BN
The New inc. Dress Code
Connecting Central Illinois business
May 2014
Relaxed rules are gaining in popularity
Plus
A new take on fitness Motivating employees News and More
INSIDE
BNinc. Connecting Central Illinois business
Gary Sawyer Interim publisher
Bernard Beoletto Advertising manager
MARK PICKERING Pantagraph editor
karen Hansen Editor, BN Inc.
Steve Gardner Designer
May 2014 www.pantagraph.com/bninc A publication of Pantagraph Publishing Inc. 301 W. Washington St. Bloomington, IL 61701
DAvid Proeber, The Pantagraph
The entire contents may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or part, without permission of the publisher. Advertisements are not endorsed by the publisher. The publisher is not responsible or liable for errors or omissions in any advertisement beyond the paid price of that advertisement. New subscriptions, renewals, inquiries or change of address, mail to: BN Inc. Advertising 301 W. Washington St., Bloomington, IL 61701 To advertise or questions regarding advertising, call 800-747-7323 309-820-3359. Š 2014 by Lee Enterprises Inc. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lee Enterprises Inc.
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BN inc. Connecting Central Illinois business
May
A marketing meeting at The Snyder Companies displays the variety of dress that is allowed in the business community in the Twin Cities.
Cover Story
Features
Dressed for business
Employee relations
Companies in the Twin City area are relaxing business dress codes as suits are becoming more rare in the workplace.
Page 11
Business Bio Out-of-the-box fitness Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington fills a market offering unique excercise options.
Page 4
On the Cover:
Improving worker attitudes can improve the bottom line and not break the bank.
Page 15
Health Take the steps toward joint replacement.
Page 18
Tourism Summer festivals add to the area's quality of life.
Page 19
News in brief Find out the latest happenings in the B-N area.
Page 20
DAvid Proeber, The Pantagraph
A marketing meeting at The Snyder Companies was once made up of executives wearing suits. Today, business casual is more the rule of thumb in the Twin Cities.
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Commercial Lots
Commercial Lots — Golden Centre — Leroy (agent interest)…………….Call for Size & Pricing 1.27 acres —Rt. 51 South — Bloomington…….…$180,000 1.4 acres — I-55 interchange, Springfield, IL…………$4/sf 1.91 acres — Rte’s Corner of 47 & 165,Sibley….…$60,000 26,118 sq ft — 1202 Morrissey (Great Retail Site, Zoned
30,391 sq ft — 2403 G.E. Road (Prime Location, some Engineering Complete).(REDUCED TO: $179,000) 31,338 sq ft — 1418 Woodbine (B-1, Multi-Use Site, East Side, agent interest)………………………...$5.75 sf 37,200—83,375 sq. ft — 3 Lots Available (B-2, Utilities) Lafayette Business Park…………...…….$1.75 sf
Available for Lease
600 sq ft — 510 I.A.A. Dr. Store Front Office.…$700/mo. 625 sq ft — 2424 Lincoln (Office/Retail)……..$1,000/mo. 1,000 sq ft — 3703 Ireland Grove Road (office)…….$18/sf 1,200 sq ft — 510 I.A.A. Dr. (office/retail)…….$1,300/mo. 1,200 sq ft — 2424 Lincoln (office/retail)….......$1,500/mo. 1,260 sq ft — 1319 Veterans (office/retail)…….$1,500/mo. 1,266 sq ft — 211 Landmark (office)………………...$14/sf 1,400 sq ft — 1531 Ft. Jesse (Office/Retail)……. $900/mo. 1,700 sq ft — 1210 Warriner (Warehouse)…..…$1,000/mo. 2,160 sq ft — 1605 G.E. Road (Warehouse/Office)$650/mo 2,000 sq ft — Rt. 9 West (Warehouse/Office)….…$8.00 sf 2,000 sq ft — 1319 Veterans Parkway (Office)……..$14/sf
2,000 sq ft— 2303 E. Washington—Great Veterans Exposure … Prime Retail……….…………………….CALL 2,160 sq ft — 1605 G.E. Road (Warehouse)…..$1,300/mo. 2,300 sq ft — 1531 Ft Jesse (Office/Warehouse)..$2,450/mo. 2,390 sq ft — 321 Susan Dr. (Executive Office)……...$18/sf 2,500 sq ft — 407 Kays Dr (Class A Office)………….$12/sf 3,050 sq ft — 2303 E. Washington (Prime Retail).$14/sf nnn 3,712 sq ft — 710 Eldorado (Veterans Retail Exposure.$12N 4,000 sq ft — 1001 W. Market (Retail)…………$10/sf (nnn) 4,608 sq ft — 108 S. Grove, Colfax (Warehouse) ..$850/mo. 7,000 sq ft — 1507 Circle Ave (Warehouse/Office)… $3,500 9,041 sq ft — 115 Merle Lane (Warehouse/Office)…$7.50sf
For Sale / Investment Opportunities
3,600 sq ft — I-55 & PK Keller Hwy, Lexington, IL (Insulated Warehouse/Shop)…...…$324,900 32,440 sq. ft — 1107 E. Cemetery, Chenoa, IL on 5 Acres 2 Outbuildings, Possible TIF….$249,000 Operating Car Wash — 2 Automatics & 3 Self-Serve Bays...Recently Refreshed…(Reduced)……...…$460,000 3,000 sq ft — C-Store w/Gas, 2444 S. Main, Bloomington Closed/Ready For Fresh Start….$475,000 4,608 sq ft — 108 S. Grove, Colfax (Warehouse) $84,900
40 Acres, Rte. 9 East (Saybrook Area) — Pasture, CRP, 2 Ponds (Home Site, Ranch, Hunting/Fishing…….CALL 10 Acres, Development Property, Just off I-74 @ Exit 174, Mahomet, IL…(Zoned for Business)…...$1,300,000 1.91 Acres, Sibley, IL (Corner of Rte.’s 47 & 165) Zoned Commercial…………………………….…$60,000 350 sq ft — 1209 1/2 Towanda (Retail w/2 Drive-Thru Windows/Grease Trap) Leased Ground…...…….$89,000
5
Call for Information on Income Producing Commercial Properties
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Prime Retail Location 2 Drive-Thru Windows 1209 1/2 Towanda (Post Office) Great Visibility!!
