January Voice 2016 by Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce

SPECIAL SECTION: MARKETING CHANNELS FOR YOUR BUSINESS PAGE 18

GUNITE MAKES STRIDES PAGE 4 The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

January 2016 | Volume 29 | No. 1

Rockford Leadership Alliance launches in January Rockford Leadership Alliance participants will take a deep-dive into six of Covey’s core trust concepts: Deliver Results, Talk Straight, Demonstrate Respect, Create Transparency, Listen First, and Extend Trust. The Rockford Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the launch of the newly formed Rockford Leadership Alliance on Jan. 22, 2016 at the “Leading Change” workshop with Stephen M.R. Covey. At this workshop, participants will participate in an engaging session covering Covey’s The Speed of Trust. Following the half-day session, Rockford Leadership Alliance participants will take a deep-dive into six of Covey’s core trust concepts: Deliver Results, Talk Straight, Demonstrate Respect, Create Transparency, Listen First and Extend Trust. As part of the Rockford Leadership Alliance, participants will attend six additional half-day workshops, each focused on a different core trust concept. To encourage meaningful conversation as well as personal and professional growth, participants will work through each session within a small group comprised of their peers. Facilitators from The Anser Group will be on site to help participants work through meaningful and engaging

exercises and dialogue that will, in turn, help participants identify and grow their skill level in the trust topics.

A Look into the Speaker Docket Speakers for the 2016 Rockford Leadership Alliance series have a diverse background that will be sure to lead to engaging and motivating presentations. Following Stephen M.R. Covey’s half-day workshop, James Clear will present at the Feb. 25 session, covering the concept Deliver Results. Clear, a blogger, writes about behavioral psychology and how to form habits that stick. His website, JamesClear.com, is read by more than 500,000 people each month, and more Continued on page 16

Rock Valley College: Looking forward to 2016 By Paul Anthony Arco

Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com ■ online registration ■ keynote speaker video clips ■ event photos ■ list of Chamber events Questions? 815-987-8100

Join the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group

Rock Valley College had plenty to celebrate in 2015 — its 50th anniversary year. But the year also brought a number of challenges to the college, including the elimination of 30 jobs due to the state budget impasse. RVC President Mike Mastroianni addressed the milestone, ongoing projects as well as challenges, at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s Higher Education Luncheon, Dec. 10, before a crowd of 200 business and education leaders at Giovanni’s. “It’s bittersweet,” Mastroianni said. “On the day we announced the cuts of our

friends and co-workers, we also announced great partnerships and opportunities that will serve the needs of our region. We’re finishing the celebration of 50 years and announcing sad news at the same time. It wasn’t easy.” “It was a good time to hear directly about the budget cuts and how RVC is addressing it,” said Einar Forsman, president and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “There are other plans still moving forward that impact economic development. Mike did a good job separating those issues and making sure people understood how it works. People are still out getting two-year degrees and that’s a positive.” Continued on page 3

RECYCLE CHRISTMAS TREES THROUGH JAN. 15 Drop off your Christmas trees to be recycled into free mulch, Jan. 1 to 15, at local sites arranged by Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful in Rockford, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton and Pecatonica. Belvidere’s street department also will accept trees at 515 W. Locust St. New this year, the drop-off location in Machesney Park has changed to the southwest parking lot of Machesney Town Center, 8750 N. Second St., off South Mall Drive near the rear of the former J.C. Penney store. Before dropping off a tree, remove the stand, ornaments, lights or wraps. After trees are chipped, mulch is available while supplies last, not guaranteed, and self-serve. Any remainder will be cleared by March. Bring shovels and containers to take home the mulch for landscaping. Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful calculates that more than 750,000 trees have been recycled since 1988. For the list of drop-off sites, visit knib.org or call 815-637-1343.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Rockford Chamber

ANNUAL DINNER Jan. 21 • Giovanni’s

SPONSORED BY For more info, see page 27

BUDGET CUTS INCLUDE LICENSE PLATE RENEWAL NOTICES With the budget stalemate continuing in Springfield, residents will not be receiving reminders from the Secretary of State’s office to renew their license plates. Secretary of State Jesse White’s office has temporarily stopped sending renewal notices due to lack of money to pay for postage; for a savings of $450,000 per month. To avoid forgetting to renew, receive an “electronic notification,” which will allow you to renew your license plates online. Sign up at www.cyberdriveillinois.com using your ID and Pin number, which can be found on your current registration card. For questions call 800-252-8980.

January 2016

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President’s Message VIEWPOINT

Ideas for Growing Your Business in 2016 For those of you who have already successfully started a business and are ready to take the next step, you may be wondering what you can do to help your business grow. There are many ways to do this, 10 of which are outlined below. Choosing the proper one (or ones) for your business will depend on the type of business you own, your available resources, and how much money, time and resources you’re willing to invest all over again. If you’re ready to grow, take a look at these tips. Open another location. This is often the first way business owners approach growth. If you feel confident that your current business location is under control, consider expanding by opening a new location. Offer your business as a franchise or business opportunity. Franchising your business will allow for growth without requiring you to manage the new location. This will help to maximize the time you spend improving your business in other ways, too. License your product. This can be an effective, low-cost growth medium, particularly if you have a service product

or branded product. Licensing also minimizes your risk and is low cost in comparison to the price of starting your own company to produce and sell your brand or product. To find a licensing partner, start by researching companies that provide products or services similar to yours. Form an alliance. Aligning yourself with a similar type of business can be a powerful way to expand quickly. Diversify. Diversifying is an excellent strategy for growth, because it allows you to have multiple streams of income that can often fill seasonal voids and, of course, increase sales and profit margins. Here are a few of the most common ways to diversify: ■■ Sell complementary products or services ■■ Teach adult education or other types of classes ■■ Import or export yours or others’ products ■■ Become a paid speaker or columnist Target other markets. Your current market is serving you well. Are there others? Probably. Use your imagination

to determine what other markets could use your product. Win a government contract. One of the best ways to grow your business is to win business from the government. Work with your local SBA and Small Business Development Center to help you determine the types of contracts available to you. Merge with or acquire another business. Two is always bigger than one. Investigate companies that are similar to yours, or that have offerings that are complementary to yours, and consider the benefits of combining forces or acquiring the company. Expand globally. To do this, you’ll need a foreign distributor who can carry your product and resell it in their domestic markets. You can locate foreign distributors by scouring your city or state for a foreign company with a U.S. representative. Expand to the Internet. Very often, customers discover a business through an online search engine. Be sure that your business has an online presence in order to maximize your exposure. The U.S. Small Business Administra-

tion (SBA) was created in 1953 Einar K. Forsman as an indepenRockford Chamber of Commerce dent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America’s future, and to helping the United States compete in today’s global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam. For more information and strategies on growing your business, visit the Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov.

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Higher Education (continued from front page)

New Developments In 2015, RVC announced plans to open a new downtown location that will be housed inside the Rockford Register Star building. The new site, which will open this fall, will offer specific credit and transfer programs, as well as adult education, GED and developmental courses. The new Health Science Center will open in the fall semester of 2017. A partnership with OSF Saint Anthony College of Nursing will allow students to take two years of nursing courses, before transferring to a bachelor’s program. Enrollment in the nursing program has doubled since the announcement was made last spring. Last fall, RVC opened a new 40,000-sq.ft. Aviation Career Education Center at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. It replaced the 9,800-sq.-ft. hangar

that was home to the RVC’s aviation maintenance technology program for the past 47 years. Enrollment in the program has tripled in the past year. And a new engineering partnership between RVC and Northern Illinois University will enhance the school’s engineer offerings to area students and provide NIU space on the RVC campus. “I’ve known for a long time how special RVC is to this community,” said RVC Board Chairman Frank Haney. “I believe the business community is starting to see RVC in a new light. The partnerships you’re seeing are part of a very unique way to do community college. It’s changing the paradigm of how people see Rock Valley. When we talk about transforming Rockford, I would argue that Rock Valley is at the heart of a transformation. It’s a showplace.”

community to step up in three areas:

Community Involvement Needed

mission.”

Moving forward, the chamber community will have an important role in RVC’s success. “We need the business

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101

January 2016

For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100. The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 1086-0630, is published monthly by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, Illinois 61101. Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.

financial, facilities and other support,” said Mastroianni. “We continue to pursue space for adjunct facilities, lab space and other programs. We need businesses to hire graduates. And we also have opportunities to support scholarship funds for students who need assistance.” Many RVC supporters point to Mastroianni, who’s not only president, but a 17-year employee and RVC graduate, as the key to the college’s success. “Mike has been awesome,” said Haney. “Once you get to know him as a person, it’s not surprising under his leadership the college has accomplished many great things. He’s a team builder. We want to get this budget passed, see what the new normal is going to be and keep marching on to make sure we’re fulfilling our Despite the state funding issues, Mastroianni promises that capital projects will continue on schedule. “I’m hopeful the state will come up with some funding soon,” he said. “You can’t have a whole year go by without some solution. We need stability. It’s been one thing after another for 1½ years. Hopefully, the worst is over.” The

presenting

sponsor

the

luncheon was BMO Harris Bank. The gold sponsors were Rockford University and Saint Anthony College of Nursing. The bronze sponsor was Rock River Valley Blood Center.

January 2016

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Member Profile PROFILE

Today, after more than $60 million in improvements, Gunite Corp. remains a fixture in the Rockford manufacturing arena.

Improved Gunite Corp.

Making strides in global manufacturing By Paul Anthony Arco Four years ago, Gunite was in a precarious situation. The owners of the Rockford plant had to decide whether to close, sell or renovate. “In 2011, we had to either fix this business or let someone else do it,” said Greg Risch, president, Gunite business unit, Accuride Corporation. “Historically, Gunite faced problems such as a lack of investing in equipment, lack of facility leadership as well as research and development. We weren’t competitive. It was a pretty tough situation. But we fixed our problems with new leadership, facilities and equipment upgrades and reducing our footprint. Our new leadership came in and executed the plan flawlessly.” Accuride CEO Rick Dauch, who joined Gunite’s parent company in early 2011, opted to keep Gunite and make wholesale changes. Today, after more than $60 million in improvements, the plant remains a fixture in the Rockford manufacturing arena. Gunite was founded by Duncan Forbes and his son Alexander as the Eagle Foundry in 1854. The foundry was among the first manufacturers to locate within the city’s Water Power District, which had been established along the west bank of the Rock River. The company started out by making sled runners and farm implements, before introducing cast iron brake drums and truck wheels in the 1920s. In 1932, the company changed its name to Gunite Foundries Corp. Today, the company is one of the leading North American manufacturers of wheel-end components for commercial vehicles. Gunite’s product line includes brake drums, disc wheel hubs, spoke wheels, and rotors, as well as automatic slack adjusters, for the heavy-duty and medium-duty trucking, off-highway and bus markets and their related aftermarkets. In 2005, Gunite was acquired by Accuride Corp., based in Evansville, Ind., as part of Accuride’s strategic plan to become a premier supplier of wheel-end system solutions to the global commercial vehicle industry. “Gunite can provide any wheel end system for braking that customers need,” said Ed Bledsoe II, director of operations. “We make primarily brake drums and

components for commercial vehicles like tractors and trailers, from start to finish under one roof. We’re the only drum supplier that is vertically integrated.”

New Life for Gunite Accuride is the top producer of steel wheels and the second-leading producer of aluminum wheels in North America. Each year, the company sells between 1.5 and 2.3 million drums. Accuride has three business units and 9 total operational sites. Gunite’s largest customers include Daimler Trucks, Mack and Volvo. In 2012, Accuride Corp., consolidated Gunite facilities in Elkhart, Ind., and machining operations in Brillion, Wis., into manufacturing operations in Rockford. Accuride has 2,750 employees, including 350 in Rockford. Gunite hourly workers are represented by the United Auto Workers Local 718. For its efforts, Gunite was recognized by the Association of Manufacturing Excellence last year with an AME Excellence Award. “The people on the floor take great pride in being recipients of this prestigious award,” said Bledsoe. “It validates the hard work we’ve done. This place was broken for so many years. This award has been a boost in moral. People believe in Gunite again.” Gunite has been a longstanding member of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. In addition, company representatives serve on the advisory council of EIGERlab and are active with TechWorks and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. Bledsoe serves on the Shelter Care Ministries board of directors. “It’s been a pleasure to watch the transformation of Gunite,” said Risch. “The recent AME award is a milestone market in our progress and our journey. We’ve made investments in the facility because we’re here for the long haul. The future looks good. But there’s more work to do. We have business yet to win.”

GUNITE CORPORATION (a business unit of Accuride) Greg Risch, president, Gunite business unit 302 Peoples Ave., Rockford 815-490-6260 accuridewheelendsolutions.com

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January 2016

Why join a not-for-profit board Getting actively involved By Sue Grans, NICNE

Explain the roles and responsibilities. Be candid about the expectations.

