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O F
M I D C E N T R A L
SEPTEMBER 2012
I L L I N O I S
Making the
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YOUR CALENDAR
Monday, Sept. 3 Decatur City Council, 5:30 p.m., council chambers, Decatur Civic Center.
Tuesday, Sept. 4 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton, 333 W. Marion Ave., Forsyth. BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church, 4415 N. Water St. Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility, 3909 W. Main St. Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club. Mount Zion Village Board, 5:15 p.m., Village Hall, 1400 Mount Zion Parkway. Forsyth Village Board, 6:30 p.m., Village Hall, 301 South U.S. 51.
Wednesday, Sept. 5 Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Scheduled speaker is Matt Snyder, regional superintendent of schools. Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, Sept. 6 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton, 333 W. Marion Road, Forsyth. American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 6 p.m., location varies. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building, 2715 N. 27th St.
Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., Doherty’s Pub and Pins, 242 E. William St. Central Illinois Ad Club, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club. Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club. Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club. Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.
Wednesday, Sept. 12 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Corona’s Mexican Bar and Grill, 2350 S. Mount Zion Road. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Real Estate Investors Association, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant, 2999 N. Monroe St.
Thursday, Sept. 13 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. GFWC Decatur Woman’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Mature Resource Network, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Ag Cafe, noon-1 p.m., Beach House. Featured speaker is Dan Kelley, president of GROWMARK. Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., UB Salon & Spa. Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., location varies. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.
Friday, Sept. 14 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.
Friday, Sept. 7
Monday, Sept. 17
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.
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill (formerly Jimmy Ryan’s). Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill (formerly Jimmy Ryan’s). Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Mount Zion Village Board, 5:15 p.m., Village Hall. Decatur City Council, 5:30 p.m., council chambers, Decatur Civic Center. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church. Forsyth Village Board, 6:30 p.m., Village Hall. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Tuesday, Sept. 11
Tuesday, Sept. 18
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.
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.
Monday, Sept. 10
Wednesday, Sept. 19
Monday, Oct. 1
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. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Richland Community College.
Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill (formerly Jimmy Ryan’s). Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Mount Zion Village Board, 5:15 p.m., Village Hall. Decatur City Council, 5:30 p.m., council chambers. Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church. Forsyth Village Board, 6:30 p.m., Village Hall. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Thursday, Sept. 20 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Area Women’s Connection, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St. Decatur AMBUCS, 6 p.m., Decatur Club.
Friday, Sept. 21 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Noon Women’s Network, 11:45 a.m., Decatur Club.
Monday, Sept. 24 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill (formerly Jimmy Ryan’s). Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club. Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.
Tuesday, Sept. 25 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.
Wednesday, Sept. 26 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, Sept. 27 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St.
Friday, Sept. 28 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. American Business Women’s Association (Monarch), noon, location varies.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 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.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club. Speaker is Stephanie Ashe Brown, city of Decatur development planner. Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility. Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.
Thursday, Oct. 4 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, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St. 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 421-7976, at sperry@herald-review.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www. thebusiness-journal.com
Crossword answers Robbies Word of the Day Crossword answers for August. Find this month’s crossword on page 11. Across 3. Pink 4. Demotic 5. Succor 7. Rectify 9. Expunge 11. Harbinger 13. Edulcorate 14. Jeremiad 15. Pulchritude
Down 1. Bromide 2. Lido 5. Suborn 6. Chevron 7. Rantipole 8. Sparge 10. Hinterland 12. Assiduous
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September 2012
FROM THE EDITOR We all have our stories about how we’ve been impacted by the drought of 2012. It was with great sadness that my summer boating season came to an end Aug. 1. It probably should have ended a few days earlier, but I couldn’t bring myself to trailer my boat while the calendar still read July. A mud volleyball tournament I help with took the curve ball in stride, enjoying great success with “a no mud, just dirt” theme. Add to that a multi-day boil order that makes something as simple as getting a quick glass of water from the tap impossible and it really hits home just how much we take our water for granted. Time and time again, I hear people who have many more years on this earth than me talk about lost opportunities to deal with the issue years ago. Let’s hope that when we look back on 2012, the stories will describe it as the year serious steps were taken to bring this problem to an end.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
BUSINESS JOURNAL OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS
VOLUME 18
ISSUE 9
601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax)
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Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois
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September 2012Contents 31
Standing Features
GO FIGURE Bad math skills cost you money
Biz Bites . . . . . . . . . . 24 Business Clips . . . . . . . 6
Fred Spannaus . . . . . . 6 Free Time calendar . . 25
The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois is printed monthly and is a publication of Lee Enterprises Inc.
Health calendar . . . . 28 Health quiz . . . . . . . . 28 Liz Reyer . . . . . . . . . . 22
Professional profile . . 14 SCORE counselor . . . . 7 Wendy Gauntt . . . . . . 30
SUBSCRIPTIONS: To order additional copies call 217.421.7931 ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the October issue is Sept. 18. Call 217.421.7931 for rate information.
Crossword . . . . . . . . . 11
Office Coach . . . . . . . 21
STORY IDEAS: Email sperry@herald-review.com or call 217.421.7976.
Back to School Robertson Charter School has a lot to cheer about. Read our chat with Principal Cordell Ingram, learn about programs aimed at enhancing your job prospects, changes at the county’s public and parochial schools and much more in this year’s Back to School issue.
27 BACKPACK ATTACK Don’t let workload cause you pain
Information published is the responsibility of the author and does not reflect the opinions of The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois. To submit articles, mail typewritten and 500 words or less to: The Business Journal, 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523. Articles will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lee Enterprises Inc., DBA The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois. Copyright 2012 Herald & Review All rights reserved for entire content.
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September 2012
YOUR BUSINESS
Giving kids the royal treatment Kid’s Castle not your typical day care By RYAN VOYLES Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — The Kid’s Castle Learning Center is more than your typical day care center. While it caters children between six weeks and 12-years-old, it provides more than just classrooms. The 22,000-square-foot, $3.5 million child care center at 4445 E. Maynor St. features a library, gymnasium, computer lab, cafeteria, fresh air filtration systems and a 21,000-square-foot playground. “We’re like a Super Wal-Mart of day care centers,” said Keith Brown with a laugh. “We’re providing everything we can to help the children.” Brown, who owns the business with his wife, Sheri, opened their second Kid’s Castle on the east side of Decatur in January. Within eight months, the center’s enrollment hit 175. With a license for 247 children, Keith Brown expects to be at full capacity within two years. “We’re far CHELSEA BRAY, exceeding KID’S CASTLE our expectaLEARNING CENTER tions for this DIRECTOR facility,” he said. Its services include a full-day preschool; a kindergarten readiness program and after-school care for older children. The staff includes about 38 teachers, a five-member management team and several kitchen staff. Tuition rates vary depending on the child’s age, from $205 a week for toddlers, to $175 a week for preschoolers. Families with more than one child enrolled can receive family discounts. Chelsea Bray, director of the center, views the Kid’s Castle as a staple of the community. She said its mission has been to help children as they prepare to go into the school system. “I think us focusing on the education of the children is really important for people in the community. We’re preparing these kids for going to school,” she said. Children at the center are being taught at a first-grade level, and Brown
‘I think us focusing on the education of the children is really important for people in the community.’
Business Journal photos/Jim Bowling
Owner Sheri Brown plays with Alivia Bray, 4, bottom, Adrien Cook, 4, top, and Raegan Ballard, 3, far right, on a new piece of playground equipment at the Kid's Castle Learning Center. said a lower-level of preschool is being taught to children as young as two-yearsold. “We’re giving them another year of education,” Bray said. Brown said the teachers work closely with the children to make sure no one is being left behind in terms of education. Additionally, providing the children with a cafeteria and gymnasium environment helps prepare them for actual school. “We’re getting them out of the classroom … that way they’re not intimidated when they do get to kindergarten,” Brown said. Aside from the day care, Kid’s Castle is continuing to look for ways to help children and families in the community. A new program provides families with a hot meal every Wednesday, and a rotation of clinics is held two nights a week on a variety of sports and activities. So far, the feedback from the staff and children has been overwhelmingly positive.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
Brayden Bradford, 9 months, takes in some sweet potatoes from teacher Cara Burkhart during lunch at the Kid's Castle Learning Center.
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Continued from page 4 Olivia Bray, a four-year-old at the center, said she and her classmates enjoy all the services provided. “We play soccer. We play in the gym. It’s fun,” she said. The first Kid’s Castle opened on North Monroe Street in 2007, but the Browns had no idea how quickly their new center would take off. “We started day one with one kid, and within six months, we were at the max 137 kids,” Keith Brown said. “That’s when we noticed that we obviously ran a pretty good program and there was a need for another center.” With a waiting list of more than 400 children, the couple spent 18 months laying out and designing a new center before bringing in an architect to complete their vision. Since he cannot get a larger license, Brown said the Kid’s Castle facility will not be expanding any more. However, as the Kid’s Castle has already been a success for the couple, Brown said he is focused on continuing to branch out to other locations. He said there were several prospective locations for new centers, but said nothing is official yet. “We’re young, energetic and we think we have a great business model,” Brown said.
Business Journal/Jim Bowling
Owners Keith and Sheri Brown opened the first Kid's Castle Learning Center in 2007 and their second and newest location in January.
Teacher Lounge has learning materials, games for educators By RYAN VOYLES Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — Keith and Sheri Brown are in more than just the day care center business. The couple, owners of the Kid’s Castle Learning Center in Decatur, has operated The Teacher Lounge in town for about three years. Keith Brown said the couple had to drive to Springfield or order materials online for their learning center, and the continued cost and inconvenience sparked the idea for the lounge. “We just knew if we were spending $2,000 to $3,000 a month in Springfield, surely we could build something here and keep that money in the community and even create a few jobs,” he said. The store at 2828 N. Main St. carries a variety of materials aimed directly at teachers, from posters to learning mate-
rials and educational games. Additionally, the store offers an online catalog with in-store pick-ups on more than 30,000 different products. While it is specifically aimed at educators, Sheri Brown said noneducators can find something interesting for their friends and family. “We try to hit it where grandparents can come in there and buy something unique for their grandkids, and maybe educate them as well,” she said. While the Browns are looking to keep expanding their Kid’s Castle Learning Centers, there is no plan to open more Teacher Lounges. Keith Brown said it has served its purpose, which is to make it easier for local teachers to buy supplies for their classrooms. “I’m just happy Decatur has a place to help out the teachers,” Brown said.
BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 30% are owner/partner of their business. n 27% have household income of $100,000 to $149,000
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September 2012
Those who sacrificed their jobs for Decatur deserve our help I intended to talk with you this month about workplace investigations. We now interrupt that plan to interject a different message. Something in the last month requires immediate attention. Or rather, something didn’t happen. OK, it didn’t happen enough. Rain. As of this writing, the city of Decatur and many other communities labor under strict water restrictions. Human Resources Despite a few recent and very welcome showers, the lakebed continues to show itself to the sky, and the lake’s surface keeps shrinking into muck. Responding to this dire turn of events, all of us have sacrificed. Our crops dry
Fred Spannaus
in the fields as farmers stand by helplessly. Our lawns dim from yellow to brown, sporting only weird weeds that shoot up randomly like targets in a whack-a-mole game. Our unwashed vehicles accumulate layers of grime over undercoats of dust and dirt. But let’s be honest here. For most of us, the drought has been an inconvenience, nothing more. Our flowers may die, but we still make our mortgage payments or rent. But some are sacrificing much more than others. A few of our fellow citizens are paying an inordinate price so that the rest of us can have water. These workers have lost their jobs because of the drought. They work at car washes, landscaping businesses and lawn care firms. Many of these employees were thrown out of work with little or no warning. This was not a normal layoff, caused by unfavorable market conditions, automation, labor strife or outsourcing.
