Communicator
April 2011 • Freeport, IL
Aero Group Connects Freeport with the World Tony Carton Communicator Editor
Aero Group started in 1994 as a small father-son business and has grown into a multi-million dollar communications and sales operation. Quality is the ultimate and driving force behind every product and service that Aero Group offers. “The original Aero Computing spawned Aero Internet which by 1998 had grown into Aero Communications which is our telephone company,” said Aero Group President Tom Rutter. “In 2003, Aero was purchased by the Furst McNess Company and since that time there has been a real infusion of capital to help us expand our wireless broadband network to area residents as well as our fiber network in Freeport.” Rutter said that by midsummer 2011 Aero Group will have invested in excess of one million dollars in their fiber network. He said Aero Group is a homegrown company that came about primarily because the big national companies were ignoring Stephenson County.
“They were ignoring our smaller towns and they were even ignoring Freeport,” he said. “That was our impetus to get moving and as we grew and needed more capacity in Freeport to serve our customers, the big guys still refused to bring access in to us. We just dug deeper and said that we would find a way.” Rutter said that the capacity Aero Group is bringing to Freeport is significant. “I would put the capacity and the fiber and the skill set of this company against that of any community of comparable size in the country,” he said. “I attend conventions and meetings and I often hear communities our size and a little bigger just screaming for what we have.” Fiber access is global access Rutter said that Freeport is ahead of the curve when it comes to broadband capacity. “No matter what kind of capacity a company needs in Freeport we can deliver it even if it is a gigabyte,” he explained. “We take a lot of
Areo Group President Tom Rutter notes that his organization has now implemented Meta-Switch technology providing Freeport with faster and more secure communications opportunities.
pride in being the company that can deliver that level of opportunity to Freeport.” Rutter attributes much of the success seen by Aero Group to their staff. “Our staff is more talented, more dedicated and more passionate about our customers than any business that I’ve been associated with,” he said. “I could get choked up talking about how incredibly talented our staff is and I couldn’t be prouder of our staff and their eagerness and ability to serve our customers.” He said that folks in Freeport are just beginning to
realize the potential of the connectivity services offered by Aero Group. “We are linking businesses together,” he said. “We are linking municipal offices together. We are linking county offices together. We are looking at different ways of expanding our reach with fiber because once you can connect a town you can connect that town to another town and then it becomes a district and then a region. We are only limited by our imagination.” Rutter listed several ways SEE AERO
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 27 W. Stephenson St, Freeport IL 61032 www.freeportilchamber.com Phone: 815.233.1350 Fax: 815.235.4038 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Kim Grimes kim.grimes@freeportilchamber.com
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES COORDINATOR: Tiffany King tiffany.king@freeportilchamber.com
RECEPTIONIST: Julie Huber COMMUNICATION EDITOR: Tony Carton The Chamber of Commerce Communicator is published on a monthly basis with the partnership of The Journal-Standard paper. We thank them for their continual effort to keep this publication in print!
DATES TO REMEMBER... APRIL 21 State of the Schools Luncheon Freeport Country Club
Kim’s Korner A
llow me to take this opportunity to thank the over 400 Chamber members and guests who attended our Annual Dinner. It was a great event with a very inspiring message from Dr. Patrick Hardy. We also want to again thank all of our sponsors and congratulate our very deserving award winners. We had the largest crowd attend in recent years and we appreciate everyone’s support. Our Chamber Ambassadors served as great hosts. We now turn our attention to today’s State of the School Luncheon with Dr. Chris Koch, the Illinois State Superintendent of Schools as our Key Note Speaker. It is very exciting to have Dr. Koch here in Freeport. Next Tuesday the Chamber is partnering with our local Illinois Department of Employment Security Office to present a workshop titled “Meeting your Business Needs”. This workshop will help provide our businesses with a better knowledge of the many services that the IDES Office offers at no extra cost. This workshop will be held at Highland Community College from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. It will cover unemployment insurance,
including how to protest an unemployment claim, how will a claim affect your unemployment insurance account and who pays for benefits. Up next on May 6 will be our Chamber hosting our 2nd Annual Leadercast National Simulcast. Our local host for this very important motivational event is Crossroads Community Church. The Chamber is very excited to help bring this type of event to Freeport again this year, to allow our members and guests an opportunity to hear and see some of the country’s top speakers led by best selling author and Leadership expert John C. Maxwell. Other speakers include Robin Roberts from ABC News, Texas football coach Mack Brown, Muhtar Kent - CEO of the Coca-Cola Company and Dave Ramsey - well known T.V. and Radio financial expert. Please consider joining us May 6 for this great opportunity to see and hear from some dynamic leadership experts.