People who join a not-for-profit board do so for many and different reasons: to meet other business people outside of their regular business circles; to be involved with a group or cause they believe in; because the boss told them they needed to be on a board; to help make a difference in our community. Once on a board, people either become involved in the agency/organization or they show up and sit there. In today’s challenging environment, it is no longer effective or appropriate to be a member in name only – a name on a roster. Today’s boards require engagement. Agencies need and deserve active board members. When I have addressed this issue before, it has been at board retreats or planning meetings. The problem is that at such meetings, we are preaching to the choir. The people at those meetings show up prepared, offer ideas not just criticism, encourage and advise staff. In short, they are good board members. But we need to reach the board members in name only. How do we engage them? We can engage all of our board members by doing three things:

2. Hold a board orientation meeting. As simple as it sounds, inviting new board members to an hour meeting is vital. At that meeting, explain not only the overall operation and challenges of the organization, but also review what it means to be a board member. It isn’t a bad idea also to hold a “refresher” orientation for all board members to keep them focused.

1. Have a small committee who recruits new board members wisely.

3. Follow-up with board members who seem disconnected; are not participating. We all have jobs, family, health and home issues. It is perfectly fine to step back. It is necessary. It is a reality. By checking in, another board member can determine the situation and even mentor a fellow board member or answer questions the board member was too shy to ask. And finally, as engaged board members, there are three things we can do — both to help the organization, and in the long run, help ourselves. 1. Be an advocate for the organization. Have basic information about the organization handy and know how to connect others in the community to the organization. You don’t need the answers; you do need to know where

to direct others. Having a web address, email or phone number are important ways to be an advocate. 2. Provide stewardship and oversight. Offer advice if it is an area of your expertise. Read the minutes. Review the financials. Even if you’re not an accountant, you are a businessperson. Do the reports and financials make sense? Are the staff reports in sync with what else is being said at the meeting or do you think there is a disconnect? Listen, read the board packet. Don’t be afraid to ask a question, compliment a staff member or seek further information. 3. Offer financial support. Yes, that means having skin in the game. Large or small, it really matters that you give.

It shows you care. “You get it.” Financial support also means offering to set up a meeting with others who might share in the organization’s mission. Write a letter of support. So why join a board? Do so for all the right reasons and know the expectations. Engage is an active verb. It means we must do it. Someone will not do it for us. Sue Grans is a retired Rockford businesswoman who has served on many not-for-profit boards and currently is a member of NICNE’s Advisory Committee. The views expressed are those of Grans’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

January 2016

Issues to Watch GOVERNMENT

By Barbara Connors

LOCAL NEWS Rockford Park District uses alternative strategies to balance budget

In December, the Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners approved a 2016 tax levy, which remained flat. (Actual information on the EAV, tax levy extension, and tax rates will not be available until spring, 2016.) The district was left with an approximate $1.1 million deficit. To balance its budget, it is incorporating alternative revenue strategies; sponsorships, naming rights and foundation support, along with additional fee revenue from Reclaiming First facilities and growing ice programs. It has implemented lean strategies, operational efficiencies and eliminated six positions without layoffs by transferring employees to open positions. “In order to reduce the deficit, we analyzed as many creative ways as possible to minimize service cuts to our citizens,” said Tim Dimke, executive director of the RPD.

Teaching Kids to Wash Hands

Winnebago County Health Department continues to see new cases of Shigellosis in the schoolaged population and reminds adults to teach children good hand-washing techniques. In late November, the WCHD reported 34 cases of Shigellosis in the community since October, 2015. The majority were isolated and impacted children in daycare and elementary schools. Anyone with symptoms of diarrhea should contact their primary healthcare provider and stay home from work, school or daycare until released by their provider. Shigella can be treated with antibiotics and supportive care, including fever management and fluids. “Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others,” said Dr. Sandra Martell, public health administrator of the Winnebago County Health Department. One tip is to teach children to scrub hands for at least 20 seconds humming the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

STATE NEWS

Governor signs bill to fund critical programs

On Dec. 7, the Illinois Senate passed and Gov. Rauner signed into law Senate Bill 2039 to ensure funding for road crews to salt icy roads this winter. It also ensures funding for local 9-1-1 centers to operate, firefighters to receive vital training, and for the state’s portion of LIHEAP, lottery winners, HIV/Aids prevention, the Special Olympics and other state programs. Most of the funding is federal dollars or special state funds for specific programs such as motor fuel tax distributions to local governments. A small portion comes from Illinois’ General Revenue Fund, which will provide money to the Secretary of State to cover electric bills and maintenance costs at state facilities, and fund shelters that serve victims of domestic violence. ■■ Village of Machesney Park, 300 Roosevelt Road, Machesney Park Boone County ■■ Salvation Army, 422 S. Main St., Belvidere ■■ Belvidere Public Safety Building, 615 N. Main St., Belvidere (24 hours/seven days a week)

RHA, City announce fundraiser to provide low-income households with Internet access

The Rockford Housing Authority and the City of Rockford are collaborating with President Obama’s ConnectED Initiative to provide Internet broadband access to Housing Authority residents in their homes. ConnectHome launched on Dec. 8 as a nationwide program to raise $2 million in the next three months to subsidize the cost of at least one device and up to 10 months of free service or a mobile hotspot for every family with primary or secondary school-aged children living in HUDassisted housing across 28 selected communities, including Rockford.

Winnebago and Boone counties offer warming centers

The City of Rockford Human Services Department announced that warming centers will be open in Winnebago and Boone counties, November, 2015 to April, 2016 to provide safe and warm locations during extreme cold temperatures for those without housing or who do not have the resources to heat their homes adequately. Centers are open during day hours, unless otherwise noted. Please call the facilities for specific days and hours.

Winnebago County ■■ The Carpenter’s Place, 1149 Railroad Ave., Rockford ■■ Winnebago County Justice Center, 650 W. State St., Rockford (24 hours/seven days a week) ■■ Women’s Crisis Center, Rockford Rescue Mission, 809 Cedar St., Rockford (women and children only) ■■ Men’s Crisis Center, Rockford Rescue Mission, 715 W. State St., Rockford ■■ Pecatonica Village Hall, 405 Main St., Pecatonica

State Authorized Sites ■■ Illinois Dept. of Human Services, Family Community Resource Center, 1111 N. Avon St., Rockford (except state and federal holidays) ■■ Belvidere Oasis/Illinois Tollway, East of Belvidere Toll Plaza on I-90 (24 hours/seven days a week)

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provisions to keep fires from spreading, smoke and carbon monoxide detection, emergency escapes and fire sprinkler requirements in townhomes. “Adopting the Northwest Illinois Regional Building Code is a significant step forward in building safety as well as aiding in the design and construction of quality structures in our community,” said local architects Dan Saavedra and Guy Gelhausen of Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects. “An added benefit will be reduction of building code amendments which sometimes add costly modifications to building plans without a recognizable benefit in increased value, comfort or safety for building occupants.” The City of Rockford and participating municipalities are offering workshops in various locations for architects, developers, contractors, engineers and construction professionals. Contact Andrew Pieri, Andrew.Pieri@ rockfordil.gov or 779-348-7445 for questions.

City seeks to launch Northwest Illinois Regional Building Code

The City of Rockford announced in November that the region is positioned to launch a newly adopted unified building code, effective Jan. 1, 2016. The city initiated the process in early March by meeting with more than 30 municipalities in the region to gauge interest in an intentional and collaborative effort to streamline design processes and procedures. The Northwest Illinois Regional Building Code would provide standardization and continuity for building and construction projects across multiple municipalities and counties in the Rock River Valley. The code is a comprehensive set of standards and requirements for structural and life safety and sustainability in building construction. It implements core standards, mitigates code confusion and streamlines processes and associated paperwork for design professionals; resulting in reduced code violations and lower building costs due to new material allowances and fewer building practice restrictions. “This collaborative effort will better assist and encourage design professionals who are interested in investing in participating communities by providing an agreed-upon, common set of clear and consistent building code standards,” said Todd Cagnoni, director of community and economic development for the City of Rockford. It features 144 total amendments. Life safety features include

Pedestrian bridge closed; in need of repairs

The Jefferson Street pedestrian bridge over the Rock River near downtown Rockford will remain closed. “A recently completed evaluation revealed additional deterioration,” said Rockford Park District Executive Director Tim Dimke. RPD staff will continue to work with the City of Rockford on options for ongoing repairs. Total cost to remove and replace the pedestrian bridge is estimated to be $2.5 million. Over the last five years, approximately $500,000 from the RPD’s capital improvements program has been set aside in anticipation of the repairs. The district is exploring options for state and federal recreation path grant funds to assist with the repair costs.

Rockford police offers auto theft safety tips

The Rockford Police Department advised citizens to be aware of vehicle safety protocols following an increase in vehicular thefts in the community. It stated that early model minivans, such as the Dodge Caravan, are among the frequently Continued on page 12

January 2016

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The business of incentives Tools in the economic development toolbox By Stacy Bernardi, RAEDC I had the pleasure of attending a recent Next Rockford meeting on how a community’s Equalized Assessed Value is calculated for property taxes. This project was started in January, 2015 by the RAEDC and its partners because high property taxes are an issue in recruiting top talent and new businesses to the Rockford Region. The panel presentation, featuring Jimsi Kuborn of the RAEDC, Michele Petrie, Ashley Sarver, Conor Brown and Ken Crowley, spurred a great deal of conversation among the meeting attendees. As the conversation continued well past the allotted time, many questions were raised about corporate tax breaks, and what are known as “incentives.” This is where I joined the conversation. As the VP of development for the RAEDC and formerly the director of regional planning and economic development for Winnebago County, I have worked on many retention and expansion opportunities in the region that included state and local incentives. Those of us that work in economic development look at incentives as “tools” in our toolbox to help attract, retain and expand companies, thereby growing property values and prime jobs.

Economic Development Tools The “tools” available in most municipalities include Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Districts, Enterprise Zones, and in some cases, Tax Abatements. A TIF zone is a powerful development incentive tool used across the country, including Illinois. TIF district boundaries are determined locally because the incentive involves property taxes, which funds local taxing bodies such as the city, county and schools. In a TIF district, the property taxes paid to local taxing bodies are frozen based on the assessed value of the land when the TIF zone is implemented. Because development increases the value of property, the property taxes on the increased value of the land do not go to local taxing bodies’ general fund. Instead, this portion of tax goes toward property improvements and infrastructure that support the development. This type of assistance encourages development of blighted areas because of the significant barriers that impede investment. After the TIF district expires, all property taxes on the developed land are re-diverted to the local taxing authorities. Enterprise zones also are specific areas of a municipality targeted for development. These areas are defined by

local government with State of Illinois approval because the incentives involve income and sales tax, which is state revenue, as well as property taxes. There are several components of the Enterprise Zone incentive, but include a credit on income taxes equal to 0.5 percent of investment in the property, a sales tax exemption on building supplies for the development, and an abatement on the increased portion of property taxes created by development for a certain period of time.

Tax abatements are an incentive tool that reduce or eliminate property taxes for a determined period of time, often three, five, or even 10 years. The percentage of the abatement is negotiated individually and approved by all taxing bodies. In the case of one company that was attracted to our area because of the tax abatement, it purchased land that had provided $423 in property tax to the largest taxing body. Its development plans increased the tax return to that taxing body to $24,000. In other words, the

Figure 1

RAEDC Leadership Council develops EAV white paper

A look at impact of property taxes on economic growth When you think about selling our region, what are some hurdles? Property taxes would be high on that list. The creation of the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) white paper by the RAEDC’s Leadership Council is an ad hoc project that looks to educate, identify and propose solutions for forward strategies on improving property taxes. Presenting the white paper during a Next Rockford meeting was a small portion of the EAV white paper committee, comprised of Michele Petrie, BMO Harris; Kenneth Crowley, Rockford Township Assessor; Ashley Sarver, Gary W. Anderson Architects; Conor Brown, Rockford Realtors, and Jimsi Kuborn, RAEDC. The five-person panel presented the working document; explaining how property taxes are determined, and answered questions from the Next Rockford crowd of about 50 attendees. Many of the questions related to attracting business and how to sell the region to perspective employees as well as businesses looking for a location to do business. By attracting businesses into the region, it pulls some of the tax burden off the residents and expands the tax base.

One of the key message points of the meeting was accurately educating the community about how the tax bill is calculated (see Figure 1).

Steps Towards Improving the Situation The initiative was created by the RAEDC’s Leadership Council and spearheaded by Jimsi Kuborn as the staff liaison. This is a preliminary step in improving the property value/ tax situation in our region. The need is for an educated public and a better understanding of the Rockford Region when compared to other areas in northern Illinois related to taxes, protested valuation rates and the increase or maintenance of levies. During the meeting, Michele Petrie called on Next Rockford members – young professionals dedicated to impacting education, business expansion and urban development – to educate their communities and those around them about property taxes, the processes as well as the solutions. Download the EAV White Paper (a working document) in its entirety at www.RockfordIL.com.

return on investment for the community was significant. If it had not been for the tax abatement, the company, along with 40 prime jobs and future expansion plans, would have gone to Wisconsin.

