February Voice 2020

the

EXTENDING A HELPING HAND

WEED WARNINGS PAGE 12

PAGE 7 February 2020 | Volume 33 | No. 2

of the rockford business community

PHOTOS BY BRIAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Gary Anderson named CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2020 accolade awarded at the Rockford Chamber Annual Dinner “Our best days are ahead of us and I’m excited about all the things we’re seeing and the potential — and I think you will be too. We have a great community and thank you all for being a part of that.”

GARY ANDERSON, FOUNDER, GARY W. ANDERSON ARCHITECTS

Architect Gary Anderson has left an indelible mark on the Rockford region in ways too many to count.

Described as a passionate leader, activist and volunteer, Anderson has worked tirelessly to improve the community. In 1982, Anderson returned to Rockford after college and opened an architecture firm.

He’s earned many regional and national accolades for his work.

His name is synonymous with economic redevelopment, historic preservation, urban planning and urban revitalization.

For his efforts, the founder of Gary W. Anderson Architects, was named

the 2020 Citizen of the Year at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce annual dinner, which was held January 23 at Giovanni’s. Nearly 800 business and community leaders turned out for the annual event.

“It’s a real honor. I’m grateful and appreciative,” Anderson told the crowd. “When you come into the twilight of your career and still going strong – for me, I can’t wait to get up every morning and go and get it done.

I’m having the time of my life and I have a great staff in the office. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of. I like to say we haven’t seen anything yet.

Continued on page 2

Workforce Connection Board to release multi-year strategic plan You can comment by Feb. 26 on draft plan The Workforce Connection Board released on Jan. 27 a draft of its comprehensive local and regional workforce development strategic plans for 2020 to 2024, based on an economic and workforce analysis that identified the region’s workforce issues: ■ Declining and aging population.

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■ Unite partners by developing a regional strategy centered around high-impact clusters and in-demand occupations. Industries targeted include manufacturing, health care/social assistance, transportation & warehousing, leisure & hospitality, professional & business services and construction.

■ Prepare the workforce for careers – ■ Unemployment rate that sits at 5.1 not just their next job – by increasing percent for November 2019; higher than apprenticeship opportunities, addressing the national rate of 4.3 percent and training and employment barriers and highest in Illinois. setting/supporting equity goals for post■ High demand for jobs, along with secondary education and training. the opportunity to educate and train ■ Connect career seekers with employers underemployed members of the by shortening time frames from credential workforce. to employment and integrating workforce ■ High level of working poor, with services across program providers. income disparities between African Updated plans will be presented to American households and other groups.

The Workforce Connection board for To address these issues, the plan approval on March 3, then submitted to outlines goals and strategies aligned to the Governor’s office for review. Plans will Illinois’ Unified Plan: be effective on July 1, 2020. v

Join the Chamber on Social Media

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

Visit theworkforceconnection.org/2020-regional-plan-public-comment to see the draft plan and make your public comment by Feb. 26 or contact Amanda M. Sink, 815-395-6688 or asink@ theworkforceconnection.org.

TAX CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN WAKE OF MINIMUM WAGE HIKE To help offset the increased costs with the implementation of Illinois’ minimum wage hike, small businesses and nonprofits with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees now have access to the Minimum Wage Credit.

Businesses can claim on their quarterly Illinois Withholding Income Tax Returns up to 25 percent of the difference between the new minimum wage and what each employee was paid previously. The maximum credit for the first and second quarters of 2020 is $6,500.

The maximum credit for the third and fourth quarters is $11,375.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! BEHIND THE BADGE:

The State of Public Safety

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 TEBALA EVENT CENTER For more information, see page 23 SPONSORED BY

2020 MILEAGE RATES The Internal Revenue Service released optional 2020 standard mileage rates for taxpayers for operating an automobile for business and charitable purposes.

The standard mileage rate for transportation or travel expenses is 57.5 cents per mile for all miles of business use (business standard mileage rate). The standard mileage rate for use of an automobile for gratuitous services to a charitable organization is 14 cents per mile.

COUNTY RADON TESTING CONTEST IN FEBRUARY Winnebago County Health Department encourages area homes to be tested for radon, as the area’s geology increases the risk for high levels of radon gas, and long-term exposure can lead to lung cancer.

The county is holding a Radon Testing Contest in February. The first 100 residents who purchase a Radon Test Kit from Winnebago County Health Department, room 302, and have high results will be entered into a contest to win a radon system (up to a $2,000 value) to disperse the radon gas.

Participants must test their homes and send their kits back to the county by March 13. For questions, call 815-720-4100.

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MICHELE PETRIE Rockford Chamber Board Chairman

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

ANNUAL DINNER

Consistency leads to success

Our best days are ahead of us and I’m excited about all the things we’re seeing and the potential and I think you will be too. We have a great community and thank you all for being a part of that.”

Anderson is responsible for downtown restoration projects including Stewart Square, Spafford Square and Prairie Street Brewhouse. His community-wide activities include Great Neighborhoods, Fordam Forward, Keith Creek Pathways and Land Bank. And he’s given his time and effort to organizations such as Friends of the Coronado, River District Association and Transform Rockford, among others.

“I can go back 30 years ago when I was with the City of Rockford and here was Gary Anderson,” said Einar Forsman, president and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “He was at everything and advocating for all kinds of things – historic preservation, urban renewal, downtown investments.

Over time he has been consistent with what he believes is important. He has ideas, he gets engaged and he follows through. He’s had a long-range impact on this community that is still being felt many years later.”

During his remarks, Forsman reflected on the chamber’s 2019 highlights and looked ahead to new challenges and opportunities. Leadership development, business development and crime and safety remain top priorities as does the Rockford Area Economic Development/ Chamber Unification, an effort to bring the two organizations together to improve business attraction, business retention and workforce development.

“The whole unification efforts is a big process,” said Forsman. “It’s two or three years of adapting to a new model.

That’s the biggest challenge we have.

Once a decision is made, we have to communicate that, and it’s going to take

And speaking from the heart

Hello membership. I wanted to start by highlighting a few success stories: 1. Rockford cracked the top 10 list for Smart Asset’s Best Places to Work in Manufacturing 2019 Edition coming in at number nine! The study calls out the fact that 24.3 percent of Rockford’s workforce was in manufacturing with average incomes increasing at 11.2 percent (higher than other metros in the top 10).

2. The Rockford Chamber and RAEDC continue to move towards unification which will modernize both organizations and bring great benefits to the region.

Thanks to the dedicated members of both boards and staff for working towards the betterment of our residents and businesses.

3. As Chairman, I have designated two members of our Board (past Chairman of the Board Rick Zumwalt and Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green) to assist in the advancement of the Family Peace Center which is to be modeled after Family Justice Centers around the country that have helped significantly reduce domestic violence (37 percent of Rockford’s violent crime is the result of domestic violence).

Keep your eyes open for information in The Voice, Breakfast Buzz, Government Affairs and other committees/task forces within the Chamber.

4. Mark your calendars for April 9th for the Chamber’s Celebration of Manufacturing Dinner at the new Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Rockford.

A Message of Consistency I shared an article with my network and my mind keeps going back to the message.

This article (published by Inc.) asked a profound question, “With almost a billion dollars, why does Jerry Seinfeld work so hard?” You might think it would be his desire for wealth or fame or celebrity. His actual answer was consistency.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the work. It’s similar to calligraphy or samurai,” Jerry says. “I want to make cricket cages.

You know those Japanese cricket cages?

Tiny with the doors? That’s it for me: solitude and precision, refining a tiny thing for the sake of it.”

And, about the process, Seinfeld says: ■ Consistency increases capacity. The only way to become a better comedian is to write better jokes – to write better jokes you have to commit to writing them every day.

Once you establish that habit your thinking evolves, creativity emerges and you rise to the occasion.

■ Consistency increases ability. Jerry didn’t focus on being rich. Wealth and success was really a by-product of doing the daily work. Partly because that’s the only way to accomplish a huge goal, but also because that’s the only way to gain – and keep the skills you need to accomplish that goal. If he doesn’t do stand up in two weeks he “feels his skills slipping.”

■ Consistency breeds success. There are few things you can control in life – except how hard and consistently you work.

So, if your definition of success includes traditional measures like wealth and professional achievement, consistent effort is the great equalizer.

Jerry’s message kept coming back to me because I have spent my career doing the daily work. Want to become a better leader? Don’t just sit in your office and strategize. Talk to people EVERY DAY. Ask questions. Ask for input. Ask how you can make their jobs better. Over time, your leadership capacity/ability will expand.

Breakthroughs in skill don’t come from eureka moments – they come from consistent, focused effort. As we consider taking on huge goals in our personal lives, business lives and in our region, let’s make our competitive advantage consistency.

Continued from front page

a tremendous amount of work.”

The keynote speaker was Hannah Ubl, an author and strategist who delivered a motivating message about “Helping Organizations Create a Workplace That Doesn’t Suck.” Ubl is co-founder of Good Company Consulting, based in Minneapolis. Poor communication in the workplace is both expensive and frustrating, said Ubl. “Everyone is looking at ways they can attract and retain people in their workplace,” Forsman said. “Her story about people who go to work and don’t bond with the employer and ghost it, is very common. Overall, the event was very positive and powerful and I thought the evening dovetailed nicely with Hannah and her remarks.”

During the dinner, the chamber thanked outgoing board members Mark Peterson (CherryVale Mall) and Andy Benson (Benson Stone Company), and welcomed incoming board members Dr. Eric Fulcomer (Rockford University), Carly LaMonica (LaMonica Beverages), Brent Bernardi (Alpha Controls and Services) and Rob Young (Midwest Packaging & Container).

OSF HealthCare was the presenting sponsor of the dinner.

In lieu of giveaways, OSF made a donation to the Family Peace Center.

Representatives from the organization were guests of OSF at the dinner.

Other sponsors were Woodward, Associated Bank, Quartz, The Alliance, RSM, Gallagher, AT&T and Event Floral. v

LET YOUR Voice BE HEARD The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages member submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community.