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. APRIL 21 Business after Hours Parkview Home 5 - 7 p.m. APRIL 28 Chamber Ambassador Meeting Stephenson Co. Farm Bureau 7:30 a.m. MAY 3 Executive Board Meeting Chamber Conference Room #1 7:30 a.m. MAY 4 Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast U.S. Cellular 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. MAY 6 Leadercast Crossroads Community Church 7:30 - 3:30 p.m.
SHOP
Freeport FIRST
Allen’s Menswear Auto Repair Specialists • Bocker Group Book World • Brown’s Shoes Captured Memories Photography Cellular Connection • Cimino’s Little Italy Culligan Water Conditioning • Deininger’s Floral Shop Diamond Dave’s Mexican Restaurant • Eilert’s • Fitness Nutrition Flachtemeier Monuments • Flack Sewing • Floor to Ceiling Store Four Seasons/Freeport Lanes, Inc. • Freeport Shopping News Furst McNess Co. • Freeport Glass Co. • Freeport Lawn & Leisure Happy Joe’s Café • Higher Grounds Coffee • Hillside Studio Imperial Palace • Iron-T Junction • Jiffy Lube • Joe’s Pizza • Kent Bank Kurt Koester Studio • L.P. Scientific • Lindo Theater/Classic Cinemas Loescher Heating & A/C • Luecke Jewelers • Maurices Merle Norman Cosmetics • Ross Auto Glass Rite-Way Furniture & Appliance • Sanitary Cleaners • Skate Station Slumberland Furniture • Soundwerks Plus • State Bank Stone’s Hallmark • The Bargain Box • Town House Motel Wagner Business • Whole Body Studio
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The April HR Luncheon featured the Work Keys Program that Dick Drogosz and Steve Kneubuehl have been instrumental in starting in the Freeport Area. This includes a Certificate of Employability (C.O.E.) and will help both the individual seeking a job and the employer who is looking to hire a person with specific skill sets.
Rise’n’Shine
Walker Mortuary was the March site of the Chamber Rise ’n Shine Breakfast. Along with an early morning chance to network, our hosts provided a wonderful breakfast for the attendees. Thank you to Steve Turner and Walker Mortuary for hosting this great breakfast!
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MEMBERnews 2011 Chick-fil-A Leadercast Are you ready to develop your leadership voice? Make plans now to attend the 2011 Chick-fil-A Leadercast, Friday, May 6. Registration at 7 a.m. Your actions mirror it. Your attitude reflects it. Leadership is so much more than what you say. It is your leadership voice, and it is how you make a lasting impact. Your leadership voice is how you inspire greatness and reinforce resolve. It can strengthen a fragile dream, or dash a sliver of hope. It alone can serve as the tipping point, reshaping one’s character or redirecting another’s path. Your voice is a voice of change, and change creates new possibilities. That’s why the purpose of Voices of Change is to help you demonstrate the power of change through positive 7 + ( & ( 1 7 ( 5 ) 2 5 : 2 8 1 ' + ( $ / , 1 * $7 ) + 1
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leadership. Mark your calendar and make plans now to attend the 2011 Chick-fil-A Leadercast, Friday, May 6. Registration at 7 a.m. Speakers include entrepreneur, and best-selling author Seth Godin, Texas Longhorn head coach Mack Brown, Emmy-Award winning anchor Robin Roberts and Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent. Hosted in Freeport by The Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce, 1612 W. Harrison St., Freeport, IL 61032, for more information visit the Chamber website, www.freeportilchamber.com
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GoldMEMBER
Spherion Staffing Services Spherion Staffing Services is a leading recruiting and staffing provider that specializes in placing administrative, clerical, customer service and light industrial candidates in temporary and full-time opportunities. As an industry pioneer for more than 60 years, Spherion has sourced, screened and placed millions of individuals in virtually every industry through a network of offices across the United States and Canada. John Kmieciak is a franchise owner with Spherion locations in both Freeport and Rockford. “We are a national staffing company and we provide temporary temp-to-hire and direct-hire placements,” Kmieciak said. “We also have structured service programs for our clients. We do
spotlight
everything we can to provide our clients with a very positive experience.” He said Kristine Bradbury is Branch Manager and Margarita Nunez is Client Service Supervisor in the Freeport Spherion Staffing office. Kmieciak said Spherion has been serving the Freeport market for over 30 years. “I took over as the Freeport franchise in 2008 and already had 13 years of experience with the company,” he added. “Freeport is a very tight community and there was definitely an opportunity to be a local presence and let people know that we have national resources. I knew we could enhance the service levels for our local clients.” He said one of the Spherion strengths is its technological practical understanding.