What the Region Gets The most important thing to keep in mind is that these “tools” or incentives are put in place to help companies expand, grow and market our region. In this exceedingly competitive time between the states, incentives are used to attract and retain those companies that may be looking to leave the state. Illinois is actually ranked in most categories as a pro-business state. For many years, and even now, we rank higher than Wisconsin as a better state in which to do business (based on CNBC and Forbes metrics). The biggest and best payback that we gain from these incentives is that they may attract new business to the area, such as a new 450,000-sq. ft. Woodward facility and AAR, the new MRO at the airport. These are huge wins for any region and especially a region of our size. They also help us retain business in the region, and help small- to medium-size businesses grow and expand. This is where the multiplier fact comes in. Primary job creation means more people are employed, more homes are purchased, and children attend our schools, community colleges and universities. And the biggest benefit is the gain in sales tax revenue that goes up from more primary jobs being created. This is basically cash that comes back to the municipality that can be spent on improving infrastructure, revitalization of area, blight reduction, crime prevention and many other things. Our job at the RAEDC, along with our municipal partners, is to help assist companies in workforce development, expanding, thriving, educating and employing more people. Therefore, these tools can help the company, and we in turn can help and assist them however we need too. This makes our community a better place to live, work and play. As times change, we see these incentives playing less of a role in economic development. As the tides turn, we are seeing a shift away from incentives and more emphasis put on workforce development, education and training of the workforce and available workforce. After all, as incentives are helpful to a company and a community, if you don’t have the available workforce, your company cannot survive. Stacy Bernardi is VP of development at the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

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January 2016

Selection of a new manufacturing information system By Amy Fitzgerald, IMEC

Internal Commitment

The decision to implement a new enterprise-wide manufacturing information system is not an easy one. It may stem from recognizing the shortcomings of the existing system or from proactively looking at future information requirements. Common attributes of an effective software system include:

Any successful information technology project, whether it is the installation of a new workstation or the implementation of a new manufacturing information system, requires the commitment of internal staff as well as access to timely, relevant and factual information on available software choices. To develop this internal commitment, leaders may utilize a company-wide needs assessment incorporating the information needs of the organization and quantifying any shortcomings of the existing information system as they pertain to each department within the company.

■■ Increased system stability and reliability ■■ Reduced scrap and defects tracking ■■ Increased sales/order entry efficiency ■■ Shop floor or work center data collection ■■ Reduced or eliminated human error ■■ Quality systems/ISO reporting requirements ■■ Reduced or eliminated non-value added steps ■■ Bar coding inventory ■■ Customer Just in Time (JIT) requirements ■■ Increased inventory accuracy ■■ Improved management reporting ■■ Increased product costing accuracy ■■ Automated work order generation ■■ Finished product tracking ■■ Increased production scheduling efficiency ■■ Maintenance scheduling ■■ Machine utilization tracking ■■ Fleet maintenance and scheduling ■■ Standardized work instructions and processes ■■ Reduced Work In Process (WIP) ■■ Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) requirements Evaluation and selection is the first step in the manufacturing information system optimization process. Through this process, we work with companies to quantify manufacturing information needs, evaluate and assess current processes, and identify available manufacturing software packages that meet or exceed those needs using a thorough, unbiased methodology.

Identifying Potential Manufacturing Systems To better understand the organization and its direction, we meet with a company’s top management to determine its highlevel informational and organizational needs. Then, with the management and key personnel from all functional areas

within the company, we will quantify informational requirements of each area or department and discuss their effects on the entire organization. The internal teams are then provided an overview of compatible manufacturing information system packages that meet or exceed the organization’s needs, along with the strengths and weaknesses of each as they compare to quantified requirements.

Narrowing the Options Vendor-provided system capabilities, initial capability research, past experience and existing implementations are all investigated and discussed with the team to narrow the list to just those packages which meet the needs of the organization, from both the functionality and cultural fit perspectives.

Development of Sample Data Companies often face a challenge in developing sample data sets and scheduling on-site or web-based demonstrations with each selected software provider.

FMA announces plans to move to Elgin this year By Barbara Connors The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), a professional organization founded in Rockford in 1970, announced plans in December to move its headquarters to Elgin, Ill. FMA executives said the location offers greater access and convenience to its nearly 2,500 members, as well as its suppliers and other industry stakeholders, many of whom are located in Chicago or near the I-90 corridor. Plans are to break ground on a new building in April within the Elgin city limits near the intersection of I-90 and the Randall Road exit. Occupancy is expected in November. “The location greatly enhances FMA’s ability to serve the metal fabrication industry, which is our overarching goal, and sets the

foundation for FMA’s future growth,” said Al Zelt, FMA board chairman. “In addition, we now will be much closer to one of our most exciting initiatives – the new FMA Metal Fabrication Lab being built at Harper College in nearby Palatine, Ill., and set to open in January.” FMA executives said the relocation will not result in the loss of any staff positions, and the organization will provide ways to minimize inconveniences to its 75 employees. Ed Youdell, FMA president & CEO, stated the budget accommodates the land purchase, building construction and relocation costs. The organization plans to sell its Rockford building. FMA is known internationally for its FABTECH® tradeshow; Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (NBT) manufacturing student scholarships; national Manufacturing Day, and publications.

By ensuring demonstrations comprehensively illustrate how the application will perform with the company’s Amy Fitzgerald specific IMEC information, process structure and trading partners, we can help your team determine which tools and functionalities are most valuable and those that will not apply to your environment.

Interviewing Potential Providers At the request of the manufacturer, it often is necessary to participate in all software demonstrations, site visits and follow-up discussions with software vendors and the internal team. IMEC’s experience aids company evaluations of software packages based on a wide variety of factors such as functionality, total implemented cost, hardware and infrastructure requirements, ease of implementation, level of provided service and support, and strength and reputation of the provider.

Negotiation and Selection To complete the project, technical experts walk with the team through the review and negotiation of the purchase agreement. Through expertise and past experience in many similar projects, we provide teams with an alternate and unbiased perspective when evaluating the applicability of the software tools offered and the comprehensiveness of proposed services plan. Designed to provide companies with as much or as little assistance as needed, the evaluation and selection process of a manufacturing information system will allow companies to make thoughtful, strategic decisions that affect the entire business. For more information on the IMEC approach to information technology, please contact info@imec.org or call 888-806-4632. Amy Fitzgerald is marketing manager at IMEC. Manufacturing News is sponsored by IMEC

January 2016

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Rockford University PERSPECTIVE

Leadership in 2016

Small improvements; huge gains A new year is upon us! This is the time when many organizations and individuals “take stock” of the current situations and plan for the upcoming year(s). Unfortunately for many, one or two months later our plans are not working out, and by year end, we are no further along than we are today. How does this happen? The simple answer is life gets in the way. The more complex answer: we manage to set goals and objectives, but may not possess the leadership capabilities to move things along. We get caught up in the day to day of our lives and/or the ongoing daily challenges of running our organizations and don’t spend enough time taking steps and leading others to make our longer term goals into realities.

Jeff Fahrenwald Rockford University

Take the time and do it when

you are best at it. Many potential or ineffective leaders don’t regularly think, reflect and plan or they do it at the wrong time. For me, my best planning/ thinking is done at 6 a.m. If I try to do my important thinking/planning in the afternoon, the results aren’t very good. All leaders need to find their time and use it effectively. 3.

Become

effective

delegator. It is hard to lead if you are continually having to do the work of yourself AND your people. As a leader, your job should be to delegate effectively and to clear away roadblocks others face so they can do their jobs. In too many cases, leaders become ineffective by taking on the work,

The best advice a leader ever gave me was, “If someone asks you to do something, check your goals, not your calendar.”

instead of clearing the roadblocks. 4. Take time to develop yourself professionally. Leadership is hard work; in fact it is the hardest work to be done in an organization. You won’t be able to become or continue to be an effective leader if the tools you have in your toolbox are old and rusty.

I believe the greatest challenge any leader faces is the balancing act between management, which is necessary to keep the organization successful in the short run, and leadership, which is necessary to stay “out of the tree” to see the forest and what the forest could become. I am as guilty of this as anyone. I have four suggestions, based on my experiences and the experiences of others on how to do this.

Four Big Picture Suggestions 1. Take the time to set a reasonable number of goals for the next year or two. These should be a combination of personal, professional and organizational goals. You may not reach all the goals. However, without goals it is almost impossible to lead, and you have no influence over where you’ll end up. The best advice a leader ever gave me was, “If someone asks you to do something, check your goals, not your calendar.” If you don’t have goals, you end up working on too many of the wrong things and end up overcommitting to things that don’t move yourself or your organization forward. You end up busy, but not leading. 2. Set time aside every day to think, reflect and plan, at a time when your mind is most receptive to doing this, even if it is only 15 or 30 minutes. There are a couple of key points to this.

Professional development helps you keep your tools in top operating shape and also helps you add new tools. Make this the year when you read more, take a class, go to a seminar, watch professional development videos or become more active in a professional organization. These activities will keep you sharp and on the top of your game. A current student of mine, who is a coach, has made it his goal to improve his players one percent each day. Over the course of a year this is a HUGE gain. For each of the suggestions above, if you could do one percent better per day, you would be about 400 percent better at the end of the year (it has to do with compounding), and you and your organization would be in a much better place next January. I wish you great success as a leader in the coming year. If you implement the suggestions listed above, I am confident you will be able to look back a year from now and be pleased at how much has been accomplished. Good luck! Jeff Fahrenwald is director, MBA program and associate professor of economics, business and accounting. The views expressed are those of Fahrenwald’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

January 2016

IGNITE

Young Professionals

A new kind of New Year’s resolution What’s behind those annual goals? Growing up, my New Year’s resolutions were pretty standard. I was going to clean my room, help with dishes, take out the trash, eat more vegetables (even the gross ones), watch less TV, read more books, do my homework, play outside, be nice to my siblings, not talk back to my parents and floss my teeth. Turns out my New Year’s resolutions weren’t exactly goals I had, but a list of things I could remember being yelled at by my parents throughout the year. The best part of making New Year’s resolutions was the first few weeks in January. Instead of getting yelled at for not doing some of the things I had resolved to do, I would get reminded of what goals I set for myself. My parents must have thought the idea of letting myself down instead of them would magically get me to do all my chores. They were wrong.

Considering Resolutions As I got older (not gray hair older but still older) my New Year’s resolutions continued to be a list of things I don’t do well, but I began adding things I

“I saw a great quote last year that is a nice reminder for this time of year. ‘Traditionally, the New Year is a season of self-absorption. … But we tend to forget that the people we respect the most didn’t devote their lives to becoming the best version of themselves. They devoted their lives to making a difference in the world … or in someone’s world’.” see other people doing and thought, “I should probably be doing those things.” I’m going to exercise like so and so does, or eat healthy like they do. Over the years a few things stuck, I eat gross vegetables, I bowl and golf, so that should count as exercise, I watch less TV, but that’s really only because DVR lets me skip commercials, and that saves 10 minutes per show. I floss, but that’s because my parents don’t pay my dental bill anymore and cavities are expensive. My siblings finally grew up, so they are much easier to get along with. Obviously when you move out of your parents’ home somebody has to clean, do the dishes and take the trash out. Have you ever asked your spouse/

significant other what their New Year’s resolution is? You’re likely to get one of two answers. Answer 1) personal improvement (exercise, diet, quit smoking, quit drinking, volunteer, think more positively, get out of debt, learn something new, go back to school, get more involved, clean the house). Answer 2) A recommendation of what you should do (watch less sports, eat dinner as a family, have less beer in the fridge, clean the house, make the bed, go to the gym, just talk more, go on long walks). I think the question is hilarious; you’re ultimately approaching someone and giving them an opportunity to point

out what they do wrong. Can you

Derek Erwin IGNITE Rockford

imagine

asking someone in June what things about their life they are going to fix starting now? I saw a great quote last year that is a nice reminder for this time of year. “Traditionally, the New Year is a season of self-absorption. It’s all about what we can do to make ourselves better people. The result is that health clubs, debt counselors and vitamin shops do booming business. But we tend to forget that the people we respect the most didn’t devote their lives to becoming the best version of themselves. They devoted their lives to making a difference in the world … or in someone’s world.” Derek Erwin is IGNITE REACH co-chair and works at Raymond-James. The views expressed are those of Erwin’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

January 2016

Assessing charities

What to consider when donating The Wise Giving Alliance (WGA) and the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) urge consumers and businesses to use these tips when considering charitable donations: ■ Ask for information about the charity, what it does, who it helps, and how. ■ If called by a professional fundraiser, call the charity itself for information. ■ Ask for specific information about the charity, such as name, address, phone numbers. ■ Contact the Illinois General’s office, which charitable organizations.

Attorney regulates

■ Watch out for similar sounding names. Some phony charities use names that closely resemble those of respected, legitimate organizations. ■ Do not send or give cash donations.

Cash can be lost or stolen. For security and tax record purposes, it’s best to pay by credit card.

Charity Evaluator Give.org has reports on national charities, based not only on finances, but also on how well the charity is run, its fundraising ethics and whether it assesses the effectiveness of its programs. Reports are produced by the BBB WGA, a standards-based charity evaluator that seeks to verify the trustworthiness of nationally soliciting charities by completing rigorous evaluations based on 20 holistic standards that address charity governance, results reporting, finances, fundraising, appeal accuracy and other issues. National charity reports are produced by the BBB WGA and local charity reports are produced by local Better Business Bureaus.

Legislation

■ Contact the Rockford Police Department at 815-966-2900 to report a stolen vehicle.

targeted vehicles for theft due to the lack of installed anti-theft technology as seen on newer car models. Lieutenant Carla Redd reminded citizens to be proactive during the winter season as many begin warming up their cars.

