter.

“I think every man, woman and child could do to take more Vitamin D3 during the winter,” Sloan said.

At the end of the day, Foulke said it is a matter of people not letting the winter season slow them down too much and prevent them from achieving their workout goals.

“People want to hibernate and they don’t want to go out because it’s cold, but there’s so much out there and at home to stay fit,” she said.

Weather, economy can produce winter blues There are ways to battle depression

By JAMIE LOBER Business Journal Writer

With its high unemployment rate and concern about the state of its major employers, it’s very likely Decatur-area residents are feeling a little overwhelmed at times and looking for guidance on how to navigate all the chaos.

“Some people start seeing the contrast between what they used to have or what other people have and what they perceive other people having and get a sense of emptiness and loss,” said Dr. Lee Hall, psychologist with Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Some sad feelings usually provoke other negative emotions.

“This increases feelings of depression and withdrawal which becomes a vicious cycle for some people,” Hall said.

A combination of the trying times and colder weather make this time of year more difficult.

“With the reduction of sunlight, there

is a subset of the population that experiences what we call seasonal affective disorder,” Hall said.

If you suspect you are depressed, you are not alone.

“About 6½ to 7 percent of the population have a major depressive disorder and another 3 to 3½ percent have dysthymia, which is a lower level depression that is always there,” Hall said.

“Between the two conditions, you are talking about 10 percent of the population struggling in any given year with depression of some sort.”

The economy can play a role with the development of situational depression, which can lead to a major depressive episode.

“You lose a job, cannot pay bills, start feeling the stresses and feel hopeless and helpless about changing your circumstances,” Hall said. “In an economy like Decatur, where you have the fluctuations at Caterpillar, people get up and feel good, have jobs and then the market falls off and people wind up unemployed until the next boom hits.”

These cycles affect people in a negative way.

“For all of us, no matter what the rea-

son for the depression, there are some things that are helpful such as staying active socially, getting out and doing things, seeing friends, staying involved with your church or doing volunteer work somewhere,” Hall said.

Try to get outside of yourself where your focus is not on your circumstances.

“The number one thing is physical exercise, like moderate aerobic exercise 3 to 5 days a week to counter depressive feelings because it stimulates the brain in ways that stimulate natural, feel-good chemicals,” Hall said.

You can get past depression. “You have to overcome not feeling like it or having the energy because depression leads to feelings of fatigue and tiredness, so it becomes a matter of the will of pushing yourself to do those things in spite of how you feel,” Hall said.

Cognitive behavior therapy is the top approach to treating depression and anxiety and it focuses on how you think about your situation.

“Research is strong for learning to do a gratitude list and looking for five things everyday that you are thankful for, even small things like a clerk at the grocery store being friendly to you,” Hall

said.

The key is recognizing when you get into a depressive funk, lose pleasure in things that used to interest you, have difficulty concentrating or even experience memory loss and take action right away.

“Men are less aware that they are struggling with depression and can be more irritable, short, have more anger instead of sadness and wanting to cry,” Hall said.

Go to a psychologist or counselor. “A lot of people, especially the older population, think that is something you should not do or is a sign of weakness, but that is changing and younger generations are getting more willing to acknowledge that they are not dealing with things well and seek help,” Hall said.

Know that everyone has setbacks at times and you have to get past that.

“People that are successful in overcoming forge ahead, keep active and seek help,” Hall said. “Do not let your problems and down days dictate your life and know that you do not have to carry a burden by yourself; have a trusted friend you can rely on to help get you pointed in a positive direction.”

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January 2014

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15

Get the most out of medical appointment Prepare, focus on main concerns

By DR. JANE SADLER McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

DALLAS — You have waited for this medical appointment. You have accumulated a laundry list of concerns to discuss. However, you have only 15 minutes with your doctor. Time to think like a Boy Scout and be prepared.

To gain the maximum benefit of an office visit, it is important to focus on your main concerns. According to a report in the journal Medical Care, the time patients spend with the doctor has increased in recent years, but the number of problems addressed during the visit increased substantially more, restricting the doctors’ ability to discuss basic healthy living strategies.

When patients prepare for their office visits, doctors can provide better care.

Follow Dr. Jane Sadler’s 4-point checklist to help: 1. Review your past medical history with the doctor. You must have a complete, open and transparent discussion of your past history. Be certain your doctor is made aware of past issues, including but not limited to your family cancer his-

tory, depression or past heart problems.

Write these down and do not be afraid to mention sensitive issues such as bladder control, intimacy or gastrointestinal problems.

Be certain to review your use of overthe-counter medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines might cause gastrointestinal problems such as inflammation and bleeding, especially if taken with blood thinners. They may also interfere with the effectiveness of some blood pressure medications.

This information helps your doctor focus on preventive management as it pertains to your personal list of concerns. Your doctor will be better able to direct the physical exam and lab work for purposes of identifying and treating disease early. Early intervention is the best intervention.

2. Address your weight management and exercise. Yes, you need to exercise.

Addressing this topic alone could directly affect your other ailments.

Exercise can relieve symptoms such as fatigue, depression and high blood pressure. Exercise improves energy, mood and heart health. Moderate-intensity exercise (fast walking) is healthy for the joints, especially if you are overweight. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that a brisk 4.3mile walk achieves the same energy

expenditure and physical benefits as a 3-mile run.

