Business Journal February 2015

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February 2015

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YOUR

CALENDAR

Monday, Feb. 2‌

Tuesday, Feb. 24‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille, 101 S. Main St. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave.

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.

Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations, 5:30 p.m., Decatur Public Library. This month will feature a forum for Decatur mayor and council candidates.

Tuesday, Feb. 3‌

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, 3909 W. Main St. Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Feb. 25‌

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Wednesday, Feb. 4‌

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Scheduled speaker is Ryan McCrady, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County.

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Feb. 5‌

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

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, 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.

Friday, Feb. 6‌

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, Feb. 9‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Feb. 10‌

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.

Wednesday, Feb. 11‌

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

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Fletcher Park.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

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

Thursday, Feb. 12‌

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

GFWC Decatur Woman’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Feb. 26‌

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

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Friday, Feb. 27‌

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

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Ag Cafe, noon, Beach House. Scheduled speaker is Richard Guebert, president of the Illinois Farm Bureau.

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

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

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

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Friday, Feb. 13‌

Tuesday, March 3‌

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

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

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

Monday, March 2‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

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

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 AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Feb. 17‌

Wednesday, March 4‌

Monday, Feb. 16‌

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.

Wednesday, Feb. 18‌

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.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m. LePaul Nail Salon, 1425 Village Parkway.

Thursday, Feb. 19‌

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, Feb. 20‌

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

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

Monday, Feb. 23‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Scheduled speaker is Valerie Ross of the Small Business Administration.

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, March 5‌

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.

Friday, March 6‌

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. To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at (217) 4217976, at sperry@herald-review.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www.thebusiness-journal.com

February 2015

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FROM THE EDITOR ‌Look at me, I’m in a tree. Really, I’m IN a tree.

This humongous spawn of Mother Nature pictured to the left used to call my backyard home.

Fortunately for me, its demise was a planned event rather than a reaction to it crashing down on my house. Since the trunk was hollowed out to the point I could fit comfortably inside, I’m thinking the crashing down thing was a real possibility if preemptive action hadn’t been taken.

While the members of the Mount Zion Fire and Beer Club were more than willing to tackle

BUSINESS JOURNAL 3

BUSINESS JOURNAL OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS

Volume 21

Issue 2

the job, I decided against using our neighborhood group and went with someone who had a little more experience.

As I’ve written in the column many times before, I love watching people who are experts at what they do. Even more if chain saws are involved. Doug Bramel of Tree Works Co. didn’t disappoint.

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

My son and I braved the early January cold to watch as he cut a little here, cut a little there and dropped the tree, with a thunderous boom that shook the ground, in the only spot it could fall without hitting something in the yard. And the spot wasn’t that big.

Now, with the tree down, it’s time for the Fire and Beer Club to gather and do what we do best. Come on spring.

PUBLISHER: Julie Bechtel GENERAL MANAGER: Gary Sawyer EDITOR: Scott Perry ADVERTISING: AnnaMarie Hanes

Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois

COVER PHOTO: Jim Bowling

February2015Contents Standing FEATURES Biz Bites

Med transport gives Alpha & Omega a boost

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Business Clips

10

Fred Spannaus

9

8 New route

22

Liz Reyer

19

Office Coach

19

SCORE counselor

10

Wendy Gauntt

18

STORY IDEAS: Email sperry@herald-review.com or call 217.421.7976 SUBSCRIPTIONS: To order additional copies, call 217.421.7931

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

Free Time calendar 17 Health calendar

ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the March issue is Feb. 16. Call 217.421.7953 for rate information.

Couples for a cause The decision to volunteer usually means time spent away from your spouse. But there are some couples who team up to support issues important to both of them. Page 15

14 Prepared for change Business leaders have hopes for Rauner

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.

Herald & Review All rights reserved for entire content.

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February 2015

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YOUR

COMMUNITY

Jesse Price shows student Taaron Williams the word “tenacity” in the dictionary during a Caring Black Men meeting with students at Harris School.

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Caring men offer support to youth Men serve as positive mentors for students VALERIE WELLS

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — Caring Black Men started with a simple idea.

Founder Jeffrey Perkins woke up one morning and looked at the news, as he does most mornings, and was struck afresh by the number of young black men accused of crimes. Knowing that a high number of them grew up without a father, Perkins got an idea.

“Every morning I get up early and every morning, I’d see the news and see these young men’s faces on there,” Perkins said.

“One morning, I said, you know what? We as African-American men in this community should try to do something about that.

I just called some people and had about 20 guys show up at my house and we sat down and talked about it and decided to go to some sporting events.”

By going to football games, making themselves visible, walking around and chatting to the boys in a friendly way, Perkins said, the men hoped to be a positive influence and a willing ear. Most of the men in the group

are retired.

Howard Edwards, who was principal at Stephen Decatur Middle School at the time, started holding Saturday study sessions for students preparing for the Illinois Standards Achievement Test. Perkins and his friends attended, too, cooked breakfast for the kids and helped them on the computers as they practiced reading and math skills. During the actual testing, they were in the hallways to encourage kids to stay focused during the long, grueling test.

“Then we said we’d sure like to have a classroom and talked to (former Superintendent) Gloria Davis about holding

sessions with the boys,” Perkins said.

Seven years later, Caring Black Men are in 13 of the 22 schools and visit weekly to meet with boys, recommended by staff, who could benefit. Over the years, member James Harris, who has been with the group from the beginning, has developed a curriculum of topics, with handouts. They discuss good character, learn a new word – recently that word was “tenacity” – and perhaps most importantly, they don’t mince words.

“Don’t wish, do,” Perkins said to Harris School students at one session.

Nobody ever says “I wish” unless they have regrets, Harris added.

February 2015

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“You have to make a firm commitment and then be willing to work at it,” he said. “We’re not giving anything away.

There ain’t no chocolate in here.”

Christmas is over and vacation is behind them, Perkins said. It’s time to refocus and get back to work.

“Work! Work! Work!” Harris said.

One of the main things they teach boys is that boys look for someone to blame; men take responsibility, Perkins said.

Harris recalled one young man whose teacher called them for help. This youngster was getting good grades and had no behavior problems, but he was being bullied, and his teacher worried that he would lose heart and possibly decide that fitting in was more important than good grades and behavior. Some kids wear bad behavior as a “badge of honor,” as he put it, and convince other kids that’s the way to be cool. The men added the boy to their weekly group, where he found the support to stay the course and ignore his tormentors.

As the years have gone by, the men have been asked to target their presentations for specific situations. They speak to sixth-graders about the transition into middle school and eighth-graders about moving into high school. Though at first their idea was to concentrate on boys in the intermediate grades and up, school administrators have asked them to speak to boys as young as kindergartners.

“It may seem real informal, but there’s some structure to it, also,” Harris said.

Their newest member, Jack Harvey, is a retired microbiologist who worked at Tate & Lyle. His his inclusion is important because he provides boys a role model of a black man who is a scientist, he said. Instead of just telling them that math and science are important and that those careers are within their reach, he is living proof. And the other men like to kid him that when he started volunteering, he insisted he would only be prepared to take on two schools and is already

BUSINESS JOURNAL 5

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

From left standing, Jack Harvey, Al Williams and Jeffrey Perkins talk with students during a weekly Caring Black Men meeting at Harris School.

up to five.

Caring Black Men recently received their 501c3 status.

Perkins said they don’t do any fundraising and, in fact, are not in the business of raising money, but occasionally someone wants to donate and they wanted to have that status for that reason. Any donations are funneled directly into helping boys, such as the three young men who received $5,000 apiece to help with college expenses last year.

In addition to acting as positive male influences in the lives of the boys they meet with, Perkins added, the men provide a network of friendship and fellowship for

each other.

“We talk to each other the way men do,” Perkins said.

And as founder, his phone rings constantly with requests for help from families and teachers who know a boy who could benefit, both white and black boys. About 23 percent of the boys in their groups are white.

Harris said they’ve been asked why they call the group Caring Black Men, which seems to put more emphasis on race.

“We’re not going to change our name,” he said. “That’s who we are.”

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BIZ Now open‌

For months, residents have watched the County Market store rise up on a patch of Grand Avenue formerly considered blighted.

Those who followed their curiosity to the grand opening last month were met with a chocolate fountain, samples of everything from mango smoothie to gooey butter cake and serenades from a singer delivering “Fly Me to the Moon” and other standards that would not have been out of place at an elite cocktail party.

It was, undeniably, a celebration.

Representatives from Quincy-based Niemann Foods, the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce and the city of Decatur gathered to mark the occasion, cut a ribbon and watch as the first eager shoppers took it all in.

Rich Niemann Jr., CEO and president of the company, praised his own employees for their efforts in getting the store and adjacent Harvest Market gas station up and running. He also thanked city officials, who have worked closely with the company over the past two years.

“It’s been a real collaboration with the city, and we’re so proud of that,” he said.

County Market has 125 employees, and Harvest Market has 10. The store is at 1175 W. Grand Ave. and open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily. nnn The Salvation Army is hoping customers will march into its new Family Thrift Store at 2900 N. Water St. It fills the space where McGorray’s Golf & Grille used to be and taking more space next door. The large store features six different departments offering clothing, furniture, household goods, sports equipment, books and electronics. A staff of 25 has been hired to run the business, which open from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Proceeds from the store and others dotted throughout Central Illinois are used to fund the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center in Springfield. This offers people in need with food and accommodation along with counseling, work experience and spiritual direction with the aim of returning them to society as productive citizens.

Capt. Robin Rutledge, administrator of the rehabilitation center, said the new Decatur store was a long-anticipated addition to the center’s support network.

“We hope to serve the residents of

BITES

Decatur and Macon County for a long time and thank everyone for their prayers and support of this new store,” Rutledge said.

Donations of items can be made direct at the store, go to www.satruck.org or call 1-800-728-7885. nnn Kroger is encouraging more drivers to go Krogering at the gas pump with the opening of another new fuel center in Decatur.

The supermarket chain staged a grand opening last month for its new $1.5 million station at 3070 N. Water St. in Brettwood Village. The 10-pump fuel center, open 24 hours, but with credit card payments only between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., created six new jobs and also features a kiosk selling convenience items.

It’s the third Kroger fuel center in Decatur, following one adjacent to its Fairview Plaza store that opened in December and another by its Airport Plaza store that opened in late 2013.

Kroger loyalty card customers who use the fuel centers can earn discounts, and certain purchases at Kroger also qualify for discounts on a gallon of fuel.

