February Voice 2022 by Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce

the

WARMING UP FOR 40 YEARS

COME HOME TO ROCKFORD

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February 2022 | Volume 35 | No. 2

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of the rockford business community ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT BOARD SEAT OPENS The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners accepted a letter of resignation from Commissioner Ian Linnabary, who expressed his intent to focus on select community projects and programs. He’s been commissioner since 2011. The park district will begin taking steps to ﬁll the vacant seat, which will be ﬁlled by board appointment. That person will have to run for the seat in the April, 2023 election.

INTRODUCING THE

Multicultural Small Business Council Winnebago Emerging Small Business, in partnership with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, are proud to announce the creation of the Multicultural Small Business Council.

The goal among both organizations is to expand greater communication among businesses in the regional area and offer solid and free minority small business development resources. This is an important resource, as we recognize and celebrate the diverse cultures we have who own and operate businesses in our region. We are committed to serve current and new business owners looking to grow or open their new business. For more information please contact Einar Forsman at the Rockford Chamber, 815-987-8100. v

2020 U.S. RETAIL SALES TOP $5,570 BILLION

Wow, it’s been 20 years with The VOICE How I became a morning person By Barbara Connors

THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY

Join the Chamber on Social Media

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

This past December at 6:19 a.m., while doing my early morning routine at my desk at home; drinking coffee and sifting through emails, reading press releases and filing them for future content, a LinkedIn email pops up from my brother. “Congrats on your work anniversary!” it says. “Hmm, he gets up early, too,” I think. Then several more congratulations pop up on LinkedIn. What year is it? 2021. I did the math. Oh, wow, I hit a milestone in my career — 20 years working with the Rockford Chamber and as editor of The VOICE. That came quietly. There are things you do in life for which you are uniformly proud and happy you’ve done. One for me is singing in Handel’s Messiah with the Rockford Choral Union. Another is working with the Rockford Chamber and editing The VOICE. I came to the Rockford Chamber on Dec. 3, 2001. I remember it was 2001 because several months before, I was sitting at my desk at the Rockford Register Star, confused after watching the airplanes hit the twin towers on my television at home. The flat look on Katie Couric’s face as she reported the event on The Today Show matched my feelings. Later at the newspaper, all eyes

were glued to the televisions around the office running the news in a constant stream all day. A couple of months later, a Register Star friend, Denise Delanty, long since gone from the paper, told me about a position opening up for communications coordinator at the Chamber. It would include editing The VOICE. Ryan Petty was president and CEO at the time, and he hired me. It was the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce then, under the same roof as the economic development arm, the Council of 100, led by Bob Levin. The building was on 515 N. Court St., next to City Plaza. The office furniture could only be described as ’70’s chic. There were beta fish in the tank from a staff retreat done the year before. The discussion was on the Superfund, getting passenger service at the Rockford Airport … and I can’t remember what else. The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community already had a history, having started in October 1995 (per a quick online search of historical records at NIU — I wasn’t there.) Becky Bjornstad was advertising representative extraordinaire and all around class act. Our press releases and news arrived on paper by snail mail — few companies used email for news at the time. It was quite a bit of (continued on page 3)

Retail sales for the nation increased 3.1 percent, from $5,402.3 billion in 2019 to $5,570.4 billion in 2020, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Annual Retail Trade Survey. Not too surprising, Electronic Shopping and MailOrder Houses had an 35.2 percent increase in sales from 2019; the largest year-to-year increase of any industry in 2020. Grocery Store sales also did well, increasing 9.4 percent from 2019 to 2020. Sales of Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers’ decreased 2.4 percent from 2019 to 2020 and Gasoline Stations decreased 16.6 percent from 2019 to 2020.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ROCKFORD CHAMBER

ANNUAL MEETING THURSDAY, MARCH 31, NOON FACEBOOK STREAMING For more information, see page 23 PRESENTING SPONSOR

RENOVATIONS TO SHOREWOOD PARK Parts of Shorewood Park will get a facelift thanks to an $800,000 Illinois state grant. The park was severely impacted by flooding along the Rock River, leading to the cancellation of activities and Ski Broncs water ski shows. Planned renovations include a repaired seawall and shoreline stabilization to minimize erosion, a new show stage, new accessible pavement in and around the bleacher area, expanded boat staging area and reconfigured pathway through the boat staging area to create better traffic flow for park users and ski show performers. Construction is expected to begin after the Loves Park Ski Broncs season ends in 2022 and to be completed in spring 2023.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