3. Bring all your medications to your appointment and discuss generic options.

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4. Disclose all vitamins and supplements. It is not unusual for a patient to come into the office wishing to reduce their medication expenditures. At the same time, they may be purchasing several expensive vitamins and supplements. Remember that supplements are not regulated the same as medications (see the May 2012 Consumer Reports).

Some might contain contaminants or have prescription drug interactions that can be harmful. Examples of supplements with significant prescription medication interactions include St. John’s wort, ginkgo, kava, digitalis and willow. The Archives of Internal Medicine 2011 states: “Based on existing evidence, we see little justification for the general and widespread use of dietary supplements unless there is a medical reason or deficiency of a particular nutrient.”

For more information on dietary supplements refer to the National Institutes of Health Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet, available online at ods.od.nih.gov.

In summary, do your homework. Getting to know your doctor well, writing down your concerns and bringing a complete medication list can help optimize everyone’s time during the doctor visit.

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January 2014

YOUR BUSINESS

Employers take steps to prevent burnout where professional workers often don’t have union contracts or the same legal overtime protection as hourly workers do.

“So it’s as the Red Queen said in ‘Through the Looking-Glass,’ it takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place,” Tenner said.

Companies haven’t yet come to grips with how bad it is, said Spira, the analyst. Information overload has decreased people’s ability to manage thoughts and ideas. Fixing it means changing company culture, such as the idea that dozens of people need to be cc-ed on a given email.

“Almost every organization is burying its head in the sand,” said Spira, the author of “Overload!: How Too Much Information is Hazardous to Your Organization.”

It is hard for a company to control the amount of technology used in the workplace and at home since it is so integral to modern life. Volkswagen addressed the issue in a blunt, if effective, manner — by deactivating some workers’ email accounts once their shifts were over.

Rival BMW plans this week to unveil new rules to foster a management culture that “values the limits of work hours and reachability.” The company declined to offer specifics, insisting that employees should learn the details before the media.

Companies limit emails, work time LONDON (AP) — Volkswagen turns off some employees’ email 30 minutes after their shifts end. Goldman Sachs is urging junior staff to take weekends off.

BMW is planning new rules that will keep workers from being contacted after hours.

This surge in corporate beneficence isn’t an indication that employers are becoming kinder and gentler: It’s about the bottom line. After years in which the ease of instant communication via email and smartphones allowed bosses to place greater and greater demands on whitecollar workers, some companies are beginning to set limits, recognizing that successful employees must be able to escape from work.

“Industry is now responding,” said Cary Cooper, a professor of organizational psychology and health at Lancaster University, who says the imperative to be constantly reachable by iPhone or tablet is taking a toll on the work delivered at the office. “Employees are turning up, but they’re not delivering anything.”

After seeing colleagues lose their jobs during the Great Recession, workers are more inclined to come in to work, even when sick, surveys show. After hours, physical presence is replaced by the next best thing — a virtual one. Many employees fear switching off, instead deciding to work on vacation, during dinner and in bed with the help of smartphones, laptops and tablet computers.

People also have more data than ever to process — whether they ask for it or not. Information overload cost American businesses just under $1 trillion in employee time lost to needless emails and other distractions in 2010, according to Jonathan Spira, chief analyst of the New York research firm, Basex.

The cost of replacing employees who leave in search of better work conditions is also a concern. A study from the Center for American Progress put the cost of turnover at just over a fifth of the employee’s salary for people making up to $75,000 a year. That goes up exponentially for top managers, with turnover costs as high as 213 percent of salary for very highly paid positions.

After worrying about trimming staff numbers during the recession, employers are focusing on how to keep those who are left from burning out.

Job safety One strategy, which Goldman Sachs has been trying, is to make people feel less at risk in their jobs. That’s not easy in most companies, much less so in investment banking, infamous for its competitive environment and grueling work hours.

Tougher measures Associated Press

Shirin Majid plays with her daughter, Ella Townsend, at their home in New York. Majid, who works for the Internet startup Quirky, is home during her company's quarterly ‘blackout’ week break from work.

To keep junior analysts from burning out in the attempt to prove their worth, the bank has decided to start hiring firstyear analysts as permanent employees, instead of taking them on as contract workers. It is also encouraging them to not work weekends.

“The goal is for our analysts to want to be here for a career,” said David Solomon, global head of investment banking at Goldman Sachs. “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Work conditions in banking came under scrutiny after an intern at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London died from an epileptic seizure that may have been brought on by fatigue. The case prompted the bank to review work conditions for junior employees.

But it isn’t just the junior staff. Last month, Hector Sants, a senior executive brought in to help London-based Barclays bank overcome a costly scandal, resigned after a leave of absence due to stress and exhaustion. The chief executive officer of Lloyds Bank, Antonio Horta Osorio, took time out in 2011. The CEO AkzoNobel, a Dutch paint and coatings company, did the same last year.

“The HR people now talk about regrettable turnover. We cannot afford to lose our best people because we have fewer people,” said Cooper, the professor. “We will lose them to companies with better work/life balance, where they don’t have to work 19-hour days.”

Information overload Though technology has helped boost worker productivity over the past few decades, it has come with related costs, such as stress.

