The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com
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STANdARd MILEAGE foR 2014
Citizen of the Year
February 2014 | Volume 27 | No. 2
honored at Chamber’s Annual Dinner By Paul Anthony Arco Jeff Fahrenwald was nearly speechless when he learned that he was named the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. Fahrenwald, director of the MBA program and a professor at Rockford University, was recognized during the chamber’s annual dinner, January 23, at Giovanni’s. “I’m stunned,” Fahrenwald said. “I don’t know what to say. I’m honored.” The Citizen of the Year is presented to an individual who’s made significant contributions to the community
GoodWILL VITA TAx PREPARATIoN ASSISTANcE
PHOTOS BY BRIAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeff Fahrenwald, director of the MBA program and professor at Rockford University, is named Citizen of the Year. through business and philanthropic activities over several years. In addition to serving as director of the MBA program at Rockford University, Fahrenwald teaches in the areas of human relations, management, leadership and international studies. He is an active organizational consultant and trainer focusing on strategic planning, organizational leadership, and management development. He also has served on many local boards, including the American Red Cross, Rockford Local Development Corp., and various Rockford Public School committees. “This is my home. I think it’s important to step up and give back to your community,” he said later. “I think
Rockford is on the cusp of doing great things. Education is turning around. I think Transform Rockford is a fabulous movement. We have good organizations that care about the community, from United Technologies and Woodward to smaller companies. Ten years from now, we’re going to look back and say, ‘Wow, Rockford is a different place.” “It’s well deserved,” said Rockford University President Dr. Robert Head. “Jeff is one of the hardest workers for the improvement of our community. When he talks, people listen. One of my greatest privileges at Rockford University is to work with extremely bright leaders, and Jeff is certainly right there among the best.” more on page 4
Grants earmarked to take lead out of area homes
Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com n online registration n keynote speaker video clips n event photos n list of chamber events Questions? 815-987-8100
Join the chamber’s LinkedIn Group www.linkedin.com/e/gis/2544
The Internal Revenue Service released optional 2014 standard mileage rates for taxpayers in computing deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable or medical expense purposes: $.56 for business, $.22 for medical and $.14 for charity.
Winnebago County Health Department is taking applications through its Creating Lead Safe Rockford program for residents interested in home lead mitigation, thanks to $3 million in grants for Winnebago and Boone counties by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lead poisoning is the number one environmental illness of children and the most common preventable pediatric health problem in the United States today. Lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years. Even small amounts can cause serious health problems in mental and physical development, especially for
children under 6. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal. Children commonly are exposed by breathing in or ingesting paint chips and contaminated dust from deteriorated or disturbed lead-based paint in homes built before 1978. Households accepted into the CLSR program will receive a full lead-based paint inspection/risk assessment. Properties may be eligible for lead hazard reduction work, which may include painting, window and door replacement, or specialized cleaning. Households must meet requirements, including incomes less than 80 percent of the area median. For questions call Carmelo Porta at 815-720-4112.
Goodwill VITA volunteers are offering free tax assistance to those with low-to-moderate incomes (families with incomes less than $50,000; individuals with incomes less than $25,000), and persons with disabilities. Volunteer tax preparers are IRS certified and assist community members in claiming any special credits and deductions for which they may be eligible. Call 815-965-7606. Various Rockford Public Library locations will be set up for VITA tax assistance, including the main library, the Lewis Lemon, Montague, Rock River, Rockton and East branches, and the Nordlof Center small multi-purpose room. Appointments are required. Call 815987-6200. (Some walk-ins may be accepted.)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Small Business Luncheon February 20
The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club For more info, see page 27
PoPULATIoN GRoWTH IN 2014 The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the United States population on New Year’s Day, 2014 represented an increase of 0.7 percent from New Year’s Day, 2013. One birth is expected to occur every eight seconds in the United States and one death every 12 seconds. The world population on New Year’s Day, 2014 represented an increase of 1.1 percent from New Year’s Day, 2013. Worldwide every second, 4.3 births and 1.8 deaths are expected. India added 15.6 million people over the one-year period, which led all countries, followed by China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia.
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theVoice rockfordchamber.com
Chairman’s Perspective VIEWPOINT
Business community should play a role in addressing crime and public safety Why the need? There are four immediate victims of crimes against business: businesses themselves, their employees, their customers, and the public. At the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner in January, I informed those in attendance of the Chamber forming an initiative to be part of addressing crime and safety in the Rockford area. We have formed a Public Safety Council and will be working with businesses and the public safety professionals to identify the best way to use our Chamber resources to reduce or prevent crime and increase positive feelings of security and safety. Similar to our activities with our public schools system, the Rockford Chamber and its members can be an effective tool to help in addressing community priorities. Why the need? There are four immediate victims of crimes against business: businesses themselves, their
employees, their customers, and the public. But because businesses are parts of their communities, business crime affects the community as much as crime in the community affects businesses. Thus, other stakeholders are affected as well: shareholders, management, suppliers and vendors, neighboring residents, and nearby businesses. The cost of crime threatens the viability of businesses by increasing expenses in a number of ways. For example, money might be spent repairing damage caused by vandals, or on security devices, such as mirrors, closed circuit television, and alarm systems. Insurance premiums can be increased. If fear of victimization causes customers to stop frequenting the business, sales will drop. All of these factors, in addition to direct losses from theft, can result in lower profits. This can be devastating, particularly to small businesses or to those operating on slim profit margins. Businesses play an important role in community stability by providing goods, services, and employment opportunities. A thriving business community is indicative
of a strong local economy and a good quality of life. Businesses also contribute to social cohesion by providing places for area residents to interact casually. When businesses relocate, close, or reduce their hours because of crime, neighborhoods can be substantially impacted. Business relocation can also negatively affect residential property values, because not only does proximity to a blighted area make adjacent properties less attractive to potential buyers, but landlords may have difficulty finding tenants if goods and services are not located nearby or if the social environment creates a sense of fear among community residents. Business owners may be reluctant to work with the police on crime issues, either because they believe that police cannot do much about the problem, or, conversely, because they believe that the police are already effectively dealing with it. Or it may be that a business doesn’t see where it may have a role in this. Like the rest of the public, business owners may also believe that certain approaches to dealing with crime work best: a greater police presence, through stepped-up patrols perhaps, or
increased Rich Walsh Rockford Chamber penalties for Board Chairman offenders. It is vital that business owners understand that the criminal justice system alone cannot handle the crime problem and that they too must make efforts to prevent crime. This is especially important because some preventive measures can only be implemented by businesses themselves, such as those related to product design and methods of providing services. One of our first steps in encouraging business owners to engage in crime prevention activities is to educate them about the actual costs of crime, both to themselves and to the public. We will also work to ensure local business have accurate information on public safety. Safety means much more than adding more police to a particular area or environment. Safety is a perception you instill in people by making their environment a safer place to live, work and play. We will be reaching out to you as members and hope to receive your active engagement.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
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Board Profile PROFILE
Bringing a business perspective to the Chamber
Jan Bowman TLC Construction
What do you want to contribute as part of the Chamber board?
How do you think you impact the community?
Being the co-owner of TLC Construction, a small business, I hope to bring the small business perspective to Chamber concerns, initiatives and activities.
I only participate in the organizations I believe in and do all in my power to make them better.
Why do you think the Chamber is important to business and the community? The Chamber gives a united business voice to the area; keeps business informed on issues that may affect us; and helps us grow our business through publicity, education and networking.
What is the name/current purpose of your business/organization? TLC Construction is a general contractor specializing in remodeling and additions, both residential and commercial, as well as commercial project management.
What are your business responsibilities? I am in charge of marketing, social media and assist customers in product selection (flooring, counters, plumbing fixtures, etc.) for their projects.
What trend is most strongly impacting your industry? With the tremendous slowdown in home construction, many homebuilders and their former workers are now doing remodeling. This has diluted the existing market for remodeling and additions.
If you could be or do anything else — what? I love to travel and would enjoy being a guide who would show people the amazing sites all over the world. Of course, I would have to check them out first!
What one word would you use to describe yourself? Organized – despite the appearance of my office -- I know where everything is!
What book or movie would you recommend right now and why? “Saving Mr. Banks” is the best movie I have seen in a long time -- great acting as well as an interesting and unusual story based on truth.
What recent technology innovation has the greatest impact on your life? It is not recent to many, but I have only had an iPhone for a year. It keeps me in contact with customers as well as my husband and our subcontractors; has all my contacts information; helps me search for anything; and is always with me!
What are you most proud of? The quality of work TLC Construction produces with the aid of our fantastic sub-contractors.
What’s the one thing about you that few people know? The summer after I graduated from high school, my best friend (who was born in Germany) and I spent a month traveling around Germany by ourselves.
What are you are most thankful for? The support and love of my beautiful family.
How do you typically spend your leisure time? My favorite thing to do is spend time with family and friends. I am lucky to have some very special people in my life.
Anything else you’d like to share with Chamber members? I am very honored to be asked to be on the Chamber board and look forward to learning more about this fantastic organization, its members and assisting in its endeavors.
Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce elcomes and encourages submissions for The w 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
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.
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Despite the frigid temperatures, the capacity crowd enjoyed a warm evening.
Annual Dinner Continued from front page
Keynote Haydn Shaw had provided the audience with provocative thought and entertainment.
Tiffany Staman and Diane James having fun at their table.
Ignite Leadership joined in the generational topic at the Annual Dinner. Pictured left to right are Jolene Smith, Sarah Armstrong, Caitlin Ludwig, and Mark Middendorf. In the front is Alpa Patel.
A large crowd of 840 business leaders turned out for this year’s event. “We had a great vibe in the room,” said Rockford Chamber President and CEO Einar Forsman. “I think many businesses are in a really good place right now, and I think people were quite interested in this year’s topic.” Haydn Shaw, a leading expert and author on generational differences, was this year’s keynote speaker. The Chicago-based Shaw delivered a humorous presentation entitled “Sticking Points: How to Get Four Generations Working Together in the 12 Places They Come Apart.” Over the past several years, the trend of businesses employing four generations - traditionalists, baby boomers, gen Xers and millennials - in the workforce has required business professionals to explore ways of honoring each group’s different needs, attitudes, behaviors and value systems. Working in a university setting, Fahrenwald understands that concept all too well. “I think we’re all pretty much the same, just at different places in life,” he said. “When you’re 20, you want to be president by the time you’re 25. When you’re 50, you’re looking back at what could have been. If we realize that we’re all the same, just at different points in our lives, it’s a lot easier to get along.” Even the millennials agree. “I’ve had many generations who’ve been huge influences in my life,” said Rebecca Nunes, assistant account executive at PR Etc. “Many of us have gained better insight into other generations. We’ve been raised to believe that anything’s okay. If you want to be a stay-at-home mom, that’s okay. And if you want to have a career and climb to the top, that’s fine, too. We haven’t been placed into a corner. We have many options.”
Alan Gibby, Becky Cook Kendall, Matt Simpson, and Ella Nelson stop for a photo.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
Ginnie Weckerly, Sheryl Head, Dr. Robert Head, and Tanzee Miller enjoy the evening. During his address, Forsman provided an update on the chamber’s plans for 2014, and how it will continue serving its members and the community in the future. He also provided a 2013 year in review for the Chamber’s major activities, including the Chamber’s public policy initiatives, its political action committee ROCPAC, People You Should Know and the various educational components available to chamber members. The chamber’s retention rate among its 1,200 existing member businesses is 90 percent, an impressive number considering the average for most chambers is 82 percent. “We are very pleased that our members support us at such a high level,” Forsman said. “It validates our strategy of having true value in a chamber, which makes us an important component of a business’s own growth strategy.” New chamber board members were introduced including Jan Bowman from TLC Construction, Michael Iasparro from Hinshaw & Culbertson, Laura Pigatti Williamson from the Rockford Park District and Josh Trust from the Rockford Register Star. Outgoing board members were also acknowledged, including Ryan Brauns from Rockford Consulting & Brokerage, Penny Lechtenberg from Hinshaw & Culbertson, and Dan Saavedra from Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects. The dinner was presented by OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center. The Citizen of the Year was sponsored by Charles Schwab. Gold sponsors included First National Bank and Trust Company and WilliamsMcCarthy LLP. Silver sponsors were AT&T and Leading Lawyers. Bronze Sponsors were McGladrey LLP and The Alliance. Calendar sponsors were CliftonLarsonAllen LLP and Riverside Community Bank. The wine sponsor was Williams-Manny. n
Paula Carynski, President of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, introduces the Keynote speaker.
Dan Saavedra, Penelope Lechtenberg, and Ryan Brauns were all honored as outgoing board members for the Chamber.