My challenge to myself in 2022 DAN ROSS Rockford Chamber Board Chairman

We all can be innovators if we’re deliberate about it

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a happy and healthy holiday season and are on your way to a prosperous 2022. I am truly excited for what lies ahead for the Rockford Chamber and the region in 2022. Task forces have been kicked off at the board level to examine how we can better connect with you as members, how the chamber can adapt to serve your changing needs and how we can ensure that we have a Chamber for All. I want to publicly thank the chamber staff and my fellow board members for taking on this important work. On a different note, I have had the opportunity over the past few months to work with a donor at the foundation who has a keen interest in supporting innovation in our community. When this donor first approached me, I had a rather narrow view of innovation. I couldn’t help but think of someone sitting in a lab, maybe blowing up a few things or coming up with some invention that may or may not see the light of day. While this type of innovation is important

and does occur, what this donor did was challenge me to think about innovation in the context of wealth creation, economic development and business success. I think back to my time owning a business in the region and again in my current role at the foundation, and I never really thought what we were doing was innovation … we were/are simply trying to meet the needs of our customers and our community, which is exactly what the chamber is up to right now!

There’s Many Benefits As a recovering accountant (no offense to my accounting brothers and sisters), the concept of deliberate innovation seems a bit contrary to my natural tendencies, but it was and is a critical component of success. But why? In a recent article published by Northeastern University on innovation, they state what probably seems obvious to most people; that innovation in the workplace can lead to the following benefits: 1. Growth (in your top line or your

bottom line). New products or product enhancements clearly can be an avenue to growing the top line. But do not forget innovation in procedures or processes that can lead to growth in the bottom line without increasing revenues. 2. Staying Relevant. It is very easy to slowly fade out of relevance if you are not constantly looking for opportunities to do more or be better. The world is changing rapidly around us, and we most look for ways to not have it pass us by. 3. Diﬀerentiation. Most of the products and services offered today are also offered by a myriad of competitors. Looking for new ways of doing things, or said another way, looking for new or better ways to meet the needs of your customers, can allow your company to rise to the top of a crowded field. So how does innovation happen? The old saying stands true for many of us, which is “necessity is the mother of invention.” As I said earlier, I never really thought that innovation was a part of what we did or are doing … it just sort of happens. My 2022 challenge to myself is to be deliberate. I can only imagine what we could accomplish if we made innovation a practice instead of just a reaction. To that end, here are a few simple steps that I am going to try in the new year and beyond:

1. Listen and learn. It is imperative to understand what your customers and stakeholders want and need. 2. Make it a priority. Carve time out to step back and think about what you or your organization can do differently. Make it a team effort. Many hands make light work, and I guarantee that innovation will flow in the right environment. I wish you all a great New Year! Dan Ross is chair of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and president of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.

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

ANNIVERSARY Continued from front page

work typing up all of that information, but I had help from fellow Chamber staff members, including Mary Cacioppi, and occasional interns, such as Gareth Sleger, who stood out as one of the best. I heard about my predecessors, Wester Wuori and Mel Gorman, and hoped I could live up. The Rockford Chamber was well known for its 7 a.m., meetings, and I wasn’t such an early bird then. Board meetings, committee meetings, special project meetings and Good Morning Rockfords! I was happy to be attend, but the early time was a struggle. When I got the wild hair in 2010 to go to nursing school after taking a series of prerequisite science classes at night at Rock Valley College — you don’t take anatomy/physiology, microbiology and chemistry in journalism or advertising programs — I was so grateful when president & CEO, Einar Forsman, kept me on as editor of The VOICE. I worked exclusively from home, reading emails, writing and editing before and after nursing school. Honestly, I’m not sure how I would have paid the college tuition, house payments and living expenses without the support. More importantly, mentally it kept me feeling connected.

February 2022

Through succeeding presidents and CEOs, I still love doing what I’m doing and the people I’ve worked with. Putting together the newspaper, and in the past covering and assisting at numerous Chamber events, running the Communications Council, then the Business Education Council. There were (and are) so many incredible people to meet with so many ideas and so much passion for their businesses and their community. The 5:30 mornings started with the Chamber and have never stopped, and it’s hard for me to sleep in anymore. In my first nursing gig doing night shifts at one hospital, I told a nurse that it was hard for me to sleep in. “You’ve been stealing time,” she said. I guess so. I sometimes chuckle as I sit at my desk in the mornings sifting through emails and communicating with the others who start responding. I think back to those early days at the Chamber when in amazement I would arrive for work only to see a series of emails sent from Ryan Petty timestamped at 4:30 a.m. “Who gets up and starts working at 4:30 in the morning?” I thought. Well … 20 years later, I do! v Barbara Connors edits The VOICE. Her day job is as clinical research coordinator working on drug and device trials at OSF Cardiovascular Clinic.

