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BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com

YOUR

CALENDAR Monday, Oct. 19

Thursday, Oct. 1

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

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Human Services Agency Consortium, noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe Building, 2715 N. 27th St.

Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Tuesday, Oct. 20

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

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Decatur Landlords Association, 6 p.m., Doherty’s Pub, 242 E. William St.

Friday, Oct. 2

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

Saturday, Oct. 3

Saturday, Oct. 10

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

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

Monday, Oct. 5

Monday, Oct. 12

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.

Tuesday, Oct. 6

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

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Oct. 7

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Scheduled speaker is Keith Alexander, director of water management for the city of Decatur.

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Oct. 8

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

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

Senior Resources Network, noon, Keystone Meadows, 1455 W. Mound Road.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe Building.

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

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

Friday, Oct. 9

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

Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Tuesday, Oct. 13

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

Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., locaion varies.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Oct. 14

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

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Antioch Christian Church, 5409 East U.S. 36.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

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

Thursday, Oct. 15

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

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Cromwell Radio Group, 410 N. Water St.

Friday, Oct. 16

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

Saturday, Oct. 17

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

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Mount Zion Community Prayer Breakfast, 7 to 8 a.m., Mount Zion Convention Center. Advanced tickets required. Featured speaker is Brenda Nevitt.

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 8 a.m., Mount Zion Police Department.

Thursday, Oct. 22

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

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

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

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

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

Friday, Oct. 23

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

Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Oct. 29

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

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Friday, Oct. 30

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

Saturday, Oct. 31

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

Monday, Nov. 2

Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Tuesday, Nov. 3

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

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Scheduled speaker is Bruce Bird, Macon County engineer.

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Nov. 5

Decatur Noon Lions Club, Diamonds Family Restaurant.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

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

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Human Service Agency Consortium, noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Metro Decatur Home Builders Association, 6 p.m., Beach House.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe Building.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Friday, Nov. 6

Saturday, Oct. 24

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

Monday, Oct. 26

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

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

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Oct. 28

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill

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

Saturday, Nov. 7

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

October 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com

FROM THE EDITOR ‌When I started working in the Herald & Review’s Decatur office, the rules involving employee parking were very clear.

If you spent most of your time in the office, you were told to park in an area away from the front door. The reasoning made complete sense – doing so freed up spaces for our customers and those workers who are constantly coming and going.

One would think that making the visit a little easier on the customers would be standard practice for a business. That obviously isn’t the case for many businesses, including some in downtown Decatur.

During my regular walks I have come to associate certain vehicles with certain areas. And I often see workers emerging from businesses to move cars that are parked very nearby to other spots that are very nearby to avoid getting parking tickets.

BUSINESS JOURNAL 3

BUSINESS JOURNAL OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS

Volume 21

Issue 10

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

I get it. You don’t like to walk.

But parking in front of your business or that of a neighboring business assumes your customers don’t have a problem walking.

Business owners need to take a unified stand. Failing to establish and enforce parking rules for your employees is bad business.

If asked to choose between making my employees walk or giving potential customers an excuse not to visit my shop, the choice would be a simple one.

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

Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois

October2015Contents Standing FEATURES Biz Bites

11

Fred Spannaus

10

Free Time calendar

16

Health calendar

20

Liz Reyer

15

Office Coach

15

Marquis Beverage evolves to meet changing tastes.

18 Pin-a-Sister

Professional Profile 13 SCORE counselor

11

Wendy Gauntt

17

9 Brew masters

7

Business Clips

COVER PHOTO: Jim Bowling

‌A force of nature

A desire by Sharon Alpi to honor her deceased brother by doing something that mattered set in motion a legacy of helping others succeed.

Page 13

Breast cancer awareness program targets minority women.

ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the November issue is Oct. 19. 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. 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

October 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com

YOUR

COMMUNITY

Bringing people together Moore-Wolfe poised to maintain city’s momentum ALLISON PETTY

Businerss Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – The lunch date was supposed to be a letdown.

Carla Brinkoetter, then vice-chairwoman of what is now the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, was tasked with gently telling Julie Moore-Wolfe that she would not be hired as the Chamber’s next president. It was 1997, and Moore-Wolfe was in her 11th year as an evening news anchor on WAND-TV. By the end of their meal, Brinkoetter was so impressed with Moore-Wolfe that she failed to deliver the bad news. Instead, she appealed to the board’s chairman to reconsider, and Moore-Wolfe was ultimately hired as the Chamber’s first female president.

“She cared about the community. She understood business and the needs of business, and she just had a very outgoing, hands-on type of personality,” said Brinkoetter, who shortly thereafter became the Chamber’s first female chairperson.

“You could tell that she cared.”

Following her unanimous appointment by the Decatur City Council on Aug. 17, MooreWolfe is believed to be the city’s first female mayor. She fills the vacancy created by Mike McElroy’s death.

Moore-Wolfe, 55, said she never aspired to the position, but is eager to continue McElroy’s vision.

She has served on the council since 2009.

Her background includes experience in journalism, business and government, with all the positions sharing one quality: They required her to work with a lot of different types of people.

“She knows how to relate to people from different walks of life,” said Jeanelle Norman, president of the NAACP Decatur branch. “She’s a peace builder, peacemaker, as well as one who tries to get people to work together.”

Starting a career

Moore-Wolfe grew up in Mattoon, the youngest of three girls. She studied business at Millikin University from 1978 to 1980, then transferred to University of MissouriColumbia to study journalism.

After graduating in 1982, she headed to Amarillo, Texas, for a job at KVII-TV, where she started out doing the morning news.

“We were one-man band. This was not glamorous; camera equipment was bulky in those days,” she said. “But I shot my own stories, edited my own stories, produced my own morning newscasts.”

That also meant she was on call at night, and would cover murders, accidents and crime. Other female reporters had been scared off by this, but Moore-Wolfe loved it.

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Julie Moore-Wolfe was appointed the mayor of Decatur by the city council after the death of former Mayor Mike McElroy.

“She knows how to relate to people from different walks of life. She’s a peace builder, peacemaker, as well as one who tries to get people to work together.”

Jeanelle Norman, president of the NAACP Decatur branch.

“I learned early on how not to get embarrassed when somebody would tell you a dirty joke, because that’s what the cops loved to do,” she said.

After she’d worked there about a year, the station decided to add a woman to the evening news. Moore-Wolfe was soon tapped for the job. She stayed until 1986, when she came to Decatur with plans to work at WAND for just a year.

It’s been a long year.

In October, Moore-Wolfe will celebrate her 27th anniversary with WAND investigative reporter and radio personality Doug Wolfe. The couple has three children: Travis, 25, who is a Macon County Sheriff’s deputy; Hannah, 20, a junior at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Mallory,

19, a sophomore at University of MissouriColumbia.

“There have been times we could have left, but really didn’t want to,” Moore-Wolfe said. “We’ve been very happy here. This is a great place to raise a family.”

Building relationships across the state

Though she has volunteered with an extensive list of organizations, Moore-Wolfe saw leaving WAND as a chance to effect positive change.

“Reporting the news, anchoring the news is very reactive,” she said. “At the Chamber, I had a chance to make a difference, really get in the middle of things, do the work and try to fix things and address problems and look for solutions.”

The position taught her a lot, she said.

Her seven-year tenure included lobbying heavily for the extension of U.S. 51 south of Decatur to four lanes.

“One of the most valuable things that I learned in that process was how to bring business and labor together on joint projects. After kind of a tumultuous history in town with sometimes business and labor not always being on the same side, that’s a win for both sides,” she said.

The Chamber also worked with the NAACP Decatur branch on the development of a Joint Dropout Task Force to reduce the dropout rate in Decatur schools.

The task force was launched in April 2001,

and eventually led to donations from the business community toward some dropout prevention efforts.

“Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting people together to talk about what’s going on so we can work together and fix things,” Moore-Wolfe said.

Norman, who was also president of the NAACP during that time, said Moore-Wolfe helped foster a better relationship between the two groups. She described the mayor as approachable and willing to listen.

“We always thought of the Chamber as a place where African-Americans weren’t necessarily welcome to be a part of it,” Norman said. “I think during her leadership, there was more of a feeling of welcome and a feeling of working together to address community issues.”

Moore-Wolfe left the Chamber in 2004 to work for the state, becoming regional director of the Opportunity Returns program for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The job required traveling to communities throughout Illinois, especially after MooreWolfe’s territory ultimately expanded to a 25-county area.

Former state Rep. Julie Curry, who served as Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s deputy chief of staff for economic development at the time, recommended Moore-Wolfe for the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

October 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com

BUSINESS JOURNAL 5

Funk chosen to fill council vacancy ALLISON PETTY

Business Journal Writer‌

Business Journal, Jim Bowling

Julie Moore-Wolfe is sworn in as the new mayor of Decatur by City Clerk Debbie Bright.

Continued from page 4 position. To her, it was an easy choice.

“Julie had this incredible experience with the Chamber and the work she’d done in attracting businesses in and business growth to our community. She just had a great way of bringing people together,” Curry said. “Her communication skills were excellent. That’s really the kind of person we were looking for.”

Though the experience was a valuable one that led to great relationships, MooreWolfe said her duties shifted from what she had thought she would be doing.

She decided she needed a change and left in in 2008 for her current job as director of community and government relations for Decatur Memorial Hospital.

The position involves a lot of community outreach, which could dovetail with her mayoral duties. Between it and her council role, Moore-Wolfe’s calendar already included all but two of the upcoming community events to which McElroy had committed.

An early riser, she plans to visit her Decatur Civic Center office for an hour or more before 8 a.m., and to stop by on lunch hours to sign documents or complete other tasks.

Moving forward

This month, City Manager Tim Gleason will give a report to the council after his first six months in office. He has said he will unveil plans to help improve Decatur’s property values and strengthen neighborhoods.

“I think the challenge is getting to some of these homes while they can still be brought up to code,” Moore-Wolfe said.

“Tim’s got some great ideas about what to do to make this all happen, and he’s the more technical person. I’m more on the vision side of, he’s right, we need to do great things.”

Another high priority will be addressing the dilapidated condition of city roads, Moore-Wolfe said. Council members contemplated a local motor fuel tax to raise funds several times over the past few years, most recently mulling the logistics of implementation in March. The discussion has not resurfaced since new council members Bill Faber and Lisa Gregory were elected in April.

“When gas prices are high, people stop buying other things because the cost of everything goes up,” Moore-Wolfe said, but she said the council may not have a choice. “We’ve got to find a way to fund these roads and nobody likes it, but we cannot let our roads fall apart.”