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“Selling your Business ….is our business”
Registered Business Brokers Real Estate Services Property Management
Greg Schrof 309-825-0101 gregschrof@gmail.com SCHROF COMMERICAL.COM
Carl Schrof 309-825-0677 cgs36@aol.com
2303 E. Washington—Suite 5-A — Bloomington, IL 61704
Business bio Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington
Finding the right fit
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington instructor Lindsey Hunsinger leads a class where participants work out on the barre.
Tara Braucht of Normal opened Body, the Fitness Boutique of Bloomington, at 115 Krispy Kreme Drive, Unit 3, last fall. A longtime fitness buff, Braucht spent eight years working at the Arthritis Foundation before deciding to open her fitness studio, which offers classes including hot yoga; body barre; pole fit; total body suspension; yoga and pilates. The commitment is also flexible; people can purchase everything from a single-class pass to a long-term membership.
What made you decide to start your own fitness studio? Well, I guess it first started with my love of ballet since 3. Practicing ballet until I was 18, I always missed it. When barre
BN inc. Connecting Central Illinois business
May
classes started popping up in all of the big cities, I loved them and would attend them as much as my schedule would allow me to commute to the nearest class. Traveling for barre classes also introduced me to hot yoga, which I also immediately fell in love with. After seeing how many other fitness options were being offered for every lifestyle and personality in the cities, I saw a need for new, effective, trendy and out-of-the-box classes here and decided to open a studio.
Are people becoming more aware of health and fitness today? Yes, I think people are becoming a lot more aware of their Please see Body, Page 6
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Problem Solvers Jason S. Bartell
Bartell Powell LLP
Bloomington
309.807.5275
Leading Bloomington Area Lawyers
Bankruptcy & Workout: Commercial; Closely & Privately Held Business; Corporate Finance; Securities & Venture Finance
A. Clay Cox
Cox & Associates LLC
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309.828.7331
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Dorris Law Firm PC
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Dunn Law Firm LLP
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James P Ginzkey Trial Attorney
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Personal Injury: General; Personal Injury: Professional Malpractice
Timothy W. Kelly
Kelly Law Offices
Personal Injury: General; ADR: Personal Injury
Eitan Weltman
Law Office of Eitan Weltman
Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections; Real Estate: Residential
Thomas M. Barger, III
Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder
Closely & Privately Held Business; Real Estate: Commercial; Trust, Will & Estate Planning
Peter W. Brandt
Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder
Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense; Personal Injury Defense: General
Thomas A. Jennings
Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder
Agriculture; Real Estate: Commercial; Trust, Will & Estate Planning
Christopher L. Nyweide
Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder
Health; Medical Malpractice Defense; Personal Injury Defense: General
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Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder
Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense; Personal Injury Defense: General; Products Liability Defense
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Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder
Bloomington
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Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation; Public Utilities: Gas/Water/Electric; Real Estate: Commercial; Real Estate: Residential; Tax: Business
William A. Mueller, Jr.
Mueller Reece & Hinch LLC
Bloomington
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Mueller Reece & Hinch LLC
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Robert T Varney & Associates
Bloomington
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Thomson & Weintraub
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Personal Injury: General; Personal Injury: Professional Malpractice; Workers' Compensation
Kathleen McDonald Kraft
Thomson & Weintraub
Adoption & Reproductive Technology; Family
Melissa M. McGrath
Thomson & Weintraub
Civil Appellate; Civil Rights/Constitutional; Employment: Employee
Alan I. Weintraub Family
Gina L. Wood
Criminal Defense: Felonies & Misdemeanors; Family; Juvenile A lawyer CANNOT buy the distinction of being a Leading Lawyer. This distinction was earned by being among those lawyers who were most often recommended by their peers in statewide surveys. Respondents COULD NOT recommend themselves or lawyers at their law firm. For a complete list of all Leading Lawyers and to view profiles of the lawyers listed on this page, go to www.LeadingLawyers.com.
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Business bio Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington
Body
Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington owner Tara Braucht demonstrates how to exercise with a suspension system.
From Page 4
fitness and overall well-being. People seem to want to do something fun with workouts and talk about their health and fitness a lot more. I think expanding on that is offering classes that appeal to everyone and get everyone excited about their workouts, which leads to them being more concerned with their overall health.
How did you choose your class offerings? Tell us a little bit about them. What are the goals of the workouts? One of our main goals was to make each class something fun, very effective and something you look forward to each day, rather than the same hum-drum on the treadmill or with a class that never changes. We offer variety of classes that still incorporate a total body workout, but some are low impact classes (barre/Pilates), some are cardio (total body) and some people had never heard of (pole fit). Since we have opened, some instructors have even created their own classes, including Killer B’s and Ab Lab. All of our classes are capped so that personal attention can be given to each
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Please see Body, Page 7
HEARt Of AMERICA REALtORS®
Commercial Real Estate Services
retail • office • apartments • industrial land • buildings • investment • lease space • business
John Armstrong
Mike Flynn
Michael O’Neal
Meghan O’Neal-Rogozinski
Laura Pritts
Darren Sheehan
Gary Trembley
Greg Yount
309-662-3377 • 802 S. Eldorado Rd., Bloomington, IL • www.CBHOACOMMERCIAL.com
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Business bio
Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington
BoDy
From Page 6
client. Body barre is at the ballet barre. You don’t have to have ballet experience, but the movements are inspired by ballet moves. It is a toning workout that focuses on your whole body while shaping long lean muscles. Pilates is a mat-based class that is also low- impact. Pilates movements focus on your form, alignment, core strength and control. Total body suspension is one of the best cardio workouts I have ever done. It is done with the suspension straps and you can completely customize your workout by the incline of your body, making it more or less difficult. Pole fitness is a fun and challenging workout that focuses on your upper body, core, lower body and back. Killer B’s was created by one of our instructors and is one of our most popular classes right now! She changes class every week so it is never the same, but workouts focus on balance, barre work, boxing to work your booty, back and belly. Another class created by an instructor that is very popular is Ab Lab. It is a 30-minute workout focused on your core. It is one of the more difficult classes we offer, but highly effective! We also offer hot yoga, where the room is heated to about 95 degrees. The reason for heating the room is it helps your body detoxify by sweating out your toxins and it helps you safely progress into poses more deeply by warming the muscles. Hot Vinyasa flow is a fun yoga class with upbeat music and the ‘flow’ means you are moving through each pose at a quicker pace.