Bob Guirl of UTAS interviews with local media sharing his perspectives on generational differences.
Chamber Board VP Rich Zumwalt and Board Chair Rich Walsh catch up before dinner.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
Member Profile PROFILE
Growth at Rockford Map Publishers is trending towards its eBooks, although its printed materials still are popular.
Rockford Map Publishers Mapping a course of success for 70 years
By Paul Anthony Arco
districts to family farm keepsake maps. We provide data to energy companies, agribusiness, government entities, large corporations and small businesses. Our customers are located across the country.” Young is a third-generation owner of the family business. She took over as president for her mother, Joy Dummer, in 1993. Young initially joined the business in high school by doing data entry before learning cartography and eventually getting involved in all facets of the operation. There was plenty to learn in the beginning. “I didn’t know a balance sheet from a bed sheet,” she said. “But I figured it out as I went along, and soon discovered that I had a passion for this business.” Still, there have been challenges, most notably a difficult economy. But Young and her staff of 19 have always weathered any storm that has come their way. “You do what you have to do,” she said. “I am determined that this company is never going to close on my watch. You have to believe in what you’re doing. I give the credit to my team. They’re smart people.”
You don’t need directions to find one of the most successful map-making companies in the country. In 1944, J.Q. Cummings founded Rockford Map Publishers in the basement of his Rockford home. Cummings had worked as a window dresser for stores from New York to Chicago, before moving to Rockford, where he started out going door to door selling maps. He turned that job into a full-time business making farming plat books. Cummings did all the research, hand drawing and publishing of the maps himself. “It was a one-of-a-kind thing that took off,” said his granddaughter Suzanne Young, now president of the company. “The first county he approached was Jefferson County in Wisconsin. One opportunity turned into two and then five.” Eventually Cummings business outgrew his home. He moved to a larger space on Rockford’s southeast side, where it was located for years, before the company moved to Belvidere in 2003. Two years ago, it moved back to Rockford, Business is Growing relocating in the downtown area. “It was In a typical year, Rockford Map time to come back home,” Young said. updates property data for 35 counties. “There’s energy here. It’s been a good fit.” Within two years, Young said, that number will double. Young is looking to expand Mapping for Three Generations the sales force and further developing its This year, Rockford Map Publishers online presence. “Our plan is to produce celebrates 70 years in business – no a more sophisticated web presence and small feat in today’s business climate. make things more accessible to customers “For a small family-owned company, it’s in real time.” something special to celebrate,” Young Although they have passed, Young said. “Mapping is well respected. Even knows her grandfather and mother with technology and smart phones, there’s would be extremely pleased with the still a market for a printed book, although results and reputation Rockford Map growth is trending towards our eBook.” Publishers has within its industry. “I’m Rockford Map provides data containing proud of everything our team has done, land ownership, parcel boundaries and and everyone who’s come before me,” she acreage information, along with related said. “This business is the legacy of our geographic features including latitude/ family. We always knew what we had was longitude, government jurisdictions, something special.” roads, waterways, public lands and aerial imagery. The maps are available in a rockford MAP variety of printed and digital formats. All PUBLISHERS of Rockford Map’s work is proprietary and Suzanne Young, president the copyrighted works can be found in the 124 N. Water St. #10 Library of Congress. Rockford, IL 61107 “Our core product remains the plat 815-708-6324 map,” Young said. “We do a variety of www.rockfordmap.com custom work from routing maps for school
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Four instrumental organizations launch new websites 21st century infrastructure issues related to:
Four organizations that are instrumental to economic development in the Rockford area recently have launched new websites.
■ four-lane divided highways ■ passenger and commuter rail ■ broadband
Rockford Region Economic Development District (RREDD) www.myedd.org
REDD is a nonprofit agency focused on economic development planning. This includes planning for job creation and growing community wealth in Boone and Winnebago counties. The bi-county structure allows the region eligibility for federal grants from the Economic Development Administration, a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. RREDD also serves as the point of contact for area agencies and organizations preparing to apply for economic development grants of all kinds. This includes offering support in research, grant writing and administration.
Joint Institute of Engineering & Technology (JIET) jiet-a.com
JiET-A, working with participating colleges and universities in the Rockford area, offers high school and college students a unique opportunity to combine their academic studies with real-world work experience through internships
■ rivers
I-39 Corridor Association www.i39logisticscorridor.com
with local, leading aerospace companies. Innovative, high-quality internships are integrated with academic curriculum to foster interest, marketable skills and valuable experience for students interested in pursuing careers in the aerospace and aviation industry. The Rockford area is one of the top 10 aerospace clusters in the United States. The most exciting thing about JIET-A is that this collaborative model can be replicated and used as a support tool for other leading industries in the market -- thus helping grow the future business leaders and innovators of our region.
Tri-State Alliance www.tristatealliance.com
The mission of the Tri-State Alliance is to convene the region’s leaders around advocacy for key transportation planning that will support our region’s ability to participate in the ever-growing global supply chain for goods and services. An annual summit is held to address issues that affect commerce and therefore are opportunities to improve quality of life for the (tri-state) region of northern Illinois, northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin. Common priorities consist of
The I-39 corridor is a vital asset to the Rockford area in terms of the capacity to move goods and people in and out of our region with ease. Of the seven major interstate highways accessible within the corridor, six intersect truck-friendly I-39 including I-80, I-88, I-55, I-90, I-74 and I-43 -- all with less congestion. The I-39 Corridor Association is a group of public and private sector organizations that have come together to promote I-39’s premier proximity and connectivity to: ■ interstate highways ■ intercontinental rail ■ international airports/ air-freight carriers ■ barge terminals ■ development ready property ■ higher education institutions ■ logistic support services
Five Reasons to Attend Go Global!
■ Take away practical information on relevant global topics ■ Learn from globally recognized experts in their fields ■ Network and compare notes with business executives from around the Stateline ■ Build your resource network with the highest concentration of experts in the Stateline ■ Brand your organization as a global leader at this premier international trade event
Globally Recognized Experts Include: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 8:00 am-6:30 pm Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford, IL 61107 $99 per person for the one-day event (All-inclusive. Enjoy a continental breakfast, lunch, and reception with hors d’oueuvres.) REGISTER: www.goglobalrockford.com
Leave confident and inspired, feeling better informed and genuinely excited about your business’s global growth opportunities!
■ Linnea Bengtsson, International Business Developer, City of Lidköping and Skaraborg County, Sweden ■ Russell L. Dennis Jr., President & Chief Technology Officer, Leading Edge Hydraulics ■ Jim Foley, Director, Turner Center for Entrepreneurship International Programs ■ Hikaru “Koh” Fujimoto, CPA, MBA, JD, Principal-in-Charge of International Practice, Corbett, Duncan & Hubly, P.C. ■ Luanne Mayorga, Coordinator, Business and Workforce Development, Northern Illinois University ■ Pete Mento, Director, Global Customs and Trade Policy, C.H. Robinson ■ Terry Houghton, PLC Sourcing Supervisor - Global Sourcing, Woodward, Inc. ■ Tom Rohlfs, Supply Chain Director - Fuel Systems CoE, Woodward, Inc.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
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February 2014
QRM … Quick Response Manufacturing For growth in profitability, market share
Photo by Dave Siegel
Top three winners of the 2013 competition are (from left): Edgar Marin-Ruiz, Chuck Meyers and Adrian Vasquez.
FastPitch winners share how they’ve grown their businesses Save the date for the 2014 competition By Sherry Pritz, EIGERlab Since the 2013 FastPitch competition, our three winners have diligently worked on accelerating their businesses, and we’d like to share their stories. Plan now to see the 2014 FastPitch Competition presentations — potentially the “next big thing.” Save the date: June 18, 2014. First place winner, Chuck Meyers with his StringGator product, stated, “Immediately following the completion of FastPitch, the process was off to a swift start. Melissa Westphal’s Rockford Register Star article sparked interest in the StringGator, which resulted in new local connections and multiple bids on production. That, combined with the EIGERlab’s resources, has shortened the time to production. Accomplishments include registering with the State of Illinois and securing www.StringGator.com. Web design is yet to be finalized. Trademarking and market research are in progress, and manufacturing of the StringGator — in the Rockford Region — is on target for the second quarter of 2014.”
Second place winner, Adrian Vasquez, who invented the NZ3 (hair dryer attachment), stated, “Introducing the NZ3 hair dryer at the America’s Beauty Show last year was a big success. Our NZ3 hair dryers are now selling locally, in salons in Miami Beach, Florida, through distribution centers in Chicago, and online. We’ve created a marketing commercial and a product tutorial on YouTube to further increase sales.” Last, but certainly not least, is Edgar Marin-Ruiz who placed third with his product, the Breeze Welding Helmet. He shared, “The progress we’ve made has been slow, but productive, and we have finalized the design of the helmet. A third and final prototype will be completed during the first quarter and production will start soon thereafter. We have completed the steps to incorporate as Breeze Works Inc. Our next goals are to complete the business plan, obtain funding, build our website, create a logo and market the helmet.” Sherry Pritz is marketing coordinator at EIGERlab/Rock Valley College.
Customers who continually request highly customized products with very short lead times are creating a growing trend that manufacturers are and will continue to grapple with for years to come. As frustrating as this trend is for your manufacturing business, a proven solution to your issue can be found through Rajan Suri’s* QRM (Quick Response Manufacturing) concept.
The QRM strategy aids in maintaining a company’s competitive edge, as the demand for more product options and individually customized products increase. Manufacturers that have reduced lead times through the implementation of Suri’s QRM concept have experienced growth in profitability, market share and quality improvement. The QRM strategy aids in maintaining a company’s competitive edge, as the demand for more product options and individually customized products increase. Rajan Suri’s QRM strategy is based on four core concepts: Realizing the Power of Time. Lead time is much more important than most managers realize. Long lead times create many costs. These costs are four to five times labor costs, and shrinking these costs is a much bigger opportunity than reducing labor. Rethinking Organizational Structure. QRM transforms traditional functional departments into an organization consisting of “QRM Cells.” Even though the cell concept has been around for some time, QRM Cells are more flexible, more holistic and applied
outside the shop floor. Bernie Luecke Exploiting RVC BPI System Dynamics. By getting managers to understand how capacity, batch sizes and other factors impact lead times, QRM enables them to make improved decisions that result in shorter lead times. Implementing a Unified Strategy Enterprise-wide. QRM is not just a shop floor approach, it is applied throughout the enterprise, which includes material planning, purchasing, supply chain, quoting, order processing and new product development. If you are interested in learning more about QRM or would like to be invited to future educational events pertaining to QRM, contact Bernie Luecke at Rock Valley College’s Business and Professional Institute, 815-921-2067 or B.Luecke@RockValleyCollege.edu *Rajan Suri is the founder of the QRM concept. He is a professor emeritus, teaching industrial engineering at UW-Madison, with an M.S. and Ph.D. from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Cambridge University, England. Suri was made a fellow of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 1999 and was honored with SME’s Albert M. Sargent Progress Awards in 2006 for creation and implementation of QRM. In 2010, he was inducted into Industry Week Magazine’s “Manufacturing Hall of Fame”. Note: Contents of this article were compiled from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Quick Response Manufacturing website and educational brochures. Bernie Luecke is director of the Business & Professional Institute at Rock Valley College. Manufacturing News is sponsored by RVC BPI
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theVoice rockfordchamber.com
IGNITE
Young Professionals
Happiness: Is there an app for that? Getting real with your life’s reel Let me tell you a little bit about myself: I am admittedly a pretty plugged in Millennial. If I don’t know how to do something, I Google it. If I’m looking for a company’s hours or phone number, I search Facebook. I’ve used online dating in the past and, on the flip side, am currently completing my master’s through an online program at Lewis University. I keep in touch with friends on Facebook, professionally network and catch up on articles on LinkedIn, I dabble in Twitter, and I have even Instagramed a pic or two.
We need to stop Photoshopping our lives to fit into a perfect Facebook reality. According to my social media snapshot, I think you would categorize me as a happy girl who loves Rockford, loves to cook, exercises now and again, loves quotes, is religious, and has a pretty fabulous and successful life. While this is mostly true, there’s a huge part of my life that is not accurately painted in my social media picture. (Brace yourself – this gets a little personal.) About a year ago, I began seeing a therapist due to some major life changes that lead me down a dark path. I began a regular exercise program, but finding myself still buried deep in darkness after a few months, I was officially diagnosed and began treatment for depression. The majority of my depression was situation-based (life changes I had no control over), however a large contributor to my downward spiral was … dun dun dun … social media. As a 28-year-old female who is not married, has no children and isn’t currently saving the rainforest, I find myself constantly comparing myself to my peers via social media sites. While I wish I was more comfortable with myself and my life to brush it off and never compare myself to anyone, I’m only human; therefore, that’s probably not a very realistic plan.