> BUSINESS CLIPS New staff members Sandy Bray has joined Imboden Creek GardensAssisted Living as the health care coordinator.
Bray
Sy
are members of the sports department. Voyles’ primary responsibility will be coverage of Macon County government, Decatur Township, Warrensburg and Latham.
Achievements
Amanda Sy Burket has rejoined the The New Look Salon staff as a nail technician.
David Bonnell and Kent Mears of Newell’s Auto Body have been certified as auto glass installers by Auto Glass Consultants.
Scott Richey, Aren Dow and Ryan Voyles have joined the Herald & Review as staff writers. Richey and Dow
Decatur is blessed with many wonderful, compassionate, well-managed charitable organizations. Decatur’s citizens continually demonstrate generosity and compassion. Could one of these great nonprofit groups organize an old-fashioned relief drive to assist those who sacrificed their jobs for the rest of us? Can’t we find some way to help, to say thanks? Note from the Freditor: Maybe by the time this column appears, the crisis will be over, the rain will be pouring, the firms back in business, and the employees back at work. It would be terrific if this column would be rendered irrelevant before it is published. But, even if that has happened when you read this, we as a community still owe our gratitude. I hope we find a way to express it.
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 425-2635.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
Luke M. Burket has joined Hill & White as a staff
accountant.
No, this was a decision that some people had to lose their jobs so that all of us didn’t lose our water. This decision was unavoidable and probably even wise. No one wanted to toss them out of work. No doubt, our local government leaders agonized over this call. But these employees are not likely to be able to absorb a sudden layoff. By and large, these are not high-paying positions. It’s safe to assume that most of these good folks simply don’t have the spare cash to carry them through a few months of unemployment. So here’s the reality: A few of us with little in the way of economic resources are paying a very high price, while the rest of us slip by with only a bit of sacrifice. Don’t we owe them something? Shouldn’t we offer them more than feeling sorry? Pity pays no bills, and sympathy buys no food.
Clayton Graven, of the Moweaqua branch of DeWitt Savings Bank, has graduated from Community Banker School.
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/
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> ASK THE SCORE COUNSELOR Q: Just how important is a business plan for both starting and managing a business? A: People with GPS units in their cars love the convenience of simply entering locations and receiving step-by-step directions for getting there safe and sound. Entrepreneurs have their own GPS to help find small business success — the business plan. But unlike its electronic counterparts, a business plan doesn’t come with a pre-programmed route to “Easy Street.” It’s up to every aspiring small-business owner to collect and analyze information related to a small-business idea. Only then can one determine the best way to get that idea from Point A to Point B and beyond. The prospect of preparing a business plan may seem rather intimidating. Though it does require a lot of time and effort, most aspiring entrepreneurs soon find the exercise enjoyable and self-sustaining. The more they explore the opportunities and challenges for their
Got a question? For guidance on creating your business plan, to learn more about SCORE’s 12-week feasibility course, to request one-on-one counseling, or to submit a question for the “Ask the SCORE Counselor” column, contact SCORE Chapter 296, Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522 or call 424-6296.
idea, the more they want to know. They also realize that just as a poorly programmed GPS will result in getting lost, a poorly prepared business plan will doom their small-business dreams. Preparing a business plan has never been easier. There are plenty of software tools and templates, such as those at www.score.gov, available to guide you through various topics such as market analysis, company description, legal form of organization, management con-
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cept, financial projections, etc. Also, twice each year, the local SCORE chapter at Millikin University offers a 12week course on completing a feasibility study of your business idea. There is still room for creativity, however, particularly since the business plan may be used to get banks and other potential investors excited about supporting your venture. For that reason, entrepreneur and nationally syndicated columnist Rhonda Abrams suggests utilizing features such as PowerPoint slides, relevant charts and graphics, and even a website or video if appropriate. “Whether you present your plan in person or by email, readers’ attention spans are short,” Abrams explains. “You need to get key information across quickly.” And just as a car GPS requires regular updates, a business plan is a work-inprogress. That’s because a small business should always evolve and adapt in response to national and local economic changes, new technologies and shifts in consumer preferences. Abrams suggests the following schedule for business plan reviews/updates: Annually: Do a basic evaluation. Look
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for changes in your target market, areas that may need to be reprioritized, and ways to improve the efficiency of your operations. Every 3 to 5 years: Conduct a more comprehensive review where the goal is significant growth in sales or revenue. After a major shift in your industry or other critical event: Examples might include a new regulatory requirement, a natural disaster or act of terrorism, or entry of a major new competitor which would indicate a need for a business plan review and possible update. — Carol Harding, SCORE counselor
Meet a SCORE counselor Joe Rayhill retired as manufacturing plant manager for Sundstrand Corp. His counseling specialties are manufacturing management, personnel and labor relations, human resource training and budgeting. He has been a SCORE counselor for more than Rayhill three years.
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BACK TO SCHOOL
Students shifted as Decatur schools undergo renovations Eisenhower work to be finished in 2014 By VALERIE WELLS Business Journal Writer
Business Journal/Mark Roberts
Construction crews work outside Eisenhower High School. Eisenhower students will have class at Stephen Decatur until the project is completed, which is scheduled for January 2014.
DECATUR — A brand-new bright red canopy has appeared on the building formerly known as Decatur Area Technical Academy and that canopy proclaims the letters that stand for the building’s new name: Stephen Decatur Middle School. “It’s basically like when you purchase a house,” said Principal Howard Edwards. “A little painting, your own little touches.” The building will be the temporary home for Stephen Decatur while the high schools are extensively renovated, work that began this summer. Eisenhower High School will take over Stephen Decatur’s building on the north side of Decatur until their building is finished in January 2014 and MacArthur will move into it during its major construction, which is scheduled to be complete in January 2015. For some students, the downtown
building will be the only middle school they’ll attend. At Eisenhower’s temporary home off East Mound Road, Principal Chuck Hoots and his staff learned to reduce clutter and share. He has 66 teachers and only 43 rooms. “We created a large teachers’ workroom and provided desks for people who don’t have a classroom of their own,” he said. “We have work stations for teachers who were displaced during their prep period so they have a place to work. That was the biggest challenge.” Stephen Decatur was originally a high school, but when it opened in the 1970s, Decatur had four high schools. Now the city is down to two, and the building will have to accommodate about 1,000 students. Hoots said that meant installing about 400 additional lockers along the walls of the Galleria, a wide commons that runs the length of the building, to provide enough lockers without blocking the view. Fifty more computers were added to the library The building is all on one level and it’s air-conditioned, something Hoots
is especially happy about. Students should find it easy to locate classes because core classes are on one side of the Galleria and electives on the other, for the most part. At Eisenhower’s building on 16th Street, work is fully under way. A mission organization that builds equipment for schools in Haiti took the wood from the old bleachers. Excavation for the new gym, digging up the football field for the geo-thermal technology, and asbestos abatement have to be juggled with plumbing, electricity, demolition and remodeling. The gym is gutted, with only steel beams still standing. Nicholas and Associates’ on-site job supervisor Ken Kleiner said the various contractors, and there are a ton of them, meet regularly to coordinate so that no one is tripping over anyone else. It takes a lot of coordination. One thing that makes the situation more pleasant is that all the contractors are trying hard to accommodate each other, he said. “Everybody’s nice,” Kleiner said. “Sometimes (on job sites), I feel like I should wear a referee’s shirt.”
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September 2012
Changes abound at county schools ARGENTA-OREANA Argenta-Oreana schools are rolling without Rolofson Bus Service for the first time since the late G.K. Rolofson established the company in 1948. First Student has taken over the district’s 20 routes with the anticipated retirement of Rolofson’s son, Gary, and his wife, Karen, owners of the company since 1996. The Rolofsons are continuing to perform state truck and bus inspections at their facility in Argenta until First Student can take that function over, which should happen by the end of this month. Karen Rolofson said they decided to retire because advancing technology is making it increasingly difficult for a smaller bus company to compete and so they can see more of their nine grandchildren. “Seven of them live out of town, and we’re missing things,” she said.
Also new this year, restrooms at the elementary and middle schools have been updated to include hands-free entrances, lights, toilets and sinks for better sanitation. New teachers include Sarah Lidy, instrumental music; Jodi England, art; Molly Birmingham, speech pathologist; Cheryl Baer, high school English; Brandon Heller, high school science; Sussanah Moyer, seventh-grade language arts; John Yeakel, seventh-grade American History; Ashley Jennings, fourthgrade; Katalyn Somerville, kindergarten teaching assistant; Robin Whitaker, preK teaching assistant.
MAROA-FORSYTH The school year kicked off in August for students and staff in the MaroaForsyth School District, but Superintendent Mike Williams is already looking to figure out what adjustments might be necessary in years ahead due to budget constraints. The district has been facing a difficult deficit situation for several years as it
awaits payments from the state, Williams said. It won’t know exactly how much money it has available until money is received from the state. “We’re trying to make do with what we can,” Williams said. “We usually don’t find out until it’s too late.” Williams said the district needs time to let staff know of changes by March. As the decisions are being made, the make-up of the school board has been changing. Longtime school board president Jimmy Peck stepped down in May and Mike Gentle was chosen in July to take Peck’s place. The district’s facility plan is wrapping up with an upgrade to its football field and other changes. Williams said still left to finish is an energy efficiency upgrade to the high school building. Some work was finished during the summer, but work that won’t interfere with the school day remains to be done with a $50,000 grant from the state
pending. Four new teachers started work in the district, and Williams expects a net increase of 40 students for the year.
MERIDIAN Meridian School District Superintendent Roy Smith said his district is progressing steadily on its multiphase constriction project, but there are a lot of things to be excited about in the meantime. Smith said there are some new faces in the district, including about five new teachers and growing classes at the high school level. “Class sizes are pushing 90 to 95 each in the high school,” he said, adding that the school has approximately 360 students — up about 30 from last year’s student body total. The high school has the largest classes in recent memory, Smith said, adding that the recent growth has reinforced the
www.thebusiness-journal.com district’s construction plans and improvements. Other grade levels remained steady or dropped slightly in their enrollments, Smith said. The high school also has improved its online access, gaining faster wireless Internet through an agreement to tie into Richland Community College’s services. “We’re in kind of a black hole for Internet capabilities here in town,” Smith said, adding that many teachers are thinking outside of the traditional textbooks and enhancing education through outside sources such as videos and online resources.
