May 2016 Business Journal

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MAY 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL |

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M I D C E N T R A L

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601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523

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YOU R C A L E N DA R

Monday, May 2‌

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., The Hidden Lair, 1460 N. Illinois 121.

Mount Zion Lions Club, 6:30 p.m., Lions Club Community Center.

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

Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant, 2959 N. Oakland Ave. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church, 929 N. Lowber St.

Tuesday, May 3‌ Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility, 3909 W. Main St. Lincolnland Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, May 4‌ Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Expo VIP Preview Party, 5 to 7 p.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Thursday, May 5‌ Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Decatur Civic Center. Events include the State of the City address by Julie Moore Wolfe at 7 a.m. and the Taste of Decatur from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Human Services Agency Consortium, noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Metro Decatur Home Builders Association, 6 p.m., Beach House, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Friday, May 6‌ Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Saturday, May 7‌ Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., Decatur Club.

Monday, May 9‌ Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Altrusa International of Decatur, 6 p.m., location varies

Tuesday, May 10‌

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Friday, May 27‌ Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Scovill Banquet Facility.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Decatur Landlords Association, 6 p.m., Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, Doherty’s Pub, 242 E. William St. Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Club.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 1220 W. Main St. A repreDecatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, sentative from the community food pantry is 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, the scheduled speaker.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Ban- 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Ban- quet Facility.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. quet Facility.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Decatur Real Estate Investors Association, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant, 2999 N. Monroe St. Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, Decatur Christian Women’s Connec- 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. tion, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill BanDecatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, Banquet Facility. quet Facility. noon, Decatur Club.

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

Senior Resources Network, noon, KeyEarly Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill stone Meadows, 1455 W. Mound Road.

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Sco- Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, vill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. noon, Decatur Club.

Human Service Agency Consortium, Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., AFLAC noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. and Mike Wilhoit Accounting, 328 N. Illinois 121.

Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., De- William St. Lincolnland Decatur AMBUCS, catur Club.

6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe Building, 2715 N. 27th St. Decatur Area Women’s Network Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Ban(DAWN), 5:30 p.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds quet Facility.

Mount Zion Lions Club, 6:30 p.m., Lions Family Restaurant.

Club Community Center.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., Decatur Club.

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

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., ScoDecatur Building Construction vill Banquet Facility.

Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Hall.

Family Restaurant.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Club.

Decatur Frontiers Club, 10:30 a.m., DeCoalition of Neighborhood OrganizaWomen’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., catur Club. tions, 5:30 p.m., Decatur Public Library.

Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, May 11‌

Saturday, May 28‌

Wednesday, May 18‌

Thursday, May 19‌

Tuesday, May 31‌

Wednesday, June 1‌

Thursday, May 12‌

Friday, May 20‌

Thursday, June 2‌

Saturday, May 21‌ Monday, May 23‌

Friday, June 3‌

Saturday, June 4‌

Tuesday, May 24‌

Friday, May 13‌

Monday, June 6‌

Saturday, May 14‌ Monday, May 16‌

Wednesday, May 25‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Family Restaurant.

9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill BanDecatur Building Construction Trades Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., quet Facility.

Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 Greater Northside Baptist Church.

N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., location varies.

Early Bird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

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

Tuesday, May 17‌

Thursday, May 26‌

Tuesday, June 7‌ Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

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.

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May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 3

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FROM THE EDITOR

‌E

ver have one of those days? Not the bad one. The really good one. ‌I had one of those last month. It started at the ribbon cutting for National Foodworks Services and ended at a Millikin University event honoring a successful entrepreneur.

I’m sure part of it was because of my connection to the kings and queen for the day that made it so special.

For the past year or so I’ve enjoyed a front row seat as Tony Caccomo’s dream of a food incubator came to life. And, as luck would have it, I interviewed Cordia Harrington, this year’s Millikin Center for Entrepreneurship’s 2016 Excellence in Entrepreneurship award honoree, 27 years ago as she embarked on her successful plan to expand McDonald’s reach in the Effingham area. She’s now the Bun Lady for businesses across the country The message at both events was a simple one. The Decatur area has the people, potential and means to do so much. I can’t help but believe this message is true.

No, I’m not delusional. I realize we have problems and issues to overcome.

But with my eyes opened to the possibility, I couldn’t help but take a mental inventory of all the good things taking place around us and it left me hopeful for the future.

Volume 21

Issue 5

601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax) Publisher: Julie Bechtel General Manager: Gary Sawyer

Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois

Editor: Scott Perry Advertising: AnnaMarie Hanes Cover photo: Jim Bowling

May 2016 Contents 14 Fore!

STANDING FEATURES

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Biz Bites

7

Business Clips

11

Fred Spannaus

11

Free Time calendar

15

Health calendar

21

Julie Shields

10

Liz Reyer

17

Office Coach

17

Wendy Gauntt

19

Disc golf taking flight

ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the June issue is May 12. Call 217.421.7953 for rate information.

STORY IDEAS: Email sperry@herald-review.com or call 217.421.7976 SUBSCRIPTIONS: To order additional copies, call 217.421.7931 The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois is printed monthly and is a publication of Lee Enterprises, Inc.

P ‌ referred destination Gaitros Aviation has built a quality reputation as an airplane service company and a community ambassador to travelers and pilots.

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Keeping your information safe

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.

4 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | May 2016

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YOU R C OM M U N I T Y

LISA MORRISON, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

Heather Bolsen, production assistant at National Foodworks Services, works on cookies for the opening ceremony as managing partner Jim Milano does quality control.

National Foodworks ready to get cooking

ADM’s involvement makes food incubator possible CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer‌

SCOTT PERRY, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

Gov. Bruce Rauner praised the cooperation that went into the creation of National Foodworks Services during a ceremony last month marking the opening of the food incubator in Decatur.

Looking on are managing partners Tony Caccomo, left, and Milano.

‌DECATUR — Interest in putting Decatur at the center of food innovation continued to build with the grand opening last month of National Foodworks Services in the former Brush College School building.

A ribbon-cutting for the facility at 575 N. Brush College Road was held with Archer Daniels Midland Co. Chairman, President and CEO Juan Luciano and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner among the state and local officials in attendance.

ADM’s support has put the startup business in a unique position for ongoing success, said Tony Caccomo, who is a managing partner of National Foodworks, along with Jim Milano.

“This is what we believe is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the country,” Cac-

como said. “The relationship is unlike any between a Fortune 500 company and small startup. They had a vision and believe in us.”

ADM, which invested $2 million to help the business get started, sees changes happening in the food industry, Luciano said. He said $18 billion in revenue has shifted in the past few years from large to small food packaging companies.

“The ability to bring small entrepreneurs in the market is on track now,” Luciano said.

“Together, we can help make Central Illinois a prominent new center for food innovation, in the process spurring economic growth in our region.”

National Foodworks will be assisting aspiring entrepreneurs start food-based businesses and expand production capabilities to reach larger markets, Caccomo said. The 40,000-square-foot building, which is located next to ADM’s Randall Research Center, provides the space to work with and teach Please see Cook, Page 5

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Cook From 4

those entrepreneurs as ADM and National Foodworks offer resources and expertise to help customers address changing consumer preferences, he said.

As part of those efforts, Luciano said ADM and National Foodworks launched the Food Innovation Challenge, which welcomes entrepreneurs from seven states to build and sell their food business idea. Innovative products in the categories of baked good, snack-type bar or condiment are being accepted for the contest.

The winners will receive a total of $100,000 in seed funding and services, with access to business and production mentors to help make their company successful. For more information, go to www.foodinnovationchallenge.com.

Applications are being accepted through May 16 with entries open to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri or Wisconsin residents.

Rauner said it is clear food innovation is a key to future economic success in Illinois and pledged his support from experience in the venture capital business to assist National Foodworks as it starts operation.

“This can be a hub long term for incredible innovation and economic growth,” Rauner said.

The challenge for National Foodworks to meet its goals is about to begin as its operations get under way, said Lee Strom, chairman of FARM Illinois, a statewide strategic plan being developed to turn Illinois into a leading hub for food and agriculture system innovation.

“This is a prime example of what it takes for our state and town and cities within it to thrive,” Strom said. “We can be a global leader in food innovation.”

Decatur can benefit from the attention National Foodworks will be able to create as it works with other businesses, Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe said. She credited the effort Caccomo and Milano have put into starting the business.

“The next wave of prosperity for Decatur starts with entrepreneurs,” Moore Wolfe said.

“It’s been a long time coming. They’ve worked hard and dreamed big.”

The use of local vendors while remodeling

the facility shows the commitment National Foodworks has to support community, said Mirinda Rothrock, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce president.

“Utilizing local business is key to continued growth in the local community,” Rothrock said.

The major advantage Decatur can provide to newly created food-based businesses is its access to transportation systems, including highway and rail captured through the Midwest Inland Port, said Ryan McCrady, Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County president.

“That is a key benefit that can’t be replicated,” McCrady said. “One-third of the nation’s population is within a day’s drive of Decatur.”

McCrady said businesses tend to locate around others with similar missions as the services to support them exist. He said Decatur has that support to offer National Foodworks and other companies interested in the area.

Caccomo said consumer trends are changing toward interest in locally produced food. National Foodworks is designed with those trends in mind, he said.

A large refrigerated room and walk-in freezer in what used to be the courtyard of the school are part of what Caccomo sees as being needed to meet the evolving trends. Sufficient space to store products at a cool temperature will be needed, Caccomo said.

“The nature of food is to localize more and use fewer chemicals,” Caccomo said. “With shorter shelf lives for products, temperature controls will be a huge part of the food industry in the future.”

The first phase of construction includes packaging and storage area, loading docks, fork lift ramps and a training room dedicated to Luciano, Caccomo said.

He expects further work to expand the facility will be started in the near future. Work to finish off the remaining part of the old school is expected to begin in the fall, Caccomo said.

A food aggregation center will be constructed this summer in what is now the parking lot, he said.

Caccomo said additions are being planned for approximately 7.5 acres of land surrounding the existing building.

New president, focus for Black Chamber CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — A reorganized group in Decatur is shifting its focus in an attempt to generate more opportunities for young blacks in the community.

The Greater Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce, formerly the Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce, recently installed Tamarra Fuller as its new president.

Fuller She replaces Anthony Walker, who is moving to Bloomington and forming the Illinois Mid Regional Chamber, of which the Decatur group is an affiliate.

“I want to bring the community together,” Fuller said. “We can do better to support small business.”

Fuller said more needs to be done to reach the youth within the community by teaching about entrepreneurship and leadership.

“We want to present the realm of different things they have to choose from,” she said.

“We want to let them know all the opportunities that are available.”

The Black Chamber is in the process of forming the Raising Outstanding Young Aspiring Leaders, or ROYAL, program. It has appointed Malik Abdullah, 19, to spearhead its efforts.

“I want to make a change,” Abdullah said.

