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READY, SET... SUMMER
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BUSINESS JOURNAL
June 2015
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YOUR
CALENDAR
Monday, June 1
Tuesday, June 16
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant, 2959 N. Oakland Ave. 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 AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.
Tuesday, June 2
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. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.
Wednesday, June 17
Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Wednesday, June 3
Community Prayer Breakfast, 7-8:30 a.m., Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Scheduled speaker is the Rev. Arthur Hallett, director of prison ministries for Evangelism Explosion International. Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, June 4
Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Human Services Agency Consortium, noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe Building, 2715 N. 27th St.
Friday, June 5
Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.
Saturday, June 6
Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., Decatur Club.
Monday, June 8
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Altrusa International of Decatur, 6 p.m., location varies
Tuesday, June 9
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, 3390 N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., locaion varies. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.
Thursday, June 18
Wednesday, June 10
Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Fletcher Park. Scheduled speaker is Kevin McAvoy of the HSHS Meidcal Group employee assistance program. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Real Estate Investors Association, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant, 2999 N. Monroe St.
Thursday, June 11
Saturday, June 27
Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., Decatur Club.
Monday, June 29
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.
Friday, June 19
Wednesday, July 1
Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.
Saturday, June 20
Friday, June 12
Wednesday, June 24
Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., Decatur Club.
Monday, June 22
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.
Tuesday, June 23
Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., Decatur Club.
Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Brinkoetter & Associates, 1610 E. Pershing Road.
Monday, June 15
Thursday, June 25
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.
Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.
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.
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. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Coaliton of Neighborhood Organizations board, 5:30 p.m., Monroe Park
Saturday, June 13
Friday, June 26
Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Christian Women’s Connection, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Dunn Company, 724 N. Mercer St.
Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. GFWC Decatur Woman’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Senior Resources Network, noon, Keystone Meadows, 1455 W. Mound Road. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Decatur Conference Center and Hotel, 4191 U.S. Route 36 West. Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., Decatur Club. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe Building. Mount Zion Lions Club, 6:30 p.m., Lions Club Community Center. Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Environmental Center, 3939 Nearing Lane.
Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.
Club Community Center. Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Environmental Center.
Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Mount Zion Lions Club, 6:30 p.m., Lions
Tuesday, June 30
Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, July 2
Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Human Service Agency Consortium, noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe Building.
Friday, July 3
Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.
Monday, July 6
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.
Tuesday, July 7
Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at (217) 421-7976, at sperry@herald-review.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www.thebusiness-journal. com
June 2015
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FROM THE EDITOR My family’s been hearing the call of the lake for a couple months now. So much so, we decided to give our newest water toy an early test run in the front yard. We got a few strange looks from those driving by, but I’m used to that. I’m ready for a break. And depending on when you read this, I will be leaving for, enjoying or returning from a wonderful vacation.
BUSINESS JOURNAL 3
BUSINESS JOURNAL OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS
While this work break happens to include an awesome destination, just knowing I will be away from the office would have been enough to ensure this
Volume 21
Issue 6
vacation’s wonderfulness. It wasn’t too long ago I was the recipient of some extended time off work courtesty of a volleyball injury. And earlier this year, a co-worker got a break of her own thanks to a slip on the ice. And guess what. The newspaper printed every day.
601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax)
While it might be hard for some of us to accept, our places of work can survive a short time without us. Sure, it probably means a few extra tasks for our co-workers while we are
PUBLISHER: Julie Bechtel
gone, but there’s no need to feel guilty. You will have a chance to return the
GENERAL MANAGER: Gary Sawyer
favor when they take their much-needed time off later. Got vacation days? Be sure and use them.
EDITOR: Scott Perry ADVERTISING: AnnaMarie Hanes
Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois
COVER PHOTO: Lisa Morrison
June2015Contents
ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the July issue is June 15. Call 217.421.7953 for rate information. STORY IDEAS: Email sperry@herald-review.com or call 217.421.7976
Standing FEATURES Biz Bites
6 Marketing makeover
8
Business Clips
20
Fred Spannaus
19
Free Time calendar
12
Health calendar
10
Liz Reyer
22
Office Coach
22
Effort highlights area’s limitless possibilities
Professional Profile 11 SCORE counselor
20
Wendy Gauntt
21
Park projects Ryan Raleigh has a lot of balls in the air these days, overseeing improvements along the shores of Lake Decatur and the many other parks throughout the city. Page 11
12 Summer fun Check out our expanded Free Time calendar
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. 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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BUSINESS JOURNAL
June 2015
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YOUR
COMMUNITY
Business Journal, Jim Bowling
Dredge operator Rafael Lozano guides the dredge as it pumps sediment out of Lake Decatur.
Sweeping up the silt High-tech machines run around the clock to boost Decatur’s water supply ALLISON PETTY
Business Journal Writer
DECATUR – Inside the control room of “The LW,” the world is small and large all at once. An 8-by-10-foot cabin, the room is a 24-hour command center for the dredge that is pulling sediment out of Lake Decatur as part of a $91 million city project. The room contains a coffee pot, microwave, air conditioner and a slew of monitors and controls.
The leverman, who sits behind them in eight-hour shifts, can watch the path of the dredge as it swings 200 feet wide, stepping forward 3 feet at a time as it removes sediment from the bottom of the lake and pulls it into a pipeline. He monitors the activity of three booster stations that provide power to push the sediment about eight miles through the submerged pipeline to a 523-acre sediment site in Oakley. He can see how much water and sediment is traveling through the dredge to the pipeline: On a day last month, it was about 14½ feet per second. The leverman’s watchfulness and experience is crucial to making sure that the pipeline doesn’t become plugged, which is the worst-case
scenario, said Wayne Riley, general superintendent for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, the city’s dredging contractor. “There’s plenty for him to keep track of,” Riley said. But the leverman is just one member of a team that keeps the dredge running smoothly, deepening the lake and steadily undoing the effect of decades of erosion from some of the world’s richest farmland. The six-year project approved by the Decatur City Council in February 2014 is expected to increase the lake’s capacity by 30 percent. Officials have said it is crucial for the economic future of Decatur, a city where thirsty industrial customers rely on the lake in addition to the residents of
Decatur and Mount Zion. Great Lakes has 32 employees, about 20 of them local residents, Riley said. Each shift has eight employees with defined roles, and those employees rotate in a week each of day shifts, evening shifts, night shifts and then a week off. In addition to the leverman, an engineer, a boatman and a deckhand work on the dredge itself during each shift. There is one employee at each booster station and an eighth worker who helps out wherever they are needed. The engineer spends most of his day checking aspects of the operations such as
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June 2015
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BUSINESS JOURNAL 5
Continued from page 4 temperatures of the motors and oil levels, and performing maintenance tasks when needed. All of that activity is recorded in a log. “It’s a constant. By the time he’s finished with one, he starts on the next,” Riley said. Named for previous owner L.W. Matteson, the 220-foot dredge is electric, not diesel, which means it is generally quieter and less obtrusive to the environment. Submerged beneath the water, a 65-inch steel “cutter head” dislodges sediment from the bottom of the lake and sucks it into a 20-inch pipe. A 4,000-foot plastic pipeline floats between the dredge and the first of the booster stations, and the rest of the pipeline is steel submerged beneath the lake. The cutter head resembles a mammoth drill spiked with teeth, which sometimes must be replaced thanks to the wear that comes from slashing through clay, stumps, logs and whatever else might be lurking on lake bottom. On Monday, employees had to stop the dredge for two hours to untangle a length of copper telephone cable that had likely been on the bottom of the lake since at least the 1970s or earlier. While the dredge’s power is unmistakable, it is still small enough to be disassembled and placed on trucks at the end of a job. Of course, it takes 27 semitrucks to hold all of the pieces. “Most anything larger than this, we generally tow them from job to job. Those are the river dredges and the ocean dredges,” Riley said. Decorations are sparse, but some crayon drawings are on display in a few locations. They are the work of Great Lakes employees’ children, who were asked to depict what safety meant to them as part of the company’s recent “Safety Week.” Working on the dredge is not without hazards. Even visitors to the operation are asked to wear hard hats and watch a 10-minute safety video that emphasizes being aware of one’s surroundings. Riley said the most dangerous job is the moving of anchors. The boatman and deckhand perform that job every two to three hours, and also assist with tasks that can include cleaning the pump or cutter head. “Every time we move anchors, we have a safety meeting. They discuss what they’re going to do,” he said. The dredge has nearly completed its work in Basin 1, where the dredging activities began in late October. They shut down for the winter two days before Christmas, and workers returned to the lake April 2. In a few weeks, when the Basin 1 work wraps up, the dredge will proceed to the Big Creek area, where it will spend the remainder of the year and first part of 2016. It will then move to Sand Creek, followed by Basins 2, 3 and 4 in subsequent years. Earlier city projects dredged Basin 5 in 1993-94 and Basin 6 from 2004-11. About 20 percent of the total 10.8 million cubic yards of sediment to be removed from the lake will come from the Big Creek area,
Business Journal, Jim Bowling
Dock hand Jason Beck communicates with the dredge operator while measuring the depth of the water at the hydraulic dredge’s location on Lake Decatur. The water depth is measured hourly.
Business Journal, Jean Zerfowski
The dredge is currently located in Basin 1 of Lake Decatur, which is the shaded area on the map.
Riley said. Even as work progresses steadily in the lake, Great Lakes’ subcontractor is hard at work in the Oakley basin to prepare it for the incoming water and sediment. Jerry Stevens, engineering services coordinator for the city’s water management department, said Terra has 18 workers, only one of whom is not from the local area. The work at the sediment basin involves raising the surrounding barriers, or berms, 10 feet higher so that the basin can hold more material. Workers lost 86 days to rain and wet weather last year, but they hope to get the project mostly completed this year. Stevens stressed caution for boaters on the lake. They must stay 150 feet away from the dredge and floating pipeline, and are encouraged to pay careful attention to markers and buoys throughout the lake. “Be aware, and be safe,” Stevens said.