Technology, for example, is eliminating the downtime or slack that used to be built into the day — such as the time one took going to the library to do research that can now be completed online, said Edward Tenner, author of “Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences.” Those minutes used to act as a buffer that prevented people from working constantly.

Though physical exhaustion in traditional enterprises was bad, conflicting mental demands can be more problematic, Tenner said, particularly in the U.S.,

To get everyone, from intern to CEO, to not overdo it with the work hours, some companies have resorted to bolder measures.

Quirky, a New York based start-up which shepherds inventions to the marketplace, has instituted a “blackout” week once a quarter during which no one except customer service representatives are allowed to work, lest employees be tempted to check email.

“We all dropped pencils together,” said CEO Ben Kaufman, who figured he could bring the idea of re-invention to his own company. “People were getting burned out. They needed to see other things besides their desk.”

And having the message come right from the top was important for Shirin Majid, the company’s 39-year-old head of digital marketing, who laments not having enough time to spend with her husband and 9 month-old daughter, Ella. In 17 years of public relations work, she has yet to take a vacation devoid of that dreaded phone call from the office.

But not last week. No one could call from the office — since no one was at the office.

“If you know that your boss is checked out, you’re going to relax a bit and not worry that you’re going to get an email,” she said. “You can just have a nap.”

All that blackout-inspired creativity is working out for them so far: General Electric just invested $30 million.

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January 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL

17

Employee assistance program helps everyone Happy January. The holidays are over.

The annual ceasefire among workplace factions has ended.

Little by little, the clever sniping resumes. Eyeballs return to their sarcastic rolls. One by one, the smokers slink back to their customary positions outside the door, their earnest resolutions scattered on the ground.

Ended, too, is the seasonal truce between weary spouses in crumbling marriages; wives and husbands tire of being nice for the sake of the kids or for the sake of peace with the in-laws. Workers go home and Human Resources are greeted with credit card bills.

It’s enough to drive one to drink, and several do exactly that, in unhealthy portions and frequencies.

Happy January indeed.

What’s a company to do? January and February can be the cruelest months for workplaces. With the holidays in the rearview mirror and nothing ahead but dark wintry skies, workplaces can

Fred Spannaus

become dreary and depressing, and personal problems take center stage.

Now is the time for a company to consider one more gift, and I have a suggestion. It’s inexpensive — actually just pocket change per day for each employee. Better yet, this present benefits everyone, from the owners and bosses to the lowest-paid peon.

The gift is company-wide enrollment in an employee assistance program.

Everyone knows that personal problems impact attitudes, behaviors and attendance at work. People in crisis are less productive, and their job performance heads south.

When this happens, managers have three choices. First, and this is the most common response, they can simply ignore the situation and let the problem fester. Supervisors are reluctant to suggest that John’s well-known difficulties with his arrest-prone teenager may be the reason he can’t concentrate. And, really, it isn’t the boss’s job to address John’s homefront challenges.

But many managers want to tackle the issue. That leads some to the second choice: They cut John some slack. They lower their expectations of him, hoping his co-workers will absorb the load. Or they try the third alternative: Out of sympathy for John they counsel him, suggesting a different approach to han-

dling the lawless adolescent.

Sadly, none of these three alternatives is appropriate or particularly helpful for John or for the company. Is there a Door Number Four?

Yes. This is precisely where an employee assistance program comes in.

An employee assistance program offers free and confidential assistance to employees experiencing personal or emotional problems. It provides shortterm interventions that help people identify problems and develop strategies for coping. If the problem requires longterm assistance, the employee assistance program will find the most effective and affordable alternative.

The employee assistance program can help employees with a wide range of issues — marital discord, parentchild disputes, financial problems, substance abuse, emotional disturbances, you name it. The benefits to staff and workers are enormous and often immediate; armed with help to tackle their problems, they can focus better on work.

Clearly, an employee assistance program is a gift to employees. But earlier I said it was a present to everyone. What does it do for supervisors, managers, presidents and owners?

Well, it does a lot. Employee assistance programs provide training for

supervisors, helping them deal with John in a manner that is kind, professional, nonintrusive and loyal to the company’s interests. A good employee assistance program can help in policy development, responding to critical incidents such as sudden death, or assessing the company’s violence prevention plan.

Our community is blessed with the presence of two excellent employee assistance programs: Chestnut Global Partners and St. Mary’s Hospital EAP. Chestnut’s reach is international, and it’s very suitable for large firms with widespread geographic locations.

You can reach Chestnut at (309) 8203604 or 1-800-433-7916, or view its website at www.chestnutglobalpartners. org.

St. Mary’s EAP is ideal for those who prefer to purchase locally. Its experienced professional staff works expertly with any size business and organization. You can visit www. stmarysdecatur.com/services/ Behavior/EAP.aspx, or call (217) 4642339 or 1-800-879-7005.

Fred W. Spannaus, principal of Spannaus Consulting, is a senior professional in human resources. He loves feedback to his columns. Fred can be contacted by email at spannaus@ ameritech.net or by phone at (217) 425-2635.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2014

ASK THE SCORE COUNSELOR Q: How can I, as a new business owner, find suppliers?

A: The answer to this comes again from the Small Business Development’s Weekly Connection. Sometimes suppliers will contact you through their sales representatives. But more often, particularly when you are starting out, you will need to locate them yourself — either at trade shows, wholesale showrooms and conventions, or through buyers’ directories, industry contacts, the business-to-business Yellow Pages and trade journals, or websites.