Honored‌

Paco’s Sol Bistro is the first Decatur eatery to receive the state’s Enjoy Illinois’ Delicious Destination award.

The award, administered by the Illinois Office of Tourism, was established in September and recognizes local restaurants throughout the state that provide exemplary service to community members and tourists.

Paco’s, which opened in March 2010 and serves classic American cuisine fused with Southwest and Asian flavors, will receive a certificate from the state and a window cling to display the designation.

Restaurant owner Paco Greenwell attributed the award to the dedication and hard work of his staff.

“I think this award is truly a reflection of their level of commitment to put out the best product and best service that they can,” he said.

The developing commerce downtown represents a revitalization of Decatur as a “warm and welcoming” destination, said Terri Hammel, executive director of the Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

To be considered for the award, restaurants must receive a nomination from a convention and visitors bureau, community member or Enjoy Illinois social

media fan.

“Paco’s receiving the award is a feather in Decatur’s cap, and restaurants such as these enhance Decatur and make it a better place to be,” said Carol Barnes, president of the convention and visitors bureau’s board of directors.

More recognition‌

First Mid-Illinois Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: FMBH) has been added to the ABA NASDAQ Community Bank Index, the nation’s most broadly representative stock index for community banks. The index includes 373 community banks with more than $190 billion in market capitalization.

“We are pleased about being included in the ABA NASDAQ Index. We believe being part of the Index will bring the company added visibility and recognition on Wall Street,” said Joe Dively, chairman and CEO of the company. “With our first bank charter dating back to 1865, First MidIllinois Bancshares Inc. is well-known in our own communities for meeting the financial needs of the markets we serve; now we will become better known among investors and stock analysts.”

First Mid-Illinois Bancshares Inc. is the parent company of First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust.

Closed‌

Mowry Baking Co. closed its doors at 231 N. Main St., its home since

September 2013.

Holly Mowry, who co-owned the business with daughters Megan and Allison, started it out of her home two years earlier.

Holly Mowry said last month’s Decatur Bridal Expo led to the decision to close Jan. 6 because she had not been able to hire a qualified cake decorator to replace daughter Allison, who wanted to try doing something else.

“I looked for three months,” Mowry said. “I couldn’t in good conscience book a bunch of weddings without having the staff to do the work.”

She said Mowry Baking Co. did between 150 and 200 weddings in 2014 and was on track to do as many as 400 in 2015 had the right staff been available. “We grew so fast, but it just wasn’t falling together,” she said.

Mowry said her equipment and business are for sale and deposits are being refunded. Call (217) 521-8393 and leave a message.

“Decatur needs a bakery, but it needs somebody who can live and breathe it 24/7 for a few years, and that’s just not us,” she said.

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.

COLLEGE PREP. LIFE READY. Experience St. Teresa High School > Highest

ACT Scores in Macon County (23.9)

> 100% Graduation rate > 100% Acceptance rate for college/military and post-secondary schools > Over 4,200 community service hours a year

Carbon capture project marks milestone ‌DECATUR – A key milestone has been met as the demonstration of carbon capture and storage technology in Decatur continues.

The Illinois Basin Decatur Project has successfully reached its target of capturing and storing 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide deep into a saline formation underneath the Archer Daniels Midland Co.

complex, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday.

Injection of carbon dioxide over a threeyear period that started in November 2011 was successful, and it has shown no signs of moving upward, said Rob Finley, leader of the Illinois State Geological Survey sequestration team that is part of the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium.

Call for a Tour 2710 NORTH WATER STREET DECATUR, ILLINOIS 62526 217.875.2431 | ST-TERESAHS.ORG

February 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 7

Decatur moving forward, together Forum highlights economic progress CHRIS LUSVARDI

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – Millikin University President Patrick White is among those who sees the Decatur community coming together to create changes that will allow it to grow and prosper.

White is impressed by the vitality and energy taking place in everything around him, on the Millikin campus and beyond. Groups are working together to make Decatur stronger, White said.

“I see a place this is not only exciting to live, but it’s a place on the move,” White said. “We have to believe in the inherit vitality of Decatur White and Macon County.”

White was among the speakers during a highly attended Business Development Forum at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. The meeting was organized by the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, city of Decatur, Richland Community College and Millikin.

The event gave speakers such as Mark Schweitzer the opportunity to explain how the perception of the community is starting to change. In marketing the Midwest Inland Port, Schweitzer said Decatur is using assets that have already existed, including having three Class I railroads that come through

the area.

The railroad infrastructure puts Decatur in a unique position, said Schweitzer, Archer Daniels Midland Co. managing director intermodal and container freight.

“We’ve got a great opportunity in front of us,” Schweitzer said. “We’ve got a real clear advantage. Now you’re starting to connect the dots.”

The goal is to be able to sell the positive aspects of the city to businesses interested in locating in Decatur, said Patrick Hoban, the city’s economic development officer.

Members of the Grow Decatur community development initiative are trying to encourage various entities to work together to strengthen and enhance the area. It is developing a plan to sustain the process it has gone through during the past four years, cofounder Bruce Nims said.

“We feel we have made good progress to transform Decatur into a robust community,” Nims said. “We’re not done yet. The plan is just the first step.”

Community members have the ability to get on offense to change the outlook for the city, said Kara Demirjian Huss, president of DCC Marketing, which is among the groups developing the community marketing plan for Grow Decatur.

“We need to capitalize on the fantastic assets we have in our community,” Demirjian Huss said. “We are moving forward.”

Speakers pointed to efforts in developing the work force and educating students as ways to keep Decatur moving forward.

“Workforce development is for everyone in this community,” Richland President Gayle

NEWS Enterprise zone ‌ expansion sought‌ A filing has been made to expand the Decatur Macon County Enterprise Zone to include more of the area, including Forsyth, Mount Zion and Long Creek.

The Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County made the filing with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Decisions on the applications are due by Sept. 30.

The existing zone is sponsored by the city of Decatur and Macon County as the two local units of government. The proposed zone would add the villages of Forsyth, Long Creek and Mount Zion.

“They recognize the longer-term economic benefit that can be achieved through the enterprise zone,” EDC President Ryan McCrady said. “We believe we have made an exceptionally strong case for approval.”

All existing enterprise zones are set to expire, with the existing zone expiring in 2016, McCrady said. The renewal process allowed for broader participation from more units of local government that will now be eligible for incentives, he said.

One of the major incentives is abatement,

Saunders said. “We are all in this together.”

Efforts are being made to change the culture within the Decatur School District, Superintendent Lisa Taylor said. Having students utilize technology is becoming part of everything done in the district, Taylor said.

“It’s changing the way learning is happening in our schools,” Taylor said.

Employers such as Caterpillar Inc. view the changes happening in Decatur as what is needed for them to prosper into the future.

Caterpillar employees increasingly are using technology while at work, said Ron Ingram, a supply chain manager from Decatur.

“That’s very much in line with the direction going in the community,” Ingram said.

Caterpillar’s success is tied to the global economy, but the company sees itself as a partner in the community. From 2010-13, Ingram said, Caterpillar invested $300 million in its Decatur facility.

“We think we can continue to be successful here,” Ingram said.

Businesses from outside Decatur are recognizing the potential opportunities that are available. Chicago-based Clayco became a strategic partner in December to further develop the Midwest Inland Port, managing director Andrew Ross said.

Ross said the logistics infrastructure expert has clients around the country, including Internet shipping giant Amazon.

“It’s so important to have a community united like Decatur has with its vision and plan,” Ross said. “When that plan is in place, you could really accomplish great, great things.”

Business partners for the Midwest Inland Port so far include ADM, Clayco, Decatur Memorial Hospital and Ameren. Those companies, plus two more to be named, have committed $5 million over five years to develop Decatur’s transportation hub, said Larry Altenbaumer, executive director of the Midwest Inland Port Development Committee.

More work remains to be done in developing businesses in the area, but Altenbaumer said groups are coming together with the ease of getting information to companies in mind.

The Business Development and Resource Center is being created next to the EDC and Chamber of Commerce offices at One Main Place in downtown Decatur to be a hub of information about doing business in Decatur, Altenbaumer said.

“By the end of the year, this will be another one of those things when we look back on the year that will differentiate Decatur from other communities,” Altenbaumer said.

Having a stronger community will help businesses like Millikin, White said. Its students often recognize the impact Decatur has on them, he said.

In turn, White said they end up remaining in or returning to Decatur after they graduate.

“This was the place where they wanted to build their lives,” White said. “They come back because of Decatur.”

Of Millikin’s approximately 25,000 living alumni, White said 4,400, or 18 percent, live in Macon County.

HIGHLIGHTS

on a declining basis over five years, of the increase in property taxes that would have resulted from the new investment in approved projects, McCrady said. The newly added taxing bodies have agreed to participate as tax abating districts, he said.

If approved, the enterprise zone boundaries would expand from 12 miles to 15 miles.

It would be in place for 30 years, although changes can be made after the 13th year.

Special needs ‌ agencies merge‌ In a move designed to safeguard services for people with special needs, the Decatur agency formerly called Easter Seals Central Illinois has merged with Macon Resources Inc. The merger will save $25,000 on accounting services for Independence Pointe and is expected to produce more management efficiencies down the road.

No staff positions or programs are to be cut.

Dreux Lewandowski, executive director of Macon Resources, also said a new facility will open about the same time in the former Enloe Drugs/Omnicare building at 1811 S. Taylor Road on the city’s southwest side for

his agency’s children’s programming but could eventually be used by Independence Pointe programs as well.

Lori Brown, executive director of Independence Pointe, said her agency dropped its affiliation with Easter Seals on Aug. 31 after declining to fully merge with the Easter Seals Central Illinois in Peoria.

“Our board of directors felt strongly that we needed to remain a local organization and continue providing for the community as we have done since 1949,” she said. After that, merging with Macon Resources “just made sense.”

“We have complementary missions and the same values, both helping people with disabilities,” Brown said.

Lewandowski said the change will put both agencies in a stronger position to withstand funding cuts that will surely come because of the state’s financial crisis and the refusal of lawmakers so far to extend an income tax increase that went into effect in 2011.

Decatur CAT‌ plant cuts 120‌ The continuing slump in mining industryrelated sales had prompted Caterpillar

Inc. to cut another 120 jobs from its Decatur plant.

The company said 100 of the full-time job cuts involved regular production workers and another 20 layoffs affected agency or contract workers.

