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OCTOBER 2013
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Intermodal facility linked to city’s economic growth
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October 2013
YOUR CALENDAR
Wednesday, Oct. 2 Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave. Scheduled speaker is Robyn McCoy, director of Workforce Investment Solutions. Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility, 3909 W. Main St. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, Oct. 3 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Community Leaders Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Featured speaker is Steve Gilliland. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y, 220 W. McKinley Ave. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr. American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 6 p.m., location varies. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building, 2715 N. 27th St.
Friday, Oct. 4 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.
Monday, Oct. 7 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.
Tuesday, Oct. 8 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center. Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., Doherty’s Pub and Pins, 242 E. William St. Central Illinois Ad Club, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Wednesday, Oct. 9 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. The
featured topic is the Mount Zion Children’s Christmas Fund. 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. 10 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. GFWC Decatur Woman’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Senior Resources Network (formerly Mature Resources Network), 11:45 a.m., Keystone Gardens, 1455 W. Mound Road. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y. Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., location varies. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.
Friday, Oct. 11 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.
Monday, Oct. 14 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill, 101 S. Main St. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.
Tuesday, Oct. 15 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Community Prayer Breakfast, 7-8 a.m., Mount Zion Convention Center. Cost is $7. Featured speakers are Dr. Dan and Jeanie Smith. For tickets, call (217) 864-2526. BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Wednesday, Oct. 16 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Christian Women’s Network, noon, Decatur Club. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, Oct. 17 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Christian Women’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Chastain & Associates, 5 N. Country Club Road. Decatur AMBUCS, 6 p.m., Decatur Club.
Friday, Oct. 18
Wednesday, Oct. 30
Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Noon Women’s Network, 11:45 a.m., Decatur Club.
Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Monday, Oct. 21
Thursday, Oct. 31
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.
Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y.
Tuesday, Oct. 22 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Friday, Nov. 1 Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.
Monday, Nov. 4 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
Tuesday, Nov. 5
Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Thursday, Oct. 24 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce/Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Land of Lincoln Credit Union, 4850 E. Prosperity Place.
Friday, Oct. 25 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. American Business Women’s Association (Monarch), noon, location varies.
Monday, Oct. 28 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.
Tuesday, Oct. 29 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton. BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Wednesday, Nov. 6 Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, Nov. 7 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 11:30 a.m., location varies. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.
To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at (217) 421-7976, at sperry@heraldreview.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www.thebusiness-journal.com.
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October 2013
FROM THE EDITOR It should come as no surprise to most of you that my kids have been frequent visitors to my place of work over the years. In addition to being respectful of those who were working (not all kids are), they could be counted on to leave behind something — notes, creations — to remember them by. Many years have passed — they are 19 and 21 now — and the reminders keep coming. The most recent creation was a “man” made of paper clips, a pen and tape. Sure, it’s not the intended use for these office supplies, but I think it’s cool and it gives me peace of mind knowing someone is keeping watch over my desk while I’m gone. I’m pretty confident I’m not the only one sporting office supply art — created by them or their kids — on their desk. If you have some, send me a picture. I’d love to see it and maybe share it with my readers. Happy creating.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
BUSINESS JOURNAL OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS
VOLUME 19
ISSUE 10
601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax)
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October2013Contents 23
Standing Features
NEXT CHAPTER New challenges await Patrick McDaniel
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For some small businesses, it’s difficult enough when one staff member gets pregnant. Audibel Hearing Center had three workers pregnant at the same time. Find out how they and other businesses meet the challenge Page 12
31 TAKE CONTROL Put an end to mindless spending
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October 2013
YOUR COMMUNITY
ADM to move global headquarters Decatur will be North American regional hub By CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — The long-term economic future of Decatur was shaken last month as Archer Daniels Midland Co. announced plans to explore the creation of a global headquarters and customer center outside of the city. The agricultural processing company, which employs about 30,000 worldwide, has been based in Decatur for 44 years. In making the announcement, Chairman, President and CEO Patricia Woertz emphasized ADM’s continued support to the city that is home to two of the largest processing facilities in the company’s global network and the single largest community of employees. Local officials are looking toward benefits that might exist from the possible move. “We need to turn this thing around and not look at it as disastrous,” Decatur Mayor Mike McElroy said. “We should look at it as an opportunity. ADM is not leaving Decatur. They proved today they still care about Decatur.” McElroy said ADM representatives explained the decision to local officials and business leaders during a lunchtime meeting in Decatur. ADM said it’s not planning any layoffs in connection with the move to a new global center. It expects to locate a small, corporate team at the global center with approximately 100 jobs relocated to the center. In addition, ADM plans to create a new IT center at the same location, adding approximately 100 positions there during the next few years. The company said the Decatur office will become its North American headquarters. ADM also maintains regional headquarters in Rolle, Switzerland; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China. In seeking to establish a new global center, Woertz said ADM is positioning itself for continued success in a sector that is consolidating with new, well-funded global competitors. “Our company is growing and becoming more global and more customer-centric,” Woertz said. “To continue to succeed, we need a global center in a location that allows us to travel and work efficiently with customers and employees throughout the world. We also need an environment where we can attract and retain employees with diverse skills, and where family members can find ample career opportunities.” Speculation began almost immediately following the announcement as to where ADM would move its global headquarters. Gov. Pat Quinn met with ADM executives earlier in the month to discuss the plans being considered, said Brooke Anderson, a spokeswoman for the governor. During the meeting with Quinn, Anderson said ADM expressed its desire for part of its corporate work force to be in an urban setting to meet its business and transportation needs. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity could provide the company incentives for job creation within the state, but Anderson was not aware of ADM having asked for such incentives. “Illinois has a strong relationship with ADM,” Anderson said. “We want them to grow and thrive. As they look at the possibilities, we want to make sure to minimize the impact on Decatur and Central Illinois.” The announcement of the possible headquarters relocation comes as ADM continues to finalize what would be its largest acquisition in company history. It is in the
Submitted photo
This undated aerial picture shows a portion of Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s East Plant, which also includes the corporate headquarters building in the lower right corner. ADM officials have announced plans to move the corporate headquarters and 100 upper-level managers and staff out of Decatur. The city will remain the company’s North American headquarters. process of obtaining Australian agribusiness GrainCorp, in a deal believed to be worth approximately $3.1 billion. ADM hopes to close the deal by the end of the year. ADM is no different than any of the other employers in Decatur trying to compete around the world, said Craig Coil, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County. “The announcement reflects the global market we live in,” Coil said. “It’s critical they be able to access global markets.” Making changes, such as the one ADM is considering, has become a necessity for those businesses to survive, Coil said. “You look back and the corporations that aren’t around are ones that didn’t adapt to the global economy,” he said. “Half their business is outside North America, so they need to be competitive to be here 100 years from now.” The expansion could give ADM the capability to grow, which could, in turn, benefit businesses in Decatur, said Mirinda Rothrock, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce president. ADM appears to remain deeply committed to Decatur, Rothrock said. “I believe ADM will be here for years to come,” Rothrock said. ADM said it was making a number of multiyear financial commitments to economic development, education and social services to help ensure that Decatur remains a strong community. The company plans to make a $250,000 annual commitment for three years to fund an enhanced public-private partnership and unified marketing campaign for the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County. The donation includes funding of a mayoral economic development fellow. In addition, the Decatur School District will receive $500,000 annually for five years. ADM pledged to main-
tain its other Decatur and Macon County community support at $1 million annually for at least 10 years. “We are investing in Decatur’s economic development to help ensure it flourishes economically, in its schools to foster a strong work force pipeline, and in critical social services to enhance the quality of community life,” Woertz said. “We remain firmly committed to the 4,400 colleagues who will continue to work in Decatur, and to the economic strength and vitality of the Decatur community.” Woertz has been publicly asked as recently as May, during the company’s annual shareholder meeting, whether moving its headquarters was under consideration. She responded by saying ADM is an important part of Decatur’s economy and the company will always remain an important part of the community. Woertz began addressing the question about relocating its headquarters soon after taking ADM’s top job in 2006. During the shareholder meeting in 2007, she said the item had not been discussed. Shareholder Martin Glotzer of Chicago, who was openly booed when he asked Woertz last year about moving ADM’s headquarters, said he knew it would not be a popular question in Decatur. However, he thinks in the long run, ADM and Decatur would benefit from being able to attract higher-quality career people who would rather live and work in Chicago than Decatur. If the company is better off, Glotzer said it could grow and hire more people. “This move will increase employment in Decatur,” he said. McElroy said he plans to continue discussions about what is needed to keep Decatur viable in the future, especially in terms of transportation facilities for roads, rail and air travel. It’s a similar situation to what Decatur has found itself in all too often before, he said. “We are ready to take on that challenge,” McElroy said. “We’re an industry town. This isn’t a closed book.”
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October 2013
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Submitted photo
This aerial picture shows the extent of Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s new intermodal container freight shipping and receiving facility. Pictured is ADM’s West Plant and the intersection of Brush College Road and Faries Parkway in the lower left corner and the Caterpillar plant at the top. The facility is viewed by many as being a vital tool that will help establish Decatur as a major transportation hub in the years to come. BELOW: An operator sorts containers with a side lift crane at the new intermodal rail facility.
ADM opens intermodal freight facility Port will help company enhance global access By CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — Scott Fredericksen set out four years ago with the goal to help Archer Daniels Midland Co. better connect its Decatur plants with the country’s major railroads to provide enhanced global access for its products. As the ribbon was cut last month to open its intermodal container freight shipping and receiving facility, Fredericksen said ADM has since realized the potential the location has not only to expand its own business but for other companies to take advantage of the opportunities that have been created.
The opening ceremony was held at 3095 E. Parkway Drive amid 250 acres of land at ADM’s vast Decatur processing complex, with railcars and the nearby Caterpillar Inc. facility as a backdrop. “Ten years from now, I hope we look back to see this as a turning point that ushered in a new wave of growth,” said Fredericksen, ADM Transportation president. “We look forward to seeing it reach its full potential.” The project started when ADM bought a Canadian National rail yard with tracks running into its corn processing facility. Norfolk Southern Corp. tracks ran to the soybean processing facilities in ADM’s west plant but, without the rail yard, Fredericksen said ADM had difficulty connecting between both railroads. ADM now has direct access from the ramp to
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Business Journal/Jim Bowling
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October 2013
The economic development corporation assisted in the process by amending the boundaries of the Decatur Macon both railroads along with another of the County Enterprise Zone, providing an country’s seven major railroads, CSX. It integrated procontinues to have gram of state indirect access to tax credits and the remaining four, exemptions to Fredericksen said. the company, Intermodal Coil said. It freight has the facilitated the potential to be release of the shipped by truck, DCEO grant rail and ship, which funds, he said. means the facility’s “ADM is one location near interof the reasons states 72, 74, 55 and why we’re such 57 and U.S. 51 also a dynamic positions it to delivexporting G O V . P A T Q U I N N er efficient access state,” Quinn for trucking. ADM said. “Within a operates a transfew years, I think we will see the growth portation network that contains 26,100 of the Midwest Inland Port. We’re well railcars, 700 trucks and 1,500 trailers. on our way to do that.” The location provides the ability for shipments in and out of the area to reach markets across the country and around the world, leading to the creation of what is being referred to as the Midwest Inland Port. ADM ships 68 million metric tons of products by rail each year, including 2 million metric tons of grain that is shipped overseas each month, said Juan Luciano, ADM chief operating officer. The possibilities for the railroad, however, reach beyond that, Luciano said. An estimated 17 million intermodal containers are currently used worldwide, Luciano said. Container freight volumes were reported to have increased nearly 10 percent between 2010 and 2012. The intermodal facility has two, highcapacity cranes that can handle 50,000 containers per year, with room to grow to 150,000. “We believe at ADM we’re uniquely positioned to take advantage,” Luciano said. “It can connect any product to any market anywhere in the world in an efficient, cost-effective way. We encourage others to seize the opportunities with us.” Other companies can move products in and out of Decatur, said Craig Coil, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County. Decatur is less congested than larger nearby cities, Coil said. The intermodal ramp is seen as the first step in the development of the Midwest Inland Port, Coil said. “This opens the door to new opportunities,” Coil said. “We’ve been overlooked as a distribution hub. Nobody else has this.” Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn sees the opening of the facility as a chance for the Decatur area to improve on its global trade standing. It was recently ranked in the top 25 of cities by Global Trade Magazine. “This intermodal is a key moment in the economic history of Illinois,” Quinn said. “We are right in the center of a great economic opportunity. We have to seize that opportunity.” ADM has made a significant investment in developing the facility, which Quinn said helps expand the exporting ability of the entire state. Construction of the intermodal ramp was funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
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‘This intermodal is a key moment in the economic history of Illinois.’
Business Journal/Jim Bowling
Trucks hauling containers park at the new intermodal rail facility.
