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Product

WOMEN O c t o b e r

a successful

+ Sales & Marketing

Team successful =Business Ad Campaigns

Serving the community for over 167 years

2 0 1 0

With over 57 years of combined experience

Serving over 500 local businesses

Tammy Jordan Advertising Director 238-6835

Shannon Davis

Melody Parks

Senior Sales Consultant 238-6831

Retail Sales Consultant 238-6837

John Leonard

Patti Phillips

Retail Sales Consultant 238-6838

Auto & Real Estate 238-6832

An annual tribute to some of our local female professionals

Connie Anderson Classifieds Consultant 238-6828

Karen Collier Classifieds Consultant 238-6821

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2 NBPW - October 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

jg-tc.com

EFFINGHAM — Julie Steffen laughed when asked what is satisfying about working for a family business like Mette’s Cabinet Corner for nearly 30 years.

"That's easy. Seeing how we've grown over the years is the best part. When we started out it was just three of us with my parents," said Steffen, who oversees the sales division for the custom cabinet business located south of Effingham along U.S. Route 45. "Now we have over 30 employees and we've been at this permanent location for 10 years now. And we've added on six different times. Before we had work done at different locations. Now it is done all here."

Steffen started helping at the family business after high school. Now she is an important component in a business that draws customers from across Illinois and even transplanted ones from the Midwest.

"We all have our strong points here. I work with the sales division. But when I need to I refer to others on technical information," she said.

Helping people redesign their kitchens and bathrooms is exacting work. The difference between a happy or dissatisfied customer might be reflected in a fraction of an inch.

“Getting the details right has always been enforced on us.

That’s why you don’t overstep what you know. You don’t want to bluff through it. If you do it hurts your credibility,” Steffen said.

She is happy her family name has gained the trust of cus-

tomers through the years. Some travel for repeat business from upstate Illinois while others now residing out of state come back to Effingham to get their cabinetry work completed with Mette’s.

“It is a great feeling when a customer says they wouldn’t change a thing on what we’ve done. That is very satisfying,” she said.

Her work with the family business has taken her from a teenager to a career woman.

She and her husband, Steve, also have raised three sons through those years. Steve is affiliated with a heating and air conditioning business in Effingham.

Being a woman helping sell kitchen cabinets has its advantages, Steffen said.

“When you work in a kitchen it can help with customers.

Certainly, there are some advantages to being a woman here,” Steffen said.

Through the years, the home improvement business has enhanced the design options for Mette’s, Steffen said. She helps customers with color scheme suggestions and on accessories as well. Granite counter tops are produced at Mette’s with 40

NBPW - October 2010 7

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Freelancing

Family business brings satisfaction for Steffen

By HERB MEEKER Staff Writer

jg-tc.com

From Pg 5 • Stay patient. Even the most successful freelancers can go long stretches of time without working. While that might seem heavenly to the average professional, it can be grueling to a freelancer.

Remember to stay patient because work rarely comes flooding in for freelancers, regardless of their experience.

That patience should also be extended to clients. Every successful freelancer no doubt has a horror story or two about an especially aggravating client. While it can be tempting to simply walk away from such a client, the damage done to a freelancer's reputation when quitting a particular job may prove irreversible.

• Seek testimonials. Few things can be more beneficial to freelancers than a good reputation. Whenever a project is finished and the client is satisfied, ask them how the process went. Ask clients to fill out a quick survey that asks them about what they liked and disliked about the process. The former can be used to lure future clients, while the latter will illustrate that a freelancer wants to improve his or her service in any way possible. If clients agree, post positive testimonials on the Web site to illustrate any successes to future clients.

Eyes From Pg 6

Julie Steffen in the kitchen showroom at Mette’s Cabinet Corner store at Effingham has worked for the family business for more than 30 years. color options.

“People are looking for individual design now. HGTV has brought a big change to our cus-

For your family’s vehicle needs

Sheryl Wayne

tomers’ expectation. That is why we started cutting stone counters here. It was a great move for us to do that,” she said.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

Stitcher’s Express 621 Lake Land Blvd.

Mattoon, IL 61938

www.stitchersxpress.com • stitchex@consolidated.net Specializing in Counted Cross Stitch & Custom Framing Business Owners for 16 years Ramona Shrake & Bobby Hilligoss

217-234-7024

Dave’s decorating center Becky Ballinger 1365 18th Street • Charleston, IL 61920

Mon-Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-2

117 S. 19th St. Mattoon • (217) 234-8863

tion where you are looking just over the top of the monitor when staring straight ahead. Keep the monitor at a slight upward angle as well, so your eyes are looking slightly downward when reading.