“It starts with the youth.”

The program will focus on five pillars, including academic excellence, cultural awareness, health and family awareness, civic responsibility and leadership excellence, Abdullah said.

Abdullah is looking to various organizations within the city to create partnerships and offer classes focusing on topics related to business. It will soon start holding events, he said.

Fuller said partnerships are important for the success of the organization as it focuses on the community and business along with health and wellness. She said going in a new direction can be difficult but necessary.

The group plans to work with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Black Chamber, Fuller said. It is no longer affiliated with the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce, which formed a new chapter last year called the MetroDecatur Black Chamber of Commerce.

“We will bring more to the city of Decatur,” Fuller said. “Anything I can do to make the community better, I want to make it happen.”

One of the ways Fuller is looking to bring neighborhoods together is by creating community gardens. The first one on West Packard Street is named the Emma Urban Gardens to honor Fuller’s grandmother.

She hopes the gardens can enhance the health and nutrition of community members.

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Gov. Bruce Rauner shakes hands with managing partner Tony Caccomo after the ribbon cutting at National Foodworks Services. In the background are Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolf, Archer M Daniels Midland Co. Chairman, President and CEO Juan Luciano and Chamber President Mirinda 1 Rothrock.

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Haines & Essick closing after 114 years Long lines a testimony to store’s stock of memories TONY REID Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – The Haines & Essick store’s long goodbye began at lunchtime with the start of a closing sale filled with happy shoppers finding bargains but who kept saying how sad it all was.

On the one hand, it was a great opportunity to buy cool stuff ranging from up-market kitchen gadgets and books to high-end stationery and gifts and all marked down, as the store put it, “aggressively.”

But with a closure that has come after a storied 114-year history in Decatur touching on the lives of generations, the sale had the feeling of shopping the up-market home of a beloved and dying friend.

“Oh, I love to shop here, and I am just so sorry to see it leave,” said Doris Smith, 81, who lives in Decatur and brought her extended family along for the Haines & Essick last hurrah. “What will I miss the most? Oh, gosh, all the beautiful knick-knacks and their Christmas displays, they were always phenomenal.”

The sale doors opened at noon on April 21, and the line waiting to get in had built up until it ran west from the store’s main entrance at 150 E. William St. and snaked around the corner onto North Main Street.

The determined but patient throng included downtown female office workers wobbling on high heels, several people using walkers and at least one shopper in a wheelchair.

But in front of all of them was Sylvia Shadwell, 70, who had arrived at 11 a.m to secure the top slot. A few minutes later, the Decatur woman was weaving her way through the packed interior, a basket with preserves and gourmet dips in her hand and bittersweet memories in her head.

As fellow shoppers squeezed by clutching everything from lamps to a stuffed giraffe, Shadwell was a 10-year-old girl again. She recalled how she had saved her allowance for ages until she had enough to spend $15 each on a pair of decorative plaster plaques she had coveted in Haines & Essick and planned to give her Mom for Christmas.

“I came in and bought them and when I got on the bus to go home it was snowing and I slipped and fell and broke them both,” she said. “When my dad saw me he felt so sad he gave me the money to replace them.”

Now it’s the store itself that can’t be replaced in Shadwell’s eyes, a piece of Decatur that will soon live only in her memory.

“Just so much of the downtown I remember is gone,” she added. “It’s changing times, and I am really going to miss Haines & Essick.”

Sue Miller, director of retail sales for Striglos Haines & Essick, had earlier told the Herald & Review that shifting shopping habits and a post-recession recovery that didn’t meet expectations doomed the store.

PHOTOS BY LISA MORRISON, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

The line for the Haines & Essick going-out-of-business sale stretched around the building before the doors were to open for the first time following the announcement the business would be closing after 114 years.

‘It’s changing times, and I’m really going to miss Haines and Essick.’

Sylvia Shadwell, shopper On the first day of the closing sale, she was a retail general marshaling her troops as the shoppers surged this way and that. Many of them kept stopping their shopping to tell her how sorry they were, like relatives passing on condolences.

“Everybody, everybody, everybody is like that,” Miller said.

She said the store has been a part of so many lives for so long that seeing it go for many customers is like bidding farewell to a part of their own lives.

“We’re part of their past, part of what they grew up with,” she added. “And when anything like that changes, it’s hard for people to accept.”

That closure draws a line under a retail history that rang up its first sale as Haines & Essick in 1902 when the business was founded

by W. Roy Essick and Harry E. Haines.

It began as a bookseller and stationer and

moved to is present location in 1927, gradually expanding over the years and going through many remodelings and renovations to update its look.

The late Decatur businessman Nick Striglos purchased the business in 1984 and the controlling company is now run by his son, Scott Striglos.

Cindy Deadrick Wolfer, who owns the Shop on Main women’s fashion store at 407 N. Main St., said losing Haines & Essick from the downtown streetscape is a major blow.

“It’s been there a long time, and it’s always been a great place to shop and do business; it’s very sad to see them close,” she said.

“I think the closure will have an impact on downtown, and I just hope that it is only a short-term negative impact, and I also hope there is a long-term positive impact in that perhaps other retailers can come in and do well there.”

The city of Decatur has also got its fingers crossed about that. Patrick Hoban, the city of Decatur’s economic development officer, believes other stores will be found to occupy the Haines & Essick space. He said the property layout, with its multiple entrances, could be easily sub-divided.

Sylvia Shadwell was the first person in the “We will work closely with the Striglos door for the Haines & Essick going-out-offamily to find tenants,” he said. business sale.

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Now open‌

Rhonda Braden didn’t want to leave Maroa without a downtown cafe for long. She said having one is good for the community.

So after the Main Street Cafe closed in February, Braden decided to start working on the Uptown Cafe and open it at 119 W. Main St. Although it’s in the same place as the previous diner, Braden said everything was remodeled with more color added inside.

She enjoys visiting with everyone who visits the restaurant, which is part of its small town charm and friendly atmosphere.

“It’s nice to see everyone come in,” Braden said.

Braden said they wanted to provide a hometown feel by creating a room in tribute to past and present Maroa-Forsyth students and a wall for those from Maroa who have served in the military.

One of the biggest hits with customers so far for breakfast is The Trojan, which Braden said is toast, two eggs, hash browns, gravy and cheese piled high with a pancake, sausage and bacon on the side.

Weekday specials are offered for lunch with fried chicken and fish among the most popular, she said.

Hours for the Uptown Cafe are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call (217) 794-5114. *** The owners of a business serving the Decatur area are hoping to make outside fun again with the return of warm weather.

Michele and Jeff Sommers have brought the Mosquito Joe franchise to the Decatur and Springfield market. It’s part of a nationwide company that helps customers get ahead of issues that arise during the summer, Michele Sommers said.

Mosquitoes can ruin outdoor fun and expose people and pets to insect-borne disease, she said.

“It got to the point where we couldn’t bring our younger son outside,” Michele Sommers said. “I was really intrigued by the concept.

They believe in helping people have fun outside.”

Not every yard is the same, Jeff Sommers said. Custom solutions are available after a site assessment with treatment available for mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, he said.

The business plans on serving residential customers in addition to places such as schools, golf courses and restaurants that offer outdoor dining, Michele Sommers said.

Wooded areas are especially in need of treatment, she said.

The best form of prevention is set to up a regular spraying schedule, with an all natural treatment option available, Michele Sommers said. Regular treatment can be 95 percent effective at eliminating mosquitoes, she said.

The business also offers treatment services ahead of special events, Michele Sommers said.

For more information, go to springfield. mosquitojoe.com, find “Mosquito Joe (Springfield, IL)” on Facebook or call (217) 717-4789. *** Big Blue Personal Training has opened in Millikin University’s Exercise Science & Sport Pavilion, 1099 W. Wood St. The student-run venture features senior M 1 Dillon Haase of Minooka as the personal

May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 7

BI Z BI T E S trainer and four juniors able to do body composition analysis and health assessments.

All will be able to work as personal trainers after passing a certification exam this month.

Angela Doehring, assistant professor of exercise science and sport and faculty adviser to the new business, said fees for community members are $30 per hour for personal training and $40 for a visit to the pavilion’s new Bod Pod for body composition analysis. Discounts are available for students, faculty and staff.

For more, visit millikin.eduigbluepersonaltraining, email bigbluepersonaltraining@ gmail.com or call (302) 715-2278. *** A new studio in Decatur is designed to raise self awareness through yoga.

Yoga Home Inc. & Ayurveda Centre at 2828 N. Main St. Suite 102 offers daily classes, owner Tara Drake said. Drake previously taught at Be Yoga Decatur in downtown before it closed at the end of March.

Drake likes the location for the new business, adding that it is on the main floor of its building, which provides accessibility for the variety of participants. The studio offers a chair yoga class, she said.

Yoga has become a popular activity for many people, Drake said.

“It connects the mind and body through breath,” Drake said. “It’s the study of yourself.”

Classes are scheduled for various times of days, including morning, lunchtime and evening, Drake said.

A children’s class is offered on Saturdays, she said.

Ayurveda is something Drake said is new to Decatur and the sister science to yoga. It emphasizes life science by seeking a balance between the mind, body and spirit, she said.

For more information, find the studio’s Facebook page or call (217) 433-0085. *** Jennifer Sheppard has given expression to her fun side by opening Renee’s Kloset, a plus-size women’s clothing shop, in the Small Business Expo of Decatur Plaza MidTown.

“My middle name is Renee, so it’s like my alter-ego,” she said. “She’s fun, she’s fabulous and she’s flirty.”

A plus-size woman herself, Sheppard saw a market for her business when she found herself driving an hour or more to shop for clothes.

“Women like us prefer to try our clothes on and would rather not shop online,” she said.

Renee’s Kloset occupies Suite 3 of the Small Business Expo, located at 1113 N. Water St. in Decatur, and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday.

For more, find the shop on Facebook or call (312) 823-7774.

On the move‌

A new facility is providing a chance for a company in Decatur to expand the services it offers to customers.

Shur-Co of Illinois, which has been in Decatur nearly 20 years, moved into a larger building at 3993 E. Mueller Ave. It previously had been located near the Pilot Travel Center, said Jason Mattison, the Shur-Co service center manager.

“We built it to offer a diverse selection of products and satisfy customer demand,” Mattison said.

The company produces and distributes tarp systems, which can be used in industries such as agriculture, construction and waste disposal, Mattison said.

Its location near Archer Daniels Midland Co. makes it particularly useful for trucks hauling grain, he said. A newly-launched tarping system for flat bed trucks can be installed inside the facility and doesn’t require workers to get on the trucks, which Mattison said improves safety.

The company’s goal is to grow additional manufacturing, service and distribution capabilities over time, with more jobs being created in the process. Shur-Co employs 12 staff members in Decatur, which could be increased 20 in the future as more production jobs will be needed to install the systems, Mattison said.