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October 2013
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BIZ BITES
Now open Scott State Bank has opened a new facility at 1120 Illinois 121 in Mount Zion. The completely remodeled building will be a full-service facility including loan services, lobby with refreshment center, safety deposit boxes, two drive-up lanes and a 24 hour drive-up ATM. “With our new Mount Zion facility, we are branching back to our roots,” said Tod Jeffers, president and CEO of Scott State Bank. Jeffers said the Scott family has roots in Mount Zion that go back to 1824 when James Scott, the grandfather of bank founder A.R. Scott, moved to the town from Tennessee. James Scott was a founding member of the Mount Zion Presbyterian Church and helped establish the first formal education system in Mount Zion, Jeffers said. Scott Bancshares Inc. is the parent of two subsidiary banks, which includes Scott State Bank and State Bank of Niantic. Other locations include Bethany, Dalton City, Maroa, Decatur, Niantic and Sullivan. The Mount Zion lobby will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Drive-up hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Call (217) 864-3321. nnn Terry Kaufman of Argenta, former bar manager at the Lincoln Square Lounge in Decatur, has opened Elm Street Bar and Grill at 113 E. Elm St. in Argenta, the former home of Rambo’s Pub & Grub. “I grew up here, and there was always a restaurant in town, but there hasn’t been for some time,” Kaufman said. “It’s a service I wanted to provide.” Hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, with food service continuing through 9 p.m. Appetizers, salads, sandwiches and pizza are on the menu. Carryout is available. Call (217) 795-2295. nnn The Southpaw Tattoo Studio in Mount Zion is ready to turn your body into art. The studio at 155 Debby Drive is the first solo venture for tattoo artist Travis Simpkins, who has 12 years experience working for others and is left-handed, hence the name. “I’ve worked in several different shops around the area and also in other states but I just never found a home, you know?” Simpkins said. “I kind of wanted to have my own thing going.” He concentrates on custom art and prefers to work up designs from customer’s ideas and then turn those ideas into reality. “I do specialize in full-color work like doing pin-ups and horror characters,” he said. The business handles piercings, too. The Southpaw Tattoo Studio is open 4-10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. Call (217) 413-8427. nnn A new orthodontics office has opened in Forsyth. Hage Orthodontics is at 241 W. Weaver Road in the Forsyth Professional Centre.
Dr. Michael Hage and his staff also serve patients out of offices in Mattoon and Effingham. Hage works with children and adult patients. The Forsyth office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday. Go to www.hageortho.com or call (217) 875-5010. nnn Garriott’s Antiques has existed in various forms over the years, and those have included leasing space in Hickory Point Mall at Christmastime and a storefront in Dave Garriott’s native Argenta. The latest incarnation is a renovated barn on his property at 100 S. North St. in Argenta, which began opening for monthly sales in August. He and Dawn McKinney of Decatur have renovated the barn’s three groundfloor rooms with an eye to fixing up the loft down the road. The next time Garriott’s Antiques will be open will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 to 27. After that, it depends on the weather, as the barn has no heat. For more, call Garriott at (217) 2593439. nnn A new pumpkin patch has opened just in time for fall. Sheffer Farms Pumpkin Patch will open Saturday, Sept. 28, at the end of Rea’s Bridge Road at 3156 Stare Road. The owners are Bill Sheffer and his son Ian, who are also the owners of Four Seasons Lawn Care in Decatur. “We grew pumpkins and gourds on 5 acres this year because we didn’t want to have way too many left over,” Ian Sheffer said. “Depending on how things go, we are thinking about planting 15 acres next year and branching out to other vegetables and maybe some fruit trees.” Sheffer said they have more than 30 varieties of pumpkins, both decorative and carving. Hours will be 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more, check Facebook, email shefferfarms@yahoo.com or call (217) 9721457. nnn A Land of Lincoln Credit Union branch has opened on the east side of Decatur. The newly constructed building at 4850 E. Prosperity Place is the credit union’s fifth location in the city. The goal is to be easily accessible to more of its members. A road was extended so drivers can more conveniently reach the parking lot. “We wanted easy access to the new branch, so we extended the roadway from the Wal-Mart parking lot to Route 121, calling it Prosperity Place,” said Todd Hogan, vice president of operations. The 8,800 square foot, one-story building features a curved roof design and four lane drive-up/ATM service. Visitors to the building will find a coffee and tea bar, kids interactive play zone and space for computer and iPad use. Other features include self-service safe deposit boxes and meeting rooms available for use, said Mindy Mosley, branch manager. Lobby hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Drive-up hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Call (217) 864-3030.
On the move A game of musical chairs has culminated with three businesses opening in the 200 block of North Main Street. Earthen Pottery owners Mike and Tammy Griffin decided to return to North Main Street, specifically the former home of It’s A Girl Thing at 225 N. Main St., after spending a year in the 200 block of West Main Street. “We need the drive-by and foot traffic we used to get,” Tammy Griffin said. “We just couldn’t get people to turn that corner off North Main to come to West Main.” Hours remain 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, and the phone number will still be (217) 433-1444. The owner of All Things Beautiful Collectibles and Gifts left her first-year home on East Prairie Avenue with the same hope of greater visibility at 219 N. Main St., the former home of Petals, which relocated to Forsyth. Sheryol Threewit said the larger space will also let her expand her jewelry line and carry more goods from Nepal and India, wool purses from Uruguay and silk scarves from Asia along with her collection of country, primitive and folk art home decor. “It’s a great opportunity to get more exposure and build a bigger customer base,” she said. All Things Beautiful will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The phone number will remain (217) 330-8141. Meanwhile, Mowrys’ Sweet Life Baking Co. opened its first storefront in the former Coney’s Cookies at 231 N. Main St. after operating out of the owner’s home for two years. “We’ve outgrown that,” said Holly Mowry, who co-owns the business with daughters Megan and Allison Mowry. The baking company will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
Expanding Vita Center for Women is bursting at the seams with new locations and providers. Growing the women’s health care practice has been the goal since day one according to Dr. Jeffrey S. Pfeiffer who started the health group in 2011. “Expansion is a key priority for Vita,” Pfeiffer said. “With expansion comes convenience for current and future patients, both in what we can provide and how we can provide it.” This includes adding new services and procedures, which Pfeiffer and his staff are exploring now. Having filled out the entire third floor of Physicians Plaza East on the DMH Campus, Vita has expanded into two new spaces: Suite 305 in Physicians Plaza West, and joining Suite 300 in Plaza East is Suite 200, featuring women’s health nurse practitioner Kathy J. Schafer.
New providers include Dr. Mamatha Moodalagiriaiah and Dr. Pierre Johnson, along with nurse practitioners Andrea Tirpak, Kathe Trusner and Sue Valentine. Vita will host an open house on Nov. 7. For more information go to vitacenterforwomen.com or call (217) 872-2400. nnn Skeff Distributing has expanded its service territory farther around Central Illinois. The Decatur-based Anheuser-Busch distributor acquired Earl Gaudio & Son in Danville, which had closed its doors after filing bankruptcy earlier this year. Skeff’s employee count in Central Illinois will now go from 93 to 109 people. The acquisition adds Vermilion, Edgar, Clark and Iroquois counties to its service territory, which already includes Decatur, Champaign and Springfield. Skeff served 3.4 million cases of products to 1,300 customers each year in its older markets.
Making changes Lucy Brownlee, property manager for North Street Commons and other supportive housing for homeless military veterans, is stepping back from the business obligations she’s had running The Sign Store/Lucy’s Airbrush. She’s sold the sign business to Dynagraphics Fast Impressions at 3220 N. Woodford Ave. and is giving Dynagraphics access to customers’ original artwork to ensure a smooth transition. More recently, she’s moved Lucy’s Airbrush nine blocks west and merged with Butch’s Auto Body at 2090 E. Locust St. “I didn’t have time to do all the work involved with my auto paint jobs, so now all I have to do is the artwork, and Butch will do the base coat and clear coats,” Brownlee said. For more on The Sign Store, visit www.dynafast.com or call (217) 876-9950. For Lucy’s Airbrush, call (217) 201-3625.
New owner Samuel Music Co. of Effingham recently acquired Thompson-Kramer Music Co. of Decatur. With a combined sales force and industry knowledge, Samuel Music representatives said the two companies have the ability to offer schools and other customers a larger variety of instruments, betters service and continued repair service. The two companies will service the needs of schools in an area that stretches from Champaign, Decatur and Springfield south through Mattoon and Effingham to Southern Illinois. Jim Kramer of Samuel Music Band has accepted the post of school band representative and will continue to be based in Decatur. He can be reached at (217) 877-1832.
Biz Bites highlight businesses that are opening, closing, expanding … you get the picture. If you have information for our Biz Bites column, contact Tony Reid at treid@herald-review.com, Chris Lusvardi at clusvardi@herald-review.com, Theresa Churchill at tchurchill@herald-review.com or call them at (217) 421-6979.
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YOUR BUSINESS
Trust needed in great places to work The “Great Place to Work” designation is a cherished symbol. It is an incredibly effective recruitment tool. It correlates with high profits and productivity. All good. No downside. So why doesn’t anyone around here want this award? Seven years ago, I wrote four columns urging Decatur area firms to enter this annual competition, sponsored by Fortune Magazine. That plea was wildly unsuccessful: Not one organization in our readership area took Human Resources the bait. I was discouraged by the lack of interest. Alas, I still am morbidly depressed about it. But even that hasn’t stopped me from hoping, as witnessed by this very column. In 2006 I mentioned that trust is the key concept in a Great Place to Work. Trust is the one common denominator. It’s found in abundance in every one of the Great Places to Work. This month I want to dive into the
Fred Spannaus
concept of trust. What is it about an organization that creates a culture of trust? What are the ingredients? For much of this list I am indebted to the Society for Human Resource Management. n People want to work for bosses who tell the truth. They want supervisors who will stand behind their words. n People want a workplace where everyone supports each other. When a supervisor bad-mouths or manipulates employees, it destroys confidence, even when the targets are not in the room. n People want their bosses to be consistent. People want bosses who don’t switch personalities from minute to minute. Drama and intimidation are the enemies of trust-building. n People want clear and consistent job expectations. When requirements and expectations are vague or change without explanation, employees become confused and crawl into protective shells. n People want clear and fair supervision. Bad bosses are the number one cause of unwanted turnover. Good bosses set unambiguous goals. They establish priorities and live by them. They give feedback regularly, clearly and kindly. Good bosses praise good work. n People want fairness in compensa-
tion. They want to know that they are being paid consistent with others who do similar work and do it equally well. n People want adequate resources. They need access to the tools — time, training, support, access to knowledge and competent teammates. Nothing is as frustrating as getting an assignment and not having the resources to get it done. n People want respect. They need to feel that they can speak openly and offer ideas. Creativity thrives when people can be safe and vulnerable. They should never have to fear retaliation for disagreeing. n People want fairness in the workplace. Perceptions of favoritism are poisonous, and they can take root in the dank recesses of any organization. Bosses need to be scrupulous about recognizing those who deserve it. n People want growth and challenges. Good employees want to try new tasks. They want to be given assignments that stretch their talents. When they do well, they want consideration for promotions. Tall orders? Not at all. It’s basic decency. I am convinced that any workplace that has supervisors who adhere to these principles will develop a climate of trust. It will be a great place to work, whether or not it is ever cited by
Fortune Magazine. It will attract and retain good talent. One last word. A culture of trust is built from the top down. That’s the only way it can be built. It starts with the top brass — the CEO, the president. His or her subordinates take their cues from the top. They reflect this behavior to their subordinates. And so on down the line to every level on the organizational chart.
Fred W. Spannaus, principal of Spannaus Consulting, is a senior professional in human resources. He loves feedback to his columns. Fred can be contacted by email at spannaus@ ameritech.net or by phone at (217) 425-2635.
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Coil announces resignation from EDC By TONY REID Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — One of the biggest regrets Craig Coil is nursing over his resignation is the timing of it. The president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County announced he was leaving his job effective Oct. 31. The news came barely 24 hours after Archer Daniels Midland Co. said it was planning to locate its global headquarters outside of Decatur, taking with it 100 top-paying employees. For Coil, whose daily task has been to promote economic development and create and retain jobs, it looked as though he was throwing his hands up in frustration and quitting in despair in a city where a 13 percent unemployment rate is the highest in Illinois. Coil insisted his resignation has been in the works for a month, and the scheduled announcement date was entirely coincidental with ADM’s bombshell. Coil said the reason he is leaving is to devote more time and energy to running his consulting and real estate firm, The
Development Consortium Inc. It focuses on site location, financing and incentive negotiation for businesses, and Coil cofounded the firm in 2006, four years after he started work with the economic development corporation. Coil said he has actually been considering making the jump to his own business full time for the past six years, and at age 55, he said now was the right moment to make his move. “I take a lot of pride in the fact that we’ve had an impact,” Coil said. “I have really enjoyed my time here in Decatur, and it was an incredibly difficult decision for me to leave; I can’t say enough positive things about the experience I’ve had here.” Tim Stone, chairman of the economic development corporation’s board, said Coil has agreed to assist in the transition process of finding his replacement. Coil said he is sure the board will want to make some organizational changes going forward, and his departure was a good opportunity to “reflect on what the strengths of the organization are and a time to adjust accordingly.”