Showing the Highlights As I felt my depression swallow me whole, I felt I was surrounded by people who had it far more together than I did. People I went to high school or college with had perfect weddings to the perfect partners and had perfect marriages with perfect children. No one ever burned dinner, skipped the
Caitlin Ludwig gym and ate ice IGNITE cream instead, had a bad hair day or ever made a mistake. According to my newsfeed, everyone was saving the rainforest while juggling a career and being a parent and an amazing partner, had a perfect relationship with Jesus, found the meaning of life, and never ate McDonald’s. I felt so unworthy. I felt alone. I felt like I was wasting my life and nothing I had done was interesting enough, fun enough, life-changing enough, pretty enough or good enough. And Facebook wasn’t helping. This is a serious problem. We are living our lives attached to social media networks that only show us the highlight reel of people’s lives. We only see what people want us to see, but somehow we are convinced it’s real life. Let me tell you, it’s not.
Getting Real I believe my generation is in the throws of an identity crisis, and it’s going to take some really brave souls to raise their hand and admit that yes, they sometimes burn the cookies, to make a change. I would love to say the answer is to turn off all social media networks – delete your Facebook, go for a hike and meditate in the woods, but that isn’t a realistic option for most of us. There are some truly great things about social media, and whether we like it or not, it’s here to stay. What I’m suggesting is we get real with one another. We need to stop Photoshopping our lives to fit into a perfect Facebook reality. Only through transparency can we marry our lives – virtual and off-screen – in a way that is not only healthy, but real. My depression is very much under control. I’ve bounced back and feel like the “normal” me. Unfortunately, the removal of depression from my life hasn’t stopped me from falling victim to the comparison monster every now and then. Luckily, I’m in a better place to process the information. But battling depression in the age of social media has taught me something I feel is extremely important: I want to be the girl who is brave enough to raise her hand and say, “yes, sometimes I burn the cookies.” I really think this may be the key to saving our sanity, if not our lives. Caitlin Ludwig is marketing specialist at Blackhawk Bank and a member of Ignite. Please igniterockford.com.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
Illinois leading multi-state effort to
purchase next-generation locomotives for passenger rail The Illinois Department of Transportation has taken a step to purchase about 35 high-performance diesel-electric locomotives for several Midwestern and west coast states, using funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation. IDOT has issued a Notice of Intent to Award to Siemens USA to design, build and deliver the locomotives on behalf of the Departments of Transportation from Illinois, California, Michigan, Washington and Missouri. Illinois is leading the multistate locomotive procurement. The new locomotives will achieve a maximum speed of 125 mph and meet new Federal Tier 4 emissions standards, the cleanest to date. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) allocated $808 million to fund the manufacturing of the next generation of passenger rail equipment, including about 35 new locomotives and 130 bilevel rail cars. The locomotives and all of their component parts most likely will be built at Siemens Rail Systems’ solarpowered transportation manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif.
Rail Cars Built in Rochelle Last year, IDOT was involved in a multi-state procurement of 130 next-generation bi-level rail cars for high-performance service, an effort led by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). That effort
resulted in the selection of Sumitomo/ Nippon-Sharyo, which is building the rail cars from its plant in Rochelle, Ill., including 88 cars to be deployed on Midwest regional corridors. The Rochelle plant opened in 2012 and has created more than 250 Illinois jobs. Amtrak debuted the first 110-mph service segment outside of the Northeast Corridor on the Chicago to Detroit Corridor in early 2012. Today, the corridor features an 80-mile segment of track where trains are running up to 110 mph and by 2015, nearly 80 percent of the corridor will see sustained speeds of 110 mph – all with new high performance equipment. Illinois debuted 110 mph service on a 15-mile segment of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor from Dwight to Pontiac in November, 2012, and IDOT is working with the private railroads and FRA to ensure that Positive Train Control requirements and all needed track and crossing improvements are completed in order to expand 110-mph service to about 75 percent of the corridor by 2017. In December, the FRA provided a Record of Decision on the entire ChicagoSt. Louis corridor, allowing Illinois to begin in-depth corridor segment analysis and specific project analysis to move toward high-performance service on the other 25 percent of the corridor as soon as possible, including the Chicago-Joliet and Alton-St. Louis segments.
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theVoice rockfordchamber.com
FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
February 2014
Guest Perspective INSIGHT
Join the BandWagon 2
Fostering student inspiration on a dime This month, 2,000 Rockford Public School students will attend the annual instrument petting zoo at the Riverfront Museum Park. They will try out an array of instruments, from percussion, strings and woodwinds to guitars and ukuleles. Come February, many more students undoubtedly will be singing a positive tune about our band programs.
Let’s teach a lesson to our student musicians: A march is not just a musical form; it’s a path to progress. The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois believes in music education. We believe in its ability to foster academic success and in its ability to inspire creativity and to forge positive emotional bonds. There are many languages spoken in our public schools, but music is a common tongue. We’ve backed up our belief in music education with a $100,000 commitment to the BandWagon 2 endowment, matching a commitment by the Rockford Public School Board. Together, we hope to inspire the community to raise an additional $100,000. This $300,000 endowment for our middle school music programs will yield $12,000 per year. As the endowment grows, so will the annual contribution to our music programs. But we need your help.
Dimes for Drums Dimes for Drums is a project within our public schools to raise money for BandWagon 2. For the next 12 weeks, a new grade or middle school will have one week to bring in as many pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters as possible. This will give current students a chance to participate meaningfully in a project that will continue to benefit our schools long after they have become the leaders of this community. We need you to support these students. We’re asking local businesses to partner with a grade or middle school and commit to match (or multiply) the amount that the school raises. Then after all the coins are counted this spring, we’ll ask you for your contribution. Some local business leaders already have responded to the call. These include: Jeff Layng, on behalf of JP Morgan Chase; Michael White, on behalf of Waterside Financial Advisors, LLC; and Judy Barnard, on behalf of MarketWorks. We thank them for their generous support.
Gloria Lundin Our Community Foundation students’ of Northern Illinois effort must be rewarded and the task of fundraising for BandWagon 2 must be shared. You contribution will reward our students’ efforts and will ensure that BandWagon 2 is success! It is a community-wide collaboration in the fullest.
Music as a Path to Academic Progress Under Dr. Jarrett’s leadership and with the framework provided by the Readiness Rocks plan, our school district is proceeding in the right direction. An investment in the BandWagon 2 is a vote of confidence in our schools — in our ability to restore them as a place of pride and the training ground for this community’s future leaders. As Ehren Jarrett, superintendent of Rockford Public Schools, says, “We don’t believe that outstanding music programs are something that’s nice to have; we believe that it’s something that’s essential to have in terms of having high quality fine arts opportunities for our students.” BandWagon 1 was formed in 1998 when the Community Foundation issued a challenge grant of $15,000 for uniforms and music equipment for the four high school marching bands. This was the foundation’s largest gift at the time. The challenge grant helped to raise more than $270,000, of which $100,000 was contributed by an anonymous donor. To this day I still don’t know the donor’s name, and more importantly, I’ve never been able personally to say thank you. So I would like to do the next best thing: help foster a program that will further strengthen music education in our schools. If you want to partner with one of our schools or if you have any questions about BandWagon 2, please email me at glundin@cfnil.org or call me at 815962-2110, ext. 16. Or visit our website at www.bandwagon2.com. Let’s teach a lesson to our student musicians: A march is not just a musical form; it’s a path to progress. Help pave theirs by supporting Dimes for Drums and contributing to the BandWagon 2 endowment. Gloria Lundin is president of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The views expressed are those of Lundin’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
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Guest Perspective INSIGHT
Striving for college for all Creating a culture steeped in educational attainment
For a more prosperous community, there’s a simple calculus: Higher educational attainment equals higher incomes, higher property values, lower crime and lower unemployment. In Rockford, about 20 percent of our population has a college degree. To meet our workforce demands, we need to reach 25 percent. To meet the state average, we need to reach 31 percent. Closing an 11-point gap is doable in Rockford if we are focused and committed to this transformational mission. A recent study has given us what we were missing: a price tag. The Upjohn Institute recently completed a study showing Rockford could pay college tuition for all public school graduates for as little as $5.6 million a year. The cost was estimated based on a program similar to the highly successful Kalamazoo Promise in Kalamazoo, Mich. It was based on a second donor or “middle dollar” scenario, meaning the local scholarship would apply only after all federal and state grants were awarded. The $5.6 million figure may seem daunting; for sure, it demands a strategic approach. In other communities -such as Kalamazoo; Pittsburgh, Pa., and El Dorado, Ark. – it required a few philanthropic individuals and corporations to step up. They did so because they realized the return on investment is high. A study by Northern Illinois University two years ago showed for every dollar invested in a Rockford college-for-all program, $132 is generated in higher lifetime earnings, more local spending and savings on social programs and incarceration.
Reversing the Brain Drain Local people are shocked when I tell them that 61 percent of graduates of Rockford Public Schools attend college. One problem is: We export college degrees. Too many students don’t
Matt Vosberg
return to the Rockford Public Schools community after high school. A scholarship program could change that by creating a culture steeped in educational attainment – a culture that builds both capacity in its graduates and gratitude for the gift of a college education. A 2006 poll commissioned by CEOs for Cities found that two-thirds of college-educated 25- to 34-year-olds said they would choose an area to live in first, and then find a job, rather than the other way around. The Upjohn study was commissioned by the school district and Rockford Promise, a program dedicated to funding higher education for public school students. College for All is one of the Readiness Rocks, or strategic goals, of the district. In Rockford, we need to create a culture where college is the norm, an expectation from the earliest ages. That’s what’s happening in as many as 40 communities across the country where Promise-type programs have been created. In Kalamazoo, public school enrollment has grown about 24 percent since the Promise program was created. In Pittsburgh, the city’s population is showing growth after 50 straight years of decline. In El Dorado, Ark., the Promise program has been a bright spot in an economically bleak region. Rockford needs to get traction on location-based scholarships while they are trending, not when we are already behind the curve. Higher educational attainment should be our North Star. Let’s begin to realize our Promise. Matt Vosberg is deputy superintendent of the Rockford Public Schools. He is also on the board of the Rockford Promise. The views expressed are those of Vosberg’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
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February 2014 theVoice rockfordchamber.com
FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Rockford University PERSPECTIVE
Changing landscapes in higher education There has been a great deal of discussion recently in the halls of government about what it means to attend college, earn a degree, graduate and have the ability to be gainfully employed. The landscape of higher education is changing and institutions of every shape and size need to be paying attention. The number of high school graduates in Illinois is expected to decrease by just more than five percent by 2020. The trend is similar on a national scale. In an increasingly competitive and shrinking market place, universities and colleges must be willing to think differently about what students see as priorities in their college search. An example for Rockford University is ensuring we are enhancing the overall student experience. Comprised of elements like guest speakers, cultural events, community activities, student organizations, athletic events, study abroad, student-faculty research, courses to build knowledge inside and outside of one’s major, inviting gathering spaces, and so much more, the entirety of student life is a critical part of a successful equation. Even with best practices and strategies in place, there are several outside forces at play within higher education. One of the major transitions in the last few decades is that we used to teach students what is. Now it is our responsibility to prepare our graduates for what is not. Students must now be prepared to excel in a world we currently cannot describe accurately.
Evolution of Public Institutions Just think a moment about the technology of the times and how drastically our lives have been altered by this in just the past few decades. When I mention to students items like record players, album collections, eight-track tape players, electric typewriters and the single phone on the wall for the entire dorm hall to share, I’m met with blank stares and disbelief in my ability to have survived such primitive means. Now a phone with the computing power of what used to take
up an entire room is held in the hands of most every student in class. Times have changed. Along with technology is a shift in how public institutions are viewed versus private institutions. As my generation entered college, privates were considered to be the best choices. I grew up in Ohio and your option after private schools was to go to The Ohio State University. OSU had open enrollment, and you only went there if you were out of options or wanted to be an elite athlete. Privates considered the better students and public institutions catered to those less prepared. Now moving forward 40 years, unless you are an exceptional athlete, you had better have 26 or higher on your ACT to even be considered by OSU. It’s like that now with most large land-grant state institutions across our country. As a point of reference, in Illinois, the average ACT score for high school graduates is 20.9. The larger public universities now are going after hundreds of millions of dollars, annually, for research. That is their focus, as they are considered primary engines for economic development within their respective states. This pushes their missions more towards elitism than ever before.