Suppliers can be divided into four general categories.

Manufacturers. Most retailers will buy through independent representatives or company salespeople who handle the wares of different companies. Prices from these sources are usually lowest, unless the retailer’s location makes shipping freight expensive.

Distributors. Also known as wholesalers, brokers or jobbers, distributors buy in quantity from several manufacturers and warehouse the goods for sale to retailers. Although their prices are higher than a manufacturer’s, they can supply retailers with small orders from a variety of manufacturers. (Some manufacturers refuse to fill small orders.) A

GOT A QUESTION? To learn out more about finding suppliers, or to submit a question for the “Ask the SCORE Counselor” column, contact SCORE Chapter 296, Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522 or call (217) 424-6296. lower freight bill and quick delivery time from a nearby distributor often compensates for the higher per-item cost.

Independent craftspeople. Exclusive distribution of unique creations is frequently offered by independent craftspeople, who sell through reps or at trade shows.

Import sources. Many retailers buy foreign goods from a domestic importer, who operates much like a domestic wholesaler. Or, depending on your familiarity with overseas sources, you may want to travel abroad to buy goods.

Reliability is the key factor to look for in suppliers. Good suppliers will steer you toward hot-selling items, increasing your sales. If you build a good relationship and your business is profitable for them, suppliers may be

Be open, courteous and firm with your suppliers, and they will respond in kind. Tell them what you need and when you need it. Have a specific understanding about the total cost, and expect delivery on schedule. Keep in constant communication with your suppliers about possible delays, potential substitutions for materials or product lines, production quality, product improvements, or new product introductions and potential savings. Keep in mind that suppliers often establish a minimum order for merchandise, and this minimum may be higher for first orders to cover the cost of setting up a new store account.

— Carol Harding, SCORE counselor

Meet a SCORE counselor

Rayhill

Joe Rayhill retired as manufacturing plant manager for Sundstrand Corp. His counseling specialties are manufacturing management, personnel and labor relations, human resource training and budgeting. He has been a SCORE counselor

for six years.

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New staff members

willing to bail you out when your customers make difficult demands.

Remember, though, that suppliers are in business to make money. If you go to the mat with them on every bill, ask them to shave prices on everything they sell to you, or fail to pay your bills promptly, don’t be surprised when they stop calling.

As a new business owner, you can’t expect to receive the same kind of attention a long-standing customer gets right off the bat. Over time, however, you can develop excellent working relationships that will be profitable for you and your suppliers. Once you have compiled a list of possible suppliers, ask for quotes or proposals, complete with prices, available discounts, delivery terms, and other important factors.

Don’t just consider the terms, investigate the potential of your supplier’s financial condition, too. Ask them for customer references and call these customers and find out how well the supplier has performed. If there have been any problems, ask for details about how they were reconciled. Every relationship hits bumps now and then. The key is to know how the rough spots were handled. Was the supplier prompt and helpful in resolving the problem, or defensive and uncooperative?

Hockaday Insurance agency in Decatur.

Printed with environmentally safe water-based ink

Jeff Ludwick received the Multiline Quality Award from COUNTRY Financial.

Walker

Holm

Krug

Josh Lowder of Peerless Cleaners Inc. recently completed the Applied Microbial Remediation Technician course at the HydroLab in Noblesville, Ind.

Danny Walker and Heather Holm have joined BKD, LLP as associates.

Dan Krug has been named the new administrator at Fair Havens Christian Home in Decatur.

E.J. Kuiper has been named president and chief executive officer of Hospital Sisters Health System Central Illinois Division.

Gogerty

Alissa Henkel has been promoted to head of the Decatur Public Library’s Adult Division.

Henkel

Announcements Shirley Aldridge, vice president of customer relations at Dansig Insurance, is retiring after 31 years of service with the company.

Achievements

Warren

Promotions

Ludwick

Deborah Warren, vice president and private client relationship manager at Busey, recently completed Leadership Illinois.

Patricia E. Gogerty received the Agent of the Year award for 2013 from Sams/

Gloria Guy, who most Aldridge recently served as vice president of the Business Services Division, is retiring after 20 years with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Business Clips are abbreviated versions of paid Business Achievements which appear on Mondays in the Herald & Review. For more information about Business Achievements, go to www.heraldreview.com/app/secure/businessach/

freshmen 11th, 2014

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January 2014

BUSINESS JOURNAL

19

TECHTALK

Programs help keep work organized Do you make “to-do lists” that never quite get done? Do you have post-it notes stuck all over your desk? Do you resolve to get organized every year, but it never seems to last?

Technology is here to help.

There are dozens of great programs that all vow to get you (and keep you) organized. Here are some top picks.

Remember the Milk Remember the Milk is a nice basic task manager that has been around since 2004. It supports Apple and Droid platforms, and it also has a Web version so you can get to it anywhere and stay in sync. It’s got great support for repeating tasks, and the Technology interface is clean and intuitive. It integrates with Evernote, Outlook, Gmail and more.

Wendy Gauntt

Wunderlist Wunderlist can sync to almost any platform, which means you can access it anywhere you go — phone, tablet, computer or Web. It’s got a solid set of features along with one of the most attractive and intuitive interfaces around. You can categorize your activities and create subtasks for more involved projects, and you can share lists with others so that they stay organized too.