Millikin launches networking group By CHRIS LUSVARDI Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — Kat Smalley sees running a business as a challenge for owners like her who have to manage all aspects of a small company. Turning to SCORE and the Millikin Center for Entrepreneurship helped ease the burden of developing and executing a business plan. “Owners wear most of the hats,” said Smalley, who is publisher of the Thrive Entertainment Guide in Decatur. “They are the ones we need to support.” As executive committee chair of the newly launched Millikin Micro Business Network, Smalley is hoping other business owners find the resources they need to be successful. The network held its inaugural event last month with guest speaker Laura Cornille-Cannaday, who has in the past taught SCORE and Millikin’s First Step FastTrac course. The network is intended to be an extension of the work that is started during that class, which is typically offered for 10 weeks in the fall or spring, said Bob Luther, a SCORE mentor. The next First Step FastTrac class is being organized to start in the spring, he said. “It’s like boot camp,” Smalley said. “You learn a lot really fast. It’s hard to stay connected.” By becoming part of the new network,
Luther said business owners will have the opportunity to stay connected with mentors from SCORE and learn of additional resources. To become a member, the organization is asking for a $100 annual fee. Its events will be open to nonmembers, who would pay each time they attend a meeting. The sessions being organized include a speaker series with a “Ready, Set, Grow” theme, roundtable discussions and special events, Smalley said. “We want to give a lot of value every time we meet,” she said. “We’re going to learn and be inspired.” Luther hopes business owners will find at least a part of what is offered of interest. The organization is intended to be member-driven, so Luther said it can change as necessary. “We’re not going to be everything for everybody,” he said. “But we’ll be something for everybody. We don’t know what it could look like a year from now.” Luther said many of those who take the First Step FastTrac class aren’t yet ready to start their business, so developing the network will provide the structure to help them as they continue their journey. Other scheduled events include a Listening to Your Business workshop on Oct. 17 and How to Get the Money roundtable on Nov. 20.
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Study: Slackers taking up managers’ time Poor performers can hurt moral By TIFFANY HSU McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Slacker employees don’t pull their weight. But they do a great job attaching it to their bosses. Managers spend nearly 17 percent of their working hours dealing with poor performers, according to a report from staffing firm Robert Half International. That’s basically a full day a week that could have been spent being productive. And sucking up supervisors’ time isn’t the only downside to subpar workers, according to the report. Of the more than 1,400 chief financial officers interviewed by Robert Half, 95 percent said laggards can bring down office spirits. “Bad hires are costly, not just for the drain they place on the budget but also in terms of lost morale, productivity and time,” said Max Messmer, chief executive of Robert Half. They’re like the human embodiment
of a holiday or March Madness, except not nearly as enjoyable. During such periods, productivity slumps as workers become more distracted and take more time off, according to consulting firm Challenger Gray & Christmas. So, how best to avoid bringing aboard Peter Gibbons, the disgruntled programmer made famous from the movie “Office Space”? First, managers shouldn’t try to lone-wolf the hiring process, according to Robert Half. Instead of relying solely on their own instincts, they should ask employees what they’re looking for in a teammate. And supervisors should extend an offer immediately after making a hiring decision to avoid losing promising workers to competitors, according to the report. Finally, lowball salaries won’t get a good worker, according to the study, which reasons that if a company pays employees what they deserve, they’re more likely to want to work harder.
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ASK THE SCORE COUNSELOR Q: Are there any tips you can give me on hiring the right people? A: From the Small Business Administration’s Weekly Connection publication, Corey Weiner, designer of mobile and social video systems writes: “Success hinges on finding great people, but killer candidates can be nightmare employees, and duds can morph into your biggest stars.” Here he shares his three biggest hiring mistakes to avoid. n PRACTICE DOESN’T MAKE PERFECT. The job interview is the cornerstone of the hiring process; the last barrier to employment after a candidate has been identified and recruited. Like most things in the professional world, you would think that interviewing skills improve over time but, as it turns out, this isn’t always the case. Research proves that experience does nothing to improve one’s interviewing skills, and that the average hiring manager often does no better than random chance. Structured, pre-scripted interviews are one of the best ways to make your process more efficient. This minimizes human subjectivity and bias, such as how a question is worded and the chemistry between candidate and inter-
GOT A QUESTION? For more information on hiring the right employees; for one-on-one, face-to-face business counseling; or to submit a question for the “Ask the SCORE Counselor” column, contact SCORE Chapter 296, Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522 or call (217) 424-6296.
viewer. Using a structured format, an interviewer asks the same job-relevant, behavior-based questions of each candidate in the same order (Give me an example of a time when you couldn’t get everything accomplished on time? What tools do you use to keep yourself organized?) Each interviewer uses the same script, and then rates the applicants independently in order to form an aggregated score. n YOUR GUT INSTINCTS CAN GET YOU INTO TROUBLE. Most executives and hiring managers pride themselves on their instincts. When it comes to hiring, however, relying on your gut can be a mistake. It can result, for instance, in hir-
BUSINESS CLIPS
Promotions
Achievements
Kyle Pflum has been promoted to market president for Prairie State Bank & Trust’s Mount Zion and Long Creek locaPflum tions. He replaces the retiring James Hall. Hall
Kids-N-Fitness has earned a two-star quality rating from National-Louis University.
Kruep
John Kruep of Katy, Texas, formerly of Decatur, has been appointed vice president of human resources for BP North America Gas in
Houston. Ryan Raleigh has been Raleigh promoted to director of operations for the Decatur Park District.
ing individuals who are adept interviewees, rather than rock star employees. It can also have the reverse effect, making you dismiss someone who’s talented and capable, but with whom you don’t immediately connect on a personal level. Begin with a clear picture of what an excellent employee looks like. Then, put together a list of questions designed to determine whether or not the candidate has those traits. Sticking to the facts and ignoring personal affinities takes the subjectivity out of the equation, thereby sharpening the analysis. n RELEVANT EXPERIENCE CAN BE MISLEADING. When comparing multiple candidates for the same position, it can be tempting to give weight to the individual who has the most relevant experience. On the surface, a candidate who has worked for similar companies or competitors seems like an attractive option. The problem with this approach is that relevant experience doesn’t always equal success. It’s seductive, and it can cause you to overlook candidates who possess stronger core traits that will lead to success at the position. Industry knowledge and strong business contacts are nice to have, but research shows that intelligence, conscientiousness and integrity are far more important to long-term success. Employers are well advised, therefore,
to design questions that measure these traits, rather than falling in love with someone just because they’ve been in familiar territory. Hiring the right people is always a challenge, and today’s crowded job market makes this particularly difficult. A successful, long-term hiring process is anything but intuitive, and the things that seem like no-brainers can often lead you astray. By applying these methods, you can turn hiring good employees into a science. The most important point is to know exactly what you’re looking for, and to establish a process to help you get there. — Carol Harding, SCORE counselor
Meet a SCORE counselor Carol Harding retired from Millikin University as an academic advisor for the adult, accelerated degree program. She and her husband, Joe, own GJ Builders Hardware in Decatur. Carol has worked with SCORE and the Tabor Center for Entrepreneurship for 20 Harding years, and has been a SCORE member for 10. She has submitted articles for the “Ask the SCORE Counselor” column since 2006.
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New staff members Erech Pierson has joined Whitacre McNamara Insurance Services as a health and benefits account manager. Jamie Gower has rejoined the Decatur Park District as risk manager. Eric Smith has joined BARBECK as a business account representative specializing in ESI busiGower ness phone systems, SIP (sessions Internet protocol) phone service and video security product sales.
Business Clips are abbreviated versions of paid Business Achievements which appear on Mondays in the Herald & Review. For more information about Business Achievements, go to www.heraldreview.com/app/secure/businessach/
BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 72% read The Business Journal monthly. n 17% are 34 and under.
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Saluting Women in Business
A Special Supplement to the
October 2013
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Pregnancies and the workplace Baby bump shifts office routines By VALERIE WELLS Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — When you only have 15 employees, having three pregnant in the same year is not only unusual, but presents a bit of a logistics problem. That happened at Audibel Hearing Center this year. Kerri Schackmann gave birth to son Treyton on Dec. 15. Stephanie Pinkston welcomed son Carter Holder on March 10. And Ashley May’s son Brooks was born on July 15. Schackmann said she returned from her maternity leave a week before Pinkston left for hers, and Pinkston returned just in time for May to take hers. “(We did it) by the grace of God,” Pinkston said with a laugh. “Having fun with it makes it easier to juggle,” May said. All three DOUG HAWS are hearing specialists. They test clients’ hearing and help find the right hearing aid, and many of their clients are older. Those clients took a grandparentlike interest in the impending births and now ask about the babies. May works at the Taylorville office; Pinkston in Springfield; and Schackmann in Effingham. They credit their boss, Doug Haws, with being flexible. “I’ve joked with the staff, saying that there must be something in the water at Audibel,” Haws said. “It’s been an interesting six to seven months, and it hasn’t always been easy, but we managed to cover for each other and re-arrange schedules so that we could continue to give our patients the excellent care that they have been accustomed to. One day our Decatur specialist, Brian Hassinger, would be in Effingham, the next day he would be in Decatur. He is the only male specialist and he has promised not to get pregnant.” With more women in the work force than ever, juggling pregnancy and a job at the same time is a common occur-
‘... it hasn’t always been easy, but we managed to cover for each other.’
Business Journal/Lisa Morrison
Audibel Hearing Center had to make some adjustments when three of its 15 employees were pregnant at the same time. Meeting in the Decatur office are back left, Stephanie Pinkston and her son, Carter Holder of Springfield; middle, Kerri Schackmann and her son, Treyton of Effingham and back right, Ashley May and her son, Brooks. rence. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 requires employers to continue treating a pregnant employee the same as any other employee with a temporary disability, but the employer is not required to provide extra breaks or a different assignment if the work the employee normally does is within her ability to perform it. Teaching, especially in the late August heat, is stressful without the added physical challenge of pregnancy. Parsons School kindergarten teacher Natalie Click said her husband has noticed that she comes straight home from school and takes a nap every day because she’s so drained. Gretchen Reynolds is office manager at Country Financial in Mount Zion. “My bosses have been super supportive,” she said. “They know we’ve struggled with some infertility, so we had testing and appointments before, then several blood tests to make sure hormone levels were rising appropriately, and added to the extra appointments for higher risk due to my age. (The bosses) have been great.” Next door to Reynolds’ office is Bel
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
Veterinarian Holly Brophy, left, finishes an examination with Pat Hursh and her pet, C.B., at the Belle Aire Pet Clinic in Mount Zion. Brophy is expecting.
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Restaurant ‘good hobby’ for Mary Belle Good cookin’ been around since 1986 By BOB FALLSTROM Business Journal Writer
MOUNT ZION — The restaurant business in and around Decatur is volatile, here one day, gone the next. At age 83, Mary Belle Whitehead keeps going like the proverbial Energizer Bunny, her customers insist. She has operated Mary Belle’s Restaurant and Lounge at 170 Debby Drive in Mount Zion since 1986 and has no intention of retiring to a rocking chair. A farm girl, Mary Belle graduated from Maroa High School in 1948 and married Richard Whitehead in 1950 in a country church. He died in 1994. She worked in various roles at the Citizens National Bank for 8½ years and then worked at Soy Capital Bank & Trust for 22 years. Her first business venture was the Plaza Custard Shop in Mount Zion, starting in 1975 after a bowling buddy suggested the idea. “I didn’t know anything about ice cream,” she said. “I learned. I got mix from Benson Creamery.” The ice cream store was successful. What about a restaurant? “It has turned into a good hobby,” she said. Her patrons agree. “Best food in the area,” said Jerry Underwood, a satisfied customer. Patti Underwood added, “Especially the soups, every kind, particularly chicken.” Carolyn Hilligoss, a longtime customer, likes the Friday night catfish filet, served breaded and fried or broiled. “And, best of all, I like the family atmosphere,” she said. “Home cooking and chicken livers” is what attracts Shelly Chabak and Rod Washburn. “Best chicken livers ever; ten-
Business Journal photos/Danny Damiani
Mary Belle Whitehead, 83, stands in the dinning room of her restaurant, Mary Belle’s, in Mount Zion. Belle has been running her restaurant since 1986. TOP LEFT: Frank Kershner of Warrensburg works the bar while chatting with customers. RIGHT: Penny Paris and Carolyn Ernst of Decatur talk over soup, salad and wine. der and cooked to perfection,” Shelly said. Debra Dotson, Mary Belle’s daughter emphasized that her mother works a lot and works hard to make the restaurant a success. Mary Belle’s is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, including Thanksgiving
Day, Easter and Mother’s Day. For help, there is cook Kevin Flack and waitress Carol Johnson. Another waitress is added on weekends. Mary Belle limits her cooking to desserts, including chocolate cheesecake, coconut cream pie and cobblers. There is seating for about 115 in the former Del Carmen’s Pizza building,
remodeled to add space. The customers have an extensive menu from which to choose, including items that are difficult to find — chicken livers, beef liver, pork burger filet and frog legs. There are early bird specials from 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday and two specials every day.