Several people who have known MooreWolfe for years said she’ll have no trouble leading the council forward.

U.S. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, showed his support by attending the meeting at which she was sworn in. Davis said he has known Moore-Wolfe since her years working at the Chamber, and expects that his relationship with the city will not skip a beat.

“Julie’s going to do a great job,” he said.

“I hope she decides this is something she enjoys and I wish her the best, and hope she continues as long as she decides that she can be an effective leader.”

Curry said Moore-Wolfe understands government and has developed valuable relationships over time with legislators and community leaders.

“She’s so easy to get to know and get along with,” she said. “I just can’t see anyone not being able to work with her easily and become friends with her.”

Macon County board member Tim Dudley said Moore-Wolfe loves Decatur and is a great choice to move the city forward. He praised her friendly, open personality.

“That’s something people are born with,” he said. “You just can’t teach somebody how to be a people person.”

‌DECATUR – The Decatur City Council has selected Chris Funk as its seventh member.

Funk, 35, is senior vice president and chief credit officer for Hickory Point Bank and Trust. He takes the spot formerly held by Julie Moore-Wolfe prior to her appointment as mayor.

“He has phenomFunk enal financial experience,” Moore-Wolfe said of Funk.

“He’s really committed to Decatur, and he’s young, not that the rest of us are that old, but I really look to him to be (part of) the next generation of leaders in this community.”

City Councilman Jerry Dawson said he approached Funk about applying for the position, having gotten to know him when they served together on the Community Investment Corporation of Decatur (CICD) board.

“I was really impressed with him because he brought so much to the table,” Dawson said, praising Funk’s financial skills. “He had the attitude of, ‘If I’m going to be on this board, I’m going to bring what I can bring,’ and he did.”

In addition, Funk has served on boards for

the Kiwanis Club and Girl Scouts of Central Illinois and is a current member of boards for Macon Resources Inc. and Decatur Christian School.

Funk said he saw serving on the council as another opportunity to give back.

“I think the Decatur City Limitless concept and the substantial investments that have been made in this community are the right direction for the community, and I want to see us continue that vision,” he said.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in from the University of Illinois in 2002, graduating with high honors, and began working at Hickory Point the same year. Funk is also expected to graduate from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking in June 2016.

A native of the area, Funk attended elementary school in Mount Zion and Cerro Gordo middle and high schools. He and his wife, Sarah, have four children who are 10 years old and younger.

“I think there’s a significant opportunity for young people to get engaged in our city and its governance, and to continue the vision that’s been laid out and to even take us to new and better places,” he said.

Twenty people submitted applications for the open position.

Funk was one of four finalists interviewed for the position. Other finalists were G.E. Livingston, Carla Brinkoetter and Larry Foster.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2015

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Business Journal photos, Jim Bowling‌

A view from the Brock grain bin service platform provides a view of the flurry of activity down Eleventh Progress Street during the first day of the Farm Progress Show.

Farm Progress plants promise Decatur area builds on a successful three-day run CHRIS LUSVARDI

something that can be used for a building block as attention turns to next year’s event near Boone, Iowa, and its return in two ‌DECATUR – The agriculture industry years to Decatur. was focused on what was happening last The first phase of a $1 million expansion month in Decatur. to Progress City was completed in time With the conclusion of the Farm Progfor the event, said Matt Jungmann, the ress Show and farmers beginning this show’s manager. year’s harvest, Ryan McCrady doesn’t “We still see a lot more potential there,” want the attention to drift too far away Jungmann said. “We want to do everything from Decatur. we can so exhibitors still use this as a place He was busy during the event talking to launch their products.” with exhibitors letting them know about It’s encouraging to see groups coming back the opportunities available in the area. for each Farm Progress Show, including a A fair number of leads were generated, group of farmers from New York that started and even the companies that wouldn’t traveling to Decatur in 2007, said Greg consider building in Decatur could take advantage of its transportation infrastruc- Florian, Richland Community College vice ture through the opportunities the Midwest president of finance and administration.

“This is what they do,” Florian said.

Inland Port is creating, said McCrady, Jungmann is hoping farmers left the Economic Development Corporation of show encouraged, especially as field demDecatur and Macon County president.

“This is the biggest trade show in the onstrations occurred after being called off country,” McCrady said. “If they use us for the past two years in Decatur and Boone. logistics, it’s a win for Decatur. We want Field demonstration corn yields near 200 Decatur to see the benefit of the show for bushels per acre and moisture levels in the the community.” high teens could hopefully be what farmOrganizers viewed this year’s Farm ers are seeing throughout Central Illinois, Progress Show as widely successful and Jungmann said.

Business Journal Writer‌

A group from Chihuahua, Mexico, record the corn combining field demonstrations at the Farm Progress Show. The three-day event attracted visitors from at least 46 countries.

“It was a really good year for the early hybrids that were planted,” Jungmann said.

“It’s some of the best corn we could have.”

Jungmann said the plan is to start building more alliances with similar events internationally to build partnerships that would take visitors back and forth between the various shows.

A strong international interest has already been created for the Farm Progress Show. Visitors from 44 countries were preregistered with two more, Turkey and Indonesia, added during the show, said Teri Hammel, Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director.

Hotel rooms are full during the show in

Decatur within a 50-mile radius, including in Springfield, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Tuscola, Mattoon and Clinton, Hammel said.

Richland officials will be working with Farm Progress management to complete and find financing for the expansion of the site in the next two years before the event returns Aug. 29 to 31, 2017, to Decatur, Florian said. One of the primary goals is to have the streets in the expanded area paved.

Florian said the expansion helped with the logistics of getting visitors into Progress City as another entry gate was added near bus parking in the paved lots near the main Richland buildings.

October 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 7

State Black Chamber authorizes new Decatur chapter CHRIS LUSVARDI

training and interviewing tips, Jenkins said. ‌DECATUR — The Illinois State Black “That’s our focus,” Jenkins said. “We Chamber of Commerce has decided to form believe we are a vital asset to connect the a new chapter in Decatur. minority business community.”

The newly formed Metro Decatur Black Jenkins doesn’t agree with the manner Chamber of Commerce will become the in which the changes were made, and the sole and exclusive affiliate of both the actions aren’t reflective of the Decatur national and state Black Chamber organiBlack Chamber’s work and mission. Ivory zations, said Larry Ivory, President/CEO of decided to remove Decatur Black Chamber the state black Chamber.

President Anthony “Corey” Walker from “It was not an easy decision,” Ivory said the state board and in the process create a last month. “It was a fundamental disnew affiliate. agreement with leadership, and we have to The position on the state board will make decisions about how our name will be filled by Victory Pharmacy owner be used.”

Wole Adeoye, Ivory said. He said Adeoye The changes stem from disagreements will become the Metro Black Chamber’s with leadership of the Decatur Black president, working along with incoming Chamber of Commerce Inc., Ivory said.

Chairman Patricia West, owner of the The Decatur Black Chamber is lookTorch newspaper. ing to move forward without the state Adeoye said the state and national chamor national affiliation, Chairman Jacob ber organizations can provide valuable Jenkins said. The emphasis should be resources to the local community. on providing resources such as job “We want to work with business leaders Business Journal Writer‌

BIZ Now open

BITES

Customers are off and running after the Dunkin’ Donuts opened its highly-anticipated Decatur location.

The stand-alone building located at 3016 N. Water St. in Brettwood Village is the former site of a Dairy Queen and, most recently, a U.S. Cellular store. It was remodeled for Dunkin’ Donuts over the summer with features including a drivethru lane and interior seating.

The restaurant is known for its coffee and selection of baked goods. It offers iced coffee, flavored coffees, lattes, Dunkin’ Donuts K-Cup Packs and Coolatta frozen drinks along with donuts, muffins, bagels and breakfast and bakery sandwiches.

It has a menu of healthier items available, too.

The development in Decatur is part of expansion plans by franchisees Krishna Patel and Rashimi (Sim) Patel. They plan to develop four Dunkin’ Donuts locations throughout the Champaign area by 2019.

The duo currently operates six of the franchise’s restaurants in Joliet, Romeoville, Plainfield and Shorewood.

Dunkin’ Donuts has been one of the most highly requested restaurants from residents in Decatur, said Patrick Hoban, the city’s economic development officer.

He said it was the No. 5 most requested retail establishment from feedback tours and public surveys the city conducted last summer.

The city worked with the company since late last year on its plans, assisting with the design of parking, drainage and drive-thru traffic flow.

The Decatur location is open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

New owner

Tim Bedzeti wants to provide a boost for Jan’s East End Grill as he takes over ownership of the longtime Decatur restaurant.

Jan Elliott ran the business at 566 N. Brush College Road nearly 25 years before retiring last year and selling it to another owner. As Bedzeti takes over, he plans to keep much of it the same with a focus on service.

“I knew it was a good opportunity,” he said. “I saw the potential in it.”

The restaurant serves breakfast all day and home-style food for lunch. It offers catering and delivery for larger orders.

Hours are 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. MondaySaturday and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Call (217) 429-0094.

Expanding

Audibel Hearing Center has opened a second Decatur location on the city’s east end.

The new office is at 2890 South Mount Zion Road Suite A by Kenney’s Ace Hardware. MaryPat Fehrenbacher, who is a fulltime hearing instrument specialist, will run the new office. She has been with Audibel since 2012 and lived in the Mount Zion School District for the past 19 years.

Audibel has served the Decatur community for over 20 years. Its first office is located at 2605 N. Water St. No. 101.

Its hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondayFriday. Call (217) 864-4327.

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.

to make Decatur a greater place to live and work,” Adeoye said. “We have a vision and want to do our part to make Decatur great.

It’s about our community and making the community strong.”

Adeoye encourages black business owners to come together and take advantage of the resources that are available as a way to address lowering the unemployment rate. He has been grateful for the resources during his time as a business owner.

“We’re there to help assist and provide services to minority businesses to help grow business,” Adeoye said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Ivory said the state organization wants to provide assistance in making Decatur an attractive community.

The State Black Chamber has worked on minority hiring initiatives with the city, enterprise zone and other policies to provide for a stronger community, Ivory said.

The goal is to attract businesses and create jobs, he said.

“We think we can bring added value,” Ivory said.

Jenkins said the Decatur Black Chamber wants to maintain its membership while continuing its work on various projects as it has since forming 11 years ago.

“We should be working as one,” Jenkins said.