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BUSINESS JOURNAL
June 2015
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City Limitless extols Decatur area’s potential CHRIS LUSVARDI and ALLISON PETTY Business Journal Writers
BANQUET
DECATUR – A new branding effort for Decatur and Macon County unveiled last month seeks to remove boundaries and convey a place with abundant opportunities. The City Limitless Decatur and Macon County slogan is a play on the term city limits, said Nicole Bateman, community marketing manager. Bateman spoke during the State of the City Breakfast as part of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in the Decatur Civic Center. The intention is to show the Decatur area as modern and progressive with opportunities to live, work and develop. “We have so much to be proud of, and we’ll use our community brand to attract and retain businesses and residents,” Bateman said. “Through this community marketing process, we’ll shift perceptions and create a common vision for our future that will stimulate economic growth from which we all benefit.” Previous marketing efforts have achieved varying degrees of success, Bateman said. The overall marketing strategy is expected to educate, inform and build community pride among current residents and business owners along with motivating potential newcomers to live and do business in the area, she said. Those attending the breakfast were able to view the new brand and watch a short video highlighting areas throughout Macon County, which drew applause from the sold-out audience. “For far too long, we have allowed others to tell our
Submitted photo
An example of the new City Limitless Decatur and Macon County marketing effort is shown.
story,” Bateman said. “Now is the time to capitalize on the momentum we’ve built and share what makes Decatur and Macon County special and unique.” Details of the community brand are available at DecaturCityLimitless.com. The need for a marketing plan has been discussed as part of the Grow Decatur initiative, which is working with the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County on the effort. “Momentum” was the word of the day among city and EDC officials who spoke at the breakfast. They pointed to achievements over the past six years that include renovation of the city’s two public high schools, development of the Midwest Inland Port, advancement of the Nelson Park lakefront project and
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the beginning last year of a $90 million Lake Decatur dredging project. “There’s a swagger and a sense of purpose and a commitment that is strong and building day by day. … There’s a sense of pride that we are starting to express about being Decatur-made that will be critical for our future success as a community. It is an amazing thing to watch,” Mayor Mike McElroy said. EDC President Ryan McCrady said the new branding initiative represented more than just a slogan and was based on aspects of the community that make it attractive. He said Decatur’s workforce, infrastructure and low cost of living make it “an easy product to sell.” “We’re going to show up every day now not hoping to win, but expecting to win,” he said. Larry Altenbaumer, executive director of the Midwest Inland Port Development Committee, brought the perspective of a longtime resident, having lived in Decatur for 45 years. Six years ago, Altenbaumer said he felt a “sense of despair” in the community, a sense that things were only going to get worse. Now, he said, the sentiment has turned around, and the community’s rate of progress has been incredible.“What we have accomplished over the last few years in particular, I think, is just textbook success,” he said. As part of the branding initiative, Bateman said organizers are seeking people to act as “ambassadors” for Decatur and Macon County. She said they would be called on to help with recruitment and retention efforts, and to engage with their inner circles and spread the community’s message.
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June 2015
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State studies of inland port begin Work to examine infrastructure, suggest improvements ALLISON PETTY
Business Journal Writer
DECATUR – More than a year after they were announced, two state-funded studies to further development of the Midwest Inland Port are moving forward. The studies essentially will examine the transportation infrastructure of the general area in which the port is located and identify specific improvements and how much they’ll cost. Officials from the state Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Department of Transportation pledged money for the studies in a news conference at the Decatur Civic Center on April 1, 2014. The Decatur City Council voted to accept the funding in the fall, and in February, the city hired URS Corp. of Decatur to perform the work. But the city waited for the go-ahead from the state to proceed, as promised funds across several state departments have been reconsidered or suspended since Gov. Bruce Rauner took office in January with a budget deficit. Assistant City Manager Billy Tyus said the city received notice that the studies were approved April 23. “It’s very exciting. The community
has talked for some time now about the importance of the Midwest Inland Port and the intermodal ramp. We see it as being key to our continued economic growth locally,” Tyus said. “This study is going to be critical to preparing for the growth that’s going to come as part of that, so we’re very excited that we’re moving forward.” The first study, a transportation plan, will analyze existing facilities and identify improvement opportunities that could facilitate a range of freight options. The second, a capital improvements study, will focus on the preliminary plans for those improvements, including design and cost estimates. Public Works Director Rick Marley said
the studies would take at least a year to complete, in large part because of meetings with stakeholders and involvement of the public. They don’t have hard and fast boundaries, he said, but generally would cover the area bordered by Interstate 72 to the north, U.S. 36 on the south, Jasper Street to the west and Prairie View Road to the east. Marley said the city of Decatur has reinvented itself several times over its history and appears to be in the process of doing so again with the development of the port. “In the long run, this should be a source of significant employment in future years. It’s not gonna happen next year. It’s starting to happen, but we have yet to see the full impact of this,” he said.
Listening tour seeks road improvement input RACHEL RODGERS
Business Journal Writer
D ECATUR – Community members joined local and state officials last month to identify the area’s most critical infrastructure needs and how to finance them. More than 100 came to Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s James Randall Research Center for an Illinois Department of Transportation meeting to address the future of transportation facilities and collect input on where improvement efforts should be focused. The department’s “listening tour” focused on the state’s fiscal woes and pressure on communities to maintain their transportation networks. “The best way for us to recover as a state and to recover our economy is to build our way out,” DOT Deputy Secretary Christine Reed said. Brush College Road was one of
‘We think that Decatur is as well or in a better position than any other community in the state to maximize the return on the investment here.’ Ryan McCrady, Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County president
several areas recommended as an infrastructure priority, emphasizing the Brush College underpass, intersection at Faries Parkway and intersection at Interstate 72 and Illinois 48. In order to grow, businesses need an efficient transportation system, ADM Transportation President Scott Frederickson said. Ryan McCrady, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County, said with the development of the Midwest Inland Port, improving infrastructure to
provide better access to the intermodal hub would benefit the state’s and the city’s economies. “We think that Decatur is as well or in a better position than any other community in the state to maximize the return on the investment here,” McCrady said. With plans to develop the old Brush College School into a food manufacturing hub, Tony Caccomo of National Foodworks Services said the state’s investment in the area’s infrastructure could open many avenues of commerce
to the region, providing a vital link to consumer manufacturing. “Decatur could be the heart of food manufacturing in Illinois,” he said. Road maintenance has become increasingly difficult to finance with the combination of declining motor fuel tax dollars and growing construction costs, said Bruce Bird, Macon County Highway Department engineer. “We’ve lost 60 percent of our purchasing power to maintain our system,” he said, adding that construction costs have increased 200 percent in the last 15 years. In the state’s poor fiscal condition and looking at $7 billion of maintenance alone, Reed said finding ways to obtain sustainable funding have become crucial. The meeting was in collaboration with the Illinois Capital Development Board and Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce.
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June 2015
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BIZ Now open
Cinnapops, a cross between a doughnut and a muffin, and jumbo cinnamon rolls are the early must-haves at Sweet Endings, Jeanne Hill’s new bakery in Macon. Hill left a secretarial position at Busey Bank to pursue her love of baking, and is already into desserts of almost all kinds, including doughnuts, fudge, pie and special occasion cakes and cookies. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” she said. Tip: Wednesday’s the day for cinnapops and Friday’s the day for cinnamon rolls, but Hill’s happy to make anything on her menu to order. The bakery, located in the old city hall at 285 S. Front St., opens at 7 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday and closes at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and noon on Saturday. For more, find Sweet Endings on Facebook or call (217) 619-2826. nnn The Comprehensive Bleeding Disorder Center in Peoria has opened a clinic at 1750 E. Lake Shore Drive on the campus of St. Mary’s Hospital. CBDC-Decatur provides diagnosis, treatment, education, advocacy and community outreach and offers options of factor-related pharmacy services and convenient home or work delivery of clotting factor. The nonprofit organization was incorporated in 1996 and also operates clinics in Canton, Carbondale, Effingham, Peru, Rock Island and Springfield. For more, visit www.compbleed.com or call 1-888-322-8670. nnn Kingdom Life Builders Thrift has opened at 1006 W. Harrison Ave. The owners are Andrew and Tiffanie Lynch of Decatur. Their “right hand” volunteers include Todd Raymond and Konni Ekisss (Andrew’s mom), but more volunteers are needed. “We hope we get some more people stepping up to help,” Tiffanie Lynch said. “We just felt called by God to open a thrift store and help the community.” Half of the shop’s proceeds will go to Life Builders Church of God, but Lynch said other charities also will benefit. Andrew Lynch is a heavy equipment operator for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 965, and his wife is an administrative assistant for Decatur public schools. Shop hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more, visit www.klbthrift.com or call (217) 791-5857.
Still open
A change in the floor plan at One Main Place in downtown Decatur may have you thinking that St. Nicholas Grille has closed. Debbie Hill wants to assure past and potential customers that isn’t the case and said the patio has opened for outdoor dining and entertainment.
BITES
A remodel that moved the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County office just inside the building’s main entrance pushed the restaurant’s entrance down the hall and around the corner. Plans are in the works to add a more noticeable entrance. Hill, who also owns Debbie’s Diner, took over as manager in February and began making immediate changes to the menu, which includes an endless salad bar. “Our goal is to bring the best of Debbie’s Diner – fast, friendly service and homemade food – to downtown Decatur,” Hill said. Food is served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (217) 422-4700.
On the move
Joe Laramee didn’t have to look far to find a new space for Decatur Gold & Coin. He moved the business to 415 N. Main St., replacing Hanger Clinic after it moved to Decatur’s east side. Decatur Gold and Coin had been across the road on North Street, but Laramee said he can do more with the new space. It has more room for showcases but not all of the space is being used yet. Laramee is still figuring that part out. “We’re going to do something with it,” said Laramee, who has over 40 years experience in the jewelry industry. In addition to working with gold and coins, Laramee said the store offers a range of services including jewelry repair, replacing watch batteries and clock repair. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Call (217) 422-4653. nnn Hanger Clinic had been in downtown Decatur for more than 30 years before making the move earlier this year to its new location in front of Rural King. The new address is 1910 S. Mount Zion Road, Suite D. The move is part of a rebranding effort with new logo and colors for the company, which has locations throughout the country. The business provides prosthetic limbs and orthopedic braces. Dr. Tim Magyar is the clinic manager for the Decatur and Urbana locations. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, go to www.hangerclinic.com or call (217) 429-6656. nnn Helen’s Corner Thrift Shoppe, open the past seven years at 1985 E. Eldorado St., just wasn’t enough for business owner Diana Stone. So she’s opened a second thrift store called Recycled Treasures in Suite 1 of 550 N. Van Dyke St. “I didn’t have enough room to put everything out, and a lot of my customers said they’d like to have something on the west end,” Stone said. The clothing boutique formerly housed as Helen’s has been relocated to the new store.
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with the weekend hours designed to take advantage of traffic headed to the indoor flea market a few doors down. For more, call Stone at (217) 853-1755.
Expanding services
Coffee Connection at 2505 N. Main St. in Decatur is now 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. “The number of customers coming on Sunday is increasing every week,” owner Julie Stalets said. Homemade granola and coffee cake have joined a menu that includes breakfast and lunch wraps, all of which may be enjoyed on a patio that opened for the season last weekend. For more, find the business on Facebook, visit www.decaturcoffeeconnection. com or call (217) 330-8065.
