February Voice 2021

the

SURFS UP WITH COLORWAVE PAGE 5

February 2021 | Volume 34 | No. 2

NEW ORDINANCE AIMS TO GIVE LOCAL BUSINESSES MORE CITY WORK

continued local infrastructure investment Following a recommendation by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council, the Chamber’s Board of Directors, at its January meeting, voted to endorse supporting the referendum on the ballot for the February 23rd primary. This extends the 1% sales tax for City of Rockford infrastructure investments. Since the 1% sales tax program began in 2007 nearly $200 million in sales tax dollars alone have gone into roads and other infrastructure, while avoiding nearly $60 million in interest costs.

of an existing tax and is a sound tool for direct investment in infrastructure.

PAGE 8

of the rockford business community

ROCKFORD CHAMBER SUPPORTS

The sales tax is an extension

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Voters in Rockford have voted YES! for the Roads every five years since the initial passage of the referendum in 2007. The five-year marker was the result of a “sunset clause” that was written into the original referendum as a means of making the city accountable for the spending of these new funds.

In its mission for a strong business climate for the region, the Rockford Chamber works to promote economic growth in the region and advocates for the interests of the business

community. The Rockford Chamber has consistently believed that a strong public infrastructure system is critical to the economic growth of the State of Illinois and the Rockford region. The sales tax is an extension of an existing tax and is a sound tool for direct investment in infrastructure.

Rockford residents are encouraged to vote YES on this referendum on February 23, 2021.

Continued on page 9

City Council approved an ordinance to help local businesses secure more city contracts.

Traditionally, the lowest qualified bidder won city work, regardless of business location.

The new ordinance gives local businesses an automatic downward adjustment of five percent (not to exceed $20,000) for public works and construction contracts. If a non-local bidder is the lowest responsible bidder, but a local bidder would be lower with the automatic downward adjustment, then the city will apply the downward adjustment and recommend awarding the bid to the local vendor. The local bidder must honor the downward adjustment (if they have opted in) or the business will be barred from future bidding for one year.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ROCKFORD CHAMBER

GOLF CLASSIC

MONDAY, MAY 24, 11 AM THE MAUH-NAH-TEE-SEE CLUB For more information, see page 14 PRESENTING SPONSOR

FORSMAN NAMED NEW PRESIDENT/CEO OF THE

Greater Rockford Growth Partnership

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Join the Chamber on Social Media

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

BRIAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Two weeks after members of the boards of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council announced the formation of the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership, they announced a new leader for the organization, Einar Forsman, who will step away from his current role as the Chamber’s President & CEO. The Greater Rockford Growth Partnership is a non-profit umbrella organization aimed at advancing the region’s economy under which the Chamber’s and RAEDC’s goals will be aligned for greater impact on business growth in the region.

“Einar Forsman has been actively involved, a strong supporter, and a leader in this unification process” said Unification Co-Chair, Terry Voskuil.

“He understands the vision, mission and structure of the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership, and he has a passion for our region. He also has a great working relationship with area business organizations, municipalities and regional leaders, making him a natural choice.”

Unification Co-Chair, Jeff Hultman said, “The unification committee and the soon-to-be-named inaugural board of the

WORKFORCE CONNECTION NOW OPEN

Einar Forsman, President/CEO of newlyformed partnership.

Greater Rockford Growth Partnership will put the new organization and its structure into place. Einar’s role will be to drive the organization’s success beyond the work of the committee, coordinating activities between the Chamber and RAEDC, as well as other future partners.”

Forsman has lead Chamber for 14 years Einar Forsman has led the Rockford Chamber since April, 2007, spearheading the 1,200-member business-to-business organization to a prominent position as a public policy advocate for the business Continued on page 3

The Workforce Connection Career Centers reopened for in-person services by appointment only, including resume assistance, help with finding and applying for jobs, and referral and program enrollment services. IDES/ Unemployment Services are not available in-person. They cannot assist with unemployment benefit claims, instead call IDES at 800244-5631.

VALENTINES FOR SENIORS PROGRAM State Senator Dave Syverson, Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli, Belvidere Mayor Mike Chamberlain and Representative Jeff Keicher invite people to mail or drop off Valentine’s Day cards by Feb. 10 as a part of the new Valentines For Seniors Program. Senator Dave Syverson, State of Illinois Building, 200 S. Wyman, Suite 302, Rockford, IL 61101; Chairman Joe Chiarelli, 404 Elm St., #533, Rockford, IL 61101; Mayor Mike Chamberlain, City of Belvidere, 401 Whitney Blvd., Belvidere, IL 61008, or Representative Jeff Keicher, 158 W. State St., Sycamore, IL 60178. Also contact 815-987-7555 or e-mail info@senatordavesyverson.com.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

DAN ROSS Rockford Chamber Board Chairman

Greetings, fellow Chamber members

I am thrilled to be writing to you as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

I wish my first communication with you would have been at our Annual Dinner, but this column will have to do until we are able to get together and celebrate later this year.

Because we were unable to have our annual dinner in January, I want to take this opportunity to personally and publicly offer my sincere appreciation to Michele Petrie, our outgoing Chair, for all of her efforts in leading the board during some very exciting and challenging times. We were fortunate to have Michele at the helm.

I would be remiss if I did not also say a heartfelt thank you to our retiring board member, Rick Zumwalt, who served the Chamber with excellence in a variety of roles, including past Chairman.

Additionally, I want to welcome Joel Prah and Lesly Couper to the Chamber board. Joel and Lesly bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this

organization, and I am excited to be working with them both.

Just moments before I started drafting this message, the announcement was sent out that Einar Forsman has been named as the leader of the newly formed Greater Rockford Growth Partnership. On behalf of the Chamber board of directors, we could not be more excited for Einar in this new role, and we are deeply grateful for all the leadership he has brought to the Chamber for the past 14 years and will continue to bring to the Chamber in his new role. Your board leadership is working side by side with Einar to determine the next steps in securing a Chamber leader.

By the time you receive this edition of The Voice, we will be more than one month into 2021. Many people, including me, if I was being completely honest, held onto a somewhat irrational hope that when the clock struck 12:01 am on January 1 that the country, if not the world, would be on a completely different trajectory than 2020. After about a month into this

year, things have looked fairly similar to 2020. COVID-19 is still very much a part of our lives; there have been periods of profound civil unrest and many in our country and community are suffering the economic impacts of the pandemic. I am confident that there is not one person who is not hopeful that these issues will be put behind us in 2021. That being said, there are several components of 2020 that, upon reflection, I hope continue in 2021 and beyond.

The pandemic has challenged us as business leaders, community members, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters and friends to be our very best in the face of very difficult circumstances. In my personal and professional life, I have seen an unprecedented level of caring for others displayed by nearly everyone I meet. Front line workers have continued to put others before themselves to ensure that our most basic needs are met and that we are safe.

At the Community Foundation, we interact with organizations and individuals on a near daily basis who are doing everything they can to help those around them in need, even if they have needs of their own that are being unmet. Businesses and non-profits are

collaborating and innovating in ways never thought possible, and we are all learning that our successes and challenges are inextricably linked together.

Your Chamber of Commerce will continue to play a leadership role in helping our business community, and in turn our community at large, be its very best. Do not be afraid to let us know what more we can do to help you and your business succeed. As we move into this new era of unification, I am excited to bring the best parts of 2020 forward for years to come.

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

ROCKFORD GROWTH

Continued from front page

2021-2022 Rockford Chamber Board Chair Dan Ross and CEO Einar Forsman present a gift to Michele Petrie as a thanks for her service as the 2010-2020 Chair of the Rockford Chamber Board of Directors. Petrie is now the Immediate Past Chair.

2021-2022 Rockford Chamber Board Chair Dan Ross and CEO Einar Forsman present an award to Rick Zumwalt for the completion of his full term as a Rockford Chamber Board Member. Zumwalt served as Board Chair from 2017-2018 and completed 11 years as a member of the board.

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February 2021

community, concentrating on public education, crime and safety, and business leadership in the public sector.

Prior to joining the Rockford Chamber, Forsman was director of economic and business outreach for Rock Valley College and city administrator for the City of Rockford.

Einar Forsman has extensive experience in economic development, workforce development and health care. He has also served on several not-for-profit boards including Employer’s Association of Illinois, the local Workforce Investment Board, the Rockford Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Lifescape Community Services, Community Kitchen, and the United Way of Rock River Valley.

“My goal for the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership is to align the Chamber and RAEDC’s priorities and work toward making the Rockford region the number one mid-sized market in the nation for a strong workforce, innovative companies, business start-ups and leadership development,” Forsman said.

In working together under one partner organization, the RAEDC and Chamber will each have their own president and retain their

“My goal for the …

Partnership is to align the Chamber and RAEDC’s priorities and work toward making the Rockford region the number one mid-sized market in the nation…”

EINAR FORSMAN

separate boards and individual focus.

The Chamber will support existing businesses

through

leadership,

education, networking, advocacy and community pride, while the RAEDC will focus on growing businesses in the region through attraction, retention, expansion, innovation and promotion to external markets.

As a new organization, The Greater Rockford Growth Partnership will work with the RAEDC and Rockford Chamber to ensure strategies, goals and decisions work best for both organizations and for the region as a whole. The organization will make sure both large and small businesses benefit and will actively coordinate with other regional groups and the public sector to support and grow businesses in northern Illinois. v

4

DR. EHREN JARRETT Superintendent RPS 205

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

Creating a summer of enrichment for students Pairing education with recreation for effective learning

Students of the Rockford Public Schools have been negatively impacted

by COVID-19. We know many students are significantly behind because of lost instructional time and other challenges presented by the pandemic.

COVID only compounded existing challenges for too many of our students.

Because of our work with community partners in the Ready to Learn initiative, we already know children face big deficits that limit their potential with academics and life.

As discouraging as this is, there is a silver lining. The school district can’t solve this alone. This challenge creates an opportunity, not just for the district but for the whole community.

We are planning, with key community partners, for a summer enrichment program to address learning losses during the pandemic. The initiative is led by RPS 205, the City of Rockford, Alignment Rockford and the Rockford Park District.

We started with this: We know students are looking forward to coming out of COVID, getting together with their friends

and participating in athletics. These are group experiences that community partners such as the park district already are good at. Our athletic coaches are too.

The eventual playbook will reimagine what summer school, summer work and community outreach looks like. We will pair the academic experiences students need with the fun experiences they want.