Remediation of Sand Park landﬁll to begin

(continued from page 6)

Safety Tips ■ Never leave your running vehicle unattended. ■ Always have keys to your vehicle on your person. ■ Keep all vehicle doors and windows locked. ■ Park in well-lit, populated areas (or your home garage, if applicable). ■ Remove or conceal from plain sight items of value including plug-in electronic devices (e.g., GPS, iPod, etc.). ■ Use available anti-theft systems and devices (e.g., car alarm, horn, steeringwheel lock, electronic technology, etc.).

Rockford Park District, State of Illinois, City of Loves Park, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc., reached an agreement on the remediation of the former Sand Park landfill. In 1990, the RPD was notified of the site issues, and 25 years later, an agreed-upon consent order has been reached. Beginning in 2016, site improvements over five years will include the import of soil and fill for depressed areas of Sand Park and enhancement of the storm water management systems along Browns Parkway. In 2017, the entire eastern portion of the site, including the driving range and sledding hill, will be converted to a nature preserve. In 2018, the Sand Park pool parking lot will be removed and replaced with a larger one. In 2019, Heart Boulevard will undergo reconstruction. Costs are estimated at more than $8 million.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

It all comes back to trust

Courage to transform ourselves By Caitlin Ludwig, Rockford Chamber 2015 was a year that can only seem to be described as tumultuous. Our world has become a bit unsettled. Violence has become commonplace – leading us to be not yet numb, but, sadly, not surprised. We shrug our shoulders at the mention of corporate crime or swindling of the little guy. We no longer assume the best, but rather are offended by every action, word or deed regardless of intent. We cower behind chat rooms and anonymous screen names and fling words of hate across the internet from the comfort of our PJs, never owning up to them offline. As we jump into 2016, we look around, bewildered and all seem to be asking, “How did we get here?” It all comes back to trust. Trust is what keeps us huddled together, focusing our eyes on singular problems with solutionoriented mindsets. Trust is what allows us to reach out a helping hand to someone in a time of need without question or judgment, but rather kindness and compassion. Trust is what allows us to go the extra mile, take a creative chance and leap into the air without knowing what exactly awaits us on the ground. Trust is understanding that when we take that leap, others will be there to help catch us if we fall. They will help us dust ourselves off, rather than ridicule or shame us for taking the leap. It all comes back to trust.

Digging Deep This year, the Rockford Leadership Alliance will focus its attention on trust. While the program itself is an outrageously good deal for local, high-quality personal and professional training,

there’s an even better reason to enroll. In this time of transformation both for our community and our world, we need to develop deeper trust skills. As business leaders, community members, family members, neighbors and friends, we all need to take the time to look in the mirror, ask the hard questions, and do the work to become even better versions of ourselves. When we take the time from our busy lives to stop, dig deep and really hone our personal and professional skills, we are taking the time to improve our communities, our organizations, our relationships and ourselves. It all comes back to trust.

Leadership for Everyone As you read through the speaker list and training opportunities outlined for 2016’s RLA, please do so with an open mind. Together, we can improve the way we work with one another, the way we speak to one another, the way we act towards one another. Approach the training with an open mind and perhaps even an open heart, realizing that we all have areas in which we can improve. This training is for absolutely everyone – from CEO to cleaning crew, supervisor to entry level. We all can learn and improve. Our community (really, our world) needs a fresh breath of trust. Everything — crime, economic development, education, neighborhoods — everything can benefit from our willingness as a community to show up, dig deep and improve our ability to trust and be trusted. After all, it all comes back to trust. Caitlin Ludwig is vice president, leadership development at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

January 2016

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

First legs completed in our 20-mile march A year ago, a team made up of Rockford Public Schools teachers, union leaders, administrators and school board members began a collaborative process that has been successful way beyond our expectations. It has been so successful, in fact, we were asked to explain the approach at a recent national professional development conference for educators in Washington, D.C. The Learning Forward conference organizers headlined our session, “Improbable Partnerships Lead Urban District Transformation.” As the eighth superintendent in 10 years in Rockford, I know better than to declare victory. However, it was an exciting professional experience for me to tell our story to a roomful of people. As a lifelong Rockfordian, it was also personally fulfilling to talk about something that works in our community, as opposed to something that doesn’t. It’s easy to get caught up in what author Stephen R. Covey calls the “the whirlwind.” So our team welcomed the chance in Washington to stop and reflect on the Top 10 early successes of union-management collaboration and shared leadership: 1. Interest-Based Bargaining Leads to Contract Success with Unions 2. ACT Score Increases Nearly One Point 3. Five-Year Graduation Rate Increases Seven Points 4. Attendance Increases to 94 Percent, Yields Additional $1M in State Funding 5. Chronic Truancy Rate Better than State Average 6. Rockford Recognized as Model Community by Ford Next Generation Learning 7. School, Building Leaders Speak Common Language with SMART Improvement Process 8. Peer Assistance Review Supports Teachers 9. Voters Back $279 Million in Facility Improvements 10. Significant Majority of Teachers Satisfied in Fall Survey I hope you agree with me that this is a lot of progress in a short period of time. None of us can take credit individually. Paul Goddard, Rockford Education Association vice president, presented with me at the conference in Washington. I was honored to stand beside him as he explained how hard our teachers have worked to build

a culture based on collaboration and shared leadership. Staff from the Consortium for Educational Change, a non-profit organization that works with Illinois school districts on transformation, also has been instrumental in guiding our progress. And we wouldn’t have accomplished so much, so soon, without the help of SMART Learning Systems to train and support our staff in professional learning and continuous improvement. A single, coherent planning process helps all of our educators speak a common language about improvement.

National Recognition Energizing You might remember my first Chamber Educational Outlook Luncheon in 2013 when I referred to the 20-Mile March, described by Jim Collins in his book, “Great by Choice.” Collins detailed how achievement takes consistent performance, in good times and bad. Collins described two expeditions in 1911 that aimed to reach the South Pole for the first time. Roald Amundsen led his team on a steady march of 20 miles each day, no matter what. He pushed his team harder at times and eased up at times. That steady progress led Amundsen and his team to plant their flag on the South Pole first. I’d like to think that RPS 205 has completed the first few legs in our 20Mile March. We don’t push the limits of human endurance, certainly. But in our push to have each student reach his or her potential, we’re gaining ground. We’re seeing early successes. To be recognized on a national stage for that progress is re-energizing. It should be a point of pride for the entire community. It caused me to reflect on how far we’ve come in Rockford in support of public education — and how far we still have to go. We can’t do it without your help. The Learning Forward conference strengthened my resolve to continue our march forward. I hope you will join me, our board, and the entire team at RPS 205 as we continue to build a culture of engagement, shared leadership and collaboration. With your collective engagement, I am confident our community’s march toward improvement will continue. Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools. The views expressed are those of Dr. Jarrett’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

LED lighting retrofit

Consider these tips before you commit Replacing outdated commercial lighting systems with high-efficiency LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) is one of the smartest business decisions you can make in 2016. But before you commit to the retrofit, here are some helpful tips to consider.

Protect Your Investment First, ask yourself: Is the product warranty worth the paper it’s printed on? I’ve heard many horror stories of folks buying LEDs for very low prices … but the next thing they know, the lamp (bulb) burns out prematurely, or the color shifts and changes. When purchasing LEDs, ask up front: “What is the warranty for this lamp or fixture?” Verify if the warranty is good for one, three or more years. For commercial use, I recommend purchasing lamps that have a five-year warranty. Also look at the burn hours: Lamps that are rated for three-hour starts, for example, are probably approved for residential use only. When purchasing LEDs for outdoor usage, quality fixtures carry a five-year warranty, and some even up to 10 years. Learn what the warranty covers — does it only cover the LED and not the driver, for example? Is the finish of the fixture included? — and what the warranty considers “defective.” Reputable manufacturers will replace the fixture if greater than 10 percent of the LEDs have gone out; at minimum, they should warrant that the light levels will maintain at least 70 percent of the initial output over the warranty period. Many manufacturers also offer the option of purchasing a warranty extension. LEDs automatically provide a better ROI by offering longer life and reliability, but insuring your investment with extra warranty coverage is always a smart move.

Keep Good Company This next tip seems like a no-brainer, but do your homework to determine if the manufacturer has been in business for at least five years. I receive solicitations daily from lighting manufacturers I have never heard of. Take precautions to make sure your manufacturer isn’t here today, gone tomorrow. Likewise, the company you select to design and install your new lighting system should have a proven track record of great customer service, competitive rates and a knowledgeable staff. Today’s top professionals train through the National Association of Independent Lighting Distributors (NAILD) to earn certification as LS I and LS II Lighting Specialists. Ensuring that your lighting partner has the proper training can mean

the difference between Patti Thayer working with Thayer Lighting, Inc. a product provider versus a solution provider.

Think Outside the Box All LEDs are not created equal. Before purchasing from a “big box” store, be aware that typically, their retail LED products are made less expensively, don’t last as long, and come with a shorter warranty that you are responsible for mailing to the manufacturer. Better quality LED screw-in lamps and fixtures have higher LPW (lumens per watt) and a longer life, a five-year-plus warranty, superior light distribution, and smooth dimming.

Know Your Needs Don’t be fooled when getting quotes for LED lighting. Your cost for an average-sized exterior project can actually be several thousand dollars less depending on the lumens per watt the light fixture emits. I have seen projects where the customer bid on a less costly fixture; however, they did not realize that the fixture being quoted might only produce half the light output needed. Also, consider that good lighting serves more needs than just, well, lighting! Studies prove that proper illumination indoors and out can increase the safety of your customers and staff. Speaking of staff, the right lighting can enhance employee productivity and morale. Lighting can even increase business sales — one client told me that before he replaced the inefficient lighting in his workplace, it was difficult for people driving by to tell if he was even open at night! Kelvin temperature (K), the color of light, is another factor to consider. With technology evolving by the minute, LEDs emit a very good quality of light ranging from a cool glow to warm radiance. Selecting the right LED depends upon your needs and color preference. As with any business decision, it is important for the end user to know what they are purchasing and why to get the most mileage from their investment. Doing some research before retrofitting your workplace lighting will help ensure a much brighter experience. Patti Thayer is owner of Thayer Lighting, Inc., specializing in energy-efficient commercial lighting. The views expressed are those of Thayer’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

By-the-Numbers: Finance/Taxes

January 2016

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Tax bills to trend lower for taxpayers

In 2016, penalties will increase Bloomberg BNA gave taxpayers a head start in November on their tax planning and alerted them to increased compliance penalties with the release of its Projected 2016 Tax Rates, a detailed projection of inflation-adjusted tax items based on Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation adjustments published in November. People whose income is the same compared to last year’s may enjoy a lower effective tax rate – and a lower tax bill – because of the inflation adjustments. At the same time, taxpayers who fail to comply with return filing and tax payment requirements will face larger penalties in 2016 because of a combination of legislative changes and upward inflation adjustments.

Increased Penalties The Internal Revenue Code imposes a host of penalties for failure to file returns, failure to furnish information returns and failure to pay tax. These penalties affect individuals, companies, trusts and estates. Congress recently tied several of the penalties to annual inflation adjustments and dramatically increased a few, raising the specter of increasing costs for noncompliance in future years. Tax return preparers also are subject to a number of penalties adjusted for inflation. The 2016 projected penalty amounts:

the top 39.6% tax bracket is projected to begin at $466,950 for married taxpayers filing joint returns and at $415,050 for unmarried individuals. This represents an increase from $464,850 and $413,200, respectively in 2015.

Personal Exemption and Standard Deduction Most taxpayers are entitled to claim a personal exemption deduction for each member of their household. For 2016, the personal exemption amount is projected to be $4,050, up from $4,000 in 2015. The personal exemption deduction is phased out for high-income taxpayers. When calculating their deductions, taxpayers may choose to take the higher of their itemized deductions or the standard deduction. The standard deduction amount varies depending on filing status. The projected standard deduction amounts for 2016 are shown below. Filing Status

Standard Deduction

Married Filing Jointly/Surviving Spouses

$12,600

Heads of Household $9,300 All Other Taxpayers

$6,300

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) For some taxpayers, inflation adjustments make the difference between having to pay AMT or not. The AMT exemptions were adjusted for inflation for the first time in 2013, and are projected for 2016 as shown below.