Eyes focus more accurately when looking slightly downward, so this small adjustment can actually make a big impact on your eyes.

Keep eye drops nearby. Blinking helps our eyes remain moist.

When using a computer we don't blink nearly as much as we normally do, often resulting in dry and irritated eyes. While it can be hard to make a conscious effort to blink more, give it a shot and also keep eye drops nearby to ensure your eyes avoid drying out over the course of a typical work day.

Give your eyes a break. Much like your legs might need to take breaks from sitting at a desk and be stretched out during the day, your eyes need to take breaks as well. Something as simple as focusing on an object that's farther away from your computer screen for 30 to 60 seconds can be enough of a break for your eyes. Keeping eyes focused on the same spot for too long can cause muscle strain and fatigue, so be sure to give your eyes a break several times over the course of a day.

Let Us Help You Make The Right Move.

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Charleston Office

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Sue Walden, GRI 254-5220

Debbie Waggoner BR 254-3442

By Appointment Walk-Ins Welcome

915 Lake Land Blvd.

Mattoon IL 61938

Gift Certificates Available

6 NBPW - October 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

jg-tc.com

jg-tc.com

NBPW - October 2010 3

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Easy, Effective Ways to Protect Your Eyes While at Work

Homann's business grows by meeting customers' expectations

For many of the nation's office workers, keeping eyes healthy and going strong is a legitimate concern. Hours spent in front of a computer monitor is not the ideal situation for a person's eyes, yet many people are at a loss as to how to protect their eyes while still getting their work done.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), two hours of computer use per day is all it takes to develop what is now referred to as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS can include symptoms such as itchy or fatigued eyes and eyes that grow sensitive to light after prolonged computer use. Though computers aren't going anywhere, there are ways workers can minimize their risk of CVS while still getting their work done.

Beware of light reflections.

Glare and shadows can nega-

By ROB STROUD Staff Writer

tively impact vision when sitting at the computer. When working at a desk, be sure to avoid facing

an unshaded window or having an unshaded window directly behind you. If the layout of your

office insists on either arrangement, use curtains, shades or blinds. To reduce reflections, position your desk and computer so the window is off to the side of your computer.

Consult your eye doctor. A big contributor to vision problems resulting from working at a computer is often the atypical distance the computer screen is from the eyes. The text on a computer screen is often farther away than the text might be when we're reading a book, but closer than the text on street signs when we're driving. This

Continued Page 7 Law Offices of

Winter-Black & Livesay

How to Equip Your Home Office Working from home is growing more popular each and every year. Advancements in technology have made it easier than ever before for the nation's workers to login from their home environment.

While working from home has its advantages, one notable disadvantage concerns the furniture. A cubicle or office at an office building comes fully furnished at the employer's expense, while a home office typically must be furnished entirely by the employee. Those about to furnish their home office should consider the following tips.

• Don't overdo it. Home offices need not be as crowded as the standard office building office. In today's computer age where most files are stored electronically than in file cabinets, a

intermediate distance can lead to problems with focus. For those who wear glasses, either full-time or just to drive or read, this can be a big problem. You might want to consult your eye doctor to see if a separate prescription tailored to computer use might be appropriate.

It might be the computer.

Chances are the position of your computer monitor is playing a role in how well or how bad your eyes are feeling. Ideally, the monitor should be in a posi-

home office does not have to be filled with numerous file cabinets, shelving units or tons of drawer space. When working from home, especially when working from home only parttime, the office does not have to be fully stocked. The essentials will probably do the trick.

• Be flexible with choice of desk. A desk for a home office can be effective whether it's a folding table or an aesthetically appealing oak desk. Oftentimes, the individual will know what he or she needs. For example, an architect will need a larger desk to spread out blueprints while a writer might be fine working on a smaller desk because he or she does not need much more than a computer.

• Be choosy with the chair.

Employers often look for chairs that discourage slouching and

Debbie Dick

will keep workers comfortable and productive throughout the day. People working from home should also be choosy when finding a workday chair. Cost should not be a major consideration.

Instead, comfort should take precedence or it could have adverse effects on an individual's health over the course of time. Also, be sure the arms of the chair fit under the desk.

• Install a second phone line. It's not ideal to rely on an existing home phone line as the primary means of contact for work. Family or friends might call and force workers to miss important work-related phone calls. Many employers provide a phone line connected to the actual office where the business is located. However, they do not often expect workers to have a work-specific line at their home.

Janett S. Winter-Black Attorney At Law

P.O. Box 835 201 North Logan Mattoon, IL 61938

Judy Torbeck-Livesay Attorney At Law

(217) 235-3400 Fax: (217) 235-3402

PROVIDING QUALITY WOMEN’S HEATHCARE IN COLES COUNTY SINCE 1994 Maria Horvat MD, FACOG Ida Clark MSN, APN

Maria Horvat MD

Gynecologic services & surgeries with a special interest in infertility.