through fitness. I think the relationship is equally important with the staff as well. When I hired my instructors, I told them I know we have all had jobs that aren’t our favorite — and I never wanted Body to be like that for anyone of them. We support each other and go to each other’s functions outside of work and truly care about one another and all of our clients.
How can people motivate themselves to improve their fitness? I think that is sometimes one of the hardest things about starting a fitness routine — finding the motivation and confidence to start. I think it is important to find something that you like to do — so that you look forward to your workout and the people you will see while you are working out.
What is the most rewarding thing about owning a fitness studio? The most difficult? The most rewarding thing for sure is seeing how much our client’s bodies are changing. From week to week and month to month, the results are really dramatic. It is also so rewarding to hear your clients talking to one another about their results, shopping for new shorts for summer and Please see Body, Page 10
1410 Woodbine Unit 4, bL $149,900
Who is a typical customer? What skill levels do they have? Honestly, we don’t have a “typical” customer. Some of our customers are in high school, others are seniors and they will be in the same class together. That is one of the great things. Moves in each class are given with modifications so no matter what your fitness level is, you can feel comfortable in all of the classes offered and get the best workout for you! If you have never done ballet, you will get a great workout in barre. If you have never tried pole fit, it is not a problem and both of our instructors are used to having a lot of people new to the classes we offer. We will make you feel comfortable and walk you through each class, encouraging you throughout!
Your website says “Body is a community.” Tell us about the community and why that relationship is important. We truly love our clients and know all of my regulars. Since our classes are capped, we get to know what is going on in their lives and why fitness is important to them. By knowing our clients and their goals, it makes our jobs easier to know what areas they want to work on and what exercises to lead. Relationships are very important with the clients because we are motivating them to improve their lives and lifestyle
May
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Very rare 1,000 sq. ft. unit in like new condition with a large conference room, four spacious offices and a kitchen area. Fresh paint and clean carpeting. Prime East side location. Owner will also lease. Call Mark for details.
Mark Lipic (309) 310-8620
Heart of America REALTORS® , LTD
2014 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate. Some offices Independently Owned and Operated.
BNinc. Connecting Central Illinois business
GREG YOUNT: AVAILABLE PROPERTIES HEART OF AMERICA REALTORS
3901 General Electric Rd, BL Office ‐ For Sale/Lease 3,122 sq. �.
1713 A Tullamore, BL Office ‐ For Sale 2,280 sq. �.
1414 Woodbine, BL
1304 E. Empire, BL
1655‐1657 N. Main, Morton
2002 Fox Creek Rd, BL
Warehouse ‐ For Sale/Lease 25,000 sq. �. (10,000 for lease)
Office ‐ For Sale 4,928 sq. �.
1501 N. Main, NL
1701 E. Empire, BL
Office ‐ For Lease 4,636 sq. �.
808 Eldorado, BL Office ‐ For Lease 3,500‐7,060 sq. �.
Restaurant ‐ For Sale 2,650 sq. �.
810 IAA Drive, BL
1540 E. College, NL
Office/Warehouse/Development 37,458 sq. �., 5.45 Acres
Greg Yount
Laura Pritts
(309) 664-35247 (309) 662-3370
www.cbhoacommercial.com
Retail ‐ For Lease 3,350 sq. �.
gyount@cbhoa.com lpritts@cbhoa.com
Office ‐ For Sale 5,697 sq. �.
Retail ‐ Lease 3,000‐7,200 sq. �.
1540 E. College, NL
Restaurant ‐ For Lease 3,500 sq. �.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Heart of America Realtors 802 S. Eldorado Rd Bloomington, IL 61704
Coldwell Banker Commercial and the Coldwell Banker Commercial Logo are registered service marks licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
GREG YOUNT: AVAILABLE PROPERTIES HEART OF AMERICA REALTORS
803 E. Lafaye�e, BL
607 Arcadia, BL
1010 S. Main, NL
127 N. Williamsburg, BL
Office ‐ For Lease 2,600 sq. �.
Retail/Office ‐ For Lease 4,806 sq. �.
Industrial/Flex ‐ For Lease 6,000 sq. �.
Salon/Office ‐ For Sale/Lease 2,500 sq. �.
2439 S. Main, BL
2402 E. Empire, BL
1615 Commerce Parkway, BL
2203 E. Empire, Unit K, BL
Industrial ‐ For Lease 61,075 sq. �.
Industrial ‐ For Lease 43,125‐86,250 sq. �.
Office ‐ For Lease 7,887 sq. �.
Office ‐ For Lease 1,830 sq. �.