Shur-Co distributes its products through a worldwide dealer network. Customers can stop by the Decatur office to find what they’re interested in, Mattison said.

It is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (866) 356-0246.

Expanding‌

Hickory Point Bank has announced the formation of First Illinois Ag Group.

First Illinois Ag Group provides a full range of professional agricultural services, including farm management, farm brokerage, farm auctions and farm appraisals.

“Our agricultural services department has a history of service that spans more than 100 years,” said Jim Schroeder, senior vice president of the new division. “First Illinois Ag Group positions us to serve clients for the next 100 years by making us a one-stop shop for farmland owners.”

Farm management, real estate sales and purchases, rural appraisals and consulting formerly conducted under Schroeder/Huber LLC will now be provided as part of the First Illinois Ag Group division.

“Our staff remains the same, as does our goal to keep our clients well-informed, put their needs first, and work to maximize the value of their farm investment,” said Bruce Huber, First Illinois Ag Group senior vice president. “We will continue to provide close, personal attention to our clients in order to better understand their goals and meet their

Don’t FForget get Mt. Zion

needs. We will continue to use our experience and industry expertise to provide the most comprehensive line of agricultural services.”

First Illinois Ag Group has offices in Decatur and O’Fallon. For more information about First Illinois Ag Group and its services, visit www.firstillinoisaggroup.com. *** Shareholders have approved the merger of First Busey Corporation, the holding company for Busey Bank, and Pulaski Financial Corp., the holding company for Pulaski Bank, with First Busey as the surviving corporation.

The merger of the two bank subsidiaries – Pulaski Bank with and into Busey Bank, with Busey Bank as the surviving bank – is expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to regulatory approval.

Pulaski Bank has 13 full-service branch offices in the St. Louis metropolitan area. It also offers mortgage loan products through loan production offices in the St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago and Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan areas, mid-Missouri, southwestern Missouri, eastern Kansas and Lincoln, Neb. *** Krave Frozen Yogurt in Mount Zion already has established itself as a dessert destination.

Now owner Brett Ahlin is looking to cater to those on a tight lunch schedule.

Ahlin introduced his express lunch menu in November to good reviews.

Served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the sandwich selection includes chicken salad, turkey club, BLT, turkey, pulled pork and a bretski (turkey, mayo, stuffing and cranberry sauce on a hoagie roll).

The menu also includes soup. Loaded baked potato is offered daily, with a second option that changes.

A lunch combo is offered that includes a sandwich, soup and one side. The list of sides is constantly growing, Ahlin said, but one option is always frozen yogurt, of course.

For more, go to www.kravefrozenyogurt.com.

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

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8 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | May 2016

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Campaign looks to set crime record straight CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — Ray McElroy described how he wanted to make a tackle on his first play in the NFL. Instead, McElroy picked up audience member Caleb Smoes on stage and showed how he was upended on the play by an unanticipated blocker, throwing his feet in the air.

“Just like Decatur, when I was knocked down, I didn’t stay down,” McElroy said.

“I picked myself up and finished that play.”

McElroy, a former Eastern Illinois University player who later played for the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions during a six-year professional football career, was the featured Bateman speaker during the Community Leaders Breakfast at the Decatur Conference Center & Hotel.

Prior to McElroy, Nicole Bateman introduced the latest focus for the City Limitless community marketing initiative, which was started last year. The message from the “Safe Streets, Strong Community” campaign will be changing the perceptions about public safety and crime in the Decatur area, said

JIM BOWLING, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

Motivational speaker Ray McElroy holds audience volunteer Caleb Smoes sideways to demonstrate a hit he suffered while playing in the NFL. McElroy was the keynote speaker at the Community Leaders Breakfast in the Decatur Conference Center & Hotel.

Bateman, the community marketing manager.

“The time is now to tackle the misperceptions that tarnish our image and hamper success,” Bateman said. “Perception is not always reality.”

Decatur’s total crime rate has dropped by 56 percent in the past 20 years, Bateman said. Violent crime is down 55 percent, and property crime decreased by 57 percent, she said.

“This was not by chance,” Bateman said.

“We have an opportunity to put the facts out and not sit on the sidelines. We need to speak up and not let others define our story.”

Since 2002, Bateman said Decatur has been the second-safest metro area in Central Illinois, behind Bloomington-Normal.

Violent crime has decreased since hitting a peak in 1996, she said.

Local law enforcement officials have been taking a proactive approach in an attempt to cut down on crime, said Jim Getz, Decatur interim police chief. Getz said officers are encouraged to interact with members of community, particularly youth.

“I don’t know if that was always the case 20 years ago,” Getz said. “Our relationship with the whole community has come a long way. To build those relationships with the youth can pay dividends, not just now, but 10 years from now.”

Macon County Sheriff Thomas Schneider has been particularly encouraged to see the drop in violent crime, with more than 15 homicides a year in some cases dropping more recently to single digits. He credited

stepped-up enforcement in relation to drugs as part of the reason behind the changes.

“You have to have the community involved,” Schneider said. “They have stepped up to support law enforcement.”

Getz and Schneider said their departments plan to be part of the upcoming City Limitless-led efforts to provide information about public safety in Decatur.

McElroy said his career is similar to the transition Decatur is going through. McElroy overcame obstacles and what others might have thought about him or his teams to achieve his boyhood dream to play professional football by continuing to believe in himself.

“I know what it’s like to be labeled,” McElroy said.

Shortly after his playing career ended, McElroy said he became a statistic among former NFL players by filing for bankruptcy.

McElroy said he had given away too much money and made bad business investments.

With the support and help of his family, McElroy turned his outlook around.

“After 10 years, things are looking up,” McElroy said. “It took a lot of hard work.”

He said the Decatur community should work together to achieve its goals.

“We are stronger when we come together,” McElroy said.

Taylor takes Heyworth principal job VALERIE WELLS Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – Decatur School District Superintendent Lisa Taylor has accepted a position as junior/senior high school principal in Heyworth, effective July 1.

“I have loved every position I’ve had in DPS, and am proud of our accomplishments,” Taylor said. “We have greatly improved the climate, culture and morale; implemented individual instructional devices; completed nearly $80 million in high school renovations; expanded dual credit opportunities; and worked with businesses to offer internships for high school students.

“What we have accomTaylor plished in Decatur, we have done together, and that is what I am most proud of. Our accomplishments are evidence that only through collective ownership and intentional collaboration can we truly improve schools.”

Taylor has served Decatur since she was a student-teaching candidate and worked at MacArthur High School and in the Keil Administration Building as an administrator, including as deputy superintendent, prior to being named superintendent in 2014.

“The opportunity to serve Heyworth is ideal for me and my family,” Taylor said.

“I’m going to be able to work directly with

students and teachers at the building level.

The teachers and leaders are respected and trusted by the community.

“I am excited to be part of a team that is reflective and constantly learning, and most important, I’m looking forward to meeting the students.”

Heyworth Superintendent Ty Wolf said he believes Taylor will be an outstanding principal.

Taylor’s departure comes after several months of controversy in Decatur over her contract and four board members’ decision against extending it past the original June 2017 expiration.

At a closed meeting in February, though no vote was taken, board members said it was obvious that Brian Hodges, Fred Spannaus and Dan Oakes were in favor of extending the contract while board President Sherri Perkins, Vice President B.A. Buttz, and members Alida Graham and T.J. Jackson were against it.

Suzanne Kreps, president of the Decatur Education Association, said she’s happy for Taylor and her family, but will miss working with her. “She did many things very well, and I wish we’d had more years under her leadership to see where the district could go.”

“Heyworth is getting an awesome, dynamic person, but it’s a huge blow to us,” said Paula Busboom, president of the Decatur Federation of Teaching Assistants.

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May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 9

Enjoy your Decatur layover Gaitros Aviation a one-stop pilot, passenger shop ALLISON PETTY Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – Located just north of the Decatur Airport control tower, Gaitros Aviation might escape the notice of many airport visitors.

Air Choice One fliers and Main Hangar restaurant diners head for the main terminal, but the Gaitros facility is the front door to Decatur for pilots and passengers of corporate and private planes.

First impressions are important, Will and Jessica Gaitros know, and they do their best to make a good one.

The fixed-base operator provides refueling, maintenance and mechanical services as well as a lounge for pilots and passengers. They’ll even pick up food from various restaurants in town for jet pilots who have requested it on their planes.

The couple opened the business in June 2010, filling a gap in services at the airport.

Decatur Park District employees had provided fueling and line service, but Will Gaitros was the first aircraft mechanic at the airport since Decatur Aviation closed in 2005.

Airport traffic gets a boost from the additional amenities, said airport director Tim Wright. People will bring their planes from other airports and even other states to receive Gaitros’ expertise.

“Over the years, Will and Jessica have built the business on honesty and hard work,” Wright said. “The honesty and the hard work shows by the amount of transient aircraft that come to Decatur Airport to get their airplanes or their aircraft worked on.”

Originally from Cerro Gordo, Will Gaitros graduated from Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Okla., with an airframe and powerplant certificate and an associate degree in aviation maintenance. He received a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Before coming to Decatur, he worked for AVMATS in Mascoutah, where he learned sheetmetal fabrication, installation and repair on Navy and corporate aircraft, in addition to practicing his mechanical skills. He also helped with the opening of a new fixedbase operator in the St. Louis area.

Gaitros has also attained inspection authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration, meaning he can perform required annual inspections on aircraft. The designation isn’t granted to just anyone; mechanics must have worked a minimum of three years in the field before they are eligible to take the test.

There’s not much in the way of mechanical services that Gaitros can’t offer for singleand twin-engine aircraft. He can change oil, tires and engines. People who want to cusM 1 tomize their planes – adding a new radio sys-

PHOTOS BY JIM BOWLING, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

Co-owner Will Gaitros, left, and assistant mechanic John Dixson refasten a cowling after finishing service work on a plane at Gaitros Aviation.

Line service worker Mark Wintz fuels an airplane. tem or lights, for example – can receive those services, too.

Gaitros Aviation is also one of three repair centers in the state for Rotax, a specialty type of aircraft engine.

“It’s just a different type of engine than most people are used to, so there’s some specialized training on it,” Will Gaitros said. “We have that training, so we can do just about anything on a Rotax engine.”

Jessica Gaitros, who has a bachelor’s degree

in finance, manages the business functions of the office, including payroll, taxes and invoicing. It’s a family affair, as sons Jackson, 5, and Bennett, 2, have grown up around the airport.

“It’s really neat when someone lands and my 5-year-old says, ‘I like your (Cessna) Citation,’” Will Gaitros said. “He knows the airplanes.”

The business also has five employees who have all received safety certifications through the National Air Transportation Association.