Scenario

Penalty Per Violation

Maximum Per Year

Failure to Furnish Copy to Taxpayer

$50

$25,500

Failure to Sign Return

$50

$25,500

Failure to Furnish Identifying Number

$50

$25,500

Filing Status

Exemption Amount

$50

$25,500

Married Filing Jointly/Surviving Spouses

$83,800

Failure to Retain Copy or List

Failure to File Correct $50 Information Returns

$25,500

Heads of Household $53,900

Negotiation of Check

$510

No limit

Failure to be Diligent in Determining Eligibility for Earned Income Credit

$510

No limit

Individual Income Tax Brackets Because a higher Consumer Price Index (CPI) pushes the definition of the brackets upward and also increases the standard deduction and exemption amounts, the taxes due on the same income decrease from year to year. For example, suppose married taxpayers filing jointly figure tax on $231,000. In 2015, they were in the 33% bracket and paid $51,759 in tax. In 2016, the brackets are adjusted for inflation, and they are now in the lower 28% bracket and will pay $51,665.50 in tax, saving $93.50 compared to 2015. High income taxpayers will enjoy a measure of relief in 2016 as well, because

Unmarried Individuals $41,900 (other than Surviving Spouses and Heads of Household)

Estates and Trusts

$23,900

Estate and Gift Tax Exclusions Bloomberg BNA projects that the estate tax basic exclusion for decedents dying in 2016 will be $5.45 million. The annual gift tax exclusion remains $14,000 in 2016. Sources: www.prnewswire.com, Bloomberg BNA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bloomberg, which is a leading source of legal, regulatory, and business information for professionals. The information is not offered as and shall not constitute legal or tax advice. In addition, the information should not be used or relied upon in connection with any actual transaction without the guidance of a professional tax adviser.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

By-the-Numbers: Finance/Taxes

January 2016

Seven steps for making identity protection part of your routine The theft of your identity, especially personal information such as your name, Social Security number, address and children’s names, can be traumatic and frustrating. In this online era, it’s important to always be on guard. Here are seven steps you can make part of your routine to protect your tax and financial information:

1. Read your credit card and banking statements carefully and often. Watch for even the smallest charge that appears suspicious. Neither your credit card, bank nor the IRS will send you emails asking for sensitive personal and financial information such as asking you to update your account.

2. Review and respond to all written

correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service. Warning signs of tax-related identity theft can include IRS notices about tax returns you did not file, income you did not receive or employers you’ve never heard of or where you’ve never worked.

3. Review each of your three credit reports at least once a year. Visit annualcreditreport.com to get your free reports.

4. Review your annual Social Security income statement for excessive income reported. You can sign up for an electronic account at www.SSA. gov.

5. Read

your health insurance statements. Look for claims you never filed or care you never received.

6. Shred

any documents with personal and financial information. Never toss documents with your personally identifiable information, especially your social security number, in the trash.

7. If you receive any routine federal

deposit such as Social Security Administrator or Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, you probably receive those deposits electronically. You can use the same direct deposit process for your federal and state tax refund. IRS direct deposit is safe and secure and places your tax refund directly into the financial account of your choice. Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. These are your Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Explore them at IRS.gov.

2016 State Business Tax Climate Index The Tax Foundation released the 2016 State Business Tax Climate Index comparing how well states structure their tax systems.

IMPROVEMENT FOR ILLINOIS According to the Tax Foundation, Illinois improved by eight ranks overall as a state to do business, from 31st to 23rd. The improvement was attributed to the sunset of corporate and individual income tax increases, imposed in 2011 as temporary levies to address the state’s backlog of unpaid bills. These temporary tax increases gave Illinois one of the highest corporate income tax rates in the country, and expired on schedule in 2015. The combined corporate income tax rate (two separate taxes on income) was 9.5 percent, and now stands at 7.75 percent. The individual income tax declined from 5 to 3.75 percent.

HOW ILLINOIS RANKED

2016

2015

Overall Rank

Corporate Tax Rank

Individual Income Tax Rank

Sales Tax Rank

Unemployment Insurance Tax Rank

Property Tax Rank

January 2016

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Tax Freedom Day® 2015: April 24 Tax Freedom Day is the day when the nation as a whole earned enough money to pay its total tax bill for the year; taking federal, state and local taxes and dividing them by the nation’s income. In 2015, Americans paid an estimated $3.28 trillion in federal taxes and $1.57 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of $4.85 trillion, or 31 percent of national income.

KEY FINDINGS ■ Tax Freedom Day fell on April 24 in 2015, or 114 days into the year. ■ Americans paid $3.3 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total bill of more than $4.8 trillion, or 31 percent of the nation’s income. ■ Tax Freedom Day was one day later than the prior year, due mainly to the country’s continued steady economic growth, which is expected to boost tax revenue, especially from the corporate, payroll and individual income tax. ■ Americans collectively spent more on taxes in 2015 than on food, clothing and housing combined. ■ If you include annual federal borrowing, which represents future taxes owed, Tax Freedom Day would occur 14 days later on May 8. Source: taxfoundation.org

Leadership Alliance (continued from front page)

than 225,000 people subscribe to his weekly email newsletter. His writing has been featured by TIME magazine, Entrepreneur magazine, Business

Feedback is designed to help the participant have a 360° understanding of areas in which they excel as well as have opportunity to grow. Insider, and many other outlets. On April 28, participants will examine the Talk Straight trust concept with Michele Gravelle of Triad Consulting. Gravelle is a contributing author of Enlightened Power: How Women are Transforming the Path to Leadership (Jossey-Bass 2005). She holds a master’s in psychology, which comes in handy when dealing with the complexities of human dynamics. Based on Triad Consulting’s book Difficult Conversations: How To Discuss What Matters Most, the April 28 RLA workshop will provide a framework for understanding why some of the most important conversations are so hard, examine the common mistakes everyone seems to make, and offer a step-by-step method of handing the conversation with less anxiety and better results. The June 9 RLA session will focus on Demonstrate Respect and will feature speaker Steve Thomas. Thomas has worked in leadership development for more than 30 years. He lives in Springfield, Ill., and travels the United States; leading powerful discussions that help people and organizations grow and improve vigorously. After a short summer break, RLA will resume on Sept. 29 with a focus on Create Transparency with speaker Julia Kirby, editor at large at Harvard Business Review. Kirby is the author of Only Humans Need Apply – Winners and Losers in the Age of Smart Machines (May 2016) and Standing on the Sun: How the Explosion of Capitalism Abroad Will Change Business Everywhere. Kirby has researched and written a large

number of articles for the Harvard Business Review including “Trust in the Age of Transparency” for the JulyAugust, 2012 magazine. On Oct. 20, Leslie Pogue will help participants gain the tools needed to be more effective listeners and achieve greater productivity and success as she focuses on Listen First. Pogue is an award-winning speaker, author and trainer who uses a five-step process to develop listening skills. RLA’s final workshop will take place on Nov. 10 and will focus on Extend Trust. Our November speaker will be announced in early January. Participants will be invited to a Dec. 1 graduation networking event to celebrate the skills they have developed and network with classmates.

Measured Success As part of the Rockford Leadership Alliance, each participant will be able to complete two 360° reviews – one at the start of the series and one at the end. RLA participants will have an opportunity to complete a selfreview and then solicit feedback from key people, such as an immediate supervisor, valued customer, coworker, board member, etc. Each participant will self-identify who they would like to receive feedback from. Feedback is designed to help the participant have a 360° understanding of areas in which they excel, as well as have opportunities to grow. Questions will be specifically designed to focus on areas of trust and the core trust concepts, allowing participants to measure areas of growth throughout the year.

Registration Registration for Rockford Leadership Alliance now is open. Complete an application at www. rockfordleadershipalliance.com. The 2016 Rockford Leadership Program is $1,250 for Rockford Chamber members or $1,750 for non-members. Applications and payment are due no later than Jan. 15, 2016. For a full list of speakers, calendar of events and additional resources, please visit our website at www. rockfordleadershipalliance.com.

Marketing Channels for Your Business

January 2016 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Changing the user experience for your web visitors

A new way to generate sales leads Companies, especially in manufacturing, seem to always need brochures, trade show displays, direct mail pieces and an arsenal of traditional marketing tools to support their sales force or distribution networks. That trend will never go away … at least not for quite some time. What is changing, however, is the way businesses interact with their customers online in order to build strong and lasting relationships. For years, a manufacturing company’s website was a boring, but essential, tool that housed very basic information about products and services. It did little to engage customers – let alone win business and gain loyalty. Today’s consumers expect more, and businesses should quickly adopt a new website philosophy in order to remain relevant. Let’s face it, people who are researching your company’s products are the same people who regularly shop online. With statistics showing that online retail sales are predicted to grow steadily to $370 billion by 2017, we know that consumers are well versed in the online browsing and buying experience in their personal lives. So why not give them that same predictable and familiar experience in the business world? We recognize that not all companies can sell their products through an e-commerce store. There might be too much product customization for a simple “add to cart” feature or the cost of the product might require more than a one-time credit card transaction. But there still are ways to create that same familiar shopping experience for users.

Develop an ‘In-Store Experience’ For those clients desiring to implement this online B-to-C/B-to-B transition, but that don’t actually sell

Lee Anderson Ignition Studio

their products online, you can develop the same “store” experience by allowing the user to browse, filter, compare and then “request a quote” in place of “buy now.” This allows the customer to see the products, along with all of the product specifications, and narrow down their selection using the same kinds of tools found on the websites of the most popular online retailers. When a customer requests a quote, though they couldn’t purchase it directly through the website, the company now has a qualified sales lead and a potential sale. The sales team then goes to work doing what they do best – explaining the products, offering consultation as needed, providing support – and, of course, continuing to build and sustain the company’s brand. This kind of website interaction creates a successful and more immersive buying experience in today’s business world. Purchasing departments, now more than ever, want to research their purchases in advance and do as much on their own without talking to someone. So our job is to arm them with all of the information they need to make the best decision and take the next step towards a purchase. Working together, a resourceful website with consumer appeal and a strong sales team, can be a very successful combination. Lee Anderson is owner of Ignition Studio. Visit www.ignition-studio.com. The views expressed are those of Anderson’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Pam Mahan

Company: Senior Helpers

Position: Community Relations Coordinator

How long have you been an Ambassador? Two years

What do you like most about being an Ambassador? I am an outgoing person who loves to socialize with others. Being an ambassador allows me to build relationships and learn more about other businesses. It’s fun being with other ambassadors and networking together. We are just like one big happy family.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Marketing Channels for Your Business

January 2016

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Marketing with a magnet, not a sledgehammer Introduction to inbound marketing What if you time-traveled back to the 1950s, and blew everyone’s minds by showing them a handheld device that gives you access to the bulk of human knowledge? And you use it to watch crazy cat videos. … The Internet gives people unlimited access to information – and unlimited choices to make buying decisions differently than they did just a few years ago. The result is a revolutionary shift where customers, not advertisers, define their own buying process. In order to stay competitive, marketers need to adapt. Before the Internet, marketing was much different. Buyers were relatively uninformed, so they needed to contact a salesperson to gather the product information to make their purchase. Sales reps interrupted prospects with cold calls. Brands saturated the marketplace with “outbound” advertising in trade magazines, on bus benches and billboards, in the local paper, on the radio and TV – the more, the better. Today, consumers are in the driver’s seat. Buyers have the power to research goods and services, and discover new products at their own leisure. They direct their own buyer journey, mostly online, with little influence from a salesperson, and ignore or block the marketing messages they do not want.

Marketing by Permission “Inbound” is a fresh approach to marketing that reaches today’s consumer. Rather than interrupting shoppers with less effective old-school marketing tactics, inbound marketing focuses on creating educational content that attracts people to your website where they can learn more about what you sell on their own accord. By aligning the content you publish with your customer’s interests, you can earn permission to market to prospects that you can convert into leads, close into customers, and delight to the point they become promoters of your brand. Here are some of the major themes of inbound marketing: Content Creation You create targeted content that answers your customer’s basic questions and needs, and you share that content far and wide. Lifecycle Marketing You recognize that people go through stages as they interact with your company, and that each stage requires different marketing actions. Personalization and Context As you learn more about your leads over time, you can better personalize your messages to their specific needs. A Multi-Channel Experience Inbound marketing is multi-channel by nature because it engages people where

Chris Kelley V2 Marketing Communications

they are, in the channel where they want to interact with you. Integration Your publishing and analytics tools all work together like a welloiled machine, allowing you to understand what is working, and what is not.

How Does Inbound Work? The inbound marketing methodology helps brands attract, convert, close and delight visitors, leads and customers across multiple online channels such as social media, blogging, SEO, landing pages, forms and email. It facilitates the buyer’s journey through their buying cycle – from initial awareness of a problem, to researching different solutions, to deciding on their purchase. Step 1: Attract strangers to your website Create content that’s valuable and easy to find on search engines. Blogging is one of the most effective ways to attract qualified visitors to your website. According to research from HubSpot, companies that blog get 55 percent more website visitors. Promote your blogs on social media sites to extend their reach. Step 2: Convert website visitors into leads A modern website converts anonymous website visitors into leads by offering downloadable content, such as a whitepaper or eBook, that is designed to entice the visitor to give you their contact information. Step 3: Nurture leads to help close customers Send leads targeted, automated emails to nurture them through your buying cycle. Provide your sales team with lead intelligence for more effective sales calls. Step 4: Delight customers and turn them into promoters of your brand Using context and personalization to deliver tailored messages, continue to engage with, delight, and (hopefully) upsell your customers into happy promoters of your company. Technology has changed and so has the consumer’s buying process. Modern marketers use inbound marketing to outsmart, not outspend, their competition by attracting and educating visitors, and converting leads into customers. After all, more efficient marketing strategy means more free time to watch crazy cat videos! Chris Kelley is a principal at V2 Marketing Communications, specializing in inbound marketing strategies to help companies reach their business growth goals. The views expressed are those of Kelley’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

January 2016 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Marketing Channels for Your Business

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Old-school marketing is broken

Future for radio is mixed Perception meets reality for the industry

Today, consumers are in control. Instead of contacting a sales rep, buyers go online to research products and services. Inbound marketing attracts qualified prospects, generates leads and helps you close more sales. Download our free Inbound

Marketing Checklist to get started at http://hubs.ly/H01DCqx0. C

FREE CHECKLIST:

HOW TO RUN AN INBOUND MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Create a new framework for campaigns that solves common marketing problems.