COMMERCIAL LAND 1041 Wylie Drive, BL 52,272 sq. �. ‐ Excellent corner site, close to I‐55/I‐74, Wal‐Mart
420 Kays Drive, NL
1.15 Acres ‐ Great corner lot at Towanda and Kays. Good traffic counts.
Olympia and Wicker, BL
Wylie Drive (5 Acres), BL
2805 E. Empire, BL
419 Bronco Drive, BL
5 Acres ‐ Across from Wehrenberg Theaters, minutes from I‐55/I‐74
611 W. Raab, NL
10.24 Acres ‐ Divisible. Fully developed lots.
62,700 sq. �. ‐ Near Central Illinois Regional Airport, high traffic area
1.83 Acres ‐ Corner lot in developing area. Easy access to I‐55/I‐74
2613 S. Veterans Parkway, BL
Lot 1, Highpoint Hill, Lexington
34,078 sq. �. ‐ At I‐55/I‐39 Interchange, near Heartland Community College.
3.92 Acres ‐ Corner of S. Veterans and Fox Creek, ready for development.
1.16 Acres ‐ Prime commercial lot, off I‐55 Interchange.
N. Veterans (Shepard Rd), NL
515 Chancellor, BL
1271 Airport Rd, BL
7.4 Acres ‐ Next to Home Depot, excellent retail or developer site.
2016 S. Main, BL
1.4 Acres ‐ Lighted intersec�on at Main and Hamilton, across from McDonalds.
2402 E. Empire, BL
6.04 Acres ‐ U�li�es to site. Deten�on basin included.
802 E. Washington, BL
13,576 sq. �., zoned B1. Signalized cor‐ ner lot, near Downtown Bloomington.
Greg Yount
Laura Pritts
(309) 664-35247 (309) 662-3370
www.cbhoacommercial.com
65,340 sq. �., zoned B1, ready to build. Next to Culvers on Hershey.
1.1 Acres ‐ High residen�al growth area. Fully developed lot.
Trucker’s Lane, BL
Empire Business Park, BL
4013 Pamela Drive, BL
LeRoy Plaza Sub, LeRoy
210 Greenwood, BL
Rt. 9 West, BL
6.4 Acres & 5.88 Acres ‐ Excellent interstate visibility.
23,381 sq. �. ‐ Corner lot in growing area, near many new developments. 4.15 Acres ‐ Zoned M1. Excellent com‐ mercial or apartment development.
gyount@cbhoa.com lpritts@cbhoa.com
Various sizes available ‐ Located in the Enterprise Zone, across from CIRA.
1‐3 Acres ‐ at I‐74 Interchange
41+/‐ Acres near I‐55/I‐74 Interchange. Zoned M1 (can be rezoned to B1) Coldwell Banker Commercial Heart of America Realtors 802 S. Eldorado Rd Bloomington, IL 61704
Coldwell Banker Commercial and the Coldwell Banker Commercial Logo are registered service marks licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
Business bio
d
Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington
D
BoDy
From Page 7
feeling more confident. The most difficult thing is scheduling. It is hard to pick what time of day works for people for what class. We change our schedule monthly, but the first few months, there was definitely a learning curve!
There are a lot of fitness options in the Twin Cities. What makes your business stand out? I think all of the classes we offer really makes us stand out. And since we want to be as accessible as possible to anyone, we also have several different payment options, rather than just an annual membership. You can buy one single class, a month of unlimited classes or purchase multiple classes on a punch card that doesn’t expire for a year that can be used for any class. We even have different membership lengths. You can do three, six or 12 months of unlimited classes at a discounted rate. Most people start with a single one month of unlimited classes to see all of the different choices and styles we offer and then convert to some type of unlimited class membership.
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Kristin Givens works out on the barre during a workout at Body, The Fitness Boutique of Bloomington.
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On the cover
dress codes
Dressed for success
DAVID PROEBER, The Pantagraph
Leo Marquardt, event coordinator for The Snyder Companies, explains his ideas to Julie Baird, executive assistant, lot subdivision coordinator; Larry Wingate, vice president of management and acquisitions, and Ray Ceresa, senior director of hotel sales and development, during a marketing meeting.
More companies are relaxing dress codes with the changing times Pat Shaver pshaver@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON — Larry Hundman remembers in his early days as a professional, he owned about a dozen suits. Today, he guessed his 40-yearold son owns one. “Times are changing, things are more casual than they are formal. Look at restaurants, there are a lot more casual restaurants today. And kids dress a lot different than the way it used to be when my children were growing up,” said Hundman, general manager and president of Coldwell Banker Heart of America Realtors. As society has become more casual over the years, so has the definition of
professional attire in the workplace. Over the past 15 to 20 years, businesses in the Twin Cities have also relaxed their dress codes, likely a reflection of State Farm’s move to a more casual environment in 1997. Along with that, jobs have changed over time and a more casual generation has entered the workforce. “I think everything changed when State Farm went casual,” Hundman said of the McLean County’s largest employer. “I think the major businesses in town changed to some degree based on State Farm. We were one of those that followed their lead.” State Farm required professional attire such as suits and blazers until
May
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1997. Between 1997 and 2008, business casual that permitted clothes like khakis and button-down shirts was the company policy. That dress code Please see dress, Page 12
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Accurate Financials Offering services in bookkeeping, payroll, reconciliation, receivables, payables, invoicing and budgets. Call or email today for a consultation. 309-989-7178 bookkeepingservice84@gmail.com bookkeepingservice84.wix.com/accurate-financials
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On the cover
dress codes
Dress From Page 11