501 N Dunlap Road Suite 102 Savoy, Illinois 217.352.4862

100 Deerpath Road Charleston, Illinois 217.345.2727

BUYING OR SELLING? See Us For Unlimited Personal Service & Experience

Over 23 years in Sales 6,000+ Satisfied Customers Put my experience, integrity and diligence to work for your next vehicle need!

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234-6461

348-8000

Jan Eads, CRS, GRI Broker/Owner

Gayle Strader Broker/Associate

Jan Weaver Realtor/GRI e-Pro

10 Lincoln Ave Charleston

Visit Our Website at: www.realestatecolescountyil.com

MATTOON — Donna Homann began her small business 32 years ago as a beauty salon in a side room of her home.

The Mattoon entrepreneur’s business has expanded since then to become Side Door Beauty Salon, Wig & Gift Boutique, with her Franny’s Bed & Breakfast located nearby.

Homann said she has always strived to follow the same practice while running all of these businesses.

“I really like to treat people the way I like to be treated,” Homann said.

Side Door Beauty Salon originally opened in Homann’s home at 3217 DeWitt Ave., offering hair care for the whole family, nail tips, and waxing. Her services began to expand in the late 1980s when she sought out wigs for a friend who was experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatment.

Homann said word about her wig service soon started to spread among women battling cancer. She said the size of her wig service “just snowballed after that” and the service later grew to include breast prosthetic inserts for clothing.

“I want the people to walk out of here and feel like they are a whole person again,” Homann said. “When women lose their hair, it makes them feel like they are not whole.”

As Homann’s wig service grew, mannequins started to fill both the living room and dining room of her home. Homann said she needed more space, so she decided to purchase a house that could be dedicated for use by Side Door.

Homann moved Side Door in 1990 to its present location, 3012 DeWitt Ave., where it offers a private room for wig and hairpiece fittings.

While working at Side Door, Homann continued to pursue her passion for flower arranging and sewing. She displayed her handiwork in the salon and then added a back room to Side Door in 1996 for a boutique to sell her wares and other gift items.

The boutique is stocked with women’s blouses and jackets, baskets, purses, greeting cards, food mixes and many other gift items, as well as hair care products and related accessories.

Homann said she enjoys attending trade conventions and bringing the latest gift items back to her boutique, such as buckwheat

Side Door Beauty Salon & Wig Boutique owner Donna Homann at the store in Mattoon, Ill., on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) stuffed therapy pillows.

Homann said many of her regular guests at Franny’s Bed & Breakfast, which she opened in 2002 at 3221 DeWitt Ave., shop at the boutique.

The bed and breakfast, named after her long-time neighbor, is busy in the fall with guests in town for special events at Eastern Illinois University and also hosts a lot of extended-stay guests who are in the area on

business, Homann said.

“I had great expectations (for my businesses) but I did not really expect to meet them all, but I really feel I have,” Homann said.

For more information, contact Side Door Beauty Salon, Wig & Gift Boutique at 235-0011.

Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.

NATIONAL

BUSINESS &

PROFESSIONAL

WOMEN

4 NBPW - October 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

jg-tc.com

jg-tc.com

NBPW - October 2010 5

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Customer service key to specialty retail store

Getting a Freelance Career Off the Ground

By DAVE FOPAY Staff Writer

Office workers and other professionals with 9-to-5 jobs often dream of leaving the office behind and pursuing a freelance career of their choice. While many have succeeded at freelance work in the past, many more have failed, discovering along the way that perhaps the security and steady paycheck of their office jobs wasn't so bad after all.

As difficult as it can be to make a freelance career successful, there are ways to make it less like jumping out of a plane with no parachute and more like a calculated move that's both fulfilling and financially successful.

• As the old saying goes, "Don't quit your day job."

SULLIVAN — Her greatgrandmother was “ahead of the game” and Kathy Woodworth draws inspiration from her.

At the same time, the owner of Huddies Goodies Specialty and Practical Gifts says she learned the benefit of organizations that assist small businesses like hers, helping her “understand the different aspects” of what it takes.

Woodworth and her husband Chuck opened the store on Sullivan’s courthouse square in November 2008. Its toys, purses, jewelry, picture frames and other items are “very specialty” and brings thoughts of her great-grandmother to her mind, she said.

“Huddie” was the nickname Woodworth and other relatives gave her great-grandmother, who was one of the owners of Stauber’s Department Store that was once in downtown Decatur. Woodworth said she traveled to New York and other large cities for trade shows and conventions, then always wore an apron when she was at home for family get-togethers.