The couple solidified their future plans in 2013 by purchasing the buildings and trucks they use from the park district. They recently expanded marketing efforts to appeal to pilots within a 50-mile radius, people who might be unfamiliar with what Gaitros can offer.

It’s been a steady journey to reclaim business lost in the five years the airport was without a mechanic.

“Some probably went to neighboring cities, some probably went someplace else and then we took it over,” Will Gaitros said.

“Eventually people are coming back, but once you build a relationship with someone you know, it’s going to take a while to get that back.”

Many pilots have Will Gaitros’ cellphone number, which is on his business card. He has even made house calls.

People respond well to the high level of service. A majority of reviews on airnav.com, billed as a informational website for pilots, include a five-star rating.

One pilot, Jeffrey Meyer, wrote in 2014 that he stopped overnight in Decatur while flying from Florida to Wisconsin, only to discover that his plane needed a new alternator.

He rented a car and drove home, then returned the following week to retrieve the plane.

“I was a little nervous about a different mechanic working on the plane, but they did a great job,” he wrote. “It runs great, and all the paperwork was very detailed and in order.

These guys are the best.”

10 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | May 2016

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Don’t underestimate the importance of timing ‌ M y mother, the first entrepreneur in my life, has always been a font of wisdom. ‌Her canon of observations includes: “Choose your timing wisely.”

This particular phrase was her advice whenever I was ready to make a big request of my father, and I learned through trial and error to gauge the situation. If it was a tough day at work, if my grades were less than expected, if his voice was stressed on the phone, if there was a major repair needed in the house, it was a bad time to ask for something. Our household economy – a combination of energy, effort, emotion, and financial resources – all influenced if my request would be successful.

Choose my timing wisely, indeed.

It turns out there is an entrepreneurial lesson in her advice, and there is data to support it.

Entrepreneurship Bill Gross, a serial entrepreneur who created IdeaLab to incubate new ventures, collected data on 200 startups, and shared his insights via a TED talk last year. (Find the link at www. millikin.edu/entrepreneurship) As a quick summary, he ranked successful and unsuccessful startups along five dimensions: Ideas, team, financing, business model and timing. His hypothesis was that the idea was the most important factor for a successful startup. To his surprise, timing was the most common denominator for success of these companies.

Good timing means that customers are ready for the product or service, that the infrastructure for delivery is in place, and that market conditions are favorable. As a point of clarification, favorable market conditions don’t exactly mean a booming economy. Times of stress in the economy are just as good for innovation.

We have a recent local example in National Foodworks Services.

Tony Caccomo’s vision for a food incubator didn’t start when an attractive location went up for sale. He had the vision much earlier, looked at many locations and had numerous conversations.

In Decatur, he saw advantageous logistical infrastructure in development, low

Julie Shields

TARGETING & RETARGETING ONLINE Q A

Entrepreneuers Among Us

Stephanie Wiseley is the owner of Sozo Artisan Soaps in Decatur, which makes natural soaps, salves and various other products. Check out her story at sozoartisansoaps.com.

Cayla Hittmeier Wiseley

cost of living and local businesses that might be interested in the idea. Tony’s background is in real estate, and I believe he would echo that location, location, location is certainly important. After all, he grabbed a compelling location next to Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s research facility when the old Brush College School went up for sale.

What he may not have envisioned at the start of his journey, however, was the major market shift as millennials entered the food economy. They want healthier food, more diversity to meet their lifestyle choices, preferences for organic options, etc.

Additionally, baby boomers are considering new products high in nutrition as a critical factor in extending their quality of life.

Good timing, Tony!

Another current market condition is that large food product companies are reducing their research and development departments as they opt to let small, startup companies test the product market more nimbly.

Big food companies can buy and assimilate small companies with successful products more cheaply than employing their own research and development teams to develop ideas that may or may not be commercially viable. Who envisioned that five years ago?

National Foodworks Services is a vehicle to help small companies get noticed by giants like Kraft, General Mills, Quaker, etc., and it will help larger companies scout out potential acquisitions.

Time will tell if National Foodworks Services achieves the success they envision, but Tony and his team have demonstrated that they have indeed chosen their timing wisely.

Digital Specialist Herald & Review

601 E. WILLIAM ST. DECATUR, IL 62523 217.421.6994

I’ve heard people talk about targeting and retargeting online readers, how does it work?

So, you’re sitting on the couch half watching “The Voice” and half shopping online on your iPad. Your husband is in the next room on the laptop surfing Facebook and all the sudden, he starts getting served display ads for the cute little ankle boots you just viewed on zappos.com. He says, “What are you buying now?!” BUSTED! OKAY – maybe this only happens in my house. At any rate, THIS is a perfect example of retargeting.

And I know it has happened to YOU. You may not even realize it, but you’re being targeted and retargeted online ALL THE TIME…on EVERY device.

There are several ways that a business can target the PERFECT online searcher or potential customer. The most obvious way is by Search Behavior. If you are a company that sells jewelry, you can set up all of your ads to serve to online users who have recently been searching for jewelry online. For example, on Google they search “Pandora Bracelets”. Then, they move away to a national site like Fox News, WebMd or ESPN…BOOM!...you serve them an ad that shows your store offers a wide variety of Pandora bracelets with a “CLICK HERE TO SHOP NOW” button and like magic, they are now a qualified sales lead!

Not only can you target by search behavior, but also by demography, geography AND if they’ve been to your website and gone away…that’s called SITE RETARGETING! With geographical targeting, you can even target potential customers while they are literally in the buying situation. For example, a bank can target around Auto Dealerships while the customer is on the car lot with Auto Loan ads, just as a final reminder that you are ready to help them finance. It’s amazing!

Best part of a Targeting/Retargeting Campaign…YOU WILL SEE ROI. The Analytics Reporting you get back is incredible. The best part of setting up this campaign with the Herald & Review team is that we won’t set your campaign and forget it. We watch campaign DAILY and optimize your plan to give you the BEST results…stretching your advertising dollars further.

Call me to get started today. Also, if you’ve been getting busted shopping online by your hubby, I can help with that too.

We’re not JUST a newspaper.

We are Multi-Media Consultants.

Online Contesting

Social Media

National Website

Website Design

YouTube Advertising

Search Engine

Julie Shields is director of Millikin University’s Center for Entrepreneurship.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

Targeted Email

Pinterest

Pandora Marketing M 1

May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 11

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Fishing for minimum wage hike details ‌T

his month we are taking a welcome break from equal employment enforcement to discuss another timely topic, minimum wages. ‌Every now and then, a company does something so stupid, so illogical, so counter-intuitive, so lacking in common sense, that you wonder how they stay in business.

Then curiosity gets the best of you, and you see if they shuttered the doors.

As Exhibit A, I offer Ivar’s restaurants Human Resources in the Seattle area.

Ivar’s is one of the best-known seafood eateries in the Pacific Northwest, if not the country. As a native Seattleite, I can attest it has chowder to die for.

Like all employers in that town, Ivar’s was faced last year with a drastic increase in the city’s minimum wage, enacted by the super-progressive (e.g., left-wing, knee-jerking, bleeding heart and politically correct) city council. The new wage, to be phased in over several years, would cap out at $15 per hour.

Now, one could honestly wonder how a seemingly high-tax, anti-business munici-

Fred Spannaus

pality like Seattle can maintain its white-hot economy, but that’s a topic for another day.

Common wisdom is that restaurants suffer terribly when minimum wages increase.

They are forced to raise prices to the breaking point, we hear, and they lay off workers to stay afloat. So, common sense dictates that they should fight minimum wages increases tooth-and-nail, and then drag their feet to the absolute limits of the law come implementation time.

So, what did Ivar’s do? Pretty much the exact opposite.

Well in advance of the date it needed to comply, it announced it would raise everyone’s wage at its flagship restaurant, some by as much as 60 percent, so that everyone earned at least $15 an hour. Immediately.

Then it raised its prices by an average of 21 percent. Finally, it told its customers they needn’t bother to leave tips anymore.

Crazy. Dumb. Makes you wonder how long it took before it went belly-up.

So, how’s it working out?

“It’s been a surprise,” Ivar’s Seafood Restaurants President Bob Donegan told AP reporter Gene Johnson four months later.

“The customers seem to like it, the employees seem to like it, and it seems to be working, at least in this location.”

“One waitress is saving for accounting classes and finding it easier to take weekend vacations, while another server is using the added pay to cover increased rent ... Revenue has soared up 20 percent, supportive

customers are leaving additional tips even though they don’t need to, and servers and bartenders are on pace to increase their annual pay by thousands, with wages for a few of the best compensated approaching $80,000 a year.”

While in Seattle in January, I did my own follow-up research at Ivar’s Acres of Clams, the second of Ivar’s diners to implement the wage jump. Exiting after a tasty dinner, I encountered two employees, standing off by themselves.

“Say, I wonder if you could tell me something, completely honestly,” I asked. ”How is this no-tipping thing working out, and I mean how’s it working out for you?”

They both smiled widely, and told me how proud they were to work for Ivar’s, and how

Funk

Grohler

FRED SPANNAUS, FOR THE BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

many years of service they had, and how food-service workers in the area were lining up to file applications.

On its website, Ivar’s said it had four goals: to comply with the new law; to keep wages and benefits the same or better; to maintain high quality food and service; and to not significantly change the cost to its customers.

Looks like they touched all four bases.

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 e-mail at spannaus@ ameritech.net or by phone at (217) 425-2635.

BIZ CLIPS

Promotions‌ Chris Funk has been promoted to executive vice president, Commercial Banking, at Hickory Point Bank.

Kent Newton has been promoted to executive director of the Sanitary District of Decatur

Achievements‌ Herald & Review reporter Allison Petty has been named one of the “Top 30 Under 30” people in the newspaper industry by the National Association of Newspapers.

First Busey Corporation has been recognized among the 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois by The Daily Herald Business Ledger, the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, MRA-The Management Association, the Small Business Advocacy Council, the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group.

Ryan Hendrix, a registered representative for Mutual of Omaha, has been named Agent of the Year for 2015.

Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois at the Cancer Care Center of Decatur has received reaccreditation by the QOPI Certification Program, an affiliate of the American M 1 Society of Clinical Oncology.

Petty

Hendrix

DynaGraphics-Wood Printing of Decatur won an Award of Excellence and a Certificate of Merit from The Great Lakes Graphics Association at the 2016 Graphics Excellence Awards competition.

Geno Grohler of Promax Construction has been commended as a CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator.

Chris Perry, of Peerless Cleaners Inc, recently completed and received IICRC certification in upholstery and fabric cleaning.