was relaxed further in 2008, when the company implemented a “dress-for-your-day philosophy,” that permits dress like blue jeans when appropriate, said company spokeswoman Holly Anderson. “Someone who has meetings scheduled may choose to wear a suit, but opt to dress more casually on a day when their schedule requires less interaction with peers or customers,” Anderson said via email. A firm’s dress code is a reflection of their company culture, the industry the business is in and its customers, said Gerry McKean, interim dean of the Illinois State University College of Business. “Jobs have changed a lot in the last five, 10, 20, 30 years. It’s a different type of work we do,” he said. Nationally young tech companies such as Google, which tells its employees “you can be serious without a suit,” also could have influenced dress codes in recent years, McKean said. The Snyder Companies, which employs about 350 people in McLean County, doesn’t require a suit, but has a detailed written policy on employee dress code to ensure a professional atmosphere, said Laine Sylvester, the company’s human resources manager. Despite a long list of what not to wear, Sylvester said the company has eased its dress code in recent years. Men can wear dress shirts, button-down shirts, turtlenecks, polo shirts, sweaters and cardigans, and nice slacks, chinos, Dockers, khakis and corduroy pants. Women can wear blouses, tailored slacks, khakis, Capri pants, corduroy pants, skirts and dresses. “We are still pretty professional in the way we dress but it isn’t what you would have expected 30 years ago from employees,” she said. “We have the more old-school employees that still come to work every day in their suits and ties, and we’ve got the younger crowd that comes in a collared shirt and nice pants.” Sylvester said they look at the department within the company, what it does and the type of clients those employees work with to determine the policies. “I think it has become trendy to be more casual,” Sylvester said. “I think the younger generations are looking for a more casual work environment and I don’t think that’s for any reason other than that’s what they want.” A more casual dress code can also be a good way to recruit younger workers, said Cindy Hull, Afni contact center recruiter. Many of the jobs at Afni, focused on debt collection and customer service calls, only require a GED or high school diploma. Despite that, the company requires business casual attire. “We take pride in what we do and our more professional dress code reflects that,” she said of the business, which employs about 685 people in Bloomington. “Everyone has Please see dress, Page 14
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BN inc. Connecting Central Illinois business
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David Proeber, The Pantagraph
From right, Kaitlin Muckey, human resources coordinator for The Snyder Companies, Brandon Norton, graphics designer, and Amy O’Neal, business development manager for Picture This Outdoor Advertising, talk about Facebook utilization during a marketing meeting.
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the evolution of local news and information. 20588358
On the cover
dress codes
their own opinions on what’s appropriate and when you go too casual it opens up Pandora’s box.” The company requires employees to dress business casual to encourage professional behavior, she said. Hull said the company hasn’t had many instances where an employee hasn’t followed the code, but said when there is a problem, it is handled by that employee’s supervisor and the person would likely be asked to go home and change. “Yeah, it’s entry level, but we’re priming them for a career. And I feel you do perform better when dressed more professionally,” Hull said. “If you take pride in your appearance, you’re going to take pride in your work.” Katilin Muckey, Sylvester’s assistant at The Snyder Companies, said she performs better when she is dressed up. The 25-year-old wears business casual most days, but will dress up in a blazer, for example, if meeting with customers. “I haven’t been in the business world for an immense amount of time, but looking back at when I was younger, I thought suits were worn by everyone. They still are, but not on a daily basis,” Muckey said. She said her education at ISU helped her learn about dress codes and workplace attire. About six years ago, McKean said faculty in the ISU College of Business began hearing feedback from employers and recruiters who visited campus to interview students. Students lacked in professionalism, they discovered.
Though the students ranked high in other areas, such as technical ability, recruiters were not impressed with students who were not dressed appropriately for an interview and not prepared for interview questions. The feedback resulted in a requirement that Muckey and other students in marketing courses dress in business casual attire for class. The competition for jobs and internships is so intense right now that educators want to make sure students have every opportunity to really perform well, McKean said. “Moving into the real world, I found it very beneficial,” Muckey said of the mandate. “I do find that I’m taken more seriously when I’m dressed to succeed.” A majority of the companies that Luke Sokolowski, an ISU senior in finance from Wheeling, has interviewed with or researched also have a business casual environment. Generally, a suit and tie isn’t required for employees, but they are expected to wear nice pants and a shirt with a collar. “One big thing that I have learned on professionalism is that if you ever aren’t sure what to wear, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask,” said Sokolowski, who wears suits to job interviews. Sokolowski will graduate in December and predicts companies will continue implementing casual dress codes. “I hope that the company I work for has a more business casual atmosphere but I would honestly be OK working in any professional work environment,” he said. The more casual attire also reflects
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the evolution of company structures. Generally, organizations are flatter than they used to be, with less hierarchy, McKean said. The chain-of-command at companies is shorter and jobs have become more level, allowing for a more casual environment. “Generally things are more specialized and there’s a different level of interaction in a firm now than there was,” McKean said. At Coldwell Banker, the dress code policies are also shaped by what is acceptable to the customers. “It all has to do with the clients, you’ve got to dress for what they believe you should be dressed like,” Hundman said. About 80 Coldwell Banker agents and 10 staff members follow the company’s policies. Though it is more casual, Hundman said how you look is still important in business. “Appearance in any walk of life is important. You are judged by first impressions. The nicer you look the better impression you’ll give,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you can’t be casual, but it should be appropriate to what the scenario is.”
MIKE FLYNN
COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL HEART OF AMERICA REALTORS EMAIL: mflynn@cbhoa.com PHONE: 309.662.2124 BROKER – LAWYER – REALTOR® 40 YEARS SERVING McLEAN COUNTY
Belinda Trunell
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Employee relations Richard D. Galbreath
is the founder and president of Performance Growth Partners, Inc., a full service organizational development firm. Contact him via email at rick@performtogrow.com.