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Women can have it all, but ‘all’ varies McClatchy-Tribune News Service
ATLANTA — For years, Lisa Davis worked long days at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. As manager of the pharmacy department at the Egleston campus, she was in charge of a 70-plus size staff, and she often logged back on the computer after she got home to squeeze in a few more hours. And then there were those Saturday mornings, being on call and filling in for pharmacists out sick. But it was a job she loved. As far back as she can remember, she wanted to use her pharmacy degree to work with children. But once her own daughter came along, something changed. It started from the moment she first dropped off her 3-month-old baby at day care and returned to work. “It was the worst day of my life,” said Davis, who lives in Suwanee, Ga. “I told my boss, ‘I am here, but I am going to have to cry in my office.’ ” Over time, Davis felt better about being a working mom. Still, that feeling of being torn between the responsibilities of her job and wanting to spend more time with her daughter lingered. She faced too little time, as well as too little sleep. “If I was going to make it work and be what I considered to be a good mom, something had to change,” said Davis. Two years later, a new medication safety officer job opened up, a job that promised more regular hours and would make it easier to use flex time. It came with a 10 percent pay cut. She jumped at the chance. Her daughter, Maggie, is now 7. Davis chaperones at every field trip, attends every class party and doesn’t have to sweat about making it to her daughter’s swim meets. Blending family and work life is an ongoing challenge for working mothers everywhere. Just how to make it work is a topic of conversation between husbands and wives, on mommy blogs, in office cubicles and around the coffee pot at work. An article in The Atlantic magazine, “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All” by Anne-Marie Slaughter, recently reignited the debate about juggling work and family life. Slaughter stepped down from her job as director of policy planning at the U.S. State Department. She left partly because she needed to return to her job at Princeton University once her twoyear public service leave was over. But she also left because she missed her spouse and two teenage sons, and they needed her. The magazine article went viral; it reportedly had nearly a million views online within a week. Responses ran the gamut: Some welcomed a conversation about more flexibility in the workplace,
some saw the piece as whiny and still others lambasted her for equating feminist success with “having it all.” So can women really have it all? “I think it’s still possible to have it all, but I think you might have to alter what your ‘all’ means,” said Davis. “For me, my all changed when Maggie came into the equation.” For Davis, she has maintained what’s most important — a fulfilling job and time with her family. Other aspects of her life — a perfectly neat house, free time to enjoy her hobby of decorating — fell down the priority list. “My friends used to say, ‘We love coming to your house; it’s like a Southern Living model home,’ ” Davis said. “Now, the hearth has a mountain of Barbies. There is nothing perfect about my house anymore. It’s a house with a child.” It’s all about managing expectations, experts say. Working mothers who expect the need for trade-offs and understand the challenges tend to fare better than those who expect it to be relatively easy, according to researchers. “Employed women who expected that work/life balance was going to be hard are probably more likely to accept that they can’t do it all,” said Katrina Leupp, a University of Washington sociology Ph.D. student who also teaches at the university. Leupp, who is analyzing survey responses from 1,600 women — first interviewed in their late 20s and then again as 40-year-old mothers — said women who expect some challenges are more likely to be comfortable making sacrifices, such as cutting back on work hours and getting husbands to help more. Those expecting to be “super mom” are more likely to face depression, she said. Despite the sharp growth of dualcareer households and a more egalitarian division of family labor over the past several decades, women typically still take on most of the child care responsibilities. (And fathers typically do more paid hours on the job). But mothers are more likely to feel guilty when work spills into home life. A 2011 study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found women, particularly those with young children, were far more likely than working fathers to be distressed by a BlackBerry buzzing during nonworking hours at home. Leupp believes the conversation over work/life balance circles like a merrygo-round because it’s still an ongoing challenge and, in some cases, an ongoing struggle. “We have to figure this out,” said Leupp. “Mothers’ employment rates have been high now for several decades. Instead of asking whether it should work, it’s time to figure out how to make it work.”
Business Journal/Jim Bowling
Office assistant Gretchen Reynolds works with insurance agent Craig Brueggemann at a Country Financial office in Mount Zion. Reynolds is expecting.
Continued from page 12 Aire Pet Clinic, where Dr. Holly Brophy is midway through her pregnancy. “For me, there’s some restrictions on what I can and can’t do,” Brophy said. “I can’t help with X-rays at all. I have to wait and thankfully, I have enough staff able to do it without me and I look at films afterward. It just makes things take longer.” She can’t handle certain medications and staff members have to prepare those prescriptions. During anesthesia for surgeries, she wears a respirator mask. In the early weeks of her pregnancy, she had severe nausea and lost 15 pounds, and was so tired at times that simply getting to the office was a mon-
umental task. “I didn’t understand why anybody would do this to themselves more than once,” she said with a laugh. But the worst is behind her now, and because she is in practice with another veterinarian and the technicians can pitch in to do the things she can’t, things are going as smoothly as can be expected. It also helps that her partner Dr. Brenten Minick is a dad and has been through this with his own family. For now, Brophy is taking extra shifts on call because once her baby’s born, Minick will have greater responsibilities for a while and she wants things to be fair. “Because I have such a wonderful, well-trained staff, I can tell them what to do and they can get it done,” Brophy said.
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Karalee Misner
Jayne Herzog
Business development manager
Optician
Land of Lincoln Credit Union
Herzog Quality Optical
Your biggest challenge and how you overcame it: Balancing work and home. Life is all about balance and as a working mom, wife, homemaker and volunteer, it is important to give every piece the attention it deserves. As women, we tend to put pressure on ourselves to be superheroes and have an answer for everything. Some days are crazier than others, but with the support of my husband, we work together as a team to make it happen. Advice to other career women on what it takes to be successful: A good attitude is everything. Being positive and encouraging your co-workers is a great way to stand out. Coming into the office with a smile, light heart and a few good (or bad) jokes is refreshing. Don’t underestimate yourself. Being friendly, confident and knowledgeable are all necessary qualities to being successful. What person or event made you what you are today? My mom beating breast cancer really changed my outlook on life. I have a bandana that she wore when she lost her hair during chemo therapy and I keep it in my office as a reminder when I feel like complaining. Throughout her recovery, she remained upbeat and continued on with her regular routine, prov-
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Your biggest challenge and how you overcame it: The biggest challenge for me was convincing myself and everyone else that I could sell eyeglasses without a doctor on staff writing prescriptions. I just overcame it by not listening to doubters. Advice to other career women on what it takes to be successful: Do your research, but also listen to your gut.
BRING IN YOUR
ing that a “bump in the road” doesn’t have to turn into an excuse. I admire her strength and determination and try to exemplify that for my own girls now. Strong women in business seem to be characterized more negatively than strong men in business. Any tips for overcoming this characterization? I don’t read into stereotypes too much, especially when they perpetuate negativity. I would suggest completely ignoring this ideology and instead consider yourself a strong person, which is worth being proud of. Standing up for what you believe and being humble when it’s time to learn a lesson are what turn strong people into successful people.
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The Business Journal presents...
A SALUTE TO
Karalee Misner Business Development Manager
Your outstanding service to our members and the community has not gone unnoticed.
We are proud to have you as part of the LLCU team.
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Call today to reserve your space at 421-7953
Advertising/Questionnaire deadline November 14, 2013
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Study: Women make better corporate leaders
Shelly Smith Agent Shelter Insurance Co. Your biggest challenge and how you overcame it: Being an insurance agent with today’s economy is challenging every day. However, I love what I do and I have the passion to help clients with protecting what they work so hard for. So with that passion, hard work and dedication I am able to overcome these challenges as they arise and stay focused to be the best I can be for my clients. Advice to other career women on what it takes to be successful: Success starts with you! You must be very confident in your own self and what you do. Next, find your passion and go after it. I truly believe anyone can do anything they have the passion for. If you love it, you will be great it!! I hear career women say “I
Decision-making skills differ By STUART PFEIFER McClatchy-Tribune News Service
can’t” or “I don’t have confidence.” That’s huge. Look in the mirror and find that confidence then go after your passion. Don’t let anything stop you from reaching your goals.
Donna Mauzey President/owner Illini Supply Inc. Your biggest challenge and how you overcame it: My biggest challenge was the reality that the Illini family was depending on me for the right leadership. Realizing one person can’t do it alone and the importance of a great team has given me the opportunity to flourish as a business owner. Through our team effort, we will continue to grow as a company, evolve with our changing customer needs and become your trusted source for interior solutions. Advice to other career women on what it takes to be successful: Believe you can do it and put forth the effort to make it happen. What person or event made you what you are today? I always wanted to own my own business and the company’s former owners, Jerry Wittenauer and John Young, believed in me enough to give me the opportunity. The “School of Illini Supply” made me the business woman I am today.
Strong women in business seem to be characterized more negatively than strong men in business. Any tips for overcoming this characterization? Shake hands with a smile. Being successful doesn’t mean you aren’t a good person, just a smart one.
SHELLY SMITH
AUTO HOME LIFE
Women make better corporate leaders than men because they are more likely to make fair decisions when competing interests are at stake, a new study has found. The study, published by the International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, was based on a survey of 600 board directors. Women in leadership positions are more likely than men to consider competing interests and take a cooperative approach when making decisions, according to the study, conducted by researchers at A.T. Still University in Arizona and McMaster University in Canada. “We’ve known for some time that companies that have more women on their boards have better results,” said Chris Bart, a professor of strategic management at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business. “Our findings show
ISI
that having women on the board is no longer just the right thing, but also the smart thing to do. Companies with few female directors may actually be shortchanging their investors.” Male directors, who made up 75 percent of the survey sample, prefer making decisions using rules, regulations and tradition, the survey found. Female directors, by contrast, are less constrained by rules and more prepared to “rock the boat,” the researchers found. They are also more likely “to use cooperation, collaboration and consensusbuilding.” Women leaders are more inquisitive than men and tend to see more than one solution to a problem. This leads to decisions that are more likely to be in the best interests of a company, McQueen said. Globally, women make up about 9 percent of corporate board members, the study said. The study cited research that has found that companies with at least one female director were 20 percent less likely to file bankruptcy. And those with higher representations of females on their boards had better financial performance.
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Small biz leader tells women owners to take charge By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG AP Business Writer
NEW YORK — Barbara Kasoff has a message for women business owners: If you don’t like the way government regulations affect your business, stop whining and get involved. The founder of Women Impacting Public Policy, a group that lobbies lawmakers on behalf of women-owned small businesses, isn’t shy about telling women they need to take charge if they want their businesses to succeed — especially when it comes to government policy. “You, the woman business owner, need to get involved,” Kasoff said. Female business owners are a growing force in the United States. There were more than 8.3 million women-owned businesses in the country as of 2012, up 54 percent from 1997, according to a study commissioned by American Express. The most recent census figures available on businesses show that there were 7.8 million women-owned businesses in the country in 2007. That was nearly one-third of all nonfarm businesses in
the United States. “We are part of all the discussions,” said Kasoff. “No longer are we in a situation of being told what will happen. We’re part of the team.” WIPP has more than 1 million members across the country including those in 68 affiliated advocacy groups. Kasoff is particularly proud of WIPP’s success in government contracting issues. The group lobbied for the Women Owned Small Business program, which took effect in 2011, under which the government targets granting 5 percent of eligible federal contracts, or about $20 billion, to companies owned by women. Its most recent success: In late December, Congress approved a defense spending bill that removed caps on the size of those contracts. Caps that other smallbusiness owners didn’t face. But those achievements haven’t been easy. First, she said, she had to get women owners to realize that government policy does affect them. And that they have to join forces to get the changes they want. “If we didn’t have all of us working
together, we never would have had the WOSB program at all. We would never have won the challenge to have the caps (on contracts to women-owned businesses) removed,” Kasoff said. Kasoff had already been a business owner when she founded WIPP in 2001. She had owned 11 Voice-Tel franchises, which supplied voice messaging services, in Michigan and also owned Voice Response Corp., which provided call center services as well as voice messaging. She sold the businesses by 1999, and continued working for Voice Response until
2002. Even with her success, Kasoff had questions about what the government could do to help her as a woman business owner. And she didn’t feel that her opinions were being heard in Washington. “I was a business owner and I didn’t see that I had a voice,” she said. “I looked around and I didn’t see that anyone could help me.” So she did what she now urges other businesswomen to do — she got involved.
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Assistant vice president, retail banking Hickory Point Bank & Trust Your biggest challenge and how you overcame it: Transitioning into a career other than the profession I studied in college seemed difficult at the time. However, that challenge has enabled me to create a career in a profession with numerous possibilities and opportunities along the way. As I continue to develop in my career with the bank, I look back and remember how nerve-wracking it was to make the decision. Now, six years later, I know without a doubt I made the wisest decision for me. Advice to other career women on what it takes to be successful: Strive to achieve goals set for yourself, and once those goals are met, set your sights on new ambitions. Life is long and so are our careers so take advantage of every opportunity along the way and never sell yourself short. You and only you can determine how far you will make it in your career. What person or event made you what you are today? As a child, my parents instilled a sense of pride in me that enabled me to believe in myself and work hard for those goals I strived to achieve. Throughout my life in every event, club or organization I was a part of, my parents supported me 100 percent always reminding me that I had the characteristics to be successful as long as I stayed focused and driven. To this day, I admire my mom and dad for their hard work and determination for their own success as well. While I work
through ups and downs, uncertainties and frustrations, I continue to look at my parents for strength and know that with their support, along with my husband’s, I can continue on the career path of my choice and enjoy success along the way. Strong women in business seem to be characterized more negatively than strong men in business. Any tips for overcoming this characterization? I have, and will continue to, work hard to achieve my goals and create a successful career for myself and my family. Perceptions are just that, perceptions, so the idea that strong women in business should be viewed as anything but successful is something I try to not pay mind to. In the end, my daughter will grow up seeing a mom who worked hard to become the person she aspired to be and there is nothing negative about that.