Among our goals: ■ To reach students where they are ■ To blend meaningful, fun and engaging academic support into existing recreational, faith-based or communitybased camps, as well as after care and other activities ■ To cross-train staff to incorporate learning about literacy and numeracy into recreational activities ■ To embed RPS 205 teachers and tutors in existing community activities and embed recreational staff within district classrooms, where possible Overall, we intend to leverage each partner’s strengths: to lean on and learn

from each other to best serve students and families. Other community organizations likely to participate in the summer enrichment project include the Boys and Girls Club, the Rock River Valley YMCA, and the YWCA, among others.

The common goal will be to connect the students, who most need further enrichment and support, with the school district and the partners that can help them.

The variable is time. We want students to get more of it. We want to provide academic activities in a fun way, so that it’s not just a repeat of school.

What It Could Look Like We don’t have the details yet. But enrichment might look like this: Teachers might visit community centers two times a week for a couple of hours and run small groups focused on learning goals. Students might read one book as a team in a flag football camp. The coach would be trained in simple ways to engage players in thinking and talking about what they’ve read.

Whether these ideas or others take

hold, they result from asking ourselves: How do we reinvent summer enrichment in our community? How do we collaborate so we don’t just wait for our young people to fail? How do we identify and address the students we most need to connect with?

We won’t stop there. Just as we plan to extend the school year into the summer in creative ways, we will leverage our partnerships to extend the school day and the school week to enrich our students.

We aren’t naive. It would be unrealistic to think that after 15 months of COVID, we will catch up in one summer. This will be an ongoing challenge. But, it’s one we are confident we can address, united with our community partners.

We can extend what we learn about supporting education past these COVID times, into the next school year and beyond.

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.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

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profile

MEMBER PROFILE

COLORWAVE GRAPHICS:

Providing creative solutions for two decades

By Paul Anthony Arco Mike Lombardo learned the graphic arts business at the feet of his greatest teachers – the men in his family.

In the 1970s, his father, John; grandfather, Tony; and uncle, Dave, operated A.J. Graphic Printing, a small printing business, in Tony’s basement.

The trio printed marketing collateral and forms for churches, nonprofits and small businesses.

“I remember as a kid drawing at the light table while they cranked out thousands of brochures for the Boy Scouts,” said Lombardo. Their small family business thrived until the mid1980s when John and Dave’s full-time careers took priority. Tony kept going until his grandson learned to operate the press.

“I’d been around printing all my life,” says Lombardo. “I guess you could say I’ve got ink in my veins.”

The experience served Lombardo well.

Today, he owns Colorwave Graphics, a business he launched in his Rockford home in 2002.

“Colorwave Graphics is a creative solutions provider,” said Lombardo. “We specialize in wide-format digital printing, but also have design, manufacturing,

fulfillment and installation capabilities to bring most anything branded to life.”

The company makes interior and exterior signs, tradeshow displays, vehicle to wall wraps, and more. “Colorwave provides anything from a display to a decal,” Lombardo said. “We started printing large format graphics as a service provider to marketing agencies and traditional printing companies and took off from there.”

After attending college, Lombardo spent five years working in pre-press for a local printing company where he learned the Mac, design and layout software, paving the way to a digital imaging technician job at a local wide-format printing company.

While he enjoyed the work, the new technology spiked Lombardo’s dream of starting his own business.

Lombardo started Colorwave Graphics in his 850-square foot home. Lombardo, his wife and his brother printed projects from the basement; sales was handled out of the dining room and the garage was transformed into a loading dock.

Business was booming.

“We were working on so many projects that we had trash from one end of our property to the other end,” said Lombardo,

laughing. “I had to pay off the garbage man with a pack of beer to take all the trash to the dump. It was time Mike Lombardo credits the men in his family for training him in the graphic arts business. to move.”

The business Lombardo has big plans for his relocated to its current space in Loves Park business, which includes creating where the workload continued to mount in online pricing options for vehicle wraps, a 5,500-square-foot building. Many clients acquiring a new digital printer with white include mid- to large-size corporations, ink, and entering new markets such as designers, architects and various small custom packaging and recyclable displays. businesses. About 85 percent of their “For 20 years we were going clients are within 85 miles.

There’s a demand these days for gangbusters,” he said. “The pandemic wrapping vehicles, food trucks and has given us time to step back and RMTD buses with ads promoting the refocus. Hopefully by spring, businesses U.S. Census Bureau, for example. Lately, and tradeshows start to reopen, and we’ll Colorwave, a 3M-certified installation be ready to help with any of their visual company, has pivoted to making acrylic communication needs.” hygiene barriers, social distancing posters and floor graphics. “These products have helped fill the void during the past year, COLORWAVE GRAPHICS but we’ve still remained somewhat busy Owner: Mike Lombardo with our core offerings,” said Lombardo.

2024 Windsor Road, Loves Park Colorwave has also found other 815-397-4293 revenue streams such as making roofing Colorwavegraphics.com samples for a Beloit company using their manufacturing capabilities.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

R O C K F O R D

CENTER FOR

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

Leadership Development Dear Diary, er, COVID? Pandemic? Hmm … Dear “Whatever You Are,”

A love note to the Pandemic CAITLIN PUSATERI Rockford Chamber

Things lost and discovered; lessons learned

Roses are red, Violets are blue.

2020 was a dumpster fire …

But I learned some things, too.

Okay, so perhaps it’s not the most elegant of poems ever written, but in the spirit of love notes, it got the point across. The pandemic, while impacting everyone, did not impact us all equally. The entrance of COVID-19 into our daily vocabulary also helped shine the light on areas of our society where systems were failing pre-pandemic and even on a larger scale now. It leveled out what was really important in daily life. And it broke us down to the basics of biology – that humans are a social being and, as such, need connection.

None of what I’m saying is new. And, to be frank, many are probably tired of hearing it. But, while there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel, pandemics are long, and we aren’t at the end yet. In trying to figure out the best way to cope with the continued precautions, the exhausting decision-making and the mental toll of reduced physical connection with others, I am working on reflection and gratitude. So, in the spirit of the month of love and the everpressing need to work through all that’s happened and all that lies ahead, I’ve decided to write a real love letter to the pandemic.

Caitlin Pusateri is vice president, leadership development at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

I used to trade love notes with my high school boyfriend in the hallway between classes.

While the content of the notes was usually insubstantial, the excitement of possibility and connection with a doe-eyed boy always seemed of consequence. Pandemic, you’ve taken a lot over the past 11 months – arguably, more than you’ve given, which isn’t surprising considering this relationship could be considered, at best, co-dependent and, at worse, a bit toxic. But, as in all relationships and heartbreak, there has been momentous growth. And for that, I am thankful for you. You’ve taught me that moments so small mean so much. You’ve reminded me why I loved getting those notes so many years ago. The small moments of eye contact. The connection between two people who hold secrets with one another – even if the secret is that they are having French fries for lunch instead of the salad bar they promised their mom they would indulge in – matters. Connection, it turns out, is hard to recreate in isolation. You should know – you’ve cut us off from the outside world. And yet, much like a small piece of notebook paper, hope found its way into our hands.

This feels like a breakup letter in the making, and if we are both honest with ourselves, it hopefully will be soon. But in the meantime as we work through the next part of our journey, I want you to know that I have found some great moments of joy in our time together. By isolating me from so much, you’ve drawn me closer to many – especially those I have truly dedicated my life to. You’ve given me time and space to find what was important and focus in. I bought four new pairs of leggings during our time together and that, I will never regret. You certainly will be a memorable relationship that I won’t soon forget. I’ve grown. I’ve lost. I’ve learned so much. And I’ve cried, mourning for things that are both big and small at the same time.

If I was more emotionally evolved, I would demand an apology or an explanation of your ridiculous behavior in hopes of being able to help me sort out my overwhelming thoughts and feelings. But, I’m tired – thanks to you – and will settle for a box of chocolates instead to keep me company during this long road of understanding. It is almost Valentine’s Day, after all, and our relationship can officially be classified as long term.

So, as you lay the chocolates on the table and go on about your silent ways, I hope you know that in very strange ways, I’m glad you came into my life. I’m thankful for the lessons and, perhaps even more so, for the ones I didn’t have to personally experience. I’m more focused, softer and filled with more patience. I’m more creative, more resilient and have a better understanding of just where it is I belong.

In high school, when the school year ended and summer came, the notes stopped. Our routine changed and the opportunity for that type of connection had run its course. Our time together, Pandemic, is dwindling. Summer is coming. Growth is coming. Change is coming. But change is hard. We both know that’s true. But, if we’ve proven anything, Pandemic, it’s that we can do hard things with grace, love and chocolate.

In a weird combination of love, gratitude and anger, Caitlin

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

A winter flurry of activities in the area Rockford Park District launched its Winter Flurry initiative to promote safe recreation during the winter months with a variety of outdoor programs, activities and facilities through the end of February.

Free and low-fee activities at Lockwood Park include weekly wagon rides, luminary nights, parking lot bingo and drive-in parking lot movie night. Atwood Park has family field trips, In the Outdoors and Birds of Prey feedings. Sinnissippi Park/Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens has All Aglow, Festival of Lights, luminaries and Sounds of the Season.

With snow being made, Snow Park

815 Outside launches outdoor winter challenge A partnership of area recreation organizations launched 815 Outside, a winter challenge through Feb. 28 to inspire residents to get outdoors.

Participants can choose to complete one bingo (five outdoor activities) and be entered to win a prize package from Fleet Feet Rockford ($50 value), or complete the entire bingo card (25 outdoor activities) and be entered to win a prize package from Rocktown Adventures ($100 value).

All of the activities on the bingo card are outdoors, low to no cost, and can be completed in the 815 region. A downloadable version is available for participants to cross off activities as they go.

815 Outside partners include Winnebago County, Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB), Severson Dells Nature Center, Natural Land Institute, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, Nature at the Confluence, Rockford Park District and Klehm Arboretum.

Visit 815outside.com/winter-bingo-challenge, the Facebook page or Instagram for details.

at Alpine Hills had a grand reopening with tubing, snowboarding, a new outdoor ice skating rink and toddler snow play area.

Outdoor skating is available in the right conditions at Eclipse Lagoon in Sinnissippi Gardens. Sledding is allowed at Levings Park, Sinnissippi Golf Course and Twin Sisters Hills Park. Aldeen Golf Club, Atwood Park and Sinnissippi Golf Course are groomed for cross country skiing. Snow mobile trails are available at Lockwood Park and Anna Page Park with the minimum four inches.

Visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/ winterfun.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

 Destination

ILLINOIS, USA

ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM

JOHN GROH Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Excelsior: Moving even higher up the mountain

If your year was at all like mine, it was likely hard to think of moving your business to a higher plane last year.