Motivating profits G
ood pay, benefits and job stability are expected by employees today and offered by any number of other organizations competing for available workers in our labor market. Your employees want other things as well. They want to have a good relationship with their direct supervisor, to feel appreciated, to be treated with respect, to be “in the loop” on what’s going on and to feel like what they do matters. Taking the time to recognize employees isn’t just a “touchy feely” thing. Employee commitment is strongly associated with job performance. Employees who are committed to an organization work harder and are more productive in their jobs than employees with weak com-
mitment, as measured by sales figures (Bashaw and Grant, 1994) and control of operational costs (DeCotiis and Summers, 1987). Sears found that every 5 percent improvement in employee attitudes drives a 1.3 percent improvement in customer satisfaction and a 0.5 percent growth in store revenues (Rucci, Kirn and Quinn, 1998). Even knowing this, most supervisors will tell you that they don’t thank or recognize their employees as frequently as they should. It isn’t that they don’t appreciate contributions made by staff. The problem is that supervisors are covered up with more pressing responsibilities. As a result, it is easy to forget to go out, say thanks, recognize
Valerie Curry Steve Devore Broker/REALTOR®
(309) 319-0565 vrcurry@aol.com
Jessica Devore
GRI, SFR, ePRO Managing Broker/Owner
Please see motivating, Page 16
Dena Swigart (309) 661-1972 (309) 825-2194 email: denaswigart@hotmail.com web: www.denaswigart.com
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motivating
tion, anything from a greeting card to a cash reward when you catch them doing something noteworthy.
From Page 15
employees and show them that you care. While this is understandable, it is not good for business. It is your people who actually make you money. They run the machines, talk to customers, do the administrative work. If they are not engaged in your business, there will be less than stellar customer service, unnecessary waste, poor quality, absenteeism and any number of other profitstealing problems. There are many things that you can do to start to fill the “appreciation gap” with your employees. For the busiest employers, I suggest a Planned Spontaneous Recognition program. Here’s what to do:
Come up with some low-cost items to give away These items should rarely cost over a couple of dollars each. I recommend that you get a supply of small envelopes with your company logo on them, for example, and write “We feel lucky to have you” on it. Slip one or more scratch off lottery tickets into the envelope. You can also give people all sorts of other small tokens of your apprecia-
The token is not the appreciation It is important to note here that the small gift is not meant to be the appreciation – only a physical reminder of the appreciation they receive for their efforts. If employees get the impression that you are thanking them for their hard work and dedication with a $1 lottery ticket, any motivational impact will be negated. The token is also used to remind the supervisor to go out and “catch” someone doing something right. The supervisor must personally see the good act, not hear about it third-hand and send it out with a memo. Typically, organizations issue supervisors a small supply of these items every month. They sit on the supervisor’s desk as a visible reminder that recognition is an important part of their day. When an employee is caught doing something good, the supervisor pulls that person aside immediately, tells them specifically and descriptively what they did right, genuinely thanks them in a warm and personal way and gives them the small token. If done correctly, this program has a real impact on both morale and business results.
The McLean County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2015 Class of Leadership McLean County. Leadership McLean County is an eight-month program that engages its participants through intentional learning opportunities with community leaders and local organizations.
I lived in McLean County for over ten years before attending Leadership McLean County. The program made me feel like part of the community for the first time. I walked away with a better understanding of what goes into making our community great and how I could make a positive contribution. - Andrew Blumhardt, Class of 2011 To learn more about Leadership McLean County or to apply online visit www.mcleancochamber.org. 16
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Health
Kyle Scheuer, RN, BSN,
is the manager of the orthopedic and neurology unit at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.
Tips on joint replacement A
• Your joint pain persists over time ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and • Your hip or knee stiffens up after sitting for a period Prevention, 600,000 total knee replacements and 332,000 total hip replacements are performed in the of time • Your joint pain prevents you from sleeping United States each year. Joint replacements have become a • You have difficulty walking, climbing stairs, and routine surgery and can significantly relieve pain and increase mobility in about 90 percent getting in and out of a seated Creaky, achy joints are a serious of patients. position • Your joints are stiff or Hip and knee replacement, problem because pain can affect evor arthroplasty, is a surgiswollen ery aspect of your life. Determining cal procedure in which the A joint replacement surgery weight-bearing surfaces of the is a major surgical procedure, when the time is right for a hip or knee knee and hip are removed and but a routine one. Talk to your replacement can be challenging. But replaced with new, artificial doctor to learn what to expect parts called prosthesis. before, during, and after surwhen joint pain is so bad it restricts The goals of total joint reyou from activities you want or need to gery. placement surgery include Ask about the process of do, the time may be right. Talk to your being admitted to the hosincreasing mobility, improving the function of the joint and the type of anesthesia primary care physician about your op- pital, relieving pain. you might need, the type of tions and get a referral to an orthope- implant that will be used, the Creaky, achy joints are a serious problem because pain dic surgeon. Your orthopedic surgeon length of stay in the hospital, can affect every aspect of your rehabilitation, and pain mancan then help you determine if joint life. Determining when the agement. time is right for a hip or knee The more you know, the replacement surgery is right for you. replacement can be challengbetter you will be able to face Sometimes a less invasive procedure ing. But when joint pain is so the challenges and changes may be the answer, but if you have bad it restricts you from actotal joint replacement surgery tivities you want or need to do, will make in your life. Don’t some of the signs listed below, total the time may be right. ever hesitate to ask questions knee or hip replacement may offer the or voice concerns about your Talk to your primary care physician about your options total joint replacement. best chance for pain relief and allow The Joint Replacement Cenand get a referral to an orthoyou to return to normal activities. ter at OSF St. Joseph Medical pedic surgeon. Your orthopedic surgeon Center has a dedicated team can then help you determine if trained in the care of hip and joint replacement surgery is right for you. knee replacement patients. The center offers free hip and Sometimes a less invasive procedure may be the answer, but knee pain seminars that provide information on possible if you have some of the signs listed below, total knee or hip re- causes of pain, importance of getting an accurate diagnosis placement may offer the best chance for pain relief and allow and possible treatment options. you to return to normal activities. Seminars are scheduled June 26 and August 28 from 5 to 7 Signs it might be time for a total joint replacement: p.m. For more information about the center or to register for • You’re no longer as mobile as you’d like to be a seminar, call 309-662-3311 ext. 3070 or visit osfstjoseph. • You feel joint pain when the weather changes org.