MOUNT ZION This year, freshman and transfer students at Mount Zion High School weren’t the only new faces on the first day of school. Principal Kraig Garber was a new face, as well. “I’m really excited to be here,” said Garber, 32, a few weeks before the school year began. Holding a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education, as well as a master’s degree in educational administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Garber said his entire career has been devoted to teaching and administration. “I taught high school social studies classes (at Carrollton High School) from 2003 to 2009,” Garber said, noting that he also served as the high school’s assistant principal for one year. He most recently served as the school’s principal from 2010 to 2012. A native of Carrollton, Garber said when he learned of the Mount Zion job opening, he knew he wanted to pursue it. “I wanted to advance my career and I knew Mount Zion was a reputable district, so when I saw the job opening, I decided to throw my hat in the ring,” he said. Excited for the challenges his new position holds, Garber said he is hoping to help provide more professional development for the teachers and to uphold the school’s high academic standards. “I want to create an environment of collaboration and teamwork and ensure we’re maintaining a focus on academic achievement,” said Garber. “I’m thrilled to work with the students and parents in the Mount Zion school district.” Garber replaces longtime Principal Greg Bradley.
SANGAMON VALLEY Sangamon Valley schools have two new teachers this year. Julie Bauer is returning after spending four years teaching in Alaska and taught in the district in the past. She’ll teach fourth grade at Harristown Elementary School. Rebecca Pantazes will teach special education at the middle school. She
September 2012 comes from Joliet. No new programs are planned because of tight finances. “Given the financial situation that the state of Illinois has placed us in, we have not been able to expand upon existing programs,” said Superintendent Ernie Fowler. “We have considered it a victory in that we have kept the same programs as last year. We are co-opting several sports this year with Tri-City High School.” The board and teachers recently reached a new contract agreement for two years, and again came to agreement after only two days’ negotiations. The district will use the 1 percent sales tax revenue from Macon County, along with a maintenance grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to make repairs and improvements to paving, chimneys, fences and doors. “The county sales tax revenue enables us to make repairs and improvements to our buildings on a more timely basis,” Fowler said.
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WARRENSBURG-LATHAM After years of construction, the final piece of the new Warrensburg-Latham High School building is open for students. And so far, teachers and students have nothing but praise for it. “They love it. It’s bright and it’s beautiful,” said Superintendent Kristen Kendrick. “We’ve heard nothing but positive things about it so far.” The project was phase two of the construction, which included the construction of parts of the high school which opened last year. The first phase included classrooms and connected all three of the Warrensburg-Latham buildings together. The most recent project added classrooms and meeting space. While cuts in money from the state continues to hurt schools across the Illinois, Kendrick said the school board will continue its promise to give threefourths of the sales tax money back to the community, as it already had voters approve a $12 million property tax referendum. The money will go back to the community by lowering property tax bills starting next year. “This community has supported us through the upkeep and the new facilities … it’s the right thing to do,” Kendrick said. The school also has adopted a new motto this year, “Find your greatness,” which Kendrick hopes will motivate students and faculty. Motivated teachers are especially important for the beginning of the school year. “We want them to take everything to the next level, whether it’s teaching in the classrooms or how we reach out to the students,” Kendrick said.
Source: Page A Day Calendar
ACROSS 3. To recoil in dread or terror (25) 4. Something of monstrous size, power or appearance (12) 8. Lacking something needed, wanted or expected (1) 10. Footgear (8) 11. Frivolous bantering talk (13) 13. To introduce something into (19) 14. The individuals at such a level (4) 15. A person of a weak or sickly constitution (7)
DOWN 1. To make amends for (26) 2. Eccentrically silly, giddy or inane (22) 5. Radiant splendor: brilliance (15) 6. Exaggerated pride or self-confidence (27) 7. Clear in thought or expression (29) 9. Something extraordinary (11) 12. To declare to be untrue or invalid (6)
Last month's answers: Page 2
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September 2012
Parochial schools adding staff, making changes DECATUR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL The first change visitors to Decatur Christian School will notice this fall is the new office setup. As people come in the front door, a double glass door to their left will lead to the new administrative offices. “We’ve had temporary offices in here before,” said Building Administrator Randy Hinshaw. “That’s one of the big changes for us.” The biggest change is one the public might not notice. Every middle and high school student will be issued a laptop computer. “It’s interesting with the new technology, and when you’re going to be putting it into the hands of kids, particularly when they’re going to be taking it from class to class, and home, like our kids will be able to in this case, every classroom now is a computer lab,” Hinshaw said. “So (the computer lab) is becoming kind of obsolete, and we’ll probably be phasing it out.” The only need for a computer lab now, he said, is for elementary students just learning to use the machines. In the past, students used the computer lab for foreign language and math. Now, middle and high school students will use the laptops for that, among other things. Information Technology Administrator Joe Braun has spent the bulk of his summer setting them up for the individual students and loading the programs on them. Hinshaw joked that the family pet will continue to be blamed for missing homework even with technology. Last year, a student said his snake had eaten his flash drive, which, of course, contained his homework. The plan is for students to use their school email accounts to send homework from the laptop to the teacher and cut back on paper, and when textbook pub-
lishers catch up with the technology, they might even be able to do away with carrying books around, too. New teachers on board this year include Jerry Miller, high school math; Jordan Hohm, middle school history and math; and John Parrott, high school English. The school has bought two buses, and administrators are working out the logistics of offering bus service. Speaking of administrators, Decatur Christian has a host of new administrators. Randy Grigg, the former superintendent of Central A&M, began his superintendent duties in July. In the past, Hinshaw has acted as allschool principal, but now Decatur Christian has hired principals for each section of the school. Acting in the newly created position of high school principal will be former Mount Zion High School Principal Greg Bradley. Brian Minott will be serving as junior high/middle school principal. Tonya Calendo is the elementary principal.
LUTHERAN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION The Lutheran School Association will have a new emphasis on fine arts education this school year, with two music teachers and two art teachers on staff. Megan Overbay will teach vocal and instrumental music to grades kindergarten through sixth and Steve Sherohman will teach middle and high school students. Justin Groth will double as high school art and religion teacher, joining current art teacher Tim Fote. Other new additions are Nathan Richter, high school principal; Kari Richter, kindergarten; Megan Callahan, middle school language arts; Amanda Spinner, high school science; Adam Bula-
va, high school social studies; Lisa Mize, high school Spanish; and Rachel Bishop, administrative assistant to the executive director. Richter plans an organized staff development program for the high school faculty, and the administrators are working on aligning curriculum from kindergarten through high school. Executive Director Kyle Karsten is expanding school relations with the association churches and the community. One of the most visible changes will be in the athletic program. During the summer, the school’s football field has undergone upgrades including lighting, fencing and a new concession stand for Friday night games in the fall, and the new baseball, softball and soccer fields are laid out and ready for development during the school year.
ST. TERESA HIGH SCHOOL St. Teresa High School students were greeted with some noticeable, and notso-noticeable changes when they returned for classes last month. Over the summer, phase two of the capital campaign was completed, which includes renovating and installing new
restrooms along the back of the school by the football field, renovating the gym entrance, installing new heating and air conditioning throughout the building, and storm sewer repair. Phase three, tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2013, will include a new physical education annex north of the existing gym, with a weight room and locker room, replacing the football field’s grass with artificial turf and expanding parking. Students are only allowed to park in the north lot now, but the gym addition will take away a chunk of their space, so Principal Ken Hendriksen said additional parking is planned for the area in front of the science addition facing Water Street and administration may have to come up with a plan that allows some students to park there. “We won’t proceed with phase three unless we have money received and/or pledged for that,” Hendriksen said. New staff for the coming year include Dean Van Diver, director of guidance; Joseph Wyckoff, chemistry and physics; Michele Moody, advancement office; Cathryn Moran, Web design teacher and Website manager; and Jennifer Kater, instrumental/chorus teacher.
ST. TERESA HIGH SCHOOL Mark Your Calendars: September 7th – Grandparent’s Day September 28-29th – Homecoming Weekend Oct. 16th – Open House CALL NOW FOR FALL 2012 REGISTRATION
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Richland enrollment shows slight drop Pattern consistent with other state colleges By NICOLE HARBOUR Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — Student enrollment was down slightly as a new academic year began Aug. 20 at Richland Community College. Still, enrollment patterns at Richland seem to be consistent with the rest of the state’s community colleges, said Marcus Brown, dean of enrollment services. “Fall enrollment (is) 3,550 students, down about 5 percent from a year ago,” said Brown. “But that (enrollment decrease) is becoming the same across Illinois. As people begin to ease out of the recession, fewer are enrolling in college and more are working.” Brown noted that for Richland, the decrease also can be accounted for by looking at the past few graduating classes. “In the last few years, we’ve had a couple of record graduating classes that came from a big enrollment trend when the recession began around 2008,” he said. “Now, as we’re beginning to come out of the recession, we’re going back to a more normal economy and we’re not having nearly as big an enrollment trend, so our enrollment numbers are decreasing.” Brown said an advantage Richland and other community colleges have over four-year universities is that they can offer classes that begin later in the semester. “We have 30 to 40 classes that begin in mid- to late September, so we think we will see another enrollment wave closer to the time those classes are scheduled to start,” which could help boost this year’s enrollment numbers, he said. “Four-year schools can’t do that. We also look at late and last-minute registration of recent high school graduates.” Brown said while new student registration was down, the college expected some growth in adult enrollment. “We are continuing to see above-average numbers for students ages 30 to 45,” said Brown. “Those students are sometimes incumbent workers or professionals in the community who were laid off and are now looking to Richland for new careers.” Robyn McCoy, executive director of Workforce Investment Solutions, said the increased number of adult students at Richland correlates with the ages and types of people she’s seeing in her agency, as well. “In the last few months, we’ve enrolled 40 new individuals (for skills training), and we’ve seen a mix of dislocated workers and lower-income adults,” she said. “I think some of them have been unsuccessful in their job searches because
Business Journal photos/Jim Bowling
From left in foreground, Katrina Pedigo works on an assignment as Alec Asher-Mathes and Nick Ploessl of Dalton City take a break between classes in the Mueller Student Center at Richland Community College. their skill sets don’t necessarily match up with the jobs that are available right now and what employers need, so they’re trying to be proactive by taking some additional classes at Richland or by coming to us.” In terms of popular programs this year, Brown said the culinary arts, automotive, nursing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning programs continue to attract students. “These programs continue to be full or maintaining high enrollment numbers,” he said, noting that dual credit enrollment also continues to grow. “Dual credit normally has good enrollment, too, and we launched the transfer academy this semester, so we’re excited to see how that does.” Another trend Brown said the college has noticed pertains to the number of credit hours students are taking this semester. “Students are registering at the highest rates for 3/4 time, or nine to 11 credit hours,” Brown reported. “This may be because students are able to continue to work and complete programs in a timely way.”
Christia Shelton of Mount Zion works on math in the Richland Community College cafeteria.