United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois recognized the following individuals at its recent Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet: Amy Frazier of Hickory Point Bank, as Volunteer of the Year; Karen Schneller, Decatur Memorial Hospital Foundation executive director, as Employee Campaign Leader of the Year; Tate & Lyle earned the A Company That Cares Award, and the Campaign of the Year went to Land of Lincoln Credit Union. Live United Awards went to Bergner’s

Lee

Karcher

Jennifer Mellott, Caterpillar’s Jeff Taylor, ADM’s Francita Harvey and Gina Smith, Peerless Cleaners’ Katie Eytchison, Y103’s Terrance “TAT” Taylor, Exelon and the Moultrie County Counseling Center.

Gretchen Karcher has been named the 2016 Big Sister of the Year for Illinois by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Illinois.

Photo coming soon

N State Hwy 121, Mt. Zion, IL For Sale

John C. Lee, M.D. presented a program on glaucoma at the Cogan Ophthalmic History Society annual meeting at Washington University in St. Louis.

1.9 acre, 200 ft. road frontage.

3800 sq. ft. retail, and over 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse.

Biz 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.

Call or text Paula Cooley 454-1050

Announcements‌

12 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | May 2016

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Tim Vieweg

Megan Vieweg

Managing Broker

Forsyth Commons

2,400 Square Feet for Lease Office/Medical Suite Call or Text Hank at 474-3444

2980 N Main

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

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Administrative Assistant

521-4955

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

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200 Spitler Park Dr. OFFICE COMPLEX, 3 units totaling 4,200 Square Feet. Only $339,000

Vieweg ReAL eSTATe Welcomes

Cindy Bachmann, Shirley Henrichsmeyer, & Chelsi Ross To our growing team of professionals

1900 E Eldorado

This is a fantastic office building with great traffic & visibility. 5000 Sq Ft finished up & down. Reduced to $359,000

469 W. Wood

Former Dentist Office Close to Downtown Purchase with or without equipment Lease or Sale

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

1414 W Grove Road

Plus 2 great tenants Call for details!

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Former Union Iron Facility 601 S 27th Street 5 bldgs w/60,000 S.F. 8.63 Acres Fenced

Office or Retail Shop Space with overhead doors New roof & paint throughout

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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FOR LEASE, 3,750 SF office with large lot.

High Traffic Count Pylon Sign Available

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

225 S. Main St. - Suite 200• Decatur, iL 62523

Wildwood Center, Mt. Zion

Church ready for new congregation, 7,200 SF. Only $349,000

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

500 square foot Office

3790 L&A Industrial Dr

FOR LEASE, 4,200 SF building w/lots of concrete lay down space.

14’ drive-in doors

217-450-8500

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May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 13

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Shirley Henrichsmeyer 433-2547

Kirt Holder 521-3207

Chelsea Mohn 853-7593

Hank Norris 474-3444

945 S Jasper

344 W Cerro Gordo St

Well established Church Ready for new Congregation Call or Text Hank at 474-3444

35,100SF Warehouse w/offices Drive-in & dock doors.

1335 N 21st St.

5,000 SF Warehouse w/ Office Space. 2-12x14 O.H. Doors.

Asphalt parking for 8

849 S Rt 51, Forsyth (Former Eyemart) 1500-3000 sq ft for LEASE.

2102 N. Oakland Ave. Heavy traffic Ideal for small businesses REDuCED!

M 1

Kelli Kerr 433-8950

200 Lewis Park Dr, Mt. Zion Office, Showroom & Warehouse 25,605 SF on. 3.71 acre site.

Former Hostess Bakery FOR SALE OR LEASE 40,000+ S.F. 9 dock door & trailer parking

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

Chelsi Ross 791-9192

Heather Saffer 620-5351

John Stock 619-2578

Park 101 Industrial Park

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

345, 385, and 415 E. Ash Avenue

Medical and Professional Office Space for Lease Across from Wal-Mart 1500 to 4600 sq. ft.

Call Cindy 521-4955 or Shirley 433-2547

1520-1530 McBride Ave

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Bev Whipple 454-6613

1070 W Southside Dr.

Professional Building with One unit Available.

1050 sq ft. Available

1201 E Wood St

13,600 SF w/open floor plan Former Walgreens & grocery store

3130 Kandy Lane

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

5,000 SF Office & Warehouse FOR LEASE Drive-in & Dock Door

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Business Opportunity Established Downtown Eatery

ViewegRealEstate.com

1122 N 21st & 1125 N 22nd 6,400 SF total w Drive-in Doors

14 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | May 2016

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Disc golf taking flight in Decatur AREN DOW Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – After seeing a friend post on Facebook how much he enjoyed playing disc golf, Chris Wentworth decided to give it a try.

He found out there was a course at Nelson Park where the golf course used to be, but after the first time he was lukewarm on the idea.

But then he played with someone who had experience, and his whole perspective changed.

“I was in awe of how far you could throw,” Wentworth said. “All the different things you could make them do, the variables with wind, there’s a lot more to it than just throwing a Frisbee; there’s a lot of science. I was hooked.

I bought a bag, 10 discs, and I was out here five days a week.”

It transformed from a hobby to a workout plan that fueled his competitive side.

“I don’t know how many miles you walk, but I lost 50 pounds that first summer,” he said. “I mean, it’s great exercise, and you don’t even feel it: You’re just having fun.”

He’s seen a sport he loves undergo its own transformation since another course was put in Forsyth Park this past summer. When he started, there were other people who came out to play, but the additional course has infused a new set of players into the sport.

“I think there are more kids out in Forsyth at the park; I think it’s more visible than it is here,” he said. “I think there’s been a lot more people start playing because of Forsyth, and they’re using both courses.”

Wentworth said it’s an attractive sport for families. Once the initial investment of a disc, or Frisbee, is made, playing is free. And when the peak times to play are during the summer when kids are out of school, those two dovetail together.

But beyond giving the public another recreation outlet, the addition of another course to the area gives the Decatur a chance to host tournaments that bring in players from Illinois and surrounding states. While most golf tournaments use the same course with different hole positions between rounds, disc golf typically uses multiple courses for one tournament. Having two courses in close vicinity makes a difference.

The purses of the tournaments aren’t comparable to golf. The largest purse ever for a disc golf tournament was in Peoria last year.

That $117,453 purse was right around last year’s $110,000 Decatur-Forsyth Open held at Hickory Point Golf Course.

Despite the gap in prizes, there are still a significant number of players. Many such as Wentworth have turned a hobby in a competitive outlet, while still having a family. That Peoria tournament hosted 682 players – the 326 professional players played three days, and the 356 amateur players played two – bringing plenty of competitors in to fill hotel rooms and frequent restaurants.

This May, the Forsyth course is hosting a B Tier, a class of tournament that typically

PHOTOS BY AREN DOW, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

Above: Bobby Harrison, of Decatur, tees off on the hole No. 2 at the disc golf course at Nelson Park. Below: Brandon Zerfowski lines up his putt.

brings in about 100 people. And there is talk of hosting a larger-caliber tournament down the road.

“People are traveling. They’re taking weekends off and traveling hundreds of miles to play in tournaments,” Wentworth said. “That’s good for Decatur and Forsyth.”

But while the courses may be able to hold tournaments, they’re also a cheap option to stay active and be outside. While some play constantly in the hopes of improving, there are plenty who play just for fun.

“My 11-year old comes out and plays,” Bobby Harrison said. “Just to keep him in-

terested in it with his short attention span, he loves coming out here and play.”

“You can play in an hour, and you can play several courses in a day,” Wentworth added.

“You don’t need a tee time to play, you don’t need to keep buying golf balls. You can play M with one disc and have a good time.”

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May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 15

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Calendar of events

For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/

The Arts‌

Charity events‌

Chill on the Hill, 7 to 10 p.m. at Mount Zion’s Fletcher Park. Lineup includes Feudin’ HillAnne Lloyd Gallery: Barn Colony Artists billy’s on June 3, Imagine That Band, June 9, and Duck Derby Day, to benefit the Children’s Annual Show. Opening reception from 5 to MissConduct, June 16.

Museum of Illinois, is set for its 25th running 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6. Call (217) 423-3189. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7. This www.decaturarts.org year’s race will include inflatables, carnival Gallery 510: Watercolors by Rae Nell Spengames and free admission to the museum. cer. Meet the artist reception, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Rhythmic Cir- And, new this year, the museum will be hostcus: Feet Don’t Fail Me Now, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ing a separate Kids’ Duck Race for prizes with Friday, May 6. Call (217) 422-1509.

Blue Connection: “Find Your Voice,” May 7. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318. www.kirk- themed ducks that families get to take home. works by Jarrott Sekosky. Meet the artist landfinearts.com For more information, go to www.cmofil.org reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6.

Millikin University Department of The- or call (217) 423-5437.

Proceeds from the sales of Sekosky’s work will atre and Dance: “Blood Wedding,” May 4-8, Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger support Our Voice Through Art, an art pro- Albert Taylor Theatre. For tickets, call (217) 424- Food Drive, Saturday, May 14, to benefit gram for people with disabilities. Call (217) 6318. local food pantries.

428-0112. www.millikin.edu/blueconnection Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre presents Perkinson Art Gallery, Kirkland Fine “What I Didn’t Learn in College,” May 6-8 and Arts Center: Student Exhibition, May 2-13. May 12-14. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318. www.

Decatur Airport: Photography by Jim Hill. pdtheatre.org Lullaby Concert, featuring the Millikin Decatur Public Library: Works by GalLittle Theatre-On the Square: ”Shrek-The Decatur Symphony Orchestra’s student string lery 510 members in honor of the group’s 25th Musical,” June 1-12; “How to Succeed in Business ensemble, 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, Decatur anniversary.

Without Really Trying,” June 15-26; “Chica- Public Library. go-The Musical,” June 29 to July 10. For tickets, Children’s Museum of Illinois: The mucall (217) 728-7375. www.thelittletheatre.org. seum hosts a variety of activities throughout Gilbert Gottfried Live, 7 p.m. Sunday, June the month for kids of all ages. For a complete Cookin’ with Chorale, 6 p.m. Saturday and 5, Decatur Civic Center. For tickets, go to www. listing, go to www.cmofil.org or call (217) 423Sunday, May 28 and 29, Fairview Park Pavilion 1. mainhangarrestaurant.net.

5437.

On Stage‌

For the kids‌

Music‌

BANQUET GUIDE

Scovill Zoo: Zippy Zoo Days with Mom, Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and 8. www.scovillzoo.com Airport Fun Day and Experimental Aircraft Association Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, may 21. Call (217) 428-2423.

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.

Community Prayer Breakfast, featuring University of Illinois men’s basketball coach John Groce, 7 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Cost is $15. Registration required by call (217) 4222200 or going to decaturchamber.com.

Macon Speedway. Dirt track racing every Saturday night and on Memorial Day. www. maconracing.com MidState Cup Tournament, May 13-15 at the Decatur Soccer Complex. www.midstatesoccer.com

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16 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | May 2016

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Trades can open jobs across country CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR — A select group of workers in the Decatur area are taking advantage of training programs for trades that can open long-range career paths.