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Tourism Crystal Howard
is the director of the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. She can be reached at crystal@visitbn.org.
Summer is the best time for festivals
S
ummer is almost here and with the arrival of good weather comes the excitement of family outings, good food and the entertainment our area festivals bring. We at the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau want to recognize the efforts put forth by many in our community who create and promote festivals in McLean County. These event planners contribute significantly to enhance our quality of life by giving us our leisure time outlets and the economic stimulus that help our communities grow and thrive. It takes the collaboration of many entities to produce the quality of events we have here in McLean County. Our online calendar of events currently boasts 14 festivals from May through August. Nearly all festivals have some key ingredients: a large group of people, a theme, socializing outside, fun, food and entertainment. Sometimes there is fundraising for a particular project. Most of the time, however, festivals are created for the quality of life. With the diversity of our area festivals there is something for everyone. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Sweet Corn Blues Festival, Sugar Creek Arts Festival are a few of the well-known and attended festivals. But did you know that there is a Hummingbird Festival at the Sugar Grove Nature Center or a Glorious Garden Festival at the David Davis Mansion? Our outlying communities also offer unique festivals with Heyworth Days, Danvers Days and Stanford Good Old Days. Charming individuality sets our festivals apart. Festivals are destination drivers. The fundamental reasons for travel are to change place and pace for a different experience. Sometimes it is difficult for residents to understand why anyone would want to pay for an experience that we sometimes take for granted. Community pride results when residents see that tourists are attracted to their area. We encourage visitors as well as locals to attend our festivals. A large percentage of our advertising dollars are spent on promoting Bloomington-Normal festivals, as they attract weekend visitors. While visitors attend a festival they most likely will also be stopping for gas, dining or shopping. McLean County had more than $347 million in visitor expenditures last year and festivals were a contributing factor. So spend some quality time with your family, significant other or a group of friends and attend one of the 14 festivals the Bloomington-Normal area will offer this year. We have mentioned a few but you can find out about all the festivals in our area by logging on to our website www.bloomingtonnormalcvb.org or by calling the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 309-665-0033.
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News in brief Business developments Chateau, city reach tax deal BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Chateau Partners, owners of The Chateau hotel, will pay the city $288,264, including penalties and interest, over the next three years to catch up on unpaid local hotel-motel and food taxes that accumulated over more than two years. The City Council OK’d the deal March 24 with the hotel, which in February saw the long-awaited opening of destination restaurant Tony Roma’s.
Work set for uptown Hyatt NORMAL — Heavy construction equipment soon will be returning to uptown Normal. The City Council on April 4 approved an amendment to a redevelopment pact with developers Tartan Realty and Campus Acquisition allowing site work to start on a planned Hyatt Place Hotel on Broadway across from the Marriott Hotel. Doug Reichl of Tartan Realty said the current foundation at the site will have to be removed. It was built for a proposed bank facility planned by One Main Developers of Champaign.
MEETINGS MADE EASY . ..because they should be.
That project did not get off the ground, and the $25 million, eight-story hotel needs a more substantial foundation.
Chasers fined for liquor violation BLOOMINGTON — A downtown bar given a record fine last year for serving alcohol to 26 underage patrons was handed another fine April 8 after failing to pass a police check in November, and it may be in front of the commission again soon for a third alleged violation. The city’s liquor commission unanimously voted to fine Chasers, 110 W. Washington St., $1,200 for the November violation. The amount will be paid in monthly installments over a year in light of ongoing payments on the business’s record $14,000 fine last year.
Government/taxes Sales tax for schools rejected BLOOMINGTON — By a margin of more than 2 to 1, McLean County voters rejected a 1 percent county sales tax that 13 public school districts could have used to pay for Please see news, Page 21
IT ’ S E A SY TO P O I NT YO U R G R O U P S I N O U R D I R E C TI O N ! The Bloomington-Normal area benefits economically when meetings are held in our hometown. The Convention & Visitors Bureau wants to find out what meetings, sporting and special events you attend on a regular basis, so we can try to bring them to BloomingtonNormal! Help point your groups in our direction by emailing info@visitbn.org with your group’s information and receive a Visitors Prize Pack! BloomingtonNormalCVB.org 800.433.8226 3201 CIRA Drive, Suite 201 Bloomington, IL 61704
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News in brief news
From Page 20
facilities and pay off building bond debt. The County School Facility Occupation Tax was shot down in a March 18 referendum by a vote of 19,044 to 9,011.
Sandage heading to sheriff’s office
likely contains only 70 percent of the steel it was designed to include, an attorney for the city said Monday. The cost to repair the Pepsi Ice Center parking garage could reach $1.6 million. Attorney Greg Meeder, the city’s outside attorney with Holland and Knight, said the problems with the garage included the use of steel bars encased in concrete beams, walls and columns that are smaller in diameter than was called for in design plans.
Normal Township OKs senior center NORMAL — A request to borrow up to $3 million to remodel the former Illinois State University Rec Center for the Normal Township Senior Center was approved by a majority attending the annual township meeting April 8, but it wasn’t without some controversy. Township Supervisor Rich Farr said while the debt mostly would be paid off through tax dollars, Senior Center officials are looking into fees for non-Normal residents attending activities and events at the center. The township also is applying for grants. LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph
McLean County Sheriff’s Lt. Jon Sandage, left, watches election results come in March 18. Sandage defeated Jeff Elston to win the Republican nomination for McLean County sheriff. BLOOMINGTON — McLean County Sheriff’s Lt. Jon Sandage defeated Jeff Elston by more than 2,500 votes to capture the Republican nomination for McLean County sheriff in the March primary election. With no candidate expected to challenge Sandage in November, he is the apparent choice to takeover Dec. 1 for Sheriff Mike Emery, who is not seeking a third term.