“We are the only staffing company that has PeopleSoft in both front and back office,” Kmieciak said. “We have a full online process. We even have an Eforms process for our employees that includes tax forms, applications, and resumes so everything is done online. We are able to generate invoices for our clients with a full platform that breaks down everything regarding their employment
experience with our employees, hours, expenditures, business effectiveness, operational efficiency and more. We are able to use our software to leverage our national resources. It gives our
recruiters more time to focus on the recruiting aspect, the interviewing aspect, the onboarding aspect, and the orientation aspect so that instead of shuffling paper we can spend time making sure we have the correct employee in place.” Kmieciak said Spherion Staffing is service driven. “Being a Sarbanes regulated company, we follow compliance to the T,” he said. “We are well respected nationally because of our very structured compliance procedures. I can sleep at night knowing that we do things in the best interest of our employees and our clients.” For more information contact Kristine Bradbury or Margarita Nunez in the Freeport Spherion Staffing offices at 213 E. Stephenson Street or call 815.232.1722.
www.freeportilchamber.com
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2011 PREFERRED MEMBERS We would like to give special recognition to the following businesses that provide extra support to the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce.
Law Offices of Ralph E. Elliott Rock River Valley Blood Center Berner Food & Beverage John H. Vogt Fehr-Graham & Associates Country Insurance & Financial Services Rick Wilson Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens Jack Myers Consulting
Fruth-Simmer Insurance Agency Freeport Flite Center Twice As Nice Consignments Floor Covering Plus Hulsebus-Gehlsen Chiropractic Maybe You Need Help...
GOLD MEMBERS
Spherion Staffing Group Freeport Insurance Center Alwayz Cookies Rite-Way Furniture & Appliance Reid Enterprises Fishburn, Whiton, Thruman, LTD Freeport Community Foundation Bomar Heating & Cooling Stout Insurance Agency
SILVER MEMBERS Iron-T Junction Captured Memories Photography Brown’s Shoes
BRONZE MEMBERS Culligan Water Conditioning Union Savings Bank Bill George Plumbing & Heating AquaLand Dental Connections Family Health Quest Newby Design Works
Freidag Associates CPAs Integrity Investments Swift Hospitality Group, Inc. Columbia College Winter & Associates Ultrasonic Power Corp. Freeport Park District Eagles Club Pinewood Buffet & Grill Monroe Clinic LeBaron & Miller Interiors Winter Construction Inc.
General Casualty Schofield Plumbing State Farm – Jon Spachman C. J. Vitner Co., Inc. Saxer Accounting Services, LLC Tender Loving Care
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMBERspotlights Aflac Supplemental insurance coverage from Aflac will provide protection for you and your family if you are hurt and miss work. Aflac is different from health insurance; it is insurance for daily living. “We are a Fortune 500 company and we offer unique solutions to an employer’s problems with offering benefits to employees,” said Patrick Busker, an Independent Associate representing Aflac. He explained that Aflac offers a wide variety of medical and accident policies and the benefits are paid directly to the individual. “It’s like getting a check for being sick,” Busker said. “We are not like other insurance companies. We send the check directly to the policy holder and they use it for whatever purpose they deem necessary.” He said the company first began issuing policies in 1955
and he is aware of Aflac having independent agents in the Freeport area since the mid70s.
“I decided to be one of their agents because I think I can connect with people here and provide folks in Freeport with insurance coverage that they could really put to good use,” Busker said. “I’ve been an Aflac policy holder for a number of years. I know they are quick with their claim response; most claims get a check within 10 days. They are honest and upfront with everything they do.”