Closed
Judi Morville has closed LUV Realty following the Dec. 27 death of George Owrey, her partner in the business. The pair opened LUV in 1977 after deciding Owrey Morville wasn’t going to go anyplace,” she said, and did business for 30 years at 345 W. Prairie Ave. before moving to 1060 W. Harrison Ave. in 2009. Morville is now a Realtor associate with Area One Realtors at 2828 N. Main St.,
Suite 104. Contact her at luvrealty@juno. com or (217) 620-7600. nnn A store that has been in operation for more than three decades announced it was closing its doors at Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth. Balloons ‘n Things was scheduled to close at the end of May, owner Mary Denzler said. She and her husband, Walter, have owned the store that sells balloons, flowers, candy, plush animals, lottery tickets and assorted gifts for 33 years. Denzler, who started the business out of her home in 1982, said she chose to close the store instead of selling it. In the past, Balloons ‘n Things have operated three locations in Decatur, Bloomington and Springfield with the others closing several years ago, Denzler said. “We grew from a small balloon business to a full service florist and gift store,” Denzler said. “I’m proud that we helped people celebrate weddings, funerals, birthdays, proms and other special occasions. I’ll miss visiting with my customers daily.” She plans to enjoy retirement and spend time with her children and grandchildren. 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.
From seed to market,
you just can’t get anything fresher.
UNDER THE WIND TURBINE
JUNE 6 - SEPTEMBER 26 8:00AM - NOON 217.875.7211, Ext. 562 dmclaugh@richland.edu richland.edu
June 2015
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Be prepared: The well stocked first-aid kit RENE LYNCH
Tribune News Service Writer
You’re meticulous about monitoring the expiration dates on milk cartons. You carefully check sell-by dates before putting meat in your shopping cart. And you take a moment to scan cans, bottles and jars for their “best before” dates. But have you ever checked the expiration dates on the contents of your firstaid kit? Do you even have a first-aid kit? Just face it: It’s time for a medicine cabinet makeover. If you’re like the rest of us, you are probably missing items that you or your loved ones will need in case of an injury that falls short of requiring a visit to the emergency room. And, like the rest of us, your bathroom cabinets are likely filled with items that have outlived their “use by” dates, potentially making them less potent or perhaps even dangerous. While a recent study by the California Poison Control System suggested that many drugs past their expiration date are still effective, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not mince words on its website: “Once the expiration date has passed, there is no guarantee that an expired medicine will be safe and effective. If your medicine has expired, do not use it.” Now, there’s no need to panic, of course. But consider this your nudge to take stock of your family’s medicine cabinet and see what might need replacing. Make a list, keep your eyes peeled for coupons and sales on the items your family is
most likely to need. You could also take the easy way out and just buy a trauma kit (they are often better stocked than a routine first-aid kit), and then buy a few more items to round out your supplies. Need any more incentive? Think about how much better equipped you’ll feel about treating your sick spouse or kiddo with all the necessary items well organized, easily within reach and safely within their expiration dates. Here are the items a well-stocked medicine cabinet should contain, plus a few items you’ll be happy you have on hand. (If there are items we’ve overlooked, please leave a comment on the online version of this story, so we can add them to our list.) Bandages and gauze in a variety of shapes and sizes. (If you have kids, Mickey Mouse or Hello Kitty bandages can’t hurt.) Anti-bacterial spray and/ or ointment. Hydrocortisone cream, to relieve itching. Tweezers and scissors. It’s worth springing for precision tools (something you already know if you’ve ever tried to remove a splinter from a squirming toddler). An instant-read thermometer. Shop around, read reviews and consider what might work best for your family. A thermometer with an ear scan feature, for example, might be helpful when you want to take a temperature without waking up a sick child who has finally fallen asleep. Cough drops and cough syrup. An over-the-counter allergy
Lee News Service, David Proeber
medication. Cold reliever and sleep enhancer such as NyQuil, or a generic-brand equivalent. Rubbing alcohol. Believe it or not, this can expire too, losing its effectiveness over time. Cold pack. In a pinch, a bag of frozen peas will do. But it’s helpful to have something a bit more durable. Keep this in the freezer, of course, so it’s ready
to go. Heating pad. Probably not standard fare for an emergency kit, but it might be soothing for an aching back or fluinduced chills. A first-aid guide or pamphlet. You can find these online or perhaps at your doctor’s office. And, in a pinch, you can always look something up online. But it’s nice to have a primer at your fingertips when you’re trying to remember the best way to treat a burn or sprained ankle, or what R.I.C.E. stands for. (That would be rest, ice, compression, elevation—the course of treatment for minor softtissue injuries.) A laminated list of phone numbers and addresses and perhaps even a map including directions to your doctor and the nearest emergency room. (Also consider adding the same information for your veterinarian and a 24-hour emergency vet—helpful in case someone is house-sitting for a pet and is not familiar with the area.) Eyewash, for soothing an eye that has become irritated after an afternoon cleaning out the garage. Gloves, eye protection and a mouth guard you can use in case you need to perform CPR. Speaking of CPR: If you’re not certified, get certified. Many community centers offer classes, or contact the Red Cross for a class list. It takes just a few hours, and you’ll learn first-aid basics and CPR. You’ll never regret knowing how to treat an injury or save a life in case of an emergency.
Hollywood’s medical inaccuracies EMILY STEELE
Business Journal Writer
DECATUR – It’s almost predictable when the moment comes in an action movie that someone drowns or is struck by lighting and needs CPR. Don’t worry, the lead character will provide a few steamy mouth-to-mouth breaths and thumps to the chest region and he or she revives. This overused movie trope is a typical example of Hollywood medical inaccuracies. From CPR to mental illnesses, TV and movies have a tendency to sacrifice fact to increase the drama. Shows from M*A*S*H to Grey’s Anatomy are full of it. But what looks good on screen doesn’t apply to reality and can be dangerously misleading when real medical care is needed. Take CPR, for example. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency life saving technique in which a bystander manually pumps blood through the body when the heart stops.
“The biggest thing I tell everybody is CPR isn’t like in the movies where you do a couple chest bumps and the person gets up and saves the world,” Schwalbe said. “It doesn’t happen that way.” Schwalbe is the training center coordinator for the American Heart Association at Richland Community College. He teaches CPR and first aid for health care providers and said TV shows give people the wrong idea about how it works. “A lot of times it’s a fairy tale,” Schwalbe said. “Everybody knows that it typically isn’t correct, but if you see it constantly, you think maybe it does happen that way, but most the time it doesn’t.” While some of the miraculous recoveries are based on true scenarios, they’re rare. Schwalbe said the biggest error is that the patient almost always revives, but when an adult goes into cardiac arrest there’s an underlying issue that needs more advanced medical care. And the CPR must continue until EMTs arrive, which can be a
lot longer than a commercial break. An AED, or automated defibrillator, may shock a heart into a regular rhythm again, but CPR alone won’t save a life. He also said TV is not an instructional video for a real life scenario and people should never mimic it in place of training. Schwalbe pointed to the movie “Casino Royale” in which James Bond self-defibrillates in his car. “He gets up and he’s fine, that just doesn’t happen,” he said. Tim Macken, chief clinical officer at Heritage Behavioral Health Center, said inaccurate characters with dangerous mental illnesses are frequently shown on crime shows and horror movies. “Some of the most common ones are the misportrayal of what schizophrenia really is,” Macken said. While someone psychotic is often shown as extremely violent or a murderer, Macken said it’s rare. In fact, he said schizophrenics are more likely to
be withdrawn. Schizophrenia, PTSD and the rare multiple personality disorder, or dissociative identity disorder, are some of the more common mental illnesses used by Hollywood and are often paired with criminal activity or drug abuse. “The biggest danger with the misportrayal, especially when it comes to the stigma it’s created, is it’s a disservice,” Macken said. “It keeps them marginalized in society.” Schwalbe said some medical inaccuracies are based on practicality not ignorance. CPR chest compressions for an adult should be about 2 inches deep. “Unless you’re working with a mannequin, you have a chance to break somebody’s ribs,” he said. Macken said it is possible for Hollywood to produce accurate representations of mental illnesses and pointed to the movies “Girl Interrupted” and “Ordinary Mind” as examples.
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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). Weigh loss support group. For more information, go to www.topsclub.org or call Chris Granda at (217) 521-2420. Grief support group, 12:30 p.m., Friday, June 5, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24. For information, call Jamie Smith at (217) 544-6464 ext. 45268. Breastfeeding support group, 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 8 and June 22, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334. SHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, June 8, 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, June 9. For more information, call (217) 853-1655. Postpartum emotional support group, 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 15, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information, call (217) 464-2334.
Breath of Life support group, noon Tuesday, June 16, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room 561. Speakers available to answer questions from those with breathing problems. For information, call (217) 464-2603. Parkinson’s disease support group, 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 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, June 18, MariMann Herb Co., 1405 Mari Mann Lane. Call (217) 429-1555. Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25. Monthly lunch gathering. For more information, call Sister Chaminade Kelley at (217) 428-7733.
Classes
Breastfeeding class, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For information or to register, call (217) 464-2334. Happiest Baby on the Block-Magic? for moms, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 11, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334. Real Dads Rock!, 7 p.m. Thursday,
June 11, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334. Second Time Around, childbirth refresher class, 8 a.m. Saturday, June 20, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334.
More
Cancer Survivors Day Celebration, 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Call (217) 876-4750. “Alzheimer’s-Healthy Habits,” 10 a.m. Thursday, June 4. St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information, call (217) 726-5184. Come Together Let’s Walk training session, 5 p.m. Monday, June 8, Fairview Park Large Pavilion. For more information, call (217) 464-2046. CPR and AED training, 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, Decatur Public Library. For more information, call (217) 464-5125. Come Together Let’s Walk, 8 a.m. Saturday, June 27, Fairview Park Large Pavilion. For more information, call (217) 433-5434.
Did you know? The United States Environmental Protection Agency notes that bottled water is not necessarily safer to drink than tap water. That’s because the EPA sets the standards for drinking water provided by public water systems. While the responsibility of setting standards for bottled water falls on the shoulders of the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA sets the bottled water standards based on the tap water standards established by the EPA. According to the EPA, both bottled water and tap water are safe to drink if they meet these standards. However, the EPA does advise people with severely compromised immune systems and parents of children with special needs to consult physicians before deciding which type of water they drink or give to their children to drink. nnn Fireflies are often seen lighting up the night sky on warm evenings. They are particularly abundant during the summer months. One reason that fireflies glow is to attract mates. Males will flash, and females will respond to mates they find interesting. Fireflies also may glow to avoid predators. The luciferase enzyme in firefly cells causes a chemical reaction that stimulates light, a phenomenon called bioluminescence. Fireflies are filled with lucibufagins, a poor-tasting chemical that turns off predators from attacking the blinking bug. Some fireflies cannot light up at all and use pheromones to attract mates. Fireflies can be fun to catch and release and also beneficial to have around. In the larval stage, fireflies will eat destructive insects. Adult fireflies may feed on nectar and could help to pollinate plants. Despite their name, fireflies aren’t really flies. They actually are a type of beetle.
patients stay “ Helping healthy is my life’s work.” THAT’S HOW DR. PREETI JHAWAR IS
ELEVATING HEALTH CARE At HSHS St. Mary’s, we promote wellness through preventative health care. Dr. Jhawar helps her GI patients stay healthy by encouraging them to have regular screenings in our state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities. Schedule a colonoscopy with us today and for more examples of how we are elevating health care, visit stmarysdecatur.com.
stmarysdecatur.com
every day.