“We grew up with her being very worldly,” Woodworth said.

“A lot of things in the store remind me of Huddie.”

Woodworth is a Sullivan native and lived there while working in sales for a Chicago travel company. She left that job when it came time to help take care of her mother, and after that worked at various jobs including administrator of Sullivan’s chamber of commerce.

The decision to open a store to sell specialty gifts was easy because of her great-grandmother’s influence, she said. She and her husband were also able to find the building they wanted, one where they could have the store downstairs and live upstairs from it.

“A new business needs a lot of attention,” Woodworth said.

She also said she wasn’t hesitant to open the store when she did, during an economic downturn.

“If you have a product you believe in and have customer service you can sell, you can make it,” she said.

Her approach includes having the store open on Thanksgiving Day to mark its opening’s

anniversary, celebrating with a party and sale specials. She said she recently traveled to a sales convention in Atlanta with a list of 15 different items to look for because customers had asked for them.

“Customer service is absolutely the most important thing,” she said.

Woodworth also said she’d encourage someone thinking about opening a business to consult with the U.S. Small Business Administration and similar organizations. That’s what she said she did to learn about licensing requirements, marketing, accounting and more.

“You need to understand the different aspects of a business,” she said.

Perhaps nothing is more important when making the transition to freelance work than keeping a day job. The steady paycheck can help freelancers maintain financial flexibility while providing an income source that can help promote a new career path. Initially, many people have difficulty establishing themselves as freelancers.

However, maintaining a steady income can make that initial difficulty easier to survive.

• Don't put all your eggs into the freelance basket.

While it's important for prospective freelancers to devote the time and effort necessary to make their new venture a success, it's important to maintain

Huddie's Goodies owner Kathy Woodworth pictured September 16, 2010 at her specialty gift store on the courthouse square in Sullivan. (Photo by Ken Trevarthan/Mattoon Journal Gazette).

Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.

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My Cell Phone: 962-1075

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• Clothing & Accessories • Houseware • Furniture • Designer Purses & Jewelry • Giftware For A Truly Unique Shopping Experience!

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305 W. Lincoln Charleston, IL 345-3479

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Accounting & Auditing Bookkeeping & Payroll Services Income Tax Preparation Employee Benefit Plan Services Estate & Financial Planning Edwardsville, Illinois (618) 656-4949 Effingham, Illinois (217) 347-5181 Greenville, Illinois (618) 664-4848 Mattoon, Illinois (217) 235-4747 Sullivan, Illinois (217) 728-4307

Large enough to serve Small enough to care w w w. w e s t c p a . c o m

Office workers often dream of a successful freelancing career spent working from the nearby coffee shop. However, getting this stype of career up and running is no small feat.

balance as well.For example, prospective freelancers often feel they must invest in the latest technology or build a home office. Allow for some success first, then gradually upgrade any old gear or build that home office piecemeal. Use the proceeds from successful freelancing jobs to make these upgrades, just as successful businesses do when investing profits back into their business.

• Get online. Perhaps nothing could be a better friend to a prospective freelancer than a good Web site. Potential clients can visit a Web site with one click of the mouse. The Web site should look professional, but individuals can decide if the tone will be formal or casual and what their particular Web site will focus on. Include any relevant work from the past as well as a resume and mission statement to make sure prospective clients get a feel for who it is they are considering hiring.

• Don't get obsessed with rates. While all freelancers have an idea in mind of what their work is worth, beginners should value experience over financial gain. Though not all jobs are worth taking, beginners must realize that a freelancer's success relies heavily on word of mouth and the size of their portfolio. Initially, it helps to dwell less on the money and more on the value of gaining that necessary experience.

• Look into a new telephone plan. These days, it's not a given that every household has a land line. However, freelancers should use a land line as their primary contact number for prospective clients.

Land line calls rarely get

dropped, which can occasionally happen when speaking on a cellular phone, and clients might be turned off when interviewing someone whose phone keeps dying. When signing up for a land line, purchase voice mail service that can be checked via a cell phone to ensure any urgent calls can be retrieved instantly or while away from home.

• Monitor social media.

Recent reports suggested nearly 500 million people are on Facebook. While Facebook was once billed as a tool to stay con-

nected with family and friends, nowadays businesses and freelancers use it to connect with prospective consumers and clients. Be careful when posting any personal information online, as more and more employers are monitoring social networking sites to see what current employees and even new applicants are up to. Social media should be used to a freelancer's advantage, not to his or her detriment.