Throughout the pandemic, I’ve asked myself and our RACVB team to “do the next right thing” rather than being consumed by the unknown or the longterm.

During this time, our team aimed to “do the next right thing” by working to support our community and hospitality industry partners best we knew how. We knew we needed to shift from promoting the community externally to working internally on strategies and tactics that would help our local tourism industry survive and ultimately recover.

After years of our local tourism industry growing at a record pace, it was (and remains) very hard to see so many people, businesses and organizations struggling. In times like these, I am reminded of advice that experienced mountain climbers know to be true.

While climbing to even higher heights, you need to pace yourself and ensure you get to a base camp where you are able to rest, regroup and prepare for the next phase of the journey up the mountain.

In many ways, the months we are in right now are like a base camp – vaccines are rolling out, consumer confidence is growing, we’ve all adjusted to new routines. As we get acclimated to new realities, we can regroup, gather new resources and recover from the blows of the past year. As we get ready to set out for 2021, leaving basecamp will be necessary to move upward.

In late December, it was a great surprise to learn that RACVB had been selected as the 2020 Excelsior Award recipient. The Excelsior Award, established by the Rockford Register Star in 1979, honors an organization that has had a positive impact on life in the Rock River Valley. In Latin, the word ‘excelsior’ is translated as ‘ever upward’ or ‘even higher.’

It was an honor to accept the award on behalf of our staff, board and partners.

I have the privilege of seeing firsthand the extraordinary work of my team. I see the creative processes, brainstorming, advocacy, countless hours invested, and their ability to remain agile in times of uncertainty.

Their work exemplifies our pledge to ask, “how can we help?” and then to show up committed to uplifting our community in new and creative ways.

I’d like to take a moment to extend my appreciation for their work, efforts and dedication.

Thanks to Many Thank you, Kristen Paul and Austin Taylor, for producing destinationdefining events including Stroll on State and our public art and beautification programs. To Lindsay Arellano, thank you for your leadership of our sales efforts that recruit sports tournaments and meetings and their important economic impact to our community.

To Nick Povalitis, Andrea Cook and Elizabeth Miller, thank you for your creative contributions and execution of our award-winning marketing efforts such as Restaurant Week and the Fred VanVleet Watch Parties. Thank you, Heidi Gee and Kara Davis, for your heart and expertise and support for each of our team members and extraordinary customer experience.

Thank you, Joanne Nold, for helping us to remain a financially stable and fiscally responsible agency.

Thank you, Martesha Brown, for finding financial support and building relationships,

including

leading

initiatives in commitment to our diverse communities.

RACVB

has

many

partners

who work to help our communities maximize the value of our tourism industry. Thank you to them, from local mayors and city councils, to hospitality industry stakeholders who have advocated for RACVB and our industry, to dedicated board members for believing in Rockford, this region and the RACVB. As I noted, excelsior means “ever upward.” As we look farther up the mountain, we have begun to set new goals to take our region and tourism sector to the next level. We will not let recent events and new realities stop us from reaching new peaks as an organization or region.

I hope you’ll join us on the journey.

John Groh is president/CEO of Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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

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ROADS REFERENDUM Continued from front page

More Background Information In 2007, City of Rockford Voters supported a referendum that would create a 1% Sales Tax that would be specifically used for roads and infrastructure. The sales tax replaced past reliance on property tax increases and borrowing money through bonds and paying interest on those bonds. The bonds would cost $12 Million and we would only get about $9 Million in roads and infrastructure improvements.

The remaining balance paid for the interest on the debt.

The switch to the sales tax has resulted in the elimination of the bonds and the debt, a near doubling of the amount of funds available for these projects, a greater ability to leverage the revenues with Federal and State funding sources, and it has provided a reliable source of revenue for the foreseeable future, ensuring Rockford‘s ability to maintain and improve the road and infrastructure for our citizens.

Why is the road referendum on the ballot this year?

In 2007, the first roads referendum

was passed with the promise that every five years it would “sunset” allowing voters to assess the use of the revenues generated from the sales tax. Voters have supported the continuation of the sales tax twice since the initial passage in 2007.

If the referendum passes, will the sales tax rate go up?

No. The referendum keeps the rate the same so that our roads and infrastructure can continue to be repaired and replaced.

If the referendum does not pass, how will that affect our roads and infrastructure?

Since the sales tax is the primary source of funding for roads and infrastructure a loss would have a devastating impact on the city’s ability to stay on top of road improvements.

Before the sales tax, how did Rockford pay for roads and infrastructure?

Prior to passage of the sales tax referendum, the city would raise property taxes, take out bonds, and pay interest on the debt.

Who pays the sales tax?

It is estimated that nearly a third or more of the revenue generated from the road referendum comes from people outside of Rockford. v

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

IGNITE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

GUEST COLUMNIST

CIRA RICHARDSON Transform Rockford

Great neighborhoods vital for a transformed community

2020 was a tough, tough year.

At a neighborhood planning and revitalization level, there were challenges, but I believe that we have emerged stronger and more resilient, ready to roll up our sleeves and continue moving our great neighborhoods forward. There may be some hesitancy walking into 2021, but a new year always brings in new hope, new ideas and new beginnings.

Great Neighborhoods sees 2021 as an opportunity to make even bigger strides towards our goals. We see opportunities to help reimagine and rebuild our neighborhoods while continuously adapting to their needs, especially concerning COVID-19. Yes, the pandemic brought its challenges, but it also brought out some really great things too. A few of the highlights at the local, regional and national levels include: ■ Helping neighborhoods and cities realize assets they did not know they had or assets that were forgotten about or underutilized ■ Businesses capitalized on innovation to deliver goods and services ■ Neighborhoods utilized empty spaces and green spaces ■ The pandemic highlighted the most economically vulnerable and the need to continue to focus on needed services in those neighborhoods An even greater opportunity that came from the pandemic is the ability to push the envelope to think differently and do things differently. Conversations and ideas that may have been far into the future are right on our doorsteps. For example, we can look at things like: ■ Flexibility and innovation in how we approach the built environment we create ■ Connectivity — socially, physically and digitally — and advocate that

all neighborhoods opportunities

have

the

same

■ Capitalize on opportunities to create stronger, local economies and growth ■ Engage the faith communities to creatively explore how their land and buildings can be used to serve the broader neighborhoods ■ Investments in empty green spaces, parking lots, etc.

■ Create more neighborhood assets

Everyone Can Help Great Neighborhoods is a grassroots program available to help our residents transform their neighborhoods.

The program is available to help neighborhoods think about what they want to accomplish, discover their assets that can help them and leverage those assets into successful projects. Together, we co-create action plans with our neighborhoods, and help connect all the dots and utilize networks and resources to move projects forward.

As we shift our mindset to 2021, we look to our neighborhoods, along with our many partners, to take time for selfreflection with our eyes towards renewal.

We need to remember and believe in the power of our local strengths and talents to help shape the future of our neighborhoods and our community. We can reimagine and rebuild one neighborhood at a time with everyone’s involvement.

Connect and get involved with Great Neighborhoods to impact the neighborhoods around you by emailing cira@transformrockford.org.

Cira Richardson is program director for Transform Rockford’s Great Neighborhoods program.

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

CARMEN KELLERMAN IGNITE

Winter blues got you down?

For many people, myself included, winter can be a time where motivation is low, the urge to lay in bed all day is high and your energy levels feel nonexistent.

Wintertime makes it near impossible to get anything done.

Below are some tips and tricks I have discovered over the years that help with the winter blues. Before I share those tips, I want to state that I am not a doctor or a trained professional. The tips I have below are just simple everyday “hacks” that I have found help me through the wintertime. If you think you have more than just the case of the winter blues, please contact your doctor or a trained professional. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has plenty of trained professionals and resources that can help.

Tips for making the winter blues a little easier to cope with (especially during a pandemic): 1. Get light in. If you have many windows in your home, make sure you open up all of your curtains. Let the light in.

Even if it is snowing outside, the brightness of outside is still better than the darkness of keeping the curtains closed.

Don’t have many windows, or work in an office? Try using light therapy. Use bright LED light bulbs or find an LED lamp online to make your space brighter.

2. Don’t oversleep. If you are back working in the office, then this tip may not apply to you. If you are still at home, keep to your schedule. Once you mess up your sleep schedule, it is hard to get back on track. A disrupted sleep schedule can cause you to have more difficulty concentrating, learning and communicating. Create a bedtime routine that has signal tasks in it, i.e., turning off your phone for the night, drinking tea or reading a book.

3. Take walks when you can. I know winters here in Illinois can be brutally cold and just downright nasty. However, when

the weather is not too bad, bundle up and get outside for a walk, even if it is for five or 10 minutes. The fresh air and sunlight helps boost your mood.

4. Fill up your social calendar. During a pandemic, it may seem difficult to fill up your social calendar; however, it is not impossible. Try to have virtual game nights with friends or family. Have Zoom lunches or dinners with friends. If you think it is weird to eat on camera, then have a cooking night instead, where you cook a dinner together. Have a virtual mixology night. Take a hike with friends or family (safely of course). Be creative and have fun when planning events.

5. Exercise. Do an at-home workout that you find on YouTube. Use your gym equipment, if you have it. Do some yoga.

Have a solo dance party. Just get up and move. Moving helps keep your brain happy.

6. Organize and clean. Having a cluttered home or even just office can be mentally exhausting. Organize rooms one by one, starting with the room that you see first thing in the morning. Make sure you do not start your day looking at a cluttered mess. If you are organizing your office, take it zone by zone. Don’t try to do everything at once. It can be overwhelming.

7. Have a strong support system.

Beating the winter blues does not have to be a solo activity. Keep a strong support system to help you on the days that seem to be more difficult than others. Sometimes a simple phone call from a friend or family member is all you need to get yourself motivated for the rest of the day.

Remember find what works for you and keep pushing through; summer time will be here before we know it!

Carmen Kellerman, formerly Brenz, is event & program coordinator and IGNITE coordinator for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

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Small Business Enterprise

EDWARD CACERES SBDC

Why challenges are an opportunity to grow

In life the only constant is change; sometimes things happen that force us to move forward faster. The COVID-19 virus was one of these factors that changed our lives, our methods of doing business and the way in which we consume. Now, a growing number of organizations are looking for new, reliable, and sustainable options based on emerging technologies to keep going.

The long-term alternative that we do not have, looking for a fair and well-balanced formula to share global responsibilities, changed again due to the Covid-19.

The key to overcome this new reality is educating people and providing them

with reliable sources of information to create awareness. Governments and/ or institutions should not be investing and relying on outdated technologies.