June 2015
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TIME
Meet Ryan Raleigh, Decatur Park District director of operations ometown: Decatur H Family: Wife, Jennifer; son, Owen (10); daughter, Grace (8) Education: MacArthur High School (1991), Illinois State University, bachelor’s degree in occupational safety My “I’d rather be …” bumper sticker would read: “I’d rather be spending time with my family and friends.” Having family in Colorado, Florida and California has allowed us to vacation in some beautiful parts of the country. I’ve gone backwater fishing in Florida, sightseeing along the coast of southern California, and skiing in Colorado in the past year. We also have a close network of friends in Decatur that we enjoy seeing nearly every day. Hobbies/interests: I enjoy golfing, fishing, camping and home improvement. I always have a project under way around the house, from remodels to new construction. My first job: At 15, I worked as a busboy at T-Bones Steakhouse on South Taylorville Road. Why I do what I do: I have always had a passion for parks. As a child, I spent summers in the parks, playing games and doing activities with the Yellow Hat park leaders. During high school and college, I worked at the driving range at Scovill Golf Course and at the concession counter/pro shop at Nelson Golf Course. I was also a lifeguard at Fairview Pool. Following college, I completed an internship with the park district’s former risk manager. For four years in the Chicago area, I worked for four different park districts before moving back to Decatur. I really enjoy the people I work with and providing facilities that people love to use. Personal approaches to challenges: My personal approach to challenges could be categorized as thoughtful and informed. I first make sure I fully understand the issue at hand, reviewing the history of why things were done a certain way that may have caused the problem in the first place. Then I come up with all the options to fix the problem and work to determine the best solution longterm. Community involvement: I am a volunteer coach for the park district’s youth baseball program and a board member for the Macon Mosquito Abatement District. What does the director of operations do? The operations director position supervises 20 full-time and 25 part-time employees and oversees the maintenance and construction in parks and facilities across the Decatur Park District. This includes two park maintenance departments, construction department, fleet department and horticulture department. What’s ahead for the lakefront development project this summer? We are currently
Business Journal, Jim Bowling
As director of operations for Decatur Park District, Ryan Raleigh oversees the district’s improvement projects. One of the more high profile projects in recent years has been the continued improvements along Lake Decatur in Nelson Park.
completing construction of the Beach House Restaurant deck. This new structure will greatly improve the appearance of the restaurant and set the standard for amenities at Lakeshore Landing. Guests will enjoy a great dining experience right over the water. We are also re-paving the parking lot and service drive to the renovated Nelson Pavilion 2. How does Gov. Rauner’s “indefinite suspension” of park district grants affect the lakefront plans? The suspension of grants has delayed construction of some Lakeshore Landing amenities, including a new lakefront amphitheater, ropes course, batting cages, destination playground, pavilion and restrooms next to the Nelson dog park, restroom facility next to Pavilion 2, mountain bike trails, outdoor fitness park, paved walking paths and native plantings. With park district capital funds, we will be able to complete some of these items, but at a slower pace. We are hopeful that grant funds will be released as the state budget is completed and a new fiscal year begins. There’s no doubt that the park district’s bike trail is very popular. What’s the timeline for next
expansion? The next section of the bike trail will extend from Cresthaven Park to the village of Forsyth. We are currently finishing up proposals and expect to go out to bid this fall. Construction should begin in the spring of 2016. With so many neighborhood parks to maintain, how does the park district identify and prioritize those needs? This is one of the park district’s greatest challenges! First and foremost is safety, which includes identifying hazards and correcting them in a timely manner. We then evaluate age, condition and usage of facilities and amenities to determine which improvements are next in the list of priorities. What are some smaller recent improvements to district facilities that people might not otherwise notice? We recently replaced the backstop fences on three ball diamonds at South Shores Park and are currently remodeling restroom facilities at South Shores Park, Sinawik Park and Mueller Park to make them ADA accessible. New concrete sidewalks and pads have been poured at Nelson Dog Park, and the small
parking lot west of the rose garden in Fairview Park has been paved. At Monroe and Lions parks, we installed new open air pavilions, basketball courts and ADA accessible walkways. The park district has benefited greatly from local volunteers. How can companies/organizations get involved with the parks? Departments across the district greatly appreciate the help of volunteers. Along with the recent projects completed by Ameren (31st Street Park), ADM (Grant Park) and Custom Landscapes (Scovill Zoo), we benefit from the efforts of groups that volunteer every year, such as Golden K Kiwanis and the Millikin football team. Hundreds of individuals also volunteer at Scovill Zoo, our golf courses, and in the arts, recreation and special recreation programs. In Fairview Park, a dedicated volunteer picks up sticks each day and puts them in piles for our maintenance staff. Companies, volunteer organizations and individuals can all help by adopting their favorite park to pick up trash and sticks, report vandalism and make the park their own.
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Main attractions
June 9-14 Macon County Fairgrounds Festival www.maconcountyfair.com Aug. 7-9 Decatur Celebration, downtown Decatur. Scheduled to headliners are Kool & the Gang, Blues Traveler, Blackberry Smoke, Lonestar, Deana Carter, En Vogue, Vanilla Ice, Unspoken, Moriah Peters and Vince Vance & the Valiants. Hot dog eating contest, Macon County Pageants, and much more. www.decaturcelebration.com Sept. 1-3 Farm Progress Show, Progress City USA. The “Super Bowl of Agriculture” makes its sixth appearance in Decatur. A must attend for many producers in the Midwest interested in seeing the latest in agricultural products and technology. www.farmprogressshow.com
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Calendar of events
For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/
The Arts
Anne Lloyd Gallery June/July: International arts experience featuring works from Chile and Argentina. Openning ceremony from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 5, that will include hands-on crafts, regional cuisine and Tango performances and lessons. There will be second event on Friday, July 10. August: “Playland,” by Doug Goessman. Call (217) 423-3189. www.decaturarts. org Gallery 510 June: Watercolor painting by Jessica Disbrow. Opening reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 5. July: Photographs by Jim Hill. Opening reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, July 10. August: Watercolor paintings by Shirley Buescher. Opening reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Call (217) 422-1509. Decatur Airport June: Oil Paintings by Barbara Dove July: Oil paintings and charcoal drawings by Nicole Christison August: Watercolor paintings by Michael Delaney Decatur Public Library June: Barn Colony Artists July: Watercolor paintings by Jessica Disbrow August: Abstract acrylic paintings by Tom Crawford
Watch or play
June 12-14 Decatur-Forsyth Classic, Hickory Point Golf Course. This is a major tournament for the Symetra Tour, the developmental tour of the LPGA. This 54-hole event attracts top female golfers from around the world. www.symetratour.com July 12 Rodney T. Miller Lakeside Triathlon, Nelson Park. Athletes gather to swim, bike, run and remember Rodney T. Miller, a state police officer killed in the line of duty. The kids race will be held July 11. www.decaturtriathlon.com July 18 and 19 Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament
Business Journal file photos
com or call (217) 864-5424. Blues in Central Park: Thursday, June 18, Howard & the White Boys; July 16, Markey Blue; and Aug. 20, Southern Hospitality. Vendors open at 6 p.m. Band plays from 7-10 p.m. Shake the Lake Concert Series in Nelson Park, June 12, 26, July 4, 10, 17 (at Hickory Point) and 24. Go to www.decatur-parks. org for band list and details. Season of Celebration Concert Series in Central Park: June 5, Member’s Only; June 26, Dr. Zhivegas; July 10, Matt Carter Band; and July 31, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Event runs fron 5 to 1 p.m. and includes festival foods and games. www.decaturcelebration.com Decatur Civic Center: Walkin’ With Cash, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13. For tickets, go to www.decaturciviccenter.org or call (217) 422-7300. Lincoln Square Theatre: Gypsy, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13; Brian Shartzer as Garth Brooks with Hillbilly Hangover, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 27. For tickets and more information, go to www.lincolnsquaretheatre.com Decatur Celebration Kick Off Concert featuring Home Free, a country a cappella band and champions of NBC’s The SingOff, and LoCash Cowboys, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Decatur Civic Center Arena. www.decaturcelebration.com
On Stage
at the SkyWalker International Sports Complex, Decatur. For more information or t0 register, go to www.macker. com. Registration forms also available at Decatur Family YMCA.Pre-registration is required by June 26 (mail) and June 29 (online). Aug. 3-9 USTA/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Classic, Fairview Park Tennis Classic. Players from around the world converge on Decatur to compete. www.ursulabecktennis.com Macon Speedway. Dirt track racing at its very best every Saturday night. Special events include the Herald & Review 100, July 9, and Night of NASCAR Stars II, date to be announced.
www.maconracing.com
Music
Decatur Municipal Band: Weekly concerts during June-August featuring contemporary and traditional music Sundays from 6-7 p.m. in the Fairview Park Large Pavilion and Mondays from 7-9 p.m. in Central Park. Chill on the Hill in Fletcher Park, Mount Zion: Thursday, June 4, Feudin’ Hillbillys; June 11, Shot Gun & Lace; June 18, Misconduct; June 25, Jac Freeze; July 2, Imagine That Band; July 9, Eric Burgett; July 16, Plan B; July 23, Third Shift; and July 30, Chris Cavanaugh. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Band plays from 7-10 p.m. For more information, go to www.mtzconventioncenter.
Best of Summer Stock: Musical theater performance by area students at the Decatur Civic Center. B.O.S.S. Jr. participants (grades 1-4) will present “Dinosaurs Before Dark” at 7 p.m. Friday, July 31, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. B.O.S.S. Sr. participants (grades 5-9) will perform “Legally Blonde Jr.” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2. Decatur Civic Center: “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 19. For tickets, go to www.decaturciviccenter.org or call (217) 422-7300. Little Theatre-On the Square: “Mary Poppins,” June 3-14; “Pinkalicious,” June 5-6 and 9-13; “Hairspray,” June 17-28; “Swing,” July 1-12; “Jack and the Beanstalk,” July 3-4 and 7-11; “The Wizard of Oz,” July 15-26; “Winnie the Pooh,” July 17, 18, 21 and 23-25; “The Addams Family,” July 29-Aug. 9; “The Princess and the Pea,” July 31, Aug. 1, 4 and 6-8; and “Driving Miss Daisy,” Aug. 12-23. For tickets, call (217) 728-7375. www.thelittletheatre.org.