Walker responded by issuing a statement that said he intends to remain president of the Black Chamber.

“We will continue to unify the community and provide the necessary help that our community needs,” Walker said. “We have been established since 2004 and don’t plan on going anywhere.”

Jenkins said the Decatur Black Chamber has sought legal help and wants an investigation into its concerns from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities and Office of Inspector General for the state of Illinois.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2015

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We Are One campaign expanding THERESA CHURCHILL

Eric Grebner, executive director of Homework Hangout, said about 30 people, ages 18 and older, have completed the Pre‌DECATUR – A grant of $2,500 toward Apprentice Training Program since last the cost of a $300,000 indoor play space Septemer in collaboration with Painters under construction at Decatur Day Care is District Council 58. among $17,500 awarded on Labor Day by Andrea Shaffer, senior services director for the We Are One Community Fund.

DMCOC, said the agency serves more than “Every dollar is going to make a differ83,000 hot meals to senior citizens annually, ence,” said Janice Baldwin, the center’s primarily at the Decatur-Macon County executive director. “We say thank you, Senior Center and other congregate sites, thank you, thank you!” and that the cost of food is constantly going If this first-time grant represents the up. “I’m always excited when any amount of type of nonprofit organization We Are money is coming our way,” she said.

One has historically supported, then two A grant recipient for the fourth consecuothers for $1,000 each, one to Homework Hangout’s Pre-Apprentice Program and tive year is the Decatur Family YMCA, the other to the Senior Nutrition Program which will get $5,000 in financial aid so of Decatur-Macon County Opportunities that more children can attend Camp SokCorp., represent an expansion of vision. kia, the Y’s summer day camp.

“We’ve done a lot of youth programs, but Other awards are $2,000 for a new playnow we hope to diversify a little bit more ground at Old King’s Orchard Community each year,” said Amy Rueff, chairwoman of Center, $1,000 each to the Good Samaritan the fund. “We want to consistently support Inn, Railsplitter District of the Lincoln the unemployed and the elderly, in addition Trails Boy Scout Council and Big Brothers to youth and education.”

Big Sisters of Macon County.

We Are One, a charitable giving fund Rueff said an additional $3,000 in descreated in 2011 by the Decatur Trades & ignations will be mailed to the following Labor Assembly and Decatur Building & agencies: Boys & Girls Club of Decatur Construction Trades Council, gave away ($520); Veterans & Friends League ($500); $18,000 last year, $13,000 in 2013 and American Cancer Society, American Red $8,000 in 2012.

Cross and Salvation Army ($260 each); Completion of the play space at Decatur Webster-Cantrell Hall ($170); Catholic Day Care is expected later this year.

Charities, Eddie Eagle Foundation and Business Journal Writer‌

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Local 159 laborer Doug Nohren and Local 965 operator Shane Rollins of Christy-Foltz Inc., perform construction work at the site of the future indoor play space at the Decatur Day Care.

Macon County Court Appointed Special Advocates ($110 each); Dove, Inc., Heritage House, Homeward Bound Pet Shelter, Shriners Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospice, Special Olympics and Visiting Nurses ($100 each).

The distribution of grants kicks off a new year of giving to the We Are One Community fund. Local unions are encouraged to host fundraising campaigns and promote payroll deduction with employers.

Rueff said the three unions who donate via payroll deduction, Amalgamated Transportation Union 859 representing city bus drivers, United Steelworkers 7-838 representing Mueller Co. employees and

the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 632 representing Macon County workers, bring in about half the money We Are One Community raises.

The total of $20,434.50 collected for 2015 represents $16,184.50 in individual gifts and $4,250 from union treasuries, $2,934.50 of which is being reinvested in the fund with $1,679 in interest earnings toward a goal of having $50,000 in the account by 2020.

To give a donation, mail to: We Are One Community, c/o The Community Foundation, 125 N. Water, Suite 200, Decatur, IL 62523 or “like” the fund on Facebook.

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Phone: (217) 428-8844 E-Mail: tostlund@farmersagent.com 100 E Washington St. Suite 100 Decatur, IL 62523

(217) 422-3330 | 101 S. Main St., #800, Decatur, iL 62523

October 2015

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YOUR

BUSINESS JOURNAL 9

BUSINESS

Perfect blend of products, service Marquis Beverage evolves to meet changing tastes CHRIS LUSVARDI

Business Journal Writer‌

‌Every coffee drinker has a preference for how they want their cup prepared and drink to taste like.

From hot to cold, decaf or caffeinated, cream, milk, sugar and other sweeteners, each has a definition of what makes a good cup of coffee.

Coffee distributors like Marquis Beverage must keep up with the changing tastes of consumers.

Yet, it’s the simplistic nature that coffee can have that Marquis General Manager D.J. Cooper enjoys about the business.

“People aren’t going to ditch traditional coffee,” Cooper said. “People are always going to drink a certain cup of coffee. It continues to grow and evolve.”

The company is aware of changing consumer trends such as cold-brewed coffee, which is something Cooper said it will probably get into as cold-brewing is supposed to result in a smoother cup of coffee. However, Cooper said the business has managed to stay successful for nearly 40 years by staying true to its roots.

Coffee has become the world’s most popular drink by being something used for socializing at all times of day, any season of the year, he said.

Marquis was recognized with the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Micro Business Award during a ceremony in August. D.J. Cooper’s father, David Cooper, started the business in 1978 with the mission to provide customers with a product that has become so vastly popular.

Marquis’ reach has grown since then, but the base of its business has remained in Decatur, with its direct distribution routes running to Chicago, St. Louis and points in between. It currently has nine full-time employees.

D.J. Cooper credits his father with building what has turned into a successful company. David Cooper has stepped back but isn’t fully retired yet, still coming into the office on a regular basis.

“He started it with a vision,” said D.J. Cooper, who grew up around the business and took over as general manager in 2008. “He continues to give vision to the company.”

Giving back to the community has been important for Marquis, which contributes its products and services to various charitable events, including this month’s Community Food Drive.

Despite its local focus, D.J. Cooper said the power of selling products on the Internet cannot be ignored. He said Marquis has found success in selling its products on Amazon.

“I’d like to continue to grow that part,” D.J. Cooper said. “It’s been a nice addition and continues to grow.”

In most cases, the imported green coffee beans have already been on a long journey before arriving to be roasted in the company’s warehouse at 1234 W. Cerro Gordo St. in Decatur. Columbian coffee is one of the

Business Journal photos, Jim Bowling‌

D.J. Cooper, general manager of Marquis Beverage, shows a bag of Marquis Ethiopian blend, a popular coffee sold by the company.

the roasting process each day, which can take about 10 minutes per batch with anywhere between 10 and 15 recipes available. Each recipe will change the temperature the product is roasted at to vary its moisture level and color.

Beans will roast at between 400 and 500 degrees with higher temperatures leading to darker colors.

“When it’s done, it’s done,” D.J. Cooper said. “We don’t want to cook it anymore.”

Once roasted, the beans can take another 24 to 48 hours to release gas. Turning it into a cup of coffee any sooner will result in a drink that just doesn’t taste good, D.J. Cooper said.

Marquis has the capacity to roast about 200 pounds of coffee per hour, he said. Its roasting operation, which was added nearly 20 years ago, has grown to produce over 100,000 pounds per year.

Although its products are widely distributed, D.J. Cooper said some customers have figured out they can go directly to the source and visit the Marquis office to pick up the blends they want, particularly Ethiopian coffee. Individual K-Cups have started to really become popular, he said.

D.J. Cooper said Marquis offers full service options to businesses by providing and installing coffee-making equipment in exchange for stocking its products. It will Ryan Emmons bags freshly roasted decaffeinated coffee. provide all the necessary accessories like cups and stirring sticks as well, he said.

Offices, restaurants and convenience stores most well-marketed varieties in the U.S., America to Europe to the United States but D.J. Cooper said nothing comes close to because D.J. Cooper said much of it is pro- are some of its primary customers. Products Marquis distributes include China Mist Tea, the production of world leader Brazil. cessed in Germany.

Decaf beans can travel from South Warehouse Manager Ryan Emmons oversees Starbucks, Keurig and Lavazza Italian coffee.

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October 2015

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Lack of confidence clouds business transition ‌In August we started a series on transfers of ownership between generations – a parent (parents) turning over a business to their child (children). You’ll recall four companies, and only one of them turned out well. We looked at that one success story in September.

This month, we assess one of the three flops. The story is true, but I have changed some minor details. Here’s the summary: Out West in Human Resources Montana, Jeannie owns several thousand acres of productive ranchland, but she doesn’t control an inch of it. Shortly after World War II, her parents and her aunt started the ranching business, growing it into a booming success. Jeannie was an only child and the aunt was childless. They wanted the land to stay in the family and Jeannie was their sole heir.

Fred Spannaus

But there was a problem: they simply didn’t trust Jeannie. They didn’t think she had the ability to manage anything, let alone a multimillion dollar livestock and wheat operation.

Before they died, they set up a complicated legal structure with Jeannie as the nominal owner and all decisions made by trustees appointed by a bank. Jeannie cannot so much as purchase a mower blade without first obtaining permission from the trustees.

Now in her late 60s, Jeannie is very wealthy and very frustrated. She collects the profits and gives some of them to charity in whatever amounts the trustees will allow. She is haunted by the knowledge that her elders had no confidence in her.

What went wrong?

Well, where do we start? Let’s go back a few decades. The relationship between generations never outgrew the adult/child stage. As Jeannie matured, her parents and her aunt persisted in treating her like a child.

They never established a plan to train her to run the ranch. They never let her sit at the table when decisions were made. She didn’t learned how to

estimate purchases, how to hire, how to supervise, when to sell, how to invest, how to make capital outlays – all the things that go into running a major ranching firm.

Instead, they relegated Jeannie to minor tasks that were important but didn’t equip her to manage the business. She fed the livestock, she worked the fields and she picked up supplies from town.

She was not ready to assume control of the business. Her parents and her aunt made sure of that. They ran the ranch until they were no longer able, then they set up the trust to run it.

Their honorable intention was to make sure “that Jeannie will always be taken care of.”

If all you care about is dollars and cents, you’d have to say the story ended happily. The bank-appointed trustees are doing a fine job running the business. Agricultural management is a specialty of many rural financial institutions, and they know what they’re doing.

The ranch delivers a steady stream of income for Jeannie. She will not have to work another minute. Some might say

she has the perfect life – money comes in through no effort of hers, and she gets a more than adequate stipend from the trustees.