The Decatur cuts were announced in tandem with another 120 job cuts at Caterpillar’s East Peoria plant, which were split the same way.

“We know this is difficult for our employees and their families, and the company plans to offer impacted employees support services during this time,” said Caterpillar spokeswoman Barbara Cox. The announced layoff is the first to hit the Decatur plant since May and follows in the wake of some 800 production layoffs, along with unspecified cuts in white collar jobs, dating back to 2013. Caterpillar has been struggling to cut costs in the wake of a persistent and sharp downturn in mining equipment sales, especially for the giant off-road trucks, the world’s biggest, that the Decatur plant is famous for.

Cox said the latest layoffs were part of the company’s attempt to “bring production in line with demand,” and pointed to weakness in the mining industry.

8

BUSINESS JOURNAL

February 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com

YOUR

BUSINESS

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

The Alpha & Omega Transit Network office at 2915 N. Oakland Ave. is a daily hub of activity.

Alpha & Omega gets you there

Company evolves as community’s medical transport needs grow

‌D E TA I L S For more information about Alpha & Omega Transit Network, go to www.alphaomegatransit.com or call (217) 330-7810.

CHRIS LUSVARDI

Business Journal Writer‌

‌ nthony Cherry wants his business to be seen as more A than just a taxi service.

He has long recognized a need in the Decatur community to help residents get where they need to be going for a variety of reasons. In the past three years operating Alpha & Omega Transit Network based in Decatur, Cherry and the company’s staff have noticed a particular need for customers to attend medical appointments, especially regularly scheduled ones such as for dialysis or chemotherapy.

So they’ve narrowed their focus primarily to nonemergency medical transportation.

“We felt it was better for us and the medical side was what we need to be doing,” said Cherry, who owns the company along with his wife, Cynthia Cherry, and business partner Charles Doty. “That’s where the greatest need was.”

The shift in focus has allowed the company to provide customers the attention they deserve, in the most timely way possible, said Laurence Jackson, operations manager. The network had previously operated a shuttle service, picking up any customer in the way a taxi would,

Anthony Cherry is a co-owner of Alpha & Omega Transit Network.

Jackson said.

Scheduled pick-ups were proving to be the most efficient, Jackson said.

“It really has had a big impact,” Jackson said. “We had to make that shift to make our clients happier.”

The work has proven to be fulfilling, as Cherry, Jackson and other staff members know how important medicalrelated transportation services can be from personal experience attending to sick children.

The service can, in many cases, be paid for through insurance, Jackson said. Appointments aren’t always in

Decatur, so the service brings customers from Decatur and surrounding communities to other areas such as Springfield, Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana and Danville, Jackson said.

Due to the increasing demand, some of its fleet are based in those areas, Jackson said. A recent expansion was completed in the Springfield market.

Cherry said the business has really taken off from its start with three vehicles. Its fleet now includes medivans equipped to handle wheelchairs, Jackson said.

The company strives to provide door-to-door service, with drivers making sure customers reach their appointments rather than just dropping them off outside.

“Our staff is very dedicated in their work,” Jackson said.

“We’re a unique company in Decatur.”

Cherry sees the medical transportation industry continuing to grow and sees Alpha & Omega Transit Network leading the way in ensuring customers get where they need to go every day. He said the population is aging and the need for transportation services will only increase in the years ahead.

February 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com

BUSINESS JOURNAL 9

An introduction to drug testing in the workplace ‌Have you seen them? I’ve spotted a few. Hadn’t seen their like around here in years. But lately, I’ve seen a few signs in retail establishments saying “Now hiring.”

Maybe, just maybe, the local recession is finally over. Jobs are in the air.

Yet employers, even as they make new hires, bemoan the status of today’s jobseekers. “I can’t find people who can pass the drug test.”

Let’s be honest here. Finding people who pass drug tests is a huge challenge for employers, Human Resources especially those with jobs at entry levels.

Today we look at employment-related drug testing. We’ll focus on pre-employment drug testing, but that’s not the only kind. In addition to pre-employment testing, there are three other common forms of drug testing: post-incident, random and universal.

Post-incident testing occurs after an accident or other serious incident. Its purpose is to detect if employees were impaired by drugs. To be useful, the tests must be administered soon after an incident. Employers generally send the employees to a testing lab immediately.

Random testing is periodic, unannounced testing of all employees within certain job classifications. Employers who utilize random testing are advised to have an objective way of selecting persons and to time the tests at unpredictable intervals. For example, random testing loses its effectiveness if the tests are always on Wednesday morning, or if they proceed though the employment roster in alphabetical order.

Universal drug testing, where every employee in a job classification is tested, is rare. Testing can be scheduled or randomized, but everyone gets tested at the same time. It is limited to a few professions. The most widely known uses are in athletics, especially football, baseball and cycling.

Pre-employment testing usually takes place after a decision has been made to hire but before the organization makes a final offer of employment. Some employers put a statement on their application forms to the effect that potential hires will be required to pass a drug test prior to being extended an offer. The law doesn’t require such statements, but they have the desired effect of discouraging applicants who know they can’t pass the drug test.

What happens is this: The potential

Fred Spannaus

Drug testing is not a simple or straightforward as it might seem. Several issues make it less than completely objective and less than totally useful. employer notifies the candidate that he or she must report to a specified lab at a certain time. The notice is delivered to the applicant within 24 hours in advance of the reporting time. Failure to appear is reason to reject the applicant.

At the appointed time, the candidate appears and is asked for a “sample.” In very rare cases, some employers may collect saliva, hair, blood or sweat. But almost always, they want a urine sample. Steps are taken to assure that the candidate offers his or her own urine, not a sample from someone else. Maintaining the chain of custody is critical.

The lab checks the urine sample for recency (that is, how long ago it was produced) using temperature and other methods.

Then it checks for the presence of drugs.

The most commonly used assessment is the “five-panel” test. It measures for the presence of five street drugs: Amphetamines (meth, speed) Cocaine PCP (Phencyclidine, angel dust) Opiates (morphine, heroin, codeine) THC (marijuana, cannabis) Drug testing is not a simple or straightforward as it might seem. Several issues make it less than completely objective and less than totally useful. First is the radical difference among drugs and how long they are detectable in urine samples. Second is the emergence of synthetics as well as the aggressive marketing of devices that are “guaranteed” to fool drug tests.

Third, and most critical in my view, is the lack of clarity and purpose on the part of employers. What are the ultimate business reasons for pre-employment testing anyway? What business needs are they trying to address? And, given the way that tests are designed and implemented, do they solve those businessrelated problems?

We will explore these issues in future columns.

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.

Did you start your business to become a Payroll Clerk?

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Contact us today for a no obligation review of your business and learn how ProEmp & Associates can help you.

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10

BUSINESS JOURNAL

February 2015

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BUSINESS New staff members‌

Hermann, Lynn Merritt and Donna Munson participated in Graduate Realtor Institute classes conducted by the Illinois Association of Realtors.

Justin Lyon of Prairie State Bank & Trust recently completed the licensing requirements to become a crop insurance agent.

Rohini Roy has joined the law firm of Samuels, Miller, Schroeder, Jackson & Sly LLP as an associate attorney.

Dianne Shaw has been named branch manager for First MidIllinois Bank & Trust in Decatur.

Logan May has been named the director of sales for the Residence Inn of Forsyth.

Jim Wilkerson has joined Brinkoetter & Associates as its director of marketing and public relations.

Kelly Jansen and Daniel Schwemin have joined BKD, LLP, Jansen as a tax associate and Schwemin as an audit associate.

Bryan E. Smith has been elected secretary/treasurer of the National Association of Towns and Townships Board of Directors.

Illini Supply has been selected as a vendor for the BuyBoard Local Government Purchasing Cooperative.

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.herald-review.com/app/secure/ businessach/

Macon County Sheriff’s Lt. Jonathan Butts graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy.

Lisa Coffman, Kathy Fronk, Lynn

THE

Butts

Coffman

Fronk

Hermann

Jansen

Announcements‌

Achievements‌

ASK

CLIPS

Lyon

Roy

COUNSELOR

‌ : Is buying a franchise a good idea?

Q A: Franchising has been characterized as a way to be in business for yourself without being by yourself. Rather than having to “reinvent the wheel,” a franchise owner can take advantage of tested concepts and proven operational and marketing strategies, as well as the franchisor’s institutional knowledge and guidance.

But franchise ownership isn’t an easy shortcut to success. As with any other kind of small business, it’s up to you to commit the finances, time and effort to meet the franchisor’s goals and your own. That’s why it pays to weigh the pros and cons of franchising to make sure it’s right for you.

According to the International Finance Association (IFA), franchised businesses have grown at a rapid pace. There are more than 900,000 franchised businesses in the United States which employ more than 11 million people with a payroll of more than $275 billion. There’s always a hot new franchise on the scene. Curves, for example, a network of franchised womenonly fitness centers, recently grew nearly 38 percent in a single year.

As you research franchises, ask about the required experience, if any, as well as the expected hours and personal commitment necessary to run the business.

You also should learn about the franchisor’s background. For example, what is the company’s track record and how are other franchisees in the system doing?

The upfront cost of buying the franchise is crucial, of course, but you also should know how much you’ll pay for the continuing right to operate the business and what products or services you will be required to buy from the franchisor.

The “Franchising Basics” section of

‌G O T A Q U E S T I O N

May

Schwemin

Merritt

Shaw

Munson

Smith

BUSINESS JOURNAL

Wilkerson

Reader Profile: n 89% are college educated. n 28% are ages 45 to 54.

To learn more about franchising, to request one-on-one counseling, 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) 424-6297.

IFA’s website, www.franchise.org, offers extensive information on how franchising works, online discussion forums that cater to prospective owners and a searchable database of more than 1,100 franchise opportunities.

And, don’t forget about your financing.

If you’re considering applying for a loan backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, visit the SBA’s Franchise Registry at www.franchiseregistry.com. This service lists names of franchise companies whose franchisees enjoy the benefits of a streamlined review process for SBA loan applications. A faster review means better, faster service, allowing you to get your franchise off the ground sooner. Even if the franchisor is not a Franchise Registry participant, your loan application still will be reviewed individually by the SBA or its lenders.

— Bethany Wetherholt, SCORE counselor

Meet a SCORE counselor‌

Schrodt

Dr. Joseph Schrodt is a retired physician from the Decatur area. His field of expertise is health care.

He has been a SCORE member for seven years.