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September 2012
Meet Cordell Ingram principal of Robertson Charter School Hometown: East St. Louis Family: Wife, April; daughter, Cordney; and sons, Devan and Xavier. Education: Master of Arts in education administration from Eastern Illinois University, Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Millikin University. My “I’d rather be …” bumper sticker would read. “I’d rather be golfing.” I have become addicted to the game after just picking it up seriously this past summer. Hobbies/interests: Golfing, fishing and traveling. My first job: Pool security at Nelson Park. I was the original pool security and was always tickled that the lifeguard thought we were getting paid too much until a fight or argument erupted. Then we were invaluable, LOL. Why I do what I do: I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an educator. Working as a tutor as a fifthgrader, I always thought I had a knack for simplifying things that others made extremely complex. I had great teachers in East St. Louis who modeled my current philosophy of educating the whole person. They were as interested in my sports and well-being as they were in my education and that has helped me tremendously remove those normal boundaries that keep other educators on the other side of the fence. Personal approaches to challenges: I am a head-on kind of guy and a puzzler/ scrabble fanatic. I love challenges and life’s puzzles and approach them with a systematic approach to divide and conquer. Finding the root of the problem usually will help you deal with the fruit which are the things you see. So if a mom comes in screaming about Little Johnny being mistreated, after five minutes of diffusing the situation and giving mom some time, we usually get to the problems at home and the bad relationships that make her so defensive of Little Johnny. Then it’s just convincing her that, as a school, we will always have Little Johnny’s best interest at heart, even if we missed something in this situation. Community involvement: I have a long history of coaching and community service in the city of Decatur. I was the head football coach at MacArthur High School from 1999-2004. I ran the Decatur Junior Football League from 2006-2010. I am the chairman of the Boys Scout’s Scout Reach program, which encourages scouting in the inner city. I am an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ at Life Changers Church where I
Business Journal/Jim Bowling
spearhead the Men’s Ministry. What is a charter school? A charter school is a public school of choice. Parents choose to apply for enrollment and students are accepted via lottery. Charter school began in Minneapolis, Minn., in the late ’80s in an attempt to use unique, nontraditional techniques to attempt to improve performance of students who were underperforming. Since then, charter schools have branched out to be a voice for families who feel that they are not getting their needs met by the traditional setting. American Indians in Wyoming started a charter school because they were not getting their heritage taught in the traditional settings. Many states with high dropout rates have used charter schools to offer construction training and other computerized learning environments. What are the primary differences from a “regular” school? Charter schools are like businesses. If they are not being successful, they close. So customer service becomes a high priority and academic
results. Accountability is very high. Charter schools have to please their district authorizers, the state and the federal government. Charter schools have some flexibility in state law, which attempts to make room for innovative ideas. They have the flexibility of hiring highly motivated professionals from outside of the education field who have a passion to teach. Again, it is flexibility with accountability which makes a great education partnership. Tell us a little about Robertson Charter School. Robertson Charter School opened its doors in the fall of 2001. The idea came about as a result of a fight at a football game at one of our high schools that eventually gained national attention. The school began as an attempt to address the unique issues faced by minority and poverty students. Smaller class sizes and unique learning environments enabled the school to try new approaches to motivating that segment of students. The school began with grades K-3 and added one grade per year, until reaching K-8 status. Robert-
son Charter School has now received statewide and national attention for academic and athletic achievement. Why was a charter school needed in Decatur? The founders believed that there was a group of underprivileged students that were being underserved and lacked direction and character skills. The vision was cast to a small group who then created a board and made the decision to pursue opening a school. The idea was presented to the Decatur school board, which ultimately approved the charter. Since opening the school, Robertson has become an integral part of the educational community in Decatur. After a rocky start, Robertson Charter School seems to be cruising along. What is the key to its success? n A family-friendly atmosphere. We have broken down the barriers that separate students, teachers and their families. Our students know that we genuinely care about their well-being and we are going to challenge them to be the best they can be.
www.thebusiness-journal.com n A rallying point. Robertson is the school, “Where character comes first.” Our students understand the importance of good character and good behavior and you have the ability to accomplish that no matter what academic level you are on. We are raising good citizens who will be productive members of society. n A competitive atmosphere. At Robertson Charter School, we have created an atmosphere where students want to win at everything they do. Whether it is academics, athletics, bingo or character modeling, our students really strive for excellence in all aspects. They are not afraid of testing because they see it as another opportunity to WIN. n The perfect partnership of business and education. Charter schools combine the best of the business acumen and educational excellence. Because charter schools are market-driven, the motivation to satisfy parents, authorizers, staff, and the community is always top of mind. Has this success garnered any national attention from folks interested in duplicating it? Duplicating has always been an option for Robertson as we have been approached by the former Superintendent of New York public schools and many other entities around the country. In an effort to assist other charter schools in their development, Charter Pros was developed. Charter Pros is a charter consulting group that can help
September 2012 schools around the country in three ways: start up new schools, work to evaluate current practices and give a diagnosis for improvement, and do professional development for schools in need. It is the beliefs of Charter Pros that the cookiecutter model does not work in every community so it is more important to take what the locals know about their community and shape the school from the community needs. It seems the programs continue to evolve to meet changing needs/expectations of students. What program changes have been made over the years and what changes might be seen in the future? To keep up with the changing trend of technology, Robertson invested in a laptop computer for every middle school student. This has allowed our teachers to take their lessons to another level with the power of the Web. Three years ago, Robertson created a No Fail Middle School concept that forces student who missed assignments to come to a study hall during their P.E. period to make up an assignment or to get the assignment retaught. We saw a middle school trend of laziness and determined that we would not allow that to make our students failures. If they fail a class, it will be P.E. because they were pulled out too often to complete core subject work.
school. What is it and why is it needed? Robertson Charter Academy is an exciting new idea for our area. Early college schools exist in about 25 states around the country, but not Illinois. An early college school in our model would partner with, and be housed at Richland Community College. In our model, students have the potential of earning their associate’s degree (or up to 60 transferable credits) while simultaneously earning their high school diploma. The first two years would be spent in a rigorous schedule to complete all the core class work required for earn-
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ing a high school diploma. Ideally, the junior and senior years would be spent fully immersed in college courses. This is very different from traditional dual credit classes offered by many high schools and districts. The choice to focus on boys was driven by the observation that the need is greatest with them in our current setting. Far more boys get disengaged during their high school years. Many of them ultimately drop out or never really pursue higher education or a realistic track for success in life. We strongly believe the need is great for this type school.
There is a proposal floating around for an all-male early college charter
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September 2012
YOUR CAREER
Apprenticeships open doors to skilled jobs On-the-job, classroom training part of programs By NICOLE HARBOUR Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — Josh Welch didn’t plan on becoming an electrical worker. “It wasn’t what I thought I’d be doing,” said Welch, 34, noting that he had done avionics while serving in the Marine Corps and hoped to work for Boeing or Lockheed Martin once he returned to the Midwest. But life had a different plan for him. After serving in the Marines from 2000 to 2005, Welch For more information approached on apprenticeships the two offered through the companies, International Brotherbut learned hood of Electrical Workthat his ers Local 146, visit www. avionics ibew146.com/ or contact experience Jason Drake at 875was not 3041. For more informaenough. tion on apprenticeships “They told with Plumbers and Pipme to go to efitters Local 65, contact college and Mark Greenawalt at 877then come 3440. back to them,” he explained. Welch decided to take a year off, and shortly after, in 2006, he got a job working on Black Hawk helicopters for the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment in Kentucky. Then in 2007, he met his future wife, Lisa, moved back to Illinois, and read a magazine article that changed his direction. “I had been out of the Marine Corps for about a year and a half when I read an article in U.S. News and World Report about how the electrical trade was going to really be in need of electrical workers as the baby boomers retired,” said Welch. “I have an older brother who’s an estimator and a younger brother who’s a journeyman (electrical worker) in Springfield, so I decided that I should apply for an apprenticeship.” Offered through the Midstate Electrical Training Center, the three- or fiveyear apprenticeships allow people to receive on-the-job training through employment with a union electrical contractor. The apprenticeships also provide mandatory classroom training as the apprentices train to become telecommunications installer technicians, residential wiremen or inside wiremen. “We typically take around 14 or 15 apprentices a year,” said Josh Sapp, of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146 and chairman of the six-member apprenticeship and training committee.
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CJ Leming, right, and Matt Lawrence put metal piping together outside Eisenhower High School. The two men are apprentices with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Those interested in applying must be 18 years old by the time their apprenticeship begins. Applicants must also be living in or be willing to commute within the 12 counties IBEW Local 146 covers, possess a high school diploma or GED, and have completed one year of high school Algebra 1 or its equivalent with a passing grade. In addition, applicants must pass an aptitude test and receive an adequate interview score in order to be eligible for an apprenticeship. Interviews are done once a year, typically in March. Jason Drake, training director at the Midstate Electrical Training Center, said applicants must also have a strong work ethic and a desire to do construction work. “First and foremost, applicants must realize we’re construction workers who happen to do electrical work,” said Drake, noting that through the on-the-job training, apprentices learn how to do everything from putting in lights and doing electrical wiring to main power distribution, fire and security alarm
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
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Josh Kupish, an apprentice with the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 65 Union, has installed new fan coil units during renovations at the in-patient medical nursing unit of Decatur Memorial Hospital.
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Continued from page 18 installation, process and machinery controls and even traffic controls installation at intersections. “There’s a bigger need for inside wiremen right now,” which do the majority of electrical work, added Drake, noting that the inside wireman program takes five years to complete and involves at least 900 hours of classroom training and at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. Apprentices typically work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. five days a week, and beginning after Labor Day through the first week of May, also attend night classes that can go from 4 p.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. about twice a week. “The best-kept secret of this apprenticeship is that you are working toward a college education as you go to classes and get on-the-job training, and all you pay for the whole time are your books and your work clothes,” said Sapp, noting that the classes the apprentices take go toward an associate degree in applied science that is accredited through Richland Community College. First-year apprentices can make $15 an hour and are eligible for health benefits and pension contributions shortly after they begin. Apprentices are also eligible for raises each year as they complete more classroom and on-the-job training.
September 2012 Another trades union that offers apprenticeships is the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 65, which offers fiveyear apprenticeships for those interested in careers focusing on everything from plumbing and pipefitting to welding, soldering and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. “The apprenticeship program began in 1956,” said Mark Greenawalt, apprenticeship coordinator. Like the apprenticeships offered through the IBEW, applicants for the plumbing apprenticeships must also be 18 by the time the apprenticeship begins, possess a high school diploma or GED and score well on an aptitude test and interview. Those accepted to the program work full time and take night classes that help them earn college credit, as well. “This field is so diverse,” said Greenawalt, noting that apprentices are exposed to a variety of training and classes throughout the five-year program, including blueprint interpretation, computer-assisted drawing, pipe fitting, soldering, welding, mathematics, science, refrigeration and water supply. Apprentices must complete 266 hours of classroom training and 1,500 on-thejob hours each year, and the only thing they need to pay for is their work clothing. First-year plumbing apprentices start
‘I think people have heard that construction is down due to the economy and so fewer people have been applying for apprenticeships, but we’re going to have a lot of openings coming up due to retirement.’ JASON DRAKE, TRAINING DIRECTOR AT THE MIDSTATE ELECTRICAL TRAINING CENTER at $14.26 an hour and are eligible for health benefits two and a half months after they start, plus local pension and a pension through the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada after one year. Twenty-year-old Lucas Barbee, who’s heading into the second year of his
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apprenticeship, said plumbing runs in his family, so a plumbing apprenticeship seemed like a good fit for him. “I’ve always been around this kind of work,” said Barbee. “My dad is a plumber, and so I thought it was something I’d be good at, too. So far, I’ve really enjoyed it.” Working for contractor E.L. Pruitt, Barbee said he’s done a variety of work already, such as running water lines and doing maintenance work at Millikin University. “I like that the work is hands-on and that you’re not doing the same thing every day,” he said. Drake and Greenawalt acknowledged that with the sluggish economy, construction and plumbing jobs have been more difficult to come by the past few years, but noted that more jobs and apprenticeships will be opening up. “I think people have heard that construction is down due to the economy and so fewer people have been applying for apprenticeships,” said Drake, “but we’re going to have a lot of openings coming up due to retirement.” Greenawalt said welders and HVAC workers are currently in high demand. “Right now, refineries are just screaming for welders because so much of the infrastructure in Illinois and across the country, like bridges, water mains and sewer mains, is way past its life expectancy and needs to be repaired or replaced,” he said.