Continued Page 7

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117 South 19th Street, Mattoon, IL (217) 234-8863 • 1-800-323-8478 dtkessler@hotmail.com

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4 NBPW - October 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

jg-tc.com

jg-tc.com

NBPW - October 2010 5

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Customer service key to specialty retail store

Getting a Freelance Career Off the Ground

By DAVE FOPAY Staff Writer

Office workers and other professionals with 9-to-5 jobs often dream of leaving the office behind and pursuing a freelance career of their choice. While many have succeeded at freelance work in the past, many more have failed, discovering along the way that perhaps the security and steady paycheck of their office jobs wasn't so bad after all.

As difficult as it can be to make a freelance career successful, there are ways to make it less like jumping out of a plane with no parachute and more like a calculated move that's both fulfilling and financially successful.

• As the old saying goes, "Don't quit your day job."

SULLIVAN — Her greatgrandmother was “ahead of the game” and Kathy Woodworth draws inspiration from her.

At the same time, the owner of Huddies Goodies Specialty and Practical Gifts says she learned the benefit of organizations that assist small businesses like hers, helping her “understand the different aspects” of what it takes.

Woodworth and her husband Chuck opened the store on Sullivan’s courthouse square in November 2008. Its toys, purses, jewelry, picture frames and other items are “very specialty” and brings thoughts of her great-grandmother to her mind, she said.

“Huddie” was the nickname Woodworth and other relatives gave her great-grandmother, who was one of the owners of Stauber’s Department Store that was once in downtown Decatur. Woodworth said she traveled to New York and other large cities for trade shows and conventions, then always wore an apron when she was at home for family get-togethers.

“We grew up with her being very worldly,” Woodworth said.

“A lot of things in the store remind me of Huddie.”

Woodworth is a Sullivan native and lived there while working in sales for a Chicago travel company. She left that job when it came time to help take care of her mother, and after that worked at various jobs including administrator of Sullivan’s chamber of commerce.

The decision to open a store to sell specialty gifts was easy because of her great-grandmother’s influence, she said. She and her husband were also able to find the building they wanted, one where they could have the store downstairs and live upstairs from it.

“A new business needs a lot of attention,” Woodworth said.

She also said she wasn’t hesitant to open the store when she did, during an economic downturn.

“If you have a product you believe in and have customer service you can sell, you can make it,” she said.

Her approach includes having the store open on Thanksgiving Day to mark its opening’s

anniversary, celebrating with a party and sale specials. She said she recently traveled to a sales convention in Atlanta with a list of 15 different items to look for because customers had asked for them.

“Customer service is absolutely the most important thing,” she said.

Woodworth also said she’d encourage someone thinking about opening a business to consult with the U.S. Small Business Administration and similar organizations. That’s what she said she did to learn about licensing requirements, marketing, accounting and more.

“You need to understand the different aspects of a business,” she said.

Perhaps nothing is more important when making the transition to freelance work than keeping a day job. The steady paycheck can help freelancers maintain financial flexibility while providing an income source that can help promote a new career path. Initially, many people have difficulty establishing themselves as freelancers.

However, maintaining a steady income can make that initial difficulty easier to survive.

• Don't put all your eggs into the freelance basket.

While it's important for prospective freelancers to devote the time and effort necessary to make their new venture a success, it's important to maintain

Huddie's Goodies owner Kathy Woodworth pictured September 16, 2010 at her specialty gift store on the courthouse square in Sullivan. (Photo by Ken Trevarthan/Mattoon Journal Gazette).

Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.

Puzzled about buying a new vehicle?

I’ll help put the pieces together!

PILSON AUTO CENTERPILSON AUTO CENTER 1-800-628-5402

Twice is Nice

2212 Lake Land Blvd • Mattoon

Ms. Nancy Kuykendall Serving Charleston and surrounding communities with a customer friendly focus.

Smilin’ sdrake@pilsonauto.com

My Cell Phone: 962-1075

SHEILA DRAKE

• Clothing & Accessories • Houseware • Furniture • Designer Purses & Jewelry • Giftware For A Truly Unique Shopping Experience!

1100 18th Street • Charleston • 348-5803 M-F 9am - 5pm • Sat. 10am 4 pm

Velma

In Black

Mon - Fri 9-6 • Sat 9-5 • Sun 12-4

M

ack oore

Shoes

305 W. Lincoln Charleston, IL 345-3479

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Accounting & Auditing Bookkeeping & Payroll Services Income Tax Preparation Employee Benefit Plan Services Estate & Financial Planning Edwardsville, Illinois (618) 656-4949 Effingham, Illinois (217) 347-5181 Greenville, Illinois (618) 664-4848 Mattoon, Illinois (217) 235-4747 Sullivan, Illinois (217) 728-4307

Large enough to serve Small enough to care w w w. w e s t c p a . c o m

Office workers often dream of a successful freelancing career spent working from the nearby coffee shop. However, getting this stype of career up and running is no small feat.

balance as well.For example, prospective freelancers often feel they must invest in the latest technology or build a home office. Allow for some success first, then gradually upgrade any old gear or build that home office piecemeal. Use the proceeds from successful freelancing jobs to make these upgrades, just as successful businesses do when investing profits back into their business.