This is happening because people are misguided and not well informed about new technologies like robotics and renewable sources of energy. Promoting these concepts can help to development technologies like vertical farming. This can turn desserts into productive farms or hybrid Solar/Wind energy generators that can provide energy in remote areas to support community development and create new business opportunities.

Taking a holistic approach and

using all the current technological breakthroughs to re-design our society could help us to secure our continuity as a civilization and help us to be able to face our most current threats, like climate change, inequality and over population.

Currently, we have the knowledge, technology & resources to create a new

and more sustainable socio-economic system. However, to move forward, we need to be willing to change our minds about these new emerging technologies that will help us to become a better version of ourselves.

Another important factor that should motivate more organizations to start investing and adopting these new technologies (Solar, Robotics, AI etc.), is that this transition process could help to generate emerging technologies as well. There are business opportunities and well-paying jobs, which could help to mitigate inequality and lack of development in areas where they need it most. New technologies could help people avoid migrations for lack of opportunities in their own cities. Could you imagine a better return for your investment?

Edward Caceres is executive director at the Illinois Small Business Development Center in Rockford.

CALL FOR PROJECTS:

Surface Transportation Block Grants The Region 1 Planning Council, the federally-designated metropolitan planning organization for the Rockford area, seeks eligible project proposals by Feb. 22, 5 p.m., for Surface Transportation Block Grants.

Funding was authorized through the federal transportation bill, “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act,” signed into law on Dec. 4, 2015.

Regionally significant projects are on a facility that serves regional

transportation needs, such as highway, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects, as well as intelligent transportation system and freight-related projects.

The project application, listing of eligible project types and sponsors, and project matching funds requirements are available at www.r1planning.org/tip.

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SPECIAL SECTION Health and Wellness

February 2021

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

GUEST COLUMNIST

DR. CORT LAWTON OrthoIllinois

Working out from home is doable with safety in mind

Working from home – and working out from home – have become the new normal for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With gyms and fitness centers closed temporarily during the past year, people had to maintain their health and fitness with home-based exercise programs.

Even when restrictions slowly lifted, some individuals continued these routines to further reduce COVID-19 exposure risks.

People have become creative, resulting in a wide range of new fitness routines ranging from taking a walk around the neighborhood to developing an at-home gym with equipment such as an exercise bike or those hard-to-find dumbbells.

Let’s review some advice to consider for a home-based fitness program.

Start Simple Health benefits can be gained with as little as 30 minutes of exercise three days per week, so don’t feel overwhelmed. As your stamina improves and your body becomes more conditioned to regular exercise, a more dedicated home exercise routine can be molded to accommodate your lifestyle.

There are many high-quality, free workout resources ranging from workout tutorials on YouTube to applications such as Couch to 5K designed to guide you through a running routine. I would encourage you to review this list of free home workouts to find a routine that best fits you. Additionally, it is important to stay safe, and I would encourage you to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on maintaining physical activity while social distancing.

If you’re just starting out, keep it simple – both to maintain your motivation and reduce your risk of injury. Listen to your body and ramp up your routine as your fitness improves. Make sure to speak with your doctor before starting a new workout routine if you have suffered an orthopedic injury or have previously undergone surgery.

Don’t Ignore Pain Soreness is to be expected after working out, especially after beginning a new routine. However, soreness or pain in a reoccurring location that does not improve after a few days of rest may be a sign of an overuse injury that should be evaluated by your orthopedic physician.

If you have been diagnosed with knee or hip arthritis, you should avoid impact activities such as running or jumping exercises, which can worsen your pain

in these joints. Furthermore, deep squats and lunges should be avoided if you experience frequent hip or knee pain.

Alternative low-impact activities include swimming, biking, body weight exercises and resistance band work.

Remember to stretch for at least five minutes before and after your workout to give your body time to warm up and cool down. Staying hydrated and supplementing your fitness efforts with proper nutrition will facilitate recovery and propel your fitness goals.

Get Creative It’s normal to miss the treadmills, ellipticals and resistance machines at your local gym. Fortunately, some of the most effective strength and conditioning exercises can be done with resistance from your own body: squats, push-ups and sit-ups that all can be modified for your fitness level.

Get creative and use household objects – canned goods or books – for strength training and balance exercises.

Once you’ve made exercise part of your regular routine, determine if your budget can afford paid personal trainerled workouts or investing in an at-home exercise bike or treadmill. Additionally, local and national gyms now prominently feature at-home workouts and virtual fitness classes.

Mix It Up I strongly encourage cross training and downtime as part of your workout routine. At OrthoIllinois, we commonly see patients presenting with overuse injuries from a lack of diversity with their exercise routines. Pick different workouts you enjoy and mix them up from week to week. Also, schedule regular downtime to allow your body to recover.

Finding the motivation to start a workout routine can be challenging, whether that’s at a gym or at your home. Commit to blocking off time in your schedule to initiate a regular workout routine. As you make progress and your fitness improves, invest more time and diversify your routines. Start slow and progress over time to avoid discouragement and overuse injuries.

Most importantly, have fun!

Dr. Cort Lawton, orthopedic surgeon, OrthoIllinois, specializes in sports medicine and hip, knee and shoulder injuries with minimally invasive treatments.

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

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

SPECIAL SECTION Health and Wellness

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GUEST COLUMNIST

Commit to blood donation in 2021 LISA ENTRIKIN Rock River Valley Blood Center

Even more donors needed for convalescent plasma

The battle against COVID-19 is far from over and boosting blood donation is a big way to keep fighting it.

The Rock River Valley Blood Center needs donors now as much as ever, particularly those who have already recovered from COVID. Their plasma donations can help treat patients currently diagnosed with coronavirus as they fight to recover.

Amid a national blood shortage caused by the pandemic, health care leaders are still concerned about the lack of convalescent COVID plasma, which contains infection-fighting proteins.

While there is no one treatment for COVID at this time, doctors are hopeful that the antibodies in plasma provide some relief for patients.

Beyond convalescent plasma, we also are asking for anyone feeling healthy and well to consider donating blood. At present, fewer than three percent of the eligible population are blood donors, even though the Rock River Valley Blood Center serves 500,000 people in our region.

We are the sole provider of blood

and plasma to 10 regional providers: Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea HospitalRockton, Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, SwedishAmerican Hospital, SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center, SwedishAmerican Medical Center-Belvidere, Beloit Health System, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, FHN-Freeport and Rochelle Community Hospital.

That means if you need blood at any area medical center, it will be coming from us — and from local donors. And as a donor your blood helps local people — our friends, family and neighbors — first.

Behind the Numbers When we don’t have an ample supply of all blood types, sick or injured patients in our community are delayed in getting the help they need. In the United States, one in seven patients entering a hospital needs blood and one in 83 births requires a blood transfusion. But just one donor can help up to three people. It truly makes

While there is no one treatment for COVID at this time, doctors are hopeful that the antibodies in plasma provide some relief for patients. a significant difference. Less than 10 percent of Americans donate blood and only 12 percent of blood donations come from millennials.

Typically, we experience lower donation numbers in the winter when bad weather, holiday travel and illness tend to keep people away. We need to see 700 donors per week to meet demand in normal times. With the need for convalescent plasma, that number is even higher.

Because blood has a very short shelf life, it needs to be continuously replenished. For that reason, we often encourage our donors to return more frequently (individuals can donate whole blood every 56 days, or eight weeks). If our donors could return just one extra time in a calendar year, we wouldn’t have a blood shortage at all!

Donating blood is safe and easy.

Anyone 17 years or older (or 16 with parental consent) and weighing at least 110 pounds, can donate. Most medications won’t disqualify you, and even conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure can be considered.

As long as you are in general good health on the day of donation, you are most likely eligible.

In particular, if you have recovered from COVID-19, please consider making and keeping an appointment for plasma donation to help others fighting the disease.

We invite you to join us at one of our four area donor centers or to host a mobile blood drive at your business or organization. Blood drives are one of the best ways to give back to your community, and we are experienced at making them both fun and easy. Call us at 815-965-8751 or visit www.rrvbc. org for more information.

Our community members are relying on you to help save lives and fight COVID. We can win the battle together.

Lisa Entrikin is CEO at the Rock River Valley Blood Center.

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

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SPECIAL SECTION Health and Wellness

February 2021

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

Better sleep boosts immune function and response Do your diet and exercise habits promote sleep?

We all know better sleep means better health, but with an emphasis lately on

M.D., and board chair of the National Sleep Foundation.

vaccines, it’s important to note that

Studies have indicated that not

good-quality sleep can support boosting

getting enough sleep before and after a

the body’s immune defense. “More

vaccination can result in less immune

research is emerging that shows the

response and may potentially affect

positive effects of sleep on how vaccines

vaccine

protection.

can work in the body,” said Rick Bogan,

provide

further

These support

findings for

an

association between sleep duration and antibody responses to vaccines.

NSF has tips for getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. First off, the bedroom should be entirely dark (use blackout curtains to block outside street lights) and the temperature cool (between 60 and 67 °F is ideal). Drink less alcohol and get more exercise.

Working Out – Time of Day Matters According to a National Sleep Foundation poll, the time of day you work out can make a difference. People who worked out on a treadmill (or lifting weights) at 7 a.m., slept longer, had deeper sleep cycles and spent 75 percent more time in reparative stages of sleep than those who exercised at other times of day.

Other benefits: The bright sunlight from exercising outdoors helps regulate sleep/wake rhythms and the rush of exercise-induced endorphins helps you feel energized for the rest of the day. A morning workout also appears to contribute to achieving a nighttime decline in blood pressure. This blood pressure drop of 10 to 20 percent helps the body heal, restore and recover during deep sleep.

Afternoon workouts also have significant sleep benefits.

Body temperatures are naturally a few degrees warmer in the afternoon, improving performance as muscles are more pliant and work more efficiently. The lower body temperature closer to bedtime is a natural signal to your brain that you are ready to go to sleep.

For people who like to exercise closer to bedtime, strenuous cardio workouts raise your body temperature and heart rate, which can disrupt the process of falling asleep. But every person responds to exercise a little differently. Some individuals might not be affected from evening workouts. The poll found some people who lift weights in the evening woke up less frequently and had overall better sleep than those who lifted in the morning.

One suggestion for the evening aerobic workout is to finish one or two hours before going to sleep to let your body temperature drop and the energyraising endorphins leave your system before bed.

Foods That Disturb Sleep Diets low in fiber and high in saturated fat may decrease the amount of deep, restorative sleep you’ll get.