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> BIZ BITES tucked between Del’s Popcorn Shop and Different by Design, was formerly occupied by Embroidered Expressions, which moved around the corner in January. Store hours are by appointment or chance. Visit www.childsplayphotos.com or call 620-7851. nnn Baby TALK Early Head Start has moved to its new home at 710 W. Macon St. “We are thrilled that this program finally has found a home” said Shauna Ejeh, Baby TALK Early Head Start director. “There was a lot of work involved and fortunately, we’ve had a great team of supporters who have made this big move possible.” Formerly Humpty Dumpty Daycare, the newly renovated Baby TALK Early Head Start facility will house all its center-based programs for families. “Everything about the facility is different. The classrooms are spacious and wonderful, full of natural light” Ejeh said. “There are seven classrooms, a multipurpose room, five offices and a reception area.”
Now open Reflection Salon has opened along Lake Decatur at 5 N. Country Club Road, Suite 5. “I’ve always known I’d own a salon some day,” said Kristi Rigg, who has been a stylist locally for eight years. “The time was right.” The salon offers a variety of nail and hair services, as well as eyelash and hair extensions. Rigg is joined in the salon by Jessica Wright, who she had worked with in the past. The business currently has no set hours, working by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 422-9980.
On the move Instructors and students at Christie’s Martial Arts academy are now getting their kicks at 2028 S. Mount Zion Road in Decatur in the shopping center anchored by Rural King. The development offers a more prominent and easy to find location with lots of nearby parking, said Christie’s owner, Rick Christie, who used to be at 5655 East U.S. 36. “We had a great facility before, but this is so much more designed for what we do in a more businesslike location,” said Christie, who now has 5,000 square feet of space. “It’s all good.” Christie’s hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Go to www.christiesmartialarts.com or call 864-5858. nnn After four years of using the third floor of the Madden Art Center as a studio, Kathy Locke opened a storefront on Merchant Street for her Child’s Play Photography. Locke specializes in taking pictures of children of all ages up to high school and has a lot of experience photographing her own children, now ranging from 17 to 23. She also takes family portraits. The space at 146 N. Merchant St.,
New owner Baker Woods Swim Club at 4994 Baker Woods Lane opened briefly at the end of the summer with an eye toward a full season in 2013. The pool across from Decatur Airport had been empty until Spirit of Life Church bought the property earlier this year as part of a plan to expand. The church currently holds its gatherings at the Wildwood Plaza, 144 W. Wildwood Drive in Mount Zion, with services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. “The pool will be a blessing to the community with so many people on this side of town interested in a place like this,” Senior Pastor Doug Rudow said. The plan is to construct a new building on the Baker Woods property to go along with recreational opportunities such as tennis, basketball and swimming. Rudow said construction could start next year once plans are drawn up.
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“We’ve looked at it quite a while,” Rudow said. “We wanted to stay on the east side of town. This is really a nice piece of ground.” Pool membership is open to anyone. The cost for this year is an initial $75 fee. Annual dues of $300 for families and $230 for individuals start next year. nnn Bill Lee is the new owner of Lee’s Car Wash at 1205 E. Pershing Road in Decatur. Lee took over a defunct car wash at the location in March and spent five weeks refurbishing the facility to get it up and running. A professional builder by trade, he decided to give the car wash industry a try after the economy washed out a lot of his building work. After a slow start, business was accelerating nicely and then along came the drought and the city’s decision to shut down commercial car washes. Lee responded by doing what many car washes have done, and switch over to water tanks he has to refill every few days. He says the car wash operates just like it used to but many customers haven’t got the message he’s back in business.
Closed Joni Balogni’s in Mount Zion has closed. The blue jeans boutique, open since
October 2010, closed Aug. 31 because its owner, Joan Jean of rural Lovington, is moving out of state.
New name Built more than 25 years ago, Cub Foods at 1450 E. Pershing Road has a new look and name. Not only did the exterior get a facelift as it becomes a County Market, but the interior now features the floral department front and center when you step inside instead of being tucked away between the produce section and deli. It’s all part of a major remodel that, among other things, enhanced and enlarged all the displays of perishable foods along the perimeter of the store. “The rest of our stores are called County Market, and it was time to give the community a state-of-the-art supermarket,” said Jerry Kettler, director of consumer affairs for the Quincy-based Niemann Foods Inc. “All of our associates have also gone through retraining for better food knowledge and customer service.”
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 421-6979.
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By the numbers 155.2 million: Number of people 16 and older in the nation’s labor force in June 2012. 85 percent: Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2010. 26.3 million: Number of female workers 16 and older in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2010. Among male workers, 16 and older, 23.7 million were employed in management, professional and related occupations. 5.9 million: The number of people who worked from home in 2010. $47,715 and $36,931: The 2010 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively. 25.3 minutes: The average time it took people in the nation to commute to work in 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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September 2012
PACE program offers degree opportunities Accelerated classes catered to busy lifestyle By RYAN VOYLES Business Journal Writer
DECATUR — With a full-time job, a wife and five children, Brendan Skeffington said he was not sure when he would be able to go back to school. It was especially difficult for Skeffington, who is looking to move up through Skeff Distributing after working there for 13 years. Without a college degree though, upward movement seemed an uphill battle. But through Millikin University’s Professional Adult Comprehensive Education program, Skeffington said he was able to work toward his degree while still focusing on his job and family. “You don’t want to miss everything that goes by. With PACE, I don’t have to miss my kid’s games or practices,” he said. The PACE program is an accelerated evening class, with courses taking the form of one four-hour evening class a week for upwards of 10 weeks. New classes start every five weeks, and students
are free to start whenever they want. The length it takes to get a degree depends on the number of classes taken a semester and the degree. Melanie Stimeling said enrollment in the program has stayed steady at about 250 to 300 students. She said there are two driving forces for adults wanting to enroll in the PACE program. “Most adults when they start education are motivated to move on to new jobs, but a lot of them are also looking to move up with their own companies,” said Stimeling, assistant director of extended programs for PACE. For Charlie Gillaspie, it was a chance to finally get the degree she never completed at Richland Community College more than a decade ago — while still taking care of her children. “I wanted to go back and get my degree, but I’m raising my own kids,” she said. “This program allows me to get that education.” The program offers six bachelor degree opportunities including accounting, management and nursing. Stimeling said they are always looking at options of adding new degrees or class opportunities depending on demand.
Even with the accelerated pace of the classes, Stimeling said students and faculty have had nothing but praise for the program. Current students credit the professors, as well as the university’s support for helping ease students in to the sometimes hectic schedule. “It’s a lot of information to take in a few weeks … but professors and Millikin itself has just been so invested in making sure I succeed,” Gillaspie said. For Skeffington, the program has made it easier to live up to his own promise to get a degree. “When I was younger, I put college on hold,” he said. “I turned 34 and I told myself, I think I’ve put myself on hold for long enough.”
BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 89% are college educated. n 28% are ages 45 to 54.
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September 2012
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Talk to employee about job performance, not habits Q: One of my employees goes to the bathroom all the time. I could swear that “Helen” is in the restroom more than she’s at her desk. A reliable source told me Helen is taking laxatives to lose weight. This is beginning to affect her work, so do you think I should confront her about it? A: If your company is large enough to be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, check with human resources to see whether Helen has declared herself to have a disabling condition. If so, the company may be Office Coach expected to accommodate her needs. But if not, then you need to have a talk about her job performance, not her bathroom habits. For example: “Helen, I’ve noticed that you’re spending a lot of time away from your desk. This is hurting your productivity and making it difficult for people to find you. Obviously, we all need to take an occasional break, but I do expect you to be at your desk most of the time.” If the rumor about laxatives is correct, perhaps this reprimand will motivate Helen to stop that harmful practice. But if she attributes the problem to a medical issue, seek legal advice before taking further action.
Marie McIntyre
Q: I have a co-worker who refuses to work with me, even though I am her supervisor. When I ask her to do something, she ignores me. If she thinks I’ve made a mistake, she immediately runs to inform my boss. I would like to tell him about her behavior, but I’m not sure what to say. A: This woman is obviously sending you a message that she does not accept you as her supervisor. Talking with your boss is definitely the right move, because you will never resolve this issue without his support. When you meet with him, factually describe the situation and ask for his help. For example: “Mary simply refuses to acknowledge that I am supposed to be supervising her. She seems to resent my instructions and sometimes ignores me completely. I would appreciate it if you could meet with us to help her understand my role.” Let me also point out that you must be clear in your own mind about your supervisory status. If you continue to think of this woman as your “co-worker,” she is less likely to regard herself as your employee. Q: Two years ago, I applied for a promotion I did not get. I was told by management they wanted me to work in other areas and a title change and pay increase would follow. Since then, I have
been given more responsibility, but my salary and title are the same. Our company has suffered financial difficulties, so perhaps that explains the delay. Nevertheless, I feel I deserve what I was promised. How should I handle this? A: Even if management had a valid reason for reneging, you still should have received an explanation. It’s quite possible that this commitment has simply been forgotten. Unfortunately, managers sometimes mention future possibilities, then fail to follow through. Instead of continuing to wait resentfully for benefits that may never arrive, take the initiative to restart this conversation. First, create a chart showing how your job has changed, then use it to remind your boss of the previous promises. For example: “Two years ago, when my responsibilities began to increase, senior management indicated I would eventually receive a new title and a raise. I would like to find out when I might expect that to happen.” Hopefully, your inquiry will spur some immediate action. But if your boss cites financial reverses as an obstacle, ask when it would be appropriate to revisit this request, then mark that date on your calendar. Q: I am the only salesperson in a very small software company. Everyone else seems to have a clear job description that matches their skill set, but I have many responsibilities unrelated to sales. To make matters worse, the owner keeps giving me tasks that I am not qualified to do. For example, he recently asked me to create a company Facebook page, even though I have absolutely no skills in that area. I would like to respectfully tell my boss that I am overwhelmed and cannot handle all these additional activities, plus my regular sales work. But when I said it seems unfair that I am the only one being given extra tasks, he just told me to stop whining. What should I do now? A: You have apparently made the common mistake of describing a workload problem from your own point of view, emphasizing how tired and stressed you feel. When you added the word “unfair,” your boss stopped listening and labeled you as a whiner. To get his attention, you must stop talking about yourself and start talking about the business. For example: “I’m concerned that we may be missing some sales opportunities because my time is split so many ways. Handling such a wide variety of tasks reduces the time available for calling on customers and developing new leads. I know you want to increase sales, so I would like to discuss the best way to handle this situation.” For assignments outside your area of expertise, calculate how much time your learning curve will take, then suggest a
Weekly tips Can’t get enough advice from the Office Coach. Get weekly column updates at www.thebusiness-journal.com.
more efficient alternative. With the Facebook page, for example, you might propose assigning the technical aspects to someone with more experience, while remaining involved from a sales perspective. Finally, you should collaborate with your boss in establishing priorities. List your responsibilities in order of importance, then see if he agrees with your rankings. This exercise should help you determine which activities he views as mandatory and which might be delegated or discontinued. Q: I recently quit my job with a consulting company because the director consistently made decisions based on favoritism. He gave the best assignments to his pet employees and mentored them about how to build relation-
ships with clients. I eventually realized I could not succeed in this environment, so I left. In retrospect, is there anything I might have done differently? A: Without more information, it would be difficult to offer specific suggestions. However, one obvious strategy, when confronted with a manager who plays favorites, is to try to become a favorite yourself. This does not mean sucking up, but it does mean “managing up” intelligently. First, you must identify your boss’s preferences, then tailor your interactions accordingly. For example, if she likes a lot of information, communicate with her frequently. If he enjoys chatting about weekend activities, invest some time in socializing. Unfortunately, many people in this situation take exactly the opposite tack. They become irritated and oppositional with their manager, thereby guaranteeing themselves a permanent place in the out-group.