Kindergarten Screening

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 8:00am to 3:00pm Call for appointment

423-4351

412 N. Jackson St. Decatur, IL 62523

February 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 11

Small businesses scramble to keep top staffers JOYCE M. ROSENBERG AP Business Writer‌

‌ EW YORK — People are quitting their N jobs at a faster clip and that’s pushing smallbusiness owners to work harder to hold onto top talent.

Dance studio owner Andrea Bisconti has experienced the challenge firsthand. When Kellie Love, an instructor there, said she was planning to leave to start a business of her own, Bisconti decided to act. Love inspires students to keep coming back for more lessons and brings in more than a quarter of the studio’s revenue, said Bisconti, owner of a Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Willoughby, Ohio.

“My most terrible fantasy was I would see students walk out the door in droves and I would be scrambling,” Bisconti said.

As the economy and job market improve, keeping the best employees is becoming vital for small businesses. Forty-three percent of owners are working to keep top staffers, according to a recent survey by Principal Financial Group. The reason: A growing number of employees are giving notice. The Labor Department reported more than 2.5 million people quit their jobs in July, up from 2.3 million a year earlier.

The trend is expected to continue. Thirtyeight percent of workers plan to change employers in the next five years, according

to a 2014 survey by the management consultancy Hay Group. That’s up from 30 percent in 2010.

Bisconti figured out a way to keep Love.

They are negotiating to make her a business partner. Other owners are using strategies such as communicating and coaching, creating a healthy environment and giving raises.

“At some point, it’s no longer sustainable to give people 2 or 3 percent increases on a base salary you’ve already reduced in some cases by 20 percent in 2009.

David Lewis, president of OperationsInc

Communicate and coach‌

Jon Lal talks continually with the 25 employees of BeFrugal.com, walking around the office at the start and end of the day and chatting about work and staffers’ personal lives. He brings lunch in for everyone once a month.

The conversations give Lal a sense of whether staffers are satisfied or want to advance. He has kept one employee for eight years by giving her a series of new assignments to keep her motivated.

The approach is critical to retaining employees and avoiding unexpected resignations at the Boston-based company, which runs a website with coupons and cash-back deals, he said.

“If (a departure) comes as a surprise to you, very often it means you have not been in very close touch with what’s going on with that individual,” Lal said.

Communicating regularly with employees also gives owners a chance to provide

“

feedback, something staffers want, said Michael Timmes, a consultant with HR provider Insperity, based in Houston. And it’s an opportunity to teach employees new skills.

“People want to be coached (and) want to be given guidance,” Timmes said.

Healthy atmosphere‌

At FutureAdvisor, head of recruiting Chris Nicholson polled the investment advisory company’s 30 employees about why they stay. Most said it was the positive atmosphere created by the San Francisco-based company’s owners. They mentor staffers, set realistic goals and promote a healthy balance between work and their personal lives, Nicholson said.

“If the top management has their heads screwed on straight, the whole organization that grows out around them is going to be in

a lot better shape,” Nicholson said.

Legacy Publishing trains its managers to speak to the company’s 95 staffers in a positive way, to give constructive criticism and to pay attention to workers’ quality of work life, said Rhonda Tracy, director of human resources for the Westbrook, Maine, company, which makes instructional software.

“We spent a portion of a meeting yesterday coming up with ways to make the employees’ days better,” Tracy said. One solution: Getting rid of some of the small, tedious tasks that can frustrate or bore them.

Show them the money‌

Owners and HR consultants say most people don’t leave a job solely because of pay unless another employer offers them so much money they can’t refuse. Job satisfaction is more important for many employees.

But pay can be an issue at companies that slashed salaries during the recession, said David Lewis, president of OperationsInc, a human resources provider based in Norwalk, Conn. And workers at many of those businesses had to take on additional responsibilities as jobs were cut. They’re still carrying a heavy workload.

“At some point, it’s no longer sustainable to give people 2 or 3 percent increases on a base salary you’ve already reduced in some cases by 20 percent in 2009,” Lewis said.

Every day, my team and I are working hard to turn the impossible into the routine.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

February 2015

800 N Clinton

1.45 acres fenced Large storage building needs work Only $60,000

www.thebusiness-journal.com

2980 N Main

1200 & 1500 SF offices available Could be leased as one unit Good traffic count & visibility

2470 Wakefield 6 unit Apt Building in South Shores JUST LISTED! Won’t Last!

Only $379,000

1495 W Main St., Mt Zion Car Wash For Sale

1900 E Eldorado

2335 W Mound Road (Former Union Hall)

This is a fantastic office building with great traffic & visibility. 5000 Sq Ft finished up & down. Reduced to $385,000

469 W. Wood

Former Dentist Office Close to Downtown Purchase with or without equipment

Park 101 Industrial Park Bldg #1 Office & warehouse spaces 1800- 14,000 SF Available Close to ADM, CAT, I-72 & the Midwest Inland Port

1255 N Main St.

Plus 2 great tenants Call for details!

with offices, banquet hall, ample parking & extra lot with pavilion. Sell or Lease.

8-1 bedroom apartments on one level. Very nice condition! 100% occupied. This will not last. Call today!

370 W Eldorado

225-237 S. Main - Downtown Office Building

2728 N. Main

4000 Sq. Ft. Space For Lease “Only $1600 mth” Shop & Retail or Office Great visibility- high traffic counts

225 S. Main St. - Suite LL• Decatur, iL 62523

1441-1455 Woodland Dr., Mt. Zion

Great Corner Lot Lots of traffic and visibility ONLY $99,000

840 Sq Ft of office/retail space available for lease on one of the busiest streets in Decatur. Call today!

190 N Merchant St

This one of a kind building offers small offices spaces for Lease on the 3rd Floor (elevator) Call for details.

Curry Saw Mill, Rt. 48 Boody Selling the Business & Building.

Includes equipment, inventory land and Buildings. $85,000

For Lease. Convenient location west of Court House. Call for more info.

2003 N 22nd St

Steel Building with 22’ clear span.

(Approx 19,000 Sq Ft.) For Lease or Purchase.

Professional & Confidential Service

February 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 13

217 / 450-8500 Buy Sell Lease

Inland Port Industrial Park

1201 E. Wood St.

Park 101 Industrial Park

Pre-leasing for 2015 100,000 - 500,000 Square Feet Close to ADM, CAT, US 72 & Midwest Inland Port

15,000 Square Feet Former Grocery & Liquor Store Lots of Parking. Only $369,000

Bldg #8 - 3,600 SF of Office available now!

Bldg #3 - office/warehouse space available 2,700 SF-office & shop with dock 3,600 SF-all office 2,700 SF-office & shop with drive-in door

1120 S. Jasper

Teen Challenge Bldg

Former Ace Hardware Building

Nice, multi-tenant office bldg.

4,000 sq. ft. - $170,000 Rental units also Available

151 W. Prairie Ave. 4 story w/ basketball courts, pool, etc.

849 S Rt 51, Forsyth

Former Hostess Bakery FOR SALE OR LEASE

(Former Eyemart) 1500-3000 sq ft for LEASE.

2350 Mt. Zion Rd

Bldg for Sale// NOT Business Great Visibility Good Traffic Counts Call for more info!

40,000+ S.F. 9 dock door & trailer parking

3180 N. Woodford Ave. Suites for Lease 500-1,200 Square Feet Just Listed!

1070 W Southside Dr. New Professional Building with One Unit Available.

1050 sq ft. Available

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200 Spitler Park Plaza Dr, Mt Zion Asking price $975,000/ $8.00 sq ft.

12,900 square feet on 3.99 acres

Former Subway- For Lease 2,500 SF for $2,500 per month

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For Lease Secure Warehouse Space Fenced 1500 & 3000 S.F. Available

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Business Condo Downtown Owner/User or Investment One of a kind!

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14

BUSINESS JOURNAL

February 2015

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Business leaders share wish list for Rauner DAVID MERCER

Associated Press Writer‌

‌CHAMPAIGN — With one of their own in the governor’s mansion, Illinois business leaders have a long wish list for wealthy venture capitalist Bruce Rauner. It includes cuts to high workers compensation costs, fewer regulations and a focused effort to improve worker training.

But many also are prepared to make a surprising concession: The $2 billion budget deficit the Republican has inherited will require more than just spending cuts.

It’ll likely require more revenue, possibly from taxes.

“I’m not in favor of a tax increase, but there’s going to have to be some way to generate funds,” said Dennis Larson, executive vice president of the Central Illinois Builders, a trade group.

A spokesman for a key state union declined to comment on the No. 1 business wish, changes in workers compensation.

He said the American Federation of State, County Municipal Employees always tries to get along with governors, even when they disagree, but warned the state can’t keep cutting spending without seriously hurting core services.

“Those (state employee) ranks have been slashed by more than 30 percent over the last decade,” AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said.

Business leaders also hope Rauner takes charge quickly to tackle other priorities.

Here’s a fuller picture of what business interests would like to see.

Taxes‌

Company leaders are typically among the fiercest proponents of tax cuts. But while many say they’d like to see changes such as the elimination of the state’s franchise tax, they also say the state has few options to generate much-needed money. “You can’t continually cut state government,” Larson said.

Rauner has said he would like to eliminate some sales tax exemptions, and let income tax rates fall to levels before Gov. Pat Quinn’s 2011 temporary increase, which will gradually roll back over the next four years.

But whatever happens, it needs to happen soon, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association President Gregory Baise said.

“Manufacturers want certainty. They want a tax structure that they know is going to be in place and they can plan,” Baise said. “We may not like the answers the governor is going to come up with. We understand that.”

Leadership‌

Baise wasn’t alone in his belief that Rauner needs to provide clear direction — and quickly.

Leaders in the business community say they want to see leadership, starting with a commitment to fiscal responsibility.

First, “bring our revenues in line with expenditures,” Illinois Chamber of

Business Journal, Lisa Morrison‌

Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana, take a group photograph with the Central A&M fifth-grade girls basketball team after a short speech at the Moweaqua Bowl & Cafe. The team was celebrating the end of the season, which coincided with the Rauner’s visit on the eve of his inauguration as the new governor of Illinois.

compensation insurance.

Bruce Rauner‌

Age: 58 Education: Bachelor of Arts, Dartmouth College. MBA, Harvard University.

Family: Wife Diana and six children, ages 15 to 30. Previously divorced.

Pets: Two labs, Stella and Pumpkin.

What is your favorite book? “Moby-Dick,” by Herman Melville.