All is well, right?

Nope. If you care about people and relationships, all is wrong. Jeannie’s life has been robbed of opportunity and robbed of purpose. In many ways she is still a child, playing with her online toys while receiving an allowance. Her deep resentment toward her elders surfaces in almost every conversation.

She hates begging to the trustees when she want to buy a car, or take an expensive trip, or make a major gift to her favorite charities. She despises her long-dead parents and aunt.

No one will ever know if Jeannie could have run the business, because she didn’t have the chance to learn or the chance to try.

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.

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October 2015

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BIZ

CLIPS

New staff members Todd and Jamie Brunner have joined the Decatur office of Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., both as vice president-investments.

St. Mary’s Hospital welcomes the following physicians to the emergency department: Terry J. Balagna, Jappan Bhatt, Geronimo V. Garcia, Patrick M. Garrity, Dennis J. Goldberg, Ross A. Heller, Lawrence Jeisy, Yat M. Leung and Charles E. Pennix; To radiology: Justin Mark Brooks, Kyle B. Hayden, Teerath Tanpitukpongse, Brandon J. Snyder and Minesh S. Patel; To internal medicine: Casey E. Duncan, Prathima Kulmari Jasthi, Danxuan Long and Alyson C. Webb; To surgery: Jeffrey W. Fleischi, Grant Gonzalez and Nikesh R. Lath; To maternal/child: Prashanth Porayette and Deepthi Seekuri Manoj; To anesthesiology: Ranga V. Reddy.

Mia Fandel has been named manger of Decatur Earthmover Credit Union’s

James F. Cleaver Jr. has been promoted to postmaster for Decatur.

Achievements

Jamie Brunner

Todd Brunner

Fandel

Chuck Kuhle, director of tennis for the Decatur Athletic Club and Decatur Park District, has been named United States Professional Tennis Association Midwest Division Professional of the Year.

Announcements

Kuhle

Lehmann

Woods

Forsyth branch.

Promotions

Shawn Woods has been promoted to sales manager at Bob Brady Auto Mall.

William K. Lehmann has been elected to the board of directors of Soy Capital Bank and Trust Co. and SCB Bancorp, Inc. Business Clips are abbreviated versions of paid Business Achievements which appear on Mondays in the Herald & Review. For more information about Business Achievements, go to www.thebusiness-journal.com and click on the Submit a Business Achievement link.

ASK THE SCORE COUNSELOR ‌ : How can I train myself for small busiQ ness success?

A: There are many things to know about building a successful small business, from marketing and tax issues, to technology, finance, human resources management and more. Most entrepreneurs don’t have expertise in all of those areas. That’s why individuals interested in starting or expanding a business have been tapping into training programs at a record pace.

For many business owners, learning opportunities and training programs are becoming vital steps to planning, launching, and growing a business. During one recent 12-month period, a record 2.5 million people sought help from one of many U.S. Small Business Administration training and assistance programs, which includes SCORE. Seeking help is simply smart. No business owner can be adept at every aspect of operating a business successfully. It only makes sense to get as much training as possible, and to also have others in the business trained as well. What would happen to your business if you were incapacitated for a period of time? Would your employees be able to run the business without you? Conditions change, so keeping yourself and your key business partners informed is vital to long-term success.

One of the more popular programs in America is the SBA Small Business Training Network/E-Business Institute, which registers nearly a million users at its website each year (go to www.sba.gov then click Online Training under Services). The Small Business Training Network is a webbased conglomerate that can link you to online courses, workshops, publications, learning tools, information resources and access to electronic counseling and other types of technical help. Free online courses

‌G O T A Q U E S T I O N ?

If you have a question for the “Ask the SCORE Counselor” column, email it to charding@millikin.edu or send it to SCORE Chapter 296, Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522. For individual counseling sessions, please call the SCORE office at (217) 424-6297.

are offered on about 75 topics in areas such as business startup, growing your business, home-based business and re-engineering your skills. Sample titles include: Growth Strategies; Analyzing Profitability; Building Your Brand; and Understanding Business Insurance.

For more personal, one-on-one assistance, the local SCORE Chapter 296 offers private counseling sessions, training and workshops throughout the year through Millilkin University. Additionally, the Decatur SCORE website, www.decaturscore.org, offers guidance for completing a business plan, financial statements, cash flow projections, and much more. It is wise to look to these resources for good solid advice to help you make your business decisions.

—Bethany Wetherholt

‌Meet a SCORE counselor

Reinhart

Dennis Reinhart was in UP Commercial Loans at Regions Bank before his retirement. His counseling specialties include commercial banking and real estate. He has been a SCORE member for nearly three years.

BUSINESS JOURNAL 11

Americans are working longer hours CORILYN SHROPSHIRE

Tribune News Service Writer‌

‌Americans might be called many things — but lazy isn’t one of them.

A Labor Department survey found that Americans spent even more time on the job last year. On average, Americans logged 7.8 hours on the days they worked last year, up from 7.6 hours in 2013, according to the American Time Use Survey.

Men worked an average of 8.12 hours a day, while women spent 7.27 hours working. The disparity is largely due to a greater likelihood of women working part time, the Labor Department said.

But while working men may have logged 51 minutes more on the job in 2014 than their female counterparts, the hours women worked grew at a faster rate, the survey found. In 2013, men worked an average of 7.97 hours a day, compared with 7.08 hours for women.

Even though Americans spent a lot of time on the job, they also found more time to chill out and were watching TV an average of nearly 3 hours a day, according to the survey. They spent only about 30 minutes exercising.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

The Business Journal presents...

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IN DECEMBER’S ISSUE! Family owned businesses are important to the growth of any community. The future of our town is sculpted by the courage and ingenuity of business owners like you. Rarely are you given the chance to tell your story.

This publication is designed entirely around you and your story.

Be a part of this special section for the December issue and receive additional space to tell readers more about your business.

Call today to reserve your space at 421-6920

Advertising/Questionnaire deadline November 13, 2015

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October 2015

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October 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 13

CAREER

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Sharon Alpi founded the Center for Entrepreneurship in the Tabor School of Business in 1998. She recently retired from her work as a professor at Millikin University, but remains a consultant to the business school.

Alpi’s legacy rests in the success of others Colleagues praise her contributions to community, Millikin

important people in the entire discipline of entrepreneurship,” Kruml said.

The Coleman Foundation supports entrepreneurship education, among other causes, and CEO Michael Hennessy agrees with that assessment. “We deal with a THERESA CHURCHILL lot of professors, and she is a standout,” Business Journal Writer‌ he said. ‌DECATUR – Sweeping in, not because she was late but But he also calls Alpi a “force of nature.” because it’s how she enters a room, Sharon Alpi gave an Alpi, who turned over her Center for explanation she has given before.

Entrepreneurship to protegé Julienne A student telephoned her at Millikin University, and Shields upon her retirement June 30, is although the newly retired director of the Center for staying on at Tabor as a consultant for at Entrepreneurship needed to leave for an appointment, least one year. she stayed on the line the few minutes it took to give Why step down now? Alpi knew she Shields her counsel. could leave the center in good hands, Susan Kruml, ostensibly her boss since she was named those of Associate Director Andrew Heise in addition dean of the Tabor School of Business in 2013, is also among to Shields’, and at 68, she said she has other things she those who count Alpi as one of the most valuable mentors wants to do. of their careers.

The first is making a difference in Decatur’s nonprofit “She is a selfless, selfless woman and one of the most community, and that’s all she would say.

What set her on her life’s path? Alpi points to the death of her older brother David Taylor, a history professor at Mankato State University in Minnesota, who died five years after she gave him one of her kidneys in 1980.

“He had his PhD at 26 from KU (Kansas University in Lawrence) and was a brilliant man,” Alpi said. “I don’t want to be maudlin, but I decided the only way to honor him was to do something that mattered.”

Working as a corporate health consultant in Decatur at the time, the Kansas native went on to earn a master’s in small business and entrepreneurship from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 1989, the year her son turned 7 and her daughter turned 5.

She joined Millikin’s faculty in 1990 as director of Tabor’s Small Business Institute and with $25,000 from the Coleman Foundation started the Center for Entrepreneurship in 1998.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2015

Continued from Page 15

Alpi was named a Coleman Foundation Professor in 2003 after using seed money from the foundation to create an Arts and Entrepreneurship multidisciplinary program based on student-run ventures.

It was when Alpi hired Shields in 2013 to run that program that an exit strategy began to form in her mind.

Earning an MBA from Millikin, Shields had previously been the extended learning coordinator for Decatur Public Schools, where she created and implementing experiential summer learning and after school programs.

Alpi greatly admires Shields’ energy and ability to engage students, and the feeling is mutual.

“Sharon has developed entrepreneurship champions throughout Millikin’s campus – from the arts to sciences and technology,” Shields said. “I look forward to continuing to extend the mission of the Center for Entrepreneurship by engaging youth, students, faculty and businesses in creating opportunities and value in the community.”

In addition to mentoring countless students and members of the community in successful entrepreneurial endeavors, Alpi received the Women in Business Advocate of the Year award at the annual Governor’s Small Business Summit in 2001 and the Teaching Excellence and Campus

“... she is one of a handful of the most important leaders in Millikin’s history.”

Patrick White, Millikin University president

Leadership Award in 2003.

She and her husband Jim, executive director of the Decatur Housing Authority, have a daughter Kate Alpi, 33, living in Kansas City with her husband Dylan Padberg and 2-year-old son Harper, and a son Michael Alpi, 30, of Indianapolis.

A Sharon T. Alpi Scholarship has been endowed by friends, family and colleagues to honor her 25 years at Millikin and her teaching, energy and service.

University President Patrick White calls Alpi a “model rainmaker.”

“We have all benefited from her steady shower of innovation and the occasional thunderstorm, and the hurricane force of her passion, ideas and commitment,” White said. “Her influence and leadership extends far beyond this campus, and she is one of a handful of the most important leaders in Millikin’s history.”

Survey: Women face business leadership hurdles JAVIER PANZAR

Tribune News Service Writer‌

‌Women continue to make strides in politics and in the workplace, but the public isn’t sure they’re ready to challenge the male domination of the corporate boardrooms, according to a recent survey.

About 53 percent of those polled by the Pew Research Center said they believe that men will continue to hold more executive positions in businesses than women, and 44 percent said it was only a matter of time before women held as many top posts as men.

Though a majority of those polled said there was no difference between men and women when it came to their abilities as business leaders, women were much more likely than men to say double standards prevented them from winning top corporate jobs, according to the survey.