Strong. Smart. Savvy.
CHRISTINA BAKER Assistant Vice President, Retail Banking
HICKORYPOINTBANK.COM | CHAMPAIGN | DECATUR | PEORIA | SPRINGFIELD
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J.L. Hubbard Insurance and Bonds The women of J.L. Hubbard Insurance and Bonds play an integral part in its success as a leading provider of commercial insurance, personal insurance, surety bonds, individual life and health and employee benefits to more than 3,500 clients throughout Central Illinois. Asked to reflect on the quality of his team, company president Kevin Breheny had this to say. How have you been able to build such a successful team of women professionals at J.L. Hubbard? My management team and I have been doing this for a long time. We’ve been very careful to find the right lady for the task at hand over the past 35 years now. Many have been with us for more than 25 years. And then there is Linda Hopkins, who started with the company before I arrived, who has been with J.L. Hubbard for 50
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years. We try hard to treat everyone like we are all part of a corporate family and to remain flexible over the years as life takes its twists and turns. What are some of the important roles women fill at J.L. Hubbard? They do everything. Management, sales, placing, customer service, claims, accounting, bonds, employee benefits, IT. You name it. They can do it. What opportunities may exist at J.L. Hubbard in the future for women? More sales positions. We find that there’s lots of opportunity for women in insurance sales. Do you find that women excel in certain departments at J.L Hubbard and, if so, why? They tend to want to go into customer service and they’re exceptional at it. They should give sales more thought because of the added income potential. I can’t stress enough how blessed we are at J.L. Hubbard to have such a loyal group of professional women. They are insurance smart, exceptionally committed and of the highest integrity.
Diana Janowiak Co-owner/certified health coach
Thank you
women of JL Hubbard for all of your hard work and dedication
Good Naber Specialty Foods LLC Your biggest challenge and how you overcame it: The biggest challenge was overcoming my own limiting beliefs. With encouragement from family and friends, I was able to realize my full potential, put my best foot forward and concentrate on all the positive aspects of operating my own business. Advice to other career women on what it takes to be successful: You have to overcome the negativity, have faith and believe in yourself. There will always be bumps in the road along the way, but if it’s your true passion, you’ll succeed.
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McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Tattoo artist Kathryn Moore works on Casey Arrington at Dogstar Tattoo in Durham, N.C. She is a rare women working in a mostly male field.
Stretching the ownership boundaries Women entering untraditional fields By VIRGINIA BRIDGES McClatchy-Tribune News Service
A recent study indicates that womenowned businesses performed just as well as men-owned firms in recent years, but still face key obstacles in building their companies and expanding their economic impact. Between 1997 and 2013, the number of women-owned firms increased by 59 percent in the U.S. to 8.6 million, which is more than one-and-a-half times the national average, according to American Express Open’s annual “State of WomenOwned Businesses Report.” While women-owned firms account for
29 percent of all enterprises, they only employ 6 percent of the nation’s work force and contribute less than 4 percent of business revenues, which is about the same share they contributed in 1997, according to the report. Some women-owned businesses purposely remain small as their owners balance work and family, while others struggle to obtain financing, contacts or resources they need to move forward, said Briles Johnson, director of Women’s Business Center of North Carolina in Durham, N.C., which provides counseling and resources to about 300 clients a year. But Johnson said she has seen more women going into nontraditional industries such as construction, engineering, life sciences and manufacturing — one way that women-owned business could increase their economic impact.
The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. spoke to three women who have built businesses in male-dominant industries.
Getting in the door Mikki Paradis almost never gets turned down for meetings with potential clients. “I know that I can get in the door because it is so shocking,” said Paradis, 31, president and CEO of PDI Drywall, a Raleigh, N.C., company that provides drywall and painting services. “ ‘Oh yeah, here is this blonde girl, and she is going to tell me about drywall.’ And I do.” Paradis started the company in 2005 after her father, who spent his career in the drywall industry, suggested that she
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By the numbers Industries with highest concentrations of women-owned firms: n 53 percent: health care and social assistance n 45 percent: educational services n 44 percent: administrative support and waste management services Industries with lowest concentrations of women-owned firms: n 7 percent: construction n 11 percent: transportation and warehousing n 20 percent: finance and insurance SOURCE: American Express Open’s State of Women-Owned Business Report
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Continued from page 19 help meet then-strong demand for drywall in the residential construction market. “I just said, ‘Well, what else am I going to do?’ ” Paradis said. Paradis used $10,000 of an inheritance and took out a line of credit on her house to buy equipment, supplies and pay herself a salary. She built a relationship with a supplier, who then recommended PDI Drywall for two projects in 2006. Paradis hired subcontractors to do the labor, but had them teach her how to cut, hang and finish drywall, which can weigh up to 105 pounds a sheet. About 2010, Paradis learned about federal certifications for women-owned and other businesses and took advantage of small-business resources at the Women’s Business Center. “I took this six-day executive management course for contractors and designers, and that kind of changed my whole world,” she said. Paradis walked away with the confidence to ask connected colleagues for introductions to companies. Last year, Paradis hired her first employee, so she could spend more time managing the business. Since 2010, the company’s revenue increased from $100,000 to just under $1 million. Knowing what you are talking about is key to getting over the gender barri-
‘... once people realize that you know what you are talking about, I don’t think they have a problem working with a woman.’ MIKKI PARADIS, PDI DRYWALL PRESIDENT AND CEO
er, she said. “There is obviously skepticism at first,” Paradis said, “but then once people realize that you know what you are talking about, I don’t think they have a problem working with a woman.”
‘A little tougher climb’ Carrie Peele started moonlighting as a chauffeur in 1990 after using three credit cards to buy a $15,000 limousine. “I thought, ‘This would be a great weekend project,’ ” she said. Nearly 23 years later, Peele’s multimillion-dollar company, Blue Diamond Worldwide Transportation, owns a fleet of about 40 vehicles in North Carolina and provides a range of transportation services with affiliates across the
globe. Peele posted flyers, handed out brochures and started a relentless networking campaign. “Anybody that I felt had a connection with limousines, I tried to meet,” she said. In 2000, Peele moved Blue Diamond and its three vehicles from Laurinburg, N.C., to Raleigh. The company now employs an office staff of seven and works with about 40 independent contractor chauffeurs. Peele said her business has thrived because she lets her team handle daily operations while she focuses on networking. As a female, Peele said she “had a little tougher climb,” but she used persistence and attention to detail to overcome any challenges. Now, Peele, 55, said some affiliates
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prefer women-owned transportation companies. “We are going to handle customer service better. We handle complaints better. We seem to have that nurturing gene in us,” she said. “We are just taking care of people.”
Taking a stand When Kathryn Moore found out she was being paid half as much as her male colleagues at a Durham tattoo parlor, she quit her job and founded her own business. “It (made me mad), and I went and opened a shop,” Moore said. In 1997, Moore started Dogstar Tattoo in Durham; she moved in 2010 to a larger spot. Business has been steady, Moore said, but being a female employer has been a challenge. “In terms of shenanigans, I think that people have at least tried to get away with more because I am a woman,” she said. Moore stays in touch with other female tattoo artists and turns to her female professional clients for business advice. Making it in a male-dominated industry takes extra work and perseverance, but it is possible, Moore said. “It’s believing in yourself enough to stick with the task,” she said.
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More moms primary breadwinners Could impact workplace issues WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s working mothers are now the primary breadwinners in a record 40 percent of households with children — a milestone in the changing face of modern families, up from just 11 percent in 1960. The findings by the Pew Research Center, released in June, highlight the growing influence of “breadwinner moms” who keep their families afloat financially. While most are headed by single mothers, a growing number are families with married mothers who bring in more income than their husbands. Demographers say the change is all but irreversible and is likely to bring added attention to child-care policies as well as government safety nets for vulnerable families. Still, the general public is not at all sure that having more working mothers is a good thing. While roughly 79 percent of Americans reject the notion that women should return to their traditional roles, only 21 percent of those polled said the trend of more mothers of young children working outside the home is a good thing for society, according to the Pew survey. Roughly 3 in 4 adults said the increasing number of women working for pay has made it harder for parents to raise children. “This change is just another milestone in the dramatic transformation we have seen in family structure and family dynamics over the past 50 years or so,” said Kim Parker, associate director with the Pew Social & Demographic Trends Project. “Women’s roles have changed, marriage rates have declined — the family looks a lot different than it used to. The rise of breadwinner moms highlights the fact that, not only are more mothers balancing work and family these days, but the economic contributions mothers are making to their households have grown immensely.” The trend is being driven mostly by long-term demographic changes, including higher rates of education and labor force participation dating back to the 1960s women’s movement. Today, more women than men hold bachelor’s degrees, and they make up nearly half — 47 percent — of the American work force. But recent changes in the economy, too, have played a part. Big job losses in manufacturing and construction, fields that used to provide high pay to a mostly male work force, have lifted the relative earnings of married women, even among those in mid-level positions such as teachers, nurses or administrators. The jump in working women has been espe-
Associated Press
Sunita Clark, left, poses with her 10-year-old daughter, Ruby, center, and husband, Mark in Columbus, Ohio. Sunita is one of a growing number of women who are the primary family breadwinner. cially prominent among those who are mothers — from 37 percent in 1968 to 65 percent in 2011 — reflecting in part increases for those who went looking for jobs to lift sagging family income after the recent recession. At the same time, marriage rates have fallen to record lows. Forty percent of births now occur out of wedlock, leading to a rise in single-mother households. Many of these mothers are low-income with low education, and more likely to be black or Hispanic. In all, 13.7 million U.S. households with children under age 18 now include mothers who are the main breadwinners. Of those, 5.1 million, or 37 percent, are married, while 8.6 million, or 63 percent, are single. The income gap between the families is large — $80,000 in median family income for married couples vs. $23,000 for single mothers. Both groups of breadwinner moms — married and unmarried — have grown sharply. Among all U.S. households with children, the share of married breadwinner
moms has jumped from 4 percent in 1960 to 15 percent in 2011. For single mothers, the share has increased from 7 percent to 25 percent. Andrew Cherlin, a professor of sociology and public policy at Johns Hopkins University, said that to his surprise public attitudes toward working mothers have changed very little over the years. He predicts the growing numbers will lead to a growing constituency among women in favor of family-friendly work policies such as paid family leave, as well as safety net policies such as food stamps or child care support for single mothers. “Many of our workplaces and schools still follow a male-breadwinner model, assuming that the wives are at home to take care of child care needs,” he said. “Until we realize that the breadwinnerhomemaker marriage will never again be the norm, we won’t provide working parents with the support they need.” Other findings: n There is a gender gap on attitudes. About 45 percent of women say children are better off if their mother is at home,
and 38 percent say children are just as well off if the mother works. Among men, 57 percent say children are better off if their mother is at home, while 29 percent say they are just as well off if she works. n The share of married couples in which the wife is more educated than the husband is rising, from 7 percent in 1960 to 23 percent in 2011. Still, the vast majority of couples include spouses with similar educational backgrounds, at 61 percent. n The number of working wives who make more than their husbands has been increasing more rapidly in recent years. Among recently married couples, including those without children, the share of “breadwinner wives” is roughly 30 percent, compared with 24 percent of all married couples. The Pew study is based on an analysis of census data as of 2011, the latest available, as well as interviews with 1,003 adults by cellphone or landline from April 25 to 28. The Pew poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
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YOUR FREE TIME
Meet Patrick L. McDaniel city councilman and former executive director of the Macon County History Museum Hometown: Born and raised in Decatur Family: Single Occupation: Recently retired executive director of the Macon County History Museum and a current member of the Decatur City Council. Education: Decatur public school system, attended and graduated from Richland Community College with three associate degrees, and further public administrative studies at what is now called University of Illinois at Springfield. Graduated from the U.S. Military Intelligence School in Fort Holibird, Md., while I served in the Army for three years. One of those years was served in Vietnam. My “I’d rather be …” bumper sticker would read: “I’d rather be driving a Bentley, but haven’t won the lottery as of yet.” I believe everyone has entertained the thought of owning a dream car. My dream has always been to own a Bentley, so I better plan on winning the lottery first to finally be able afford one and to be able to afford to put gas in it. Hobbies/interests: I was a runner for 26 years, but got away from doing it as a hobby. Retirement will allow me more time to do some bike riding and more walking to help offset the doughnuts I love. I love to read biographies and mysteries, and I also read daily the local and various national newspapers to keep abreast of what is happening in world. With retiring, I will probably find several new hobbies. My first job: Worked part time in the warehouse of the Hobby House Toyland Co. in high school for $1.25 an hour, but moved on a few months later to work another part-time job that paid $1.35 an hour.
out to family, friends and people I know in the community to get their opinions has always been helpful. Why re-invent the wheel when someone else may have already “been there and done that” in facing similar challenges. So I listen to their advice.