Charity events
June 7 Ride United, to benefit United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois, 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fairview Park. Course range from 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles. Call (217) 422-8537 or go to www.uwdecatur.org. June 13 Dinner on the Hill, to benefit the Fletcher Park splash pad effort, 7 to 11 p.m. at Fletcher Park in Mount Zion. Tickets cost $28 and inlcude a dinner provided by Angelo’s, music by Plan B and the movie “50 First Dates.” For more information, go to www.mtzconventioncenter.com or call (217) 864-5424.
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June 13 Adam Carter Memorial 5K Fun Walk/ Run, 8 a.m. at Fairview Park. Adam was a student at Holy Family School who died of cancer at age 12 in 2010. Proceeds will benefit Adam’s favorite charities. www. adamcartermemorial.com June 19 Summer Splash, to benefit Gallery 510, 6 p.m. at the Decatur Club. Includes music by The Boat Drunks, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction. Cost is $45. Reservations requested. Call (217) 422-1509. June 26 The National Freedom Day Banquet fundraiser for the African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society museum will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Heartland Church Grand Palace, 3253 N. Brush College Road. Guest speaker will be T.J. Jackson. Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for students. Go to www.african-americancultural.org or call (217) 429-7458. The group will celebrate the grand re-opening of the museum at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at 235 W. Eldorado St. Kathryin Harris, director of library services for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will be the guest speaker. June 27 Come Together, Let’s Walk in Fairview Park. An event to fight ovarian, breast and cervical cancers. Kicks off at 8:15 a.m. Includes a self-timed 3-mile family fun run and a 1-mile and 3-mile walk. www.cometogetherletswalk.com or call (217) 433-5434. June 27 Reverse Raffle, to benefit the Children’s Museum of Illinois, 6 p.m. at the Decatur Masonic Temple. Tickets cost $125 and include dinner and a chance to win $10,000. Cash prizes awarded throughout the night. Find out more at www.cmofil.org. July 17 Relay for Life Macon County, Richland Community College. An overnight event to celebrate cancer survivors and to raise money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society. www.relayforlife. org/maconil July 25 Big Obstacle 3K to benefit Decatur Park District youth sports and the United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois., Fairview Park will be transformed into a 1.8 mile maze of climbing walls, tube tunnels, strength/ endurance challenges and inflatable obstacles. Call (217) 422-8537. Aug. 15 Tour De Paws, to benefit the Animal Shelter Foundation and Scovill Zoo, features 25-, 43- and 61-mile bike rides and a Family Fun ride. The event kicks off at 7 a.m. in Nelson Park. For more information, go to www.dmcasf.org. Aug. 22 Zoo-rific Evening at Scovill Zoo to benefit upcoming renovations at the zoo. Enjoy animal encounters, specialty drinks and hors d’oeuvres, an auction and music. Begins at 5 p.m. Cost is $75 per person. Call (217) 422-5911. Aug. 22 Run United, a 5K run to benfit United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois. Race
begins at 5 p.m. in Fairview Park and colncludes with a party in the Fleet Feet Sports Deccatur parking lot. www. uwdecatur.org
Misc.
The Rock Springs Nature Center hosts a long list of mini camps, family adventures and classes. 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. Carry on a Decatur tradition with Cruisin’ Nights on Eldo, 6 p.m. Saturdays, June 20, Aug. 15 and Oct. 17. Live bands
in the Donnely Automotive parking lot during the June and August events. For more information, call James Pinckard at (217) 972-9049. Master Gardeners Garden Walk, 2-6 p.m. Sunday, June 14. Call (217) 877-6042. Blue Ribbon Night, Friday, July 3, Fletcher Park, Mount Zion. Celebrate the holiday with free music from Thirday Shift and fireworks at dusk. For more information, go to www. mtzionconventioncenter.com or call (217) 864-5424. Spend the Fourth of July in Nelson Park. The day begins with the Staley
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Firecracker Road Run/Walk at 8 a.m. Then, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the park will be filled with cars of all makes and models as part of the Richie Hammel Fore on the Floor Car Show. The day ends with a concert at 7 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. www.decatur-parks. org Pony Express Days, Aug. 13-16, Pony Express Grounds, Mount Zion. Carnival, live music and more. Labor Day Parade, 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, downtown Decatur. For the kids Children’s Museum of Illinois is host to a variety of activities throughout the summer, including Music at the Museum, Family Science Sunday, summer camps. For information, go to www.cmofil.com or call (217) 423-5437. Scovill Zoo: Dad’s Day Dollar Deals, Sunday, June 21; Family Camp Outs, 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. Friday, June 26 and Sept. 18. Bring your tent and sleeping bag and enjoy supper, a night tour and animal presentations. Cost is $25; Ice Cream Safari, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, July 19. Find all the ice cream stations hidden around the zoo. www.scovillzoo.com Call 421-7435. Movies in the Park: Watch movies on a huge inflatable screen on June 10 in Nelson park, July 1 in Kiwanis park and Aug. 12 in Fairview Park. All shows begin at dusk. Got an item you’d like considered for publication 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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Tips for taking back your downtime Metro Editorial Services
any working professionals have hecM tic schedules. Perhaps due to technology that now allows them to stay connected to the office no matter where they might be, a great workers now exceed the traditional full-time employment standard of 40 hours per week. In fact, data from the 2013 and 2014 Gallup Work and Education polls indicates that adults employed full time in the United States work an average of 47 hours per week, almost an entire extra workday. Some working professionals have little recourse with regard to reducing the number of hours they work each week. But those who find themselves unknowingly working extra hours, whether it’s by checking work emails at home or answering business calls even after leaving the office, can take steps to regain their downtime for themselves. Schedule activities during before or after office hours. Workers who want to take back their downtime may benefit if they start to schedule activities during those hours that aren’t meant to be spent at the office. Rather than planning on going to the gym, plans that can easily fall apart if a
particularly difficult project lands on your desk, schedule sessions with a physical trainer or sign up for classes with a friend or family member. You will be less likely to work during your downtime if you have already paid for a training session or class or have scheduled a dinner date or another
Making vacation work for you MARGARET STEEN
Monster Worldwide
acations are meant for relaxation, V but some actually cause work-related stress instead. Some people leave the office but don’t leave their work behind, making cellphone calls and sending email from the beach. Others try to do all the work they would have done during their vacation before they leave — or find it waiting for them when they return. And some skip vacations altogether because they feel they have too much work to do. When vacations create more stress than they relieve, this stress can spill over into other areas of life: health problems, impatience with family and friends, problems getting along with coworkers. Experts offer six tips for taking a truly relaxing vacation from work: Communicate: Make it as easy as possible for your coworkers while you’re gone. Document what you normally do, and offer to help the person who is going to fill in for you before you leave. “You don’t want to go on vacation and as soon as you’re gone, people start saying, ‘I can’t believe they didn’t do that,’” said Valerie Frederickson, founder and CEO of Valerie Frederickson & Co., a human resources executive search and consulting firm. Delegate: This tip applies especially to managers, whose vacation behavior
sets the tone for the entire group. If the boss answers emails within 30 minutes even while on vacation, the workers will likely assume they’re expected to as well. Instead, managers can use their vacations as opportunities to give their subordinates a chance to learn new skills by filling in for them. Plan for reentry: It’s easy to be overwhelmed the first day back from vacation — by email, voice mail and a parade of people waiting to talk to you. Diane Foster, executive coach and president of Diane Foster & Associates, suggests that when you book your vacation, also schedule your first few days back. Block out time to meet with your boss and anyone who works for you — as well as time to catch up on correspondence. Unplug yourself: Try not to check in while you’re on vacation. That’s what Frederickson does. “We don’t bring computers, we don’t check our email. We just don’t,” she said. “And we expect our employees not to.” Don’t brag: If you’re lucky enough to be able to travel abroad or relax at a Hawaiian resort while on vacation, remember that some of your colleagues may be sticking closer to home. “Nobody on the job wants to hear that you were swimming in the Aegean Sea while they were slogging through reports,” Frederickson said.
activity with a loved one. Especially busy professionals can plan activities for one or two weeknights per week so they know they are leaving the office on time no less than 20 percent of the time. Encourage team-building activities with coworkers. One way to ensure you get out of the office on time is to promote team-building
activities with your co-workers. Propose a company softball team or encourage your bosses to sponsor a company bowling team. Such activities can create stronger bonds between you and your coworkers, and they also ensure all of you get out of the office on time at least once per week. While you won’t necessarily avoid talking about work, you will be out of the office and having fun while you relax rather than sitting at your desk and burning the midnight oil. Turn off your devices. Professionals who own smartphones or tablets can now check work emails or monitor work projects whether they’re sitting in their offices or lounging on the couch at home with their families. Working men and women looking to work less during their downtime should consider turning off those devices that keep them connected to their offices. This may be more difficult than you think, as a 2013 survey conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of GFI Software found that 39 percent of participants acknowledged checking work emails outside of standard work hours, while a whopping 81 percent of the more than 500 respondents said they check their work email on weekends.
June 2015
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BUSINESS JOURNAL 15
Hopes high for good year for Lake Shelbyville area SHARON BARRICKLOW
Business Journal Writer
SHELBYVILLE – The resort at Eagle Creek State Park will be closed for at least another year, but Lake Shelbyvillearea businesses and other groups are hoping fair weather and near-normal lake levels will keep visitors coming this summer. The state-owned Eagle Creek Resort has been closed since mold was found in the building in 2009. A golf course on the property is open, and the two state parks on Lake Shelbyville, Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek, are open for business. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the lake, has five campgrounds, including a recently renovated Coon Creek facility between Shelbyville and Findlay. Three marinas and three public beaches are open for the season. Local resorts near lake access are already seeing an increase in visitors and reservations. “Everyone is looking at the wonderful weather we’ve been having and thinking about their summer vacation plans,” said Nancy Olson, co-owner of Lithia Springs Resort near Shelbyville. “It’s going to be a good year.” Shelby County tourism director Freddie Fry agrees.
Busienss Journal, Jim Bowling
Fishermen try their luck on Lake Shelbyville next to the Eagle Creek Campground.
“If you look at the increase in traffic on our website and Facebook page, you can see a lot of people are making vacation plans and getaway weekend plans,” she said.
Brand Loyalty
Carolyn Ridenour President & Marketing Director
132 S Water St. Ste. 418 Decatur, Illinois 62523
217-428-9950
Q
Loyalty, What is it?