“It’s not that the public thinks women aren’t qualified,” said Kim Parker, Pew’s director of social trends research. “The public is really pointing to deeper societal barriers.”

When asked why there aren’t more women in executive positions, for instance, 52 percent of women polled said they were held to higher standards than men. Only 33 percent of men held the same view.

The report also found a double-digit gender gap over whether women face discrimination in society today: 65 percent of women but only 48 percent of men said women face a lot or some discrimination.

Women account for just 4.6 percent of

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the chief executives and 19.6 percent of the board members of companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, according to a census of women in business released by the nonprofit research group Catalyst.

“Because there have been so many men in visible leadership roles the idea of what leadership looks like tends to be stereotypically male,” said Deborah Gillis, Catalyst’s chief executive. “We have to break that down.”

Although 80 percent of Americans said men and women make equally good business leaders, some gender stereotypes persisted — 54 percent of respondents said a man would do a better job of running a sports team while 33 percent said there would be no difference and 8 percent said a woman would be better.

Pew’s survey found that about 1 in 5 respondents said women’s family responsibilities were a major reason more females weren’t in top positions.

When asked what men and women bring to business leadership, 31 percent said women were better at being honest and ethical and 64 percent said there was no difference.

Meanwhile, 34 percent said men were better at taking risks and 5 percent said women were better. The majority, 58 percent, said there was no difference.

Women in politics fared better than in business. A large majority of respondents, 73 percent, said a woman would be elected president of the United States in their lifetime.

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Sharon Alpi discusses a Center for Entrepreneurship project with associate director Andrew Heise and director Julienne Shields, not pictured.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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

October 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 15

Talk to boss about unofficial responsibilities ‌Q: I seem to have acquired some unwanted responsibilities. Although I was hired to process payroll and do other administrative tasks, I have gradually become the go-to person for personnel issues.

Little by little, various human resources duties have been given to me, and I am now expected to handle them.

I have never been given official Office Coach responsibility for this extra work, nor am I being paid for it. In fact, HR is actually supposed to be part of my supervisor’s job, though she generally ignores it. I am offended and irritated by her dumping these tasks on me without any discussion at all. What should I do about this?

A: Given the way HR is being handled, this is obviously not a large company. In smaller businesses, jobs often shift into new territory with no explicit decision or declaration, so your experience is certainly not unique. As you have discovered, this can also result in a gap between responsibility level and compensation.

Although this “position creep” is obvious to you, odds are that no one else has given it much thought. Since your supervisor isn’t psychic, she may have no clue that you’re feeling so unhappy and resentful. Therefore, if you want the situation to improve, you must bring this to her

Marie McIntyre

Ashley’s mentor, your well-intended advice may come across as intrusive and condescending. In that case, you should just stop Can’t get enough advice from the Office directing Ashley and let her learn from Coach? Get weekly column updates at her mistakes. www.thebusiness-journal.com. nnn Q: I recently took a job in the kitchen of a attention without complaining or becomlocal elementary school. I have never done ing accusatory. this type of work before, and my job descripIf your supervisor is open to other tion isn’t very clear. However, I have noticed options, the two of you can list the required that my co-worker, “Tanya,” has a greater HR duties, determine how they should be variety of assignments and seems to get divided, and create a plan for developing more opportunities to develop new skills. necessary skills. You might also raise the Although I have clearly indicated that I issue of appropriate compensation. But if would like to do more, my manager never your boss seems committed to the status has time to instruct me. When I pointed quo, the only solution may be finding a job out that Tanya has a wider range of duties, which better matches your qualifications. my boss said she’s just a fast learner. I sugnnn gested that perhaps I could cross-train with Tanya, but she said that wouldn’t Q: I am having a big problem with a young coworker. “Ashley” joined our com- be necessary.

Whenever I ask how I’m doing, my manpany about six months ago, and this is her ager says everything is fine, yet she won’t very first job. Although I am twice her age assign me additional tasks. I’m beginning and have many years with the company, Ashley shows absolutely no respect for my to feel that she doubts my abilities. How experience. Whenever I tell her to do some- can I get her to give me the same opportunities as Tanya? thing, she always argues about it.

Although I have tried to get along with A: Although your desire for expanded Ashley, she has made several complaints responsibilities is commendable, I think about me to our manager. Things have got- you need to slow down. Since you have ten so bad that I have considered asking never worked in a kitchen, your first priorhim to meet with both of us. Do you think ity should be mastering the fundamentals. that would be a good idea?

Until your manager believes you have grasped the basic job requirements, she A: Before initiating a three-way discussion, you must be sure you understand your isn’t likely to hand out new assignments.

You are also much too focused on comrole. If your boss wants you to instruct, assist or supervise Ashley, then her arguing parisons with your colleague. If Tanya is counterproductive. To put a stop to it, he has longer tenure or more relevant work experience, her ability to catch on quickly should clearly explain how he expects the and handle more tasks is hardly surprising. two of you to work together.

However, this in no way reflects badly on But if you have no official status as ‌W E E K LY T I P S

your own skills. The two of you are simply at different points on the learning curve.

Instead of striving to catch up with Tanya, try to determine how your current efforts are viewed by your manager. Since your general inquiries were met with an uninformative response, you will need to pose more specific questions.

When you sense that your boss is comfortable with your basic competence, politely ask if there are other ways you might contribute. But do not turn this into a competition with your co-worker, because that will only annoy your manager.

If you wish to get ahead, aggravating the boss is not recommended. nnn Q: As a supervisor, I want my employees to feel comfortable bringing me questions, concerns and ideas. However, I also want them to understand that my open door policy is not an invitation to constantly gossip or complain. What’s the best way to accomplish this?

A: First, you must help your staff recognize the difference between constructive work discussions and unproductive gripe sessions.

Here are some signs that they’re on the right track: 1) They are discussing a specific business issue; 2) They are focused on solutions, not complaints; and 3) They are planning for the future, not arguing about the past.

Should they begin whining, squabbling or sniping at each other, just cut the conversation short and remind them of the above guidelines. Hopefully, after a little coaching, they will learn to refocus without your help.

Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and author. Send in questions and get free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter @officecoach.

Dealing with an obnoxious boss takes some assessment ‌Q: I work for someone who is generally uncivil. If I were calling names, I’d say he was quite a jerk. It’s not personal; he is abrupt and abrasive with all of us, and while the substance of his feedback is generally on track, it gets lost in the tone. What can we do?

A: Here’s my shout out to the world — take the time to be kind.

Incivility abounds, with people neglecting the humanity of others in their day-to-day interactions.

This can be annoying in a one-time experience, say, when shopping or driving. However, it can have a deeper effect when it’s part of an important day-to-day relationship, as with your boss. In my view,

Liz Reyer

So, what can you do about it?

Create a kindness buffer. It’s rational to put up walls against people who are Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at negative to you, however, it can feed a www.thebusiness-journal.com. dysfunctional dynamic. So, try countering his brush offs or attacks with a kind but deflecting approach — think tai chi. This it’s worth it to understand why people behave unkindly and embark on a campaign also models the type of behavior you’d like from him, and if you can spread this to to change our culture, one interaction at others on the team, it might turn out to be a time. contagious!

Why do people behave this way?

If he is abrupt but not vindictive, you Some people are clueless, oblivious to could try direct feedback. How do you the effect that their style has on others. think he’d react to, “I appreciate that you This often shows up in casual encounters in which people just don’t pay attention to have valuable feedback on my performance, but I shut down when you raise your voice others around them, and unintentionally and it’s hard to really take it in.” create an abrasive moment.

If he’s a bully — really a bully — then There are also those who equate kindness with weakness, which can yield a boss it becomes an HR issue. You (and your co-workers) do not have to put up with who blusters, demands and shouts. They that, and you should document should may use insulting language when providing direction, especially if some correction it escalate.

Outside of interactions with your boss, or training is needed. And, unfortunately, fortify yourself on other fronts in order to it looks like this is the type of boss you’ve cope with him. ended up with. ‌W E E K LY T I P S

Keeping kindness as a theme, let it become your practice. Find easy opportunities to bring humanity to your contacts with people: making eye contact and thanking the barista, letting another driver merge with a smile and a wave, or getting the door for someone with their hands full. The act of being kind will help fill your tank.

And don’t let his behavior define your self-concept; that’s the ultimate win for power-driven incivility. If this becomes a pattern, going beyond bad moments or occasional bad days, it may be time for a larger change on your part. This type of corrosive behavior truly can be toxic, so be sure to look out for your broader well-being.

If you want a deeper read on kindness, check out “How Kindness Became Our Forbidden Pleasure,” at the Brain Pickings website at: tinyurl.com/p3l9jd7.

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

16

BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2015

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YOUR The Arts‌ Anne Lloyd Gallery: Gallery 510 host the annual October National, a juried exhibit, with special recognition of are honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Opening reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2.

Call (217) 423-3189. www.decturarts.org Gallery 510: Drawings by Dan Modzelewski. Opening reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. Call (217) 422-1509.

Perkinson Art Gallery, Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Alphonso Iannelli Book and Exhibition.

Blue Connection: A variety of artwork by Millikin University students.

Music‌

Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Featured performer is violinist Rachel Barton Pine. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

Kirkland Fine Arts Center: m-pact, 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3; and Ian Hobson, 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

Millikin University School of Music: Faculty Recital, 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, Kaeuper Hall; Tubby the Tuba with Symphonic Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, Kirkland; Symphonic Wind Ensemble and High School Honor Band, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, Kirkland; Homecoming Concert, 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at Central Christian

TIME

Calendar of events

health screenings, fituness and nutrition demonstrations and kids’ activities. Walkers encouraged to come in costume. Go to www.maconcountyheartwalk.org.

For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/ The Unexpected Boys and Brian Noonan, to benefit Decatur Christian School, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Lincoln Square Church, and Fall Choral Concerts, 2 p.m.

Oct. 16-8 and Oct 23-25, in Richland Commu- Theatre. For tickets, go to www.lincolnSunday, Oct. 25, Central Christian Church; nity College’s Shilling Auditorium. For tickets, squaretheatre.com, www.decaturarts.org Percussion Ensemble Halloween Concert, call (217) 422-3866. www.theatre7.net. or call (217) 706-5229.

Oct. 29 and 30, Albert Taylor Theatre.