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.
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YOUR FREE TIME
The Arts Arts in Central Park: The 50th annual offering of this juried art fair in Central Park, Saturday and Sunday Sept. 15-16. A preview night will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. Anne Lloyd Gallery: Street art returns. Heavy Hitters will feature talented graffiti and street artists from around the world. This exhibit includes graffiti-style stencils, manipulated photographs and everything in-between. Opening reception from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7. Call 423-3189. www.decturarts.org Gallery 510: Jewelry artist Tina Sekimi. Opening reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7.Call 422-1509. Decatur Airport: Oil paintings by Barbara Dove. Blue Connection: “That’s How We Roll,” steamroller printing by Carriage House Press. Carriage House Press, Decatur’s only fine art printing press, will create 8 foot prints on North Water Street using a steamroller during the monthly After 5 Live, 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7. Perkinson Art Gallery: Drawings prints and ceramics of Urbana artist Ron Kovatch. Rock Springs Nature Center: Oil paintings by Jim Poling.
Music Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra: Labor Day Pops, 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, Nelson Park, and Opening Night featuring Mark O’Connor, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call 424-6318. Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Three Part Invention, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Broadway’s Next H!T Musical, 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. For tickets, call 424-6318. Collage, a showcase of Millikin University performance ensembles, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Swing Night featuring the Don Smith Band, 710 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at the Decatur Airport, Gaitros FBO Hanger.
On Stage Richland Community College: “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) Revisited,” Sept. 21-23 and 28-31, in
Calendar of events For a complete listing of area events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/ Shilling Auditorium. For tickets, call 8757211, ext. 6888. Theatre 7 presents “Moonlight & Magnolias,” Oct. 5-7 and 12-14. For tickets, call 4223866. www.theatre7.net.
Charity events Fido Scurry, 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, Fairview Park Pavilion No. 1. This event, which benefits the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center, includes a trail race, yappy hour, pet parade and doggie triathlon. Call 423-7387. Cruise 11 to Remember 9/11, Sunday, Sept. 9, in Central Park to benefit veteran causes. There will be a car show and a motorcycle show in downtown. Entries will be encouraged to “Cruise” the 11 mile route with yellow ribbons, given at registration to show their support of our troops, thanks to our veterans and remember the tragedy of 9-11. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with the shows formally beginning at 2 p.m. For information, go to www.ayn productions.com. Trivia Night to benefit Easter Seals Central Illinois, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Decatur Club. Includes a silent auction, 50/50, and a desert auction. Call Teri at 429-1052. Shoreline Classic, 6:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, Nelson Park Main Pavilion. This Tot Trot, 5k run/walk or 15k run benefits local and high school running programs. To register visit, www.shorelineclassic. com.
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.
Macon County’s conservation areas. Go to www.maconcountyconservation foundation.org. WSOY Community Food Drive, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Kroger, 1818 Airport Plaza. Brew Ha Ha to benefit The Decatur Area Arts Council, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, Hickory Point Golf Course Pavilion. Includes a Taste of Germany (beer and food). Call 423-3189.
World War II Memorial dedication, noon Friday, Sept. 7, in front of the Decatur Civic Center. Lakefest 2012, Sept. 20-23 in Nelson Park. Event runs in conjunction with the prestigious Bassmaster Toyota Trucks All-Star Week. Activities include live music on four stages, fishing industry exhibits, a kids play area, festival food vendors and more. Plus, don’t miss the exciting tournament weigh-ins each day in Nelson Park. www.decaturlakefest. com.
Scovill Zoo: Grandparents’ Day, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9. Call 421-7435.
Chevrolet Hall of Fame Museum Classic Car & Memorabilia Auction, Friday through Sunday, Sept. 28-30. A preview party will be 3 p.m. Friday, and the auction will start at 7 p.m. The auction will continue at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the auction is free. For more information, call 454-4583 or visit www. chevrolethalloffamemuseum.com.
The Rock Springs Nature Center hosts a long list of mini camps, family adventures and classes during the month. So many,
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.
For the kids Children’s Museum of Illinois: Free night 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27. Call 423-5437.
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Caramel Apples SEPT-OCT!
MUDD (Makin’ U Dirty Decatur), a 5K adventure run to benefit Junior Achievement of East Central Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 29, in Fairview Park. Event features obstacles participants can tackle as individuals or as teammates. For more info, go to the group’s Facebook page or call 42802151. Prairie Pedal, 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Rock Springs Nature Center. This 20, 40 or 62 mile route through quiet country roads is hosted by the Macon County Conservation Foundation and benefits the natural area preservation projects at
BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 66% have household income of $80,000 or more. n 32% are age 55 or older.
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September 2012
To coach others, switch from answer mode to question mode Q: I would like to get better at mentoring and coaching, but find it challenging to not just tell people what I think they should do. Is there a better approach I could learn? A: A coach approach is simple, but not necessarily easy: Switch from being an answer person to being a question person. Many people in leadership get there because they are excellent problem solvers. However, this doesn’t always transfer to being a leader who helps others develop their own problem-solving ability. From this perspective, look at your own experience, focusing on your strengths. Odds are that you had to acquire some of your skills the hard way, and you may also have had mentors who helped you along. Think about the ways your most effective coaches or mentors interacted with you — the best move past simply teaching skills to supporting you as you learn to
Liz Reyer
Weekly tips Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com. use them. Now look at your own track record. Reflect on past conversations with team members, especially when you were overly directive. What was motivating you? You may have been uncomfortable with the ambiguity of not providing answers or uncertain that the outcome would be successful. You may have just gotten caught up in the fun of problem solving. Contrast this with the feeling when you’ve hit a balance you’re satisfied with. Moving to a more consistent coaching style requires awareness and skills. First, be aware of when coaching is appropriate. If someone is performing a task incorrectly or doing something dangerous, that’s not the time for coaching. Nor is a time when a deadline looms — you can revisit it after the fact. If coaching is appropriate, develop the selfawareness to stay out of your own way.
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Notice if you’re rushing in with solutions, even developing some humorous ways to catch yourself: “Oops, here I am again with all the answers.” Second, have a model. One option is a comprehensive and easy-to-remember approach: I see, I can, I will. n I see: Ask questions that help your team members gain new understanding and shift their frame of reference. Think of questions that can be helpful: What’s another way to look at this? What else might be going on? How would someone else view this situation? n I can: Focus on questions that elicit ideas for action. While you can contribute to brainstorming, present your ideas as options that may advance thinking, and not as directives. At first, you may need to hold back even more in order to let team members adjust to your new approach. For promising options, encourage exploration of possible barriers and ways to overcome them. n I will: The emphasis is on concrete action planning — when, with whom, what if, and how — to move ideas from concept to plan. Ask for follow-up steps with you, as appropriate. Include ways of celebrating successes, even minor milestones, to help build momentum.
Get a mentor yourself, someone who is good at this approach to serve as a sounding board for you. Knowing a coaching approach and when to use it, and being motivated to help your team develop will speed you down the path of a more coaching-oriented leadership style.
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
BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 63% have household incomes of $60,000 or greater. 36% have household incomes of $80,000 or greater.
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September 2012
BUSINESS JOURNAL
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YOUR COMMUNITY
Decatur working toward long-term water supply solutions By CHRIS LUSVARDI and ALLISON PETTY Business Journal Writers
Cleda Perkins of Decatur carried an umbrella in hopes that her prayers for rain would be answered. Unfortunately, Perkins did not need the umbrella, as the wait for meaningful rainfall in the Decatur area continues. Perkins, as with the others who gathered for a nondenominational prayer service last month at the Mount Zion Lions Club Center, is hoping the power of prayer will help in what is turning into a desperate situation without rain for farmers and others around the country. “We’re in trouble this year,” Perkins said. “I want people to gather together to pray. We want more people to pray.” The 45-minute gathering was a way for about 100 people to come together to do something most of them already have been doing on their own, said Kate Pyle, a chaplain at Decatur Memorial Hospital. “This gives them a chance to see others are in the same boat with them,” Pyle said. “They are hungry for reassurance things will work out in the end. It will rain again. It has to.” The lack of rain has taken it toll on
Lake Decatur, prompting the city to impose the tightest restrictions that officials could find in city records. Keith Alexander, director of water management, said the situation is no longer drawing comparisons to the 1988 drought. Instead, he said it is being compared to the crippling dry spells of the 1950s and 1930s. “We fully realize that these restrictions will negatively impact many homeowners and businesses. We hope that all of our citizens and water customers realize the seriousness of this drought and that we need to take aggressive steps and sacrifices now, not later,” Alexander said at a news conference announcing the restrictions. Efforts are under way to supplement the water supply in the short-term, while looking for long-term solutions. The council voted to authorize spending up to $1.4 million on a temporary plastic pipeline that would connect to the city’s raw water pump station and bring more water to the lake. However, the city has not determined what supplemental water sources the pipeline will tap. Options include groundwater from Decatur Sanitary District property or Lake Tokorozawa. The city is in negotia-
tions with the owners of Lake Tokorozawa. “The pumps and piping that we need are pretty much the same no matter where we put it, so we wanted to get the contractor moving with acquiring that and get ready to go,” City Manager Ryan McCrady said. “Then we can say, ‘We want it here, for this,’ when we’re ready to go.” During a study session, Black & Veatch Corp. engineer Jeff Henson reviewed options with the council. He identified several locations where the city could drill wells for shallow groundwater on a temporary basis, yielding about half a million gallons per day at a cost of $400,000 per well. Wells in two locations on the Decatur Sanitary District property could provide up to 2 million gallons of groundwater per day. McCrady said sanitary district officials have been very cooperative, as have representatives of the state Environmental Protection Agency. “This has been an all hands on deck situation,” he said. The council also reviewed options to improve the efficiency of the city’s well field in DeWitt County. The wells there pump roughly 20 million gallons per day,
but officials have estimated half of that is lost to evaporation and dry ground along the way. The use of diesel fuel and the pumps are costly to operate. It would cost $35 million to $70 million to build a pipeline that would transport the water to the Sangamon River, Henson said. He also presented cost options for replacing the well pumps with similar equipment or a more efficient type of pump, which ranged in cost from $1.8 million to $5.7 million. McCrady said city officials would take the options to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for review, then assess what would be the fastest method and help the most toward a long-term solution. Council members generally expressed a desire to act quickly but also not to let a permanent solution slip away. “These (droughts) are happening way too close. We’ve got to be thinking about what we’re going to do,” said Mayor Mike McElroy. “… We are an industry town. If we don’t have water, we’re not much of an industry town.” The council also authorized up to $75,000 for city officials to continue consulting with Black & Veatch as it seeks a water supply solution.