A
There is a way to establish a sense of loyalty to a brand (product or service) and encourage repeat business. It is important not only for the business to succeed but to grow so that they can enlarge its need to the consumer or client. Did you know that 2 out of 3 consumers say that the number of companies or brands they consider for purchase has increased significantly compared to 10 years ago. 40% of the consumers find themselves evaluating or considering other providers more often. 25% of the consumers felt very loyal toward their providers or were willing to recommend them in 2014. 64% of the consumers switched a provider in at least one industry due to poor customer service. 60% of the consumers said that they’re more likely to switch from one provider to another compared to 10 years ago. We know the last fact is due to the use of social media. It is what the individual is clicking on when watching videos, watching a webcast, reading an article online, or commenting, email newsletters, etc. Every brand is working hard at getting your attention, as we all know, the world is getting smaller with its reach.
www.cmsdecatur.com
An above-average spring fishing season is also spurring traffic. “The crappie fishermen say this a great year,” Olson said. “The fish are biting, and the fishermen are coming to
get them.” With more than 1,500 campsites and a variety of lodging, along 172 miles of shoreline in two counties, visitors swell the area population to more than twice its size on summer weekends. Shelby County Board member Rob Amling said tourism is an industry the area cannot afford to miss. “You’d be foolish not to think of tourism when you think of economic development,” Amling said. “It is a business that benefits the entire area.” Fry said she works with local businesses to help them realize the benefits from all the visitor days. “People will come here for one thing, maybe fishing or boating on the lake,” she said. “But they will also eat, look for entertainment and shop. We want them to have everything they need in one area.” Treadway Clay’s The Artisans Galleria in downtown Shelbyville is one of the tourism beneficiaries. “We do 80 percent of our sales to people living 50 miles or farther out from Shelbyville. We spend a lot of time and energy producing pieces geared toward that specific consumer,” owner Tony Treadway said. “On a Saturday earlier this month, we had patrons from six different states beyond Illinois.”
Employment Services
Heather Sawyer Account Representative
655 W Pershing Rd Decatur, IL 62526 (217) 872-7400
decaturil.expresspros.com
Owners Lee Best Brian Lockwood
Q
What has happened to the local employment market to make hiring so difficult?
A
The Wall Street Journal reported on May 11, 2015 that “Hit hard by the recession, when its unemployment rate topped 14%, Decatur over the past year has seen one of the swiftest declines in joblessness in the country, with the rate dropping to 7% in March from 10.2% a year earlier. But look closer, and this city of 75,000 resembles many communities across the industrial Midwest, where the unemployment rate is falling fast in part because workers are disappearing: moving away, retiring or no longer looking for a job.” Supporting data shows that Decatur’s population fell 2.2% from 2010 to 2014. The metro area’s median age is older, 39.7 versus 37.5 for the U.S.as a whole.And,a recent Harris Poll identified that 33% of unemployed in Illinois have “given up” looking for a job. We constantly monitor employment trends at Express and update our methods to find qualified workers. Applicant flow is our lifeblood so we utilize all available resources. An ailing market calls for specialists. We are experts at hiring so you don’t have to be.
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VIEWEG REAL ESTATE
now offers RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS & SALES
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1200 & 1500 SF offices available Could be leased as one unit Good traffic count & visibility
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Curry Saw Mill, Rt. 48 Boody Selling the Business & Building. Includes equipment, inventory land and Buildings. $85,000
ViewegRealEstate.com
Coming Soon 1495 W Main St., Mt Zion Car Wash For Sale
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This is a fantastic office building with great traffic & visibility. 5000 Sq Ft finished up & down. Reduced to $385,000
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JUST LISTED! 110 Wildwood Dr. Multi-Tenant building. 95% full. New metal roof & new parking lot soon 1.74 acres & high visibility
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End cap available Call for details
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225 S. Main St. - Suite 200• Decatur, iL 62523
2003 N 22nd St
Steel Building with 22’ clear span. (Approx 19,000 Sq Ft.) For Lease or Purchase.
217-450-8500
June 2015
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Tim Vieweg
Managing Broker
Hank Norris
Inland Port Industrial Park
Kirt Holder
140 S Water St
Jack Blickensderfer
Park 101 Industrial Park
Kelli Kerr
Pre-leasing for 2015 100,000 - 500,000 Square Feet Close to ADM, CAT, US 72 & Midwest Inland Port
Quiet back Office Space for Lease. Up to 5,000 Sq Ft Available
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
Forsyth Office/Retail Space.
200 Lewis Park Dr, Mt. Zion
Former Ace Hardware Building
1,150-4,500 Sq Ft Available Pre-leasing now!
Office, Showroom & Warehouse 25,605 SF on. 3.71 acre site.
200 Spitler Park Plaza Dr, Mt Zion Asking price $975,000/ $8.00 sq ft. 12,900 square feet on 3.99 acres
BUSINESS JOURNAL 17
Stacey Wenskunas
1070 W Southside Dr.
Professional Building with One Unit Available. 1050 sq ft. Available
Former Jewelry Store in Moweaqua Unique Modified "A" Frame with large apartment up and retail on main floor. +2 car detached garage.
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MANAGEMENT
to better serve our clients. Watch for our NEW WEBSITE: ViewegRealEstate.com
Coming Soon!
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June 2015
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YOUR
BUSINESS
City seeks minority business partners for projects Registration tied to new ordinance CHRIS LUSVARDI
Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — Minority business owners and workers were encouraged to submit their information to potentially do business with the city of Decatur. The city is pushing to involve more minorities in public works projects as part of an ordinance change approved in March. The city conducted a forum along with the
Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce at the Decatur Public Library to begin the registration process. “We want to make sure to provide an equal opportunity for everybody,” said Billy Tyus, assistant city manager. “A lot of work is going on in the communtiy. We want everyone to have equal access to that work and remove barriers.” The ordinance established minority participation goals of 10 percent of the total dollar amount of public works contract to be performed by Minority Business Enterprises if subcontracting opportunties
are available. In addition, 18 percent of the total hours worked should be performed by minority workers. “The work has just begun,” said Larry Ivory, Illinois Black Chamber president. “Now is the time to get businesses registered.” The city will be using the new ePrismSoft system to collect data and track progress, said Gabriel Jaja, managing partner of Human Capital Development. “The city wants to know how it’s doing,” Jaja said. “There’s no way of knowing minority businesses without certification.
This is a critical first step.” Tyus said information businesses provide will help the city in its efforts. He encouraged businesses to establish a relationship with the city as work is performed in a wide range of categories. “We don’t know all the businesses in the community,” Tyus said. Public Works Director Rick Marley said the selection process starts with evaluating the lowest bidder and checking references before a recommendation is made to the city council. The council decides on contract work of more than $20,000, Tyus said.
Manage your emotions when handling angry customers JENNIE WONG
Tribune News Service Writer
Something has gone wrong with one of your customers. One of your employees has made a mistake or maybe you were the one who messed up. Either way, you have a hopping-mad person on your hands and a sinking feeling in your stomach. How do you deal? How do you recover? Start by taking a step back from the situation. As tempting as it might be to dive headlong into the debate over who is at fault, stop and take a deep breath first. It’s important to remember that your first move in an emotionally charged situation is to manage your own feelings before attempting to manage anyone else. Think of the pre-flight safety announcement, where the flight attendants instruct you to put your own oxygen mask on first, before assisting others. In the midst of an argument, make a deliberate effort to speak a little more softly and slowly than the person you are talking to. Then consider these strategies for handling a service failure and turning the situation around. Face to face. Once a customer service situation starts to go south, make sure you stop relying on email or instant message or text as a primary channel of communication. If possible, get face to face with your client, or at a minimum, make sure you pick up the phone. Once a solution is reached, by all means, follow up with an email to recap the discussion and create an electronic trail if needed. Communicate caring. Leadership author John C. Maxwell wrote, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Remember this principle when talking to an irate customer. As a business owner, you are likely to have more information about the situation than the customer, and you may feel like a simple explanation is all that is required. However, someone who is really upset won’t be able to listen to your version of events (even if it is the correct one), until they can calm down. So don’t waste your
breath going over contract clauses until you’ve dealt with that person’s concerns. Speak directly to their feelings with empathy and reassurance. For example, “Boy, if that happened to me, I would be pretty upset too. I’m so sorry this has happened, and I’m going to do my best to fix it and make sure you are taken care of.” Walk your customer through their story, so that you can understand the sequence of events through their eyes. Avoid interrupting with “what really happened.” Ask questions and paraphrase to show you are fully engaged in their narrative. Once they have had a chance to fully tell their side of the story to a sympathetic
listener (you), you may find that much of the wind has gone out of their sails. Recover, rebuild. When you first pick up the phone to someone yelling at you on the other end, your goal is probably to just put things back the way they were. But there is evidence that doing service recovery well can actually make that relationship stronger than it was before. Service failures are a test, and if you ace the test, you can wind up with even greater trust and loyalty, because your customer has now seen how you react to adversity. Exceptional service recovery can even translate into a boost for your referrals, as your formerly-irate customer tells all their
friends about how you went the extra mile to make it right. Whatever you agree to as a remedy, whether it be a refund or a freebie or a promise to fix the underlying cause of the problem, make sure to follow through. It’s also a good idea to check-in with your client after the refund/freebie/fix has been delivered to re-emphasize that you value the relationship and are looking forward to the future. Jennie Wong is an executive coach, author of the e-book “Ask the Mompreneur” and the founder of the social shopping website CartCentric.com. Email her at TheJennieWong@gmail.com.
June 2015
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BUSINESS JOURNAL 19
The seven deadly sins of surveys Surveys of employees can yield incredibly useful and important data – information about satisfaction, engagement, perceptions and suggestions for improvements. Yet employers can render them useless by making deadly mistakes, giving them nothing of value and doing more harm than good. Human Resources Here are my seven deadly sins of employee surveying: Self-administered surveys. Understandably, unhappy workers won’t always give honest opinions when they think the boss is watching. Even when you mask their identities, some will opt out or give answers they think you want to hear. The only way to minimize this is to hire an independent outside party to administer the survey. Too many questions. The quality of responses decreases as the number of items increases. When you ask more questions, the employees will put less
Fred Spannaus
thought into each answer. Do not ask a question if you are not going to take action based on the response you receive. A good rule is that if you’re merely “interested” in the response, don’t ask. Ask only if the response might cause you to do something. Poorly worded items. A survey of school personnel asked for feedback on communications from “administrators,” but it did not say if it meant buildinglevel administrators or central office administrators. As a result, the responses were meaningless. This item was ambiguous, and employees were inconsistent in their responses. A good way to avoid such errors is to pre-test the survey with a small group, followed by a discussion of each item. “What do you think the survey was asking here?” “How easy will it be for your co-workers to understand?” Failure to explain the survey beforehand. It’s important to prepare the employees for the survey. Ideally, the survey administrator (the outside party) will meet with employees and explain why the survey is being taken, how it will be used, how it hides individual identity of respondents, and when the results will be available. Failure to share results in a timely fashion. Survey results must be shared
with every employee. Quickly. No matter what. It’s just that simple. Anything else undermines trust, not only in the survey, but trust in the organization and its leadership. Failure to respond. An employer can make any number of responses to a survey. Here are a few: “We will make the following changes …” “That seems like a valid issue, and we’ll check into it and see what we can do.” “We want to know more, so we’ll create focus groups to help us understand.” “We hear this, but we can’t do anything about it, and let me tell you exactly why …” Any of those are OK, and all of them are far better than silence. Silence is the worst possible response. Failure to act. The only legitimate reason to take a survey is to identify needed changes and then to make them. If a survey doesn’t lead to action, it is worse than worthless; it is a negative influence on the culture of the company. Fred W. Spannaus, principal of Spannaus Consulting, is a senior professional in human resources. He loves feedback to his columns. Fred can be contacted by email at spannaus@ameritech.net or by phone at (217) 425-2635.