For the kids‌ Lincoln Square Theatre: The Henningsens, Charity events‌ 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. For tickets or more Walk to End Alzheimer’s, a 3.2 mile walk Children’s Museum of Illinois: Make Space, information, visit www.lincolnsquaretheto benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, Oct. 7 and 21; Read for the Record, Oct. 22; atre.com or call (217) 706-5229.

9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in Forsyth VilHalloween Hoopla, Oct. 24. www.cmofil. lage Park. There also will be a 1 mile course. org. Call (217) 423-5437.

On Stage‌ To register, go to alz.org/walk or call Scovill Zoo: Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 17, 18 (217) 726-5184. and 23-31. www.scovillzoo.com. Call Decatur Civic Center presents “Defending the Caveman,” Oct 9-11; “Parents Just Officer Robin Vogel Memorial 5K, to benefit (217) 421-7435.

Don’t Understand, The Musical,” Oct. 17 a scholarship fund in her name, 2 p.m. and 18; at the Decatur Civic Center. For Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Beach House. Go to Misc.‌ tickets, call (217) 422-6161 or go to www.

Facebook for more information.

The Rock Springs Nature Center hosts a decaturciviccenter.org. long list of mini camps, family adventures WSOY Community Food Drive, to benefit Millikin Unversity Department of Theatre and local food pantries, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Fri- and classes. So many, in fact, that there are too many to list. Go to www.maconcountyday, Oct. 9, at Kroger, 1818 Airport Plaza.

Dance presents “Rough Magic,” Oct. 1-4 in Albert Taylor Theatre. For tickets, call Booseum, an adults only Halloween party conservation.org and click on the Programs and Activities tab for a complete listing.

(217) 424-6318. to support the Children’s Museum of Illinois, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre presents “A Crusin’ Eldo, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. For Nightmare on Backstreet,” Oct. 22-24, Oct. museum. Includes a trick or treat raffle, more information, call James Pinckard at 30-31; Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 15-17. For tickets, costume contest and cocktail creations.

(217) 972-9049. call (217) 424-6318. www.pdtheatre.org.

Cost is $15. for more information, go to www.cmofil.org or call (217) 423-5437.

Kirkland Fine Arts Center presents “An Got an item you’d like listed in the Your Free Time Afternoon with Groucho,” 2 p.m. Sunday, Macon County Heart Walk, to benefit the calendar? Send the information to Scott Perry at Oct. 25. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

American Heart Association, 9 a.m. Satsperry@herald-review.com or 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523. urday, Oct. 24, in Fairview Park. Includes Theatre 7 presents “The Explorers Club,”

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October 2015

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TECH

BUSINESS JOURNAL 17

TALK

Avoiding a disastrous IT project from the start I‌ T projects are notorious for being costly disasters; the majority are over budget and behind schedule. Worse yet, they often fail to meet the goals that were initially set.

To be fair, IT projects are generally the most common and visible type of project in most organizations, and often the most expensive, highest profile and highest risk.

In other words, Technology failed IT projects are much more likely to be an ongoing topic of discussion, especially when disgruntled staff are left trying to make the best of a bad IT initiative.

Obviously, any type of business project can be a recipe for disaster and has the potential to fail if not properly planned and managed.

To that end, here are some best practices to ensure your IT projects remain on track, on time and disaster free.

Wendy Gauntt

Clear, consistent communication The project leader must clearly communicate the vision and execution throughout the project to everyone involved. The project leader must also keep communication open and consistent from the beginning of the project to the end. This goes for team members as well.

Keeping everyone updated each step of the way will help projected timelines and costs remain accurate and minimize costly disasters. Misunderstandings from the planning phase to execution are the most costly in time and money for a project.

These risks can be minimized with a good, solid communication plan and leader in place.

Focus on business goals

Projects need to be driven by a leader who understands the business need and desired outcome. This means the project leader for an IT project is not necessarily someone from the IT department.

Technicians will focus on the technical aspects, whereas business executives will remain focused on the business goals. Teaming leaders from the business and IT sides together can be a powerful best way to leverage skills from both areas, ensuring technical success as well as achievement of business goals.

Begin with the end in mind If you can’t find the right leadership Start with a clear vision for your proj- for your project – including executivelevel backing – don’t bother getting ect. Visualize what success looks like, started, because your project is not likely in detail. Evaluate the business goals to succeed. for the project up front before you ever start the project, and make sure the Manage project hours value is there. Involve all stakeholders and executives in this process. As Keep a close eye on project hours to you proceed, keep your focus on those control inevitable scope creep. If budbusiness goals. Projects often get lost in geted time or project hours start to go the details and tasks, but starting with over more than a small percent, it’s time a crystal clear goal and vision for the to re-evaluate and see where the probproject will help keep things on track lem lies. Overtime is a major red flag and get you to the end with minimal that either the wrong team is in place, bumps along the way. the project was not thought through

properly, too many changes are being added, or it’s being mismanaged. Stop and re-evaluate immediately, before scope goes from slow creep to fullon explosion.

vendors and contractors as well.

Break it down

Break the project down into smaller chunks for more control. This will help contain the impact of any disaster that Know when to hand it off might sneak up on you. You should be able to measure progress from week to It’s hard to do it all yourself. Howweek, for large projects. For smaller ever, it can be expensive to outsource projects you may want daily updates. everything, and sometimes vendors Most projects have various interdejust don’t know enough about your pendencies, but it’s usually possible company to do what you need done to break them down into logical segproperly. Take time to determine what ments that have a clear beginning and tasks are best to hand off. These will end. That will also help your team feel typically be activities where advanced, specialized knowledge is required, and/ a sense of completion as they go. The bigger the project, the bigger the comor where services are so standard that plexity. If you can’t break it down into there’s not much business-specific knowledge needed. Use employees when manageable pieces, it’s almost guaranteed to fail. in-depth knowledge of your business really makes a big difference. Don’t be Fail forward afraid to hand things off, but be selective, proactive and continue to manage Many projects never get off the ground, these items. because the team hits “analysis paralysis” during the initial planning phases.

Manage, carefully select vendors They are paralyzed by fear of making decisions, which means they never pick On that note, problems with cona direction and get started. Try “failing tractors, vendors, suppliers or anyone external to your organization can greatly forward” instead: It’s the concept that it’s OK to fail so long as you learn from impact your budget and make projects your failures. No matter what business harder to manage. Carefully select your project you are planning, there are going vendors. Look for those with excellent to be failures along the way. The key is reputations for being reliable, highly to pay attention and learn from the misskilled and experienced with similar takes, and catch the failures early, before projects. Outsourcing and working they become disasters. Each time you with vendors, contractors and suppliencounter a failure, try another approach. ers is necessary for almost any project.

It takes patience and perseverance, but When you select and manage them using this approach you’ll ultimately properly, outsourcing will save you time prevent disasters and achieve lastand money. Manage vendors carefully ing success. by clearly communicating your needs, setting up a reporting structure for accountability, and maintaining regular Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, communications about how the project a technology consulting company that specializes is going. This will ensure that you get the in small business solutions. Go to www. best possible experience. Don’t forget, cioservicesllc.com for more information, ideas all the strategies on this list apply to and free resources.

217-429-4444 | www.DunnCo.com |

18

BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2015

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YOUR

H E A LT H

Pins like these are handed out during Mother’s Day church services to encourage women to get mammograms. Once the testing is done, the pin is returned.

Power of the pin Pin-a-Sister program encourages breast cancer screenings DONNETTE BECKETT

Business Journal photos, Jim Bowling‌

Elizabeth Rawls organizes the Pin-a-Sister program which teams up with some area churches to enhance breast cancer awareness among minority women.

Business Journal Writer‌

‌As a retired registered nurse, Elizabeth Rawls understands the importance of good health. As an African American woman, she has seen the statistics of how women of her race are dying from breast cancer.

“About 40 percent are more likely to die from cancer than their white counterparts,” she said.

But, for breast cancer awareness, Rawls knows where to focus her attention. “The mother is important entity to the family,” she said.

Since 2008, some area churches begin their Mother’s Day services with a Pin-a-Sister ceremony. Speakers and survivors encourage all women to get mammograms and preform monthly self-exams. And if their message doesn’t reach the mother, they hope to reach a family member. “Because most will attend church on Mother’s Day,”

Rawls said.

During the ceremony, guest speakers will address the congregation for about 10 minutes. The families and the congregation pledge to visit a doctor and read the literature. Along with each packet is a small pink ribbon pin. “I ask them to pin each other,” Rawls said. “After they have the mammogram, they return their pin.”

Rawls uses this method as a source of accountability. “It encourages them to return something they were given,” she said.

The event also helps with support. “We want to let people know their is help,” Rawls said. “It is important to take care of your health.”

According to medical oncologist, Dr. James Wade III, area physicians work together to make sure patients have no excuses.

“In Central Illinois, there has been great effort through the physician community to see all patients.”

African American populations have different statics than white women, but all women have access to medical care no matter the community. Black women have a slightly lower rate of breast cancer than white women. “But the chance of dying of breast cancer is higher,” Wade said. “It’s not well understood.”

Wade claims the most likely reason is that African American women may not have access to screening where earlier diagnosis can be made. Physicians know the treatment is more effective if the cancer is found early. If the patient has a later diagnosis, the outcome is worse.

He said cost should not be factor.

“The access to care is there if you go through the door,” Wade said. “But people

are afraid to go through the door.”

Fear is a major factor in the rise of cancer deaths. Whether it is fear of the illness or fear of the medical intervention, many are reluctant to visit a doctor.

Biology may also be a factor in the high death rate of black women. African American women are more prone to a particular aggressive form of breast cancer called triple negative breast negative.

This type of cancer behaves more aggressively and is less sensitive to standard treatments.

But Wade reiterates the importance of early detection. “The early the diagnosis makes a difference,” he said.

Rawls understands this is an obstacle for her friends and family.

“They put off,” she said. “By the time you are diagnosed you could be in second or third stage.”

October 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 19

Lifestyle changes that may reduce cancer risk MICHELE MUNZ

Some tests find cancers early when they are most treatable, while oth‌ST. LOUIS – Cancer can be seen as strik- ers can actually help keep cancer ing haphazardly, but research over the past from developing in the first place.

For colorectal cancer alone, regular 40 years shows that lifestyle factors play a huge role in cancer incidence and mortality. screening could save more than 30,000 lives each year. Talk to a health care Dr. Graham Colditz, an internationally professional about which tests you recognized disease-prevention expert at should have and when.

Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Cancers that should be tested Hospital, has put together a list of behaviors that greatly reduce overall cancer risk. for regularly: And they’re not as complicated as you Colon and rectal cancer might think. Colditz suggests starting with Breast cancer one or two from the list. Once you’ve got Cervical cancer those down, move on to the others.

Lung cancer (in current or past heavy smokers) Lee News Service Writer‌

Maintain a “healthy weight”

It’s easier said than done, but a few simple tips can help. If you’re overweight, focus first on not gaining any more weight. That can give your health a boost. When you’re ready, try to take off some extra pounds. Tips: Integrate physical activity and movement into your life.

Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Choose smaller portions and eat more slowly.

Get screening tests

A number of important screening tests can help protect against cancer.

Protect yourself from the sun

While the warm sun feels great, too much exposure can lead to skin cancer, including serious melanoma. Skin damage starts early in childhood, so it’s especially important to protect children. Tips: Steer clear of direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (peak burning hours). It’s the best way to protect yourself.

Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt and sunscreen with SPF15 or higher.

Don’t use sun lamps or tanning booths. Try self-tanning creams instead.

fats (saturated and trans fats) and choose healthy fats (polyunsaturated and monounWhile it can be hard to find the time, it’s saturated fats). Taking a multivitamin with folate every day is a great insurance. Tips: important to fit in at least 30 minutes of activity every day. More is even better, but Make fruits and vegetables a part of any amount is better than none. Tips: every meal. Put fruit on your cereal. Eat _ Choose activities you enjoy. Many vegetables as a snack. things count as exercise, including walking, Choose chicken, fish or beans instead gardening and dancing. of red meat.

Make exercise a habit by setting aside the Choose whole-grain cereal, brown rice same time for it each day. Try going to the gym and whole-wheat bread. at lunchtime or taking a walk after dinner.

Choose dishes made with olive or Stay motivated by exercising canola oil, which are high in healthy fats. with someone.

Cut back on fast food and packaged snacks (like cookies), which are high in Don’t smoke bad fats.

Quitting smoking is absolutely the best thing Drink alcohol in moderation you can do for your health. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s also far from impossible. More than 1,000 Moderate drinking is good for the heart, Americans stop for good every day. Tips: but it can also increase the risk of cancer.

Keep trying. It often takes six or seven If you don’t drink, don’t feel the need to tries before you quit for good. start. If you drink moderately (less than one Talk to a health-care provider for help. drink a day for women, less than two drinks Join a quit-smoking program. Your a day for men), there’s probably no reason workplace or health plan may offer one. to stop. People who drink more, though, should cut back. Tips: Eat a healthy diet Choose nonalcoholic beverages at Despite mounds of information that can meals and parties.

Avoid occasions centered be confusing, the basics of healthy eating around alcohol. are quite straightforward. Focus on fruits, Talk to a health-care professional if vegetables and whole grains, and keep you feel you have a problem with alcohol. red meat to a minimum. Cut back on bad

Exercise regularly

Crossing Healthcare opens new, expanded facility EMILY STEELE

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – Space has always been tight at the Community Health Improvement Center.

In recent years, it became obvious the growing health care provider was bursting at the seams when it couldn’t take in any more patients, but another 14,000 Macon County residents were eligible for services.

CHIC’s space and capabilities has doubled with the opening of a new location and under a new name: Crossing Healthcare. Despite issues with state funding not coming through, the $6 million facility opened last month.

“This facility is beautiful and will provide much-needed space, allowing us to serve our entire target population.

I am confident patients will feel good about themselves as they get health care here,” Executive Director Tanya Andricks said.

The board broke ground on three acres of vacant city lots last December. Half of the funding came from the state’s Illinois Jobs Now! Program, and the remaining $3 million was covered with loans.

But with no state budget in place, Andricks said CHIC is carrying the full debt load to finish the building.

CHIC was established in 1972 to provide health care for residents with incomes below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. The new site will have several new nurse practioners and physician assistants, as well as X-ray capabilities and a built-in telepharmacy, making it easier for patients to pick up prescriptions.

Pharmacist Dale Colee will oversee the Colee’s Community Pharmacy at a central spot inside Crossing Healthcare.

“The big plus is that you have the physicians and other health care professionals right there, and if there’s questions, it’s very easy to communicate to them,” Colee said.

A pharmacist will be there a set number of hours a week. When not there, people can visit with the pharmacist and fill prescriptions via a video conference.

“People will be amazed at the state of the art that is going to be involved in this particular program,” Colee said.

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20

BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2015

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Community health calendar baby during pregnancy, at birth or early infancy.

For more information, call (217) 464-2045.

Growing Through Grief, 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Epilepsy support group, 5 p.m. TuesCancer Care Center of Decatur, Complemenday, Oct. 13. For more information, call tary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley (217) 853-1655.

Ave. For more information, call (217) 876-6784.

Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, Cancer Care Center of DecaTOPS Club IL 49 Decatur, 5:30 p.m. Tuestur, Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKindays, Main Street Church of God, 2000 ley Ave. For cancer patients and their famiN. Main St. (enter from Garfield Street). lies. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Support group for Real People seeking Real Results with weight loss. For more Parkinson’s disease support group, 1:30 p.m. information, go to www.topsclub.org or call Thursday, Oct. 15, Westminster PresbyteChris Granda at (217) 521-2420. rian Church, 1360 W. Main St. For information, call John Kileen at (217) 620-8702 Helping Hands Bereavement for Children, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Cancer Care Center Diabetes support group, 11 a.m. Thursof Decatur, 210 W. McKinley, Ave. Register day, Oct. 15, DMH Specific Performance online or call (217) 876-4750.

Enhancement Center, 2122 N, 27th St. Call (217) 876-4249.

Grief support group, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24. This Lyme-MTHFR support study group, 6 p.m. grief education group is a time for indiThursday, Oct. 15, Mari-Mann Herb Co., vidual or family bereavement support and 1405 Mari Mann Lane. Call (217) 429-1555. care. For information, call Jamie Smith at Brain tumor support group, 10 a.m. Satur(217) 544-6464 ext. 45268. day, Oct. 17, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Pink Link breast cancer support group, Ave. To register, call (217) 876-4750.

6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. To register, call (217) 876-4377.

Postpartum emotional support group, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, St. Mary’s HosBreastfeeding support group, 10:30 a.m. pital, Assisi Conference Room. For more Monday, Oct. 12 and Oct. 26, Baby TALK, information, call (217) 464-2334.

500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334.

Breath of Life support group, noon TuesSHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, day, Oct. 20, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G18. Support group 561. Speakers available to answer questions from those with breathing problems. For for those who have experienced the death of a

Support groups

Marketing Goals

information, call (217) 464-2603.

Cardiac rehabilitation wellness group, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom C. To register, call (217) 876-2496.

Childbirth experience and newborn care and breastfeeding basics, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. Registration required online or by calling (217) 876-3400.

Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Monthly lunch gathering. For location or to register, call Sister Chaminade Kelley at (217) 428-7733.

Renewal bereavement support group, 6 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 26, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

More

Classes

Happiest Baby on the Block-Magic? for moms, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334.

Real Dads Rock!, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference

Q A

It depends. We have now entered into the 4th Quarter. For some that means increased sales, it could mean the business is slowing down from a busy summer and for others it is business as usual. Regardless, you still need to make sure your company will reach its marketing objectives.

Here are some suggestions that will help you reach those goals. Take a strong look at your social media. How well are you doing? How is the content, how often are you posting and engaging the audience? Is it consistent?

Carolyn Ridenour President & Marketing Director

How is the website performing? Has it met the objectives? How are the analytics?

When was the last time you made any updates on the site? How old is the site? If the website is three years or older, it is probably time to have it redesigned and SEO compliant.

What other forms of marketing did you use? How well did they perform?

At the beginning of the year, did you set up some marketing goals? Have you reached them or do you need to try harder to get them achieved? If it is the later, you better get busy because there is less then 3 months to do it!

Cayla Hittmeier

Digital Sales Specialist Herald & Review

To make sure you finish the year strong in sales, get organized. Look at each area and review it with an attitude of critique. Once critiqued, turn that attitude into a solution driven strategy that will help bring some positive results.

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Creative Media Services, Inc. is a full-service marketing business that really wants to see your business successful. If you need some assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Early Detection Connection, 7-9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, Express Care North, 3131 N. Water St., Cancer Care Center of Decatur, 210 W. McKinley Ave.; and South Shores Kroger. Mark National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a free ribbon-shaped bagel and helpful information. For more, call (217) 876-4377.

Programmatic Digital Advertising

Q Is it too late to achieve our marketing goals?

A

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

Safe sitter class, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. This program teaches 11-13 year olds how to handle emergencies and provide safe child care. Cost is $30. To register, call (217) 876-3100.

Cardiopulmonary rehab nutrition class, 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom C. A dietitian-led program on heart healthy eating with an emphasis on reading labels. For more information, call (217) 876-2496.

Infant CPR Class, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom, third floor. Register online or call (217) 876-3100.

Second Time Around, childbirth refresher course, 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334.

I keep hearing about “Programmatic Digital Advertising”, what does that mean?

In simple form…it means “Automated.” Through programmatic buying, companies are able to buy into what is called an “Ad Exchange”, which is somewhat like a stock exchange for online digital ad impressions on national websites, such as WebMD and AccuWeather.

Once they partner with the exchange, they use software to input parameters the customer would like to use to target and retarget online customers in a number of various ways. They can target based on who they are (demographics), how and what they search (behavior), job title and probably most importantly, they can retarget them if they’ve visited their website and wondered away. Site retargeting is a very effective way to remind people who’ve visited your site to come back! Using programmatic, once the company inputs the data, the system automatically bids on available impressions on exchange sites and then places ads accordingly.

There are a number of benefits to programmatic advertising. First, it offers transparency. You know exactly who you’re targeting by the data input. Prior to programmatic, ads were placed manually and subject to opinions and human error.

However, some might argue that the element of hands-on optimization is lost with this type of buying. Some companies, like us here at the Herald & Review, have enlisted a combination approach. We utilize an Ad Exchange and automated placement program, but also regularly review the live campaign to make adjustments as we see fit based on the customer’s needs and the progress of the campaign.

Another advantage to this type of buying is cost. Often, the CPM (Cost Per Thousand impressions) is far less than if you were to bid daily or weekly on the impressions you want. You also have the savings of your time when purchasing with this approach.

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This is an excellent way to extend your digital footprint to reach people while they are perusing their favorite websites and mobile apps. Your ad could be the one that pops up during Candy Crush next time! Call me, let’s get it set up!