The bright sunlight from exercising outdoors helps regulate sleep/wake rhythms and the rush of exerciseinduced endorphins helps you feel energized for the rest of the day.

Excess sugar can cause you to awaken more frequently. If you need a snack before bedtime, consider complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal or wholewheat toast, which digest easily. Foods to avoid right before bed: Fatty or high-protein foods: Because digestion naturally slows when you sleep, that steak dinner or other high-protein or fatty food can lead to disrupted sleep with a stomach uncomfortably full.

Spicy foods: Spicy foods can cause painful heartburn, which also can worsen the effects of obstructive sleep apnea as backed-up acid irritates the airway. They also can raise body temperature, making it harder to cool down enough to fall asleep.

Caffeine: This stimulant can be hidden in foods such as chocolate and even ice cream, so check the ingredients.

Alcohol: After the effects of alcohol wear off, you’ll likely find yourself waking suddenly and struggling to go back to restful sleep. It also can worsen obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.

Measuring Sleep Quality Sleep quality is more complicated to measure than sleep quantity — but not entirely subjective. Four items are generally assessed: 1. Sleep latency: How long it takes you to fall asleep. Drifting off within 30 minutes or less after going to bed suggests that the quality of your sleep is good.

2.

Sleep waking: Frequent wakefulness at night. Waking up once or not at all suggests that your sleep quality is good.

3. Wakefulness: How many minutes you spend awake during the night after you first go to sleep. People with good sleep quality have 20 minutes or less of wakefulness during the night.

4. Sleep efficiency: The amount of time you spend actually sleeping while in bed is known as sleep efficiency. This ideally should be 85 percent or more.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

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economic development Creating connections and opportunities through trade missions The Rockford Area Economic Development Council creates connections in multiple ways, one of which are trade delegations. Throughout 2020 and into 2021, this method of creating business connections has allowed our region to connect to multiple countries in many of our industry clusters.

The RAEDC is working with the Inverness Chamber of Commerce and the Scottish North American Business Council to extend an invitation to businesses within the Rockford Region to participate in a Virtual Trade Mission from March 22 to 25.

“Through our continuous outreach and networking efforts, countries, organizations and delegations have become aware of the value and exceedingly high skill-set our region’s companies possess,” said Stephanie Jones, VP of sales at the RAEDC. “Working together with these global organizations is advantageous for all parties to the partnerships. These trade missions strengthen relationships while providing new connections and opportunities for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that can further benefit our region and the companies located here.”

In October, the auto industry had the opportunity to connect with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the Polish Automotive Industry Association, the Polish Automotive Group, the Polish Chamber of Automotive Industry, and the Association of Automotive Parts Distributors and Producers to create international connections for our auto manufacturing industry cluster.

This was the second event with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, located in Chicago, the first being with a Polish software and design company in 2019.

The Rockford Region’s world-class infrastructure, which includes foreign trade zone #176 and the Chicago Rockford International Airport, allows international companies to reach their global customers and operations seamlessly.

The continuation of these trade missions develops international connections and opportunities for our region.

Visit RockfordIL.com/events to register for the upcoming Scottish Trade Delegation happening in March.

ED TALKS:

Success through goal setting The upcoming ED Talks webinar, scheduled 11 a.m. to noon on Feb. 18, explores a way to set goals that will help you create a detailed plan — be it personal or professional — that will set you up for success!

Led by Dr. Renee Just, associate professor of leadership in the Puri School of Business at Rockford University, this session follows January’s topic of change and how to brainstorm your way through the stress and discover a path to change that works for individuals and companies.

This leadership and entrepreneur series is a partnership between the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and Rockford University. The two have worked together to create focused high-quality webinars that share information in a short timeframe to help regional businesses reengineer their workplaces in a way that allows for a fundamental rethinking and redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in critical, contemporary measures of performance, such as cost, quality, service and speed.

The ED Talks series began in May 2020 as part of the reimagining component of the Recover, Reopen, Reimagine discussion related to COVID-19. These monthly webinars focus on answering questions related to creating a better environment at work, and employers that are better at leading.

Previous editions of ED Talks can be found at RockfordIL.com/reopening-resources.

Visit RockfordIL.com/events to register for this onehour seminar.

Rockforward20/20 economic indicators progress

Figure 1

The current Rockforward20/20 strategy began Jan. 1, 2016 and will now continue through Dec. 31, 2021.

The RAEDC remains committed to collaboration and sustainable growth.

We are proactive in cultivating opportunities that increase the economic well-being of our region.

The work of economic development is critical to attracting and retaining jobs while ensuring our community remains a place people want to live and conduct business.

From Jan. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2020, the region has reported (Figure 1) the progress towards obtaining our goals.

We have exceeded the capital investment goal and are closing in on the other two goals. The creation of the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership, the unification initiative, means our region has an additional year to reach these three key economic indicators as part of the Rockforward20/20 progress on our strategic plan.

The daily work of economic development is made possible through the support of our investors and is a critical component of creating a business and lifestyle friendly region that is competitive with our Midwestern neighbors.

Connect with us We love sharing your good news and celebrating the successes of your organization. Connect with us on our social networks and help us spread the word about your good news, upcoming events and employees.

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SPECIAL SECTION Financial Services & Investment

February 2021

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

GUEST COLUMNIST

Estate planning for blended families LEA EVERS Edward Jones Investments

Keep this in mind: Fair is not always equal — and equal is

The best surprise is … no surprise!

If you’re in a blended family, you’re already aware of the emotional and financial issues involved in your daily life. But what about the future? When it’s time to do your estate planning — and it’s never too soon for that — you’ll need to be aware of the entanglements and complexities that can get in the way of your vision for leaving the legacy you desire.

You can take comfort in knowing that you’re far from alone. More than half of married or cohabiting couples with at least one living parent, or parent-in-law, and at least one adult child, have a “stepkin” relationship, according to a study from researchers at the University of Massachusetts and other schools.

That’s a lot of estate-planning issues.

Nonetheless, the task does not have to be overwhelming — as long as you put sufficient time and thought into it. Here are some ideas that may help:

Seek Fairness — But Be Flexible Even in a nonblended family, it’s

Employers can withhold, make payments of deferred Social Security taxes from 2020

not always easy to be as equitable as you’d like in your estate plans — too often, someone feels they have been treated unfairly. In a blended family, these problems can be exacerbated: Will biological children feel cheated? Will stepchildren?

Keep this in mind: Fair is not always equal — and equal is not always fair. When deciding how to divide your assets, you’ll need to make some judgment calls after carefully evaluating the needs of all your family members. There’s no guarantee that everyone will be satisfied, but you’ll have done your best.

Communicate Your Wishes Clearly When it comes to estate planning, the best surprise is no surprise — and that’s especially true in a blended family.

Even if you’re the one creating your estate plans, try to involve other family members — and make your wishes and goals clear. You don’t have to be specific down to the last dollar, but you should provide a pretty good overall outline.

The Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2021-11 addressing how employers who elected to defer certain employees’ taxes can withhold and pay the deferred taxes throughout 2021 instead of just the first four months of the year.

In response to a presidential memorandum signed Aug. 8, 2020, Notice 2020-65 was issued on Aug. 28, 2020, giving employers the option to defer certain employees’ Social Security taxes from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020. This applied to employees paid less than $4,000 every two weeks, or an equivalent amount for other pay periods, with

not always fair.

Consider Establishing a Revocable Living Trust

someone with the time, experience

Everyone’s situation is different, but many blended families find that, when making estate plans, a simple will is not enough. Consequently, you may want to establish a revocable living trust, which gives you much more control than a will when it comes to carrying out your wishes. Plus, because you have transferred your assets to the trust, you are no longer technically the owner of these assets, so there’s no reason for a court to get involved, which means your estate can likely avoid the timeconsuming, expensive and very public process of probate.

decisions, and who can bring new ideas

Choose the Right Trustee If you do set up a living trust, you’ll also need to name a trustee — someone who manages the assets in the trust.

Married couples often serve as cotrustees, but this can result in tensions and disagreements. As an alternative, you can hire a professional trustee —

each pay period considered separately.

The taxes, which are technically called Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, or OASDI, are calculated at 6.2% of employees’ wages.

Any taxes deferred under Notice 2020-65 are withheld and paid ratably from employee wages between Jan. 1, 2021 until April 30, 2021. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, signed into law Dec. 27, extended the period that the deferred taxes are withheld and paid ratably. The period is now for the entire year − from Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021. Notice 2021-11 makes changes to Notice 2020-

and neutrality to make appropriate to the process.

Above all else, make sure you have the right estate-planning team in place.

You’ll certainly need to work with an attorney, and you may also want to bring in your tax advisor and financial professional. Estate planning can be complex — especially with a blended family — and you’ll want to make the right moves, right from the start.

Lea Evers, AAMS®, CRPS®, is financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments.

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

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice.

You should consult your estate-planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

65 to reflect this extended period.

Payments made by Jan. 3, 2022, will be considered timely because Dec. 31, 2021, is a legal holiday. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will now start to apply on Jan. 1, 2022, for any unpaid balances.

Employees could see their deferred taxes being collected immediately.

Employees should check with their organization’s payroll point of contact on what their collection schedule will be.

Additional tax relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on IRS.gov.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

SPECIAL SECTION Financial Services & Investment

February 2021

GUEST COLUMNIST

17

You continue to work, but you have the luxury of

ROB MORRISON Savant Wealth Management

JAKOB LOESCHER Savant Wealth Management

Given the influx of work-from-home options and those experiencing a major disruption in the normal hustle and bustle of life, many of us are now thinking differently about how we live and work.

And if you are within five and 10 years of retirement, you may be rethinking the way in which you want to retire.

During the past decade, we have seen a growing number of people blurring the lines of what used to be well-defined chapters of work and retirement. The old idea of full-stop retirement – going from full-time employment to no employment – is now neither sustainable (people are living longer and must finance more years of retirement) nor desirable (sense of purpose may be lost).

Today, the idea of delayed or semiretirement is more relevant than ever.

The pandemic has forced us to work differently, and thanks to modern technology, many of us are able to work remotely at home. The experience of more flexible workdays (via remote work) combined with the fact that people are living longer and crave a sense of true purpose makes semi-retired life preferable over full retirement. In fact,

Rethinking the one-size-fits-all retirement

choosing to do only work that gives you what you want, when you want.

A custom-tailored Victory Lap to fit your lifestyle according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13 million Americans age 65 and older will be in the labor force by 2024.

Enter the Victory Lap retirement, an opportunity to step out of the rat race of corporate life sooner and develop work/life balance at a younger age.

It’s a complete, all-round lifestyle that each person designs for him/herself.