Impact of Private Institutions The following facts are compiled annually by the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities regarding Illinois students. This information is surprising to many, as perceptions of how institutions have changed are lagging. ■■ 62 percent of all graduate students in Illinois attend a private institution. ■■ 55 percent of all minority students at four-year colleges attend a private institution. ■■ State independent colleges award more degrees to Illinois students than public institutions. Publics enroll more students, but the difference is more of those students come from out of state. Illinois schools enroll 35 percent of our state’s students,
and with only 35 percent total, privates still award more degrees. This speaks to the productivity of private universities. ■■ Privates enroll more students from families with incomes of less than $15,000 than public institutions. ■■ Privates provide $850 million in aid from their own resources. ■■ The average private college graduate’s loan debt is only $2,581 more than the average public student’s debt. There also is the growing debate over online learning. Sloan Consortium research shows that more than 6.7 million students took at least one online course last year, an increase of 570,000 students over the previous year. Thirty two percent of higher education students now take at least one course online. Clearly for us, and for every institution to compete going forward, we must gain competency in this delivery model. I do see online education as being a benefit to adult learners; I don’t think it’s a real plus for traditional undergraduate education. That may change, but skills honed in the classroom; the ability to innovate, analyze, work with others, and strong communication skills are not going to be learned easily in an online environment. The compound annual growth rate for students taking at least one online course is just over 18 percent.
Rise of the MOOCs This leads us to the phenomenon of MOOCs, or massive open online courses that target large-scale interactive participation and open access via the web. These courses take some of the best minds and professors in the world and share their courses online and, they’re offered for free. The result is sometimes 100,000 participants or more in a single MOOC. There are big players in this game – Harvard, Stanford, Duke, MIT, among others are joining corporate platforms that disseminate and manage MOOCs to the world. MOOCs could be a game changer, but still face some hurdles.
For the most part, courses generally are not offered for Dr. Robert L. Head credit, but for Rockford University information only. California and Florida, each proposed legislation last spring to allow MOOCs for credit in certain situations at public institutions. Following careful examination of success rates of MOOCs, California withdrew its bill and Florida reduced the requirements of its legislation dramatically. Both states realized MOOCs are not the panacea first imagined. There have been plenty of radical ideas in our history about what will change a particular industry forever. Many have not come to fruition. The concept behind MOOCs, low-cost delivery of education to large numbers of students, should not be dismissed as complete bunk. President Obama’s focus on college affordability will keep this subject on the table.
What Will Stand As we progress through this evolving landscape, I believe that the two ends of the spectrum will be safe. Ivy League universities will continue to be sought after by those of extreme academic achievement and substantial means. Community colleges will continue to expand in their ability to become full degree-granting institutions and grow in numbers for those seeking a low-cost option with limited frills. And for those of us in the middle, we will battle for the hearts and minds of prospective students and our communities. Our value will prove itself in the combination of the education we provide, the overall experience of students and our ability to serve our communities. We must and will add economic vitality, community service, and enhance the quality of life for all citizens within our reach. Robert L. Head, Ph.D., is president of Rockford University since 2008. The views expressed are those of Dr. Head’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
February 2014
An RVC student made an app for that! Rock Valley College is pleased to announce the first app developed and successfully published by a current RVC student! The app, Midwest Fishing Adventures, was developed by RVC student Josh Glovinsky for people who love to fish. It was published to the Apple App Store in early January, 2014 and now is ready to download for free to the iPhone, iPad or iTouch. It provides United States Geological Survey (USGS) water data, fishing maps and fishing how-to videos. Glovinsky developed the app while taking the fall 2013 Mobile App Development course at Rock Valley College. The course offered
each semester by Professor Chuck Konkol requires all students to create an iPhone/iPad app they would one day want to publish to the Apple App Store. Students learn the skills not only to design and program apps, but also the steps to publish it to the Apple App Store. Professor Konkol says another app very close to reaching the Apple App Store is called Bubble Baller, an underwater basketball game developed by three RVC students who took the course in spring 2013. For more information on the Mobile App Development course, visit iosatrvc.us or email Professor Konkol at c.konkol@rockvalleycollege.edu.
Issues to Watch LEGISLATIVE teacher education programs also must pass the basic skills test prior to starting their student teaching or starting the final semester of their internship, unless it is required earlier by the institution.
coMMUNITY coLLEGES
New Laws for 2014 More than 200 new state laws took effect in Illinois on Jan. 1, including those affecting schools.
GANGS IN ScHooLS (HB 2768/PA 98-0059) Principals must call law enforcement when the safety and welfare of students and teachers is threatened by the illegal use or possession of weapons and illegal gang activity. Prior to this, principals in school districts outside of Chicago only had to call on law enforcement when safety and welfare was threatened by illegal use of drugs and alcohol. The new law also states that a public school principal must be informed when a student is detained for illegal gang activity.
STUdENT oNLINE PRIVAcY (HB 64/PA 98-0129) Post-secondary schools cannot request or require a student (or his parent/guardian) to provide any account information, including passwords, to his or her social networking sites. This does not apply when the school has cause to believe that a student’s account on a social networking website contains evidence of violating a school disciplinary rule or policy. Students and their parents must be informed in the disciplinary rules, policies or handbook that the school has the ability to request or require account information, including passwords, to social networking sites, for reasonable cause.
TEAcHER BASIc SkILLS (HB 490/PA 98-0361) Requires applicants for a Professional Educator License to pass a test of basic skills. All applicants completing Illinois
(HB 3067/PA 98-0269) Adds an exemption to the lowest responsible bidder requirement for community colleges for contracts for the purchase of perishable foods and perishable beverages. This will bring the community colleges in line with public universities and K-12.
BRING PARENTS To ScHooL dAY (HB 129/PA 98-0304) Creates a “Bring Your Parents to School Day” on the first Monday in October of each year. Allows a school board to permit the parents or guardians of students to attend class with their children and meet with teachers and administrators during the school day.
SEx EdUcATIoN (HB 2675/PA 98-0441) Requires all school districts that provide sex education courses to use an approved curriculum chosen by the State Board of Education. School districts have the option to not offer sex education, but if they do, it must be “comprehensive” and approved by the state.
TRAINING To IdENTIfY MENTAL ILLNESS (HB 3070/PA 98-0471) Requires that school guidance counselors, teachers, school social workers and other school personnel who work with pupils in grades 7 through 12 be trained to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior (instead of just suicidal behavior).
BAcTERIAL MENINGITIS IMMUNIZATIoN (HB 3190/PA 98-0480) Requires DPH to adopt a rule requiring students to receive a bacterial meningitis immunization upon entrance of 6th and 12th grade.
focUS oN EdUcATIoNAL SERVIcES
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FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
February 2014 theVoice rockfordchamber.com
Program aims to help area students raise ACT scores First Rockford Group, Inc., has partnered with Rockford Public Schools to help students improve their ACT scores, critical for entrance into many universities in the United States. More than four hundred students have signed up for the 2014 ACT preparatory course, which takes place on Saturdays through April at Guilford High School. Completion of the program has shown to improve students’ ACT scores by two points; which can translate into $9,600 in additional grant monies and financial aid for each student. Student who previously earned a score of less than a 21 were
strongly encouraged to take part in this program. In addition to funding the instruction books, First Rockford Group will award a traveling trophy to the counseling department with the highest enrollment rate (based on percentage). The school with highest growth rate and achievement will receive a traveling trophy and a celebratory night at Volcano Falls Adventure Park. Five students who raise their score three or more points will be entered into a drawing to receive a cash prizes.
One-quarter of adults hold educational credentials For some, this means higher earnings
In its first-ever report on this topic, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that one in four U.S. adults had obtained a professional certification, license or educational certificate apart from a postsecondary degree awarded by colleges and universities. “Getting an academic degree is not the only way for people to develop skills that pay off in the labor market,” said demographer Stephanie Ewert. “We’ve been able to measure for the first time how many people take another route to a productive career: holding an alternative educational credential independent of traditional college degrees. It turns out that millions of people have taken this path.” Alternative credentials include professional certifications, licenses and educational certificates in fields as wide-ranging as business/finance management, nursing, education, cosmetology and culinary arts. The report shows that, in general, these alternative credentials provide a path to higher earnings. Among full-time workers, the median monthly earnings for someone with a professional certification or license
only was $4,167, compared with $3,433 for one with an educational certificate only; $3,920 for those with both types of credentials; and $3,110 for people without any alternative credential. “For people with at least a bachelor’s degree, earnings didn’t really differ between those with an alternative educational credential and those without,” said U.S. Census report co-author Robert Kominski. “But at lower levels of regular education, there is routinely an earnings premium for a professional certification or license, or an educational certificate.” Professional certification or license holders earned more than those without an alternative credential at each level of education below a bachelor’s. Among people with some college but no degree or less education, educational certificate holders earned more than people without an alternative credential.
Other Findings: ■■ Professional certifications and licenses were more common among people with an associate’s degree or higher, and particularly concentrated at the master’s and professional degree levels. Educational certificates were most prevalent at the associate’s degree level. ■■ About three-quarters of professional certifications and licenses were required for the current or most recent job. More than 90 percent of these credential holders took training or courses and had to demonstrate on-the-job skills or pass a test or exam in order to earn them. ■■ People working in technical occupations were the most likely to hold an alternative credential (71 percent). ■■ Around 30 percent of adults who worked during the previous four months held an alternative credential. Just 16 percent of the unemployed and 13 percent of those not in the labor force did so.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
Members Caught on Digital ON DIGITAL Ceremonial ribbon donated by SERVPRO of Rockford.
Rockford MELD held a Business After Hours, “It’s Time for a Jump Start,” on Jan. 16 at Giovanni’s. Participants wore sports team attire and guessed the Super Bowl winning score for a chance to win tickets to MELD’s celebrity event featuring Lucille O’Neal.
Chick-fil-A Rockford held a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Jan. 23 at 280 N. Perryville Road, Rockford.
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February 2014 theVoice rockfordchamber.com
focUS oN TEcHNoLoGY / INNoVATIoNS
Guest Perspective INSIGHT
Woodward to make components for nearly every type of aircraft Continued innovations will be necessary to meet customer demands It is incredible to think that in the next few years, Woodward will have components on almost every type of commercial aircraft in the world, as our members offer their expertise to help new aircraft engines operate more efficiently. Many of those components will be designed and built right here in Loves Park. To successfully design and manufacture innovative aerospace components for the next generation, we had to look at ourselves in an honest manner and envision our future as well. Last year, we decided that the birthplace of our company, Rock River Valley, should remain the wellspring of our future growth. Thus, our new Rock Cut campus – a 440,000-square-foot office and manufacturing facility located at One Woodward Way in Loves Park – will embody our view of the future. This expansion would not be possible for us without innovation. At our Loves Park facility on North Second Street, we have built a solid reputation for developing innovative solutions to solve tough problems for our customers. However, we cannot rest upon our past success.
talent is strong, but
Sagar A. Patel Woodward, Inc.
forward, there is
opportunity
in attracting an equal balance of manufacturing talent: People who use their creativity to effectively work with next-generation technologies. To attract such talent, Woodward is active in local programs, from high school robotics teams to our partnership with Rock Valley College. We look forward to a robust talent pool. Initial occupancy of Woodward’s new Rock Cut campus is expected to occur by the end of this year. When designing the Rock Cut campus, we benchmarked more than 50 world-class manufacturing sites in a variety of industries around the globe. The new facility is designed to incorporate efficient workflow for the business at hand now, and the flexibility to accommodate the innovations yet to be imagined. We are adapting newer technologies, some automation and the latest in quality control methodology to improve upon
our track record of safety, performance and reliability, as our customers demand top safety, delivery, cost and quality results, all in equal parts.
Innovation Has a Face Innovation in manufacturing also relies upon talented people. Like many Rock River Valley employers, we constantly need to maintain an outstanding workforce to fulfill our customers’ needs. Our engineering
Chamber – UPS Shipping/Freight Program Grows by 10% in 2013
Favorite Apps— What’s Yours?
employers in our region.” UPS is pleased to help members save time and money through special services and shipping discounts. UPS puts the power of logistics to work for you every day by providing speed, outstanding reliability and technology tools so you can focus on your business not your shipping. Rockford Chamber of Commerce Members can save up to 28% on shipping For palletized freight, savings start ■ No minimum to start saving – the at 70% on heavyweight shipments first package you ship, you save with UPS Freight. Whether your LTL ■ Sign-up is quick and easy at (Less-than-truckload) needs are www.savewithups.com/rockford coast to coast or close to home, you can trust that UPS Freight will pick “The members who participate up and deliver your shipments intact in this program absolutely love and on time. it,” said Einar Forsman, Rockford To sign up or learn more about the Chamber President/CEO. “They have Rockford Chamber – UPS program a convenient program for shipping go to www.savewithups.com/ and freight, while at the same rockford. time supporting one of the larger
The Rockford Chamber wants to hear about the apps you’ve been downloading – those you find useful in your work and social life, or are just plain entertaining. Maybe your business or organization has one you’d like to share. Email editor@ rockfordchamber.com. Here’s a few to get the ball rolling.