Why I do what I do: Each job or career position I have had over my lifetime has provided me new skills and practical knowledge that I have been able to use in all the employment positions I have had. I was able to combine all the knowledge I gained to take on the opportunity and challenge of becoming the executive director of the museum to help move the organization forward and to expand its visibility and status within the community. My position at the museum has allowed me to be creative in taking on projects that I hope have made a big difference in how residents look at the museum from years past.
Community involvement: I have always been active in the community by my involvement in my younger years in the youth programs at Grace United Methodist Church where we did things to help out our local community. Those experiences helped lay the foundation for past and present involvements in the West End Neighborhood Organization, the Coalition of Neighborhoods Organization, and as a member of the Decatur City Council. To really be a part of the community, to help create new opportunities for its growth and to help solve the challenges it may face, a community resident has to become involved in some way, not just linger along the sidelines.
Personal approaches to challenges: I have always tried to be optimistic and realistic in my approach to challenges in my life. I have always found that reaching
Tell us a little about the Macon County History Museum? The Macon County Historical Society established its first history museum in about 1970 in the old North Fork
Church. It moved the museum to its present location in the old Excelsior Grade School in 1979. The museum’s main mission has been, and always will be, to collect and preserve the historical heritage of the Decatur/Macon County area and present it to the public through through educational programming and exhibits. Do museums like this still have a place in the community? You bet. Despite what some pundits may say, modern technology is no substitute for actually experiencing what museums have to offer. It’s sad that so many people live their lives in a virtual, electronic-limited world walking with their heads down all day and losing out in experiencing what is really happening around them in today’s world. Museums offer people the opportunity to learn about their historical and cultural heritage that has helped lay the foundation for what is happening today, for better or worse. I always say, if planning for the future, visit a museum to see what happened in the past so you don’t make the same mistakes in the future. Museums of all types also play an
important part in a community’s economic development by attracting tourists that stay in local motels, eat in local restaurants and shop in local businesses, which helps create local jobs and sales taxes. In 2012, the Macon County History Museum was visited by tourists from six foreign countries, 34 states and more than 80 Illinois communities. Not too many local businesses can say they have a customer base like that, but the history museum and other local museums and attractions certainly help drive customers their way. What changes, if any, do museums like this need to make to remain relevant? The growth of all types of museum really began in America in the 1950s, and since then museums of all sizes on all subject matters have come and gone. History museums probably have the greatest challenges because of less emphasize being put on history in school. The state of Illinois educational standardize tests, as well as similar tests in many other states, don’t have questions concerning history, so administrators and teachers
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
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BUSINESS JOURNAL
www.thebusiness-journal.com
October 2013
The Arts Anne Lloyd Gallery: October National 2013 hosted by Gallery 510. Opening reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Call (217) 423-3189. www.decturarts.org Gallery 510: Works by Dan Modzelewski. Call (217) 422-1509. Decatur Airport: Watercolors by Rae Nell Spencer. Blue Connection: “Artists’ Homecoming,” featuring the works by Millikin University graduates Katie Baird, Brian Cassidy, Ryan Hennebry, Erica Reese, Laramie Street and Amanda Voltz. Opening reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4.
Calendar of events For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/ Theatre 7: “Bleacher Bums,” Oct. 18-20 and 25-27, at Shilling Auditorium. Call (217) 422-3866. www.theatre7.net. Little Theatre-On the Square: “Nunsense,” Oct. 18-27. For tickets, call (217) 728-7375. www.thelittletheatre.org. The Richland Community College Theatre Department: “Buried Child,” Nov. 8-10 and 15-17, in the RCC Theatre.
Charity events Music Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra: Three B’s, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Featured performer is violinist Hye-Jin Kim. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.
On Stage Mount Zion Convention Center: Village Idiot Comedy Club presents Midnight Swinger at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, and Bob Zaney at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7. For more information, go to www.mtzion.com or call (217) 864-5424. Kirkland Fine Arts Center: iO Theater Whirled News Tonight, 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5; Arlo Guthrie, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11; and Cirque-Tacular Circurioius, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318. Decatur Underground Theater: “Forever Plaid,” Oct. 11-13 at the Decatur Masonic Temple Auditorium. Call (217)791-1966. www.decaturunderground.com.
Continued from page 23 place more emphasize and use their limited time on the subjects that will be covered in the tests. I don’t blame them, but I think students lose out by not really learning about their national historical and local community’s heritage. That is where local museums can help fill the gap in learning if allowed. What is the biggest challenge when it comes to the operation of the museum? No museum can operate on just admissions and gift shop sales. They have to continue coming up with new ways of generating revenue to operate. All museums must have large enough endowment funds to help keep the doors open, so fundraising activities have to be a vital part of their overall operation, as well as being creative in developing new programming and exhibits that will continue to bring visitors to the museums. A challenge that all nonprofits must face, whether in Decatur or elsewhere, is having to compete against other nonprofit organizations for the limited charitable funds.
WSOY Community Food Drive, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at Kroger, 1818 Airport Plaza. Diamonds & Deserts, to benefit Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Country Club of Decatur. In addition to dinner stations, local chefs will prepare deserts inspired by Girl Scout cookies. Julie Curry will be honored. Tickets are $50 per person. Call (217) 233-0476.
fit Heritage Behavioral Health Center and Easter Seals Central Illinois, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, in Graceland Cemetery. The cost is $40. For information, go to www.kicknasphaltdecatur.com or call (217) 429-1052, ext. 110. Celebrity Waiter Dinner, to benefit the Decatur Family YMCA Strong Kids campaign, on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Happy hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Silent auction, live auction and entertainment by The Hitmen and a Dame. Cost if $50. For tickets, call Jean Flider at (217) 872-3835. Heartland Heroes Dinner, to benefit the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Celebrate local citizens who exemplify the group’s lifesaving mission and make the community a better place. Cost is $50. For tickets or more information, call (217) 428-7758.
The Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will benefit from two events this month at Forsyth Village Park. n The 2013 Run to End Alzheimer’s is at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.Registration is $25. For more information, call Jenelle Hockaday at (217) 423-6988 ext, 1517. n The 2013 Walk to End Alzheimer’s is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. For more information, visit www.alz.org/illinois or contact Tina Arnold at (217) 801-9352.
Kitchen Warriors Competition, to benefit the Richland Community College Culinary Arts program at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Shilling Community Education Center. Area chefs present their signature dish to be judged by you. The top two chefs will then go head-to-head preparing a dish using a “Mystery Box” of ingredients. For tickets, call Cheryl at (217) 875-7211, ext. 740
Kick-n-Asphalt Paving the Way to Wellness 5K run and one-mile fun walk/run, to bene-
Children’s Museum of Illinois: Family Science Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13.
More and more nonprofits are being created, but there are only so many charitable funds.
utive director at the museum, I wanted to enjoy as many years as I had left on this earth doing something else other than working 40 or more hours a week. I have experienced over the last decade or so the deaths of my three best friends in life, and since they never got the chance to experience their retirement years, I certainly want to.
What are you most proud of when it comes to your tenure as executive director? I hope that I have been able to help revitalize the mission of the museum for the community residents and community tourists over these many years. I am proud to have been able to build on the foundation and the mission established by the founders of the museum in 1979 by creating new educational programs, exhibits and establishing a policy of guest speaker forums which have allowed the public to attend. I am also proud that I have been able to work with a great group of board members, Society members and volunteers in setting new goals for the museum so that the museum will be around for future generations to enjoy. What prompted your decision to retire? Well, as I was approaching the traditional retirement age of 65, that played an important role in my decision. Although I enjoyed the rewarding position as exec-
For the kids
What will fill your time now? As a current member of the Decatur City Council, I will be able to spend more time getting around the community and hearing from residents their suggestions for improving the community. Being on the council is not a twice-a-month job. I take my responsibilities seriously, and that means getting out into the community as much as I can to attend community gatherings, meetings and events to see what is happening around the community. I also will have more time to volunteer. Any words of wisdom to pass along to your successor? Nathan Pierce, who will be taking over my position, already has
Call (217) 423-5437. Scovill Zoo: Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 18-20 and 25-31. Call (217) 421-7435. The Rock Springs Nature Center hosts a long list of mini camps, family adventures and classes during the month. So many, in fact, that there are too many to list. Go to www.maconcountyconservation. org and click on the Programs and Activities tab for a complete listing.
Misc. Oktoberfest, hosted by the Metro Decatur Home Builders Association, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in the 100 block of South Oakland Avenue. Special VIP seating and food/drink offer for association members. Call Irene Rainey at (217) 5218846. Cruisin’ Nights on Eldorado, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. Area car clubs will display their vehicles in businesses along Eldorado Street. Individuals are invited to join the cruise. The event is free. For more information, call (217) 972-9049 or (217) 454-3531. Haunted Halloween Ball, 7:30-midnight Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Mount Zion Convention Center. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Event features music by Kidd Kaddilac and a costume contest. Costumes required. For information, go to www.mtzion.com or call (217) 864-5424. Christmas in the Village Holiday Craft Show, 79 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, Mount Zion Convention Center. For information, go to www.mtzion.com or call (217) 864-5424.
Got an item you’d like listed in the Your Free Time calendar? Send the information to Scott Perry at sperry@herald-review.com or 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523.
experience working with a historical society and museum in another part of the state where the members didn’t want to see many, if any, changes. He now has the opportunity to be able to work with a board that will allow him the freedom to be innovative and make the changes needed to move the museum forward. I would advise him and any executive director of an organization to keep their board members updated on what they are doing at all times so there are no surprises down the road. Set the ground rules up front that the executive director reports only to the full board, not to individual board members or committee chairpersons. In fact, I would encourage fewer committees to be established in nonprofit organizations so things can get done more smoothly, and insist that all volunteers and committee members have to report to the executive director. Having too many levels of authority that an executive director has to report causes operational problems and frustration for the staff when it comes to getting things done.
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October 2013
BUSINESS JOURNAL
25
YOUR HEALTH
Family insurance in jeopardy at small firms New law could raise premiums By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG AP Business Writer
NEW YORK — One casualty of the new health care law may be paid coverage for families of people who work for small businesses. Insurance companies already have warned small-business customers that premiums could rise 20 percent or more in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. That’s making some owners consider not paying for coverage for workers’ families, even though insurance is a benefit that helps companies attract and retain top talent. If more small business owners decide to stop paying for family coverage, it will accelerate a trend that started as the cost of health insurance soared in recent years. Under the law, companies with 50 or more employees are required to provide affordable coverage for their workers. They also must offer health insurance to employees’ dependents, but don’t have to pay for it. And they aren’t required to offer insurance at all to employees’
Study: Obesity costs rising McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Whether you’re obese or not, obesity increases Americans’ health expenditures by $1,723 a year per person. According to recent research, more than 1 in 4 Americans aged 18 and older — 66 million people — are defined as obese, or about 30 pounds over their ideal weight. The MetLife Mature Market Institute and Center for Health Aging said poor eating habits and lack of exercise have contributed to increased incidences of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. About 3 in 10 U.S. adults have high blood pressure. Almost 1 in 10 have diabetes. Researchers examined data from 2000 to 2010, finding growth in obesity-related chronic conditions. The prevalence of hypertension grew from 35 percent to 41 percent among those aged 45 and older. The share of the 45-and older age group with diabetes rose from 10 percent to 15 percent. “The rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions has implications for the financing and delivery of health care in the future,” the report said. “They are more likely to be hospitalized, fill more prescriptions, have higher annual prescription drug costs, and have more physician visits.”
spouses. Mike Shoop got a taste of what buying insurance will be like under the Affordable Care Act when he shopped for a policy that took effect Sept. 1. His insurer quoted premiums 8 percent higher than his current policy, and warned Shoop that he’d get an even larger increase a year from now. Shoop, who owns a debt collection company in Greeley, Colo., said he may have to cut back on insurance for his employees’ families if rates keep soaring. “We’re very generous in what we pay,” said Shoop, the owner of Professional Finance Co. “But like most companies, we’re about at our maximum of the total dollars that we can spend on health care.” Shoop pays between 70 percent and 90 percent of an employee’s premium, and between 10 percent and 30 percent of family premiums, depending on how long a worker has been with the company. He declined to say how much he pays for health coverage. Shoop has 150 full-time and 20 part-time workers. Premiums have been soaring for years because of the rising cost of medical care. But the Affordable Care Act also has requirements that may drive premiums higher, including a tax on insurance
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‘But like most companies, we’re about at our maximum of the total dollars that we can spend on health care.’ MIKE SHOOP, THE OWNER OF PROFESSIONAL FINANCE CO. companies that is expected to be passed along to employers. Shoop’s insurer has warned that the tax could send his premiums up more than 20 percent a year from now. “It’s going to be very significant,” Shoop said. “We’re really going to have to do a juggling act, and so are our employees.” It’s hard to know at this point how many owners will forgo family coverage, because much about the law is unknown. The government gave employers an extra year, until Jan. 1, 2015, to comply with the health care law. The Internal Revenue Service has drafted regulations to implement the employer
mandate, but they haven’t taken effect. And premiums for 2014 haven’t been set in most states. The Affordable Care Act is accelerating a trend toward reducing family coverage that has been in place for a number of years at companies of all sizes as employers try to cut costs, according to health insurance brokers. But family coverage is particularly in jeopardy at small companies. “I would say 99 percent are giving it some consideration,” said Rich Fahn, owner of Excell Benefit Group, an employee benefits broker in Northbrook. “They don’t know what the cost impact will be, so everything’s on the table.”