• Get online. Perhaps nothing could be a better friend to a prospective freelancer than a good Web site. Potential clients can visit a Web site with one click of the mouse. The Web site should look professional, but individuals can decide if the tone will be formal or casual and what their particular Web site will focus on. Include any relevant work from the past as well as a resume and mission statement to make sure prospective clients get a feel for who it is they are considering hiring.

• Don't get obsessed with rates. While all freelancers have an idea in mind of what their work is worth, beginners should value experience over financial gain. Though not all jobs are worth taking, beginners must realize that a freelancer's success relies heavily on word of mouth and the size of their portfolio. Initially, it helps to dwell less on the money and more on the value of gaining that necessary experience.

• Look into a new telephone plan. These days, it's not a given that every household has a land line. However, freelancers should use a land line as their primary contact number for prospective clients.

Land line calls rarely get

dropped, which can occasionally happen when speaking on a cellular phone, and clients might be turned off when interviewing someone whose phone keeps dying. When signing up for a land line, purchase voice mail service that can be checked via a cell phone to ensure any urgent calls can be retrieved instantly or while away from home.

• Monitor social media.

Recent reports suggested nearly 500 million people are on Facebook. While Facebook was once billed as a tool to stay con-

nected with family and friends, nowadays businesses and freelancers use it to connect with prospective consumers and clients. Be careful when posting any personal information online, as more and more employers are monitoring social networking sites to see what current employees and even new applicants are up to. Social media should be used to a freelancer's advantage, not to his or her detriment.

Continued Page 7

DEBBIE KESSLER Sales Professional

117 South 19th Street, Mattoon, IL (217) 234-8863 • 1-800-323-8478 dtkessler@hotmail.com

Charleston Appliance Center Sales • Service • Parts

Laura Morecraft

HOURS: Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm • Sat: 9am-1pm

SERVICE SPECIALISTS AND PARTS FOR ANY BRAND

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Hutton-Matheny Realty Inc.

CALL 258-6621 1600 Broadway, Mattoon

Open 7 days a week Serving the area over 30 years!

6 NBPW - October 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

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NBPW - October 2010 3

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Easy, Effective Ways to Protect Your Eyes While at Work

Homann's business grows by meeting customers' expectations

For many of the nation's office workers, keeping eyes healthy and going strong is a legitimate concern. Hours spent in front of a computer monitor is not the ideal situation for a person's eyes, yet many people are at a loss as to how to protect their eyes while still getting their work done.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), two hours of computer use per day is all it takes to develop what is now referred to as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS can include symptoms such as itchy or fatigued eyes and eyes that grow sensitive to light after prolonged computer use. Though computers aren't going anywhere, there are ways workers can minimize their risk of CVS while still getting their work done.

Beware of light reflections.

Glare and shadows can nega-

By ROB STROUD Staff Writer

tively impact vision when sitting at the computer. When working at a desk, be sure to avoid facing

an unshaded window or having an unshaded window directly behind you. If the layout of your

office insists on either arrangement, use curtains, shades or blinds. To reduce reflections, position your desk and computer so the window is off to the side of your computer.

Consult your eye doctor. A big contributor to vision problems resulting from working at a computer is often the atypical distance the computer screen is from the eyes. The text on a computer screen is often farther away than the text might be when we're reading a book, but closer than the text on street signs when we're driving. This

Continued Page 7 Law Offices of

Winter-Black & Livesay

How to Equip Your Home Office Working from home is growing more popular each and every year. Advancements in technology have made it easier than ever before for the nation's workers to login from their home environment.

While working from home has its advantages, one notable disadvantage concerns the furniture. A cubicle or office at an office building comes fully furnished at the employer's expense, while a home office typically must be furnished entirely by the employee. Those about to furnish their home office should consider the following tips.

• Don't overdo it. Home offices need not be as crowded as the standard office building office. In today's computer age where most files are stored electronically than in file cabinets, a

intermediate distance can lead to problems with focus. For those who wear glasses, either full-time or just to drive or read, this can be a big problem. You might want to consult your eye doctor to see if a separate prescription tailored to computer use might be appropriate.

It might be the computer.