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication date. 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.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

ANNUAL DINNER Continued from page 2

February 2020

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

IGNITE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Five work goals for 2020 LINDSEY GAPEN LUKAS IGNITE Rockford

Make this the year to try some career enhancements to someone else, resolve to approach

Check out the “skills preferred” qualifications on

them with gusto. Tell your boss you want to do these things. In addition to have some great talking points for your

Pick one skill to focus on

next performance review.

goals for improvement.

As young professionals, we still have a lot to learn in our various industries.

Why wait until the next New Year to develop fresh career goals?

Maybe you’d like to increase your competency at the job you have, or perhaps you’d like to search for a new gig altogether. Either way, it’s beneficial to continuously improve as a professional.

Here are some simple objectives to help you grow as a new entry to the workforce.

Second, refrain from engaging in gossip at work. Put in earphones when you

hear

co-workers

complaining

around your desk. You never know when your words could come back to haunt you. Venting can be therapeutic, but save it for a close friend in the right environment.

Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Even if you’re happy at your current job, it’s still a good idea to have a polished resume that’s ready to send out and a LinkedIn profile that grabs the attention

Find a Mentor

of potential hirers. Maybe you’ll want

Make it a priority to regularly meet one-on-one with someone who can offer advice from a place of experience, and constructive criticism from a place of genuine regard. Preferably, this person works within your company and knows the ins and outs of what you’re trying to accomplish on a regular basis.

If you already have a mentor, prioritize maintaining that bond. Go out for lunch at the end of each quarter, or request private meetings in the office.

The impetus is on you to make a plan.

to join a nonprofit’s board of directors

Add a Skill to Your Resume

and be required to provide a resume.

Maybe a recruiter will come across your LinkedIn profile and offer you a moredesirable job (which you could either take or return to your boss for a salary re-negotiation). If you’re always ready to professionally present yourself, you’ll have more opportunities.

Ask for (at Least) One Thing You Want Is there something on your mind that could improve your job performance

It’s easy to just focus on what you’re naturally good at. But, if you want to increase your value within the workplace, ask yourself, “What’s something I could learn to contribute more to my company?” Could you dabble more in Photoshop or some other type of technology? Do you know how your immediate boss does every aspect of their job?

Check out the “skills preferred” qualifications on job posts that interest you. Pick one skill to focus on and identify how you can set goals for improvement.

and/or life outside of work? If so, bring

Ditch Negativity

additional “job perks” you can receive

This one is two-fold. First, identify what you don’t like about your job and adjust your mindset. Is there a task you dread, such as talking with angry customers or speaking about your company’s products in front of a large audience? Instead of running away from these tasks or passing them on

Scorecard provides timely feedback for our educators

developing professionally, you’ll also

job posts that interest you. and identify how you can set

DR. EHREN JARRETT Superintendent RPS 205

Taking a look at student achievement, climate & culture

it to your boss’s attention. This could be something as audacious as a pay raise, or something as simple as adjusting the office thermostat. Learning how to advocate for yourself is a skill in its own right.

Check in with your mentor to see if your request is reasonable. Leaving 15 minutes earlier at the end of the day?

Working from home once a week?

Truly reflect on how your company can help you, so you in turn can help your company. You never know what until you ask.

Lindsey Gapen Lukas is managing editor, Northwest Quarterly, and a member of Ignite.

The views expressed are those of Lukas’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

The Scorecard is a clear accountability measure for school improvement. It offers more frequent and more timely feedback for our educators.

The state’s new funding model has brought more money to the Rockford Public Schools. We have worked hard to make sure the additional dollars bring value to our schools, our district and our community.

By now, you may know one of the ways we have made sure our dollars impact the community. We have used the additional funds to give residents much-needed tax relief. The School Board in November approved a flat tax levy for the eighth consecutive year. The tax rate for 2019 has dropped 47 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation, the steepest drop since 2015. The rate is now below $7 per $100 of EAV, a longterm goal of both the administration and the board.

You may have also heard about the way we are using additional dollars to improve our schools and our district.

Late last year, we unveiled the School Scorecard. It’s a tool to continuously improve our organization and help students succeed.

The scorecard is a clear accountability measure for school improvement. While the State Report Card, published by the Illinois State Board of Education, offers detail, transparency and critical information about school performance, the district Scorecard offers more frequent and more timely feedback for our educators.

The tool provides a deeper and more precise look in two broad areas: student growth and achievement, and climate & culture. We are working with our principals, teachers and staff to explore our baseline data in the Scorecard, a tool that measures indicators across two main areas. Quality instruction counts for 75 percent, and climate & culture counts for 25 percent.

Each school is measured on a four-point scale. Each school will also fall into one of four categories: highest performance, above average performance, below average performance and lowest performance.

The tool will provide clarity to principals, teachers and staff about what’s important – and where our successes and challenges are.

Evidence-Based Funding The scorecard works hand-in-hand with another new district practice: strategic budgeting. As principals prepare their budgets for the 2020-21 school year, they will have a lot of latitude to implement their own, school-specific improvement plans, while ordering off a menu of district-approved programs, positions and partnerships.

We are giving building leaders something called “bounded autonomy,” which research shows is the best way for schools to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.

It’s part of the ABCs of school improvement, which are actually three As: autonomy, alignment and accountability. It sounds simple. But our district is a large one, and it will take time to develop new habits to replace old ones.

It’s not second-nature yet, but we’re convinced it’s a change that will be as good for our system as it will be for our students.

We’re not there yet, in both our results and our funding. Although there’s progress, we’re still funded only at 61 percent of the cost of an adequate education. However, Evidence-Based Funding has allowed our district to give an eight percent increase to all schools, while giving even more to the schools with students of low income and high needs.

I believe all students deserve the opportunity to attend a high-quality public school. At the same time, the board and I understand we have a commitment to the community to ease the tax burden.

Greater support from the state has allowed us to bring more value to the community and more accountability, alignment and autonomy to the schools.

Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.

The views expressed are those of Dr. Jarrett’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

Top 10 scams of 2019 Phony debt collection scams escalated from #10 in 2018, to the top of the list for scams reported for 2019, according to the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker. The explosion of robocalls and widespread student debt fed into this surge, with scammers relying heavily on scaring victims with threats and demanding immediate payment or giving up personal information to prove it’s not their debt.

New Law to Crack Down on Robocalls A new bill was signed into law on Dec. 30, 2019; aimed at cracking down on robocalls. The Traced Act requires phone companies to offer free call-blocking apps and verify that the number calling you is real. The bill also gives the FCC more time to find

robocallers, and lets the agency fine offenders without warning them first.

Fake Websites The menacing problem of pop up fake retail websites was #1 in 2018 and remained a big issue at #3 on the 2019 list. Experts monitoring online activities say 1.4 million fake online retail companies are created every month; taking consumers’ money without ever sending merchandise.

Another epidemic problem is fake celebrity endorsements. Ellen DeGeneres recently sued more than 100 companies illegally using her name to promote products.

The Better Business Bureau advises to report any scams to www.bbb.org/ scamtracker/us.

Top 10 Scams of 2019 1. Debt Collections. Invoices, calls or emails for fake debts.

2. Advance Fee Loan. The promise of a “loan” – after you pay fees.

3. Online Purchase. Fake websites.

4. Employment. Scam job offers.

5. Fake Check/Money Order. Scammers send a fake check and convince recipients to send fees or the balance of an “overpayment” back.

6. Identity Theft. New to the list, and the fastest-growing white-collar crime.

7. Credit Card. New to the list, fake emails and calls claiming there’s a problem with your account in order to steal money and information – or fake credit card debt consolidation.

8. Utility Scams. Fake calls/emails claiming your service will be shut off unless you pay.

9. Counterfeit Product. Often tied in with scam websites, consumers are sent cheap counterfeit items worth a fraction of the real item.

10. Fake Government Contracts. Application fees for government grants and programs supplying money.

The cost of smoking

Smoking doesn’t just ruin your health; it also can burn a nasty hole in your wallet. According to the American Lung Association, since 1964, smoking-related illnesses have claimed more than 20 million lives in the United States; 2.5 million of which belonged to nonsmokers from secondhand exposure. What’s more, the economic and societal costs are huge; to the tune of more than $300 billion in medical care and lost productivity.

The costs differences vary by state. WalletHub took a look into the true per-person cost of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, based on factors such as annual cost of a cigarette pack per day, health care expenditures and income losses. The formula: Financial Cost of Smoking = Out-ofPocket Costs + Financial Opportunity Cost + Related Health-Care Costs + Income Loss Due to Smoking-Related Issues + Increase in Homeowner’s Insurance Premium + Secondhand Smoke-Exposure Costs.

Most Expensive States to Smoke Costs per Year per Smoker (not all cost categories shown) Total Cost

Out-ofPocket

HealthCare

Income Loss

1. New York

$48,197

$3,822

$5,143

$5,428

2. Connecticut

$47,999

$3,672

$5,704

$6,108

3. District of Columbia

$47,608

$3,650

$4,862

$6,816

4. Massachusetts

$46,593

$3,533

$5,388

$6,387

5. Rhode Island

$44,856

$3,526

$4,973

$5,147

6. Alaska

$42,011

$3,245

$4,163

$5,948

7. Hawaii

$41,677

$3,241

$3,346

$6,417

8. Minnesota

$41,511

$3,263

$3,740

$5,625

9. Vermont

$40,797

$3,168

$4,751

$4,863

10. Washington

$39,591

$3,019

$3,923

$5,926

11. Illinois

$39,257

$3,103

$3,512

$5,202

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

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profile

MEMBER PROFILE

By Paul Anthony Arco Have you ever had a gardening question, an interest in environmental issues or wondered how our food is grown or prepared? Illinois Extension probably has the answer.

“Our mission is to offer informal education, technical assistance and some formal training programs that lead to certification,” said Margaret Larson, county director of Illinois Extension for Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago counties.

“These aren’t college courses, there is no application process, and we don’t offer University of Illinois credits. We are bringing information from our college and sharing it with our local communities. Illinois Extension is simply that. It’s an outreach branch of the University of Illinois.”

More than 1.5 million Illinois residents take part in extension programs each year, including 200,000 who participate in 4-H programs.