He said he is just getting started, but folks in the area seem to be interested in Aflac. “It’s tough getting people to listen to another insurance pitch, but once they understand that we pay them and not the hospital or doctor and we make good sense as a supplemental insurance provider, my job gets a little easier,” Busker said. “We have something unique in that it complements their existing medical policy and once they understand that, they start to listen.” He emphasized that if a person has existing insurance that is already paying 100% of their medical bills they can still file a claim with Aflac and that check goes right the claimant for use in whatever way they fit. “Maybe your mortgage or car payment came due while you were laid up,” Busker said. “That’s where Aflac can help. The money is yours to pay those things that medical insurance will not pay.” He said his goal for 2011 is to have twenty new groups
signed onto Aflac. “It’s a stretch, but I think I can make that happen,” he said. “A group is 3 employees or more so when a company is thinking they are too small to qualify for insurance we say give us a call and we can probably make it happen.” For more information about the services and benefits available through Patrick Busker and Aflac contact him at 815.275.0212 or stop in the office at 1111 South Columbia Ave in Freeport or email him at patrick_busker@us.aflac.com Aubri’s Mini Mart Everyone has found themselves in the position of needing a loaf of bread or a bottle of milk and not being
anywhere near a full-service grocery store. Aubri’s Mini Mart can be the answer for a quick necessities stock up
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
when time and downtown location are a factor. “We’ve got everything from milk to eggs to bread to household cleaning items,” said Aubri’s proprietor Gavin Brown. “Anything you would expect to find in a small neighborhood grocery I have in stock.”
Brown is a lifelong Freeport resident and he said he opened Aubri’s Mini Mart in January 2011 in response to his perceived need for a downtown grocery. “There is no place downtown where you can go get a can of pop or a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread,” he said. “I thought it would be a real good idea for the folks that work and live downtown, and even if you don’t live or work downtown Aubri’s Mini Mart is still a good place to shop.” He says running Aubri’s as a small family oriented business makes the store unique. “Small businesses are the key to Freeport’s future and I want to do my part and get in on the ground floor,” Brown
said. He added that the grocery business is good downtown and he is already considering a larger location and possibly a second store. “We’re looking into the possibility of doing some expansion,” he said. “A second Aubri’s would be nice sometime in the future. We just want to be bigger and better.” Brown said his prices are what make folks come back to Aubri’s Mini Mart. “We are in some bad economic times and I’ve priced my stock with that in mind,” Brown said. “I know it’s tough out there right now and I feel that once folks see what I have and how it’s priced they will keep coming back.” Stop in at Aubri’s Mini Mart open from 10 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Friday and from noon to 3 PM Mondays at 110 South VanBuren Street downtown Freeport. Checks for Cash Checks for Cash pioneered the cash advance business in the Freeport area and they continue to prove that quick and easy short-term loans are available for all their customers. People buy from people is their saying and when you stop in to deal with Billy D you’ll see that he’s upfront and working hard to make your cash advance as easy as possible.
“We are a loan company and we mostly do small loans,” said Checks for Cash Managing Partner Bill Diaz. “I think that one of the things our customers find attractive is that we don’t do credit checks.” Diaz said he knows folks are in a hurry when they need cash and that makes his “no credit check” policy especially helpful. “Our stores advertise that we are fast and easy and to folks in a hurry that means a lot,” he said. Diaz said their Freeport store is conveniently located at 1803 South West Av between Logan’s Bar and Grill and Save a Lot. “We opened the South West Avenue store about a year and a half ago,” he said. “We were downtown on Stephenson since the late 90s, so we’ve had Freeport roots for quite a while.” He said that they originally
moved into the area when they acquired an already existing financial services business. “We always knew there was great potential for growth in the Freeport area so when an opportunity opened we decided to go ahead,” Diaz said. “We started out with a policy of offering consistency and friendly service. Sticking to those principles brought us referrals. Our customers come back and they bring their friends. That tells me we are doing something right.”
He said growth is always an option. “Right now we don’t have anything in the works for expansion, but looking down the line into the future, we would really like to have a check cashing, Western Union kind of facility here in Freeport,” he noted. “We know CONTINUED
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Congratulations!