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June 2015
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BUSINESS
Bockewitz
Bond-Partee
Cantwell
New staff members
Kristen Danner has joined the kitchen and bathroom design team at Huff Home Specialties. Katy Mize has been named director of sales and sports at the Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Joe Woodington has joined Glenda Williamson Realty as a licensed broker. Land of Lincoln Credit Union has announced hiring of Jaclyn Cantwell as culture manager and Cheryl Marty as marketing coordinator.
Promotions
Sikich LLP has announcd the following promotions in its Decatur office: Meredith Angel, Melissa Koehler, Michelle O’Bryan and Stephanie Price to manager and Josh Hjort to
Danner
Durbin
Lee
senior accountant. Archer Daniels Midland Co. has announced the following management appointments: Mark Schweitzer to vice president, Investor Relations; Gregory Morris to senior vice president and president, Global Oilseeds; Vince Macciocchi to senior vice president and president, WILD Flavors and Specialty Ingredients; Chris Cuddy, president of ADM’s Corn Processing business unit, has been named a senior vice president of the company; Mark Bemis, senior vice president and president, North America, has been named to the additional role of chief risk officer; and Greg Mills has been named president, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts. Land of Lincoln Credit Union has announced the promotion of Rashanda BondPartee to assistant consumer loan operation
ASK THE SCORE COUNSELOR : What can I do to energize my business? Q A: Are your competitors getting ahead? Do your employees appear to be doing little more than going through the motions? Have those bright ideas stopped coming? If so, a makeover could be just the thing to re-energize your business. It need not be a major overhaul; some minor tweaks may be enough. What’s important is that you recognize the need for action and learn all you can to make informed decisions. In order to identify where changes are most needed, you’ll have to dig for details about various aspects of your business. Remember to focus not just on the individual elements, but also how they all fit together. For example, has your customer base changed since you started? Is it broader or narrower? Older or younger? More or less upscale? You may need a new image, revved-up branding, or perhaps just a rewrite of your marketing materials to address the needs of this changing customer base. Take a hard look at whether your products or services are performing to customer expectations. Remember that your goal should be to exceed expectations, not simply meet them. Perhaps competitors are doing a better job, or maybe they’ve created add-on products and services that you haven’t. Your own customers can help with your makeover if you ask them for feedback. If your marketing message has never changed, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate and devise a new one. Try revisiting your original business plan. You might be able to recapture some of the insight and enthusiasm you originally had from that document. Think back to your most successful
CLIPS
Marty
Mize
Sheffler
and credit manager and Brandy Bockewitz to branch manager in Springfield.
Achievements
Doug Durbin, maintenance manager at Primrose Retirement Community of Decatur, was selected as the company’s national Employee of the Year. WSOY has been awarded the 2015 National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award for excellence in community service. Eichenauer Services Inc. was awarded the five-year Milestone Award at the 2015 Davisware User Conference in Chicago. Midland States Bank’s Wealth Management Group has been named Bank Director Magazine’s list of Top 50 Banks for Trust Revenue Growth. Mark Sorensen is the recipient of the
Tyus
Woodington
Illinois State Historical Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award. First Mid-Illinois Bancshares has been named to KBW’s esteemed 2014 Bank Honor Roll.
Announcements
The Good Samaritan Inn has added Misty Lee of Hickory Point Bank, Mia Tyus of the Cromwell Radio Group of Illinois, and Dave Sheffler of Monsanto in Illiopolis, to its board of directors. 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.thebusiness-journal. com and click on the Submit a Business Achievement link.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
Reader Profile: n 89% are college educated. n 28% are ages 45 to 54.
QUESTIONS? For more business makeover ideas, 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) 424-6296.
promotions, presentations or sales efforts. Rather than reinventing the wheel, you might be able to update and expand an approach that has already worked for your business. Don’t be afraid to seek out other perspectives. After all, you may be too close to the issues to understand the sources and solutions. Meet and brainstorm with your trusted advisers, mentors, friends, partners, employees and outside consultants. Ask customers to give you a frank assessment of what you’re doing, how you’re doing it, and what you can do to better serve their needs. The more ideas you receive, the more options you’ll have for getting your business back on the fast-track. —Bethany Wetherholt
Meet a SCORE counselor
Canuel
Roger Canuel retired as director of information technology for the Libman Broom Co. in Arcola. His counseling specialties are IT and general business startups. He has been a SCORE counselor since 2006.
The road to loyalty.
Experienced bankers inspire trust and loyalty. And your loyalty helps us serve you better. MEMBER FDIC
HICKORYPOINTBANK.COM
CHAMPAIGN
DECATUR
PEORIA
SPRINGFIELD
June 2015
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TECH
BUSINESS JOURNAL 21
TALK
Train your team to get most from your technology
One of the keys to success for any new software rollout is training for your team. It is also one of the most commonly missed steps. Why invest in new technology and fail to show your team how to use it? Software vendors may claim their applications are intuitive and easy to use, but your staff will still need training to understand how these new tools impact their Technology day-to-day work. Without that, you’ll never realize the full benefits of your new technology. Of course, training is not limited to technology. In fact, technology now enables you to provide world-class training resources to your team on nearly any business topic you can imagine. Here are some ideas to get your team on the road to success.
Wendy Gauntt
Software application training
Most software applications offer online training. When you select new software programs, training should be a critical part of your assessment, as quality training programs can make a huge difference in the success of your project. Options vary by vendor, but most offer an online training portal. Contents may include videos, demonstrations, online tests and downloadable user guides. The best portals allow you to select a curriculum, assign it to individual team members, and track progress as they complete their training program. Even if you already have software in place that you’ve been using for some time, it’s worth reviewing whether your team could use additional training. Maybe they could use a refresher, maybe there are new features, or maybe there is more they could do with what you already have. Don’t assume that everyone is already making the most of your software just because they’ve been using it a long time.
Microsoft
Microsoft offers a variety of free and paid online training. Nearly everyone in business uses Microsoft Office, and undoubtedly there are tips and tricks that could improve your team’s productivity. Visit https://support.office.com for their Office support portal, which includes how-tos, troubleshooting tips, and training videos and tutorials.
Lynda.com
For more in-depth training on many commonly-used software program in business, including even more resources for Microsoft Office, check out http://
lynda.com. Their affordable subscriptions give you on-demand access to thousands of training programs. The more people you train, the lower the cost per person. Their training includes popular programs from Microsoft, Adobe, ACT!, Google, QuickBooks and many more. There is something for everyone here.
Learning Management Systems
Sometimes you need training about non-technology topics, but technology can still play a key role. Check out a category of software known as “Learning Management Systems” (LMS for short). These products track your team, their training assignments and their progress toward completion. Some LMSs offer canned training on general business topics, which will get you started. With others, you can create your own online training using their presentation tools. It’s just a matter of determining what features will serve your company best. The real advantage of programs like these is that to use them, you have to think through your team’s training needs and create a plan for them. Training becomes a routine part of their work instead of a “nice to have” that never gets done.
Training libraries
Some LMS providers, like SkillSoft and SumTotal, stand out above the rest for their huge library of business-related training topics. They have training classes on technology topics as well as a full gamut of business skills. Need to train your financial people? Select the accounting curriculum. Want to help your managers become better leaders? Assign them to communications and management training courses. Are you focused on customer service? Pick a few classes on delivering an amazing customer experience. Subscriptions to these tools are not cheap, but if you make good use of them and require your staff to take appropriate coursework, the investment can have a huge payoff.
Online education
Visit www.edx.org for an amazing array of world-class college courses. Founded by Harvard and MIT, this website publishes online courses from top universities around the world. All classes are free, and there are hundreds of choices. Sign up key members of your team for top-notch business school classes, or find coursework in your industry (architecture, engineering, etc.) to keep your people up-to-date on the latest ideas.
TED Talks
Another incredible online resource are the well-known TED Talks, at www.ted. com. TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, began over 30 years ago as a way to spread great ideas. Talks are usually 10-20 minutes long and cover a wide range of topics. You are sure to find something relevant to your
business. These can be great motivational topics to share with your team. Pick a relevant topic, watch it together, and spend time after debriefing how it applies to your business. This can spur creative thinking and generate fresh new ideas.
Planning for success
One of the surest ways to fail at a training rollout is to point people at a training website and tell them to go get trained. It will never hit the top of their priority list, and that means it will never get done. In order to get results, create a
well-defined training plan. Be sure to allocate time in their day to take the training classes, instead of piling it on top of an already full schedule. It takes time and dedication to make this happen, but you will be amazed at how your people flourish when you demonstrate commitment to helping them grow. Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, a technology consulting company that specializes in small business solutions. Go to www.cioservicesllc. com for more information, ideas and free resources.