COMMUNITY GUIDE TO NON-PROFIT AGENCIES In the November Business Journal, we will feature a detailed listing of nonprofit agencies in Decatur and Macon County. This listing will serve as a tool for businesses and volunteers to learn more about the area agencies in need of support. Call AnnaMarie Hanes today to reserve your space! 217-421-7953 or email her at Anna.Hanes@Lee.net
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BUSINESS JOURNAL
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October 2013
Community health calendar Screenings Cholesterol screening, 7-10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, South Shores Imaging Center, 1689 S. Franklin Street Road. Cost is $20. Call (217) 876-4377 for an appointment. Kidney disease screening, Oct. 7-11, DMH Express Care locations. Cost is $25, For information, call (217) 876-5320.
Support groups Growing Through Grief, 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. To register, call (217) 876-4735. TOPS Club IL 49 Decatur, 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Main Street Church of God, 2000 N. Main St. (enter from Garfield Street). Support group for Real People seeking Real Results with weight loss. For more information, go to www.tops club.org or call Chris Granda at (217) 5212420.
group for those who have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or early infancy. For more information, call (217) 464-2045.
rooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.
Breath of Life support group, noon Tuesday, Oct. 15, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room 561. Speakers available to answer questions from those with breathing problems. For information, call (217) 464-2603.
Art therapy for cancer patients and families, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Medicine Art Rooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Clay, paint watercolor, acrylic draw, print make, collage, weave and more. For information, call (217) 876-4700.
Cardiopulmonary rehab wellness group, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, Decatur Memorial Hospital. Register online or call (217) 876-2496. Diabetes support group, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 17, DMH Wellness Center, 2122 N. 27th St. Call (217) 876-4249. Parkinson’s disease support group, 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main St. For information, call Kathy Broaddus at (217) 820-3096.
Classes
Freedom from Smoking. This seven-week course, led by American Lung Association trained facilitators can help smokers identify their addiction and provide ways to break their habits. The first class is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at St. Mary’s Hospital, conference Room 561 . The cost is $25. To register, call (217) 876-4249.
A New Season young widowed group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. For information, call Dawn Followell at (217) 864-2799.
Breastfeeding for the Pregnant Couple, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. For information or to register, call (217) 464-2334.
Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. For information, call (217) 853-1655.
Brain cancer support group, 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.
Eat Right to Help the Fight, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Nutrition class for cancer patients. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.
Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.
Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.
Breastfeeding support group, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14 and 28, Baby Talk, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334.
Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. Monthly dinner gathering. For location or to register, call (217) 428-7733.
Helping Hands Bereavement for Children, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, 210 W. McKinley, Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.
SHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24. Support
Infant CPR Class, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, DMH OB Classrooms, third floor. Register online or call (217) 876-3400. Happiest Baby on the Block, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. Topics include crying, normal newborn sleep, top ten myths about babies, swaddling and more. For more information, call (217) 4642334. Real Dads Rock!, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. This class enriches the father-to-be with skills to be confident in his major role in the care and birth of the new baby. Call (217) 464-2334. Breastfeeding Basics, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, Decatur Memorial Hospital Classrooms lobby level. Registration is required. Register online or call (217) 876-3400.
More Community Health Lecture Series, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, Decatur Public Library. The St. Mary’s Hospital community health lecture service provides an informational lecture from a local health care provider. This month’s topic will be Health Insurance Marketplace led by Sally Williams, Macon County Health Department marketplace coordinator. For more information, call (217) 464-5125.
Renewal bereavement support group, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Class-
Avoid breakfast mistakes McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Many people start their day with diet blunders. Here’s how to correct them, with help from Dr. Wayne Andersen, an obesity specialist in Maryland and medical director for Take Shape for Life, a weight loss program: Skipping breakfast. Dieters often use this strategy, but numerous studies have found breakfast eaters are more likely to maintain a healthy weight and make better food choices throughout the day. Even an unhealthy breakfast is almost always better than no breakfast at all. Eating breakfast too late. Don’t wait longer than an hour. “Thirty minutes is ideal,” Andersen said. Not eating enough protein. You won’t stay full long on carbohydrate-rich breakfasts such as sugary cereals or pastries. Choose cereals made from rice, oats, wheat, barley or rye; eggs and low-fat dairy such as yogurt and milk also are
good protein sources. Skimping on fiber. Fiber is filling enough to lower your overall caloric intake without leaving you feeling deprived. Choose whole-grain breads and cereals and add fruits and vegetables and a handful of nuts and seeds to staples such as cereal and eggs. Taking in too many — or too few — calories. Most people should aim for roughly 300 to 400 calories per morning meal. Not reading food labels. Compare total calories, protein, fiber, sugar and fat content, and pay attention to serving sizes. Remember that some “healthy” foods such as granola and cereal bars can be very high in sugar and fat. If you’re eating at a restaurant, check for nutrition facts via online menus. Drinking too many calories. Fruit juices and energy drinks, along with many flavored coffee creamers, often are packed with sugar. Water and unsweetened green tea are always good choices.
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October 2013
BUSINESS JOURNAL
READY FOR A CHANGE? WE HAVE YOUR OPPORTUNITY!
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BUSINESS JOURNAL
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October 2013
YOUR CAREER
Patience required for dealing with new boss Q: After almost 30 years, I still love working in retail. The only problem is that my bosses are usually young people in their first management position. Most of them appreciate my long experience and recognize my customer service abilities. A few, however, have become obsessed with their newfound authority and turned into little dictators. What’s the best way to handle that type of supervisor? A: Dealing with brand-new managers requires patience, understanding and a good sense of humor. Your retail expertise is now Office Coach well-established, but you undoubtedly made some blunders and bad calls at the start of your career. Reflecting on those early errors may help you empathize with baby bosses who are just beginning to develop leadership skills. The ones who have a natural talent for management will automatically value and admire your experience. But those who are insecure and easily threatened may compensate by deliberately demonstrating the power of their position. Instead of becoming resentful or defensive, remember that these young supervisors are going through an uncomfortable learning curve. They will therefore appreciate employees who are courteous, cooperative and helpful. Even when you don’t particularly respect the occupant, you can still show respect for the position.
Marie McIntyre
Management requires a multitude of skills, and no one person possesses them all. Some people, however, should not be allowed anywhere near a management position. So if you encounter any truly toxic bosses, the problem is not their age but their personality. Q: I’m having trouble explaining why I left my last job. For three years, I worked in a residential treatment facility for youthful offenders. Everything was fine until I was put on third shift, which lasts from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Adjusting to this schedule was extremely difficult. Because I could not sleep well during the day, I was always tired at work. I began falling asleep in the middle of my shift, which was obviously unacceptable. Since I was never able to break this pattern, they eventually let me go. Now, when I apply for a job, I’m not sure how to answer the “reason for leaving” question. If I put “terminated” on the application, I never get an interview. If I tell an interviewer I was fired, I never get called back. I want to be honest, but I also want to be hired. How should I handle this? A: Since you should never lie during a job search, you will need to be truthful without being self-destructive. For example, when applications request “reason for leaving,” you might give an ambiguous answer like “shift difficulties.” This is a true statement which can later be explained during an interview. When talking with potential employers, focus on the physiological challenges of third-shift work. For example: “Although some people have no problem working at night, I could never seem to reverse my sleep patterns. Since I didn’t get enough sleep during the day, I kept dozing off
WEEKLY TIPS Can't get enough advice from the Office Coach. Get weekly column updates at www.thebusiness-journal.com. during my shift. I was never able to adjust, so unfortunately I had to leave.” Of course, this explanation only works if you are applying for positions with regular daytime hours. But I assume there’s no question about that. Q: My new boss is driving me absolutely crazy. Even though “Ron” knows nothing about the work I do, he arbitrarily shortens my project schedules, then interrogates me about why I’m not working faster. When I try to explain, he ridicules me for goofing off. Ron’s unrealistic expectations are like asking someone to have a baby in four months. I have been with this company for 12 years, and I’m good at my job. But now I’m wondering if I should quit before I get fired. A: Based on your description, this guy either has no management experience or is not very bright. But despite his shortcomings, you might as well make one more effort to educate him before throwing in the towel. In a calm, nondefensive manner, try to help Ron see that the two of you are actually on the same side. For example: “Ron, I understand that we need to accelerate the schedule, and I’m willing to do that. I just want to be sure that we allow enough time for quality checks. If customers start complaining about defective products, you and I will both be in trouble.”
If Ron begins to listen, then perhaps there’s hope. But if he continues to act like an arrogant tyrant, you may want to start exploring other options. Q: For several years, I have worked from home as a “remote employee” for a large corporation. I was happy with this arrangement until two weeks ago, when I suddenly received a disturbing email. The company now says I must sign a form certifying that I have “a smoke detector, fire extinguisher, ergonomically suitable chair, and homeowner’s insurance.” I am required to “maintain a dedicated workspace in a safe manner” and give management permission to “visit my home work area.” If I refuse to comply with these conditions, my employment will be terminated. My only other option is to start working in the office, which is 40 miles away. What’s going on here? A: Perhaps the company has a new CEO, or maybe the human resources director went to a seminar. But for whatever reason, management has become concerned about the legal aspects of telecommuting. These new requirements represent an attempt to limit the company’s liability for unfortunate events that could occur in your home. If properly explained, this might not seem unreasonable, but apparently no one explained it with you. If you enjoy working from home and want to continue, you might as well agree to these safety measures.
Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author of “Secrets to Winning at Office Politics.” Send in questions and get free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter @officecoach.
Customize resumé to jobs you are looking for Q: The job market has been picking up, and I’ve been sending out a lot of resumés, but I’m not getting invited to interviews. My current job has turned into a dead end, and I really want a change. What am I doing wrong? A: Match your experience to each position you apply for, and get help from people you know to find opportunities. A successful job search requires a calm approach and a positive attitude. Let go of frustration with your current job and discouragement with your search. Center yourself, taking some breaths and envisioning a successful move to a new situation. Now think through your job search so far. How have you been finding leads?
Liz Reyer
Personal connections are the most productive way to find a new position, so if you haven’t been focused on that aspect, it’s time to change that. When you do have leads, either from a job posting or a personal tip, consider whether you’re bringing your best approach to the application. If you’re sending out the same resumé to all positions you’re applying for, then there’s room for improvement. What level of support are you getting from others? Job hunting can be difficult and draining, and family members can help, but they also can have their own anxiety about the situation. Consider other support options that might be available as you work on your plan. Think strategically — plan what you want to go after, and make it harder for companies to rule you out. First, identify the position types you’d like to have and companies (or at least company types) you’d like to work for. For example, you may say that “I want to be in an accounting firm in a large
WEEKLY TIPS Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com. company.” This will help you focus — it’s very easy to get distracted by off-plan “what ifs.” And, though it’s good to be open to new possibilities, in this case it could make it harder to reach your goal. Knowing your goal, start telling the world. Mention your search to friends and acquaintances to see if they know of any opportunities. Be open to doing informational interviews in addition to applying for current openings so that you can become familiar with organizations — and they can get to know you. When you send an application, take time to customize your resumé. Many HR departments use electronic keywords to scan applications, so you will not rise to the top if you don’t match the lan-
guage in the job description. And even if a human is reviewing your resumé, seeing the company’s terminology in the application materials makes it easier for the person to find you. Get help — alumni support, job centers, even a job coach — so that you’re making the most of the opportunities you see. Also, don’t let the job search become your whole world. Schedule time to do your searching, and save time to have fun. Make sure you’re seeing friends, getting exercise and doing activities you enjoy. This balance will sustain you, and you’ll be able to make a better impression at interviews. Careful action will help you find the new position you’re looking for.
Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at liz@deliverchange.com.
www.thebusiness-journal.com
October 2013
EMAIL MARKETING ETIQUETTE
BUSINESS TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Q Can I save money on my business telephone bill?
Q Are there rules to follow with email newsletters?
Carolyn Ridenour President & Marketing Director
132 S Water St. Ste.418 Decatur Illinois 62523
217-428-9950
A There are several unwritten rules that every email marketer should be following. If not, please change your techniques because you are probably upsetting a potential customer. Be sure to write short and concise sentences. Communicate clearly and include relevant details. Choose fonts that are easy to read and background colors and designs that are simple and inviting to the topic at hand. Always include links and images within the newsletter, and always respond to replies.