Delivering Savings to Members For the past three years the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and UPS have offered a member benefit program to provide chamber members with savings on both package shipping and freight. During 2013 combined shipping and freight grew by 10.3% over 2012. The Chamber has many members participating in the savings program where they enjoy reduced charges on both package shipping and freight. ■ You can sign up with a current UPS account number or begin a new account at no charge
going
Rockford Chamber on the Go! It’s easier for members to stay connected and to access information on Rockford Chamber member businesses and community news with the chamber’s mobile app. Browse the search-engine optimized business directory, access chamber events, track news and redeem coupons. Use the app to decide where to go for lunch or dinner. Get maps and directions on member businesses and organizations. Learn what’s going on in the Rockford area or what’s new at the Chamber. Visit www.rockfordchamber. com.
Help Fight Local Crime Winnebago County’s Text-A-Tip crime reporting app is available for download in the Apple Store or Google Play. Search for Winnebago
Woodward is proud of its strong engineering
and
manufacturing
heritage, and is committed to the Rock River Valley. We look forward to sharing in our community’s transformation and growth into a strong, vibrant employment hub. Sagar A. Patel is president, Aircraft Turbine Systems, Woodward, Inc. The views expressed are those of Patel’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
County to find the Tip WCSO app (Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office). Crime tips reported through this app are anonymous. Since its launch, the Text-A-Tip app has provided law enforcement with hundreds of crime tips from area residents.
Take a Hike Natural Land Institute (NLI) offers a hike app featuring multiple tours for natural areas throughout Illinois, including the Dianne Nora Nature Trail at Nygren Wetland Preserve in Rockton. The Prairie State Hike app is available to smartphone and tablet users through Apple and Android stores for 99 cents. The 2.5-mile Nora Nature Trail tour features voice recordings and written information for 12 points of interest, including the history of the geographic area, restoration and management work of NLI, descriptions and photos of plants, animals, birds, insects and bodies of water. Post comments and photos on the Facebook page for Nygren Wetland Preserve. Visit naturalland. org.
Where is Your Ideal Place? A Census Bureau mobile app, “dwellr,” gives people on the go access key demographic, socioeconomic and housing statistics for thousands of places across the nation. Learn about educational levels, housing values and total population. Visit www.census.gov/mobile.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
February 2014
FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATIONS
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Discovering the wide world of engineering Event opens up the young imagination Computer science engineers are working on robots so tiny they eventually might fit INSIDE the human body. At the same time, they are developing cuttingedge music software. Hard to believe? Not if you’re an engineer. Biomedical engineers develop artificial lenses that restore sight to the blind. Environmental engineers find ways to clean up our oceans and rivers. Agricultural and biomedical engineers design methods of keeping harmful microorganisms out of our food supply. Cars are safer, medical tests more accurate, and computers and cell phones are a lot more fun -- all thanks to engineers.
Experiment with Local Innovators Local engineering feats will be showcased at Discover Engineering, Saturday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, in celebration of National Engineers’ Week, Feb. 16 to 22. School-age children and families will have the opportunity to try experiments and hands-on activities, such as designing and testing catapults, helicopters, paper plate spinners, and more. Engineers from local companies and professional engineering societies will provide these
Participate in Discover Engineering Discovery Center Museum seeks companies to participate in Discover Engineering on Saturday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Companies will show school age children and families the ways engineering impacts our lives … the products engineers create, the range of jobs, and the many local companies that employ engineers. Attendance averages 500 to 900 people. Visual aids, give-aways, hands-on activities or demonstrations are encouraged. No fee for engineers to participate and lunch is provided. Contact Ann Marie Walker, at annmariew@ discoverycentermuseum.org or 815-963-6769.
demonstrations, hands-on activities and general information. Set your brain to “tryit mode,” conquer fun challenges, meet local robotics teams, and more! Discover Engineering is sponsored by the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers-Rockford Chapter and TAC Rockford. Cost for visitors is included with admission to the museum. Visit www. discoverycentermuseum.org.
SupplyCore earns aerospace quality certification SupplyCore Inc., earned a new aerospace certification, reflecting its expertise in aerospace procurement, product storage and worldwide distribution of aviation components to its government and commercial customers worldwide. The AS9120A quality management certification allows SupplyCore, in business for more than 25 years, to be featured in the Aerospace Quality Group’s online database, which opens it to more business opportunities as a certified aerospace supplier. SupplyCore’s award of a $76.5 million, five-year contract to provide supply support and associated supply chain management to the
United States Air Force and allied foreign militaries was the catalyst for SupplyCore earning the aerospace certification. “The AS9120A certification confirms our commitment to maintain the highest quality business processes and oversight in an industry where quality and precision are of utmost importance,” said Peter Provenzano, SupplyCore’s president & CEO. The mission of the supply chain management services and technology solutions integrator is to best optimize the information, material and financial flows of customer supply chains, and to improve the physical and human assets of the communities it serves.”
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February 2014 theVoice rockfordchamber.com
focUS oN TEcHNoLoGY / INNoVATIoNS
Membership: 101 MEMBERSHIP
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Technology Buzzwords
From the growth in Internet technology consequences. Also referred to as fat finger has emerged a lexicon of slang terms. How syndrome. many do you know?
A-LIST BLoGGER
TOP TEN REASONS members join the chamber: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Various Benefits/Services Offered Credibility of Membership Civic Responsibility Participate on Committees Business Exposure Connections with other Businesses Advocacy Efforts Leads Generation Want to Make a Difference in the Community Education Opportunities (Seminars, special events)
Why do you belong? 1. Our organization benefits from Chamber activities and initiatives 2. To access information 3. Being a member is good for business growth 4. To access resources 5. To contribute to the community
What programs or services bring you value? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Networking opportunities The Voice newspaper Business referrals Education opportunities Business trade shows/expos Legislative advocacy
What else did you tell us?
An elite group of bloggers who post regularly, receive high traffic and enjoy many links back to their blog from other sites. A-list status also may be determined by a well-defined topic, consistent branding, high visibility and lots of feedback from readers.
ALPHA GEEk
AdMINISPAM Messages from managers or executives within an organization sent to the majority of employees regardless of whether the information is relevant to a particular employee’s work. A byproduct of an attempt by an organization’s management to appear involved in all facets of the company and ensure that communication channels remain open. Usually it’s a oneway channel that floods employee inboxes with meaningless messages.
BABY BooMER coMPATIBILITY Pressure placed on technology companies to produce usable and understandable devices targeted to the baby boomer generation. This group currently holds a large amount of wealth, and tech firms are driven to sell to such a large market. Baby boomer compatibility is a common issue, as this particular generation is less technologically literate than its successors.
BLoGoRRHEA
You’d like to see more personal touches.
A blogger who makes frequent and excessively long posts.
You love the website, its member directory and referrals sources—are you up-to-date? Public Policy is very important to you. You want to learn more about board member perspectives.
We have listened to our members— look for changes in 2014! Contact Diane Navickis for your personalized Chamber Check Up today! 815-316-4315 dnavickis@rockfordchamber.com
Photographs changed through Photoshop or other means to manipulate the viewer and promote a particular agenda. Occasionally refers to low-quality or humorous photographs taken by amateurs who have started photography businesses or blogs, despite their limited experience and skill, such as an Internet meme.
The most tech savvy person within GREENWASHING a group. Once identified, an alpha geek A marketing makeover to present a becomes the go-to for all problems, issues product as more environmentally friendly. and advice on technology. An especially Plays upon a renewed consumer interest in tech savvy alpha geek may be called a protecting the environment. geek’s geek or the head geek.
You love the Breakfast Buzz. You need to periodically be reminded on how to benefit from your membership.
fAUxToGRAPHY
E-dUNdANT Follow-up emails from middle managers that merely restate or rephrase a previous email – usually in an attempt to take credit for or appear to be deeply involved in a subordinate’s work.
EYEBALL dRIVEN A business model or strategy that depends on views for success, such as websites that depend on ad impressions, where their profits are dictated by the number of views. Sometimes contrasted with targeted websites, which attempt to attract viewers within a certain demographic rather than attracting as many viewers as possible.
fBocd (fAcEBook oBSESSIVE coMPULSIVE dISoRdER)
kILLER APP
A new software application used to attract consumers and motivate new hardware device purchases. Often innovative and cutting edge, killer apps are known for creating a large following and become an essential factor related to hardware or device purchases. Also references computer games that generate game console popularity.
(MMoRPG) MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER oNLINE RoLE-PLAYING GAME A video game that takes place in a persistent state world (PSW) with thousands, or even millions, of players developing their characters in a roleplaying environment. The virtual world in which the game takes place is never static. Even when a player is logged off, events are occurring that may impact the player when he or she logs in again.
PHARMING Redirecting website traffic through hacking, in which the hacker implements tools that redirect a search to a fake website. Users may find themselves on an illegitimate website without realizing it, as it may look exactly like the real site. Pharming and phishing threats have been used simultaneously and can cause the most potential for online identity theft. Unfortunately, anti-virus and anti-spyware software often are incapable of protecting against this type of cybercrime.
PHISHING The fraudulent act of acquiring private and sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, personal identification and account usernames and passwords. Phishing websites lure email recipients and web users into believing that a spoofed website is legitimate and genuine. The victim later discovers his personal identity and other vital information have been stolen and exposed.
PLUG ANd PRAY
The compulsive use of Facebook or A variation on “plug and play,” describes social media, based on the psychological user skepticism about the functionality term Obsessive Compulsive Disorder of a new technology or device. The user (OCD). doesn’t know if the technology will work; he simply plugs in the hardware and hopes fAT-fINGER ERRoR A typing mistake, usually a small for the best. typo, such as an extra zero, with out-sized
Source: www.technopedia.com
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19
Issues to Watch LEGISLATIVE 200+ new Illinois laws take effect in 2014 More than 200 new laws took effect on Jan. 1, 2014, including measures targeting distracted driving, rules and regulations associated with medical marijuana for those with chronic illnesses, an increase in the state speed limit to 70 miles per hour on most Illinois interstates, the legalization of gay marriage and major changes to the government worker pension system. Visit www.ilga.gov/ legislation/ilcs/ilcs.asp for official language of the bills.
Distracted Driving: Cell Phone Ban Illinois joined roughly a dozen other states with laws banning the use of cell phones while driving, unless using hands-free technology, according to House Bill 1247. The prior law only prohibited texting and driving. Drivers still can make calls in an emergency. Violators will be fined $75 for a first offense, and up to $150 for repeat offenses as well as a moving violation on a driving record. Another law increases penalties for accidents involving someone using a cell phone or other communication device while behind the wheel, if it leads to a motor vehicle accident resulting in serious injury or permanent disability. According to House Bill 2585, those convicted could be charged with a felony, carrying penalties of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. A survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving.
70 mph Speed Limit Illinois’ speed limit increased to a maximum of 70 miles per hour (mph) on most interstates and toll highways with Senate Bill 2356. Currently 34 states have speed limits of 70 mph or higher, 15 have speed limits of 75 mph, and one has a speed limit of 85 mph. Cook County; the collar counties around Chicago; and Madison County and St. Clair County near St. Louis, can opt out via ordinance. Wisconsin joined Illinois in increasing the speed limit to 70 mph on most state highways with a recent vote by the Wisconsin Assembly. All of Illinois’ neighboring states now have the 70 mph maximum speed limit.
At the request of the Illinois State Police, the same bill increases the penalty for speeding from a petty offense to a misdemeanor. Speeding in excess of 26 mph but less than 35 mph (currently 31-40 mph) will be a Class B misdemeanor. Speeding in excess of 35 mph (currently 40 mph) will be a Class A misdemeanor.