Roots as Farm Advisors Illinois Extension started in 1914 through the University of Illinois as a grass roots organization. “At the time it was federal legislation for every state to put in place a university to serve not just physically on campus but to push information to the entire state,” Larson said.

“The land grant system was set up to provide agriculture information as it

Local staff present a wide array of educational programming. Shown are Margaret Larson, Grant McCarty, Carol Erickson, Mia Chase and Tammy Bene.

Here for the community:

Illinois Extension

evolved. Country farmers would pool their money together to bring a farm adviser to their community. Farmers would come to a meeting to learn about a topic, and bring their wives who congregated in another room to learn, for example, about food preservation or food safety. As we’ve moved forward that’s still a lot of what we do with several topics.”

Among the programs Illinois Extension offers are 4-H development, commercial agriculture, energy and environment, horticulture and nutrition and wellness.

Upcoming events include an introduction to apple tree pruning, a poultry clinic and free extension webinars for small farmers.

A licensed dietitian offers programs ranging from heart healthy classes to diabetes education. Illinois Extension

has after school programming for middle school students who may not otherwise have access to those programs.

Volunteer Network Volunteers are an integral part of Illinois Extension’s success. The Master Naturalist program has 40 volunteers and the Master Gardener program boasts 80 volunteers.

“The programming we do is based on the local staff and volunteers,” Larson said. “Volunteers really make the 4-H clubs happen and create an outstanding experience for the youth.”

There is an Extension office in all 102 counties in the state. There are two offices in Winnebago County, both located in Rockford, that include 18 employees.

Illinois Extension relies on four funding

sources – federal, state, county and foundations who put together fundraisers to support the organization. Illinois Extension has a number of businesses who support the organization through partnering and promoting programming, including nurseries, garden centers, Midway Village Museum, Natural Land Institute and the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens. “I can connect resources by providing the volunteers they need,” Larson said.

Larson spent her career in higher education before joining Illinois Extension in 2004. “I grew up in Winnebago County and was interested in moving back with my family when this job became available. It’s been a good fit.”

Illinois Extension uses social media and word of mouth to spread the word about its programs. “We are a resource to the community,” Larson said. “We touch so many sites and organizations. Often it’s not just our logo, but we’re providing a speaker or program. I can reach out to a community development specialist in Champaign, for example, to come to Rockford and do a program. It’s all about connections.”

ILLINOIS EXTENSION Margaret Larson, county director 1040 N. 2nd St. Phone: 815-235-4125 www.extension.illinois.edu

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

GUEST COLUMNIST

AMANDA MESSINGER Restore Counseling and Recovery

Check your communications intelligence quotient

Don’t take for granted your messages are getting through

With so many interactions in various formats, countless times per day, for years and years on end, one may think we would be decent at it.

using emotional defenses or dismissals.

It is rare for a sender to yell or demean a receiver, and that receiver to feel happy and inclined to hear or follow through with the sender’s message.

Check your motivation for the message. What is the goal? Is it to

Talking, chatting, speaking; call it what you will, it is the same act: Communicating. It is something most of us have done since a very young age and will continue to do until we cease to exist. With so many interactions in various formats, countless times per day, for years and years on end, one may think we would be decent at it. So why do so many of us struggle?

At its very core, communication is one person sending information to one or multiple receivers. Despite the idea of it being simple, there is a lot more involved with this act. For example, the topic, the knowledge of the topic, whether both parties are open to the message, the emotional states of both parties, and the emotional history involved with this particular topic for both parties. Communication can become very complicated very quickly.

A combination of the above is what produces miscommunication, which can lead to hurt feelings, anger, resentment or even failed projects.

So, how do we improve our communication? Here are a few ideas I have used to help enhance my communication skills.

Slow down the message exchange.

Since we have been communicating for a long time, we believe we are pretty good and tend to go quickly through verbal exchanges. Depending on the topic (especially if it is emotionally charged) this can create a lot of misunderstanding. By sending one message at a time, and then allowing the receiver to digest it (even summarize back if possible), we can clear up a lot of miscommunication. Trying this initially can seem juvenile, as we are used to a quicker pace, but when the conversation is slowed, we will hear things that were previously missed.

Check your emotional status.

Communication is not received well if the sender has strong emotions behind the message, particularly anger or frustration. Making sure we are in a calm emotional state prior to sending our message increases its likelihood of the receiver getting the message without

have a nice neutral conversation about the weather, ask for something, convey deeper feelings, debate on topics you are passionate about? Making sure we know the goal of our message can help us avoid communicating it in a more confusing way. If I want to ask for something, but am nervous, I might be inclined to hint around the question, hoping to infer to the other person what exactly I want.

If that person does not pick up on my hints, then communication is lost.

Know that you are communicating only from your perspective. None of us have lived in another person’s head or exactly experienced what another person has. It is important to remind ourselves of that, even though it feels like this is the best way to do something or the only correct thought process, the receiver might not agree with us.

Despite having the best intentions for someone, I cannot verbally coerce change. For most, applying pressure to change can result in the person feeling more resolute in their point of view.

Understand that all messages may not or cannot be heard. We can do everything “right” in the communication world, but if the receiver is either not ready or incapable of hearing/ understanding the information, there is nothing we can do.

While communication has been something we’ve been doing since the beginning of time and continues to evolve with us, it never hurts to take a moment and reevaluate our own communication skills to see if there are some areas that can be reinforced.

Amanda Messinger, LCPC, CADC, is a private practice therapist at Restore Counseling and Recovery.

The views expressed are those of Messinger’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

 Destination

ILLINOIS, USA

ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM

JOHN GROH Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Rockford 2000: Then and now

Progress has made downtown Rockford a thriving destination

Picture it, Rockford 2000. Symbolic of the region’s stalled economy, empty downtown storefronts evoked images of a thriving past but a bleak future. Fast forward two decades to today’s vibrant city center, the heart of a region that is thriving from tourism-related initiatives and, overall, on the cusp of greatness.

At the bureau, we believe our efforts, in concert with many regional partners, have been a vital link between a bleak yesterday, a thriving present and a future with no limits. One strategic step after another brought us to where we are today.

“It’s staggering to see the amount of progress we’ve made downtown in the last 10 years, and it’s been both public and private investment making that a reality,” said Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara.

“We’re seeing growth in retail, residential and commercial development, as well with sports tourism, and that’s helping downtown become a destination. Coupled with the RACVB developing Stroll on State into a regional attraction, there’s no doubt that the sky’s the limit for growth in downtown.”

A glimpse at what was happening in the middle of the past two decades highlights the domino effect of progress. The advent of City Market and Friday Night Flix in the summer of 2010 was critical. Downtown became the place to be on Friday nights. By 2010, the dilapidated Amerock Building had been protected by its placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Plans soon emerged that led to the building’s renovation and construction of Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront and Rockford Conference Center, set to open in April.

In 2013, when we launched Stroll on State, volunteers covered the many empty storefronts in holiday paper to disguise vacancies. By year three, virtually all of those buildings were occupied. In addition, when Stroll started, plans existed for the UW Health Sports Factory to be

built along the east bank of the Rock River.

That $25 million project broke ground early in 2015, and the facility opened mid2016. It is thriving!

At the same time, further investment in regional sports facilities through the Reclaiming First initiative spurred increased tournament bookings, which continue to escalate and diversify. Beyond tourism results that we can see with our eyes, allow me to showcase some of the less obvious but extremely important benefits to the region.

Here are 2018 Stats: ■ Jobs: Tourism put more than 3,000 local residents to work with a $95 million payroll.

■ Attractions: 8.6 million visitors and residents annually.

■ Tax revenue: $6.8 million generated for local tax rolls.

■ Visitor spending: $392 million annually.

That spending is spread widely throughout the region at hotels, restaurants and retail businesses. We work closely with businesses such as Lucha Cantina, where owner Josh Binning sees a direct bottomline impact from visiting sports teams.

“We make it clear to RACVB that we can take large parties, and there’s not a lot of places that will,” he said. “We’ve been intentional about it from the beginning, and it’s an essential part of our business.”

RACVB is the hub organization solely focused on tourism initiatives through regional partnerships, and we’re happy to be at the center of progress. We’re entering the new decade on a roll.

John Groh is president/CEO of Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. www. gorockford.com The views expressed are Groh’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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SPECIAL SECTION: The Business of Wellness

February 2020

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

GUEST COLUMNIST

MAUREEN MALL Center for Sight & Hearing

Diabetes can have a huge impact on your vision … and hearing

You might have diabetes. Or, you likely have a friend or family member who has diabetes. Many people are aware of the effect diabetes can have on vision, but did you know that diabetes can also affect hearing?

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has been rising steadily for decades. In 1958, less than 1 percent of Americans had diabetes. Now, more than 30 million Americans have it, and a whopping 87 million people have prediabetes. With these statistics in mind, I’d like to shine a light on the dramatic impact diabetes can have on your vision and hearing.

Diabetes is the Number One Cause of Blindness High blood sugar associated with diabetes can lead to a variety of vision issues, including: cataracts (clouding of the lens), glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), retinopathy (changes with the retina in the back of the eye), and blindness. Early symptoms of diabetic vision loss may include blurred vision, seeing floaters and a sudden loss of vision following a cough or sneeze.

Diabetics Twice as Likely to Develop Hearing Loss While the exact cause of hearing loss in diabetics is not fully understood, it is believed that high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels in the inner ear. For the 87 million people with prediabetes, their rate of hearing loss is 30 percent higher than those with normal blood glucose levels.

Hearing loss can have a huge impact on yours or a loved one’s life. Communication is difficult, so educational or career opportunities can be limited. Social interactions can be draining and lead people to withdraw. Withdrawal from normal activities and interactions can often lead to depression and anxiety.

Shown is a simulation of diabetic retinopathy.

Recommendations for People With Diabetes Diabetes is a life-long disease that requires special attention to manage or reduce your risk of vision and hearing loss.

Monitor blood sugar levels. New glucose monitors no longer require regular finger prick tests and provide continual access to blood sugar numbers.

It is easier than ever to figure out patterns in blood sugar levels.

Maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise.

Maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Stop smoking.

Schedule annual hearing and eye exams to monitor potential issues.