Ribboncuttings
Ambassador of the Year:
Bobbie Yount
Dale LeBaron Award Co-Winners: Steve Kneubuehl, Rick and Laurie Hasken
Not-for-Profit: Freeport Area Church Cooperative
Small Business of the Year: Marg Blum, Merle Norman Cosmetics
Freeport Housing Authority at the Monroe Center Ribbon Cutting
ANNUAL
ChamberDinner THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011 Chamber Ambassadors Kay Halbin and Adam Talbert
Jim Sacia in action for the live auction Steve Kneubuehl and Mayor Gaulrapp
Brian Stewart and State Senator Tim Bivens
Many Chamber members attended the Annual Dinner
Speaker of the night - Dr. Patrick Hardy
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
continued from page 7
financial services like that would be a natural fit for the area, so we have our eyes open and maybe someday we can make it all work.” Diaz said Checks for Cash is looking forward to the day when they will be able to hire more help and add services. “We would love to find ourselves needing to hire more help and maybe add new services like pre-paid debit cards,” he said. “For now, we are just going to keep doing what we do best and we’ll see where the future takes us.” Stop by Checks for Cash Mon. through Fri. 9AM to 6PM and Sat. 9AM to 2PM at 1803 South West Av in Freeport and ask for Billy D or give him a call at 815.232.0966. Downing’s Remodeling Contractors, Inc Downing’s Remodeling Contractors have found a niche for themselves providing excellent quality work installing doors and windows, siding, remodeling kitchens, bathrooms and performing
mold remediation. “For the last 15 years we’ve done a lot of work with the residence remodeling programs for NICA, Community Action in Freeport and NHS,” said owner Jeff Downing. “We’ve stepped away from those areas this year and are really specializing in bathroom remodeling and window and door installation.” He said they don’t do the trades like electrical and plumbing, but have considerable experience in all areas of remodeling. Downing’s Remodeling Contractors opened in the Freeport area in 1997. “That was when the federal grants were first coming into the area through Northwest Illinois Community Action and we’ve stayed involved with those programs over the years,” he said. Downing is a police officer in Freeport and said he intends to make the remodeling business his livelihood in the near future. “I’m working hard to build a reputation for quality
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craftsmanship,” he said. “This is a very competitive business and I just don’t see the point in doing anything but my best work when I’m on a job.” He said that mold remediation is the newest service offered by Downing’s Remodeling Contractors. “Every now and again you get a second floor bathroom that leaks and in the past, when a homeowner lets that go for months on end we’ve had to call another company to get that under control,” he said. “We have been thinking about taking on those types of jobs and we finally just decided to
go ahead and get involved.” Downing said certification in health and environmental safety allows them to undertake the more difficult jobs without having to subcontract the work. “We have to implement HEPA-vac equipment to clean up anything left behind and seal up those areas that were affected,” he explained. “We also have to use a mold product on the surfaces to keep the mold from returning.” He said he sees honesty as the key to success in the remodeling business. CONTINUED
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Think IP Phone Systems Aren’t For Your Business? Think Again.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Aero is the area’s leading provider of Business-Class Digital IP Phone systems and service. Call us and see why so many businesses are switching to Aero’s Business-Class IP Phone Service We’ll install a Polycom IP phone in your office FREE for 30 days before you decide. Aero has installed hundreds of phones throughout our service region, saving our customers hundreds of dollars per month on their phone bills while making them even more efficient, and better able to communicate with their customers.
Aero Group (815) 801-3387 1866 S. West Ave. Freeport, IL
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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business promotions, fund raiser materials, sports, Tshirts, new logo design, banners and any kind of vinyl work.
“You have to be upfront with people,” Downing said. “You have to return their calls and let them know where you are with scheduling.” He said a common complaint about contractors is that they do not keep in close contact with their clients and that leads to problems. “We try to call folks back the same day so they know we are listening,” he said. “I think the best way to deal with people is to be honest so they know what your schedule is like and when you can get to their job.” For more information about Downing’s Remodeling Contractors, Inc contact Jeff at 815.235.8766 or stop by the office at 32 West Iroquois, Freeport. Pro-Graphics Whether you are looking for a specific promotional item or just browsing for ideas, ProGraphics in Freeport is your one-stop shopping source. Pro-Graphics specializes in custom printed apparel,
“Right now, I am working on adding an embroidery machine, but that’s still a bit down the line,” said owner operator Don Katzenberger. “Also, we are doing more work with vinyl lettering on vehicles and we do magnetic signs.” He said an embroidery machine would be an important addition to the company because they already do a lot of work for area schools, but have that work done by contractors. “We are looking to bring the embroidery work in-house as
soon as possible,” Katzenberger said. He added that much of the company’s success is due to the excellent work performed by their resident artist. “Scott Stichter is just a dynamite artist,” Katzenberger said. “He has a super artistic mind. He is always on top of things. I really consider ProGraphics fortunate to have him.” He said Stichter has been in commercial art for 25-years and remains a real asset to the company. Katzenberger said ProGraphics opened nearly seven years ago and he took over the helm last year. “I’ve known Scott since we were kids and his parents originally owned the company,” he explained. “When they were looking to get out of the business he asked me if I was interested in buying it and I did.” The folks at Pro-Graphics are committed to working hard to help build your reputation. Pro-Graphics is customer
service oriented and they will put their resources and experience to work for any business, school or personal graphic need by finding just the right look to make your image efforts a huge success. Pro-Graphics is here to help make life easier. For more information contact Dan Katzenberger at 815-232-8600 or stop by the Pro-Graphics studio at 1725 South Galena Avenue in Freeport Verizon One Stop Wireless One Stop Wireless - Verizon is your local Verizon Wireless service provider customer care and premium retailer center. “We offer anything a Verizon Wireless customer needs with services ranging from new connects to service upgrades, new equipment, even analyzing a customer’s rate plan to see if we can save them money,” said Verizon One Stop Wireless District Manager Brad McLaughlin. “We actually just received a list from corporate that shows a number of people on an older plan and we are
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
now offering those same services for ten dollars cheaper. We are in the process of contacting those folks to save them some money.” McLaughlin said they opened the store at 1876 South West Av in Freeport in October 2009 and they’ve just opened a second outlet at 1050 Riverside Dr in Freeport in the same building as the DMV. “Verizon has always seen huge potential in Freeport and they wanted more retail facilities to meet that potential,” he said. “We opened here with the intention of bringing something better to the area.” McLaughlin said they offer 100% phone selection featuring all the newest equipment and service for that equipment. “We’ve trained all our reps so they can handle most problems that arise,” he said. “We have our technicians right here in Freeport so folks don’t have to drive to Rockford for repairs.”