Other driving laws taking effect in 2014 ■■ Prohibition on tracking devices to locate or track a person/entity. Does not apply to lawful usage by a law enforcement agency or if given consent by the vehicle’s registered owners, lessor/lessee. ■■ Separate offenses for construction or maintenance zone speed violations, whether or not workers are present. ■■ Automated Enforcement violations for passing/ overtaking a school bus when loading/unloading children. ■■ Raised penalties for vehicle operation with suspended license from Class 3 felony to Class 4 felony if the accident results in bodily harm. ■■ Anyone convicted of or pleading guilty to DUI who had a blood test performed after refusal to a breath test will reimburse the cost for the administrations of that blood test; even if the test was non-consensual.
Medical Marijuana in Illinois Last summer, Illinois signed its new medical marijuana law. House Bill 1 legally allows authorized patients suffering from about 30 specific diseases and conditions to use medical marijuana grown by an approved cultivation center and purchased from a registered dispensary. The Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois of Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have 120 days from Jan. 1 to develop a registry of patients allowed to use marijuana, and establish the rules and regulations governing medical marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries. The Illinois bill is considered to be one of the most strictly drafted medical marijuana laws in the country. Doctors are prohibited from prescribing the drug for generalized conditions such as “chronic pain” or “severe nausea.” Other restrictions … Medical Cannabis Organizations (MCOs). Patients or caregivers can’t cultivate marijuana, but would purchase medical cannabis from stateregulated cultivators, MCOs. MCOs are limited to one per state senate
Debilitating medical conditions on the approved medical marijuana list are: (Any citizen may petition the Department of Public Health to add debilitating conditions or treatments to the list.) cancer glaucoma positive status for HIV AIDS hepatitis C amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Crohn’s disease agitation of Alzheimer’s disease cachexia/wasting syndrome muscular dystrophy severe fibromyalgia spinal cord disease, including but not limited to arachnoiditis, Tarlov cysts, hydromyelia, syringomyelia
Rheumatoid arthritis fibrous dysplasia spinal cord injury traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome Multiple Sclerosis Arnold-Chiari malformation and Syringomyelia Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) Parkinson’s Tourette’s, Myoclonus Dystonia Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy RSD (Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type I)
district, must be non-profit and must be issued a registration by the Department of Public Health. They may not locate within 2,500 feet of a school or share office space with physicians. All cannabis would have to be cultivated in enclosed, locked facilities with appropriate security measures in place. Medical Marijuana Possession Limits. MCOs could distribute no more than 2.5 ounces to any patient during any 14-day period, unless the patient’s physician certifies the patient needs a specific higher quantity. Caregivers, who may serve only one patient, would be permitted to pick up medicine for very ill, homebound patients and would also be subject to this possession limit. Registry ID Cards. Anyone permitted to possess cannabis – patients, caregivers and MCO agents – would be issued ID cards by the Department of Public Health, to protect them from arrest and give law enforcement officers an easy way to verify a person’s status. Restrictions on Driving. No one can operate a motor vehicle within six hours of ingesting cannabis or with specific body concentrations. Employer Rights. Employers
Causalgia CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type II) Neurofibromatosis Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Sjogren’s syndrome Lupus Interstitial Cystitis Myasthenia Gravis Hydrocephalus nail-patella syndrome residual limb pain
may continue to enforce policies concerning drug testing, zerotolerance or a drug free workplace, applied in a “nondiscriminatory manner.” Employees still can be disciplined for “ingesting cannabis in the workplace, working while under the influence or for otherwise violating the proper standard of care.” Landlords could prohibit smoking on the premises of leased property. Other limitations include restrictions on … ■■ the use of cannabis contributing to negligence, professional malpractice or professional misconduct; ■■ possession in a school bus, on school grounds, in a private residence used to provide licensed child care or in any correctional facility. ■■ Smoking medical in a public place where an individual could reasonably be expected to be observed by others, in a health care facility or any other place where smoking is prohibited under the Smoke Free Illinois Act, or knowingly in close physical proximity to anyone under 18.
Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Diane James Company: MembersAlliance Credit Union Position: Business Development Representative How long have you been an Ambassador? One year What do you like most about being an Ambassador? Being able to welcome new businesses and helping mark milestones with others. I enjoy the opportunity to get to know my fellow Ambassadors. Networking and participating in Chamber events is just good business. I’m pleased to represent MembersAlliance Credit Union as a Rockford Ambassador.
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February 2014
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS
KemperSports, manager of Rockford Country Club, was named the Club Management Company of the Year in The BoardRoom for the second consecutive year.
Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members. Crusader Community Health hired V2 Marketing Communications to redesign its multi-lingual corporate website at www.crusaderhealth. org, with a directory of healthcare providers and mobile-ready for desktops, smartphones and tablets. SwedishAmerican Hospital was one of only 15 percent of hospitals to receive a 3-star rating for bypass surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Brian Thomas Photography was hired by Allstate Insurance to capture photos for the first annual Stroll on State event in downtown Rockford last November.
Rockford Health System will double the number of minority nursing scholarships to 12 in 2014. African American and Spanish-speaking Hispanic students enrolled in a nursing program will receive $2,000 toward their 2014-2015 educational expenses. Applications are due April 15. Wipfli LLP announced that the partners and associates of Illinoisbased The Condon Group, Ltd., have joined the firm, as well as the shareholders and associates of
Williams-Manny Insurance acquired Langan, Haeger, Vincent & Born, an independent insurance agency in Wheaton, Ill.
Staff from Rock Valley Credit Union deliver gifts gathered at its second-annual Gifts of Love Collection Drive to Walter Lawson Children’s Home. Regulatory Compliance Associates, Inc.’s Chicago practice (REGCOM).
Violet Rubin Fund of the Community
Rosecrance McHenry County will open offices in Crystal Lake and McHenry; offering integrated behavioral health services to clients seeking treatment for substance use and mental health disorders.
after school programs at Walker and
Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity received a $5,000 grant from the Norris A. & Margaret K. Aldeen Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for materials to build three homes this summer; to be sold at-cost to qualified families with a zero-interest loan.
State of Illinois academic watch and
Discovery Center Museum received a $31,000 grant by the Dr. Louis and
Foundation of Northern Illinois for Whitehead Elementary Schools in Rockford. The museum’s 13-year partnership with Rockford Public
Schools aims to improve student performance for schools on the warning list.
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
is presenting sponsor of YWCA Leader Luncheon XXXIV. The March 3 event
features the Women of Achievement Awards and keynote speaker Jill
Abramson, #5 on Forbes 2012 World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
The Winnebago County Forest Preserve District will use a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and a donation from Char and Ray Ferguson to purchase 500+ acres of land at the confluence of the Sugar and Pecatonica rivers. The goal is to create a connected corridor of preserves along the Sugar River as a critical stop-over for migrating bald eagles, egrets, pelicans, ducks and geese. The district received a grant by the National Recreation and Park Association to purchase 10 canoes for staff to use in educational and recreational programming. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the Certificate of Exemption application of OSF Healthcare System for a change of ownership of Kewanee Hospital. Kewanee Hospital will become OSF Saint Luke Medical Center on April 2, 2014 during a
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
21
Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS blessing and dedication ceremony officiated by the Most Reverend Bishop Daniel R. Jenky. Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois announced more than 253,000 donations will provide critical services to more than 5,000 people facing challenges finding employment. Its Donation Impact Calculator, donate. goodwill.org, gives individuals an idea of the impact of their donations. Rockford Bank & Trust is moving its downtown office to the Stewart Square building, 308 W. State St., during the first week of February. Thayer Lighting hired V2 Marketing to provide ongoing marketing services including graphic design work, strategic planning, website development and project management. The Greater Milwaukee Business Foundation on Health, Inc., awarded a $158,000 grant, part of which will allow The Alliance, covering south central Wisconsin and northern Illinois, to expand routine behavioral screening and intervention services for patients. Savant Capital Management finalized its acquisition of Paragon Advisors, a Naperville, Ill.-based registered investment advisory firm,
RHS, Cadence Health intent to combine Rockford Health System and Cadence Health announced their intent to combine systems to form an enhanced Cadence Health, with services offered at more than 40 locations including Rockford Memorial Hospital and Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. “The Rockford Health System Board of Directors has engaged in a deliberate, comprehensive and strategic process to identify a partner to further strengthen the clinical services we provide to Rockford and the region,” said Gary Kaatz, president and CEO of RHS. “Cadence and Rockford Health System match up on all criteria, including commitment to local governance, superior clinical services and best practices, and a focus on community benefit.” RHS encompasses Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford Health Physicians, the Visiting Nurses Association and Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. Cadence Health serves more than 1.1 million patients in Chicago’s western suburbs and encompasses Central DuPage Hospital and Delnor Hospital, ranked as two of the best hospitals in Chicago and Illinois. which puts Savant in the top 30 largest registered investment advisor in total assets under management. Woodward, Inc., entered into an agreement with Pratt & Whitney to expand its production of advanced fuel nozzles for the PurePower PW1000G family of Geared Turbofan™ engines. Woodward will supply fuel nozzles both for installation in new PurePower engines and for use in the aftermarket service of the engines.
Midway Village Museum added rare artifacts, including letters written by soldiers of the Civil War and donated by former Rockford residents James and Pat Bittle of Naples, Fla., to its permanent collections of more than 150,000 Rockford history artifacts. SwedishAmerican Medical Group relocated immediate care services in Rockford to 2473 McFarland Road. Fehr Graham, engineering and environmental firm in Freeport,
acquired Alpha Terra Science, Inc., Plymouth, Wis. -- its 10th Midwestern location. Klaas Financial, inc., was recognized in the December, 2013 issue of Forbes magazine as one of America’s financial leaders. The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners approved the 2014 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance. The 2014 operating budget is $31,181,588, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2013. The 2014 Capital Improvement Program budget is $9,487,934. KMK Media Group was hired to handle public relations and marketing for “Disney On Ice” at BMO Harris Bank Center, including pre-show events highlighting the theme: 100 Years of Magic. Rockford Rescue Mission provided education and coaching to nine Life Recovery residents to obtain their GEDs. More than 100 have improved their computer and language skills in order to transition to independent lives. Byron Forest Preserve District published a book of wildlife and landscape images by photographer and Byron native, Gary Gullett.
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February 2014
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
the News IN Members THEin NEWS
1. Ellen Poppin
2. Jennifer Nordstrom
3. Dr. Steven Siconolfi
4. Kimberly Bruce
5. Jay Sandine
6. R. Richard Bastian
7. David Adkins
8. Todd James
9. Kevin Schoeplein
10. Leann Nelson
11. Carm Cavallaro Rongere
12. Steve McNett
13. Karli Smith
14. Cassi Steurer
15. Kim Droessler
16. Rick Steder
Board Appointments, RETIREMENTS
Chris Black, City of Rockford; Jim Corbett, Eclipse Inc., and Mike Hayes, Hayes Marketing, were appointed to the Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois board. GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford welcomed three new board members: Ellen Poppin (1), Jennifer Nordstrom (2) and Dr. Steven Siconolfi (3). The Crusader Community Health Foundation elected two new board members: Kimberly Bruce, PR Etc. (4), and Jay Sandine (5), Rockford Park District. R. Richard Bastian (6), president and CEO, was named Chairman of the Board of both Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc., and its subsidiary, Blackhawk Bank. David Adkins (7) was promoted to COO. Bastian, Adkins and Todd James (8), executive vice president and CFO, are the executive officers of Blackhawk Bancorp. Kevin Schoeplein (9), OSF Healthcare System, was elected to the Illinois Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees for a three-year term.
New Hires, Promotions, Retirements
new executive director of Rockford Dance Company.
by WilliamsMcCarthyLLP Attorneys at Law as administrator.
Michael Mastroianni is interim president of Rock Valley College, following Dr. Jack Becherer’s departure in January. Mastroianni has been with the college since 1998.
Mary Ann Abate (19), Rosecrance, is vice president of public policy.
Steve McNett (12), senior vice president of quality, retired from Packaging Coordinators Inc. (PCI) after more than 27 years. PR Etc., hired Karli Smith (13) as account executive and promoted Cassi Steurer (14) to senior account executive. Kim Droessler (15) was promoted to vice president of engineering and Rick Steder (16) to vice president of finance at Eclipse, Inc. Gunes Ozyurt, branch manager, Springfield, announced his retirement. He’s been with Fehr Graham since the 2006 acquisition of Ozyurt & Stone Inc., of which he was owner. Nathan Kass is the new branch manager in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Noah Carmichael joined the ownership team and will continue as branch manager of Rochelle. Dennis J. Stien, senior vice president, retired from Stillman Bank.
Leann Nelson (10) returned to Dickerson & Nieman Realtors as advertising coordinator.
Laura Wilkinson (17) was named director of the SwedishAmerican Foundation.