You continue to work, but you have the luxury of choosing to do only work that gives you what you want (i.e., purpose, paycheck), when you want (i.e., flexible schedule). Some examples are consulting, teaching, contract work, starting a new job, working part time from home, and a passion project.

Perks of a Victory Lap Retirement Less financial anxiety. Receiving a paycheck during your Victory Lap helps by postponing the day you start drawing from your retirement savings and receiving benefits from the government.

This allows you to better finance your desired lifestyle and worry less about outliving your money.

A longer life. Numerous studies show that people who delay retirement live much longer than their fully retired counterparts.

Staying healthier longer. Retiring early increases your chances of intellectual atrophy and boredom.

Avoiding burnout from boredom.

Boredom can be dangerous, leading to self-destructive behavior that accelerates the aging process and increases the odds of a short and unhappy retirement.

■ What is your financial independence “number”? How well funded are you to live your ideal retirement?

Start Planning Early

■ What is your strategy for healthcare?

The top reasons people don’t take a Victory Lap is psychological (they’re afraid or don’t know how), and they don’t have their health insurance situation figured out.

Smart Victory Lap “retirees” plan their exit from the corporate world well in advance. If done right and planning out three to five years in advance, a Victory Lap retirement can allow you to live the way you want.

Knowing the answers to the following six questions will set you up for making good choices about how you can live a successful Victory Lap: ■ What lifestyle do you envision for your retirement?

■ What will you need to spend in retirement to fund the lifestyle you envision?

■ Do you need to save? When do you have permission to stop saving?

■ What is your need for earned income?

Knowing how much income you will need each year (from all sources) will guide you in determining what work choices make sense for you in your Victory Lap.

Rob Morrison, CFP®, chief strategy and innovation officer, Savant Wealth Management is co-author of Victory Lap Retirement.

Jakob Loescher, CFP®, financial advisor, is recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors.

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

Money released through SBDC for smallest businesses In order to help more businesses take advantage of billions of dollars of financial assistance available through the renewed Paycheck Protection Program and other federal programs recently launched, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is expanding community navigator outreach programs and technical assistance services provided through the state’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs).

The passage of additional federal COVID-19 stimulus by Congress in December 2020 included a $284 billion extension of the Paycheck Protection Program, which began accepting applications

from lenders. The latest round of funding includes set asides to benefit the smallest businesses, the lending institutions that serve those businesses, and businesses in low- and moderate-income communities.

Additionally, more than $35 billion will be made available to small businesses through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance as well as the new Shuttered Venue Operators grant programs. For more on eligibility for these programs, visit Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources at www. sbdc.gov.

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SPECIAL SECTION Financial Services & Investment

February 2021

GUEST COLUMNIST

A recent Gallup survey

Remote working is here to stay JOHN J. MORRISSEY Staff Management, Inc.

SAMUEL J. CASTREE, JR. Staff Management, Inc.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many adaptations on the workplace, none more so than working remotely. An October 2020 Gallup survey reported that 58 percent of U.S. employees always or sometimes work remotely, a significant increase over pre-COVID levels. Accompanying this surge, some employers have expressed increased concerns about employee productivity, engagement and morale.

As vaccinations continue to roll out over the coming months, this particular need for remote working may fade. Remote working, and the issues surrounding it, however, are likely here to stay.

Productivity One of the most common concerns of remote working is employee productivity.

Lacking the traditional oversight, tools or interaction that come from working in the office, some employers worry whether their employees are being as productive at home as they would be at

Addressing the challenges and advantages of employees working from home

the office. Are the possible distractions of children, pets, streaming services and more affecting how much an employee can accomplish?

While certainly a fair concern for some employees and in some workplaces, recent surveys don’t support a widespread concern.

More than half of all executives participating in a December 2020 PwC survey responded that during the pandemic, average remote employee productivity actually improved.

Likewise, 34 percent of employees responding to the same survey believed their productivity actually increased.

Other employers and employees have reported anecdotally that for a majority of teleworkers, productivity has not declined. These recent surveys confirm studies completed and released preCOVID. For example, a 2012 study headed by Stanford University economics professor Nick Bloom found that teleworkers increased performance by 13 percent.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

The study attributed nine percent of the increase to shorter work breaks, and four percent of the increase to a less distracting work environment.

What then can employers and teleworkers do to make sure productivity is maintained? Increased communication and clear performance expectations by management for remote workers are crucial. Regularly scheduled updates are helpful. Scheduled hours when a teleworker will be available may also be important. For their part, many teleworkers have found that they are less distracted at home than they would be at the office. Any steps they can take to maintain a quiet office separate from home distractions will help maintain productivity.

Employee Relations/Morale Employee relations and engagement issues certainly can be more challenging in the virtual work environment, and there are likely some important differences where one employee has been required by outside circumstances to work from home, whereas another has elected teleworking. One might expect that the lack of face-to-face communication may result in teleworker loneliness, or a disconnect from other workers.

While this can of course happen, a recent Gallup survey reports that the majority of workers who began teleworking during the pandemic would prefer to continue working from home.

What can employers do to help teleworkers maintain a connection to the business?

Many actions that help remote workers maintain productivity also help remote workers maintain a sense of belonging. Communicate frequently

reports that the majority of workers who began teleworking during the pandemic would prefer to continue working from home. with teleworkers. Make it personal.

Consider a phone or video call in place of a less personal email. Be a resource for remote workers. Ask them what they may need to be successful. Is their technology adequate? Are other team members providing them with what they need? Assess engagement and job satisfaction, and as soon as practical, consider a return to employee gatherings where remote workers can interact with colleagues.

Other Issues/Benefits The future of telework will have advantages and challenges. We have clients whose workforces are not restricted by the geography of their corporate office. They can pull talent from across the country. Businesses that fail to embrace remote working may lose out on that talent pool, or your employees decide to work for a business that does allow remote working.

Certainly, teleworking is not for everyone. We know some functions simply cannot be performed remotely, and for some workers, circumstances won’t permit a distraction-free home environment where they can excel.

For those jobs, those managers, and those employees who can make it work, teleworking is an option that is here to stay.

John J. Morrissey is president of Staff Management, Inc., and Market Dimensions, Inc., and Samuel J. Castree, Jr., is senior vice president & general counsel at Staff Management, Inc. The views expressed are those of Morrissey’s and Castree’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

TOP 10 SCAMS OF 2020 The Better Business Bureau released the list of top scams in 2020: 1. Online Purchase. Fake websites.

2. Counterfeit Products (Clothing, electronics, shoes, purses, etc.)

3. Employment. Scam job offers.

4. COVID-Related Scams 5. Debt Collections. Invoices, calls or emails for fake debts.

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

7. Phishing Scams (Clicking on scam links can lead to malware – imposter scams etc.)

8. Credit Card. Includes 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.

9. Credit Repair/Debt Relief 10. Identity Theft

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

Lottery best practices The Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots have now topped a combined billion dollars. With these kinds of dollars at stake, scammers are using fraudulent accounts, fake phone calls, emails, texts, and even social media messaging, to try to take advantage of lottery players — even those not participating.

Protect yourself with these tips: Never pay a fee before claiming a prize. A legitimate lottery will never ask you to spend your own money in order to claim your winnings. If you receive a call or email asking you to spend money for taxes or fees on a prize, that should be a red flag.

You can’t win a prize if you didn’t buy a ticket. If you don’t remember buying a ticket, you probably didn’t.

The lottery doesn’t know who buys the winning ticket unless it’s purchased via Online Play.

Don’t give out financial information up front. Never give your credit card information, Social Security number, driver’s license, passport or bank account numbers to someone who is contacting you through email, social media or over the phone. The lottery will not ask.

Don’t buy winning tickets from strangers. Don’t fall victim to someone trying to sell you their winning ticket.

Scammers can alter tickets to make them look like winners to the public.

If you win a prize, always sign the back of your ticket. Whoever signs the ticket is considered the owner of that prize.

BBB TIPS:

10 steps to avoid scams

1. Never send money via gift card or wire transfer to someone you have never met face-to-face. If they ask you to use wire transfer, a prepaid debit card or a gift card, those cannot be traced and are as good as cash.

Chances are, you won’t see your money again.

2. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails. Links, if clicked, will download malware onto your computer, smart phone, tablet or whatever electronic device you’re using at the time, allowing cyberthieves to steal your identity. Be cautious even with an email that looks familiar.

3. Don’t believe everything you see. Just because a website or email looks official does not mean that it is. Caller ID is commonly faked.

4. Double check your online purchase is secure before checking out.

Look for the “https” in the URL (the extra s is for “secure”) and a small lock icon on the address bar. Look for a brick and mortar address listing on the website itself and a working phone number. Take an extra step and call the number if it is a business you are not familiar with.

5. Use extreme caution when dealing with anyone you’ve met online.

Scammers use dating websites, Craigslist, social media and many other sites to reach potential targets. They can quickly feel like a friend or even a romantic partner.

6. Never share personally identifiable information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited, whether over the phone, by email, on social media, even at your front door.

7. Resist the pressure to act immediately. Shady actors typically try to make you think something is scarce or a limited-time offer. While highpressure sales tactics are also used by some legitimate businesses, it typically isn’t a good idea to make an important decision quickly.

8. Use secure and traceable transactions. Say no to cash-only deals, high pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, overpayments and handshake deals without a contract. Read all of the small print on the contract and make sure to understand what the terms are.

9. Whenever possible, work with local businesses. Ask that they have proper identification, licensing and insurance, especially contractors who will be coming into your home or anyone dealing with your money or sensitive information.

10. Be cautious about what you share on social media. Consider only connecting with people you already know. Check the privacy settings on all social media and online accounts.

Source: Better Business Bureau

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

in the news MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

1. Shelby Best

2. Nicole Radford

3. Tammie Stanley

4. Tosha Kadakia

5. Dr. Alyssa Ceilesh

6. Wendy Scharer

7. Samantha Worzella

8. Vien Sati

9. Dr. David Gomel

10. Deb Griffith

11. Diane Gustafson

12. Lisa Churchill

13. Jamie Hibbard

14. Brian Duffy

15. Tyler B. Slack

16. Troy E. Haggestad

17. Eric Widstrom

18. Carly LaMonica

19. Sean Gomez

20. Toby Burton

21. Jason Clancy

22. Cathy Niliaram

BOARD APPOINTMENTS Shelby Best (1), Region 1 Planning Council, joined the Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful board.

YWCA Northwestern Illinois welcomed two members to its board for three-year terms: Nicole Radford (2), SwedishAmerican Health System, and Deputy Chief Tammie Stanley (3), Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.

requirements to design, implement and maintain Extreme Networks Wireless AP Solutions.