There are a few don’ts that need to be mentioned in preparing your next email campaign. Never send anything out until it has been thoroughly proofed for spelling and grammatical errors. Use only one exclamation and don’t capitalize all letters in a WORD!!! This appears to come across as yelling. Don’t write a novel or include broken links within the text of the newsletter. And one last point: don’t hide the unsubscribe button. This frustrates the reader even more, so why end on a bad note? Effective email marketing is a true craft and requires an understanding of your audience and the content’s relevancy to the readers’ needs. To learn more about email marketing, please stop and visit with us about you’re next marketing campaign. www.cmsdecatur.com
Relocate with Ease
A Yes you can! It’s easy with ESI all-in-one business phone systems and Global Technical Systems, Inc. is an authorized sales & service provider for ESI. Most ESI phone systems use VoIP to communicate over your computer network, cutting long-distance bills and improving intracompany communications.
Jason Gensler Unit Director 2801 N. Jasper St. Decatur, IL 62526 Voice: (217) 872-8000 Fax: (217) 872-8021
Illini Supply will provide necessary trucks, movers, dollies and pads for your relocation. Our “Move Supervisor” will work directly with you to ensure the bases are covered for your move. Call Illini Supply today for assistance with your office relocation!
Contact Global Technical Systems, Inc. today, at 217-872-8000, to learn how an ESI phone system can increase your productivity and your profits.
SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH SMARTPHONE APPS Which smartphone apps are actually useful?
A An office move is often a stressful event that requires the collaboration of every company employee. If an office move is not done efficiently, the business could suffer from stalled productivity and lost profits.
Chris Phillips
Also with VIP,(a raised M should be after VIP) ESI puts unified communication within reach of nearly every business. So whatever your business communication needs may be, chances are there’s an ESI phone system that will handle them easily!
www.globaltechsys.com jgensler@globaltechsys.com
Q Which smartphone apps are actually useful?
Having a detailed plan in place will help the move go smoothly. Each employee should pack their own workspace items and managers should oversee the organization of their department’s packed items. Don’t forget to prepare all computers and electronics for moving, too. Mark boxes using a consistent labeling system and color code each box with colored tape based on where it is to be put in the new office. If you have workstations our certified installers can tear down and re-install the workstations in your new facility.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
There are so many websites online to help you save money, but it takes time to sift through all the options to find ones that are really useful. Here’s a list of online websites and tools we’ve found to help today’s savvy money manager: • Annualcreditreport.com the real way to get a FREE credit report once a year from all three major credit bureaus.You can request it online, by phone or mail. • Chegg.com is a site to rent or buy new and used textbooks and eTextbooks.You can also sell your old textbooks and they even pay for the shipping! • CreditKarma.com gives you a free credit score and analysis to help you understand your credit history and how it impacts your credit health. Having a better score can save you money on credit card and loan interest. • GasBuddy.com can help you find cheap gas prices near you by entering city or zip code information
Chris Phillips Vice President of Marketing 4850 E. Prosperity Place Decatur (217) 864-3030
• RetailMeNot.com is the most widely used online coupon site in the US. The website and mobile app contains shared coupon code information for popular retail stores to use online or in-store. It also sends exclusive deals and alerts via email. • WeSaveProject.org has a boat load of easy to use financial applications including bill reminders, local sales, credit score analysis, items for trade and spending comparison with other users. It also has calculators, educational articles and lists community events. Your Financial Portfolio is an online tool that works thru LLCU account holders’ online banking that can help establish a budget, track where money is being spent and progress toward financial goals. This is a follow up from last month’s article on money saving smartphone apps.
For more information, visit www.llcu.org.
217.421.6994
Chris Phillips, VP of Marketing Land of Lincoln Credit Union 4850 E. Prosperity Place 62521
(217) 864-3030 cphillips@llcu.org
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October 2013
TECHTALK
Explore the latest from Apple: iOS7 As usual, Apple’s latest iPhone release has garnered lots of hype. The phone itself has some new features, but nearly every iPhone (and iPad) owner can upgrade to the latest operating system, otherwise known as iOS7. The graphics have been completely redesigned, giving it a very different look. Don’t be fooled, there’s a lot more to it than just a pretty new face.
go through all the Settings, you’ll find just about everything you can change.
iTunes Radio Apple has revolutionized how music is bought and sold, so it’s no surprise they came up with a new iTunes feature. The feature iTunes Radio allows you to play music in genres you like, for free, although there are commercials that play from time to time. It’s very much like Pandora — pick an artist, a song, or a genre, and iTunes creates a custom radio station just for you.
‘Swipe’ features To make it more convenient to get to the things you need most, Apple added a number of features that can be accessed by swiping parts of your phone. If you swipe the home screen from the top down, you’ll see the notification center, which is not a new feature, but it’s been updated. You’ll see a lot more information here than before, and you can look at today, all, or missed. You can Technology customize this even further under Settings, Notification Center. Swipe from the bottom back up to the top to close this view. If you swipe from the middle on down, you will get the “Search” box so you can find anything on your phone. If you swipe from the bottom up, you get a number of handy options on the new control panel: airplane mode, wireless, Bluetooth, do-not-disturb, rotation lock, and brightness control. Just below that you can control playback of your music. The option below that is AirDrop, which is explained a little later in this article. The bottom four icons are a new flashlight feature, followed by the clock, calculator and camera. One last “swipe” tip: If you swipe instant messages and emails from right to left, you can easily delete them. This will also show the exact time a text was sent, and with emails it gives you a “more” button with additional options.
Wendy Gauntt
AirDrop AirDrop is a handy way to share photos, links, videos, documents and other information with people nearby. You can turn it on from the control panel, and you have the choice of turning it on only for people in your contact list or for anyone. Then AirDrop will show up as an option when you want to share information. It only works with people who are in close proximity to you, and they have to have AirDrop turned on as well so that you can send to them. Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t work on some of the older phones and iPads. You need to have an iPhone 5 or later, an iPad mini or a fourth genera-
Time to explore tion iPad or later.
Automatic updates You used to have to manually update apps to get the latest versions. iOS7 handles it for you, but you have to turn this feature on. Go to Settings, look for “iTunes & App Store,” and then in the automatic download section, turn “Updates” on, so it shows up green. You can see what’s been updated by going to the App Store and clicking the Updates tab.
Call blocking You now have the ability to block people from calling and texting. This feature is found under the Phone category in your Settings. Look for “Blocked,” which is where you can add anyone you no longer wish to hear from. If you just want a temporary break from calls and texts, use the “do not disturb” feature instead, which is now easily accessible from the control panel. You can customize your “do not disturb” settings to schedule when you want a little peace and quiet. You can also allow some contacts to call anyway, or you can set your phone so that repeated calls always get through. You’ll find this in Settings, Do Not Disturb. Another handy phone feature is to set “Respond with Text.” When you receive a call and can’t take it, a window will pop up so you can quickly respond with a text. The default suggestions are “I’ll call you later,” “I’m on my way,” and “What’s up” but you can change these to whatever you like. This feature also can be found in Settings, Phone.
Personalization There are many personalization settings. You can change Siri to a male voice, if you like. You can choose accessibility settings for visual and hearing impairment, including text size, audio features, contrast, alerting with the flash and far more. You can even have your phone read text to you out loud. If you don’t like the new parallax effect, the way the icons on the screen
move as you move your phone, you can turn this down with the “Reduce Motion” setting, under Settings, General, Accessibility. If you really like it, you may want to try out the dynamic wallpapers where even the backgrounds move with the motion of the phone. This is in Settings, Wallpapers & Brightness. There are new ringtones, of course, which can be found under Settings, Sound. There are also new photo editing features, somewhat like Instagram, so you can customize your photos. This barely scratches the surface of all the personalization features, but if you
As always with any upgrade, it takes a little time to adjust. If you can, sit down with your iPhone or iPad for a few minutes and explore the new features. Try swiping different parts of the screen, dive into the settings, send a photo to a friend using AirDrop … just play around for a bit. Use this article as a guide as you try out some of the new options. And don’t forget to turn on iTunes Radio for a little musical accompaniment.
Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, a technology consulting company that specializes in small business solutions. Visit her website at www.cioservicesllc.com for more information, ideas and free resources.
www.thebusiness-journal.com
October 2013
BUSINESS JOURNAL
31
YOUR MONEY
Break the habit of spending mindlessly Think, evaluate before buying By GREGORY KARP McClatchy-Tribune News Service
In the wake of the Great Recession and now five years removed from the financial industry meltdown, have Americans changed their spending habits? Experts claimed the recession was so severe that it would alter how consumers spent their money. Perhaps they would be more purposeful, even frugal. Wendy Philleo says she sees some evidence of that. As executive director of the Center for a New American Dream, she’s always talking about redefining what the American Dream is, along with our notion of success “so we’re not constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses.” A recent survey found the economic recovery has been uneven. About a quarter of consumers have experienced an improvement in their financial health over the last several years, but 1 in 5 have suffered a decline, according to a study sponsored by Chase Blueprint and completed by Aite Group. It also found evidence that Americans are more disciplined about managing finances and are more financially literate. “The recent recession forced many consumers to re-evaluate how they approach their financial situations,” the study said. Four in 10 consumers are saving more today than they did during the recession because they’re spending less, it found. Ultimately, however, the answer to how Americans spend their money doesn’t matter to individuals. That’s because personal finance, is, well, personal. So, the better question is: Are you spending your money the way you want to — on purpose, rather than by accident and habit? Assuming you’re not scraping by just to put food on the table, does your spending match your priorities and your personal values? “It’s not necessarily ‘Buy nothing,’ ” Philleo said of mindful spending. “It’s ‘Buy differently.’ ” Maybe you value environmentally friendly products or those made in the USA or items produced locally. Maybe you would like a tropical vacation more than eating every lunch and dinner at a restaurant. Maybe you would trade off some consumption to work less. As Americans take a break between back-to-school spending and holiday shopping, perhaps while also contemplating a purchase of the newest iPhone and other temptations, here are some notions to consider. n ARE THE JONESES HAPPY? “I think there’s more awareness that more stuff does not make us happy,” Philleo said. If the mythical Joneses were being honest, you might hear tales of anxiety and debt,
as they shop till they drop and compete in the spirit of “whoever dies with the most toys wins.” “Part of it is finding out what the Joneses have to do to keep up that lifestyle,” she said. “It can be very stressful.” A growing body of academic research shows that experiences, especially with other people, tend to make us far happier than more stuff. Granted, some people can get a brief “high” from purchasing, but it’s fleeting. By contrast, memories of experiences tend to improve over time — as unpleasant events fade and enjoyable parts remain. So perhaps a plane ticket to see a distant friend is better use of money than another pair of shoes in that same color you already have. Money guru Suze Orman doles out financial advice on a variety of topics, but one constant is her mantra, “People first, then money, then things.” n SELF-AUDIT. What do you spend your money on? Until you know that, you won’t know whether you’re spending money mindfully. Jeff Yeager, author of four books on frugal living, including his latest “How to Retire the Cheapskate Way,” suggests performing a “What the heck was I thinking” audit. Twice a year, he examines his statements and receipts, then asks himself, “If I had it to do over again, would I still have spent that money on that thing?” It’s a great exercise to find money leaks and identify spending triggers. Ultimately, it will allow you to redirect dollars to things you care more about. The result for Yeager after several audits was “each time my list of spending regrets gets shorter and shorter.” n TUNING OUT TEMPTATION. We’d like to think we’re immune to advertising pitches, but marketers know otherwise. Acknowledging purchasing pressures and limiting your exposure to them is key to spending your money your way, Philleo said. That might mean muting TV commercials during breaks in shows, staying out of the mall and unsubscribing to catalogs and retailer emails. Opt out of credit offers by calling 1-888-5OPT-OUT. Get off junk mailing lists by going to DMAChoice.org. Mobile app PaperKarma receives generally good reviews for reducing unwanted junk mail. Adblock Plus is a popular Web browser add-on that blocks advertisements. The National Do Not Call registry is at DoNotCall.gov or 1-888-3821222. n COOLING IT. When she desires new clothing she sees in catalogs, Philleo said she cuts out the page and places clippings in a folder. That alone seems to satisfy her urge to splurge. “It’s a nice delay strategy,” she said. One rule of thumb is to wait a day for every $100 an item costs, giving buying urges time to subside. n BEGINNING WITH THE END IN MIND. Setting spending goals sounds like an exercise in drudgery, but it can be fun and funda-
‘The recent recession forced many consumers to re-evaluate how they approach their financial situations.’ STUDY SPONSORED BY CHASE BLUEPRINT AND COMPLETED BY AITE GROUP
mental. The easiest way to say no to daily tempting purchases is to have a specific reason to. Your inner voice will say, “I’m not going to buy this new television because I would rather go on the Florida golfing trip with friends in February.” n CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL CALENDAR AND YOUR BANK STATEMENT. Despite what you tell others, your true priorities are reflected in how you actually spend your time and your money. Are you satisfied with your priorities? You can begin with the literal end in mind, too. Imagine you’re on your death bed reflecting on what was important in your life, along with the purchases you made and didn’t make. With that perspective, would you
change your current spending habits? Another trick is the 10-10-10 rule — in contemplating a purchase, ask yourself how it will affect your life in 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years. n ASKING WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Yeager suggests slaying your “enoughasaurus” by asking yourself when you have enough. At what point of accumulating more things can you be content? The question might strike you as profound or dopey, depending on whether you are at a place in life that allows it to resonate. The side benefit of spending more mindfully is that you’ll probably end up spending less and saving more, a good formula for weathering the next economic recession.
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