Carm Cavallaro Rongere (11) is the
Shelley A. Johnson (18) was hired
Matt Roegner (20) was promoted to executive vice president & chief lending officer, and Jennifer Whiteman (21), to executive vice president & chief credit officer at Alpine Bank. SwedishAmerican Health System named Don Daniels (22) as executive vice president and COO, replacing Rich Walsh (23), who has retired as COO, Dr. Thomas Schiller (24) as vice president of medical group clinic management, Sheryl Johnson (25) as chief information officer, Phil Wasson as CEO of TriRivers Health Partners, Dr. Michael Born (26) as chief medical officer and chief quality officer, and Dr. Kathleen Kelly (27) as chief clinical integration officer. Julia Zimmerman (28) will assume Daniels’ former regional development responsibilities. Packaging Coordinators Inc., welcomed Tim Enterline as an account director. Nathan T. Bolin (29), vice president commercial lending, has taken over operations of Stillman Bank’s Roscoe office, after the retirement of Dennis Stien.
Employee/Community Recognitions, Awards
Rockford Health System named
Jan Asprooth (30), customer service representative in the outreach lab, as 2013 Employee of the Year. Nancy Salsbury, manager for commercial lines and life insurance departments, Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc., received the 2013 Employee of the Year award. Scott Trenhaile, M.D. (31), (for the second year) and Brian J. Bear, M.D. (32), Rockford Orthopedic Associates, appear on the Best Doctors in America® List for 2014; joining five percent of doctors in America. Jim Gravunder, Specialty Screw Corporation, received the 2013 President’s Award at its employee recognition luncheon. Tim Knauf (33), financial representative, Williams-Manny, was named to the 2013 Million Dollar Round Table, Court of the Table and Top of the Table. LDR Construction Services, Inc, LDR Cleaning & Restoration gave Outstanding Leadership awards to Tracy Grande, project superintendent, and Jordan Gilliam, water technician. Jeremy R. Bridge (34), patent attorney, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., received the Illinois “Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” award for the second time. Ballard Companies, Inc., honored David Martindale (35) and Joe
17. Laura Wilkinson
18. Shelley A. Johnson
19. Mary Ann Abate
20. Matt Roegner
21. Jennifer Whiteman
22. Don Daniels
23. Rich Walsh
24. Dr. Thomas Schiller
25. Sheryl Johnson
26. Dr. Michael Born
27. Dr. Kathleen Kelly
28. Julia Zimmerman
29. Nathan T. Bolin
30. Jan Asprooth
31. Dr. Scott Trenhaile
32. Dr. Brian J. Bear
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
23
the News IN Members THEin NEWS
Regional, National Indicators THE ECONOMY U.S. Indicators December, 2013 Consumer Price Index
33. Tim Knauf
37. Scott Hangartner
34. Jeremy R. Bridge
38. Rick Leezer
35. David Martindale
39. Dan Raasch
36. Joe Sinclair
40. Evelyn Meeks
p 0.3 percent
Unemployment Rate
6.7 percent
Payroll Employment
p 74,000
Average Hourly Earnings
p $0.02
Producer Price Index
q 0.4 percent
Employment Cost Index
p 0.4 percent (third quarter, 2013)
Productivity
p 3.0 percent (third quarter, 2013)
U.S. Import Price Index
q 0.6 percent
U.S. Export Price Index
q 0.4 percent
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment Rates—Region, State, Nation
41. Heather Wimsatt
42. Kristan I. McNames
43. Dr. Paul McCombs
44. Thomas G. Peterson
Sinclair (36) for 25 years and Scott Hangartner (37), Rick Leezer (38) and Dan Raasch (39) for 35 years of service. Crusader Community Health gave its Community Advocate Awards to Evelyn Meeks (40), Call Center, and Heather Wimsatt (41), medical unit manager at the Broadway-Uram building. Kristan I. McNames (42), coowner, Grace Funeral & Cremation Services, qualified for recertification as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. Dr. Paul McCombs (43), Rock Valley College associate professor of mathematics, was honored as the 26th recipient of its Faculty of the Year award. Thomas G. Peterson (44), Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., received the Five Star Professional award for wealth managers for quality client services.
Nov 13
Oct 13
Nov 12
Change/Mo. Change/Yr.
Rockford
11.0
10.5
10.3
0.5
q 0.7
Chicago
8.1
8.3
8.3
q 0.2
q 0.2
Illinois
8.3
8.3
8.2
0.0
0.1
United States
76.6
7.0
7.4
q 0.4
q 0.8
Source: U.S. Department of Employment Security
Population Clock 45. Jennifer Halvorsen
As of January 19, 2014: U.S. 317,393,851
46. Ged Trias
of GENERAL INTEREST
Jennifer Halvorsen (45), Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc., Durand, attended “Homeowners Gaps and Endorsements” by Pekin Insurance in December. Ged Trias (46), associate director of design, Larson & Darby Group, received several certifications, including 2014 Revit User and 2014 AutoCAD professional, in December. He’s one of only 37 people in the United States certified as a 2014 3dsMax professional.
World 7,141,603,250
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
RFD Celebrates 10 Years of Passenger Service The Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) released traffic statistics for December, 2013, showing an increase of 3.9 percent in traffic over December, 2012. 2013 was RFD’s all-time busiest year since the return of passenger service 10 years ago, with more than 1.8 million passengers. RFD is served by two airlines: Allegiant and Apple Vacations and was named the 2013 Primary Airport of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics. Monthly Passengers
Passenger Totals for Year
December, 2013
16,760
217,850
December, 2012
15,127
210,406 Source: FlyRFD.com
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February 2014
Making Christmas memories Event changes people’s perception of downtown
For many, the Christmas season is a magical time. I have many holiday memories from my childhood; exploring the lights, sounds and smells of the season. Sadly, some of the best memories I have did not take place in Rockford. We went to Chicago when we wanted to experience the magic of Christmas. Now, my wife and I have three boys and my wish for them is that when they are adults and reflect on their childhood memories, they will say those experiences happened in Rockford, their hometown. In many respects, this is how Stroll on State emerged. Smaller, niche festivals and events are emerging and growing as a way to bring vitality and repeat visitors to communities and neighborhoods. At the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, we have been thinking strategically about our role supporting and creating new niche experiences and events. Think of Screw City Beer Fest, Bike for the Arts (BART), Tuesdays in the Gardens and Dinner on the Dock. We know people — both citizens and visitors alike — are looking for unique experiences and that they often want the same thing; great places to eat, shop and play. And they want experiences that bring families and friends together.
Enter Stroll on State Stroll on State was about creating new experiences for our community and hopefully for visitors too. Strategically, the Stroll was designed to accomplish four goals: beautify our city, as downtown was decorated along State Street; create awareness and trial of downtown Rockford and its businesses; enhance the downtown economy as event guests patronized restaurants and shops; and create a new, sustainable event. What resulted was something much bigger. We planned for 3,000 to 5,000 visitors and more than 30,000 people came downtown for the Stroll. Wow! Seeing such a large crowd told me we were on to
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
something. At the Stroll, I saw a community that wants to focus on and celebrate the positive. To make it happen, hundreds of people came together and volunteered their time to provide an amazing holiday experience for Rockford. Over 350 volunteers, mostly from Heartland Community Church, worked the weekend before the event, in the bitter cold, decorating and cleaning downtown. For months before that, a core group of volunteers built large-scale presents and other decorations that were used to enhance downtown for the holiday season. These volunteers created a plan that was executed with ease and can be replicated in future years. And after the New Year, as we returned to our jobs, our homes and our “regular” January days, those same volunteers came back downtown to carefully take down and put away those decorations for next year. Yes, next year. We want to continue the momentum and involve more partners, volunteers, community members, businesses, schools, not-for-profits and entertainers. Here are a few other interesting facts that resulted from a Stroll on State post event survey: ■■ 41% rated their experience at Stroll on State very good, followed by 32% excellent, and 21% good, ■■ 51% of respondents said Stroll on State changed their perception of downtown, stating there are more places to shop than they thought (51%) followed by the perception that downtown is safer than they thought (48%), ■■ 42% of people spent between $25-100 while downtown for the Stroll, ■■ 37% of Strollers purchased food from restaurants downtown, and ■■ 75% of respondents said they definitely will come back downtown, with 19% saying they probably will come back downtown. RACVB is thrilled with these very positive results and is excited that there is room to grow the event and its impact. Thank you again to our volunteers, to our sponsors and to our community for embracing the inaugural Stroll on State. If you’d like to be involved in sponsoring, volunteering or supporting the 2014 Stroll in other ways, please contact me at 815963-8111 or jgroh@gorockford.com. John Groh is president/CEO at the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
At the Stroll, I saw a community that wants to focus on and celebrate the positive.
The views expressed are those of Groh’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
Community Events COMMUNITY Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.
Saturday, February 1 Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents Tragic Desire with Brahms and more, 7:30 p.m., at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. For tickets call 815965-0049 or visit rockfordsymphony. com. Rockford Park District presents A Bird’s Life, Feb. 1 and 22, with a hike at Seth B. Atwood Park, a talk on the area’s wintering birds, and snack. Register at rockfordparkdistrict.org or 815-987-8800. Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents Symphony Saturday: Percussion Ensemble, 11 a.m. to noon, Kresge Hall, Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St. Introduces children, 5 to 10, and families to the percussion section. Visit rockfordsymphony.com or call 815-965-0049.
Monday, February 3 The Heart Hospital at SwedishAmerican Health System presents the 19th annual Cardiology Millennium Conference & Heart Care: Ask the Experts at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center. The conference, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., features physician and best-selling author, Dr. Abraham Verghese, Stanford University Medical School. The free, public event, Heart Care: Ask The Experts, 5:30 p.m., features Humor Quest founder Mary Kay Morrison and a panel of physicians on innovations in heart care. Register at 815-968-2500 or swedishamerican.org.
Tuesday, February 4 Rockford Public Library presents Hire Me! Resume Workshop, two parts, Feb. 4 and 5, 6 to 8 p.m., Rockton Center Branch Program Room, 3112 N. Rockton Ave. Registration required at 815-965-7606.
Wednesday, February 5 Rock Valley College Studio Theater presents Fiddler on the Roof, 8 p.m., nightly, Feb. 5 to 15, and additional 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets at 815-921-2160 or visit rvcstarlight.com.
Thursday, February 6 Rockford MELD’s annual celebrity evening, “It’s Never Too Late for a New Beginning,” with Lucille O’Neal, mother of Shaquille O’Neal, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Giovanni’s Restaurant, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Dinner, program, VIP book signing, silent and live auction and raffle. Call 815-633-6353, ext. 10 or visit rockfordmeld.org. University of Illinois Extension presents Meals for a Healthy Heart, two-part workshop, Feb. 6 and 15, 1
to 4 p.m., Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Register at web.extension.illinois.edu/ jsw or 815-986-4357.
Friday, February 7 Zac Brown Band Live in Concert with special guests Levi Lowrey & AJ Ghent Band, 7 p.m., BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford. For tickets visit ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, February 8 Rockford Public Library presents Fresh and Local – Grocery Gardening, 2 to 4 p.m., East Branch Friends of RPL community room, 6685 E. State St. Registration required at 815-965-7606. Rockford Park District presents Time Traveler, Feb. 8 and 22 at Seth B. Atwood Park. Journey to the Native Americans Era by shooting a bow and arrow, and making a craft. Register at rockfordparkdistrict.org or 815-987-8800.
Sunday, February 9 Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, presents Chocolate Sundae Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. Tunes by Auburn High School’s jazz ensemble. Call 815-963-6769 or visit discoverycentermuseum.org.
Wednesday, February 12 Rockford Public Library presents Pay Yourself First with Woodforest National Bank, 1 to 3 p.m., Rock River Branch program room, 3128 11th St. Registration required at 815965-7606.
Saturday, February 15 Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church presents Athenian Night, 6 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Dinner, Greek and American dancing and silent auction. For reservations call Kathy, 815-6240830 by Feb. 1 or visit gogreekfest. com.
Saturday, February 22 Rockford Public Library presents Jabali African Acrobats, 2 to 3 p.m., at Nordlof Center, J.R. Sullivan Theater, 118 N. Main St. Includes audience participation. Registration not required. Call 815-965-7606. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, presents Discover Engineering, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Kick off to National Engineers Week with dozens of professional engineers offering hands-on experiences. Call 815-963-6769 or visit discoverycentermuseum.org.
Thursday, February 27 Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic at the BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford, with seven shows, Feb. 27 to March 2. Tickets on sale at the box office, 815-968-5600, and ticketmaster.com.
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February 2014
theVoice rockfordchamber.com
New Chamber Members MEMBERS AllState - Alfred Oji
Concrete Systems Inc.