Omnifocus Omnifocus is an Apple-centric product, available only for the Mac, iPad and iPhone. However, it’s a sophisticated and well-designed task manager that can effectively organize complex task lists.

It’s geared toward “Getting Things Done” power users. This style of task management involves defining “contexts” for where tasks can be done. For example, if you are at work, you only want to see tasks you can do at work. If you are at home, there’s no point in seeing work that requires a meeting with your staff.

You can group activities into projects, and you can also set up multiple levels of folders. This app has a higher learning curve than most, but it also has one of the most extensive feature-sets.

Asana Asana is another fully-featured task manager, but it differentiates itself with collaboration features that help entire teams stay organized. The core features are available via a Web application; mobile versions are available with limited features. You can assign tasks via email, but to be most effective your entire team will need to use Asana.

Picking the right tool We each work a little differently, and so do all of these applications. Take time to find one that fits your work habits.

Start by thinking about where you will update and review your lists. If you only need them at the office, then an app that runs on your computer is fine. However, if you want to jot down your thoughts and ideas no matter where you are, you’ll need an app that runs on your phone, your tablet or the Web, and it will need to synchronize across devices. If you expect to rely heavily on your phone for updates, take a close look at the phone version of your favorite tool. It may look completely different on the small screen, and a poor design there could make or break your success.

Next, think about what kind of activities you want to manage. Are you keep-

WINDOWS ROOFING DECKS KITCHENS RESTORATIONS DOORS SIDING REMODELING PORCHES BATHS

Things If you like Omnifocus but you find it a little too complicated, Things might be the perfect fit. It’s also completely Apple-centric and designed for “Getting Things Done” task management.

Although still fully-featured, it’s a little simpler and easier to use.

LICENSE# 104.016085 105.005542

ing a simple to-do list with just a few categories (work, home, kids, etc.)? Do you manage complex projects? Do you need to track assignments you delegate to others? Do you need to share your lists? Considering all of these tools are focused on one thing — tracking your activities — it’s amazing how much variety you’ll find. Your best bet: get the simplest tool that meets your needs.

The costs of these tools vary. Most have a free version, giving you the option of upgrading to a paid version or pay an ongoing subscription. None of these tools are very expensive, so if possible, do NOT factor cost into your decision. Picking the wrong tool to save a few dollars could doom your organizational efforts. Why waste time on that? Being organized and feeling on top of your day is priceless.

Putting it to work Now that you’ve picked your app, it’s time to get serious. You need a couple of hours to train yourself. Start by installing it everywhere you plan to use it. Sign up for an account if needed.

Watch the training videos or browse through the quick-start guide. Enter a few simple tasks as a test. Organize them into categories. Check them off to see what happens when they are complete. Try it on different devices. Make

sure it syncs. Finally, start entering your current list to see how it looks. You don’t need everything in there right away, but put enough of your important items in there that the list is useful.

The next step, and this is critical, is to think about how you will incorporate this into your daily routine. Even the best app will only work if you make a commitment to use it regularly. Most people need at least a daily review to keep on track, but most need more. Will you check first thing in the morning? When you arrive at the office? At lunch?

Before you leave for the day? There’s no right answer; you just have to pick what works best for you. However, you do need to make time for it — to check off what’s done, update what’s in progress and add the new activities that arise each day.

They haven’t invented an app that can read your mind. Until then, it’s your responsibility to keep it up-to-date.

If you are thinking you simply don’t have enough time to try this, make no mistake. You are too busy NOT to try.

Invest your time in the right app, and you will reap huge benefits in time savings and reduced stress.

Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, a technology consulting company that specializes in small-business solutions. Visit her website at www.cioservicesllc.com for more information, ideas and free resources.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2014

YOUR FREE TIME

The Arts Anne Lloyd Gallery: Young Artists Showcase. Annual juried exhibit hosted by Gallery 510 Arts Guild featuring artwork

by Decatur-area students in grades 5-8.

(217) 423-3189. www.decturarts.org Gallery 510: Metal sculptor Darren Miller.

An opening reception will be from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3. Call (217) 422-1509.

Calendar of events For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/ ents its annual Young Artists Concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

Decatur Airport: Portraits in oil by Barbara Dove.

On Stage

Decatur Public Library: Nature photography by Delores Rice Logue.

Theatre 7 presents “Desperate Affection,” Jan. 17-19 and 24-26 at Richland Community College’s Shilling Center. For tickets, call (217) 422-3866. www.theatre7.net.

Rock Springs Nature Center: North Gallery, photographs by the Decatur Camera Club. South Gallery, photographs by Virginia Kickle.

Music “A Little Dinner Musical,” presented by the Greater Decatur Chorale, Jan. 10-12, at the Scovill Banquet Facility. Cost is $22 for dinner and show, and $10 for the show. Call (217) 422-5911.

Central Illinois Jazz Festival, Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. For more information, go to www.juvaejazz.com or call (217) 546-6091.

Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra pres-

“Menopause The Musical,” Feb. 4-9 at the Decatur Civic Center. For tickets, call (217) 422-7300. www.decaturciviccenter. org Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Masters of Motown, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14; Tomaseen Foley’s Irish Times, 7:30 pm. Saturday, March 8. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

Charity events UCP/Miller Lite Barstool Open to benefit United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln, Saturday, Jan. 18. This annual event features a game of miniature golf with the hole located in various bars and restaurants throughout Decatur. For more

information, call (217) 428-5033.

Festival of Church Choirs to benefit Oasis Day Center, 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Tabernacle Baptist Church. The event will feature nine choirs, a mass choir selection and special children’s choir.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

Valentine’s Dinner featuring Dueling Pianos to benefit the Fletcher Park splash pad project, Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Mount Zion Convention Center. For information, go to www.mtzion.com or call (217) 864-5424.

Misc.

Ice skating at the Decatur Civic Center, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Go to www.decaturciviccenter.org for more information.

The Rock Springs Nature Center hosts a long list of mini camps, family adventures and classes during the month. So many, in fact, that there are too many to list.

Go to www.maconcountyconservation. org and click on the Programs and

Featured Business:

Activities tab for a complete listing.

Decatur Bridal Expo, 5-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, and noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Fashion show both days. For more information, go to decaturbridalexpo.webs.com or call (217) 428-3481.

Dorothy Butler Gilliam, the first AfricanAmerican female reporter to be hired by the Washington Post, will be the featured speaker at the 28th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Tickets are $30 and must be purchased in advance at the Human Resources Office on the second floor of the Decatur Civic Center. For more information, call (217) 424-2805.

Father/Daughter Dance, dinner and dancing from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Hickory Point Banquet Facility. Cost is $25 per couple. For more information, call (217) 422-5911.

University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program presents Gardening Insights, featuring Melinda Myers, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 8, at Richland Community College’s Shilling Center. Cost is $25. For more information, call (217) 877-6042.

Got an item you’d like listed in the Your Free Time calendar? Send the information to Scott Perry at sperry@herald-review.com or 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523.

Mt. Zion Convention Center

1410 Mt. Zion Pkwy, Mt. Zion

Accommodates: 1,100 people

DECATUR CONFERENCE CENTER & HOTEL

Accommodates: 2,000 people 55,000 sq. ft. functional space, food service available

DECATUR CLUB Accommodates: 300 people Banquets & weddings

Contact: 864-5424

4191 U.S. 36 West Contact: 420-8711

158 W. Prairie Ave., Decatur Contact: Jeff Ingle 429-4200

DOHERTY’S PUB & PINS Accommodates: up to 80 seating - 150 capacity Full food & beverage service available

242 E. William St., Decatur Contact: 428-5612

HICKORY POINT BANQUET FACILITY Accommodates: 225 w/additional seating on veranda Award-winning cuisine

727 Weaver Rd., Decatur Contact: Tina McCarnen 421-6657

MAIN PLACE BAR & GRILL

Accommodates: up to 100 people 101 Club, business/social functions Full food & beverage service available

MT. ZION LIONS CENTER Accommodates: up to 300 people Choose your own caterer, bring your own food Ask about our “value-added service” SCOVILL BANQUET FACILITY Accommodates: up to 225 people Award-winning cuisine

101 S. Main St., Decatur Contact: Katy Mize 422-4700 1595 W. Main St., Mt. Zion Contact: Sharon Spinner 864-3100 mtzionlionsclub.com 3909 W. Main St., Decatur Contact: Kevin Brewer 421-7470

www.thebusiness-journal.com

Preparing Your Business for the Worst

January 2014

Walk-in Tubs and Showers

Q How Can Business Owners Plan to Control Losses from Future Weather Disasters?

Q

A Two superstorms in just two years have business owners and risk managers

A

questioning whether major tropical storms are becoming less rare and more of the new normal that everyone must prepare for. Other severe weather events, such as tornadoes, are also a major risk factor to consider each and every year.

About 85 hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones occur worldwide each year, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Additionally, there have been over 760 confirmed tornadoes reported in the United States in 2013.

Dan Reynolds

Even if you’re not located in an area or region prone to tropical storms or tornadoes, businesses everywhere should have a plan to control losses from what may be becoming a persistent risk.

Vice President of Sales

Steve Zarndt Owner and CEO

• Backing up critical data at a location outside of your state or region

• Reassessing your insurance coverage to ensure you’re covered for every risk associated with a superstorm or other severe weather

217- 423-3311

Social Media Copyright Infringements Q Do you have any tips on how to avoid copyright infringements?

A

Carolyn Ridenour President & Marketing Director

1005 N. WATER ST.

Q

My current Print ad doesn’t seem to be generating any traffic. What am I doing wrong?

A

Review these two questions: 1) Is my message effective? and/or 2) When was the last time I changed my ad copy?

Cayla Hittmeier Advertising Manager

What do you do to “Share” content? The copyright laws pertain to social media and the Internet just as they do for other forms of media. Be very careful when copying content from federal government websites. Most of the content is public domain and therefore free from copyright protection. But that isn’t always the case. Always watch out for registered trademarks, licensed images, and licensed text.

132 S Water St. Ste.418 Decatur Illinois 62523

217-428-9950

The laws are complex. To learn more about them go to: www.uscopyrightoffice.com. If you still have questions, contact the legal section of the website directly. www.cmsdecatur.com

WWW.REBATHOFILLINOIS.COM

More Effective Advertising

Most people will copy and paste an article into a social media post and not think a thing about it. Without checking with the source first, you may have broken some copyright laws.