What’s your favorite dessert? “Tough to choose just one. Apple pie, chocolate chip ice

cream, strawberry milkshake, pumpkin pie.”

What would you accomplish in your first 100 days in office? “My immediate goals will be to create a pro-growth economic climate here so people have more opportunities and better paying jobs and work with the legislature to improve education.”

Source: Associated Press

Commerce President Todd Maisch said.

“But No. 2, show really every citizen of Illinois that the political process can work.”

He and others would also like Rauner to finally address what they see as overregulation in Illinois, to make the business climate more inviting.

Rauner’s predecessors, Democrats Quinn and Rod Blagojevich, never offered clear direction on the economy, Baise added, at least not one that worked for business.

Workers compensation‌

Quinn signed changes into law in 2011 that were designed to decrease the costs of one of the country’s most costly workers compensation systems. The state

Department of Insurance said the rates employers pay have fallen substantially since then.

But during his campaign, Rauner said he’d like to go further.

Illinois last year still had the seventhhighest rates in the country, according to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, which compiles rates for all 50 states every two years.

“It’s a killer for new jobs here in the state of Illinois,” said John Goetz, the owner of R.D. Lawrence Construction Co. in Springfield.

Goetz said his company has an annual payroll of about $2.5 million and spends about $140,000 a year on workers

Capital bill‌

The construction industry said it would like to see another state constructionspending bill soon.

Quinn’s six-year, $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now program was one thing from the Democrat that business leaders liked, but it ended last year after funding everything from new roads to long-overdue renovation work at the University of Illinois’ Lincoln Hall, the 104-year-old building that is among the oldest on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

Worker training‌

Skilled laborers are in short supply, the state’s business leaders said, and Maisch believes it’s up to the government to get involved with workforce training.

“I’ve got members who’ve gone into their local schools and said ‘We’ve got a real need for welders. Can we help you develop a program that will help you help people develop a healthy career as a welder?’ “ he said.

Some community colleges are doing a good job of working with employers, he said, but a statewide initiative would make the most of Illinois’ community college system.

February 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com

YOUR

FREE

BUSINESS JOURNAL 15

TIME

Volunteer couples a package deal Husband, wife teams give time to community work THERESA CHURCHILL

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — Observing Jack and Joyce Keller prepare a midday meal for volunteers at the Northeast Community Fund is almost like watching a single cook with two pairs of hands.

She stirs the water, milk and margarine heating on the stove, while he brings her packets of sauce mix and dehydrated potatoes he’s cut open for au gratin potatoes. Then he takes over stirring while she goes to tear off small pieces of angel food cake and mix them with cherry pie filling.

Few words are needed between a husband and wife who have been married almost 58 years and volunteering as a team for more than 15.

“I guess we like working together,” Joyce Keller said. “We want to do all the good we can for as many as we can for as long as we can.”

The Kellers are among many married couples in the community who make their volunteer work a package deal.

Couples who recently led fundraising efforts supporting social services include Leon and Jean Hinton, co-chairs of the 2014 United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois campaign, and Ryan and Jenna McCrady, co-chairs of the Decatur Salvation Army’s 2014 Tree of Lights campaign.

The Hintons were of like mind in building teamwork among members of their campaign cabinet and among United Way agencies.

“We both live for the joy we get in helping others, and we’re equally passionate about the community,” Leon Hinton said. “Everything we do, we do together. You get one, you get both of us.”

He is president of Soy Capital Bank and Trust Co., and she is a retired executive director of the Education Coalition of Macon County.

The McCradys take a similar approach even though both work outside the home, he as executive director for the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County and she as a teacher for the Pershing Early Learning Center.

“It’s nice for people to see us as a team,” Jenna McCrady said.

“Jenna makes the photo op turn out better,” Ryan McCrady joked. “Seriously, it’s good for our kids to see us volunteer as a couple. This shows them both mom and dad are leaders of the family and that everybody has an opportunity to step up and serve.”

Jerry Pelz, executive director of the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Jack Keller and his wife Joyce Keller prepare lunch for volunteers at the Northeast Community Fund. The couple has been volunteering as a team for more than 15 years.

Business Journal, Danny Damiani‌

Jean and Leon Hinton helped lead fundraising efforts for the United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois.

Business Journal, Danny Damiani‌

Ryan and Jenna McCrady led the Tree of Lights campaign for the Decatur Salvation Army.

16

BUSINESS JOURNAL

February 2015

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People show loyalty to day planner brands ALLISON PETTY

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — If Bill Clevenger wonders what came out of a meeting he attended six years ago, chances are the answer is in his office somewhere.

The Decatur Park District executive director keeps notes in a Franklin day planner. When it’s time to replace the inner pages for a fresh year, Clevenger files the old ones in a binder. His files date back to the early 2000s.

He orders refill pages from the same company every year and would rather not consider alternatives. While he now keeps appointments through an online calendar that can be viewed on his phone, Clevenger still uses the day planner to write notes, make lists and keep track of outstanding issues or tasks.

“I’m really a proponent of this planner,” he said. “I guess I would tell you, if I’m forced to do something (else), I will.

Otherwise, I will just continue on.”

That kind of brand loyalty is not uncommon among day planner users. A good planner, it seems, is hard to find.

“As soon as someone finds something that works for them, they don’t want to give it up,” said Becky Rogers, a certified professional organizer and owner of Clinton-based Organize My Clutter.

Rogers herself switched to using online calendar systems about four years ago, allowing her to share her schedule with colleagues and her husband. When it comes to helping clients with time management, however, she said everyone has to cultivate their own solution, one to which they can commit.

Some people like monthly planners.

Some prefer to view a week at a time.

Others want a greater level of detail, days broken into hour time slots.

“It’s a matter of figuring out how they visualize their hours and days, and laying it out in a way they can relate to the best,” Rogers said.

Most people who come into Haines & Essick looking for a planner know what exactly they want, often down to the item number, said Jan Hack, purchasing agent for the office supplies division.

The business can order the planners and have them as soon as the next day, but it can get complicated if the manufacturer has changed an item number or, in a worst-case scenario, discontinued the item. Then the customer is faced with trying to adjust to a new way of planning.

“It can be annoying, and we try very hard to find you the closest thing to what you were using,” Hack said.

Karen Marshall, manager of the

Effingham store location for Midwest Office, said customers often know the item number of a planner they’ve used faithfully, and that’s the one they want.

Because the store has carried the same lines for years, those who have developed a loyalty to one planner can usually order a replacement without trouble.

“When people go to the big box stores, those things are more transient than what we get as an office products store,” Marshall said. “They may have one style one year, and then the customer goes back to buy it the next year, and it’s gone.”

She said the store is fully stocked with the following year’s planners by Aug. 1. Most people buy theirs sometime in the fall, with those who put off the purchase running the risk that even the wholesale supply of their favorite product will be gone by the time they remember.

Despite the rise of the digital age, it seems that “penciling it in” remains popular.

“As far as our stock this year, we don’t have a whole lot left, and we’re not even through January yet,” Marshall said. “What we ordered thinking that would carry us through ‘til at least April or so is pretty much picked through.”

Continued from 15 Northeast Community Fund for 44 years, said he’s rarely seen a married couple make the kind of investment the Kellers have, spending most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the food pantry for the past two years.

A retired electrician, Jack Keller also helps with maintenance. His wife, a retired school secretary, usually sticks around after lunch to help at the front desk or sort donations.

Pelz said the Kellers are quick to give a client in need a ride home and are good listeners who with their service strengthen the bonds among an eclectic group of volunteers by giving them the chance to break bread together.

“Jack and Joyce have caring hearts that shine through, and not just here, but in everything they do for the community,” he said. “I am so thankful they decided to come and assist with this ministry.”

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www.thebusiness-journal.com The Arts‌

Anne Lloyd Gallery: “Ego Vs. Alter Ego,” a mixed media exhibit by Romanian artist Ilie Vaduva. A meet the artist reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Call (217) 423-3189. www.decaturarts.org Gallery 510: Oil paintings by Anthony Collins. A meet the artist reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Call (217) 422-1509.

Decatur Airport: Photography by Jeff Shaw.

Decatur Public Library: Embellished monoprints by Carol Kessler.

Blue Connection: Snapchat LIVE. After 5 Live from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Call (217) 428-0112. www.millikin.edu/blueconnection Perkinson Art Gallery, Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Photography by Jonha Calinawan, Maureen Delaney and Jason Lazarus.

Music‌

Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, featuring Gabriel Cabezas, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

Synergy, the Millikin University percussion ensemble, 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

On Stage‌

BANQUET

Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Step Afrika!, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7; The Bob

Calendar of events

For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/ Eubanks Not So Newlywed Game, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14; RUNA, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

The Millikin University Department of Theatre and Dance presents “The Ladies Man,” Feb. 25-March 1, at Albert Taylor Theatre.

For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

Little Theatre-On the Square: “MID-LIFE! The Crisis Musical,” March 6-15. For tickets, call (217) 728-7375. www.thelittletheatre.org.

Charity events‌

Hearts Around the World, 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Cafe DMH on the Decatur Memorial Hospital campus. This event, featuring cuisine from Croatia, Greece, Italy, Monaco and Spain, benefits the Decatur Memorial Hospital Heart and Lung Institute. Cost is $75. To register, call (217) 876-2105.

Valentines dinner and dance featuring Dueling Pianos, to benefit the Fletcher Park splash pad project, at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Mount Zion Convention Center. Cost is $40 for singles and $75 for couples, which includes a buffet dinner, dessert and dance. For more

GUIDE

information, go to www.mtzconventioncenter.com/ or call (217) 864-5424.

Squirrel Away Your Winter Blues Bowl for Independence Pointe (formerly Easter Seals Central Illinois), at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at Spare Time Lanes. Cost is $70 for a team of four. For more information, call (217) 429-1052, ext. 110.

Rock The Woof, to benefit Homeward Bound Pet Shelter, an all day event that begins at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, at the AIW Hall. The day will include performances by numerous local bands and a live auction. Cost is $10.

Polar Plunge, to benefit Special Olympics Illinois Central/Area 10, will be held Saturday, March 7, at the Beach House. For more information, go to www.soill.org or call Joanie Keyes at (217) 428-9255.

For the kids‌

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 Activities tab for a complete listing.