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YOUR
CAREER
Manager needs to be firm with morale killer Q: One of my employees is killing morale in our group. “Ron” makes disparaging comments about everything, including his fellow team members. This constant criticism is so discouraging that people talk about quitting just to get away from him. I have tried to improve Ron’s attitude by regularly praising his job performance. I involve him in decision-making to make him feel more important. To help him see the Office Coach value of teamwork, I have given him leadership roles. Unfortunately, none of this has made any difference. The more encouraging I try to be, the more critical and pessimistic Ron becomes. At this point, disciplinary action looks like the only remaining option. Can you suggest any other ideas? A: Let’s take a moment to review this situation. Ron is so insulting and judgmental that colleagues are now plotting their escape. But instead of firmly directing him to stop, you compliment him, consult him and provide leadership opportunities. Do you realize you are actually rewarding the very behavior which you hope to eliminate? Based on this approach, you appear to fit the profile of a “therapy manager.” Therapy
Marie McIntyre
managers believe that if they are sufficiently caring and sympathetic, defiant employees will respond by becoming pleasant and cooperative. Unfortunately, this kindness is typically interpreted as weakness, and the anticipated transformation never occurs. To have any hope of changing Ron’s demeanor, you must first modify your own management style. Start by clearly describing his problematic behaviors, then make improvement non-negotiable. For example: “Ron, we need to have a conversation that I have put off for much too long. While you certainly have some valuable skills, your constant criticism is very discouraging to other team members. I’m going to give you some specific examples, then we will discuss your plan for changing this behavior.” If Ron makes a sincere commitment to reform, you can help him develop an improvement strategy. But if he responds in his usual negative manner, proceed to formal corrective action. nnn Q: The leading candidate for our executive secretary position wore an extremely low-cut top with overflowing cleavage to her second interview. Although she seems wellqualified, I am concerned about her choice of clothing. This is a reputable law firm with many conservative business clients, so revealing attire is not appropriate. How should I handle this? A: Wearing a suggestive outfit to a job interview could signify poor judgment, so your concerns are certainly valid. Even if this woman has outstanding clerical skills, her
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.
ability to assess social situations might be questionable. Before bringing her on board, therefore, you should carefully evaluate that aspect of her employment history. If you determine that her lack of common sense is limited to fashion issues, then you can address this topic after she is hired. But do not drop subtle hints or offer vague suggestions. To nip this problem in the bud, you will have to provide very clear direction. nnn Q: About 10 days ago, I interviewed for a job that I desperately want. Although the manager was quite encouraging when we talked, I have heard nothing since then. He planned to fill the position quickly, so I’m afraid this silence means I’ve been rejected. Now I’m beginning to lose hope and don’t know what to do. A: You appear to be suffering from “applicant anxiety syndrome.” One telltale sign of this disorder is the illusion that time is passing extremely slowly. Ten days can feel like an eternity to someone waiting for a job offer, but on the hiring end, that’s not very long at all. Applicants need to realize that they know nothing about what’s happening inside the organization. Timelines given by interviewers are often optimistic, and delays can occur for many reasons. So just
hang in there and try to distract yourself with interesting activities. If you have still heard nothing in a couple of weeks, you may politely inquire about the status of this position. nnn Q: I have had many discussions with one of my employees about her work habits and office relationships. “Abbey” insists that she pays attention to details, yet I often find errors in her work. She says she gets along well with her co-workers, but I have observed her being confrontational. As a manager, what do you do when your personality and an employee’s personality just don’t mesh? A: This is a management relationship, not a marriage, so the issue is not whether your personalities “mesh.” The real question is whether Abbey is doing the job she is paid to do. And an equally relevant question is whether you, as her manager, are also earning your paycheck. If Abbey’s results or relationships are unacceptable, then she represents a performance problem. When confronted with performance problems, managers must establish clear expectations, provide appropriate coaching, and, if nothing changes, apply appropriate consequences. So instead of continuing to ponder Abbey’s personality, you need to start correcting her behavior. comes in dressed inappropriately again, that conversation will be much worse. 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.
Handling difficult conversations a common problem As I was looking through questions for this column, I was struck by how many of them highlighted the need for conversations about problems or concerns. This isn’t new — it’s a common theme in the Outer Game portion of the typical column. So what’s the big deal? We all have conversations, right? We talk to people every day about myriad topics. Yet, conversations related to sensitive issues, differences of opinion or conflict remain a point of anxiety for many. For example, imagine a situation where you think to yourself, “I’ll just have to talk to her.” Maybe you’re being left out of the loop with information you need. But you’re
Liz Reyer
afraid you’ll come off as antagonistic, insecure or not a team player. Preparation can help, as can nimbleness in the moment … more about that later.
Be clear
First, be clear on your objective for the conversation. What behavior change are you seeking? If you can’t articulate it, you won’t achieve a shared expectation. If you say, “Do your share,” there’s ambiguity. If you say, “Get items 1, 2 and 5 on the project plan done on time,” it’s crystal clear. As you think through the upcoming conversation, remember to use “I” statements so that you’re not putting the other person on the defensive. Think about the likely responses from the person you’ll be talking to and plan your comments to accommodate their style. If you’re really uncomfortable, get some practice. Just as if you were giving a presentation, get in front of a mirror and say the words out loud. Even better, get a friend to practice with you. Practice it with the conversation going
W E E K LY T I P S Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com.
well, but also see what it’s like to get heavy pushback.
Be transparent
Now the time has come. What do you do if it just isn’t going well? This happens, and it’s not the end of the world. Maybe your delivery is coming off all wrong. Stop — and be transparent. Try telling the other person, “this is coming out all wrong … let me try again.” This bit of humanity may help get them more on your side. Maybe they’re getting angry. Instead of being intimidated or upset, try being curious. Asking, “What is it about what I’ve said that is making you mad” could open up a whole new level of discourse. Stay flexible, go with the conversation, and don’t get too hung up on whether it’s going right. The
point is that you’re talking about important things. End the conversation on a positive note, thanking the other person for their engagement, even if you need to also acknowledge that it was a tough conversation. Then learn from it. What worked? What would you do differently next time? Keep in mind that this is just another skill, and there are resources that can help you. Watch people you know who are effective, even learn from people in novels or movies. Seek out training resources at work or online, or find books about communication. This isn’t just a work skill. As you become a more accomplished communicator, you’ll see professional benefits, but it’ll also carry over to improve other aspects of your life. It’s worth the effort. 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.
June 2015
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BUSINESS JOURNAL 23
Avoid fear factor in financial decisions GREGORY KARP
Tribune News Service Writer
Fear is a powerful motivator for consumers, and it underlies more of our spending decisions than we’d care to admit. We’re afraid of identity theft, so we buy credit monitoring. We fear our new iPhone will break, so we buy an extended warranty. We fear pesticides and hormones in our food, so we buy organic. We fear bad breath and “ring around the collar,” so we buy products offering solutions. Facebook walls and Twitter feeds can be full of well-meaning posters warning friends and followers against the latest dastardly health scare, money scam or tale of woe, many of which have a consumer product or service to alleviate the fear. Marketers have long known they can scare consumers into buying. Fear, caused by a real or anticipated danger or threat, can be a good thing. If we worry about our loved ones suffering financially if we die, we buy life insurance, usually viewed as a prudent personal finance component. Public health ads can use fear to warn us against the hazards of smoking tobacco or driving drunk and encourage us to participate in pre-cancer screening. About half of women fear one day ending up a “bag lady,” losing all their money
and becoming homeless, according to a 2013 study by Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America. If that means adding a few extra dollars to a retirement plan, that might be a positive. Other times, however, consumers are targets of fear-based marketing, which may not be a good thing for their wallets. For example, many consumer advocates recommend against buying extended warranties, and many don’t see the value in buying identity theft protection. Anti-bacterial soap has been shown to be of dubious value. Yet all can be sold with fear, suggesting the purchase will protect against some threat. So our fears and purchases are tightly linked. One recent academic study even found that when consumers are fearful and alone, they might turn to brands for comfort, much as they would toward a human being. “Since people cope with fear through affiliation with others, in the absence of other individuals, consumers may seek affiliation with an available brand. This, in turn, will enhance emotional attachment to that brand,” said the academic study published in the Journal of Consumer Research by Lea Dunn, a professor at the University of Washington, and JoAndrea Hoegg of the University of British Columbia. It’s similar to a child’s attachment to a
teddy bear or blanket when things go bump in the night. Only this study showed that consumers who go through a fearful experience actually bond with not only an object, but its brand. (An experiment by Dunn showed that consumers in a “fear condition” didn’t develop an attachment with no-name jelly beans but did with branded ones.) So sitting through a horror movie with a Diet Coke might mean you feel more attached to the Coke brand afterward, Dunn said in an interview. “Brands have the ability to provide human qualities that allow us to feel better in situations,” she said. Dunn said the relationships are not just metaphorical but literal, that frightened people can make psychological, personal connections to brands. That’s important for marketers, because consumers who feel a strong attachment to a brand will be more loyal and pay more, according to the study. So what can we do to limit fear’s role in purchasing decisions that are bad for us? Be aware: Acknowledge that fear makes us feel risk-averse and out of control, Dunn said. So we’re more open, perhaps vulnerable, to anything that allows us to feel more certain. That’s what fear-appeal marketing exploits. It presents a dangerous or
threatening situation and offers a solution to allay fear. If you fear a burglar in your home, you’re probably more receptive to ads about home-security systems and monitoring. Other times, it’s not fear for your physical safety, but a social fear of looking foolish, unattractive or suffering an embarrassment. Thus, the bad-breath appeals. Or we fear we might be missing out on a great deal. That’s why limited-time sale offers can be effective. Some online retailers go as far as putting countdown clocks next to discounted merchandise to heighten anxiety. “Be aware they’re trying to do something emotional here,” Dunn said. Calm down: Fear can be fleeting. Put time between the moment you feel threatened and when you make the purchase. That way, you can make a coolheaded decision. Don’t be pressured into a hasty choices, especially for a major purchase. “Cognitive decision-making comes later,” Dunn said. Seek facts about the risk: When considering a purchase to ease a fear, try to evaluate objectively if the risk is really that high. “Ask, ‘Is this something that will actually impact me? And is this a solution that I need?’ “ Dunn said.
Costs of working can add up TIM GRANT
Tribune News Service
or employees who routinely drive to F work, buy lunch and can’t get by without a cup of coffee, work-related spending can add up to a tidy sum. “As a money coach, I talk to scores of people about their monthly budgets, and one of the things I’ve learned is that most individuals, and couples, too, tend to vastly underestimate their living expenses, including the true cost of doing something as basic as going to work each day,” said Lynnette Khalfani Cox, founder of AskThe MoneyCoach.com, based in Mountainside, N.J. The typical workday is loaded with so many fixed expenses and small, insignificant purchases that Accounting Principals, a workplace consulting firm based in Jacksonville, Fla., endeavored to estimate what it described as the “true cost” of holding down a job. On average, according to their calculations, working Americans spend the most money each week on gasoline and transportation ($67); followed by lunch ($29); and coffee ($10). This suggests that in a given year, Americans are likely to spend $3,484 on gas; $1,508 on lunch and $520 on coffee. Cox believes even if most workers know how much they spend each month on gasoline commuting to work, most are hard-pressed for details on exactly how much having a car really costs.
“After all, it not just about gas when you have to drive back and forth to work on a daily basis,” Cox said. “It’s also about parking fees, tolls and routine care like oil changes — not to mention car inspections and depreciation on your vehicle. All these costs can really add up, so it’s important to have a realistic picture of your spending.” Besides, she said, getting to work is just part of the financial battle. There are other costs to factor into the cost of working. “If you have young kids or even schoolaged children, what about day-care expenses or after-care school costs you may be paying just so you can have your kids someplace safe while you work?” Also, many professionals — such as lawyers, salespeople or executives — feel like they have to “look the part” at work. These people tend to drive fancier cars or buy higher-price clothes, designer goods, jewelry and accessories to project a certain image to clients and higher-ups in management. Then there’s always the potluck events or going-away parties for retirees, holiday gift exchanges, Girl Scout cookies, and so on. “The point is to be budget-conscious about your work-related costs because every dollar you spend just to get to the job or perform there, is taking away funds from other goals you might want to achieve, such as saving more money or better planning for retirement.”
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