A tour of training facilities for electricians, plumbers and operating engineers in Decatur and surrounding areas last month provided a look at some of the options that are offered.

The Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County along with the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce helped to organize the tour for representatives of local businesses, government and schools.

The training has been worthwhile, said C.J. Leming, who is finishing his fourth year as an apprentice in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, or IBEW Local Union 146 training program at the Midstate Electrical Training Center in Decatur.

“It’s a big commitment,” Leming said.

“Without this, I don’t know where I would be.”

Electrician apprentices are expected to complete five years of training along with another five years of work after that, said Jason Drake, training director for the center.

In exchange, Drake said tuition costs are covered as the program is funded by its partner companies and contractors.

The number of participants each year is based on the employers’ need for workers in a 12-county area of Central Illinois, said Josh Sapp, the local IBEW business manager.

Students commit to a daily work schedule along with attending weekly classes in the evening, Drake said. The school year mirrors that of high schools and colleges as trainees learn the trade, Drake said.

They learn skills that can lead to jobs across the country as journeymen after the training is completed, he said.

“They can go anywhere they want to work,” Drake said. “Their mobility is not limited.”

The tour was timed so participants could see some of the training that occurs, said Ryan McCrady, the EDC president. It helps to build the relationship between those involved in the construction trades with other sectors of the community, he said.

“They can see the significant amount of training and how much is invested in it,” McCrady said.

The United Association of Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 137 has a training facility in Springfield that serves a 16-county territory from Tuscola to the Illinois River, business agent Mark Greenwalt said.

Apprentices are trained to work on projects that include various types of systems in schools, hospitals and other types of commercial and industrial buildings, he said.

The training program has changed since services were consolidated in recent years with what used to be offered in Decatur, training coordinator Andy Fuchs said.

Classes are offered during the day for a week

PHOTOS BY JIM BOWLING, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

Training director Jason Drake shows motor controls used by apprenticeship program participants in the lab while he gives a tour of the IBEW Local Union 146 building.

Visitors browse the motor control lab. at a time, Fuchs said.

Training is designed to give students a He said it’s not an ideal system, but it is hands-on learning experience, Fuchs said.

Greenwalt said continual training is necworking.

“The results we’re seeing are incredible,” essary, providing participants with enFuchs said. “Everyone comes out of the ap- hanced career opportunities. prenticeship with the same skills.”

“We think you can pick something up ev-

ery day,” Greenwalt said. “We can train you to do whatever you want to do.”

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 965 training facility in Buckhart provides a place where students can learn how to safely and precisely operate large pieces of construction equipment, including cranes and motor graders. What looks like a bunch of workers using equipment in a giant sandbox is actually more than that as trainees learn such tasks as road construction, training coordinator Kent Campbell said.

Crane operators learn how to communicate using hand signals, which is most effective at a work site, Campbell said.

“You can never simulate everything they will encounter out there,” Campbell said.

“We try to get as close as we can.”

The Operating Engineers covers a 15-county area, business agent Vince Shaw said. He said apprentices need to complete 6,000 hours of work, which usually takes four to five years.

Campbell said the most recent class of apM prentices started training this week.

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May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 17

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Asking for help can lessen your stresses ‌Q

: I am under so much pressure, and don’t really see it changing. Between my kids and aging parent, and between my boss and my staff, it seems like everyone needs a piece of me. How can I keep it all together and still have something left for myself? I’m just plain tired.

A: It’s a recipe for exhaustion, that’s for sure! And it may take some creativity to find ways to remain energized and sustained.

Start with the positive. When do you feel your best? Sink into that feeling, closing your eyes and taking some deep breaths.

Imagine the setting, the people around you,

Liz Reyer

the sounds and smells; use your imagination to recreate that feeling. Also focus on the physical aspect, taking in how relaxation feels.

As an experiment, think about a more stressful situation, and notice in particular the physical impact it has. Does your breathing change, or do you feel your shoulders tense or your fists clench? Consciously reverse those physical effects; you’ll see that you can defuse some of your inner tension by managing your physical responses.

Now scanning all aspects of your life, make a list of all the people, places and things that make you feel good. Nothing is too big or too small — your list could range from a vacation to listening to your favorite song. In fact, a healthy sample of day-today “simple pleasures” will be valuable to know.

Compare this list to your actual experience. On an average day, do you do one of these things? Five? None? Reflect on the

WEEKLY TIPS Get weekly tips from the Office Coach and Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com. level to which you nurture yourself. It’s so easy to take care of others first, but you’re experiencing the consequences of that priority.

Where do you go from here? Right now, today, decide to do one thing for yourself.

It may be as simple as taking a five-minute break in a quiet room, having dinner with a friend, or going for a walk. The key is to make it achievable with some emotional value for you. Then appreciate yourself for your follow-through.

We’ve focused on building yourself up; the other side of the coin is managing your responsibilities. In most cases, there are ways to reduce the burden, even a little bit.

When you think about your personal life,

are you allowing others in your family to step up? Are you asking for (and accepting) help? How about at work? Explore ways to become a more effective delegator. It’ll help your team grow and take some burden off you.

As you ease some of the immediate strain through these tactical steps, you may find that you have the emotional space to do a larger assessment of your life. If you find that the structure of your life is not sustainable or that your situation cannot be managed in a way that nourishes you, consider more substantial changes you might make. But take care not to do that in the heat of the moment, as it could lead to decisions you regret.

All said, it’s essential that you put yourself first in order to be valuable to others.

And even simple steps will help sustain you.

Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience.

How to handle birthday parties in the workplace ‌Q: My staff seems to be having a problem with birthday celebrations. These used to be handled by a birthday committee, but that ended a couple of years ago. Since then, there has been no formal recognition of birthdays in the office. However, some people like to surprise their friends by bringing a cake to share.

I was recently advised that employees who never receive a cake are feeling left out, and it was suggested that we stop celebrating birthdays altogether. Personally, I don’t see why anyone should feel excluded simply because other people Office Coach get cake from their friends. After all, these goodies are shared with everyone. What’s your opinion?

A: Since you seem to be missing the point, I’m wondering whether you were one of those kids who was chosen first for every team and always asked to prom early. The fact is that these gatherings for cake have become popularity contests in which those with good friends have their special day recognized, while others go unacknowledged.

Admittedly, this is a minor league matter about which some people may not care at all. But as a manager, you have to be concerned about any issue creating division in your group. Fortunately, this one has a simple solution, requiring neither the reinstateM 1 ment of a time-wasting birthday committee

Marie McIntyre

nor the elimination of happy celebrations.

Inform your staff that individual birthday festivities are being replaced with a monthly event honoring everyone born during that month. Help them agree on a celebration strategy — sharing cake, having a group lunch, or anything else you find acceptable. If friends still want to recognize a buddy’s actual day, they are free to do so without fanfare.

Just be sure to draft someone with good organizational skills to keep an accurate record of birth dates. If the lack of a cake made people feel left out, being officially ignored could leave them seriously depressed. *** Q: My boss does a great job of running the office, but seems to have trouble regulating her emotions. “Diane” frequently rolls her eyes and sighs condescendingly when people are talking to her. She also responds irritably to relatively minor issues.

Although Diane does this with everybody, I’m the only one who has objected. I recently informed her that these immature behaviors were interfering with her stated goal of improving our communication. She replied that we needed to find a mediator.

I think Diane is missing the point, because there is no conflict to be mediated. I’m just tired of her negative emotional reactions.

How should I handle this?

A: Diane is not the only one missing the point. Based on your own description, she is not a horrid manager, just an annoying one.

So the real issue is your inability to accept her imperfections.

If I were talking to Diane, I would strongly suggest making her feelings less obvious.

But since I can’t change her behavior, I hope that I can alter yours. Giving orders to the

boss seldom works out well, so continuing this confrontational criticism would be a major career blunder.

Diane’s expressive reactions obviously push your hot buttons, so instead of focusing on her emotions, you should try to control your own. If you practice what you preach and stop “responding irritably” to this “relatively minor issue,” the relationship with your boss might greatly improve. *** Q: I recently realized that I’ve been acting like an emotional drama queen in my new job. Because of this behavior, my manager has expressed doubts about my fitness for the position. However, I think he might be willing to give me a second chance.

I now understand that I must respect personal boundaries and be careful about the subjects I discuss at work. I’ve considered sending my boss an apology email explaining what I’ve learned and how I plan to change. Do you think this will help?

A: Kudos to you for recognizing that your own behavior is the source of your problems. Instead of defensively rejecting your manager’s concerns, you considered the possibility that he might have a point. Honest self-examination is the first step in personal growth, so this mature attitude bodes well for your ability to change.

While an apology email may encourage your boss to keep an open mind, you need regular feedback to be sure his opinion is shifting. For example, you might suggest meeting every Friday to review the previous week. This will not only highlight your progress, but also make you aware of any concerns.

To increase your odds of success, identify

the triggers for your emotional behavior. Do certain subjects spark excessive self-revelation? Try to avoid those topics. Do particular people push your buttons? Limit your time with them. And if you inadvertently wander into conversational quicksand, be ready with an exit line, like “Sorry, I’m getting off the subject.” *** Q: My boss regularly complains to me about my co-workers, and they tell me she does the same with them. Her habit of openly discussing our flaws tends to pit people against each other and create conflict. However, she always says she wants a more cohesive team. What should we do about this?

A: Your gossipy boss is completely out of line. A mature manager would never discuss one employee’s job performance with another. However, she sounds more clueless than malicious, so perhaps she’s just a compulsive talker with no filter between her brain and her mouth.

Since giving feedback to the boss is always risky, you must carefully consider her reaction before raising the issue. If she is typically non-defensive and open to advice, the group might be able to safely present this as a concern, not a criticism.

Alternatively, you could have the message delivered by a third party, like a trustworthy human resources manager. But if direct feedback seems unwise, then you should band together and minimize the damage. If everyone agrees to disregard your boss’s harmful remarks, you might really become a more cohesive group.

Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and author.

18 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | May 2016

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PHOTOS BY JIM BOWLING, BUSINESS JOURNAL‌

Chloe Jones feeds Kendrick Ford while watching her son, Myles Tyus, in the infant room of the Foundations program at Central Christian Church.

Laying a Foundation for the future Program helps teen moms earn high school diploma THERESA CHURCHILL Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – At first glance, it could have been any classroom of students discussing Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood,” under the guidance of their teacher.

But then you notice two jars of Gerber beef and gravy on the table between two of the students and a pair of pink pacifiers strewn across the open notebook in front of another, a young woman sitting in the back, holding a tiny baby in her arms.

Welcome to Foundations, a special school inside Central Christian Church that helps teenage moms and mothers-to-be earn their high school diplomas.

You might think it’s a new program, but it’s just a new name. It reflects Baby TALK’s partnership with the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education after Decatur public schools had to drop out as co-provider of Phoenix II after a nine-year partnership, ending after the 2013-14 school year.