Featured Business:

BUSINESS JOURNAL 17

Children’s Museum of Illinois: Family Book Bash, 10-11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6; Family Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 6, including an engineering-based science show from 5:15-6:30 p.m.; Family Science Sunday, featuring candy heart experiments, 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8; “A Knight to Remember,” featuring knights, birds of prey and a feast, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. Call (217) 423-5437. www.cmofil.org

Misc.‌

Ice skating is back at the Decatur Civic Center. Go to www.decaturciviccenter.org or call (217) 422-7300.

University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program presents Gardening Insights, featuring Kerry Ann Mendez, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. For more information or to register, go to web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/ or call (217) 877-6042.

Metro Decatur Home Builders Association Home Show, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and 15, at the Mount Zion Convention Center.

Mount Zion Spring Craft Show, Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, at the Mount Zion Convention Center. For more information, go to www.mtzconventioncenter. com/ or call (217) 864-5424.

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.

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18

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February 2015

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Tech

talk

Things you need to do before disaster strikes ‌Disaster strikes all too often. You may have wondered what would happen if a tornado struck or everyone got snowed in, but have you ever really thought it all through?

Be prepared! Follow this three-step process to lay out a technology recovery plan that will fit your business and budget.

Set priorities‌

The first step is to decide what matters most. In the event of something catastrophic, what computer systems are most critical? Bear in mind, in the worst case scenarios Technology (fire, flood, tornado, etc.), your office may be completely gone. Which systems will allow you to stay afloat as you start to recover?

For example, most business owners consider email a lifeline. Managing financials, especially being able to cut checks, is high for some companies, while others say they would temporarily rely on handwritten checks. Ability to take orders, see the service schedule, look up customer information, any of these could be at the top of your list. Pick what makes sense for you.

Wendy Gauntt

a worst-case scenario, it can take days to restore power. Although you probably have UPSs (uninterruptible power supplies) on your servers, they are usually sized to provide only a short amount of runtime so that equipment can be safely powered down. A generator is your best bet in this situation.

You’ll also need power for PCs if people are working onsite, or they can connect remotely from a location with power.

No Internet: If your Internet connection goes down, you will be cut off from the web. There will be no access to cloud-based services, and you can’t send or receive email. Usually Internet outages are brief, but sometimes they can last for a day or more. There is a relatively easy step you can take here. Upi can purchase a secondary Internet connection. Be sure it uses a different technology. For example, don’t get DSL if you have a T1 connection. These may share the same phone circuit and could both go down at once. Cable service or broadband wireless connections are good and affordable backup options. You also can set up a firewall that will automatically switch to the backup connection if there is an issue. Otherwise you will have to do that manually, which could take a little time.

Cloud service is down. If a cloud service is

Hypothetical situations‌

Next, look at what kinds of issues might impact your business. The following list includes a variety of problems that could take part or all of your business down. You can shorten the impact by investing in disaster recovery preparedness. Review the following scenarios and pay close attention to what systems are impacted and how long they could be down.

Office and/or equipment destroyed: This could happen with a fire, flood or the like.

You will be dealing with temporary office space, and you must somehow keep the business running. You will need to quickly procure replacement equipment as well as your offsite backups for data recovery. Find out how fast these steps can happen. Any services hosted in the cloud should be fine, as long as you have a way to access them.

You may even consider moving critical services into the cloud.

Office inaccessible but fine: In the case of snowstorms or floods, your office may be fine but you can’t get to it. If you have advance notice and many of your team have laptops, make sure they are set up for remote access. Cloud-based services are also easy to access remotely. This can keep you going until you can get back into your office.

No power: If you have no power, your equipment can’t run. Thunderstorms and ice storms can take down power lines. In

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down, you should call support immediately, but you have limited control over what they do. The best step is a proactive one. Select your vendors carefully so that you know you are with a reputable provider with strong support. In the event of an issue, there’s not much you can do besides wait it out.

No phone service. If phones are down, you can switch to cellphones for outbound calls. However, you don’t want to miss inbound calls. Check with your phone service provider to see whether they can forward calls in the event of an outage. If you have a satellite office, forward them there. You also can forward to someone’s cellphone. You may be able to set this up to happen automatically, but you may want control over this so one of your team isn’t suddenly surprised by a huge flood of unexpected calls that end up in someone’s personal voicemail.

Server failure. If your server goes down, recovery is entirely dependent on your infrastructure. For hardware issues, your best protection is virtualization and imagebased backup technology. This combination, when properly configured, allows you to move everything on the failed server over to another server very quickly – if you

have another server to move it to. It can also help with software issues, because you can “roll back” the server to a point before it crashed. Without this protection, you are dependent on your techs to solve the problem as quickly as they can. Ask your techs what the timeline on a recovery from backup would be. The answer might be minutes, hours or days. Also factor in warranty status. If you have same-day parts replacement on your server, you will be in much better shape than if you have an expired warranty on an old server where parts may be hard to find.

Create a plan‌

This list doesn’t cover every possible disaster scenario, but it’s a great start. Make a list of next steps: calls to vendors for more information, questions for your tech about what you have in place, and any major concerns. Once you’ve done your homework, you may have some upgrades to do. Finally, document your plans so that they are readily available if and when disaster strikes.

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 19

CAREER

Warn employee about disruptive behavior ‌Q: I have a toxic employee who is driving me crazy. When I became the manager of our sales department, my promotion was accepted well by everyone except “Brittany,” the newest member of the team.

Every day, Brittany storms into my office with various demands.

She challenges my decisions and complains constantly about her co-workers. Her frequent outbursts have made staff Office Coach meetings unbearable. Other team members used to joke about her verbal onslaughts, but now they just try to ignore her.

Whenever I attempt to discuss these problems, Brittany responds with argumentative arrogance followed by brooding silence. I would love to fire Brittany, but her sales performance is outstanding. If I get human resources involved, I’m afraid she will quit. Is there any way to fix this?

A: Your fear is actually the source of your troubles. Because you are unwilling to let her go, Brittany feels free to act out as much as she likes. Your reluctance to lose her has eroded your managerial power, so the only solution is to stop guaranteeing her job security.

First, you must get your manager to agree

Marie McIntyre

that Brittany should be dismissed if these disruptive actions continue. Your boss’s approval is critical because management needs to display a united front. Next, the two of you should meet with her to deliver a stern warning and a performance improvement plan.

Should Brittany suggest she can’t control this behavior, explain that you have evidence to the contrary. As a successful salesperson, she clearly possesses interpersonal skills which she is not using in the office. So if she wants to keep her job, she must begin treating colleagues like customers.

Q: The owner of our business is an absolute perfectionist with no tolerance for mistakes. Although “Pete’s” high standards for excellence and integrity are admirable, he acts like the sky is falling whenever anything goes wrong.

Pete’s leadership philosophy seems to include openly criticizing people in meetings and yelling at anyone who makes an error. I cringe every time I hear him scolding an employee in public. Since Pete’s temper is taking a toll on the staff, I would like to gently give him some suggestions for handling frustration more productively.

How should I approach this?

A: Hot-tempered owners are like spoiled brats. Because they don’t report to anyone, they have complete freedom to act on every impulse and express every negative emotion. The smart ones eventually realize that this self-indulgent behavior is bad for business, but the immature ones never seem to learn.

If Pete falls into the former category,

‌W E E K LY T I P S Can’t get enough advice from the Office Coach? Get weekly column updates at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

talking with him might be useful. Appeals to kindness and humanity seldom work with top executives, so keep the focus on business outcomes. Pete needs to understand how this volatility could stifle creativity, keep him from hearing bad news, and cause valuable employees to leave.

But if changing Pete seems hopeless, try tackling this problem from the other end.

As the HR manager, you can also help the staff by coaching them on how to handle their short-tempered boss.

Q: One of my co-workers is giving me the silent treatment. “Tracy” misunderstood something I said, and now she won’t talk to me or even walk by my desk. Whenever I try to explain, she says, “I’m not going to discuss it.” Although I’m tired of the drama, I don’t know how to fix this. Should I just let Tracy make a fool of herself even though it bothers me?

A: The short answer to your question is yes, because Tracy is acting like a sulky child. Since her goal is to upset you, any negative response will just be reinforcing.

Her pouty reaction provides an excellent example of passive-aggressive behavior, which is the most destructive way to handle any disagreement.

Passive-aggressive types fear conflict, so they avoid unpleasant conversations.

But since they have trouble letting go of angry feelings, they continue to express their unhappiness indirectly. This petulant behavior escalates the conflict, while their refusal to talk makes a resolution impossible.

Having made several attempts to discuss this issue with your moody colleague, you must now behave as though nothing is wrong. If you ignore her brooding and continue to speak and act normally, the odds are good that Tracy will eventually come around.

Q: One of the male managers in our department frequently sends emails to a group of female employees. He always begins these communications with the salutation “Girls,” which seems demeaning and inappropriate. Should we discuss this with human resources?

A: This guy must be a relic from the 1960s, because that’s the last time anyone thought it was appropriate to address mature professional women as “girls.” I seriously doubt that he begins his communication to male employees with “Boys.”

Because this outdated terminology could be used as evidence of a discriminatory corporate culture, involving human resources is quite appropriate. After providing copies of the offending emails, ask the HR manager to educate this dinosaur about proper 21st-century communication.

Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author.

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

How to improve interaction with co-workers ‌Q: It’s always been hard for me to engage with people and feel connected. I just don’t seem to know the unspoken rules of how to interact.

It’s OK, except that it makes it harder to work on team-oriented projects. What can I do?

A: If you treat interaction as a skill you can learn, you may find more success.

Liz Reyer

Inner game‌

Although this may feel like something you’re born with (or not), I know from experience that learning how to interact is a skill that you can learn. Use your breath to find a place deep within to get centered, and then use this place to set aside any voice of judgment against yourself, and to ease

any anxiety you may be feeling about the situation.

Now, let’s break down the situation a bit more. Where do you get lost? Perhaps you don’t notice social cues from people (when they’re engaged, when they’re annoyed or bored, etc.). Or you may catch the cues, but not know what to do next. And are there times when your skills in this area are stronger, lower stress times, certain people, or is it pretty consistent?

What have you already tried to become more effective in teams? If you’ve had some successes, use the techniques as ideas for slightly different settings.

Finally, define your idea of success related to interaction. There is no right or wrong here, it’s about whatever will give you the best feeling of satisfaction and not how you “should” be able to operate with others.

Outer game‌

You’ve undoubtedly learned many things in your life, computer programming, obviously, and perhaps a musical

‌W E E K LY T I P S Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

instrument, a language or other skill.

Think of this in precisely the same way, as an area where study and practice will pay off.