Technology Advancements For those with low vision or hearing loss associated with diabetes, there is good news. Technology is advancing rapidly; creating many and new ways to address low vision. These advances include assistive technology, such as phone apps, wearable computers with readers and facial recognition, a wide variety of specialty glasses, and low-tech items like magnifiers. Advancements in hearing aids are making it possible to enhance sound and reduce background noise through new phone apps, which keeps loved ones connected and communicating.

The Center for Sight & Hearing is the regional source for Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation; providing free phones for those with a hearing loss.

ITAC phones are specially designed for the hearing impaired and have a range of features, including greater amplification than typical phones and screens with voice to text.

Maureen Mall is president of the Center for Sight & Hearing.

The views expressed are those of Mall’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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SPECIAL SECTION: The Business of Wellness

February 2020

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

GUEST COLUMNIST

Health captives: A strategic approach to health insurance Regional health Looking at options for funding a plan departments issue There’s more than one way to design up access to your claims data, so that warnings about insurance for your organization. In the you can see exactly which factors are past, you may have been beholden to impacting your premium rates. Then, marijuana use JASON D. NORDBY M3 Insurance

strict rules in the insurance marketplace; stuck in partnerships that didn’t provide you transparency and confidence.

Today, the power has shifted and there are new, innovative options for organizations that are looking to get more strategic with their insurance plan – and take control of their premiums.

Health Plan Funding Possibilities Traditionally, employers think their options are either fully insured or selffunded insurance programs. With those binary options in mind, employers might not explore all of the possibilities available to them for funding their health insurance.

Think of it this way: There are many ways to structure the way you offer health insurance to your employees.

It is common to think about the various options for designing your plan – leveraging employee premiums and out-of-pocket expenses to drive behavior. So why aren’t more employers doing the same for how they fund their health plan?

Self-Funded Health Insurance Enter the health captive. Joining a captive insurance program can give your organization a new level of control and financial independence. This insurance strategy allows employers with as few as 50 employees to self-fund their health insurance through a different way to diversify the financial risk.

Ultimately, a captive insurance solution can allow you to join with other like-minded employers to take on more risk and create your own insurance company. This unique approach opens

you can take dedicated, strategic action to mitigate those issues for the benefit of your employees and your organization.

Is a Captive a Good Fit? There are a few key clues that can signify whether or not a captive insurance solution could work for your organization and your employees. Ask yourself: ■ Are more than 50 employees enrolled on my health plan?

■ Is my organization committed to cost containment?

■ Would my organization benefit from greater claims transparency?

With marijuana becoming legal in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2020, the nine local health departments of the Illinois Department of Public Health Northern Illinois Rockford Region issued reminders on the health and mental health impacts associated with marijuana use.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Don’t use marijuana if pregnant or breastfeeding. Marijuana use during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight babies and may harm the growth and development of a baby’s brain. A baby could be exposed through breast milk, even after you stop using marijuana.

■ Do I see the opportunity to be strategic with my insurance plan as a benefit, or added pressure?

If you’ve answered these questions positively, I encourage you to explore captive solutions.

Youth and the Developing Brain

Every employer is going to have a different strategy for purchasing health insurance. Your purchasing decisions should be based upon your unique goals and appetite for risk. Only with all the information available, can you make the best health insurance purchasing decision to fit your organization’s unique needs.

Mental Health Impacts

Jason D. Nordby, MS, GBDS, is partner, senior account executive, director of employee benefits captive practice at M3 Insurance.

Impacts on Lung and Heart

The views expressed are those of Nordby’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Your brain continues to develop until age 25, and studies have shown that marijuana use in young people can impair development. The purchase and use of it, or smoking it in the presence of those under 21, is illegal.

Marijuana can be addictive. Higher THC concentrations have been linked to an increased risk. Regular use can increase your risk for anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.

Smoking marijuana can harm lung tissue and cause damage to small blood vessels. The smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.

Other Realities Using marijuana or other THC products can impair your judgment. Do not drive or perform other tasks that could be a risk. Just because it is legal does not mean it is allowed by your employer. Using marijuana could cost you your job. Make sure that children and pets do not have access, and protect kids from secondhand smoke.

For more, visit www.prevention.org/ lets-talk-cannabis.

Distribution Rules to Consider It is illegal to purchase from anyone besides licensed cannabis dispensaries registered with the state of Illinois. Sales tax revenues will go towards revitalizing communities most affected by drug use (25 percent), mental health issues and substance abuse and prevention efforts (20 percent) and helping prevent local crime (8 percent).

Illinois will help lower licensing fees for, and provide low-interest business loans to, minority entrepreneurs interested in entering the cannabis industry.

When purchasing from dispensaries, you must show a valid governmentissued photo ID with your date of birth.

If you’re 21+, you can gift up to the legal limit to another adult 21+, but you cannot receive any form of payment.

Non-medical cannabis users may not grow any amount of cannabis. Medical marijuana cardholders are permitted to grow up to five plants.

Source: Illinois Department of Human Services

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

R O C K F O R D

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economic development Growth and attraction is for everyone Have you met Stephanie Jones, our VP of sales? She joined the team in December of 2018 and spent 2019 making connections in the Chicagoland area. Her goal is to demonstrate the many reasons our region is Your Opportunity Region.

From industry clusters that already have strong supply chains, such as advanced manufacturing, automotive and aerospace, to developing stronger supply chain clusters, such as agribusiness and technology, our region benefits from a strong logistical location, a skilled workforce with customized education-to-workforce pipelines, and a lower cost of living, which benefits both businesses and employees.

“Our area has numerous location benefits for companies who are looking to start-up, expand or re-locate. It’s important to me that we educate both companies as well as real estate professionals, such as site selectors and brokers, about why their clients need to consider the Rockford Region’s

logistical and workforce strengths in their site selection options,” said Jones.

In the past five years, we have had more than $1.2B worth of capital investment in our region.

“This is the result of continually connecting the dots,” said Nathan Bryant, president & CEO of the RAEDC, reiterating the point he made during the RAEDC’s Annual Meeting in November 2019. “By finding sustainable solutions to creating a skilled workforce and focusing on where we want to be as a community, we will attain our goals of making this THE place people want to work, play and live.”

You can share this messaging as well by visiting the RAEDC’s social networks and sharing messages that resonate with you.

■ www.facebook.com/RockfordArea EconomicDevelopmentCouncil/ ■ twitter.com/RockfordAreaEDC ■ www.linkedin.com/company/ rockford-area-economicdevelopment-council/

Two-day aerospace conference in the Rockford Region is a ‘must attend’ MAC2020 is the Midwest aerospace conference you have to be at. The twoday event features subject matter experts including aerospace, as well as business development, and leadership. The second day features tours at the Chicago Rockford International Airport and regional aerospace manufacturers.

The conference is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7. MAC2020 is open for anyone to attend, however, to attend the tours on May 7, you also must be participating in the event on May 6.

Day one of the conference features an Aerospace Industry Forecast from Kevin Michaels, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, as well as a keynote address. There also will be exhibitors hosting demonstrations throughout the day and during the cocktail reception. The day also includes breakout sessions related to: ■ Workforce ■ Cybersecurity

■ Emerging technology ■ Government contract procurement ■ Supplier development “Organizers of MAC2020 are excited to see how this event has grown over the past four years. The most exciting aspect is to welcome top-caliber speakers and exhibitors that attract attendees and create connections for companies on a global scale,” said Jarid Funderburg, VP of business development and RAEDC staff liaison for RAAN. The event itself is organized by the Rockford Area Aerospace Network, which is a solutions team for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. RAAN helps represent the Rockford Region at tradeshows by working together to create a larger impact for companies in the area at events such as The Paris Airshow and MRO Americas.

To learn more about MAC2020, visit MidwestAerospaceConference.com.

Conversations are the CORE Each year, the RAEDC sets a goal, in addition to connecting with regional businesses in a wide range of industries, to connect with businesses on a deeper level to understand industry trends, emerging technologies within that industry and to address concerns the businesses may have. We call these CORE conversations. These conversations have been happening behind the scenes for many years as part of the daily work of economic development.

Gerald Sagona, VP of business development and staff liaison for the CARE Committee (Company Attraction, Retention, and Expansion Committee) for the RAEDC, conducts many of these conversations throughout the year.

“Meeting with hundreds of businesses during my time at the RAEDC has allowed me to better understand what is happening within our business community as well as global economic shifts that directly impact our businesses,” Sagona said. “These meetings also provide the opportunity to educate business owners about cost-saving measures available to them through a multitude of programs and incentives.”

As a result of these conversations, the RAEDC has hosted events such as the CARE Seminar: Up in Smoke and the Credits & Incentives seminar in 2019. Both of these lunch and learn events, organized by CARE and the RAEDC, have allowed business owners to learn how new laws, tax credits and incentives can impact their business while limiting their time out of the office.

During 2020, CARE and the RAEDC will continue to have conversations with companies located in our region as well as outside our region to discover ways to support strong industry supply chains and develop new industry supply chains. This work cultivates opportunities for primary job growth and increases our economic well-being; which will continue to propel the region to Top 25 status and serve as a model for impactful economically sustainable connections.

To learn how you can participate in these conversations, contact Gerald Sagona at GSagona@RockfordIL.com.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

R O C K F O R D

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C O M M E R C E

Small Business Enterprise Do what you know, and what you love, and the money will follow.

Steps to starting a business MIKE MASTROIANNI SBDC

Business ideas to get you started

You know you want desperately to work for yourself. What are some considerations that you should make before making that decision? Many of our clients have great ideas but have not done their “homework” on what they need to do before making the decision to start their own business.

the loan (house, car, money in the bank).

Sometimes, you may have to work on getting your credit score to increase before attempting to take out a loan.

■ Will you be willing to work hard? It takes a lot of effort and personal attention to run a business. One person said they wanted to still work full time, and then get Some Questions to Consider others to run the restaurant they wanted to ■ What do you know how to do, or have a start. If you are going to run the restaurant, passion for doing, or is an area of expertise you have to be there to run it. It’s an all-in for you? Do NOT focus only on making proposition. money. One client said, “I don’t have an ■ Have some idea of costs of doing expertise in this area, but I heard you can business, so you know how much you need make a lot of money doing it.” Do what you to sell in order to break even and make know, and what you love, and the money money. will follow. It rarely works the other way Other Questions to Answer around.