This is the second year under the new arrangement.

Due to give birth to a boy in May, Emma Veech, 17, of Cerro Gordo said the program will allow her to graduate on time and enroll this fall at Richland Community College as planned.

At Foundations, she’s found the acceptance she fears she would not have found at her high school.

“At first I wanted to leave school right away but decided to stay until the end of the (first) semester because I wasn’t showing,” Veech said. “It’s better to be surrounded by girls who are in the same situation as me.”

She’s also getting a closeup look at what it’s like to be a mom. “Babies need a lot of attention,” Veech said.

The biggest change caused by the switch in program partners is that Foundations is open to students at any high school or middle school in Macon or Piatt counties and not just to those attending Decatur public schools.

Rachael Wiley, coordinator of Baby TALK’s Family Literacy, STEPS and Pre-K programs in addition to Foundations, said she enrolled a student from Mount Zion last year and so far this year has had students from Sangamon Valley and Cerro Gordo and plans to take one from Maroa-Forsyth this spring.

Foundations also follows the same schedule and educational model as Futures Unlimited, another alternative school operated by the regional office of education, which makes transfers between the two schools almost seamless.

Both Regional Superintendent Matt Snyder and Claudia Quigg, executive director of Baby TALK, say the partnership is working well and allowing students to succeed. “We had girls out in the county really needing this service,” Snyder said.

Quigg said the Futures model, which allows students to move through the curriculum more quickly but is strict on the attendance requirement, is just what the students need.

“The other thing that makes it work is the deep relationships the staff develops with the mothers and their infants, which gives them a sense of being connected and valued,” Quigg said.

Chloe Jones, 18, completed the credits she needed to graduate this spring from MacArthur High School two months before her son, Miles Tyus, was born Dec. 14, but returns regularly to encourage the other girls.

She said she felt especially close to her English teacher, Carolyn Jameson, who taught her a life lesson almost every day.

“When I got pregnant, I thought my life was over,” Jones recalls. “Coming here made me realize a lot of people have gone through what I’ve gone through, and it taught me to grow up.”

Instructor Carolyn Jameson assists Shyloh Shartzer next to Senebrea Campbell during a Foundations program consumer education class.

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May 2016 | BUSINESS JOURNAL | 19

T E C H TA L K

Keeping your business information safe

‌S

ecurity breaches continue to hit the headlines on a regular basis. ‌In many cases, businesses’ sensitive data is exposed, or financial information is released, leading to damages and often outright theft.

At the opposite extreme is ransomware, a type of malware that enables hackers to encrypt your data and hold it hostage until you pay a fee to get it back.

How do you protect yourself and your business?

Encryption can Technology provide a crucial layer of security, but there are many different kinds of encryption.

Here’s how to pick what’s right for you.

Wendy Gauntt

Your computer‌ An obvious line of defense is to encrypt your hard drive. This is a one-time step that is fairly simple. When you initially turn on encryption, you’ll get a recovery key that you must save, and over the course of several hours, your computer will encrypt the entire contents of your hard drive.

Once the encryption is complete, you are unlikely to notice any difference. You login as usual, and everything works normally.

However, if someone steals your computer or hard drive, they will be unable to read the contents without the recovery key. That includes you, by the way! Be sure to save that key in a safe place.

If you have a recent version of Windows (8 or newer) or Mac OS X (Lion or newer), encryption tools are built in, and all you have to do is activate them. With older systems, you’ll need to purchase and install a third-party encryption tool. Balance the cost with the risk. If your computer is a desktop that resides in a secure location (for example, a locked office) encryption may be less important. However, for people who regularly travel with laptops, or business PCs in easily accessible locations, encryption is a smart step to protect your business.

Mobile devices‌ Because mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones are so easily lost and misplaced, encryption is highly recommended.

Make sure you have a strong passcode set on each of your devices. Four digit codes are a minimum standard, but longer codes are better. Encryption won’t matter if a hacker bypasses your passcode.

On iOS (Apple) devices, encryption takes place automatically. For Android devices, M 1 you have to enable it in the settings.

One additional precaution you may wish to take is to enable a “remote wipe” for your devices. If your company provides devices, look into mobile device management (MDM) tools. This is software that can be installed for easy, central management.

MDM offers a variety of security features, including remote wipe. You can also do this on your own. For Apple devices, this is available through the “Find My iPhone” app, and on Androids, you can use “Android Device Manager.” These apps will try to locate your device using GPS. If it cannot be found, they can trigger the device to erase all data the next time it connects to the internet.

Sensitive data‌ For especially sensitive data, take extra steps to protect yourself. This includes financial data, health care information, personally identifiable information (often referred to as PII) which might include Social Security numbers, birth date, biometrics, and even commonly used challenge information such as mother’s maiden name.

This also applies to any data protected by regulatory requirements (HIPAA, PCI, SOX, etc.). You can encrypt and password protect individual files or databases to cre-

ate an additional layer of security on this sensitive information. If possible, avoid loading any of this onto mobile/portable devices. When it can’t be avoided, encryption provides extra protection.

Methods vary depending on how the data is stored. Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat provide options to password protect (and encrypt) your files. If the data is stored in an alternative format, like a database, you’ll need to check options available within that software.

the past, these were a major headache to set up, because the sender and the receiver had to share an encryption key to be able to correspond back and forth. The setup process was confusing, making it hard to know for certain whether your message would be received. However, newer encryption services have simplified the process. In some cases they maintain directories that handle the encryption key exchange for you; in other cases the process has been modified to be easier for the recipient to follow.

Email‌

Wi-Fi‌

Your computer may be secure now, but your email is not. Normal email is unencrypted and easy to intercept online, so you should never email sensitive data like credit cards, bank accounts, Social Security numbers and passwords. It’s true that a hacker isn’t necessarily looking for your specific email, but they may intercept your message, and intelligent software programs can easily recognize sensitive contents. In seconds, you can be exposed.

If you send password protected files via email, those files are encrypted by the software you used, which helps. However, if you regularly need to send confidential emails, get an email encryption service. In

Don’t skip the obvious. Make sure your internet connection is also secure. If you transmit data over a public Wi-Fi connection, it can be picked up almost effortlessly, so be careful what you send. Secure websites, indicated by a lock symbol, and “https” vs. the normal “http” will encrypt data sent back and forth, so those are secure. Assume that nothing else is. To protect your company, set up a VPN (virtual private network) so that all internet traffic between your computer and your office is encrypted.

Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, a technology consulting company that specializes in small business solutions.

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Abuse brings enhanced opioid guidelines JUSTIN CONN Business Journal Writer‌

DECATUR – Abuse of opioids is the ‌ fastest-growing drug problem in the U.S., prompting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recently issue tough new prescribing guidelines.

According to CDC Director Tom Frieden, prescriptions of opioids – drugs including Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin and Morphine — has quadrupled since 1999. More than 40 Americans die every day from prescription opioid overdoses.

“Increased prescribing of opioids is fueling an epidemic that is blurring the lines between prescription opioids and illicit opioids,” Frieden said.

The new guidelines – part of a White House initiative aimed at combating the rise in drug overdoses in the U.S. — stress that doctors avoid prescribing opioids, which are highly addictive and depedence-inducing, whenever possible for patients with most forms of chronic pain, including joint or back pain and dental pain.

The CDC advisory recommended the “lowest possible effective dosage” when opioids are prescribed, and that patients who are on them should be closely monitored.

But the guidelines would not prevent use of narcotic painkillers for cancer or terminally ill patients.

HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Pain Medicine Center of Central Illinois Director John Furry said the new guidelines are aimed mostly at primary care physicians, who write nearly half of all prescriptions for narcotic painkillers.

“What’s been in practice for pain centers and pain specialists is much like what they’re saying,” Furry said. “These guidelines have been patterned after our most prevalent practices. These are for family doctors.”

Two recent studies published by the Journal of the American Medical Association called attention to the opioid prescription problem. One in Toronto tracked prescriptions given to American patients after lowrisk surgeries and found that within a week of discharge, four out of five patients had filled a prescription for an opioid painkiller. Another found that 42 percent of patients who had teeth removed filled an opioid prescription, including 61 percent of 14- to 17-year-olds.

But studies on what exactly are the best ways to manage pain remain limited.

“The studies we do have are notoriously not high quality when you compare them to other areas of medicine,” Furry said. “That’s because we’re a young specialty – the practice of the specialty of pain management and pain medicines has only been in existence since the early 90s.”

Figuring out who should get pain medicine and who shouldn’t is a constant battle made complicated by just how addictive and dependence-inducing opioids are, and the lengths those who are addicted or dependent will go through to get them.

“There are studies that show there are 14 to more than 20 percent of the population in

A recent study revealed four out of five American patients had a prescription filled for an opioid painkiller within a week after having a low-risk surgery.

Dr. John Furry, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital pain center director said all patients who might be prescribed opioids are screened for addiction potential. chronic pain,” Furry said. “But there’s no such thing as a pain-o-meter – you can’t hook a patient up to something and tell how much they hurt. It’s self-reporting – they have to tell you how much they’re suffering.

“And pain can be separate from suffering.

There’s the physiological pain you feel, and then there’s what the pain is doing to your life.

Usually the more severe the pain, the more suffering, but we all experience pain differ-

ently. Some of that is even based on genetics – it’s been proven.”

There are patients who are both suffering from chronic pain and addicted/dependent.

“They’re the toughest ones to treat,” Furry said. “Because the thing about opioids is they’re some of the best medications to treat pain – especially nociceptive pain (arthritis, broken bone and tissue pain are examples). It’s something you have to con-

stantly monitor.”

Furry said his approach comes from the old Russian proverb repeated by Ronald Reagan many times in the 1980s while dealing with the Soviet Union – trust but verify.

“You trust your patient, but you look at behavior patterns and check out the prescription monitoring program,” Furry said.

Furry said the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program — an electronic tool that collects information on controlled substance prescriptions by retail pharmacies dispensing in Illinois – is good, but it doesn’t monitor other states.

“Currently, prescription drug monitoring programs are individual to each state,” Furry said. “Participating pharmacies can sign up and the information is available just to the patient’s physicians. Not all pharmacies participate, but most do. It’s getting better.”

Furry said all patients who might be prescribed opioids are screened for addiction potential. Those with high potential are referred to the treatment center for a more in-depth exam.

Those who are approved to be prescribed are presented the risks of taking opioids and sign a contract that says the patient won’t take any illicit substances, doctor shop or show any signs of abusing the drugs.

At St. Mary’s, Furrey said alternatives to drugs for pain relief are explored, including referrals to psychologists for cognitive pain M therapy and physical therapists.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH CALENDAR Support groups‌ TOPS Club IL 49 Decatur, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, Main Street Church of God, 2000 N. Main St. (enter from Garfield Street).