If you’re not sure where to focus, start by getting some feedback. While this may feel a bit risky or intimidating, asking someone you trust to help you set priorities based on their observations will be a very helpful step ... and it’s an excellent relationship-building step.

Once you’ve set priorities, develop learning programs for yourself. I’ll start you off with a couple of examples: If you’re weak on recognizing cues: Study the ways in which a person indicates boredom. They may fidget, get out their phone, or look at their watch. Their eyes may wander. If you see any of these signs, check in with yourself on your actions, are

you dominating the conversation or off on a tangent?

If you don’t know how to respond: Write scripts for ways to respond in different situations; for example, when you receive a compliment or are given other feedback.

Also include situations where you’re reaching out; for example, if you want to chat at a team social event. While you won’t literally follow them, it’ll help to have thought your interactions through in advance.

Have some fun with this, and don’t worry if it feels forced at first. As your skills advance, they’ll feel more natural.

And celebrate your successes to help build your confidence.

The last word‌

Taking it step by step, you’ll acquire the interpersonal skills you’re seeking.

Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange. com/coachscorner or email her at liz@deliverchange. com.

20

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February 2015

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YOUR

H E A LT H

Road to recovery dotted with helpers Progress linked to post-hospital actions EMILY STEELE

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – The artist’s hands that hold the paintbrush are no longer as steady as they used to be and sometimes stray outside the lines.

But after having a stroke less than a year ago, it’s a miracle that John Lee can hold the brush at all.

So much was uncertain when Lee’s family found him unconscious and lying on the floor after a stroke at age 61. The first hours and days after a heart attack or stroke are focused on caring for the immediate crisis. But if crisis is averted, family members are faced with the difficult task of finding a long-term solution for a parent, spouse or sibling no longer able to take care of themselves.

Creating a care plan that extends beyond the hospital setting starts as soon as a patient’s heart attack or stroke is identified at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

“Most times people aren’t back to baseline when they leave the hospital,” said Karen Schneller, a nurse with the DMH Heart & Lung Institute. “The care needs to continue.”

Beyond immediate care, the hospital provides transportation, dietitian consultations and expert advice on issues ranging from living wills to making the home safe for someone after a heart attack or stroke.

“There’s some very practical information from what kinds of shoes to wear and removing rugs,” Schneller said.

Education is key. After surgery and before they go home, a discharge planner meets with the patient and their family to discuss at-home nursing, assisted living facilities, medical equipment and ongoing physical therapy. Rehab therapy starts as soon as the patient is able.

“When I came in here, I could barely walk,” said heart attack survivor Walter Howard. Now he does laps through Cardiac Rehab at DMH. Howard, who also has Parkinson’s disease, is in phase three of rehab after having a heart attack last year.

“They call them widow makers,” Howard said of his blocked artery. “If you don’t catch it in time, it’ll put you down for good.”

He was taken to DMH and doctors put in a stent. Howard went to a niece’s birthday party the next day and spent the next month taking it easy at home before coming in to Cardiac Rehab to get his heart back into shape.

There, nurses monitor the heart rate of everyone in the room and guide patients

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Walter Howard walks around Cardiac Rehab at Decatur Memorial Hospital as part of his workout for phase three of his heart attack recovery.

“They call them widow makers. If you don’t catch it in time, it’ll put you down for good.”

Walter Howard, on his blocked artery

through how and how long to use each of the machines. Phase I is for hospitalized patients, phase two an individualized outpatient exercise program for about three months and in the final phase patients graduate to monitoring their own progress under supervision of staff.

After 30 days at Cardiac Rehab, Howard said he turned the corner and is now at 90 percent of where he was before the heart attack.

“Without it I wouldn’t be nearly as good as I am now,” he said.

Long-term care for stroke victims often requires a variety of therapy to address speech and balance issues, something Lee’s family learned firsthand.

Mary Rohman had just finished a late morning visit to the house where Lee and her parents live and she remembers commenting on how they hadn’t seen her brother yet, which was unusual. They heard his beloved dog, Puppy, yelp and found Lee unconscious on top of the pet.

Doctors didn’t know if Lee would ever speak or walk again, let alone paint, and told the family he would probably have to go in a nursing home. They worried about cost since Lee is on Medicaid.

They worried about his parents, in their 80s, caring for a grown son with limited mobility.

But between prayers, physical, occupational and speech therapy, Lee was walking after a few months. That’s when the family sat down with the medical staff at St. Mary’s Hospital to talk through its options. Speech was, and still is, Lee’s biggest difficulty, but he was mobile enough so they decided to take him home.

“The first time when we brought him home he hadn’t seen that dog in a month, and she shook all over and he cried,” Rohman said.

Through Starting Point community care program, an aging and disability

center at the health department, they learned of Adult Day Services at St. Mary’s.

“A lot of them say, ‘I don’t know where to start,’ “ said Barb McNut, nurse manager for adult day services.

From 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, staff there provide transportation, meals, medication management, a variety of activities and socialization. Most adult children come to them wanting to keep a parent out of full-time assisted living.

“That is something every single one of them appreciates so much,” McNut said.

Most clients there are older and have a condition with limited cognitive skills.

Some of the short-term clients come through after a stroke or heart attack.

“We thought it would be good for him socially, Rohman said. “He loves it here, to get out of the house.”

Rohman, her two other siblings and their parents each have a role in Lee’s care when he’s not at adult day three times a week. Lee said he enjoys spending time there, especially on craft days.

He would love to paint again one day.

“If I could do it,” Lee said, one of the hard-earned phrases he’s relearned in the past six months.

February 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 21

Drop-off box offers safe way to dispose of meds St. Mary’s donated funds for secure container

D I S P O S A L D E TA I L S Drop-offs can be turned in at any time. Labels do not need to be removed.

Accepted items: Prescription and over-the-counter medications, patches, vitamins, samples, medication for pets.

Not accepted: Liquids, thermometers, needles, medication from businesses or clinics, ointments, lotions, aerosol cans or inhalers.

EMILY STEELE

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — Between the twice-yearly drug take-back events, crime prevention officers at the Decatur Police Department regularly field calls about how to safely dispose of prescription medications.

Officer Shawn Guenther directed callers to the Drug Enforcement Agency website, but with the donation of a drug dropoff box, he now can give them the address of the South Shores police facility.

“People can pull right up, and it’s like dropping off their mail at a box,” Guenther said of the secured, bright green box just outside the police station doors.

Prescription drug abuse has been on the rise in the past decade.

The new drop-off point and a loosening of federal regulations last fall means those with a surplus of bottles in their medicine cabinet no longer have to wait months for the next take-back event.

“Having these convenient takeback boxes is fabulous for getting these drugs that aren’t being used out of the house,” said Carol DesLauriers, the Illinois Poison Control Director.

Overdoses from prescription medications have increased annually in the past decade according to the Poison Control Center. More than 75 percent of overdoses are caused by opioid pain relievers, such as Vicodin and Oxycontin.

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Crime prevention officer Shawn Guenther performs his daily pick up from the MedReturn Drug Collection Unit in front of the Decatur Police Department in South Shores. The expired and unused drugs are then sent off to be incinerated.

But DesLauries said that besides reducing intentional abuse, removing medication from homes takes away the risk of an accident for everyone from children getting into bottles to adults mistakenly grabbing the wrong pills in the middle of the night.

“Once the drugs aren’t being used, getting them out of the home is a big step to getting rid of the risk,” DesLauries said.

Fewer drugs being flushed down the toilet also means less that

reaches the environment, because water treatment plants cannot remove the compounds.

Since it was installed in late November, the police department has collected more than three large lawn bags of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Guenther, or another officer, empties the box daily. It’s taken into evidence where it’s stored until being destroyed.

St. Mary’s Hospital donated funds for the secure drop

box, which cost a little more than $1,000.

“One of our identified community health needs is illicit drug use and personal safety,” said spokeswoman Jessica Michael.

The hospital reached out to the police department, which had already been interested in a drop box and provided funding through its community benefits program.

“Now, there’s a safe way for people to dispose of their medication,” Michael said.

The federal drug take-back program was updated in October to include pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and other authorized collectors as drop-off points. Prepaid packages are also available to mail extra medication to collectors.

Before the new law, medicines could only be turned into law enforcement agencies or organized drop-off days. Locally, secure drop-boxes were only available at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office and the Maroa City Hall through the police department.

“A huge number of customers want to know what they can do with unused or unwanted or expired medications,” said Pharmacist Dale Colee.

The owner of Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy is hoping to have a drop-off at his South Shores location this spring. He’s looking at this as a way to bring in more customers, but more importantly, improve health in the community.

“From my perspective, it’s an important aspect of getting as many drugs off the street as possible,” Dale Colee said “To me, it makes a whole lot of sense.”

Businesses must assess health insurance needs

Affordable Care Act impacts firms differently CHRIS LUSVARDI

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — Businesses will be impacted in different ways in choosing how to comply with Affordable Care Act requirements.

A seminar held last month at Millikin University gave representatives from Decatur businesses an opportunity to learn from a U.S. Small Business Administration specialist about what information should be taken into consideration.

“Every business will have a different reaction to ACA requirements,” said Dennis

Foldenauer, an SBA economic development specialist with the Illinois District Office in Chicago. “It’s not decisions that should be made with snap judgments.”

Foldenauer said business owners should discuss the decisions they make with their advisers, including accountant, attorney and payroll vendors. They should look at specific numbers for each business, he said.

The goal behind the law has been to increase access to health insurance coverage and lower premium costs, Foldenauer said.

“We’ve seen some of that happening,” Foldenauer said.

Employers should know how many full-time equivalent positions they offer,

he said. Those with 24 or fewer full-time equivalent employees with average annual wages below $50,000 can be eligible for a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, Foldenauer said.

The employers should contribute 50 percent or more toward employee self-only premiums in order to be eligible for the tax credit, he said. Receiving the tax credit might be a money saver for businesses but could impact employees in different ways, so Foldenauer said it’s an example of what should be evaluated and even discussed with employees when making decisions.

Employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees face penalties for not offering insurance to full-time employees.

By 2016, the penalties will apply to all

businesses in that category as Foldenauer said those between 50 and 99 should be prepared for the changes but are not yet assessed penalties.

“We’re still in a transition,” Foldenauer said.

The presentation was organized by the Decatur SCORE chapter and Millikin Micro Business Network.

“It’s the kind of information we need to know when counseling people,” SCORE counselor Bob Luther said. “We get questions about it all the time.”