■ Can you afford to go into business? If your credit history and credit scores are not good, it will be difficult to get a loan.

Even if your scores are decent, you still need collateral, that is, something to secure

Is there a need or a market for what I want to do? Or conversely, is the market flooded with similar products, services or businesses, so that I will struggle to find my niche. For example, opening up an

ice-cream shop on a block where there are three other shops would be difficult, unless you have a very unique product.

Ask people what they think; not just friends and families. Friends and families may tell you what you want to hear. Ask people who will be honest with you.

Know your competition. What do they do well, and where are they lacking? Can you capitalize on what they aren’t as strong at doing?

Visit the SBDC; Get Advice on:

article from Entrepreneur Media, which was excerpted from “55 Surefire Home Based Businesses…” to give you some examples of what people have done (some may require expertise or licensing): ■ Bicycle repair ■ Ride sharing driver ■ Party planner ■ Dog walking ■ Electronics, small engine, appliance repair

■ Home energy inspection or auditing (community colleges and other educational ■ Getting a business name and structure, institutions sometimes offer training programs in this area) tax ID, permits, etc.

■ Business plan development.

■ Deciding about how much money you may need for the start-up. How will you secure the money needed to start (loans, gifts from relatives, grants)? Grants (i.e., free money) are not always available, and those that come have many people attempting to get the money. There are also not many investors who will give you money.

■ Connecting with SCORE for specific help and assistance.

■ You may need a physical location. You may work from home, or you may decide that you want incubator space. Your SBDC advisor can help.

Business Ideas

■ Interior design or decorating advisor ■ Upholstering ■ Gift basket services ■ Graffiti removal ■ Pet sitting Of course, the ideas can be endless, but remember, test out your idea to see if you have the expertise, and if you have the market for such a product or service. Sometimes, you can start your business on a part-time basis while working, to see how you do. The important thing is that you are not alone, and can rely on the help of friends, family, the SBDC, SCORE and other advisors to help you fulfill your dreams.

Mike Mastroianni is director of the Illinois Small We can’t talk about our clients without Business Development Center at the Rockford their permission. But, I looked at an Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

SPECIAL SECTION: Financial Partnerships

February 2020

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GUEST COLUMNIST

Spend some time on your company’s retirement plan KEITH J. AKRE Stillman Bank

Methods for ensuring your employees have a well-funded retirement

Retirement plans can be a tremendous benefit for employees.

Unfortunately, often times they can also be frustrating and time consuming for small- and mid-sized business owners. The reality is that offering this great benefit comes with a great deal of responsibility. If done mindfully, business owners like yourself, can offer a retirement plan that a) maximizes the benefit available to employees and b) minimizes the cost and frustration.

The following are a few best practices you should be discussing with your retirement plan service providers.

Ensure All Plan Details Still Work for Your Company Is the plan structure still appropriate for your company’s size and personnel demographic? Does your company have special circumstances that need to be addressed? Should you consider a Safe Harbor plan to avoid compliance testing? These are questions that should be discussed with a retirement plan expert, especially if there have been any major changes at the company, such as high levels of employee turnover.

Examine the Fees The retirement plan industry is getting increasingly competitive, and fees have dropped considerably over the last 10 years. Many factors go into what you pay and how you get charged but you should ask your administrator to break down all of the fees for you.

Once you understand all the costs, you can compare that to industry averages to determine whether or not you are getting the best value for you and your employees.

Nudge and Educate It is not uncommon for business owners to offer a retirement plan and then have a difficult time getting the employees to participate. You can lead a horse to water, right? Well, the most effective way to get participation from employees is to have a plan that is “optout” instead of “opt-in.”

Most plans are “opt-in,” meaning that employees have to sign up. Recently, there has been a growing trend for plans to automatically enroll employees as soon as they are eligible unless they “optout.” This simple shift in plan design historically increased participation from as low as 26 percent to more than 85 percent, according to survey work done by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Even if employees are automatically enrolled in a plan, but especially if they are not, there should be ample educational opportunities offered to help them make informed decisions about investing for their retirement. While most retirement plan service providers have online videos, and 800 numbers, the most effective educational tool is to have a qualified financial professional come out to speak directly with your employees.

Outsource Oversight of Investment Options As a retirement plan sponsor, business owners are considered fiduciaries to the participants of the plan. This means they are legally obligated to act in their best interest. This includes making sure that the investment options available to them are appropriate.

One way to fulfill that responsibility is to hire a reputable company to serve

As a retirement plan sponsor, business owners are considered fiduciaries to the participants of the plan. This means they are legally obligated to act in their best interest.

that function. Most plan administrators offer this service (sometimes at additional cost) or you can find a third party to serve specifically in that role.

Either way, this can help mitigate a large potential liability in a scenario in which a participant comes back and complains that they did not have good investment options.

Offering a retirement plan is a great responsibility and requires ongoing maintenance and oversight. Discussing these practices with your retirement

plan service professionals can help ensure that you are following the proper regulations, minimizing the cost to you and your employees and giving your people confidence in their ability to have a happy and well-funded retirement.

Keith J. Akre, CFA, CFP®, is trust officer at Stillman Bank.

The views expressed are those of Akre’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

New downloadable tax withholding assistant for employers Employee withholding requests from new or old Form W-4 The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new online assistant designed to help employers, especially small businesses, easily determine the right amount of federal income tax to withhold from their workers’ pay.

Known as the Income Tax Withholding Assistant for Employers, this new Microsoft Excel-based tool is designed to help employers transition to the redesigned withholding system (no longer based on withholding allowances) that went into effect on Jan. 1.

The tool creates a profile for each employee that automatically calculates their correct federal income tax withholding. It helps implement new income-tax withholding requests from employees who have filled out either the completely redesigned 2020 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, or have a withholding request on file using a past version of the W-4, based on withholding allowances.

Visit on IRS.gov to download the tool.

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SPECIAL SECTION: Financial Partnerships

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

GUEST COLUMNIST

ERNA COLBORN Edward Jones

The SECURE Act is the most

Look for changes in retirement plans

significant change to our retirement savings system in

New laws for individuals and businesses under SECURE Act

It might not have made the headlines, but a recently passed piece of legislation could affect the IRAs and 401(k)s of millions of Americans beginning in 2020. So, if you have either of these accounts, or if you run a business, you’ll want to learn more.

Individual Provisions The new laws, collectively called the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, include these noteworthy changes: Higher age for RMDs. Under current law, you must start taking withdrawals – known as required minimum distributions, or RMDs – from your traditional IRA and 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan once you turn 70½. The new law pushes the date to start RMDs to 72, which means you can hold on to your retirement savings a bit longer.

No age limit for traditional IRA contributions. Previously, you could only contribute to your traditional

IRA until you were 70½, but under the SECURE Act, you can now fund your traditional IRA for as long as you have taxable earned income.

Limitation of “Stretch IRA” provisions. Under the old rules, beneficiaries were able to stretch taxable RMDs from a retirement account over his or her lifetime.

Under the SECURE Act, while spouse beneficiaries can still take advantage of this “stretch” distribution, most nonspouse beneficiaries will have to take all the RMDs by the end of the 10th year after the account owner passes away.

Consequently, non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit an IRA or other retirement plan could have tax implications due to the need to take larger distributions in a shorter timeframe.

No early withdrawal penalty for IRAs and 401(k)s when a new child arrives. Typically, you must pay a 10 percent penalty when you withdraw funds from your IRA or 401(k) before you reach 59½. But now, with the new

rules, you can withdraw up to $5,000 from your retirement plan without paying the early withdrawal penalty, as long as you take the money within one year of a child being born or an adoption becoming final.

Business Provisions Some provisions of the SECURE Act primarily affect business owners: Multi-employer retirement plans.

Unrelated companies can now work together to offer employees a 401(k) plan with less administrative work, lower costs and fewer fiduciary responsibilities than individual employers now encounter when offering their own retirement plans.

Tax credit for automatic enrollment. The new law provides a tax credit of $500 for some smaller employers who set up automatic enrollment in their retirement plans. And a tax credit for establishing a retirement plan has been increased from $500 to $5,000.

Use of annuities in 401(k) plans.

more than a decade.

It will now be easier for employers to consider including annuities as an investment option within 401(k) plans.

Previously, many businesses avoided offering annuities in these plans due to liability concerns related to the annuity provider, but the new rules should help reduce these concerns.

The SECURE Act is the most significant change to our retirement savings system in more than a decade. We encourage you to contact your financial advisor, tax professional and estate planning attorney to assess the potential impact on your investment strategies and determine any possible tax and estate planning implications of the SECURE Act. Erna Colborn is financial advisor with Edward Jones.

The views expressed are those of Colborn’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

New decade rings in raises to minimum wage Wage to reach $15 an hour by mid-decade Twenty-one states are kicking off the new year with increases to minimum wage. Six states (California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York) are on track to reach $15 an hour in coming years. All businesses in New York City must pay at least $15 per hour as of Dec. 31, 2019.

Illinois increased to $9.25 on Jan. 1, 2020 and will increase to $10 on July 1, 2020, $11 on Jan. 1, 2021, then $1 annually to $15 by 2025.

Illinois Department of Labor Rules ■■ New employees (first 90 days of employment) and employees under age 18 may be paid up to 50 cents less per hour.

■■ A worker under 18 who works more than 650 hours during any calendar year must be paid the regular (over 18 wage).

■■ Tipped employees may be paid 60 percent of the hourly minimum wage.

■■ Certain employees must be paid overtime, at time and one-half of the regular rate, after 40 hours of work in a workweek.