October 2015

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YOUR

BUSINESS JOURNAL 21

MONEY

Baltimore investor only backs women-run companies CARRIE WELLS

in venture capital firms have even declined from 10 percent in 1999 to 6 percent last ‌BALTIMORE — Kelly Keenan Trumpbour year, according to the Diana Project at Babson College. The same study found that believes women should put their money only 2.7 percent of venture capital-funded where their mouths are.

The 37-year-old invests her money solely companies had a woman CEO. Trumpbour came to Baltimore from in companies run by women, driven by a Detroit about 15 years ago, working for variphilosophy of female empowerment and a desire to shake up the traditional white ous political and nonprofit groups, includmale corporate culture. She founded See ing serving time on the board of the Women Jane Invest two years ago to help educate Under Forty Political Action Committee, other women on how to become investors. a group that financially supports younger Trumpbour, who sits on the board of female political candidates, and co-founddirectors for Baltimore Angels, an earlying Running Start, a nonprofit focused on stage investment group, has invested in encouraging young women to run for office. four women-run companies so far and In 2010, she and her husband, Jason plans on backing a few more this year. She Trumpbour, decided they wanted to start typically invests about $10,000 at a time. a family. But her attempts to get pregnant “If you had more women running compa- came with health complications that nies, imagine how the economic landscape landed her in the hospital. After a couple might change,” Trumpbour said. “In order of years of trying, she came to terms with to have a more diverse corporate world, I switching gears. believe in backing companies with money.”

“I was in this very frustrating place, As someone who invests only in female- where I thought I was about to become a run firms, Trumpbour doesn’t have a lot of parent, and that didn’t happen,” she said. company. She and others involved in venShe kicked the tires on the notion of ture and angel investing in Baltimore said giving money to charitable foundations, she is the only one in the area who follows as many of her peers did. But she said that particular strategy. it wasn’t as appealing as investing in The startup and venture capital scene women-owned companies, so she started in the U.S. has long had a reputation of familiarizing herself with the city’s startup being male-dominated. Women partners scene and founded See Jane Invest. Her Tribune News Service Writer‌

background in raising money for female candidates ended up guiding her decision.

“I’m so tired of just giving my money away,” she said. “I think there’s a lot that can happen here in the startup scene, but if I’m going to put my money and time into it, there should be something in it for me, and that should be a profit.”

The first company Trumpbour put money into was Allovue, a Baltimore-based educational software firm that has raised about $1.7 million in seed funding and is conducting pilot programs in schools in Baltimore and New Haven, Conn. The company’s software helps school districts track both spending and outcomes.

Allovue founder Jess Gartner, a friend of Trumpbour’s, shares her philosophy on the need for more diverse investors.

“It’s not an accident that most of the capital is in the hands of white men and most of the money invested is with white men,” Gartner said. “The world is not a meritocracy, and I think Silicon Valley has been trying to push a meritocracy narrative for a long time, and that’s not the way the world works.”

Trumpbour also invested in Hip Chicks Farms, a California-based company that makes frozen chicken products without artificial ingredients.

Serafina Palandech, Hip Chick’s president, said finding investors as a woman

can still be rife with sexism. After months of meetings with a man who seemed interested in her company, she took a plane to Los Angeles to meet up and finalize the investment documents. But when she arrived, she discovered he was more interested in her than her company.

Palandech met Trumpbour later at a meeting of the Pipeline Fellowship angel investing boot camp for women in Washington, D.C., last year.

“My experience of going out there and presenting to investors is that it can be a stretch and a challenge for traditional angel groups to understand what we’re trying to do ethically, morally, and also from a business standpoint what the chance of success is,” Palandech said. “There’s a lot of investors that don’t get it. Kelly immediately understood it and got it.”

Since then, Palandech said, she’s attracted more investors, including two who are male, and is distributing her product on the East Coast. She said she appreciated having a female investor, especially given her earlier encounter.

“I think that before I met Kelly and Pipeline, I was beginning to doubt my ability,” Palandech said. “I think she gave me confidence to move forward in a fledgling company such as ours.”

Paying biggest debts first may not be best GREGORY KARP

Tribune News Service Writer‌

‌Snowballing your debts — paying them smallest to largest regardless of finance charges — might not make sense mathematically, but it just might work better, according to a new academic study.

Perhaps proving that personal finance is more personal than finance, researchers who study consumer behavior found that “small victories” consumers feel after quickly wiping out small debts provide encouragement to pay others.

“The increased motivational benefits of small victories may make it beneficial to pay off debts from smallest to largest in some cases, ignoring interest rates,” write the authors, Alexander L. Brown and Joanna N. Lahey of Texas A&M University, in a paper to be published in the Journal of Marketing Research.

That’s counter to the usual advice to pay debts from highest interest rate to lowest, with the goal of paying less interest.

The new study adds to recent research that examines the merit of snowballing debts, paying minimums on debts to avoid late charges and allocating extra money to the smallest debt first to eliminate it quickly. Then you apply money you would have been paying on the first debt to the next-larger account, always putting more money toward the nextlarger debt — a rolling snowball effect.

Baked into the theory, and confirmed by other studies, is the benefit of the attaboy or atta-girl feeling with each debt account retired.

The debt snowball concept is not new and has been popularized by get-out-ofdebt guru Dave Ramsey, a radio personality and author of the best-selling book “The Total Money Makeover.”

“When you start the Debt Snowball and in the first few days pay off a couple of little debts, trust me, it lights your fire,” writes Ramsey in “The Total Money Makeover.” “When you pay off a nagging $52 medical bill or that $122 cell-phone bill from eight months ago, your life is not changed that much mathematically yet.

You have however, begun a process that works, and you have seen it work, and you will keep doing it because you will be fired up about the fact that it works.”

But is that really true, wondered Brown, the Texas A&M behavioral economist, as he read Ramsey’s book. Does the mere act of completing a task trigger motivation?

The concept seems to be used by addictive video games. They make beginning play easier, which gives players quick wins before the game gets more and more complex, holding the player’s attention.

Brown thought of his own experience training for a half-marathon for the first time. “I ran 4 miles, and I thought, ‘Wow, I

didn’t know I could do that.’” He seemed to derive motivation after completing the run.

If so, the findings could have ramifications beyond debt repayment, into weight loss, completing projects at work or any goal that could be broken into subgoals of varying sizes.

In the lab, Brown and his colleague began testing the theory by having test subjects perform a tedious task, retyping 10-character strings into a Microsoft Excel workbook. Strings were divided over five columns where the length of the columns was ascending, descending or even. Completing a column was akin to completing a task.

Results were clear. People complete a tedious goal faster when it is broken into parts arranged in ascending order. Indeed, test subjects increased productivity 13 percent by doing it that way, researchers found.

In other words, quick wins fuel motivation.

While other studies have suggested the debt snowball works, the new one suggests how and why it might work, Brown said.

Alas, in the real world, the debt snowball concept isn’t a panacea. When you apply finance charges of varying amounts to those debts, the picture muddies.

And your ultimate goal with debt elimination matters too. Is success getting out of debt quickly or paying the least interest?

The snowball works best when speed is the top priority, Brown said.

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Mail in your survey to: The Business Journal, 601 East William St., Decatur, IL 62523 Or go online to www.thebusiness-journal.com

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Stop procrastinating and start planning RYAN MCGUIRE

Where are you today? What goals or milestones do you hope to accomplish over ‌You’re way too busy. You’ll take care of it the next few years? Where do you hope to be in five, 10 or 20 years? next month.

Include your spouse and other members These thoughts probably cross your mind when you face difficult or time-consuming of your family in the process, since they will likely play a large role in prioritizing tasks, including financial decisions. the goals. Maybe you aim to pay down Bad move. credit card debt by the end of next year or Here are some easy first steps to you want to start a college fund for your finally stop procrastinating moneychild or save to care for elderly parents. related decisions.

Your advisor can help you assess the Too often we delay long-term financial attainability of your goals, develop approplanning because we don’t see the results of our choices until much later on. You priate timelines and strategize where to may avoid the topic entirely, as it requires allocate money. you confront situations that are complex, Identify strengths and challenges. deeply private and emotional.

Before you sit down with your advisor, Still, the cost of waiting to get your review some of your experiences with financial house in order can severely affect money and personal finance. What chalthe well-being of you and your family. lenges did you face? What strides did you Your first step might well be to hire an already make toward your goals? experienced financial advisor who can help You may want to review your budget, you better control your finances and lay the past bank statements or account informagroundwork for achieving your goals. Here tion to pinpoint any trends, gaps or weak are four tips to help you prepare for a prospots. If possible, identify any roadblocks. ductive discussion with an advisor: For instance, you may do an excellent job depositing money into your savings each Develop goals. Your advisor needs to week but lack an appropriate investment understand what you want both soon and strategy to build and sustain that growth. in the years ahead. Take time to consider Share with your advisor any knowledge and convey a complete understanding of or helpful information you built up over your current financial picture.

Tribune News Service Writer‌

If possible, identify any roadblocks. For instance, you may do an excellent job depositing money into your savings each week but lack an appropriate investment strategy to build and sustain that growth. the years. Learn of any potential health issues (such as hereditary illnesses) that might affect your finances or your ability to achieve your long-term goals. Prepare in advance and you can focus more on finding solutions to address problem areas.

Prioritize and take action. Once your advisor reviews your needs, priorities and goals, concentrate on the most critical areas. Ask your advisor to present recommendations in order of urgency.

Also evaluate the consequences of situations or events that fall outside of your

defined plan or your list of goals. Maybe in the past you opted against developing an estate plan or purchasing life insurance.

Improper planning — or worse, no planning — in these areas can cause a lot of damage fast if you die unexpectedly or become incapacitated.

As your advisor develops an implementation strategy for these recommendations, he or she may coordinate with other professionals, including your attorney, insurance agent or tax advisor.

Focus seriously on the long term.

Steadfastly reviewing and tracking your progress is essential to your long-term financial goals. Whether you review monthly, biannually or annually, use regular meetings with your advisor to track checkpoints and share developments that may affect your plan.

If you develop a new goal or see other life events such as marriage, a job change or a new baby, work with your advisor to adjust your plan or investments as necessary. You also want to tackle upkeep on your current strategies. This includes reviewing beneficiaries on your accounts or implementing strategies to accommodate changes in tax laws.

Financial planning is an ongoing process that evolves as your life changes. Don’t leave your goals to chance.

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October 2015

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