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September 2012
Coaching your own kid brings pressures, rewards Parents need to be fair with positions, play time By LISA A. FLAM For The Associated Press
Your son tosses the game-winning touchdown pass, so of course you want to pump your fists and cheer like a maniac. Or your daughter hogs the ball on the soccer field and you’re inclined to shout your disapproval and ask if she could PLEASE pass the ball already. When you’re the coach, though, it’s all eyes on you. And if you’re sticking your kids in marquee positions, chances are someone in the stands is not happy. It’s a tough line to walk for parents, who make up the majority of coaches working with the millions of kids playing youth sports every year. And as these volunteers navigate the challenges of coaching their own children, they’re under more pressure than ever from other parents clamoring for playing time, improved performance and those hard-fought wins. “It’s a lot of work and it can be exhausting, especially when you have a parent that’s not happy,” said Liz Hocker, 41, who has coached her 10-year-old daughter’s softball team in Austin,
Texas, for the past five years in a competitive league. “I do try not to play ‘Mommy’ ball,’ ” or showing favoritism. “My philosophy is that my daughter needs to work hard and show that she should be out there playing the position I put her in,” she said. “I try very hard to treat her like every other player, as much as I can.” Parents who sign up to coach appreciate the experience because it’s (usually) fun and creates dedicated time with their kids. Often, they’re also trying to ensure that their kids learn proper techniques and good sportsmanship. Ideally, they’ll do it all while treating their child like every other player. After all, favoritism can cut both ways: For all the grousing about the coach’s kid getting this or that, coaches are more inclined to treat their own kids more harshly or demand more from them, experts say. “It’s just natural they would be tougher on them,” said John Engh, chief operating officer of the nonprofit National Alliance for Youth Sports, because a father is used to talking to his own child more directly and is likely to use his son as an example for the rest of the team. Most parent-coaches do a good job being fair with positions and playing time, said Frank Smoll, a sport psycholo-
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gy professor at the University of Washington and co-author of “Sport Psychology for Youth Coaches,” a how-to guide due out in this month. When favoritism is shown, it “can cause nothing but problems for the athletes, for the coach and with the other athletes as well,” he said. To avoid even the appearance of unfairness, Hocker has benched her daughter in the first inning of the first game. Rick Kay, who has coached his two sons and a daughter, ages 19, 17 and 10, in baseball, soccer and basketball, also sat his kids out more. “I went out of my way to play my kids less than I felt they deserved to play because I didn’t want that to be an issue,” said Kay, 47, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. The other kids “see that he’s out and hopefully understand that everyone has to sit out at some point.” Like other parents, Dan Armstrong, who has coached three of his four sons in baseball and football, is committed to helping them improve, and said he’s pushed them a little more than the other kids. “Instead of being biased for your own son, I think you’re kind of biased against him and expect him to work a little harder than maybe the rest of the team,” said Armstrong, 42, of Frederick, Md. Having a parent become a coach can
be confusing for kids, and parents should make sure the separation of those roles is clear, said Smoll, also the co-director of an education program for youth sport coaches and parents. Before the season begins, set ground rules with your child, he said, and meet with the other parents to explain your philosophy and expectations. “Parent at home. Coach at practices and games,” is Smoll’s motto. Ask your son or daughter to call you “Coach” on the field. “That helps, in the child’s mind, to solidify the role separation,” Smoll said. Armstrong followed that advice, and thinks it helped the other players to see his kid as one of the guys. “Before practice or before a game, it’s always ‘Dad,’ but on the field it’s always ‘Coach Armstrong,’ ” Armstrong said, “so that everybody is the same.” When it comes to positions and playing time, Smoll says they need to be earned. Relying on statistics can help with the tough decisions, but there may be injuries or absences to contend with. And at the end of the game, your kids need to know you love them, regardless of how they played. “It’s ‘I love you because you are you, not because you’re an all-star,’ ” Smoll said.
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September 2012
Community health calendar Screenings Bone density screening, 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, Women’s Health and Breast Center, 302 W. Hay St., Suite 117A. Screening to check your risk for osteoporosis. To register, call 876-4377. Cholesterol screening, 7-10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, Forsyth Wellness Center, 241 Weaver Road; 8-10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, Family Medical Center, 4775 E. Maryland St. Cost is $20. To register, call 876-4377. Women’s heart health screening, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 and 25, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room 561. Free personalized assessment including full lipid screening and cardiovascular screening. To register, call 422-6100. Lifeline screenings, 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, Decatur Family YMCA. Screenings include, but are not limited to stroke, heart disease, cholesterol, osteoporosis, diabetes and arterial disease. These health screenings can cost as little as $60. Call Laura Trost at (636) 399-4753 for more information. Prostate cancer screening, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. No appointments necessary. For more Information, call 876-4750.
Support groups
Breastfeeding support group, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 10 and 24, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call 4642334. SHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24. Support group for those who have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or early infancy. For more information, call 4642045. Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. To register, call 876-4750. Pink Link breast cancer support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13. To register, call 876-4377. Cardiopulmonary rehab wellness group, 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, Decatur Memorial Hospital. To register, call 876-2496. Breath of Life support group, noon Tuesday, Sept. 18, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room 561. Speakers available to answer questions from those with breathing problems. For information, call 464-2603. A New Season young widowed group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, Monical’s Pizza, 2230 S. Mount Zion Road. For information, call Dawn Followell at 864-2799.
Stroke Support Group, 6–7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, St. Mary’s Hospital Advanced Rehabilitation Center Dining Room, 7th Floor.
Diabetes support group, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 20, Forsyth Wellness Center, 241 W. Weaver Road. Call 876-4249.
Stroke of Luck, 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, DMH Rehabilitation Center Conference Room. To register, call 876-2600.
Renewal bereavement support group, 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Class-
> HEALTH QUIZ McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Osteoporosis, gradual loss of bone mass, is one of the most common bone diseases. Your diet can make a big difference in your bone strength. Do you know what changes you need to make to have strong bones? 1. Calcium is vital for bone formation and keeping bones strong. True or false? 2. The body manufacturers most of the calcium it needs. True or false? 3. The body does not store calcium, so it is important to get an adequate daily intake. True or false? 4. Studies show that smokers have lower bone density than nonsmokers. True or false?
5. People who are heavy drinkers of alcohol are not as prone to bone loss. True or false? 6. People older than 50 should aim for 1,200 mg of calcium daily. True or false? 7. Besides dairy products, other good sources of calcium are spinach, green beans, broccoli, sardines, tofu, dried apricots and figs. True or false? 8. Vitamin D is needed for normal calcium absorption. True or false? Source: “Nutrition for Life: The NoFad, No-Nonsense Approach to Eating Well and Reaching Your Healthy Weight” by Lisa Hark and Dr. Darwin Deen
Answers: 1. True; 2. False; 3. True; 4. True; 5. False; 6. True; 7. True; 8. True
rooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. To register, call 876-6784.
Infant CPR Class, 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, DMH Classrooms. To register, call 876-3448.
Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, Decatur Memorial Hospital. To register, call 876-4750.
Look Good, Feel Better, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Cancer Care Specialists of Decatur Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. A program that teaches beauty techniques to female cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. To register call, 876-6600.
Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, Secret Recipes, 1475 Village Parkway, Mount. Zion. To register for this monthly dinner event, call 428-7733.
Classes Real Dads Rock!, 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, DMH Classrooms. Program teaches new fathers how to handle, feed, burp, change, clean and respond to their baby’s needs. To register, call 422-6294. Eat Healthy, Be Active community workshops, First class is Sunday, Sept. 9. All classes held on Sundays from 3-4 p.m. Cost is $10 per class for 6 week series. Topics include: Enjoy Healthy Food that Tastes Great; Quick, Healthy Meals and Snacks; Healthy Eating on a Budget; Tips for Losing Weight and Keeping it Off; Making Healthy Eating Part of your Total Lifestyle; and Physical Activity is Key to Living Well. To register, call 876-4249. 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 at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10. The cost is $20. To register, call 876-4249. AARP safe driving program, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, St. Mary’s Hospital Room 561. $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. To register, call 464-2046.
Cardiopulmonary education session, 1:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, and 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, DMH Cardiac Rehabilitation Department. For information, call 876-2496. Grocery store tour, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19. A registered dietitian will guide shoppers through the various sections of the grocery store. Cost is $10. To register, call 876-4249.
More Red Cross Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room. Shoreline Classic, 6:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, Nelson Park Main Pavilion. Participate in the Tot Trot, 5K run/walk or 15K run at the 23rd Annual Shoreline Classic. To register visit, www.shorelineclassic.com Community Health lecture series, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, Decatur Public Library. For more information, call 464-5125. Betsy Smith Memorial 5k Run Walk, 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, St. Mary’s Hospital Professional Building lot. To register, visit www.thebetsyrun.com.
How to avoid lunchbox mistakes McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Parents don’t always have the best habits when it comes to packing healthy school lunches. “There are lots of ways to make things more varied, fun and colorful,” said Jennifer Shea, a Boston-based dietitian who works with several grocery chains. Here are some tips: Not involving kids. Let them offer input on new fruits and vegetables they would try and help pack their lunchboxes. Tossing in chips. As an alternative, have kids create their own bags of trail mix. Possible ingredients: wholegrain pretzels or cereal (anything with at least three grams of fiber and less than nine grams of sugar per serving), nuts, dried fruits and mini dark-chocolate chips. If a child has a nut allergy, dried edamame is a good substitute. Packing fruit and vegetables. Many kids will be happier with a side of dip: hum-
mus or a mixture of salsa and low-fat sour cream is popular for veggies and light vanilla yogurt mixed with cinnamon and raisins for fruit. Most kids prefer produce cut into slices. You can also make kabobs with chunks of fruit, vegetables and low-fat cheese. Packing bread. Plain white lacks the fiber that keeps kids full. Go with 100 percent whole-wheat breads or, if your kids won’t eat something “brown,” whole-grain white. For variety, fill whole-wheat wraps or pita pockets with turkey, lean ham, hummus and vegetables or natural peanut butter with 100 percent fruit jam. Or use cookie cutters to create sandwiches with cool shapes. Packing high-sugar drinks. Choose water, 100 percent juices or fat-free or 1 percent milk over soda or sports drinks. Automatically including candy. Dessert can be yogurt with a little granola, or fruit with a sweet dip.