Illinois State Minimum Wage Chart Year

Minimum Wage

Tipped

Youths (under 18) <650 hours/year

Jan. 1, 2020

$9.25

$5.55

$8

July 1, 2020

$10

$6

$8

Jan. 1, 2021

$11

$6.60

$8.50

Jan. 1, 2022

$12

$7.20

$9.25

Jan. 1, 2023

$13

$7.80

$10.50

Jan. 1, 2024

$14

$8.40

$12

Jan. 1, 2025

$15

$9

$13

Source: Illinois Department of Labor

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

SPECIAL SECTION: Financial Partnerships

GUEST COLUMNIST

Planned giving: Advice for fundraisers

DANIEL A. HUNTLEY, WilliamsMcCarthy LLP

Developing and adhering to a clear gift acceptance policy

For many donors, charitable giving is a way of life. A variety of charitable groups, including social service organizations, colleges and universities, and faith-based bodies rely on the support of donors to further their missions.

Competition for charitable dollars is increasing as federal legislation continues to make small dollar donations less advantageous. Charitable fundraisers and the organizations they serve need to be prepared to communicate an organization’s needs and translate donors’ intent to maximize fundraising opportunities.

While all charitable giving is welcome, different types of gifts will be treated differently. Donors may choose to leave a testamentary gift to a charitable organization in a multitude of ways, including cash, life insurance, stock or real estate. They also have the right to outline their intent for the gift, including granting discretion on the use of funds completely to the organization; directing the proceeds to a particular goal or program, or contributing restricted or unrestricted amounts to an endowment for the organization’s future. Both the type of donation and the restrictions on that donation matter significantly to an organization.

From a not-for-profit perspective, liquidity and freedom from restrictions can be the most advantageous. As an example, a donor who leaves an unrestricted cash donation has given the organization the most flexibility possible, allowing the funds to be used immediately or invested for the future based on the needs of the organization.

Compare that to a donor who gifts real estate to a charity, which will require management and eventual liquidation to convert the gift to address changing organizational needs, but which offers the potential for a long-term income stream.

Both are worthy, appreciated gifts, but the intent and usefulness varies greatly depending on the organization’s needs at that time. Cash is immediately useful, but bears few tax advantages when compared with real estate, which may appreciate over time. Both gifts will serve the organization, but depending on the organization’s situation, one gift may be more useful than the other.

Share the organization’s gift acceptance policy with donors.

Finding out an organization does not accept a certain type of donation after a donor has passed away has the potential to create tension during what should be a celebration of life and legacy. Not to mention the strain and conflict it can

create with family members, sometimes impacting generational support.

Avoid appearing ungrateful by developing and communicating a clear gift acceptance policy. The policy should outline under what circumstances various gifts to the organization can be accepted, as well as how they will be handled, recognized and tracked. Explain the rationale behind the policy not to accept certain gifts, like closely held stock, artwork or controversial company shares, citing the complications triggered by these types of gifts.

For example, environmental charities may not be too keen to hold ExxonMobil or Bayer shares for any length of time.

Civic-minded donors want to give in a manner that does the most good, so making this information readily available allows donors to make informed decisions and avoids awkward interactions with family members (or the donor himself or herself!) later.

Encourage donors to work with professional advisors – and family.

Not-for-profit fundraisers are experts in building relationships and matching donors to the needs of their organizations.

However, even the best fundraisers will be well served by advising donors to work with an estate planning team, which may include an attorney, financial planner, and accountant.

A thoughtful estate plan needs to clearly articulate a donor’s wishes, consider tax law implications, address beneficiary designations, guide the distribution of assets and align with all other financial plans and decisions. Donors also need to share their intentions with family members – part of creating a legacy is for family members to understand and honor that legacy. A donor working with professional advisers and family members to create and maintain an integrated estate plan is one best positioned to ensure his/ her values and beliefs are memorialized.

Developing and maintaining a diversified planned giving program addressing gifting attributes is critical to sustaining and growing a charity’s mission and operations. Happy gifting!

Daniel A. Huntley is a partner with WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, focusing his practice on transactional matters, including estate planning, real estate, corporate law and agricultural law. He can be reached at 815987-8980 or at dhuntley@wilmac.com.

The views expressed are those of Huntley’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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Goodwill free income tax sites open for the season Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois, in conjunction with the IRS and the United Way of the Rock River Valley, has opened its free income tax preparation and filing sites for the season. The tax sites offer free tax preparation and filing to individuals and families with income less than $56,000, using IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers.

Last year, the tax sites served 3,360 individuals, which saved participants more than $590,000 in tax preparation fees.

For a list of locations or to schedule an appointment, visit www. goodwillni.org/good-taxes or call 815-987-6200.

More Services Prairie State Legal Services will be at the Rockford Goodwill location throughout the tax season. For specific dates, call 815-9876200.

For households that complete their own taxes and earned less than $66,000 in 2018, Goodwill also is offering the My Free Taxes Program.

Visit www.myfreetaxes.com to complete state and federal taxes online, free of charge.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

community COMMUNITY EVENTS

FEBRUARY 2020

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 YWCA Northwestern Illinois kicks off a free, six-week Women’s Empowerment 360 (WE 360°) program, in partnership with McDonald’s USA, to close the entrepreneurship knowledge gap. Open to women of all socio-economic backgrounds. Visit YWCA.org/ McDwe360 to register.

Rockford Park District’s annual In Full Bloom Orchid Display at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., returns Feb. 11 to March 8. Special events: Evening with

Register at least one week before the start date at www.golfrockford.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Natural Land Institute kicks off its 20th anniversary celebration of Nygren Wetland Preserve with Wander at the Wetland: Full Moon Snowshoe & Hike on Feb. 6. Photo by Toni Murray.

Natural Land Institute presents the free Wander at the Wetland: Full Moon Snowshoe & Hike, 4:30 to 8 p.m., at 3190 W. Rockton Road, Rockton.

Snowshoes for rent or bring your own snowshoes or skis. Register by Feb. 5 at the Orchids with wine samples by www.naturalland.org or 815-964-6666. Artale Wine Co., 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., on Feb. 21. An Orchid Plant Sale, 10 a.m.

Sundog presents Banter, Business & to 3 p.m., Feb. 22 to 23. Visit www.

Brews: How to Avoid Being the nicholasconservatory.com.

Victim of a Devasting Ransomware FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Attack, a free seminar, 3:30 to 5 p.m., at Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Newsboys United will perform as part Prairie St., Rockford. Register at www. of its Greatness of Our God tour, 7 sundogit.com. p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Tickets at the Coronado PAC and BMO Rockford Art Museum opens a free Harris Bank Center box offices, 815public opening for the new art 968-5222 or www.Ticketmaster.com. exhibition, Sonic Disruptions: Buisch SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 and Hogin, 7 to 8:30 p.m., inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main Discovery Center Museum presents St. Exhibition open through May 25.

Discover Engineering, 11 a.m. to 3 Visit www.rockfordartmuseum.org. p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Call 815-963-6769 or visit www.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 discoverycentermuseum.org.

Tickets are on sale for Purple SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Madness: The Ultimate Prince Tribute, 7:30 p.m., at Coronado Rockford IceHogs hosts its 11th Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main annual Bowl-A-Thon, 2 to 4 p.m., at St., Rockford. Visit the box office, The Cherry Bowl, 7171 Cherryvale North 815-968-5222, or Ticketmaster.com.

Blvd., Ste. 1, Rockford. A portion of proceeds benefits Brovember, Inc. Call Discovery Center Museum presents 815-986-6465 before Feb. 5.

Chocolate Sundae Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Call MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 815-963-6769 or visit www. discoverycentermuseum.org.

Rockford Park District hosts a Junior

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

Winter Golf Academy for youth, ages 11 to 17, 6 to 8:15 p.m., at the Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Meets once a week on Mondays, Feb. 17 to March 9, or Wednesdays, Feb. 19 to March 11.

Center for Sight & Hearing hosts a Diabetes Informational Session, 5:30 to 7 p.m., at 8038 MacIntosh Lane, Rockford. Colleen Felts, certified diabetes educator and RN, will talk about how diabetes affects both vision and hearing, and provide tips for managing the disease. Call 815-3326800 or visit www.cshni.org for questions.

NIU hosts an Internship & Job Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at NIU Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, Ill. Visit www.careerfairs.niu.edu.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Rockford Public Library presents the Life and Legend of Sojourner Truth, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., J.R. Sullivan Theatre, Rockford. Discussion led by Paulette Gilbert following the one-hour film.

Registration not required. Visit www. rockfordpubliclibrary.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Barbara Olson Center of Hope hosts a meeting of the NW Illinois Epilepsy Support organization, 11 a.m., at 3206 N. Central Ave., Rockford, on primary health care, memory and thinking, and employment transportation. For a free needs assessment, call 815-964-9275.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24 NIU hosts an Education Job Fair, 9 a.m. to noon, at NIU Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, Ill. Visit www.careerfairs.niu.edu.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 SVA Financial Group presents a webinar, SECURE Act: Sweeping Retirement Plan Changes You Need to Know, noon to 1 p.m. Register at SVAfinancial.com/SECUREWeb.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Rockford Public Library presents a Book Discussion: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, 6:30 to 8

p.m., at the Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., J.R. Sullivan Theatre, Rockford.

Discussion led by Zoe Norwood and Prof. Paulette Gilbert. Registration not required. Visit www. rockfordpubliclibrary.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 George Lopez performs as a part of his standup comedy tour, The Comedy Get Down, with Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, and Cedric the Entertainer, 8 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at the Coronado PAC and BMO Harris Bank Center box offices, 815-968-5222 or www.Ticketmaster.com.

MARCH 2020 THURSDAY, MARCH 5 The YMCA of Rock River Valley hosts its 2020 YMCA Community Dinner featuring America’s Got Talent singersongwriter Mandy Harvey, 5 to 9 p.m., at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Tickets at www. rockriverymca.org/communitydinner.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 Discovery Center Museum presents Ag All Around Us, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Call 815963-6769 or visit www. discoverycentermuseum.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 RAMP presents Special Education & Disability Services 101, 10 a.m. to noon, at RAMP at Mercyhealth Rockton Clinic, 2300 N. Rockton Ave., Rockford.

Session is for parents struggling with getting the educational services they need to succeed. Visit tinyurl.com/ parenttrainings.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Tickets are available for Dancing with the Stars – Live Tour 2020 featuring Sailor Brinkley-Cook at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m., 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at the Coronado PAC and BMO Harris Bank Center box offices, 815-968-5222 or www.Ticketmaster.com.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

business

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Rockford Rescue Mission served a traditional holiday meal to more than 500 men, women and children at its annual Christmas banquet on Dec. 24.