The decisions aren’t always just about saving money, Foldenauer said. He said offering health insurance to employees can impact the image and brand a business is trying to portray.

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Community health calendar 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) 521-2420.

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.

Grief support group, 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, St. Mary’s Hospital Conference Room 561. For information, call Jamie Smith at (217) 454-6464 ext. 45268.

Breastfeeding support group, 10:30 a.m.

Monday, Feb. 9 and 23, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334.

SHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G18.

Support group for those who have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or early infancy. For more information, call (217) 464-2045.

Epilepsy support group, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi conference Room. For more information, call (217) 853-1655.

Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, Cancer Care Center

of Decatur, Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Pink Link breast cancer support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. To register, call (217) 876-4377.

Postpartum emotional support group, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information, call (217) 464-2334.

Diabetes support group, 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, DMH Specific Performance Enhancement Center, 2122 N. 27th St. For more information, call (217) 876-4249.

Parkinson’s disease support group, 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main St. For information, call Kathy Broaddus at (217) 820-3096.

Lyme-MTHFR support study group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Mari-Mann Herb Co., 1405 Mari Mann Lane. Call (217) 429-1555.

Brain tumor support group, 10 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 21, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Renewal bereavement support group, 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or

Mobile Friendly vs. Mobile Optimized vs. Responsive

call (217) 876-4750.

Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. Monthly dinner gathering.

For location or to register, call Sister Chaminade Kelley at (217) 428-7733.

Classes‌

Infant CPR Class, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, Decatur Memorial Hospital OB Classrooms, third floor. Register online or call (217) 876-3100.

Cardiopulmonary rehab nutrition class, 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom C. Heart healthy eating with emphasis on reading labels. For more information, call (217) 876-2496.

New Brother/Sister Day Camp, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 19, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. Children ages 3-10 learn what to expect with the arrival of a new baby brother or sister. Cost is $15. To register, call (217) 876-3400.

Happiest Baby on the Block-Magic?, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. Newborn

Carolyn Ridenour President & Marketing Director

132 S Water St. Ste. 418 Decatur, Illinois 62523

217-428-9950

www.cmsdecatur.com

Get Covered Illinois, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 15, St. Mary’s Hospital Lobby. Learn more about health insurance options and enroll for coverage. For more information, email amanda.kozar@ illinois.gov.

Community Health Lecture Series, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 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 what you need to know about heart failure. For more information, call (217) 464-5125.

Q Is your staffing provider a specialist or simply single-

Optimized, and Responsive?

Making a website mobile ready is really high on the list for businesses as more and more people are looking at sites on their devices. Mobile devices are ranging from hand-helds to tablets and how the site displays is critical.

Mobile Friendly websites will display accurately between your computer and a mobile device or tablets. It will appear smaller on a phone and be functional. The images will be smaller so it will allow for faster load time.

A Mobile Optimized site means it will reformat itself for a list of handheld or tablet devices. The navigation buttons are bigger, content is resized and the images will look different from a phone or tablet.

Responsive Design websites have developed a method for the site to be flexible regardless of the device. Rather than detecting a specific browser type or device type, the site automatically orientates itself based on the screen size of the device used. A combination of reformatting and re-optimizing as a whole give a practical flexibility beyond imagination.

Mobile browsing on smart phones and tablets is growing fast. The consumer’s passion for immediate gratification for their informational needs requires delivering your product or service effectively via the mobile web. Give us call so we may discuss what is best for your business.

More‌

Employment Services

Q What are the Differences between Mobile Friendly, Mobile A

care for moms. For more information, call (217) 464-2334.

Real Dads Rock!, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. Newborn care for dads. For more information, call (217) 464-2334.

Cardiopulmonary risk factor education, 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom C. Recognizing and changing risk factors to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle. For more information, call (217) 876-2496.

Newborn care and breastfeeding basics, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. Register online or call (217) 876-3400.

focused?

A It is well recognized among job seekers in the community that

certain staffing services are screening for only a handful of clients.

As an applicant the opportunities will be limited. Did you know as their client, your selection of candidates will also be limited?

Heather Sawyer Account Representative

655 W Pershing Rd Decatur, IL 62526 (217) 872-7400

decaturil.expresspros.com

Owners Lee Best Brian Lockwood

Some staffing companies primarily work with volume clients using temporary workers. There isn’t much variation in the jobs they fill so there isn’t much variation in the talent they require. If an office specializes in serving a limited range of clients their focus becomes very singular in terms of the applicants they attract.

Express fills positions from general labor to engineering, IT and accounting professionals. We work with more than 300 client companies in Macon County and the surrounding area. Our candidate pool is large and diverse. Applicants say they came to Express because we offer more opportunities.

Staffing is a numbers game. More jobs mean more applicants and more applicants mean greater variety. It also means a greater likelihood of finding the best candidate. Trust Express for your staffing needs.

February 2015

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YOUR

BUSINESS JOURNAL 23

MONEY

Minimum wage battles to continue in 2015 ALEJANDRA CANCINO

Tribune News Service Writer‌

‌ HICAGO — Labor notched some big C wins last year in its efforts to beef up its ranks. Organizers vow to continue that push this year on signature items such as raising the minimum wage, but business groups are equally adamant about pushing back.

Also on the horizon: Talks between the United Auto Workers and U.S. automakers are expected to begin in mid-2015, with the union vowing to bridge the gap between top-paid and lower-paid workers.

Christian Sweeney, deputy organizing director at the AFL-CIO, said it’s an ideal time to organize because the economy has improved some but not enough. Workers are reflecting on their workplaces and their wages and mustering the courage to demand raises and other benefits.

“It’s going to be an exciting year,” said Keith Kelleher, president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas.

With more than 93,000 members, Kelleher’s union is one of the largest Midwest locals of the Service Employees International Union and a force behind Chicago’s minimum wage increase approved by the City Council in December.

The minimum wage will rise to $13 an hour in 2019 from the current $8.25 an hour, the state’s minimum wage. The first increase, to $10 an hour, takes effect July 1.

Business groups, including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Restaurant Association, said the city’s measure was a job killer. They warned that Chicago’s increase would drive many companies out of the city and force others to layoff employees or to close. Raising

minimum wage, they said, has a domino effect as higher-paid workers also will expect increases, putting more pressure on the profitability of small businesses.

Kelleher said the union and its allies, known as the Raise Illinois coalition, will continue to push for a higher minimum wage statewide. The message from Illinois voters was clear, Kelleher said, referring to a November referendum. “People want a raise.”

Two-thirds of Illinois voters approved a nonbinding referendum calling for the state to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour Jan. 1. In December, the Senate approved raising it to $11 an hour by 2019, but the House adjourned without voting on the measure.

“We will be resisting a minimum wage increase very heavily,” said Illinois Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Todd Maisch, adding that minimum wage increases put employers at a competitive disadvantage.

The debate over the minimum wage comes as cities and states across the country enact laws to boost the earnings of the lowest-paid workers amid concerns about widening income inequality. Some 20 states and Washington, D.C., raised their minimum wages to $8 to $10 an hour. The federal minimum wage is $7.25.

Many demonstrations calling for higher wages have been orchestrated by the Fight for $15 campaign, funded by SEIU. Scores of protests in major cities last year called for higher wages for fast-food, retail, in-home care and airport workers.

The movement expects to add to that list adjunct professors, who are considered

part-time workers, earn low wages and don’t have benefits.

But the effort will continue to focus on wages of fast-food workers. The protests have been held outside restaurants, particularly McDonald’s locations. Some workers at those protests have filed unfair labor chargers with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the burger giant of retaliating against them.

The Fight for $15 campaign is among several organizing efforts targeting employees such as fast-food and temporary workers who traditionally have been difficult to organize because of high turnover rates. Other campaigns have sought to organize warehouse workers, car wash workers and art movers.

Then there is the widely publicized move by the College Athletes Players Association and the United Steelworkers to unionize Northwestern University football players.

The players voted in April on whether to unionize, but the results of the election have yet to be announced. The votes were sealed, pending a decision by the NLRB on an earlier ruling by a regional director that held players could be considered university employees and could unionize. The timing

HOME EQUITY LOANS

Student debt takes toll on net worth WALTER HAMILTON

Tribune news Service Writer‌

‌The financial travails of people under 40 with student-loan debt extend far beyond the college loans themselves, according to a new study.

That’s because people with student loans often have other types of debt as well, such as car loans or credit-card borrowing, that weigh heavily on their overall financial well-being.

About four in 10 U.S. households headed by someone under the age of 40 have student debt, the highest level ever, according to a study. The median debt level is about $13,000.

As a result, college graduate heads-ofhousehold under 40 with student debt have a median net worth of only $8,700, according to the analysis by the Pew Research Center. That’s a fraction of the $64,700 the same group without college loans is worth.

The median student debt is about $13,000, a seemingly manageable amount.

But because of the other loans they’ve taken out, the median total indebtedness of college graduates under 40 with student loans is $137,010, according to the study.

That is almost twice the $73,250 debt level for their counterparts with no college debt.

The median is the point in a range at which half the measured values are higher and half are lower.

Going to college is still worth it in the long run, according to Pew. A Pew report earlier this year found that the income gap between recent college graduates and those without college diplomas is much wider than in previous generations.

“Young adults with student loan debt are starting out behind in building their nest eggs,” said Richard Fry, the lead author of the new study. “College grads with student loans are benefiting from higher incomes because of their degrees, but about four in 10 borrowers are weighed down with a substantial amount of debt that extends beyond student loan debt.”

of the NLRB’s decision is uncertain.

Meanwhile, anti-union groups have successfully pushed for laws that would allow workers represented by a union to avoid paying union dues or fees. So called right-to-work legislation has been adopted by 24 states.

Experts say it is unlikely Illinois will become a right-to-work state because the General Assembly is controlled by Democrats backed by unions that provide campaign contributions and volunteers.

While Gov. Bruce Rauner supports rightto-work zones, he is unlikely to tackle the issue as he faces larger issues such as a shortfall, pension obligations and a slow economic recovery.

“Illinois doesn’t need right to work (laws) to compete with its neighbors,” said Maisch, of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Maisch said the state should focus on measures that would move the economy forward, such as a bill to fund upgrades to the state’s infrastructure. On that issue, he said, the chamber will work closely with labor to push lawmakers at the state and federal level to act on proposals.

“Business and labor do have joint agendas,” Maisch said.

Call, stop in, or apply online!

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