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September 2012
Marketing Strategies
Ergonomic Chairs Q A
Donna Mauzey President
111 ILLINI DRIVE FORSYTH, IL 62523 217-877-6551 Illinisupply.com
BUSINESS JOURNAL
I get terrible back pain from sitting all day at work. Any suggestions?
Q
The average office worker spends approximately seven hours a day at their desk and back pain is a common complaint. Often times this can be due to sitting in the wrong position and putting stress on the spine which could, in turn, lead to long-term health problems. In addition to health issues, working in an uncomfortable position inevitably reduces productivity and attentiveness. Keeping this in mind, the majority of discomfort stems from a seating choice that is not applicable to the worker, the work environment, or simply improper adjustment of the seat itself. There are many things to keep in mind while shopping for an ergonomic chair: adjustable seat height, backrest, good seat padding, arm rests, lumbar support and easy rotation. For example, the Zody is the first mid-priced task chair that blends science-based wellness and comfort, providing a passive pelvic support and endorsement by the American Physical Therapy Association. Knowing that the average office worker spends more time in their office chair than on their sofa, it would be in their best interest to take some time to shop around and find the chair that is a perfect fit. Feel free to stop in and speak with one of our knowledgeable consultants who can assist you in finding a chair that you could sit in for a lifetime!
A
I’m not sure which marketing opportunities are right for my business. What are some ways I can better assess each opportunity that arises?
Choosing the appropriate marketing efforts is challenging. Without asking the right questions, you may be purchasing advertising that isn’t right for your business. Ask yourself the following questions when an opportunity comes along: 1. What is my overall budget and how does this effort fit? Be wise about how you spend your marketing dollars. Be sure this effort makes sense with your overall goals and budget and reaches your intended customer base. 2. How does it support my overall marketing goals? If you don’t have defined objectives, don’t spend money on advertising until you Marketing & Small do. Otherwise you might as well be throwing money into the wind. Business Consultant 3. What is my business’ main goal for this effort? Is it branding or jody@redcarpetpromotion.com sales focused? This question will help you determine how to use the @RedCarpetPromo advertising and realistically what your expectations should be from it. www.redcarpetpromotion.com 4. Does it reach my customer base or potential customer base? If it doesn’t, that particular opportunity isn’t worth your time or money. 5. How can I track this effort? Marketing is always tough to track, but if you don’t take the time to create ways to track your efforts, you won’t have the proper facts to determine if it is worth continuing. Become part of the conversation by following #SmallBizTips or Tweet me @RedCarpetPromo
Jody Cox
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To participate in Ask the Professional, call 217-421-6994
Alzheimer’s Q A
Hima S. Atluri, M.D. St. Mary’s Health Center North Decatur Internal Medicine
Commercial Pulse
What are some signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Early detection is an important part of managing the disease, and keeping an eye out for warning signs and symptoms can help to identify abnormalities. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests watching for these signs in detecting the onset of the disease: · Memory loss that disrupts daily life. · Challenges in planning or solving problems. · Difficulty completing tasks at home, at work or at leisure. · Confusion with time or place. · Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. · New problems with words in speaking or writing. · Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. · Decreased or poor judgment. · Withdrawal from work or social activities. · Changes in mood and personality. If you have witnessed any of these signs in your life or the life of a loved one, please consult your primary care physician. Again, early detection is a key factor to provide the best opportunities for treatment and support. ST. MARY’S ADULT AND GERIATRIC MEDICINE P.217.876-9353 • 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. MON - FRI
Q A
Doug Dehority Vice President of Commercial Lending
What’s trending in the local commercial market? As with any industry, we experience ups and downs in the commercial market. When the economy is down and unemployment is up, we see more requests for startup loans as people are seeking ways bring in additional income. If you want to start a new business venture, be sure to visit with local experts that can guide you through the process and help you achieve the greatest potential of securing the essentials such as a good business plan and a plan to have the necessary capital injection into the business. Many business owners are taking advantage of the low rate environment by refinancing their current real estate. They are anticipating that rates will eventually increase and they want to take advantage of the savings. With the additional savings, we’ve seen some expansion of current business. This has provided employment opportunities and a boost for the Central Illinois economy. If you would like to research options to save money for your business, please to contact me, Doug Dehority, at Land of Lincoln Credit Union. 2890 NORTH OAKLAND
217-875-1300
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September 2012
TECHTALK
How to pick the system that runs your business As your business grows, so does the complexity. Although most businesses start with a basic accounting package such as QuickBooks, their needs expand as the business matures. If you find yourself constantly working around QuickBooks, maintaining dozens of spreadsheets and tracking information on paper forms (or worse: post-its!), you are probably ready for a more sophisticated software package. The challenge is that picking a new software system is very time consuming, and many packages have costs in the fiveand even six-figure range. Select the right package and it can transform your Technology business, so the benefits can easily justify this investment. For example, imagine automating routine tasks, reporting on key metrics that help you operate more efficiently, and tracking all company information in a single place. Many of these systems integrate data from all areas of the business, such as time reporting, customer orders, purchase orders, inventory, production planning, projects, work orders, document management, invoicing and accounting, just to name a few. Pick the wrong package and it’s a whole different story. So, how do you begin and how do you make sure you get it right?
Wendy Gauntt
Narrow the field Most of the time you will want to explore industry-specific software packages, because these will be custom-tailored to what you do, whether it’s distribution, manufacturing, professional services, medical practice management or just about anything else you can imagine. Drill down into software packages designed for the type of business you run, and you will normally uncover a handful of vendors who are leaders in the industry. There are a number of ways to create this list: talk to colleagues in your industry to see what they use; review industry trade publications, which usually publish
software reviews on a regular basis; see who’s advertising at trade shows (and, if you attend, go talk to them), and, of course, you can Google for even more choices. Once you have your list, the initial goal is to narrow the field to a short list of about three to five companies. Look for those who are well-established, have a large client base of companies much like your own, and have a stable financial history. All these indicators help ensure that they will be around for the long-haul, and they will invest in keeping their software up-to-date, with industryspecific functionality that will meet your needs.
Evaluate your options Once you’ve created your short list, you will dive into each package in greater detail. There are a number of criteria you will use to rank your choices, including features, cost, customer service and support, and software updates. Features are obviously a key factor, because you wouldn’t be looking for new software if you already had the ability to do everything you need to do. Make a list of what your ideal software would do, then mark each item as required or niceto-have. No system will do everything you want, but if you can get about 80 percent of your requirements met, you’ve found a pretty good fit. Have the vendors demonstrate these features so you can see for yourself how it works. Just because a software package can do something doesn’t always mean it’s easy to do. Ease of use is a critical feature to evaluate. Costs can be complicated to calculate, as licensing schemes vary across the board. For hosted software that you access via the Web, you will likely pay per user, per month, and there may be some kind of setup fee. You pay on a subscription basis, so the costs will vary with the number of users you have, but you will pay every month as long as you use the software. A big advantage of hosted software is that the vendor provides the infrastructure, eliminating the need to invest in servers and setup. The downside is that getting data out of your system can be very difficult. For traditional software that is installed on a server at your office, you will likely pay for licenses either per “named” user (a fee for everyone who
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accesses the system), “concurrent” user (the maximum number of people logged in at any one point in time), or a flat amount per site. You also need to calculate the cost of any hardware required, like a new server. Ongoing costs usually amount to about 20 percent of the initial software purchase price per year, which is called a maintenance fee. You also will need IT support for your infrastructure, and you may have additional support needs when updates come out. Customer service is important, because you need to know what will happen if your server is down in the middle of the night and you need vendor support to restore your systems. Ask that question, and don’t hesitate to try to call their support lines and see what happens. Find out how they charge for support, and whether it’s included in your maintenance fees. Talk to current customers to see if they are happy with the overall experience. They can alert you to chronic pain points that the sales people might gloss over. Lastly, you want to invest in software that is updated regularly. Vendors have to perform regular updates to ensure their systems are compatible with the
latest operating systems. You also want to work with vendors who regularly add new features to make their software better. If you find a vendor who is starting to create apps for smartphones and tablets, that’s a great sign that they are committed to regular updates. But any software company who can show you their roadmap of planned updates is likely to have their act together.
Moving forward Once you’ve picked a package, the real work begins — configuring the system, loading data, determining new business processes, training your staff and coordinating the start date. The time you spend up-front, making sure you have the right package, is time well spent, because picking the right system is the foundation for transforming your business.
Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, a technology consulting company that specializes in small business solutions. Visit her website at www.cioservicesllc.com for more information, ideas and free resources.
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September 2012
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YOUR MONEY
Survey shows poor math skills causes shoppers to miss bargains Customers assume more product is better FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Poor math skills are leading to bad shopping decisions, according to a recent study by the University of Miami School of Business. Researchers examined attitudes about discounts, sales and bargain shopping. After surveying about 600 shoppers in retail stores and malls, they learned shoppers: n Are attracted to “extra” or “bonus” items. “Shoppers often, and incorrectly, assume that the more of the product there is, the better,” said Michael Tsiros, a marketing professor at the University of Miami who led the twoyear study. Two-for-one deals, or packages with an extra sample or larger volume, don’t always involve big savings. But shoppers tend to ignore base prices, and automatically pick the larger package when given a choice between a discount or more product. “Even though the promotions may be
economically equivalent, more people were taking advantage of the bonus packs,” said Tsiros. n Think that a 33 percent discount is the same as getting 33 percent more of a product for the same price. In a test that involved loose coffee beans, many shoppers saw the two choices, 33 percent extra for the original price or 33 percent off of the original price, as equal. Enrique Villamor, professor of mathematics at Florida International University, isn’t surprised that consumers couldn’t tell that the discounted choice was a better deal. He said many fail to connect basic math knowledge to real-world situations such as shopping. “Many of these kinds of calculations can be done in your head,” said Villamor. “People don’t seem to apply the critical skills needed in that situation, which is very similar to a word problem.” But not everyone has the time to solve math puzzles while shopping. As the caretaker of her elderly parents in Fort Lauderdale, Julie Potashnick says she is always on the lookout for bargains at the grocery store but doesn’t
spend her time comparison shopping at other locations or making price calculations. “I usually walk around the front of the store where the ‘two for one’ deals are
and just grab the things that I need,” said Potashnick. The need to take advantage of the bargain at that moment usually means customers’ decisions are not always going to the most rational ones, said John Fleming, director of communications from the Florida Retail Federation. “If you look at the unit price and take some extra time to do the math,” said Fleming, “you’d be able to see the difference.” n Will select the better bargain when the math is easier. Researchers found that when prices were easier to compare, such as 50 percent extra product or 50 percent off the regular price, consumers will pick the better bargain. They also found that bonus packs lose their appeal when it comes to cheaper or unfamiliar brands. Hannah Allison, a resident from Hollywood, Fla., said she is only attracted to bonus packs for pricey products. “It may be more expensive but I know I’m buying something of quality and will work for me,” said Allison. “I wouldn’t go with something that had a certain percentage more if it was just a generic brand.”
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