Support group for Real People seeking Real Results with weight loss. Go to www.topsclub.org or call Chris Granda at (217) 5212420.

Helping Hands Bereavement for Children, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Art Therapy Classroom, 210 W. McKinley, Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4735.

Grief support group, 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, Conference Room 561. Call Anita Ricker at (217) 464-2074.

Breastfeeding support group, 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 9 and May 23, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334.

SHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, May 9, HSHS 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. Call (217) 464-2045.

Epilepsy support group, 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. Call (217) 853-1655.

Pink Link breast cancer support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Call (217) 876-4377.

Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 11, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. For cancer patients and their families. Register online or call (217) 8764735.

Breath of Life support group, noon Tuesday, May 17, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, Room 561. Speakers available to answer questions from those with breathing problems. Call (217) 464-2603.

Cardiopulmonary rehab wellness group, 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom A. Call (217) 876-2496.

Diabetes support group, 11 a.m.

Wednesday, May 18, DMH Specific Performance Enhancement Center, 2122 N, 27th St. Call (217) 876-2699.

Parkinson’s disease support group, 1 p.m. Thursday, May 19, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main St. Call John Kileen at (217) 620-8702.

Brain tumor support group, 10 a.m.

Saturday, May 21, Cancer Care Center of De-

New Brother/Sister Day Camp, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, Decatur Memorial Hospital OB Classrooms. For children ages 3 to 10 years old. Registration required at (217) 876-3400.

Cardiopulmonary rehab nutrition, 11 a.m. Thursday, May 12, Decatur Memorial Hospital Classroom B. Heart-healthy eating with an emphasis on reading labels. Call (217) 876-2496.

Newborn Care and Breastfeeding Basics, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. Registration required online or call (217) 876-3400.

Cardiopulmonary risk factor education, 11 a.m. Friday, May 20, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom B. Call (217) 876-2496.

Safe sitter class, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. This program teaches 11 to Classes‌ 13 year olds how to handle emergencies and Sibling class, 5:15 p.m. Monday, May 9, provide safe child care. Cost is $25. To regHSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Confer- ister, call (217) 876-3100. ence Room. Children 3-12 learn about being a big brother or sister. To register, call (217) More‌ 464-2334.

Come Together Let’s Walk training Infant CPR class, 7 p.m. Monday, May 9, sessions, 5 p.m. Monday, May 2 and May Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classrooms. 9, Fairview Park Large Pavilion. Call (217) Register online or call (217) 876-3100.

464-2046.

catur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. to register, call (217) 876-4735.

Renewal bereavement support group, 6 p.m. Monday, May 23, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4735.

Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4735.

Widowed support group, 11:30 a.m..

Thursday, May 26. Monthly lunch gathering. For location or to register, call (217) 428-7733.

Lyme-MTHFR support study group, 6 p.m. Thursday, May 26, Mari-Mann Herb Co., 1405 Mari Mann Lane. Call (217) 4291555.

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YOU R MON E Y

Families in worse shape as income lags, study says GAIL MARKSJARVIS Tribune News Service Writer‌

‌If the economy is so good, why are you feeling so lousy about it?

After all, the stock market is near record levels. The wealth of all Americans is at an all-time record of $86.8 trillion. The nation’s unemployment rate is much improved since the Great Recession.

Yet people complain they aren’t feeling it. Are they nuts?

Absolutely not, according to a recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Pew examined the nation’s income numbers to see how households are actually faring. The researchers found that income has improved since the depths of the recession.

But for many that’s not good enough.

During the recession, the shock was tremendous as unemployment jumped to 10 percent, people lost their jobs and others had pay cuts or pay freezes. People slashed spending. But such low spending levels were impossible to maintain. By 2014, they were spending like they had before the recession.

There’s just one problem: Their pay hasn’t bounced back the way their spending has.

And they aren’t in this pickle because

they are spendthrifts. Much of what Americans are buying has just become a lot more expensive relative to their income.

The typical American household of two working parents and two children spent $36,800 in 2014, according to Pew. That was 14 percent more than they spent in 2004, and 25 percent more than 1996. Yet while spending has gone up on necessities such as housing, transportation, food and health care, income hasn’t kept pace. Even though people went back to work after the recession, income kept going down. Between 2004 and 2014, the median income dropped 13 percent, said Pew. As a result, households are strapped.

They are in worse shape than a decade ago, according to the Pew research.

The nasty combination of incomes lower than they were in 2004, and spending 14 percent higher, “is a clear indication of why and how households feel financially strained,” the researchers wrote.

The researchers broke the nation’s families into three groups by income and found all three feeling the burden of higher expenditures compared with incomes. But the lowest third is in especially bad shape.

In 2004, people in the third of the population with the lowest annual incomes

covered their spending with their pay and had about $1,500 left for the year to save, spend on insurance or education, or use in some way to advance their family’s future.

Now, there’s nothing extra. In fact, by 2014, after spending on everything from housing to food to transportation, the low-income households were $2,300 in the red.

“The lack of financial flexibility threatens low-income households’ financial security in the short term and their economic mobility in the long term,” the researchers wrote.

People build up wealth — or their portion of the $86.8 trillion wealth in the U.S. now — by accumulating assets like savings accounts, homes, and investments in 401(k) s and other accounts. The next generation benefits from wealth left from one generation to the next. Education also provides a lift for the future. Yet if every penny is covering current family needs, there is little chance to move out of the quagmire.

The major spending culprit for all families now is housing. For all households, housing obligations in 2014 accounted for the largest share of pretax income — about 25 percent. But that’s a jolt compared with 1996-2013, when housing expenditures absorbed about 21 percent or less of families’ pretax income.

And people who have had to rent are encountering brutal costs. A shortage of rental housing after people were forced from their homes in the housing crash and recession has caused rent prices to soar.

In 2014, renters at each rung of the income ladder spent a higher share of their income on housing than they had in any year since 2004, Pew found.

Those in the lower income group were spending 40 percent of their incomes on housing — often rentals. That is far in excess of the recommended 30 percent limit for a family income. The middle group was within the limit, spending 25 percent, and the top group had manageable costs at 17 percent of income.

Transportation and health care costs also climbed substantially from 1996 to 2014, but were smaller expenses compared with housing. Pew said a family of four with an income of $65,916 in 2014 would have spent $16,996 on housing, $8,320 on transportation, $5,720 on food and $2,560 on health care. In 1996 a family with a comparable income of $53,615 would have spent $12,284 on housing, $6,139 on food, $3,845 on transportation and $1,119 on health care.

The only reduction in spending over those 19 years would have been on clothing.

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U.S. currency getting historic makeover Harriet Tubman chosen to be new face on $20 ‌WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. paper money is getting a historic makeover.

Harriet Tubman, an African-American abolitionist born into slavery, will be the new face on the $20 bill.

The leader of the Underground Railroad is replacing the portrait of Andrew Jackson, the nation’s seventh president and a slave owner, who is being pushed to the back of the bill.

And Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first Treasury secretary who’s enjoying a revival thanks to a hit Broadway play, will keep his spot on the $10 note after earlier talk of his

removal.

The changes are part of a currency redesign announced by Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, with the new $20 marking two historic milestones: Tubman will become the first AfriTubman can-American to ever be featured on U.S. paper money and the first woman to be depicted on paper currency in 100 years.

“This gesture sends a powerful message, because of the tendency in American history, the background of excluding women and marginalizing them as national symbols,” said Riche Richardson, associate professor

in the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University. “So even the symbolic significance of this cannot be overstated.”

Lew also settled a backlash that had erupted after he had announced an initial plan to remove Hamilton from the $10 bill in order to honor a woman on the bill. Instead, the Treasury building on the back of the bill will be changed to commemorate a 1913 march that ended on the steps of the building. It will also feature suffragette leaders Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul.

The back of the $20, which now shows the White House, will be redesigned to include the White House and Jackson, whose statue

stands across the street in Lafayette Park.

The $5 bill will also undergo change: The illustration of the Lincoln Memorial on the back will be redesigned to honor “events at the Lincoln Memorial that helped to shape our history and our democracy.”

The new image on the $5 bill will include civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who gave his famous “I have a dream” speech on the steps of the memorial in 1963, and Marian Anderson and Eleanor Roosevelt. Anderson, an African-American opera singer, gave a concert at the memorial in 1939 after she had been blocked from singing at the then-segregated Constitution Hall. The Lincoln Memorial concert was arranged by Mrs. Roosevelt.

SEC may reduce company reports Cost, time among reasons to limit frequency ‌NEW YORK (AP) — Four times a year there’s a kind of parade on Wall Street: companies announce their quarterly earnings, all in a row, with the banks first, then the tech companies, and the retailers bringing up the rear. Stocks can rise or plunge based on the results. And three months later it all happens again.

But regulators are wondering if it’s time for a change.

For about 40 years, companies have had to make four yearly reports of basic financial information, including how much money they earned or lost, how much revenue they took in and what their expenses were. It’s supposed to help investors make informed decisions. But the Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday that it may change those rules.

It noted there are drawbacks to the requirements, like the time and money companies have to spend to prepare the reports, and the possibility that important information gets lost in the flood of stuff companies have to disclose.

The SEC didn’t propose any specific new rules or commit to making changes. It’s really asking some philosophical questions: what do investors need to know? What’s the balance between transparency, which investors need, and burdening companies with regulations?

Some observers think quarterly reports are bad for companies. BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink said in February that the constant reports encourage short-term thinking, and push

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companies to spend gobs of money on stock repurchases or big dividends, or repeatedly slashing costs instead of making longer-term investments that would help their business or the economy in the years to come. Last year Hillary Clinton criticized “quarterly capitalism” and made some of the same points.

“Quarterly numbers force short term thinking on the part of investors and on the part of management,” said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank. Still, Ablin said he opposed a change.

“I think more information is better,” he said.

If the SEC decides to make a change, the simplest option might be making companies report their results twice a year instead of four times. That’s how the European Union handles earnings, although some countries within the EU have more stringent requirements. If companies wanted to give quarterly updates, they could still do so.

Erik Gordon, professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said companies may want to spend less on earnings filings, but even a change to semi-annual reports would be bad for many investors.

“When you cut down on required public disclosure, you favor institutional investors over individual investors,” he said. That’s because big investment firms like BlackRock or giant pension funds have the ability to do far more analysis and research of companies.

Gordon says smaller investors might have a lot less data to work with.

“An individual person can’t call IBM’s customers and find out what’s going on,” he said.

“It will hurt individual investors and put them at a bigger disadvantage to institutional in-

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

vestors.”

Regardless of how many times companies report or what those reports look like, Ablin said it’s vital that investors look at company results closely and be skeptical.

“My frustration is, there’s a fair amount of latitude that investors give management in reported earnings,” he said. “In many respects I think investors tend to take reported earnings at face value.”

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