Severson Dells added Jason Edlen, Chartwell Agency; Katie Eickman, Eickman’s Processing, and Cathy Ott, Rock Valley Garden Center, to its board.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS OSF HealthCare welcomed Tosha Kadakia (4), PA, to family medicine at OSF Medical Group – Rock Cut, and Dr. Alyssa Ceilesh (5), hematology and medical oncology at the Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care.

SwedishAmerican welcomed Dr. Amber Ijaz to Edgewater Medical Center.

Stillman Bank welcomed Wendy Scharer (6) as mortgage lender and retail manager and Samantha Worzella (7) as trust operations assistant.

Rockford Housing Authority celebrated the retirement of Vien Sati (8), foremen, after 33 years of service.

David Gomel (9), Ph.D., assumed the role of president and CEO of Rosecrance Health Network. He’s been with Rosecrance for 28 years, beginning as a counselor in adult substance abuse treatment.

First National Bank and Trust promoted Deb Griffith (10) to senior vice president, director of retail banking; Diane Gustafson (11) to first vice president, commercial banking officer; Lisa Churchill (12) to assistant vice president branch manager at the Delavan branch, and Jamie Hibbard (13) to assistant vice

OF GENERAL INTEREST 23. Kristina Hawthorn

24. David Achilli

president branch manager at the Elkhorn branch.

Woodward, Inc., appointed Roger Alan Ross to president, aero systems.

Per Mar Security Services promoted Brian Duffy (14) to president and chief executive officer.

Williams McCarthy LLP named Tyler B. Slack (15) as partner and Troy E. Haggestad (16) as president.

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center named Eric Widstrom (17) as trauma and burn services manager.

WATT Global Media added Kerry Beaulieu as sales manager for its petfood industry brand.

Rockford Systems, LLC, promoted Matt Brenner to vice president and general manager, Rockford Systems machine safeguarding.

Entré Computer Solutions promoted Toby Burton to team lead – Entré Net monitor division.

Carly LaMonica (18) has been named president of LaMonica Beverages, Inc.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS Megan Vincent, certified nursing assistant, was honored not just as Heritage Woods of Rockford’s

25. Dr. Scott Trenhaile

26. Dr. Michael Roh

2020 Shining Star, but for the entire company, Gardant Management Solutions.

Entré Computer Solutions recognized Sean Gomez (19), service manager, as its 2020 Outstanding Employee of the Year.

Toby Burton (20), managed server team, and Jason Clancy (21), network engineer, were named Employees of the Fourth Quarter.

Cathy Niliaram (22) completed compliance to continue designing, implementing and maintaining VMware Virtual Environments.

Specialty Screw Corporation gave Mike Zollar and Mike Curtis the President’s Award; Zollar for exemplary service and Curtis for continuous improvements and cost savings. Service awards went to Patrick Winter and Luis Quinones (35 years), David Esterbrook and James Wrasse (30 years), Kevin Van Briesen (25 years), Douglas Tubbs and Brian Kitsemble (20 years), and John Sanford, William Haas, Randy Kuntzelman, Booker Wright and Richard Northup (10 years).

Kristina Hawthorn (23), Entré Computer Solutions, passed the Avaya ACSS certification to implement and maintain the Avaya Cloud-based phone/hosted platform.

David Achilli (24) completed the

Surgeon Scott Trenhaile (25), M.D., OrthoIllinois, coauthored “Arthroscopically Assisted Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction Using Infinity-Lock Button System With Allograft Augmentation,” published in the December 2020 issue of Arthroscopic Techniques. A second paper addresses a low profile reconstruction without the allograft.

Lead researcher Dr. Michael Roh (26), co-founder of Rockford Spine Center, teamed with the OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center pharmacy department on a year-long study published in Clinical Spine Surgery, showing that the new, long-acting local anesthetic (liposomal bupivacaine) significantly reduced pain and promoted faster recovery for patients following lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

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

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

business

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

Rockford Park District Foundation for the Sounds of Summer free concert series; Rockford Promise for the Untold Adventures of Promise Scholars student-created children’s book; Rockford Symphony Orchestra for RSO Virtual Music Club, and Womanspace for Womanshare Collective creative art space.

Rockford Rescue Mission provided an estimated 500 ham dinners with all the trimmings at its annual Christmas Meal.

In working towards its sustainability goals, OSF HealthCare subscribed to 4.6 megawatts of Clearway Energy Group’s community solar projects in Illinois. Once operational, this will eliminate the annual carbon emissions comparable to more than 1,000 cars from the road each year.

Colorwave Graphics was accredited as a 3M Certified Installation Company by the United Application Standards Group, the country’s leading group of professional graphic installers.

Colorwave provided employees with extensive on-the-job training before proving their skills during a week with instructors and testing at 3M’s headquarters in Saint Paul, Minn.

Center for Sight & Hearing received $9,000 from the Rockton Lions Club.

Mercyhealth’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Javon Bea Hospital– Riverside celebrated 50 years in December, 2020. Over this time, it’s cared for more than 20,000 babies.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra reached the $100,000 mark in its Larsen Legacy Campaign, thanks to 100 community members and organizations, and received an additional $100,000 match from the Rockford Symphony Orchestra Foundation.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority announced $175,000 to be given to Northern Illinois Land Bank Authority, administered by the Region 1 Planning Council, from the Rebuild Illinois capital plan. $10 million was divided among 68 units of local governments and land bank authorities for the acquisition, maintenance, rehabilitation and demolition of abandoned residential properties in their communities. A total of $30 million will be awarded over three application rounds.

Hometown Holiday, Inc., will establish a scholarship fund for Rockford area theater and music students launching their dreams for a life in the arts. The first scholarship will be awarded in 2021. Hometown Holiday, produced and directed by J. R. Sullivan, ended its 25-year run at the Nordlof Center in 2019. Visit jrsullivanhometownholiday. com to contribute towards the fund.

GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford board celebrated its 10th anniversary on Jan. 8 with a video highlighting people and services.

Rock House Kids received $5,000 from Club Blue in Rockford and a 2021 Community Arts Access Grant of $1,050 from the Rockford Area Arts Council to implement an arts opportunity for teens.

IceHogs collected more than 1,690 stuffed animals and multiple bins of winter clothing at its Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 19 at BMO Harris Bank Center.

Chartwell Agency completed the

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Rockford Park District’s Nicholas Conservatory presents newly redesigned field trips in virtual, virtual plus hands-on kits, or in-person formats for school groups. Topics include Great Greenhouses, Predatory Plants and A Plant’s Life.

Visit nicholasconservatory.com/book-afield-trip.

Midway Village Museum welcomes back visitors with self-guided tours at the main museum center and gallery exhibits, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Reservations for guided tours at 815-397-9112 or www.midwayvillage.com. annual report in digital and print versions for Alignment Rockford featuring the organization’s accomplishments during the past year.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope raised more than $63,000, exceeding its year-end campaign goal of $50,000.

Buffalo awarded Entré Computer Solutions as 2020 Vendor of the Year.

The partner of five years provides network storage devices used for Entré’s backup solutions.

Winnebago County Housing Authority unveiled its new name, Northern Illinois Regional Affordable Community Housing (NI ReACH), and brand to reflect its position as a leader in safe, stable and affordable housing. It has developed more than $73 million in rehabbed and new construction housing developments since 2007 in Winnebago, Boone, Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Ogle counties.

The Health Management Resources program, available through OSF HealthCare, earned U.S. News &World Report’s #1 Best Fast WeightLoss Diet in its Best Diets Rankings for the sixth straight year.

Rockford Systems LLC and ISS Safety, LTD, entered into a strategic partnership that provides machine safeguarding customers in North America, Europe and Asia with uniform, single-source solutions to reduce risk of accidents and improve employee safety.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden partnered with Franchesco’s Ristorante to head up all venue rentals for the organization.

KMK Media Group completed new branding for Panino’s Restaurants, including a new logo and tagline, outdoor signage, menu boards, display cases, packaging and several updates to the buildings’ exterior and interior.

The YMCA of Rock River Valley received an $11,885 grant through the Bengt & Mary Kuller Fund of the

Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program to support its remote learning program serving local families and students.

Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter Junior Board seeks young professionals as new members. Learn more at www.alzillinoisjuniorboard.org.

Rockford Christian Schools is participating in the Adopt-A-Cow program through its Elementary STEM classes, Discover Dairy, and welcomes Royal Lion Family Bella, a dairy calf from Orangeville, Ill. The school received more $20,000 worth of gifts through EMPOWER ILLINOIS in December.

SupplyCore was awarded a maximum $92 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, five-year contract for the supply, storage and distribution of water purification systems by the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio. Its Weapon Systems Support team will provide various tactical water purification and distribution systems to Army and Marine Corps customers throughout the world.

The Rockford Woman’s Club building, built in 1918, was named among 12 Illinois sites added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020 by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

United Way of Rock River Valley is joining other local United Ways in United Way of Illinois’ 21 Week Equity Challenge, a free, online learning program with lessons and resources for Illinoisans to learn about racial issues and systemic inequalities. Visit www.unitedwayillinois.org/equitychallenge to take the pledge.

Rockford Area Arts Council awarded 2021 Community Arts Access Grants of up to $2,500 to The Arc of Winnebago, Boone, Ogle counties for Project Art: art programming for individuals with disabilities; Friends of the Coronado for the Secrets of the Coronado series; Rock House Kids for Abstract Art Class for inner-city teens with artist Laura Gomel;

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois received a $500 grant from ALDI in November, 2020, to be used to purchase equipment for its Active Outdoor Adventures Program for girls at the organization’s four camps throughout northern Illinois.

Kiwanis Club of Rockford seeks program proposals through March 15 from 501(c)(3) organizations, neighborhood associations, faithbased entities or police departments in collaboration with a 501(c)(3) that build relations between youth 10 to 15 and law enforcement in the City of Rockford, for up to $25,000 per year.

Contact Susan Buzzard at kiwanisclubofrockford@gmail.com.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope received 100 KN95 surgical masks through a grant from the OliverHoffmann Foundation to provide services to participants in a safe environment.

The Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons, granted three-year accreditation to the Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care program at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center after meeting 34 CoC quality care standards and excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.

Mercyhealth was recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to helping improve blood pressure control rates among its patients, earning Gold Level recognition as part of the 2020 Target: BP™ Recognition Program. The Gold Level recognizes practices that have 70 percent or more of their adult patient population with controlled high blood pressure.