My first job out of college was covering sports for the Freeport Journal-Standard. I learned the hard way that when an editor gives you an assignment, you follow it. Since then, I’ve been good at following directions from editors. The assignment for this piece is to talk about how your marketing and advertising distribution channel will trend in 2016. I also learned the value of being honest with readers during my days watching high school basketball and the Rockford Cubbies. If you try to candy-coat anything, the reader will not finish the piece. So, let’s be upfront: The radio trend for 2016 is very mixed. There’s no other way to say it. Yet, it’s also what makes this the most fun job I’ve ever had.

A Publication of

CELEBRATING

20 Creative Years

V2 Marketing Communications 220 East State St., Suite G | Rockford, IL 61104 815.397 6052 | v2marketing.com

Digital marketing is an important component of any strategy, but not a stand-alone plan. Radio’s Net Promoter Score Why is it mixed? From a usage standpoint, radio is still “the 800-pound gorilla of audio entertainment” as the CFO of Sirius XM Satellite Radio said at an investor conference in December. According to their in-house research, Sirius XM subscribers (about 8 percent of the American population according to their SEC 10K forms) leave their favorite satellite channel and almost always go to their favorite local radio station. He indicated that satellite’s growth is not at the expense of local radio, it’s actually people listening to their “owned music” less. Owned music is your CD collection or an iPOD. Another recent study from Jacobs Media indicates that radio’s Net Promoter Score is 44 in a study that had more than 41,000 respondents. A Net Promoter Score above 0 is a positive and means customers are actively promoting your service or product to others. 50 is an excellent Net Promoter Score and rarely achieved. For reference, in the Jacobs Media study, Facebook had a 46 NPS. In another survey, Marriott Hotels has a 62 NPS. Lastly, according to the Rockford Nielsen Spring 2015 survey, 92.2 percent of the population in Winnebago and Boone County listened to the radio during the spring survey. Radio reached nine of every 10 people in the region in the last six months. From the above metrics, you’d think

Mike Paterson Mid-West Family Broadcasting

that working in radio is like picking flowers after a rainy week in June. If business was only that simple.

Is Perception Reality? Unfortunately, our biggest challenge is that many people believe radio is a dying industry. I’ve heard this from listeners and advertisers. Usually, perception is reality. One of the trends for 2016 is how we can change that perception. As an industry, we can cite stats and figures all day long. Often, this falls on deaf ears as marketing and advertising is one of the few businesses governed by opinion rather than fact. If you’re an accountant, you follow the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (or end up wearing orange). If I’m a scientist, there are equations that are always true. An attorney has case law as a guide. In marketing, it’s often what somebody likes (or who they like), instead of what’s right. Our biggest challenge and trend to overcome will be continuing to prove our worth by being a vital part of the listener’s life (as seen with the NPS above) and being a valuable vehicle for advertisers to grow their business by targeted messaging that cuts through to the emotion of a consumer. We also have to overcome the “digital is eating the world” metaphor. Digital marketing is an important component of any strategy, but not a stand-alone plan. Digital is great one-to-one marketing. Broadcast and print media offer something we seem to take for granted these days — one-to-many marketing. As we saw with the debut of Meijer stores in our marketplace in 2015, broadcast radio played a vital role in their traffic and branding efforts over the last eight months. As radio faces many positive and some negative trends in 2016, one thought stands out in our media-saturated world. I’ve had about six conversations in the last month with business owners who are adding more radio to their marketing mix. That leaves me feeling positive about our future as an industry. Radio has a place on their “grocery list,” that is their marketing strategy and advertising plan. Mike Paterson is the general manager of MidWest Family Broadcasting in Rockford and a member of the Rockford Chamber board. You can reach him at mpaterson@rmgmwf.com or on Twitter @mikepaterson72. The views expressed are those of Paterson’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

January 2016

Local income growth still lagging rest country By Alex Gary According to economic data released in November, Winnebago County residents had a solid 2014 in terms of income, although a longer look at the numbers shows the continuation of disturbing trends. In November, the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis released its annual per capita personal income figures by county for 2014. In Winnebago County, the average resident earned $38,020 in salary, benefits, investment and retirement income. That was an increase of 3.1 percent from 2013. Winnebago County was part of generally positive report for the country as a whole. In the United States, personal income grew in 2,662 counties and declined in just 438. The increase from 2013 was higher than the increase of Illinois as a whole, which was up 2.5 percent. Still, personal income in metropolitan areas of the United States increased 4.6 percent and a look back at economic trends

since the manufacturing sector began having to compete globally in the 1980s shows how much work has to be done to meet Transform Rockford’s goal of making the area a top 25 community by 2025. In 1979, the per capita personal income of someone in Winnebago County was $9,683 compared to the country’s $9,212. In other words, a person in Winnebago County made $1.05 for every $1.00 earned by the typical U.S. resident. In 1980, most of the top employers in Rockford were large manufacturing firms, where workers could make comfortable middle class incomes without higher education. The United States in general and the Rockford area in particular was hit by a hard recession in the early 1980s – unemployment in Rockford hit 25 percent at one point -- and by 1984 per capita personal income of the United States as a whole had passed Winnebago County, $18,653 to $18,594. Winnebago County income has continued to slide versus the United States every five-year period since, as the table below illustrates.

Year

U.S.

Winnebago income

Winnebago vs. U.S.

1979

$9,212

$9,683

105.1%

1984

$13,860

$13,795

99.5%

1989

$18,653

$18,594

99.7%

1994

$22,538

$21,969

97.5%

1999

$28,627

$26,349

92.0%

2004

$34,316

$29,333

85.5%

2009

$39,376

$33,056

83.9%

2014

$46,049

$38,020

82.6%

2016 will be a year of transformative ideas

Bringing ideas back to the community By Alex Gary When the Transform Rockford movement was launched in the fall of 2013, it was done so with a bang with an overflow crowd filling the Coronado Theater for the official launch. Thousands more took part in dozens of visioning sessions held at locations throughout Rockford in 2014.

In 2016, the movement will be back to the people, according to Transform Rockford communications director Pat O’Keefe. The year 2015 though mostly has been marked by behind the scenes work as Transform Rockford filled a plethora of work teams to research ideas that will help Rockford reach the goal of being one of the 25 best communities in which to live by 2025. In 2016, the movement will be back to the people, according to Transform Rockford communications director Pat O’Keefe.

“Transform Rockford teams have met, often weekly, to identify potential strategies we will need to reach our goals. Strategy options have largely come from researching two sources, examples of how other communities have implemented solutions.” “The Transform Rockford teams have been meeting with community networks for their input and strategy ideas. This collaboration is necessary to develop strategies that the whole community can support.” “The next step will be for the teams to complete a series of reviews during the first part of 2016; with broad community review midyear. These meetings are designed to help uncover hidden issues and assumptions that the developing teams may not have considered. Also the proposals evaluated to make them more clear and concise. Most importantly the strategies need to be aligned and function a whole to be successful in transforming Rockford.” Alex Gary is president of Alex Gary Communications Inc., and a Transform Rockford volunteer.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Winnebago County housing market showing sustained growth By Alex Gary Perhaps one of the easiest ways to judge an area’s desirability is to look at its housing market. After all, there are reasons why the median home price of a home in Los Angeles was $1.2 million as of December, according to Trulia.com. For homeowners in Winnebago County, the good news is that there finally are signs that the real estate recovery seen in much of the rest of the United States has reached our area. According to Illinois Association of Realtors statistics, the median price of homes in Winnebago County in the third quarter was $95,000. That was the highest quarterly median price for Winnebago County since the fourth quarter of 2010. More importantly, the median price was 5.3 percent above the median from the third quarter of 2014 and it marked the fifth consecutive quarter that median prices were up year over year. That’s the first time we’ve had five straight quarters of growing prices since the first quarter of 2006.

Winnebago County median home prices 1Q

2006

$124,900

$123,000

$126,425

$129,700

2007

$117,000

$128,900

$126,707

$115,900

2008

$111,750

$118,900

$122,500

$113,000

2009

$100,000

$111,100

$107,000

$105,900

2010

$100,250

$107,500

$103,500

$100,000

2011

$85,900

$86,665

$88,500

$78,500

2012

$71,250

$87,000

$89,950

$77,900

2013

$76,000

$88,000

$80,000

$77,000

2014

$65,000

$78,000

$90,228

$82,000

2015

$74,000

$91,000

$95,000

Source: Illinois Association of Realtors

January 2016

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Expect big things in 2016 New events, new venues, new experiences 2016 will be a big year for tourism in Rockford thanks to the opening of the UW Health Sports Factory, Tough Mudder and expanded MercyRockford Sportscore 2. What a difference a year makes! It truly is amazing to see what can be accomplished when a community comes together to move forward with initiatives that enhance our quality of life and grow our economy. Let’s take a look back at 2015, and then forward to the growth in store for 2016.

UW Health Sports Factory In January, 2015, the Sports Factory still was being referred to as Sportscore Downtown and the construction tip-off wouldn’t begin until May. Now, a year later, the City of Rockford, Rockford Park District and the RACVB are gearing up for the opening ceremonies that will come this May. The two huge announcements of UW Health signing on as the naming rights sponsor and the booking of 20-plus Rockford Hoops basketball tournaments catapulted this project to new heights before the first ball bounces on the state-of-the-art courts. According to projections, this facility soon will be producing $10 million in economic activity for the city each year.

MercyRockford Sportscore 2 In 2015, five new artificial turf fields were installed to enhance the complex and extend the season for the facility. Now, tournaments can be booked with confidence from March to November and, in addition, additional sports will have the opportunity to play on the fields, including 7 on 7 football tournaments, baseball, softball and rugby. Also at Sportscore 2, the continued development of the Indoor Sports Complex will extend the opportunities in the winter months for sports tournaments (and local use), which will complement the US Health Sports Factory offerings, as well.

Downtown Rockford Development With the Sports Factory currently leading the way, center city development will continue to be a big topic in 2016. As Rockford City Market set attendance records in 2015, we expect to see this great event for the city continue its ascent. In addition, new destinationstyle stores and restaurants are helping to bolster the downtown core. For instance, look at what Sienna’s Kitchen has done by combining a dining experience with retail shopping, or how the latest addition coming this year in The Standard will provide an all-new

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

experience with roof-top dining. This should be an exciting and dynamic way to showcase downtown Rockford.

Tough Mudder and USA Ultimate One of the RACVB’s top priorities is to recruit amazing sports tournaments and events to our region. With mainstay events like the soccer tournament Puma Cup or the USSSA softball events helping to solidify our sports tournament market, we have increasingly pushed the envelope to bring in new and diverse sports programming. The USA Ultimate championships are coming to Rockford in fall, 2016, and with it will be ESPN. Live broadcasts of the ultimate Frisbee matches will be showcased across several of ESPN’s stations and online. This May, Tough Mudder will run for the first time in Winnebago County. This high-intensity challenge course will wind its way through the Chicago-Rockford International Airport grounds south of the airport. The event is expected to draw up to 12,000 participants plus spectators who will leave an estimated $3 million in economic spending. And best of all, Tough Mudder has agreed to stick around through 2019.

RACVB’s New Website This past fall, we introduced the new Rockford Region Visitor’s Guide with an emphasis on storytelling, and using our In Good Company theme, we showcase not just the places in our region but the people who make them so special. We will continue the storytelling as we transition to a new website timed for spring. Updated listings for all attractions, dining and hotels will make this site a great place to plan your experiences. And an updated calendar section will make www. gorockford.com the “go to” location to see what is happening. Of course, there is so much more to look forward to in 2016 and beyond in the Rockford region. As we continue to ascend to new heights, it is only because the community continues to support and encourage each other. Go Rockford! John Groh is president & CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The views expressed are those of Groh’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

January 2016

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

What is your financial New Year’s resolution? It’s that time of year again where we all start having conversations with ourselves about what we are going to do differently in the coming year. For some, these goals are joining a gym or eating healthier. For others it’s spending more time with family and less time at work. For some it’s finally taking that trip of a lifetime. These are all excellent goals. However, not many could tell me if they accomplished any financial goals in the past year. Part of this is because while we look at things we would like to accomplish in the next year and what we’ve accomplished in the past year, very few people set financial goals for themselves. Why is this? Our financial health can have nearly as significant an impact on our overall quality of life as our physical health. It’s because of this reason that everyone should come up with some financial New Year’s resolutions.

A Look at Savings Much like living a healthier lifestyle is a series of steps, having a healthy financial life is a process as well. The first step is to make sure that you have some cash set aside for an emergency. The rule of thumb for an emergency fund is three to six months of living expenses, but everyone is different in their comfort number when it comes to cash in the bank. You also should consider what stage of life you’re in when determining your comfort number. A young family with three kids and a home should probably have more set aside than a single person fresh out of college who rents an apartment. Just like some people go to the gym to relieve stress or take a vacation to get away from the stresses of day-to-day life, setting aside three to six months of living expenses could also decrease the amount of stress you feel on a regular basis.