These laws are written to protect intellectual property such as literature, music, graphics, photography, sculptures and other original material. There are ways to share the material and stay within the legal bounds. Simply, link directly to the original source where the content resides by posting the URL/link with the title of the content. But, if you wish to republish or repost the entire article or parts of it, you must get permission to reprint from the copyright holder. They may grant you permission for free or charge a fee.

Converting your tub into a walk-in shower is one of the easiest changes you can make in your bathroom. A shower is more convenient for those of all ages. A shower also helps eliminate the difficulty of stepping over the high rail of a tub, helping keep those with mobility challenges safer while bathing. Even if you are making the change for safety reasons, your shower doesn’t have to look ‘institutional’. Our style options ensure your shower will keep up with the décor of the rest of your home.

Both of these options can increase comfort and safety in your bathroom. Re-Bath also has a wide variety of grab bars, built-in shower seats and slip resistant surfaces that are both functional and beautiful. Our staff of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists can help design a bathroom that fits your needs.

• Anticipating supply chain disruptions and having a backup plan for using alternative vendors

To discuss commercial risk insurance that best covers your business in the event of any unexpected disaster, please contact me today at 217-423-3311.

I keep hearing about walk-in tubs and showers. How can they benefit me?

Walk-in bathtubs can be both relaxing and therapeutic. By conveniently opening a door on the side of the tub, you can walk over a low threshold, sit down and bathe. These tubs come with many options such as water and air jets, in-line heaters, and personal shower wands. Walk-in tubs are great for anyone who wants to keep the ability to bathe at home!

Please consider these three essential loss control items to prepare for any type of weather disaster:

111 E Decatur Street Decatur Illinois 62521

BUSINESS JOURNAL

These two things are key to generating the results that you desire with print advertising. If your message is not effective then your potential customers are not going to see the benefit of your product or service. It is important to make sure that what you want your ad to say is directed toward your target demographic. Your message should also contain a “call to action”. This is a statement that will compel potential customers to walk through your door. This needs to be a statement that offers some sort of urgency to get to your store fast! Perhaps you exclaim a limitedtime offer, or an exclusive deal. Once you have mastered your message you can move on to the second question.

Keeping your copy fresh is a sure way of getting you to that goal of an effective print campaign. If your customer is seeing the same ad day after day, month after month, it will grow stale and unnoticeable. If potential customers are seeing fresh material every week or so, but maintaining a general branding theme or “look” that associates your message to your company, then it will keep the ad noticeable and effective.

This is an effective checklist for both your print and digital ads. If you are interested in finding out more about advertising in the Herald & Review, Business Journal or on one of our premiere websites, call the Advertising department at 217-421-6920.”

601 E. WILLIAM ST. DECATUR, IL 62523 217.421.6927

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January 2014

Got cash?

YOUR BUSINESS

You better if you eat at Paul’s Confectionary

By JIM VOREL Business Journal Writer

DECATUR — Since 1945, Paul’s Confectionary in Decatur has accepted only one form of payment for its burgers, chili and shakes — cold, hard cash.

Despite the changing times and prevalence of debit and credit cards in modern restaurants, Paul’s has remained a hold-out to the “cash only” business model.

It’s a badge of customer loyalty that manager Robin Lash wears with pride.

“At one point, there was a sign over the register that read ‘We have an agreement with the bank: They don’t sell chili and we don’t cash checks,’ ” recited the longtime restaurateur, who has worked at Paul’s for 14 years. “It’s become more of an electronic society, but for the most part, it’s not a problem for us. If someone doesn’t know we’re cash only, they can always run to the ATM.” Paul’s has operated this way since Lash’s childhood, benefiting from regular customers who don’t consider “cash only” to be an inconvenience. Other longtime Decatur restaurants, though, are now seeing the old issue in a new light. Several formerly cash only restaurants have now converted their operations to accept debit and credit cards, citing a desire to keep up with their evolving customer base.

Jan’s East End Grill is one of those businesses. For 24 years, cash payment worked out fine, but in the summer of 2012, the restaurant installed credit card readers for the first time. Employee Morgan Elliott, the daughter of owners Jan and Dave Elliott, said the operators of Jan’s could see the writing on the wall.

“I would say the change in how people want to pay has been very noticeable,” she said. “A lot of our loyal customers still bring in cash, but we’ve noticed even some of those people are using their cards now. The customers appreciate it and it’s more convenient for them.”

At 21 years old, Elliott is in the prime demographic of credit and debit card users, and indeed, she said her friends are much more likely to pay that way. And even though she typically carries cash herself, she’s experienced occasional inconveniences at cash only establishments.

“I was at Krekel’s one time and didn’t realize I had no cash until after I ordered, so I had to leave, which was embarrassing,” she said. “For the younger generation, it’s almost a must-have at this point. For us, I think it’s drawn some new people who weren’t our typical customers.”