McLaughlin said that 4G is on the way. “Verizon is calling it their 4G LTE Network and it is coming soon to the Freeport area,” he said. “Rockford is getting it this year and while Freeport has not been officially announced it seems like most of the northern Illinois state line is getting it and I am expecting
that Freeport will be included.” He said 4G could be as far away as winter 2011, but it is on the way. “4G is literally like fiberoptic speed, but its run wireless,” McLaughlin explained. “That will be huge for this area because now a lot of people that don’t live in town are limited. 4G will open worlds to them.” He said One Stop Wireless is
currently operating 21 locations throughout the Midwest and they are looking to have more outlets in the future. “We are as far north as Madison and Milwaukee,” he said. “We are as far south as Sterling with shops in Oregon and Byron. We are hoping that with our new partnerships we will have 50 locations by the end of the year. We are just trying to cover as many distribution points as possible so that when our customers
visit one store they know they are able to travel and find the same service and quality in fifty or more other locations throughout the Midwest.” Stop in either of the Freeport One Stop Wireless stores at1876 S. West Av or 1050 Riverside Dr to see the full range of devices including smart phones, accessories, tablets and more or call Brad or any member of his One Stop team at 815.837.4966. Email at brad.mclaughlin@onestopvzw.com
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FREEPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AERO continued from page 1
that Freeport can implement connectivity. “All the buildings in the Freeport School District are connecting with our fiber network which means that they can move data between their buildings at network speed,” he said. “They could not do that previously. Now all their buildings can share data between themselves and they can even share video.” He said that if one school has even a couple students interested in a language class, but cannot justify hiring a teacher for those few students, they can link with other schools that may also have a few interested students until they have larger class participation and then share the costs of that class between the schools using the services. “We all know the funding crunch our school districts are facing, so when a district can share resources over
glass, how incredible is that,” he asked. Rutter noted that area banks are now able to share data at high speeds over the network and added that there are real cost saving opportunities for government as well. “If law enforcement were shorthanded, but had a prisoner due for a court
appearance and needed escort, they could link to the courtroom with camera, audio and screen to hold the hearing without ever leaving the jail,” he said. “These cost saving links are already in place and only need administrators with imagination and foresight to put them to use. The
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potential for savings is enormous.” Staying on the cutting edge of tomorrow’s technologies “Rutter said Aero Group has invested a million dollars in their Network Operations Center and another half million in implementing a new telephone switch called a Meta-Switch. “The Meta-Switch is the industry’s leading switch,” he said. “It allows us to deliver as much or more dial tone as the national guys. The entire county is running on our phone service and we’re saving them thousands of dollars annually on phones.” He added that they listen, read and study constantly to provide new and more powerful technological services to Freeport. “We are on the bleeding
edge of finding new technologies and we are keeping to the grindstone to deliver those services,” Rutter said. “Our job is to deliver solutions to problems that our community faces. Our opportunities are only limited by our creativity and our imagination. Rutter challenges folks in Freeport to find new ways to use the services provided by Aero Group. “Aero Group want to play a part in economic development here in Stephenson County,” he said. “We can bring businesses to our region that never thought they could move here before. We can help fill some of those vacant buildings and help connect private and commercial enterprises with an extremely fast fiber network. Find ways to use us and watch Freeport grow.”
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