A Look at Debt Another area that you should evaluate when setting up your financial New Year’s resolution is the type and amount of debt you currently have. Carrying a significant amount of high-interest debt on credit cards is not a smart financial move, and it can feel like you’re not getting anywhere

or you could Kyle Kite even be going Klaas Financial backwards if Advisors you’re only making the minimum payments on this debt, and the interest keeps piling up on you. If on the other hand, the only debt that you are carrying is a 0 percent car loan, then maybe you don’t need to make it a priority to get this debt paid off right away and instead should focus on one of these other areas.

A Look at Retirement The third area that you should look at when setting up your financial New Year’s resolutions is how much you’re saving towards your retirement. Everyone should be contributing enough to get the employer’s match, at an absolute minimum. If you are not contributing enough to get your employer’s match, you are leaving free money on the table. You will be hard pressed to find an investment that can guarantee you a 100 percent return on the money that you put into it, which is exactly what an employer match is. Even if your employer doesn’t offer a match it is still in your best interest to be contributing to your 401k, after all, it is your retirement. If you have enough of an emergency reserve, and no debt or 0 percent debt, you should be saving as much as you can into a 401k, because again it is YOUR retirement. Hopefully these suggestions will help you in setting a financial New Year’s resolution to go along with whatever other goals you’ve set for yourselves. Good luck on accomplishing all of your resolutions and have a happy New Year! Kyle Kite is an investment advisor representative with Klaas Financial Advisors and recently received his MBA from Northern Illinois University. The views expressed are those of Kite’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Securities by licensed individuals offered through Investacorp, Inc. A registered Broker/Dealer -- Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Klaas Financial Asset Advisors, LLC -- A SEC Registered Investment Advisory Firm. Klaas Financial Asset Advisors, LLC is not affiliated with Investacorp, Inc.

January 2016 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the members celebrating their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

20-YEAR MEMBER

10-YEAR MEMBERS

LOESCHER & Associates, Ltd.

G & O Landscaping Inc. Maxim Healthcare Services Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance Rally Appraisal, Inc.

15-YEAR MEMBERS A-1 Lapping & Machine Co. Inc. Forest Hill Country Club Rockford Broach, Inc. Rockford Health Council

5-YEAR MEMBERS Galapagos Rockford Charter School TLC Construction

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members. Hononegah High School juniors delivered 100 bags of household and personal care items they collected for homeless men and women at Carpenter’s Place in November. The third-annual student collection comprised a Scavenger Hunt for the Homeless! where students went door-to-door in their neighborhoods; gathering donations of bedding, shoes, clothing, household cleaning supplies, nonperishables, personal care items and paper products. Northern Public Radio, home to 89.5 WNIJ and Classical WNIU, published its 2016 wall calendar featuring 14 local artists. Call 815-753-9000 or visit the www.wnij.org. V2 Marketing Communications promoted and facilitated a two-day fall workshop for the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg in Illinois. MELD hired V2 Marketing to develop a corporate website and social media strategy for branding and fundraising. V2 Marketing created capital campaign materials for Rockford Lutheran School for three fundraising initiatives: construction of a 4,000-sq.-ft. media center, an endowment fund growth and a faculty fund. The Observer, the newspaper of the Diocese of Rockford; serving Catholics in 11 counties of northwestern Illinois, celebrated its 80th anniversary with a dinner event on Nov. 21 at Cliffbreakers Restaurant in Rockford. The event featured guest speaker and author John Thavis, who spoke on his years covering news at the Vatican and roughly 60 papal trips. Rockford Orthopedic Associates, Ltd., began doing business as OrthoIllinois in December. The practice operates two clinic locations in Rockford, three rehabilitation facilities in Belvidere, Machesney Park and Rockton, and two division clinics formerly known as Crystal Lake Orthopedics in Crystal Lake and Huntley, Ill. Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that Rockford now is one of 25 finalists for consideration to receive a $25,000 Levitt AMP matching grant to host a 10-week live music series at Davis Park in downtown Rockford in summer, 2016. Finalists were chosen based on the number of online votes they received by the community. The 15 winners will be announced on Jan. 5.

January 2016

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS

Patty York, Winnebago/Boone Foster Care Alliance coordinator, loads the back of a van with more than 150 Christmas gifts donated by OSF HealthCare employees for the alliance’s “Adopt an Angel” program.

Auburn High School students compete in a cooking challenge in December as a part of the University of Illinois Extension and Rockford Public Schools six-week 4-H afterschool program, Knights in the Kitchen.

Dave Adkins, Blackhawk Bank, presents at the signing ceremony with four other local banks on a $17 million loan to complete AAR Corp’s Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. The facility will house Rock Valley College’s Aviation Maintenance program to train professionals for the local aerospace industry.

Rock Valley Credit Union and 97ZOK present a $7,861 check to Pink Heals – Winnebago County; proceeds from the fourth-annual Bra Auction and firemen calendars to help local families going through cancer treatment. In two years, Rock Valley CU and 97ZOK have raised $17,723 for the cause.

church children’s groups with a positive Christmas message.

donations of toiletries, baby clothes and art supplies to help Rockford Rescue Mission, Meld and Milestone. Three middle school students attended the Youth Summit for “Me to We” in November in Chicago on the difference between social justice and charity.

Fehr Graham acquired civil/structural engineering and land surveying firm Coombe-Bloxdorf P.C., Springfield, Ill. The newest acquisition increases services and 16 new team members, for Thayer Lighting Inc. is offering a total of 25 at the branch. special incentives on commercialgrade LED products including bulbs Rockford Park District and the for most fixtures, exit signs and more. Winnebago County Regional Tourism Companies can learn if they are eligible Facility Board announced that the for an instant rebate by calling Thayer at Sportscore Complexes have been 815-282-1112. The deadline has been renamed with agreement by its new naming rights partner, MercyRockford extended until February 29, 2016. Health System. The complexes now will be called MercyRockford Sportscore 1 and MercyRockford Sportscore 2.

University of Illinois Extension partnered with Rockford Public Schools for Knights in the Kitchen, a six-week 4-H youth program, a part of Auburn High School’s after school program to engage youth in the culinary field and to equip them with kitchen basics. The event culminated in a cooking challenge on Dec. 7 where students prepared a meal using mystery ingredients. Call 815-986-4357 or visit web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw.

Spectrum Progressive School of Rockford joined the “Me to We” Comfort Keepers of northwest Illinois distributed more than 1,500 handmade movement. Through service-based learning, students discover the issues Thanksgiving cards to area seniors, thanks to elementary school students in they care about and take action. Belvidere District 100 and Zion Lutheran Spectrum students held bake sales to raise money to build wells closer to School in Marengo. Comfort Keepers also accepted handmade cards from schools in Africa and encouraged

KMK Media Group launched a new website for Oregon Community Unit School District #220, www.ocusd.net. Ringland-Johnson Construction began work on a $6 million, 9,700-sq. ft. addition to the Mercy-Rockford Health System Roscoe clinic with a new look and expanded services in summer, 2016. The clinic will feature a new physical therapy room, CT scan room, remodeled X-ray room, more waiting rooms and expanded waiting area. It will remain open during construction. YWCA La Voz Latina won an AT&T* “Investing in Illinois Award,” based on a nomination by Rep. John Cabello, and received $1,500 towards bus passes and other expenses that allow program participants to attend medical appointments and search for employment and housing. Chartwell Agency managed the public relations, outreach and digital

advertising campaign for Giovanni’s Conference Center’s event with “Say Yes to the Dress” star Randy Fenoli, who spoke on overcoming obstacles, personal confidence and persevering to reach your goals. MedMar opened in December. The medical cannabis dispensary is offering a 10 percent ongoing discount to veterans (with proof of service), to patients over 65 (with proof of age) and children under 18 suffering from epilepsy. It offers flower-based marijuana products for vaporization or smoking, and soon, an assortment of medical cannabis products: chocolates, gummies, granola bars, concentrates and sublinguals, oil cartridges for vaporization and topicals. Fehr Graham, with offices in 10 locations including Rockford, was featured in the December issue of TPO-Treatment Plant Operator™ magazine, a monthly national publication dedicated to wastewater and water treatment professionals. Savant Capital Management, headquartered in Rockford and offices in 11 locations in three states, ranked #22 in REP. magazine’s “Top 100 Registered Investment Advisors (RIA) of 2015.” This is its third consecutive year on the list. Colorwave Graphics, LLC produced and installed new indoor menu signs for Panino’s, outdoor sign faces for Brian Thomas Photography and a stainless

Continued on page 25

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

January 2016

— IN MEMORIAM —

ROGER E. SCHMELING

Former Rockford Chamber Board President

Roger Schmeling, as President of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, meets with President Gerald Ford on the grounds of the White House along with other Rockford business leaders. Roger E. Schmeling, 84, Rockford June 16, 1931 – November 27, 2015. He was born, in Rockford; the son of Elmer A. and Florence (Cope) Schmeling. Roger attended Rockford West High School, Valparaiso University and graduated from Chicago Technical College. He married Mary Lou Thompson of Beloit, WI on November 10, 1956. Roger served in the United States Army and was CEO of Schmeling Construction Co. He was past President of Rockford Council of 100, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association and Rockford Area Chamber of

Commerce. He was past Director of First National Bank of Rockford, Center for Sight & Hearing, Rockford YMCA, Camp Manito-wish YMCA, Forest Hills Country Club, Rockford Rotary and P.A. Peterson Retirement Home. Since 1903, Schmeling Construction Company has built a reputation for providing clients with high quality craftsmanship and unbeatable integrity. Schmeling Construction remains a family-owned business to this day. The company is also a founding member of the Rockford Chamber, dating back to 1910.

Business Briefs (continued) steel logo including several mounted prints for a Kerry center in Michigan. SwedishAmerican achieved a 2015 Labor and Delivery Excellence Award from Healthgrades. It was one of only nine hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin to be named in the top five percent; and the only hospital in Rockford to be honored with the award. Blackhawk Bank received a 5-Star Superior Bank rating from Bauer Financial in December, 2015.

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

Tuesday, January 12

SwedishAmerican Hospital offers EMT-Basic classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 10 p.m., at Highland Community College, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport; and Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 10 p.m., at Harlem Roscoe Fire Department, Station 1, 10544 Main St. First Responder classes start Jan. 13, Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 10 p.m., at the German Valley Fire Department, 600 Church St. Apply by calling 779-6966082.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Veteran Affairs, and the national nonprofit agency, Community Solutions, recognized Rockford as the first community in the national Zero: 2016 movement to reach functional zero and effectively end homelessness among local veterans. Ignition Studio redesigned and launched a new website for Ingenium Aerospace; highlighting its products and solutions.

Membership Renewals Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in November, 2015. 1st Step Chiropractic. S.C. A.W. Anderson Agency, Inc. Abreo Restaurant Advanced Chimney Systems Inc. Alignment Rockford Alpine Kiwanis Club Anderson Japanese Gardens Artale Wine Co. Atlas Components Ballard Properties Barron Metal Finishing, LLC Benning Group LLC Business Advisors Group, LLC C & E Specialties, Inc. Camelot World Travel Center for Sight & Hearing Charles Schwab CherryVale Mall Christenson Funeral Home & Crematory City of Loves Park Cloisters of Forest Hills Columbia College Comprehensive Prosthetics & Orthotics Cross Creek Condominium Association Culver’s Restaurant Don E. Ballard Trust Erboe & Associates, CPAs Fantasy Glassworks Fehr Graham Forest City Communications of Illinois Inc. Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. Illinois Bank & Trust Independence Village at Rockford Knit One Purl Two Leland L. Freberg, CPA, LLC Lincoln Rent-All & Sales, Inc. Lindstrom, Sorenson & Associates, LLP Mary’s Market MembersAlliance Credit Union Michalsen Office Furniture Inc. Mid-City Office Products Midwest Dental - Rockford Midwest Dental - Rockford Northeast

Community Events COMMUNITY

Wednesday, January 20

Rockford Public Library presents Search the Foundation Directory Online for Nonprofit Grants, 2 to 3:30 p.m., main library, second floor computer room, 215 N. Wyman St. Register at 815-965-7606. Williams-Manny Insurance Group presents a free, two-hour seminar, Cyber Liability: Understanding the Risk, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at NIU Rockford, 8500 E. State St., featuring John Immordino, Arlington Roe & Co. Identify your exposure, determine potential cost of a breach and learn what privacy and notification laws exist. Includes continental breakfast at 8 a.m. RSVP by Jan. 13 to Christine.Newhart@ wmanny.com or 815-227-8940.

Thursday, January 21

University of Illinois Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Extension present Northern Illinois Berry School, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Rockford Public Library-East Branch, 6685 E State St., on growing berries in your backyard or starting a berry operation. Make a Spotted Wing Drosophilia trap. Register at web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw or call 815-986-4357.

Monday, January 25

Mrs. Fisher’s, Inc. Napleton Honda

New Zion Missionary Baptist Church NITROrthopaedics, LLC

Northern Illinois Terrazzo & Tile Company

PACCAR Parts, A Division of PACCAR

Panino’s Restaurant (State Street) Panino’s Restaurant (Main Street) Parkside Warehouse, Inc.