Home Owners; Auto; Business; Life; Cancer; Accidents; Supplemental Health 4001 N. Perryville Road Loves Park, IL 61111 Alfred Oji 815-615-9377 www.agents.allstate.com/ alfred-oji-loves-park-il.html
Commercial Concrete Company 4048 Kilburn Ave., 61101 Jacki White 815-963-0295 www.concretesystemsinc.net
American Family Insurance - Jason Fogarty Full-Service Insurance Agency Offering Auto, Home, Life, Umbrella, Business, Health, Farm & Ranch, Retirement Products 3906 N. Main St., Ste. C, 61103 Jason Fogarty 815-633-1234 www.jasonfogarty.com
American Family Insurance - Jon Iaccino Full Insurance Agency Offering Auto, Home, Life, Umbrella, Business, Health, Farm & Ranch, Retirement Products 5411 E. State St., Ste. 201, 61108 Jon Iaccino 815-226-2424
American Family Insurance - Rianne Bardoner Full Insurance Agency Offering Auto, Home, Life, Umbrella, Business, Health, Farm & Ranch, Retirement Products 5411 E. State St., Suite 201, 61108 Rianne Bardomer 815-226-1010
Boylan Catholic High School Boylan Catholic High School is a Co-Educational College Prep Which Welcomes All Young People in the Stateline Area 4000 St. Francis Dr. Rockford, IL 61103 Jerry Kerrigan 815-877-0531 www.boylan.org
1st Family Home Healthcare, Inc. Dedicated to Providing the Highest Quality of Home-Based Patient Care with Compassion and Respect for Each Person 666 Russel Court, Ste. 308 Woodstock, IL 60098 Ivy Sagrado 815-337-4240 www.1stfamilyhomehealthcare.com
Fowler Tools, High Precision Measurement Fowler Tools and Instruments - A Standard of Quality and Accuracy Cora Schroeder 815-968-4601 www.fvfowler.com
gift it! Rockford Offering “Uniquely Rockford” Gift Baskets and Packages, Each Celebrating Our Local Innovations that Exemplify Rockford Nonie Broski 815-739-4487 www.giftitrockford.com
Insurance Pro Agencies Russell Kilker Independent Insurance Agent 6050 Brynwood Dr., Ste. 206, 61114 Russell Kilker 815-986-0980, ext. 19 www.insproagencies.com/contact/ russell_kilker.aspx
Jason’s Deli Fast Casual Dining Offering Exciting Flavors and True Freshness with no Transfat or HFCS 575 S. Perryville Road, 61108 Teresa Bomkamp 815-397-8606 www.jasonsdeli.com
Chick-fil-A Rockford
Legacy Plastics - HM
Quick Service Chicken Restaurant 280 N. Perryville Road, 61108 Anna-Lisa Horton 815-980-6107 www.chick-fil-a.com/rockford
Plastic Injection Molded Products and Components as Well as Tooling for Hobby, Electrical, Telecommunications, Automotive, Personal Care and Consumer Products
February 2014 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the members who celebrate their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber in February, 2014.
25-Year Member J & M Plating, Inc.
20-Year Member Freeway Rockford, Inc., Subsidiary of Freeway Corporation
15-Year Members Byron Forest Preserve/PrairieView Golf Club CRASH1 Off Alpine Olson Aluminum Casting Ltd.
Policeman’s Benevolent & Protective Association Unit 6 - Rockford Production Tool and Supply Company Superior Joining Technologies, Inc.
10-Year Members Coventry Health Care of Illinois Dickey Staffing Solutions
5-Year Member Custom Gear & Machine, Inc.
3170 Forest View Road, 61109 Ben Franzen 815-397-1117 www.heritagemold.com
Legacy Plastics Inc.
Personal Need 3206 N. Central Ave., 61101 John Appino 815-964-9275 www.supershredders.org
Plastic Injection Molded Products and Components as Well as Tooling for Hobby, Electrical, Telecommunications, Automotive, Personal Care and Consumer Products 5040 27th Ave., 61109 Ben Franzen 815-226-3013 www.legacyplastics.net
Swedberg & Associates, Inc.
Longhorn Steakhouse
The Olympic Tavern
We Guarantee a Cut Above Experience and Are Only Happy When You Are 6655 E. State St., 61108 Christy MacKenzie 815-397-4685 www.longhornsteakhouse.com
Rock River Times Newspaper 128 N. Church St., 61101 Frank Shier 815-964-9767 www.rockrivertimes.com
Super Shredders A Division of the Barbara Olson Center of Hope, Offering Secure Document Destruction for Any Business or
Since 1927, Offering General Contracting and Construction Management Services: Design/Build 1135 E. State St. Sycamore, IL 60178 Michelle Dvorak 815-895-9116 www.swedbergs.com A Rockford Tradition Since 1945; From Burgers to Lobstertails, a Great Wine List and Rockford’s Best Craft Beer Menu 2327 N. Main St., 61103 Thomas Rotello 815-962-8758 www.theolympictavern.com
Valpak of Rockford (Peak Business Concepts, Inc.) Valpak Offers Direct Mail and Digital Advertising to Help Businesses Grow. This Provides a Business Message Anywhere at Anytime Tim Powers 815-690-7606 www.valpak.com/rockford
Membership Renewals Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in December, 2013. Olson Funeral & Cremation Services A-1 Lapping & Machine Co. Inc. Ltd./Fred C. Olson Chapel Alignment Rockford Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Anderson Japanese Gardens Ltd./North Main Chapel & Care Center Artale Wine Co. Parks Big & Tall Banner of Truth International Physicians Immediate Care Catalyst Business Solutions Christenson Funeral Home & Crematory Pierce Distribution Services Company Progressive Steel Treating Columbia College Prorok Law Office, P.C. Creative Benefit Solutions Rally Appraisal, LLC Crescent Electric Supply Company Ray King REALTOR Custom Concrete, Ltd. Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Inc. Edward Jones - Shawn Rooney Rockford I.D. Shop, Inc. Fifth Third Bank Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Foltz Transmission Forest City Communications of Illinois Planning (RMAP) Rockford Promise Inc. Savant Capital Management Granite City Food & Brewery Schilling & Walsh, LLP J & M Plating, Inc. Siena on Brendenwood Judson University SuperSuds Car Care Center Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful SVL Productions Kelly Services Testing Service Corporation Kilbuck Creek The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club Laser Quest TLC Construction March of Dimes TLC ... the Learning Center, Inc. Market Dimensions, Inc. Tree Care Enterprises Inc. Merrill Lynch Tuffy Auto Repair of Rockford MetLife/Premier Wealth Group Tyler’s Landscaping Midwest Stitch Ultrasonic Power Corporation Miller Eye Center University of Illinois College of Medicine Morning Star Village at Rockford Napleton Honda UTC Aerospace Systems Napoli Pizza & Catering Windmill Hill LC Natural Choice Corporation Winnebago County Clerk of the Circuit New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Court, 17th Judicial Circuit Northwestern Mutual Financial workplace Network/M. Beth Thacker YWCA of Rockford Odling Construction Co.
theVoice rockfordchamber.com February 2014
EVENTS
Upcoming Chamber Events February, 2014 Tuesday, February 4
Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills County Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Diane Navickis, Rockford Chamber, presents “Do You Hear Me?” on how listening is one of the most important skills you can have. Sponsored by Siena on Brendenwood.
Wednesday, February 5
PYSK Talks, noon to 1 p.m., Rockford University, 5100 E. State St., 5100 building. Gordon Eggers, Crusader Community Health, presents “Your Community Health Center,” on caring for 48,000 low-income residents.
Thursday, February 6
Ribbon Cutting, Anam Glen, a new 16-bed residential facility and dementia center, 7978 Newburg Road, 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, February 11
Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.
Wednesday, February 12
Breakfast Buzz, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford. Education Council Chair Patti Thayer will do a one-on-one interview with Senator Dave Syverson. Sponsored by McGladrey. Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, United Commercial Realty, Teriw1214@gmail.com. Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Rachel Thomann, Furst Pros, 815-9971417, rachel.thomann@furstpros.com.
Thursday, February 13
Ambassador Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, 946 N. Second St., Rockford. Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford.
Friday, February 14
Wednesday, February 19
PYSK Talks, noon to 1 p.m., Rockford University, 5100 E. State St., 5100 building along State St. Tom Budd, Rockford Bank & Trust, presents. Thursday, Feb. 20 11:30 am - 1:00 pm The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club 5151 Guilford Rd., Rockford
Small Business Luncheon Matt Anderson, founder and president of the Referral Authority, presents “Have You Mastered the Art of Building a Referral Network: The Four Steps to Better Referrals.” Visit thereferralauthority.com.
Tuesday, February 25
Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.
Wednesday, February 26
Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, United Commercial Realty, Teriw1214@gmail.com. Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Rachel Thomann, Furst Pros, 815-9971417, rachel.thomann@furstpros.com.
March, 2014 Thursday, March 13
Ignite: Lunch Outside the Box, noon to 1 p.m., Rockford University, 5100 E. State St., 5100 building. Joe Bruscato addresses Rockford’s negative crime reputation and initiatives being implemented to help make Rockford a safe place to live.
Friday, March 14
Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. To join, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312. Thursday, March 20 4:00 - 8:00 pm Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort 700 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford
Celebration of Manufacturing Expo & Dinner
Tuesday, February 18
Features J. Scott Hall, president and CEO of Greenlee, A Textron Company, and more than 50 booths of area manufactures and related services. Awards announced for Business Catalyst of the Year and the Manufacturer of the Year.
Good Morning Rockford! BetterLife Wellness, a new SwedishAmerican medical wellness center, 7:30 to 9 a.m., 200 Y Blvd., Rockford. Breakfast and tour.
ADVERTISERS Advertisers Index
Alpine Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Rockford Bank & Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Athena PowerLink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . 11,15, 20, 21, 24
BMO Harris Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Brian Thomas Photography. . . . . . . . . 8 Broadmoor Agency, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Comcast Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Rockford Health System. . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Rockford University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Rock Valley College BPI. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Fast Mailing Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Saint Anthony College of Nursing . . . 13
First National Bank and Trust Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Thayer Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Huntington Learning Center. . . . . . . . 10 McGladrey LLP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 MembersAlliance Credit Union. . . . . . 25
Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Upper Iowa University. . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Van Galder Bus Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
North American Tool Corporation. . . . 17
Williams-Manny Insurance Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Riverside Community Bank . . . . . . . . . 9
Woodward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Sponsors: BMO Harris Bank (presenting), SwedishAmerican Health System and Humana (gold).
Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. To join, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312. Chamber 101 with Speed Networking, 4 to 5:15 p.m., Benson Stone Company, Inc., 1100 11th St., Rockford. Quarterly orientation for new members and new employees. Sponsor: MembersAlliance Credit Union.
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Sponsors: QPS Employment Group (presenting); Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International, Rockford Bank & Trust Co., and Wipfli LLP (gold), and Thayer Lighting, Inc. (silver).
Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100.............................................. Direct Line Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO.......................................... 815-316-4304 Heidi M. Garner, Executive Assistant to the President.................... 815-316-4312 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology................... 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Advertising and Sponsorship Executive............... 815-316-4317 Vee Jevremovic, Manager of Education Programs and Events. . ........ 815-316-4337 Cyndie Landis, Financial Assistant. . .......................................... 815-316-4300 Joy Moriarty, V.P. Finance. . ..................................................... 815-316-4316 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events. . ............................................ 815-316-4302 Diane Navickis, Member Relations Manager.. .............................. 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 Richard Walsh SwedishAmerican Health System Chairman Elect Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc. Vice Chair Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Treasurer Larry Bridgeland Mid-City Office Products Immediate Past Chairman Mike Broski Entré Computer Solutions
Directors Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Jan Bowman TLC Construction Paul Callighan ComEd, An Exelon Company Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc. Dr. Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Darlene Furst Furst Staffing Jeff Hultman Riverside Community Bank
Paul McCann Stanley Steemer Pat Morrow Alpine Bank Amy Ott Chicago Rockford International Airport Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale Michele Petrie BMO Harris Bank Laura Pigatti Williamson Rockford Park District Timothy Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy
Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Henry Seybold Rockford Health System
Michael Mastroianni Rock Valley College
Pat Shaw McGladrey LLP
Somchan Thatsanaphon K-I Machine Tool & Production Inc. Josh Trust Rockford Register Star Tim White UTC Aerospace Systems Jennifer Wood CPA
Ex-Officio Directors Don Thayer Rockford Area Economic Development Council Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
March 2014 Special Section:
Get Wired: Wireless Products/Computers/IT Services For information on advertising, call 815 987-8100