Chances are the position of your computer monitor is playing a role in how well or how bad your eyes are feeling. Ideally, the monitor should be in a posi-

home office does not have to be filled with numerous file cabinets, shelving units or tons of drawer space. When working from home, especially when working from home only parttime, the office does not have to be fully stocked. The essentials will probably do the trick.

• Be flexible with choice of desk. A desk for a home office can be effective whether it's a folding table or an aesthetically appealing oak desk. Oftentimes, the individual will know what he or she needs. For example, an architect will need a larger desk to spread out blueprints while a writer might be fine working on a smaller desk because he or she does not need much more than a computer.

• Be choosy with the chair.

Employers often look for chairs that discourage slouching and

Debbie Dick

will keep workers comfortable and productive throughout the day. People working from home should also be choosy when finding a workday chair. Cost should not be a major consideration.

Instead, comfort should take precedence or it could have adverse effects on an individual's health over the course of time. Also, be sure the arms of the chair fit under the desk.

• Install a second phone line. It's not ideal to rely on an existing home phone line as the primary means of contact for work. Family or friends might call and force workers to miss important work-related phone calls. Many employers provide a phone line connected to the actual office where the business is located. However, they do not often expect workers to have a work-specific line at their home.

Janett S. Winter-Black Attorney At Law

P.O. Box 835 201 North Logan Mattoon, IL 61938

Judy Torbeck-Livesay Attorney At Law

(217) 235-3400 Fax: (217) 235-3402

PROVIDING QUALITY WOMEN’S HEATHCARE IN COLES COUNTY SINCE 1994 Maria Horvat MD, FACOG Ida Clark MSN, APN

Maria Horvat MD

Gynecologic services & surgeries with a special interest in infertility.

501 N Dunlap Road Suite 102 Savoy, Illinois 217.352.4862

100 Deerpath Road Charleston, Illinois 217.345.2727

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10 Lincoln Ave Charleston

Visit Our Website at: www.realestatecolescountyil.com

MATTOON — Donna Homann began her small business 32 years ago as a beauty salon in a side room of her home.

The Mattoon entrepreneur’s business has expanded since then to become Side Door Beauty Salon, Wig & Gift Boutique, with her Franny’s Bed & Breakfast located nearby.

Homann said she has always strived to follow the same practice while running all of these businesses.

“I really like to treat people the way I like to be treated,” Homann said.

Side Door Beauty Salon originally opened in Homann’s home at 3217 DeWitt Ave., offering hair care for the whole family, nail tips, and waxing. Her services began to expand in the late 1980s when she sought out wigs for a friend who was experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatment.

Homann said word about her wig service soon started to spread among women battling cancer. She said the size of her wig service “just snowballed after that” and the service later grew to include breast prosthetic inserts for clothing.

“I want the people to walk out of here and feel like they are a whole person again,” Homann said. “When women lose their hair, it makes them feel like they are not whole.”

As Homann’s wig service grew, mannequins started to fill both the living room and dining room of her home. Homann said she needed more space, so she decided to purchase a house that could be dedicated for use by Side Door.

Homann moved Side Door in 1990 to its present location, 3012 DeWitt Ave., where it offers a private room for wig and hairpiece fittings.

While working at Side Door, Homann continued to pursue her passion for flower arranging and sewing. She displayed her handiwork in the salon and then added a back room to Side Door in 1996 for a boutique to sell her wares and other gift items.

The boutique is stocked with women’s blouses and jackets, baskets, purses, greeting cards, food mixes and many other gift items, as well as hair care products and related accessories.

Homann said she enjoys attending trade conventions and bringing the latest gift items back to her boutique, such as buckwheat

Side Door Beauty Salon & Wig Boutique owner Donna Homann at the store in Mattoon, Ill., on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010. (Journal Gazette/ Times-Courier, Kevin Kilhoffer) stuffed therapy pillows.

Homann said many of her regular guests at Franny’s Bed & Breakfast, which she opened in 2002 at 3221 DeWitt Ave., shop at the boutique.

The bed and breakfast, named after her long-time neighbor, is busy in the fall with guests in town for special events at Eastern Illinois University and also hosts a lot of extended-stay guests who are in the area on

business, Homann said.

“I had great expectations (for my businesses) but I did not really expect to meet them all, but I really feel I have,” Homann said.

For more information, contact Side Door Beauty Salon, Wig & Gift Boutique at 235-0011.

Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.

NATIONAL

BUSINESS &

PROFESSIONAL

WOMEN

2 NBPW - October 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

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EFFINGHAM — Julie Steffen laughed when asked what is satisfying about working for a family business like Mette’s Cabinet Corner for nearly 30 years.