Piping Industry Council of the Rockford Area Professional Graphics Inc. Prorok Law Office, P.C.

Regional Office of Education

Rock River Environmental Services Rockford Education Association Rockford I.D. Shop, Inc.

Rockford Molded Products

Rockford Nephrology Associates (RNA of Rockford LLC) Rockford Rotary Club

Saint Anthony College of Nursing Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Special Power, Inc.

T. Pratt & Associates, Ltd. TDS

Title Underwriters Agency Tree Care Enterprises Inc. Trinity Day Care

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford University of Illinois College of Nursing, Rockford Regional Campus University of Illinois College of Pharmacy at Rockford Village Green Home & Garden Wanless-Brothers Moving and Storage Co.

Winnebago County Health Department

Y Blvd. Visit www.CHIPhealth.com, call 815-975-4523 or e-mail jody.perrecone@ CHIPhealth.com by Jan. 13.

Tuesday January 26

Hulsebus Rockford Chiropractic presents Natural Holistic Health Night, 7 p.m., at 1877 Daimler Road. Doctors will teach on making healthy smoothies. Call 815-398-3434.

Wednesday, January 27

First Northern Credit Union presents Complete Health Improvement Program New Year, New Budget, a free seminar (CHIP) hosts its next Wellness Program on creating more household cash flow and staying on top of your budget, 5:30 to lose weight sensibly, lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and to 7:30 p.m., 104 N. Show Place Dr. Visit slow down and reverse type 2 diabetes www.fncu.org/seminars or contact 815-315-2118 or dtognarelli@fncu.org. at Swedish American Hospital’s BetterLife Wellness Center, YMCA - 200

January 2016

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

the News IN Members THEin NEWS

1. Dr. Bakytbubu Arynova

2. John Paul (JP) Kale

3. Reed Schmechel

4. Brandin Keltner

5. Dr. Inis Jane Bardella

6. Jacob Maegli

7. Tom Okite

9. Doug Richard

10. Jessica Rielly

11. Karl Arvidson

12. Mary Fennel

13. Marshonda Sullivan

14. Jared Fewell

15. Kathy Velasco

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden announced 2016 board officers: Jane Wallace, president; Nancy Lundstrom, vice-president; Steve Penticoff, secretary; Jonathan Mays, treasurer, and Stephanie Jacobs, immediate past president; and its board: Julie Buchanan, Sharyn Castrogiovanni, Samuel Darby, Jody Goeff, Sherry Harlan, Jean Harezlak, Susan Lynch, Susan Nunez and Sherri Rudy. Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary Blackhawk Bank appointed Lucas Derry as a director.

Bickell and Dennis Rasmussen from the Rockford IceHogs, and reassigned forwards Tanner Kero and Marko Dano to Rockford.

Alpine Bank hired Mary King McGovern as executive vice president & chief financial officer. Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois hired therapists William H. Evans, LCPC, and Barbara Dolan-Kiefer, LCPC, as well as Jennifer Reintour as bookkeeper and Kathi Edwards as office manager.

Remedies Renewing Lives named the following board officers: Lisa Munch, chair; Nancy Halverson, vice chair; Mike Spoden, treasurer, and Terry Houghton, secretary. Kristin Corcoran Tussing, D.D.S., and Ron Butler joined the board.

YMCA of Rock River Valley promoted Brent Pentenburg to chief operating officer.

William (Bo) DeLong was appointed to board of Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc., the holding company of First National Bank and Trust.

Micah Tiegs, PA-C, joined the medical practice at the Crusader Community Health on BroadwayUram Clinic as a certified physician assistant.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Dr. Bakytbubu Arynova (1) joined the OB/GYN practice at Women’s Health Services, Crusader Community Health on Broadway-Uram Clinic in Rockford. Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren P.C. (Reinhart) welcomed registered patent attorney John Paul (JP) Kale (2) to its intellectual property practice. Ringland-Johnson hired Lauren Spencer as accounting manager. Rockford IceHogs, American Hockey League affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, recalled forward Daniel Ciampini from and assigned forward Daniel Ciampini to the Indy Fuel. The Chicago Blackhawks recalled forward Bryan

Rockford University Award of Distinction given by the Rockford University Alumni Association Board.

McMAHON hired Reed Schmechel (3) as an AutoCAD designer. Jill Boepple joined Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc., as program director.

Ringland-Johnson hired Brandin Keltner (4) as the company’s newest project manager.

The Alliance promoted Kathryn Otto-McLeod to manager of product portfolio and strategy. ®

Inis Jane Bardella, M.D. (5), FAAFP, joined the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford as head of the department of family and community medicine. Jacob E. Maegli (6) recently joined Reno & Zahm LLP as an associate with a general practice focusing on business law, and civil and commercial litigation.

8. Laura D. Mruk

16. Julie O’Rourke

17. Eve Whitaker

WilliamsMcCarthy announced a new partner, Laura D. Mruk (8). Her practice focuses on litigation, primarily in employment matters representing management interests. Doug Richard (9) was promoted to president of Midwest Alarm Services, a part of Per Mar Security. First Northern Credit Union welcomed Jessica Rielly (10) to its mortgage team. Karl Arvidson (11) was promoted to vice president of operations at Thayer Lighting, Inc.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS Kerry Schaible, CLU©, RICP©, CLTC©, financial advisor, Northwestern Mutual, received continuing education credits for attending The American College Knowledge Summit Conference and Commencement in Honolulu. Mary Fennel (12) and Marshonda Sullivan (13) received Comfort Keeper of the Month awards for October, 2015. Jared Fewell, (14) mortgage planner, Blackhawk Bank, was the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s second ranking loan officer in the Northern Region for 2014 for his service and commitment to affordable homeownership.

Julianna Sliger joined Remedies Renewing Lives as a senior addictions counselor.

Kathy Velasco (15), president of V2 Marketing Communications was the recipient of Rockford Register Star’s 2015 Excalibur Award.

Tom Okite (7) joined First Midwest Group as a project engineer on a consultant basis.

Julie O’Rourke (16), executive vice president and senior trust & investment officer, received the 2015

Eve Whitaker (17), personal lines and life department administrator, Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc., was named Employee of the Year for 2015. In November, SwedishAmerican hosted a “No Shave November Challenge” for men’s cancer awareness. More than 6,000 people voted for their favorite bearded man in three categories. Awards went to Keith Hoerth, lab director, (Favorite Bearded Swedes Man); Jason Beckett, (Favorite Bearded Community Man), and Sean Henry, B103, Favorite Bearded Media Man. The National Association of Professional Women honored Mary Cline, accounting instructor, Rock Valley College, as a 2015-2016 inductee into its VIP Woman of the Year Circle. Seven students from Keith School were named Illinois State Scholars for grades and standardized test scores: Michael Kaufman, Jeremy Martinez, Kaitlyn Oliver, Jay Shirodkar, Reilley Wehrstein, Hayden Zielinski and Hou Yunpeng.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Chris Kelley, V2 Marketing Communications, presented “Inbound Marketing for Nonprofits,” at the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence monthly Leader Luncheon. Kathy Velasco, Deb Strout and Bryan Garrett held a panel discussion on “How Do We Stack Up?: Marketing Brand Analysis and Print Critique,” for NICNE’s Leader Luncheon with tips on visually appealing and engaging print and digital publications. Philip R. Schalow, DC, DCCJP, owner, Upper Cervical Care Center-Rockford, a division of 1st Step Chiropractic, S.C., will present a case report at the Research Agenda Conference hosted by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges in March, 2016.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

January 2016

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events JANUARY, 2016 Friday, January 8

Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten will present.

Tuesday, January 12

Join IGNITE at the Ice Hogs Gamesuite style! as the team battles the Chicago Wolves at BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.; puck drops at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 13 7:30 - 9:00 am Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center 3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford

Breakfast Buzz There still is no single, accurate one-sizefits-all profile of an active shooter. John E. Busch, protective security advisor-Chicago district, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will present on the Active Shooter Awareness Program to help managers train their workforce and enhance their facilities’ preparedness. This is a special program sponsored by the Business Education and Public Safety Councils. Sponsored by RSM US LLP.

Wednesday, January 13

Ribbon Cutting, 4 to 5 p.m., at Key Realty, Commercial & IndustrialTeri Watts, broker, 6755 Weaver Road, Rockford. Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, 7128 Spring Creek Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Key Realty, Commercial & Industrial, Teriw1214@gmail.com. Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Deanna Watts, 815-968-9881 or Deanna@rockfordcc.com.

Thursday, January 14

Ribbon Cutting, 3 to 4 p.m., Block Advisors (H&R Block), 7210 E. State St., Rockford. Thursday, January 21 5 - 8:00 pm Giovanni’s, Inc. 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford

Rockford Chamber of Commerce

ANNUAL DINNER Announcement of the 2016 Citizen of the Year. Keynote speaker is Stephen M.R. Covey, New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The SPEED of Trust —The One Thing That Changes Everything. Event is open to Chamber members only. Sponsored by OSF Healthcare (presenting), Associated Bank (gold), Charles Schwab (Citizen of the Year), Leading Lawyers (silver), Williams-Manny Insurance Group (wine), FurstSearch, RSM, The Alliance (bronze), and Illinois Bank & Trust and Saint Anthony College of Nursing (calendar).

Friday, January 22 8:00 am - Noon Giovanni’s, Inc. 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford

Leading at the Speed of Trust WITH STEPHEN M.R. COVEY

Learn the 13 behaviors of high trust leaders. See page 16 for more info.

Wednesday, January 27

Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, 7128 Spring Creek Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Key Realty, Commercial & Industrial, Teriw1214@gmail.com.

Advertisers Index ADVERTISERS

Alpine Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Blackhawk Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

RiverView Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Brian Thomas Photography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Broadmoor Agency, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . 4 Chartwell Agency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Colorwave Graphics, LLC. . . . . . . . . 20 Comcast Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 FurstSearch LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . 3, 16, 17, 22, 23 Rockford University . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 RSM US LLP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Thayer Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Illinois Bank & Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Van Galder Bus Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

IMEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

V2 Marketing Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Klaas Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 KMK Meda Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

WilliamsMcCarthy LLP. . . . . . . . . . . 12

MercyRockford Health System. . . . . . 3

Wipfli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Deanna Watts, 815-968-9881 or Deanna@rockfordcc.com.

Heidi M. Garner, Chief Operating Officer.................................... 815-316-4312

Friday, January 29

Lynette Jacques, Vice President, Member Investment.................... 815-316-4317

Leadership Rockford & CAP Alumni Gathering, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie Street, Rockford. Contact cludwig@ rockfordchamber.com.

FEBUARY, 2016 Tuesday, February 2

Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rockford Country Club, 2500 Oxford St., Rockford. Sienna on Brendenwood, sponsor.

Thursday, February 4

IGNITE Loaded Brush Night, 6 to 9 p.m., 317 Studio and Gallery, 317 Market St., Rockford. Paint a beach scene to remind us what summer feels like! No painting experience required. Wednesday, February 10 7:30 - 9:00 am Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center 3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford

Breakfast Buzz Rockford. Samuel J. Castree, Jr., senior vice president & general counsel, Staff Management, will present on 2016 U.S. Department of Labor regulation changes. Sponsored by RSM US LLP.

Wednesday, February 10

Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, 7128 Spring Creek Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Key Realty, Commercial & Industrial, Teriw1214@ gmail.com. Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Deanna Watts, 815-968-9881 or Deanna@rockfordcc.com.

Friday, February 12

Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford.

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100.............................................. Direct Line Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO.......................................... 815-316-4304 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology................... 815-316-4338 Caitlin Ludwig, Vice President, Leadership Development.................... 815-316-4337 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events.............................................. 815-316-4302 Doug Rand, Accounting Manager/Controller............................... 815-316-4316 Sue Boyer, Member Relations................................................. 815-316-4315 Mary Ann Suprenant, Membership Development Manager.............. 815-316-4336 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator......................... 815-316-4320

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman of the Board Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc. Chair Elect Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Vice Chair Michele Petrie BMO Harris Bank Treasurer Amy Ott Boylan Catholic High School Immediate Past Chair Richard Walsh Zimmerman & Walsh, LLP

DIRECTORS Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Jan Bowman TLC Construction Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc. Dr. Carmen Coballes-Vega Rock Valley College Dr. Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate Don Daniels SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency Darlene Furst FurstStaffing

Wednesday, February 24

Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, 7128 Spring Creek Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Key Realty, Commercial & Industrial, Teriw1214@ gmail.com. Wednesday, February 24 Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Deanna Watts, 815-968-9881 or Deanna@rockfordcc.com.

Ira Grimmett UTC Aerospace Systems

Dan Ross Williams-Manny Insurance Group

Dr. Robert Head Rockford University

Henry Seybold Rockford Health System

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home Jeff Hultman Illinois Bank & Trust Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Kris Kieper YWCA Northwestern Illinois Paul McCann Stanley Steemer of Rockford Patrick Morrow Alpine Bank Mike Paterson Mid-West Family Broadcasting Mark Peterson CBL Associates CherryVale

Patrick Shaw RSM US LLP Laura Williamson Rockford Park District

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Michael Nicholas Rockford Area Economic Development

F EB R UARY SP ECIAL SECTION:

Career Advancement through Education For information on advertising, call 815

987-8100