Rock House Kids received a $1,277 grant from The Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence and Kiwanis Club of Rockford to purchase and upgrade its indoor lighting fixtures.

City First Church and Northern Illinois Food Bank hosted a 12th food distribution on Jan. 14 with a goal to feed nearly 1,800 households with dairy, protein and produce. More than 1.5 million pounds of food has been given away since April, 2020.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2021

on digital

MEMBER PICS

aMBaSSaDOR DOR SPOTLIGHT Robbin Snodgrass,

Rockford Rescue Mission

PrairieFire Golf & Grill, 6734 German Church Road, Byron, offers a unique, year-round golf entertainment experience. Powered by Toptracer technology, there are a variety of game modes for golfers and non-golfers in heated hitting bays. Includes a cozy clubhouse with bar and grill. Call for reservations at 815-234-3473. Current hours of operation: Mon., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Tues. to Thurs., 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri. to Sat., 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sun., 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in December 2020 A-1 Lapping & Machine Co. Inc. Addante & Associates, Ltd. Advanced Machine & Engineering Co. (AME) Barron Metal Finishing, LLC Bergstrom Inc. BMO Harris Bank Center BMO Harris Bank Center: Rockford IceHogs Professional Hockey Briggs Floor Sanding & Refinishing Catholic Diocese of Rockford Creative Crane & Rigging, Inc. Crimson Pointe Edward Jones - Michelle Bowman, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Erna Colborn, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Karre J. Cromwell, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Lea Evers, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Justin D. Jones, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Bryan G. Orvis, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Jenny Redington, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Jen Reisinger, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Maren Sanders, Financial Advisor Envoy Mortgage Erboe & Associates, CPAs Farm & Fleet of Rockford Flood Pros Forest Plaza Gehrke Construction, General Contractors Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Global Display Solutions, Inc. Grace Funeral & Cremation Services Hanson Professional Services Inc. Hennig, Inc. Historic Auto Attractions Hughes Media Corp.

Illinois Bank & Trust - Guilford Road Illinois Bank & Trust - Stewart Square Illinois Bank & Trust - Harrison Banking Center Illinois Bank & Trust - Riverside Illinois Bank & Trust - Route 173 Banking Center Insurance Pro Agencies Judson University Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful Kelley Williamson Company Key Realty, Commercial & Industrial - Teri Watts, Broker Leland L. Freberg, CPA, LLC

Market Dimensions, Inc. MDM Consulting Metropolitan Title Agency Midwest Packaging and Container Morgan Stanley - The Custer/Meisch Group Northern Illinois Terrazzo & Tile Company Nothing Bundt Cakes Olson Funeral & Cremation Services Ltd./Fred C. Olson Chapel Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd./North Main Chapel & Care Center Pearson Plumbing & Heating Co. Pierce Distribution Services Company QPS Employment Group R.R. Floody Company, Inc. RAC Adjustment Company Ray King REALTOR Region 1 Planning Council Riverview Inn & Suites at Cliffbreakers Rock River Energy Services, Inc. Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Inc. Rockford Christian Schools Rockford I.D. Shop, Inc. Rocktown Adventures Savant Wealth Management Spider Company Inc. SVL Productions SWITS, Ltd. The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club The Observer Thor Computing, Inc. Triton Test and Balance U-Haul Moving & Storage of Rockford University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford University of Illinois College of Nursing - Rockford Campus University of Illinois-Chicago College of Pharmacy at Rockford Winnebago County Board Office Winnebago County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Wired Café workplace YWCA Northwestern Illinois Zethmayr LLC

I am the volunteer supervisor at Rockford Rescue Mission, where we serve the homeless and those in addiction. We share hope and help in Jesus’ name to move people from homelessness and despair toward personal and spiritual wholeness. Being an Ambassador helps because often there are companies that want to help in the community, and I can connect them to the Mission.

Meeting them gives me the opportunity to share about all the great things the Mission does. Rockford is a very generous community. The Chamber Ambassador program is stellar. You will find lifelong friends, have amazing opportunities to give back to the community and learn about all of the new and growing business ventures happening.

I love the bike path, the parks and the Nicholas Conservatory, to name just a few of the wonderful places I love to visit.

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS BALLARD LAW OFFICE PC

OWENS CORNING

DALTON & TOMICH, LLC

THE POTTERY LOUNGE

Practice focusing primarily on family law.

321 W. State St., Ste. 201, 61101 Tomiko Ballard, Attorney 815-961-8760 www.tomikolaw.com

Law firm for small businesses, religious organizations and not-forprofit corporations.

401 W. State St., Ste. 509, 61101 Noel Sterett, Attorney 815-986-8050 www.daltontomich.com

FIRST CLASS GENERAL CONTRACTING

General Contracting, Roofing, Siding, Gutters, Windows 769 N. Blackhawk Blvd.

Rockton, IL 61072 Jennifer Byrnes 815-637-8992 www.FirstClassGC.com

ORKIN PEST CONTROL

An industry leader in specialized protection against common pests including insect, termites, rodents, and more.

4669 Stenstrom Road, 61109 Kevin Wiegand 779-888-9139 www.orkin.com/locations/ branches?zip=61101

Manufacture extruded polystyvene foam board insulation.

2710 Laude Dr., 61109 Bridgette Jacober 815-226-4627 www.owenscorning.com Locally owned paint-and-take ceramic studio making many of our own bisque pieces in store.

6059 E. State St., 61108 Kristine Baker 815-977-3937 thepotterylounge.com

ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Providing scholarships to deserving students, fund grants for RVC faculty and staff to enhance programs and services, and support activities complementing the college’s educational offerings.

6520 Spring Brook Road, 61114 Brittany Freiberg 815-921-4502 www.rockvalleycollege.edu/ Foundation

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

40-YEAR MEMBER

Richard L. Johnson Associates, Inc.

35-YEAR MEMBER

Youth Services Network

30-YEAR MEMBER TK Group, Inc.

25-YEAR MEMBERS

LKG Industries Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries

20-YEAR MEMBER

Shogun Japanese Restaurants Izakaya 88

15-YEAR MEMBER Ameriprise Financial

10-YEAR MEMBER

Metropolitan Title Agency

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

community

ADVERTISERS INDEX

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WEBINARS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

FEBRUARY 2021 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Deadline is today for students in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties to complete the application to be matched with 90+ scholarships. Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will award more than $300,000 this year alone. Visit cfnil.org/scholarships.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Comfort Keepers® of Northern IL and Southern WI hosts a Job Fair, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 1013 Loras Dr., Suite D, Freeport. Contact 815-229 9100, lristin@comfortkeepers.care or ggaglianello@comfortkeepers.care.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Rockford Park District hosts Time 2 Play –The Winter Edition, Saturdays through Feb. 27, 2 to 3:30 p.m., at Brown and Wantz Parks. The free playground programs for 5- to 15-year-olds include snowglobe kickball, tomahawk toss and disc golf clinics. Pre-registration recommended. Visit www. rockfordparkdistrict.org/winterfun.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Alzheimer’s Association hosts Longest Day 2021 Kickoff, a “choose your own adventure” fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. Contact Gina Henrickson at glhenrickson@alz.org or visit www.alz.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Natural Land Institute seeks nominations (due today) for the George and Barbara Fell Award for achievements and leadership in land conservation. Visit www.naturalland. org/gb-fell-award.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 University of Illinois – Extension Winnebago County presents Your Thoughts Matter, a free online series for youth 13 and older. Weekly

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February 2021

Zoom calls, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Feb. 16, 23, and March 2, 9, 16, 23. Teens learn to define mental health and how to help themselves and others.

Register at go.illinois.edu/ YourThoughtsMatterjsw by Feb. 8.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Rockford University hosts virtual information sessions for its Business Degree Completion program in business management or accounting, Feb. 17, March 16 and April 21. Visit www.rockford.edu/ degree-completion.

The Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Brian Thomas Photography. . . . . . . .19

Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Edward Jones – Erna Colborn. . . . . .18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14, 23, 24

Ege Worksmart Solutions, PC . . . . . .14

Rock Valley College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Schmeling Construction Co. . . . . . . . .8

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) . . . . . .11

Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Morgan Stanley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital . . . . . . . . . .12

Morrissey Family Businesses . . . . . .17

WilliamsMcCarthy LLP . . . . . . . . . . .16

Thayer Lighting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Northern Illinois Hospice . . . . . . . . . .12

VOICE

the

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100 ..........................................Direct Line

Rockford University hosts virtual information sessions for its MBA program with finance, project management, healthcare administration or general concentrations, Feb. 24 and April 6.

Visit www.rockford.edu/mba.

Jeff Bailey, Membership Development Executive ..................................815-316-4336

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Golden Apple Foundation presents 815 Rising Stars. Dancers, comedians, jugglers, artists, singer, poets, bands, musicians, ice skaters and dog tricks are invited to submit their two-minute videos by Feb. 3 to goldenappleofrockford.com/talent.

MARCH 2021 THURSDAY, MARCH 4 Rockford University hosts a virtual information session for its Master of Education (M.Ed.) program with endorsement (bilingual, ESL, reading teacher, reading specialist or special education). Visit www.rockford.edu/ medinfosession.

MONDAY, MARCH 15 Upper Iowa University-Rockford Center, 1161 Tebala Blvd., Rockford, second spring session starts with face-to-face classes or online classes. Contact 815-332-1414 or timmonsp122uiu.edu.

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 Carmen Kellerman, Program & Event Coordinator .............................815-316-4302 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 Edward Caceres, Executive Director, Small Business Development Center ...................................................815-987-8100

CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS Brent Bernardi Alpha Controls & Services LLC

Chair of the Board Dan Ross Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

Kimberly Blascoe Wipfli LLP

Vice Chair Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate

LaVonne Brown Savant Wealth Management Paula Carynski OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center

Vice Chair Don Daniels Samuel J. Castree SwedishAmerican, A Staff Management, Division of UW Health Inc. Treasurer Lesly Couper Amy Ott workplace Boylan Catholic Doug Curry High School Stenstrom Immediate Past Chair Companies Michele Petrie Wintrust Commercial Rebecca Epperson Banking & Mortgage Chartwell Agency Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D. Rockford University Ira Grimmett Collins Aerospace

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA 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 Joel A. Prah Mercyhealth

Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Denise Sasse RSM US LLP John Schuster Rosecrance Health Network Teresa Sharp American Precision Supply, Inc.

FEBRUARY VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS Education & Empowerment (Taking Learning to a New Level)

Architecture & Engineering (Sustainable Design, Innovation Solutions, Adaptive Reuse)

For information on advertising, call 815

987-8100