Rockford Park District; Rockford Public Library; Rockford Symphony Orchestra; Rockford Wind Ensemble, and Washington Park Community Center.

First National Bank and Trust raised $634 for Caritas Community Resource Center as part of the annual Holidazzle event in downtown Beloit. For the ninth consecutive quarter, it achieved a Superior 5-Star Rating from BauerFinancial for financial strength, stability, capital adequacy, profitability and asset quality.

Savant Capital Management ranked in the No. 6 spot as one of the Top 10 Registered Investment Advisors in the Midwest by InvestmentNews, based on total assets under management of $6.1 billion.

Rock House Kids received a donation through the J.L. Clark Legacy Foundation for its winter and summer camp expenses. It also received a donation to take 24 teens to winter camp at Covenant Harbor Bible Camp and Retreat Center, in Lake Geneva, Wis., in February from the Bradley and Georgann Gummow Family Foundation.

Residents of Wesley Willows Senior Living Community received a brandnew 26 passenger bus, a 2019 Chevrolet Starcraft, from the Wesley Willows Auxiliary, which donated $50,000 towards its purchase.

Chartwell Agency completed a new marketing campaign for Northern Illinois Vein Clinic, Rockford, and Gilvydis Vein Clinic, Geneva and Sycamore.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope received a grant from The Blazer Digital Hive Mind designed Remedies Foundation for a six-passenger minivan Renewing Lives’ 2019 Annual Report, to transport participants with developwhich was unveiled at Remedies’ annual mental disabilities to volunteer and ball and fundraiser in November and employment opportunities. It received a available at Remedies’ website. community grant from Powertrain Rockford, Inc., to purchase tech Rockford Area Convention & Visitors equipment for a new music program, Bureau’s Stroll on State on Nov. 30 attracted an estimated 21,875 guests to Inclusive Instruments, for participants with developmental disabilities. downtown Rockford.

Community Foundation of Northern Illinois committed more than $1.4 million in community grants for 74 projects, programs and events operated by nonprofit organizations in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties for the 2019-2020 program cycle. The full report is available at cfnil. org/reports.

Ipsen, Inc., graduated seven from its 2019 Corporate Academy class for full-time roles as field service engineers.

The next class begins January 2020, with another starting in April 2020. Ipsen plans to add 10 more trained technicians to the field this year.

Circle of Change Veterans Dog Program received a $6,000 Civic and Community Development Grant from the Ecolab Foundation.

Discovery Center Museum opened a temporary exhibition through May 10.

“In Discovery Town” is a make-believe, kid-sized city where children play and learn about the people and places that make up a community.

Rockford Rescue Mission’s Restoration Cafe and Remade store are coming together in a single location at 625 W. State St. The renovation is expected to be completed by the end of March, 2020. The drive-thru will remain open Monday through Friday.

Natural Land Institute received a $2,500 grant from the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Community Grants Program towards Family Nature Day, a free, family-themed event at Nygren Wetland Preserve in Rockton.

Mercyhealth Development Foundation held its largest and most successful Holiday Toy Drive in December, collecting more than 1,000 toys for pediatric patients. Nearly 175 people attended the 2019 Holiday Toy Drive event.

Field Fastener announced in December that it achieved its goal of reaching $100 million in sales. As a “thank you,” owners Bill and Jim are sending the entire company on a trip to Cancun, Mexico in May, 2020.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois launched the local 2020 Girl Scout Cookie™ season on Jan. 8 and announced a new lemon cookie, Lemon-Ups™.

SwedishAmerican celebrated in January the one-year anniversary of Riverwest Clinic, 815 Marchesano Dr., its first medical facility in southwest Rockford.

The clinic, offering primary care, obstetrics, laboratory and imaging services, welcomed nearly 800 new patients in 2019 and delivered 75 babies. Plans are to add endocrinology services.

Rockford Area Arts Council awarded 2020 Community Access Grants to 15 organizations for arts programs in Winnebago, Boone, Dekalb, and Ogle counties: The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties; Artists Ensemble Theater; Autism Program Academy; Boone County Arts Council; Eswood PTO; Friends of the Coronado; Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center; Midway Village Museum; New Genres Art Space; Rockford Art Museum;

YMCA Camp Winnebago earned accreditation from the National Inclusion Project National by completing a comprehensive review of its inclusive practices for children with disabilities and alignment with the National Inclusion Project’s Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

in the news MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

1. Tara Dickson

2. Shamika Williams

3. Stephanie Lombardi

4. Jessey Bozovsky

5. Jason Stoll

6. Frank Damit

7. Carrie Johnson

8. Charlotte Reed

9. Dr. Artur Szymczak

10. Dr. Ai-Xuan Le Holterman

11. Dr. John Leonard

12. Dr. Utpal Dhruve

13. Jean Lopez

14. Tyler Pellegrini

15. David N. McCoy

16. Shawn Murphy

17. Erin Jury

18. Christine Barwick

19. Chris Walters

20. Grant Moore

21. Bradley Stewart

22. Steve Mayse

23. Ben Christiansen

24. Kwame Calvin

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Tara Dickson (1), Android, and Shamika Williams (2), Keeping Families and Community Together, joined the Remedies Renewing Lives board.

Stephanie Lombardi (3), Arc Design Resources, was named treasurer on the Keep Northern IL Beautiful board.

Women of Today’s Manufacturing named Jaclyn Kolodziej, Midwest Manufactured, as board president and Bethany Mead, CEANCI, as vice president.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Fehr Graham hired Jessey Bozovsky (4) as senior accounting clerk, Freeport office, added Jason Stoll (5) to the ownership team, and promoted Ross Grimes to branch manager, Rockford office.

Per Mar hired Frank Damit (6) as sales manager for its Madison and Rockford markets.

Interim Executive Director Carrie Johnson (7) was named executive director/curator of Rockford Art Museum.

Charlotte Reed (8) was promoted to director of behavioral health services at Remedies Renewing Lives.

Jim Rose joined Blackhawk Investment Group with Investment Advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., at Blackhawk Bank.

Mercyhealth welcomed Dr. Artur Szymczak (9), neurosurgery, to Mercyhealth Brain and Spine Center, Ai-Xuan Le Holterman, M.D. (10), pediatric surgery, to Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside, Dr. John Leonard (11), emergency medicine, to Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside and Rockton, and Dr. Utpal Dhruve (12), psychiatry, to Javon Bea HospitalRockton. Amy Williams, MSN, RN, was promoted to director of pediatric and adult inpatient care at Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside.

Jean Lopez (13) joined Keep Northern IL Beautiful as events & communication coordinator.

Serola Biomechanics, Inc., hired Michael Nguyen as director of marketing.

Tyler Pellegrini (14) joined the Natural Land Institute as restoration ecologist.

North American Tool Corporation hired Steve Mayse (22) as director of manufacturing.

First National Bank and Trust Company hired David N. McCoy (15), CPA, as president and chief executive officer and Shawn Murphy (16) as vice president commercial loan officer. It promoted Erin Jury (17) to vice president, credit department manager, and Christine Barwick (18) to assistant vice president, learning solutions officer.

Savant Capital Management hired Chris Walters (19) as Midwest manager of advisory and business development. Grant Moore (20), financial advisor, Rockford, earned a master of science degree in personal financial planning and Master Planner Advanced StudiesSM (MPAS®) designation. Bradley Stewart, (21) financial advisor, Freeport, earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification.

Rock River Water Reclamation District promoted Ben Christiansen (23) to survey & field operations manager and Kwame Calvin (24) to district risk manager.

Sean LaBorde (25) was named president of M3 Insurance. Mike Victorson will continue as CEO. Mary McNamara Bernsten was named executive director of the Rockford Area Arts Council.

Michele St. Clair (26), V2 Marketing, was named member relations manager of the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois hired Jennifer Kruchten (27) as its new finance director.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

21

on digital MEMBER PICS

Ceremonial ribbon donated by SERVPRO of Rockford.

25. Sean LaBorde

26. Michele St. Clair

27. Jennifer Kruchten

28. Aaron Luebke

29. Eric McCord

30. Tony Hawthorn

31. Caleb SlayaSwartz

32. Jaci Martinez

SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours for the Edgewater Medical Center at 2909 N. Main St., Rockford, on Jan. 9.

33. Brent Brodeski

34. Ben Gifford

35. Kelly Krider of only 145 advisors in the nation.

Meridian named Ben Gifford (34) as its November 2019 Employee of the Month and Kelly Krider (35) as its December 2019 Employee of the Month.

36. Michelle Spates

37. Emily Calgaro

Entre’ Computer Solutions hired Aaron Luebke (28) as senior technical support specialist, Eric McCord (29) as senior technical specialist, Tony Hawthorn (30) for setup and delivery services and Caleb Slaya-Swartz (31) as inside sales representative.

Cain & Company hired Jaci Martinez (32) as its new art director.

Chastain & Associates LLC hired Matt Trosper as civil designer in Rockford.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Brent Brodeski (33), CEO, Savant Capital Management, was named to Barron’s Advisor Hall of Fame; one

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company named Michelle Spates (36), farm lines underwriter, as its 2019 Associate of the Year.

Rockford Promise scholar, Emily Calgaro (37), Northern Illinois University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was selected as an inaugural Building Engagement in Laboratories, Networking and Peer Groups in STEM Scholar.

Grace Funeral & Cremation Services held an open house and ribbon cutting on Jan. 15 at 4301 N. Main St., Rockford.

OF GENERAL INTEREST

Dr. Scott Trenhaile, OrthoIllinois, gave two presentations on minimally invasive shoulder surgery available to surgeons and residents through the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: “The Arthroscopic Shoulder Examination: Lateral Decubitus/Beach Chair Position” and “Surgical Procedures: Lateral Decubitus/Beach Chair Position.”

aMBaSSaDOR DOR SPOTLIGHT Melissa McCormick Owner, CEO of MX3 Business Solutions

Jan Primuth (center), director of nursing and an employee at Walter Lawson Children’s Home for 42 years, accepts batteries donated by Advantage Power Network during its January meeting.