"That's easy. Seeing how we've grown over the years is the best part. When we started out it was just three of us with my parents," said Steffen, who oversees the sales division for the custom cabinet business located south of Effingham along U.S. Route 45. "Now we have over 30 employees and we've been at this permanent location for 10 years now. And we've added on six different times. Before we had work done at different locations. Now it is done all here."

Steffen started helping at the family business after high school. Now she is an important component in a business that draws customers from across Illinois and even transplanted ones from the Midwest.

"We all have our strong points here. I work with the sales division. But when I need to I refer to others on technical information," she said.

Helping people redesign their kitchens and bathrooms is exacting work. The difference between a happy or dissatisfied customer might be reflected in a fraction of an inch.

“Getting the details right has always been enforced on us.

That’s why you don’t overstep what you know. You don’t want to bluff through it. If you do it hurts your credibility,” Steffen said.

She is happy her family name has gained the trust of cus-

tomers through the years. Some travel for repeat business from upstate Illinois while others now residing out of state come back to Effingham to get their cabinetry work completed with Mette’s.

“It is a great feeling when a customer says they wouldn’t change a thing on what we’ve done. That is very satisfying,” she said.

Her work with the family business has taken her from a teenager to a career woman.

She and her husband, Steve, also have raised three sons through those years. Steve is affiliated with a heating and air conditioning business in Effingham.

Being a woman helping sell kitchen cabinets has its advantages, Steffen said.

“When you work in a kitchen it can help with customers.

Certainly, there are some advantages to being a woman here,” Steffen said.

Through the years, the home improvement business has enhanced the design options for Mette’s, Steffen said. She helps customers with color scheme suggestions and on accessories as well. Granite counter tops are produced at Mette’s with 40

NBPW - October 2010 7

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Freelancing

Family business brings satisfaction for Steffen

By HERB MEEKER Staff Writer

jg-tc.com

From Pg 5 • Stay patient. Even the most successful freelancers can go long stretches of time without working. While that might seem heavenly to the average professional, it can be grueling to a freelancer.

Remember to stay patient because work rarely comes flooding in for freelancers, regardless of their experience.

That patience should also be extended to clients. Every successful freelancer no doubt has a horror story or two about an especially aggravating client. While it can be tempting to simply walk away from such a client, the damage done to a freelancer's reputation when quitting a particular job may prove irreversible.

• Seek testimonials. Few things can be more beneficial to freelancers than a good reputation. Whenever a project is finished and the client is satisfied, ask them how the process went. Ask clients to fill out a quick survey that asks them about what they liked and disliked about the process. The former can be used to lure future clients, while the latter will illustrate that a freelancer wants to improve his or her service in any way possible. If clients agree, post positive testimonials on the Web site to illustrate any successes to future clients.

Eyes From Pg 6

Julie Steffen in the kitchen showroom at Mette’s Cabinet Corner store at Effingham has worked for the family business for more than 30 years. color options.

“People are looking for individual design now. HGTV has brought a big change to our cus-

For your family’s vehicle needs

Sheryl Wayne

tomers’ expectation. That is why we started cutting stone counters here. It was a great move for us to do that,” she said.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

Stitcher’s Express 621 Lake Land Blvd.

Mattoon, IL 61938

www.stitchersxpress.com • stitchex@consolidated.net Specializing in Counted Cross Stitch & Custom Framing Business Owners for 16 years Ramona Shrake & Bobby Hilligoss

217-234-7024

Dave’s decorating center Becky Ballinger 1365 18th Street • Charleston, IL 61920

Mon-Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-2

117 S. 19th St. Mattoon • (217) 234-8863

tion where you are looking just over the top of the monitor when staring straight ahead. Keep the monitor at a slight upward angle as well, so your eyes are looking slightly downward when reading.

Eyes focus more accurately when looking slightly downward, so this small adjustment can actually make a big impact on your eyes.

Keep eye drops nearby. Blinking helps our eyes remain moist.

When using a computer we don't blink nearly as much as we normally do, often resulting in dry and irritated eyes. While it can be hard to make a conscious effort to blink more, give it a shot and also keep eye drops nearby to ensure your eyes avoid drying out over the course of a typical work day.

Give your eyes a break. Much like your legs might need to take breaks from sitting at a desk and be stretched out during the day, your eyes need to take breaks as well. Something as simple as focusing on an object that's farther away from your computer screen for 30 to 60 seconds can be enough of a break for your eyes. Keeping eyes focused on the same spot for too long can cause muscle strain and fatigue, so be sure to give your eyes a break several times over the course of a day.

Let Us Help You Make The Right Move.

217-345-5921

• carpet • tile • flooring • shades & blinds • wallcoverings

www.davesdecoratingcenter.com

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Professional Therapeutic Massage Terri Bailey ABR 549-4760

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