And at least one Krekel’s location now agrees with her. The Krekel’s Custard at 801 E. Wood St. in Decatur became the first of the chain to accept credit and debit cards at the end of November, hoping to court new busi-

Business Journal/Jim Bowling

Customers Lyle Thomas, left, and Mick McCammack line up to pay for their lunches at Paul's Confectionary. ness. In order to gauge interest, the business reached his revenue local. out to its fans via Facebook, finding a positive reaction “It’s about not supporting the credit card companies to the idea. If the venture proves successful, operator and keeping as much of the money here in Decatur as Pam Edwards said the other Krekel’s locations could possible,” he said. “I honestly believe credit and our possibly follow suit down the road. banking institutions are a big part of what’s destroying “Times have changed, peoAmerica. Sure, I could use a device ple just don’t carry much like Square for the iPad and get cash any more,” she said. “We charged 2.75 percent, but that hope we can build up a whole money will never, ever come back to new customer base of people our town. Once it leaves it’s gone who wouldn’t have visited forever, and I don’t think we can before. We plan to keep our afford that.” prices where they’re at, and Situated just east of Millikin Unihopefully it will pay off. I versity, it would seem that the Blue can’t speak for the other Spoon would have a particular desire Krekel’s locations, but I’ve to accept the debit cards that so been on the phone with them many students carry, but Marschner and most are considering the said sticking to his beliefs is a higher possibility. I’m personally priority. He uses cash for all the hoping we can all get on businesses’ local transactions, from board with it together before coffee at Coffee Connection to too long so it’s not confusing sausage from across the street at MORGAN ELLIOTT, JAN’S EAST for our customers.”

Jeffrey’s Meat Market. He says the END GRILL EMPLOYEE Not everyone is committed restaurant’s quality should be motito changing, though. Paul’s vation enough to bring cash along.

Confectionary has no plans to start accepting cards, “I think our food and atmosphere are our selling with Lash saying the monthly service fees and perpoints,” he said. “Yeah, the college kids mostly use centage per transaction are simply too much to make debit, but frankly, they’re getting all the credit and the change worthwhile. Other longtime local staples debit from their parents and if they want cash, they’ll such as Clare’s Family Restaurant are likewise stickfigure out a way to get it, just like they do to go to the ing with their cash only models.

Winery.”

There are even new cash only establishments still As Marschner suggests, the local consumers will ultiopening in Decatur from time to time. The Blue Spoon mately make the decision. He’s hoping that most are not breakfast restaurant on Oakland Avenue opened in July like Millikin student Hannah Mahr, who says she uses and accepts only cash, even though it replaced a previdebit cards and checks for nearly all her purchases. ous restaurant that accepted cards. Unlike the other “Most of the people I know don’t have cash on them restaurants, though, owner Donovan Marschner made any more,” she said, sitting near Shilling Hall’s Einthe choice based on a specific dislike of credit card corstein Bagels stand, which accepts student Flex dollars porations, coupled with a desire to keep 100 percent of via card. “I don’t find I need it on a daily basis.”

‘I would say the change in how people want to pay has been very noticeable.’

2

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2014

YOUR CALENDAR

Thursday, Jan. 2

Friday, Jan. 10

Wednesday, Jan 22

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility, 3909 W. Main St. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave. Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y, 220 W. McKinley Ave. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr. American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 6 p.m., location varies.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building, 2715 N. 27th St.

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Friday, Jan. 3 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.

Monday, Jan. 6 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill, 101 S. Main St. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 7 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton, 333 W. Marion Ave., Forsyth.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan. 8 Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Speaker is Macon County Sheriff Tom Schneider.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., location to be announced.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Real Estate Investors Association, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant, 2999 N. Monroe St.

Thursday, Jan. 9 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Senior Resources Network (formerly Mature Resources Network), 11:45 a.m., Keystone Gardens, 1455 W. Mound Road.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., location varies.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.

Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Environmental Center, 3939 Nearing Lane.

Monday, Jan. 13 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 14 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., Doherty’s Pub and Pins, 242 E. William St. Central Illinois Ad Club, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan 15 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Christian Women’s Network, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 16 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Christian Women’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur AMBUCS, 6 p.m., Decatur Club.

Friday, Jan. 17 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Noon Women’s Network, 11:45 a.m., Decatur Club.

Monday, Jan. 20 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Thursday, Jan. 23

Wednesday, Feb. 5

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Nature Center.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Friday, Jan. 24

Thursday, Feb. 6

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

American Business Women’s Association (Monarch), noon, location varies.

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 11:30 a.m., location varies.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.

Monday, Jan. 27 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 28 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan. 29 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 30 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Friday, Jan. 31 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Monday, Feb. 3 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Tuesday, Feb. 4 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Friday, Feb. 7 Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Ag Cafe, noon, Beach House. Scheduled speaker is Don Borgman of John Deere.

To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at (217) 421-7976, at sperry@heraldreview.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

Looking Up answers Here are the answers to the December Looking Up in downtown Decatur clues. While some of the buildings have multiple tenants, only the major tenants on the first floor are listed.

1. Bizou 2. Soy Capital Bank & Trust 3. Franklin Travel 4. Busey Bank 5. Millikin Building (First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Romano Co.) 6. Poco’s Sol Bistro 7. Downtown Café/Decanter Fine Wine and Spirits 8. Christian Science Reading Room 9. Lincoln Square Theatre 10. Demirco Place (Hickory Point Bank & Trust, Talbots) 11. Chinese Tea Garden

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2014

www.thebusiness-journal.com