The 99 residents have a critical need for batteries, not only to power games, but to power switches that allow them to complete tasks indendently.

Ambassador for two months I like meeting other Chamber members and being involved in the community. It’s an honor to represent the Chamber and Rockford region. I like learning about new businesses and look forward to learning more about my fellow ambassadors and all of the benefits of being a Chamber member.

Are you a Member with News to Share?

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

DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2020

economy

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

U.S. Indicators December 2019



Consumer Price Index Unemployment Rate

0.2 percent 3.5 percent

      

Payroll Employment Average Hourly Earnings Producer Price Index Employment Cost Index Productivity U.S. Import Price Index U.S. Export Price Index

145,000 $0.03 0.1 percent 0.7 percent (third quarter, 2019) 0.2 percent (third quarter, 2019) 0.3 percent 0.2 percent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates Region / State / Nation Sept 2019

Oct 2019

Nov 2019

Dec 2019

Rockford

5.3

5.0

5.1

---

Chicago

3.2

3.4

3.1

---

Illinois

3.9

3.9

3.8

---

United States

3.5

3.6

3.5

3.5

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in December, 2019 2HB Human Resources & Benefits Solutions A-1 Lapping & Machine Co. Inc. Abbott Plastics and Supply Co. ADT Security Services, Inc. Advanced Machine & Engineering Co. (AME) Aetna Plywood, Inc. AM Solutions Arc Design Resources, Inc. AT&T Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Calvary Bookkeeping Catholic Diocese of Rockford Christofferson Moving & Storage Construction Business Development Center Creative Crane & Rigging, Inc. Easterseals Easterseals Teen and Family Support Edward Jones - Bryan G. Orvis, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Erna Colborn, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Jen Reisinger, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Jenny Redington, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Maren Sanders, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Michelle Bowman, AAMS, CRPC, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Nick Kloster, CFP®, Financial Advisor Entre Computer Solutions Erboe & Associates, CPAs Faith Center Farm & Fleet of Rockford Galapagos Rockford Charter School Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network Golden Apple Foundation Hennig, Inc. Hicksgas Belvidere Illinois Bank & Trust Kelley Williamson Company Kitchens by Diane KMK Media Group, Inc. Leland L. Freberg, CPA, LLC Lincoln Rent-All & Sales, Inc.

Market Dimensions, Inc. MDM Consulting Michalsen Office Furniture Inc. Morgan Stanley - The Custer/ Meisch Group Mrs. Fisher’s, Inc. New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Nothing Bundt Cakes Nova Painting & Decorating Pearson Plumbing & Heating Co. PhotoEnrichment Adventures Pierce Distribution Services Company Pines Edge Apartments LLC RAC Adjustment Company Region 1 Planning Council Ringland-Johnson, Inc. Rock River Energy Services, Inc. Rockford Ball Screw Rockford Christian Schools Rockford Molded Products Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects Savant Capital Management Special Power, Inc. SuperSuds Car Care Center SVL Productions Swedberg & Associates, Inc. Thayer Lighting, Inc. The Logsdon Group The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club The Observer The Olympic Tavern TLC Construction U.S. Cellular Union Fence Company Windmill Hill LC Winnebago County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit Winnebago County Health Department Winnebago County Recorder Winnebago County-River Bluff Nursing Home Woodman’s Food Market, Inc. #30 workplace YWCA Northwestern Illinois Zethmayr LLC Zimmerman & Walsh, LLP

FEBRUARY MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES Thank you to our members celebrating their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce

60-YEAR MEMBER

23WIFR Gray Television, Inc.

40-YEAR MEMBERS

Advanced Disposal Solid Waste Services Hanson Professional Services Inc.

25-YEAR MEMBER

Northern Illinois Food Bank Rockford Branch

20-YEAR MEMBER

V2 Marketing Communications

15-YEAR MEMBERS

Pizza Hut - 11th Street Pizza Hut - North Main Pizza Hut - South Alpine Pizza Hut - West Lane Road Pizza Hut - Perryville

5-YEAR MEMBERS

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Loves Park University of Illinois - Chicago College of Pharmacy at Rockford

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

chamber

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS

FEBRUARY, 2020 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Business Women’s Council , 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. M. Beth Thacker presents “Three Reasons Financial Planning is Different for Women.” Sponsored by Associated Bank.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 IGNITE Lunch with a Leader, noon to 1 p.m., PURI School of Business, room 124, 5100 E. State St., Rockford. Features Paul Logli, United Way of Rock River Valley. Sponsored

by Wintrust Commercial Banking.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Breakfast Buzz - Workforce Development, 7:30 to 9 a.m., PURI School of Business, room 124, 5100 E. State St., Rockford. Amanda Sink, Strategic Initiatives Manager, will share The Workforce Connection board’s mission and initiatives.

Sponsored by RSM.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 February Ambassador Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront & Rockford Conference Center, 416 S. Main St., Rockford.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Government Affairs Council, 7:30 a.m., at Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Candidate forum with two Republican candidates for State’s

Attorney for Winnebago County: David Gill and Joseph “J” Hanley.

They will square off at the primary election on March 17.

MARCH, 2020 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 IGNITE Lunch with a Leader, noon to 1 p.m., PURI School of Business, room 124, 5100 E. State St., Rockford. Sponsored by Wintrust Commercial Banking.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Government Affairs Council, 7:30 a.m., at Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 Behind the Badge: The State of Public Safety, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Rd, Rockford, IL 61108. Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana and Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea will provide an update on trends in our community’s public safety arena – an area important to all aspects of our community. Sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

CBD KRATOM

FIRST NORTHERN Offers more than 300 CBD products, CREDIT UNION

THE CALDWELL GROUP Lifting Solutions 4080 Logistics Pkwy., 61109 Theresa Dittbenner 815-229-5667 www.caldwellinc.com

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

A religious non-profit organization offering a variety of services to people from all walks of life in the community.

325 Heath St., 61102 Pastor Barbara D. Heath and Pastor Alphonzo Heath 815-670-2505

ADVERTISERS INDEX Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Brian Thomas Photography. . . . . . . .19 Calvary Bookkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Cyrs Wealth Advisors, LLC . . . . . . . .17 Edward Jones – Erna Colborn. . . . . . .8 Ege Worksmart Solutions . . . . . . . . .12 First Northern Credit Union . . . . . . . .16 Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) . . . . . .14 Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Midland States Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . . . .18

VOICE

Breakfast Buzz - Networking 101: The Strategy of Connecting, 7:30 to 9 a.m., PURI School of Business, room 124, 5100 E. State St., Rockford. Diane Navickis, president, Custom Training Resources, will share strategies of connecting.

Sponsored by RSM.

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS including edibles, pain creams, tinctures, oils, skin care and pet treats, all grown naturally in Colorado and Oregon.

6430 E. State St., Ste. 110, 61108 Allison Garriga 779-500-0323 www.cbdkratomshops.com

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February 2020

Mortgage Loans, Bankers 6832 Stalter Dr., 61108 Sarah Anne Herschlag 815-332-9898 www.fncu.org

LAW OFFICE OF PAUL M. MARRIETT

Personal injury and criminal defense law firm 308 W. State St., Ste. 327, 61101 Paul Marriett 815-391-0089 www.marriettlegal.com

ROCKFORD EVALUATION CENTER

Evaluations and assistance for DUIs and Drivers License Reinstatement 2929 N. Main St., Ste. 1, 61103 Paul Gutowski 851-915-4055 www.rockfordduievaluation.com

WINNEBAGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT 650 W. State St., 61102 Chief Deputy Mark Karner 815-319-6000 www.winnebagosheriff.com

OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 20, 23, 24 Rockford Local Development Corp. . .6 Rocktown Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Schmeling Construction Co. . . . . . . .8 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Thayer Lighting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Transformations Plastic Surgery & MedSpa. . . . . . . . .11 University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford . . . . . .10 Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital . . . . . . . . . . .10 WiliamsMcCarthy LLP . . . . . . . . . . . .15

the

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100 ..........................................Direct Line Jeff Bailey, Membership Development Executive ..................................815-316-4336 Carmen Brenz, Program & Event Coordinator ...................................815-316-4302 Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO .......................................... 815-987-8100 Heidi M. Garner, Chief Operating Officer .................................... 815-316-4312 Olivia Guzman, Administrative Assistant/Customer Service Rep..........815-987-8100 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology ................... 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Vice President, Member Investment .................... 815-316-4317 Kristin Muehlfelder, Member Relations...................................................815-316-4315 Caitlin Pusateri, Vice President, Leadership Development ....................815-316-4337 Doug Rand, Accounting Manager/Controller ............................... 815-316-4316 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator ......................... 815-316-4320 Mike Mastroianni, Executive Director, Small Business Development Center .....................................................815-987-8100

CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board Michele Petrie Wintrust Commercial Banking & Mortgage Chair Elect Dan Ross Fehr Graham

DIRECTORS Brent Bernardi Alph Controls & Services LLC Kimberly Blascoe Wipfli LLP LaVonne Brown Savant Capital Management Paula Carynski OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center

Vice Chair Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Samuel J. Castree Starck Real Estate Staff Management, Inc. Treasurer Amy Ott Doug Curry Boylan Catholic Stenstrom High School Companies Immediate Don Daniels Past Chair SwedishAmerican, A Richard Zumwalt Division of UW Health Z Resource Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D. Rockford University Ira Grimmett Collins Aerospace

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green Univ. of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Jeff Hultman Illinois Bank & Trust

Terry Voskuil Woodward

Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Robert Young Midwest Packaging and Container

Carly LaMonica LaMonica Beverages, Inc.

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS

Kris L. Kieper Machajewski YWCA Northwestern Illinois Mike Paterson Mid-West Family Broadcasting Denise Sasse RSM US LLP Sue Schrieber Mercyhealth John Schuster Rosecrance Health Network

Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Nathan Bryant Rockford Area Economic Development Council

Teresa Sharp American Precision Supply, Inc.

MARCH VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS Building Talent Pipeline

(Vocational Education, Employee Upskilling)

Architecture & Engineering (Beautiful, Functional Spaces & Tools)

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