City won’t change ward system BLOOMINGTON — The city will keep its current system for electing aldermen after a referendum seeking a change was defeated in the March 18 election. The modified ward system sought in the referendum would have changed the Bloomington City Council from its current system of nine ward-based aldermen to one with five ward-based aldermen and three aldermen elected at large, or by the entire city.
Normal OKs deal for ISU Galleries NORMAL — Work on the new ISU Galleries on the first floor of the Uptown Station parking deck is expected to be completed by August. The Normal City Council on March 17 approved a guaranteed maximum price amendment with general contractors Mangieri Cos. so the build out of the space will not exceed $1.35 million. Illinois State University will reimburse the town for the cost plus 4 percent interest over the next five years.
Attorney: Parking deck steel lacking BLOOMINGTON — A seven-year-old city parking deck that’s been closed due to structural concerns since October
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Education ISU replaces president NORMAL – Larry Dietz, Illinois State University vice president for student affairs, was named ISU president March 22 to succeed Timothy Flanagan, who resigned that day, effective immediately. Flanagan, who received a $480,000 settlement, had been criticized for not attending budget hearings in Springfield and for a confrontation with an employee that led to a criminal charge of disorderly conduct for Flanagan. Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Brent Paterson was named to Dietz’s job.
IWU sued over student’s death BLOOMINGTON — The family of a former Illinois Wesleyan University student who died in 2012 during a fraternity-sponsored trip to a state park has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the fraternity and two other students. Brandon Landau died March 4, 2012, at White Pines State Park in Mount Morris from hypothermia and acute alcohol intoxication while on a trip with fellow members of Sigma Pi fraternity. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages of more than $50,000.
ISU provost takes N.C. job NORMAL — Sheri Noren Everts, vice president for academic affairs and provost for Illinois State University, has been named chancellor of Appalachian State University in North Carolina, effective July 1. Her announcement in late March followed on the heels of the departure of Dan Layzell, vice president for finance and planning, who left in February for Louisiana State University. Please see news, Page 22
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News in brief news
From Page 21
Quinn visits Guard site at Heartland NORMAL — In August, 222 Illinois National Guard members will start work at the National Guard Readiness Center on the Heartland Community College campus. Gov. Pat Quinn stopped there April 5 to see the progress of the new Readiness Center, part of the Illinois Jobs Now program. The $19.7 million project has been in the works for about five years; construction began about 13 months ago.
Former IWU president dies NORMAL — Wendell Hess, 79, a longtime Illinois Wesleyan University administrator and professor who was named Normal’s 2011 Citizen of the Year, died April 3. Hess served one year as IWU’s acting president in 1988 and was credited with spearheading efforts to convert space for computer technology at Buck Library. During his 27-year career at IWU, he was the institution’s first provost, a department chairman and a chemistry professor, receiving its top teaching award.
Central Catholic wins state basketball title BLOOMINGTON — Central Catholic High School’s boys’ basketball team came from an 11-point deficit with four minutes left to claim the Class 2A state tournament championship in overtime March 15 at Peoria’s Carver Arena. The 76-62 victory over Nashville was the school’s first boys’ state title in its fifth appearance at the state tournament. A celebration in the school’s gym the next day attracted about 350 people.
Cadaver lab to teach students LeROY — While some people just see a cadaver in a body bag in a LeRoy office, a small but growing number of McLean County doctors and educators see an out-of-theclassroom opportunity to inspire and educate high school students interested in medicine. McLean County Medical Society — led by its secretary, Dr. Tom Pliura — is sponsoring a Human Anatomy Cadaver Dissection Lab for advanced-level high school students interested in careers in medicine. Pliura — an emergency medicine physician and lawyer — prepared for after-school labs starting in early April in a back room of his LeRoy law office.
Health
Woodford healthiest county BLOOMINGTON – Woodford County ranked as the healthiest of Illinois’ 102 counties in the fifth annual County Health Rankings, released March 25 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin
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Population Health Institute. McLean County ranked 31st. The rankings allow counties to determine how well they’re doing on 29 factors that influence health, including smoking, percent of people who report being in poor or fair health, percent of low birth weight babies, unemployment, physical inactivity and access to healthy foods.
Cancer center upgrades technology NORMAL — The TrueBeam STx radiation treatment system, state-of-the-art technology for tracking and zapping tumors, came to the Community Cancer Center in Normal this spring. “This is the newest technology,” Executive Director Joe Prosser said of the $3.9 million system as it was being tested in March. “People don’t have to leave the community to receive the latest, greatest care.” TrueBeam is an X-ray machine, CT machine and linear accelerator.
Hospice provider eyes Central Illinois BLOOMINGTON — A hospice provider operating in northern Illinois asked the state in late March for permission to expand into Central Illinois, nearly a month after Passages Hospice ceased operations. Transitions Hospice — which is based in Huntley and provides end-of-life care for patients in their homes and nursing homes in 15 northern Illinois counties — has asked Illinois Department of Public Health to add seven Central Illinois counties to Transitions’ license, co-owner Jim Palazzo said. The counties are McLean, Tazewell, Woodford, Ford, Peoria, Champaign and Vermilion, he said.
Social services United Way names CEO BLOOMINGTON — Building relationships with staff and volunteers of United Way of McLean County and with representatives of other nonprofit agencies is job one for United Way’s new president and CEO. “My leadership philosophy is to empower people and help them to use their creative gifts to be successful in their roles,” David Taylor told The Pantagraph on March 20 after he was named to lead the organization that tries to identify and respond to human service needs.
Baby Fold appoints leader NORMAL — The new president and CEO of one of Central Illinois’ larger human services agencies said she’s hugging — rather than shoving away — the growing challenges in behavioral health care services. Dianne Schultz was named April 2 to lead The Baby Fold, the Normal-based agency that specializes in programs for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. She replaces Dale Strassheim, who is retiring July 1 after 12 years as CEO. Schultz, Baby Fold’s director of academic services, has been with the organization since 1992.
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