Rockford Board of Election distributing new voter registration cards

Districts redrawn following 2020 U.S. Census Voters in the Rockford city limits will receive new voter registration cards beginning in February due to redistricting, the federally mandated process for redrawing districts following a census. Wards, precincts and polling places remain the same, but voters need to be aware many districts have changed in preparation for the next election, which is the Illinois Primary Election on June 28, 2022. “We are working quickly to get new cards printed and mailed to ensure voters are aware of their current districts, especially if they may have changed as a result of the census,” said Executive Director Stacey Bixby. “We encourage voters to keep their new voter registration cards for reference.” Typically, the Illinois Primary Election takes place in March. This year, the primary date was shifted to June 28 to allow lawmakers the time they needed to review the district maps based on new census data information, which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected that all registered voters will receive their new voter registration card during the month of February. Visit voterockfordil.gov for more information.

UPCOMING ELECTION May 31, 2022: Voter registration closes

June 1, 2022: Grace period registration begins June 28, 2022: General primary election

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

proﬁle

MEMBER PROFILE

Advanced Chimney Systems approaches 40 years in business

ALL FIRED UP:

Providing safety, warmth to the home By Paul Anthony Arco Brad Vander Heyden has always appreciated a good fire. “I enjoy watching a warm fire and being close to it,” he said. “There is something about a fireplace that makes a home feel more comfortable.” Vander Heyden is president of Advanced Chimney Systems (ACS), a Rockford-based business that sells a variety of wood, gas and electric fireplaces, freestanding stoves, inserts and gas logs. In addition, ACS offers chimney inspections, repairs and maintenance for all products it installs. A Rockford native, Vander Heyden got his start working in sales for another fireplace business in addition to contract work with an installer. He also spent a year working on the west coast before returning to Rockford. Eventually, Vander Heyden took a leap of faith and decided to start his own business. “The installer I worked with grew tired of the Midwest winters and moved to Arizona,” he said. “I felt like there was a void here in Rockford, and I started doing more subcontract work.” In 1984, Vander Heyden opened ACS out of his home, before renting space on Rockford’s south side in the early 1990s, where he could feature a showroom of products. In the early 2000s, he purchased his current building and tripled his space. Today, ACS has 12 employees that include installers, sales and support staff. Vander Heyden is introspective when he reflects on his business that is approaching 40 years. “There have always been highs and lows,” he said. “Traditionally we’ve always been busy in the fall and winter. In the first decade or so, we had a lot of new construction that would take us through spring and summer, too. But there were lean times.” Family support has always been important to the business. All four of Vander Heyden’s children worked at the store – answering phones, sweeping chimneys and tackling other tasks. All four, however, decided to eventually pursue other career paths. “I would never want to stand between the dreams of any of my children, and, yet this was a place where the kids learned their work ethic and how to care for the customer,” he said.

Trends in Home Heating The fireplace industry has changed over the years as technology has evolved and demand has grown.

Advanced Chimney Systems keeps up with trends in ﬁreplaces and home heating. “The biggest difference is selection,” Vander Heyden said. “When I started, wood was king. But gas technology has really changed the industry. The service we use to do was relatively easy, but now we send our guys away to school to learn how to diagnose and troubleshoot complex maintenance issues.” Vander Heyden adds that while higher efficiency gas appliances are popular, increasing heating bills has many customers interested in pellet and wood stoves and inserts once again. “It all depends on what you’re looking for,” Vander Heyden said. “Is it something to improve the atmosphere or something to help warm a certain area of your home? For example, zone heating is popular these days. It can make your bedrooms or living rooms more comfortable and can cost you less than heating your entire house.” Vander

Heyden

preaches

safety

to all homeowners. He encourages home inspections, making sure carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are working properly, and following good woodburning practices. “You can never be too safe,” he said. “Teaching people how to be safe is vital.” During the heat of COVID last year, Vander Heyden and his team focused on remodeling the store’s showroom. But the pandemic has also proven to be a busy time. “We’ve found that a lot of people aren’t traveling as much and staying home more,” he said. Vander Heyden is grateful for the support of both customers and employees. “We don’t have a business where you can work remotely,” he said. “Our employees have been working longer and harder than ever during this time, and our customers have been gracious and patient while we work through the issues businesses face these days. I am fortunate.”

ADVANCED CHIMNEY SYSTEMS President: Brad Vander Heyden 3486 Lonergan Dr. 815-874-7377 Advancedchimney.net

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

Our staﬀ can’t do it all. This pandemic has left so many of

DR. EHREN JARRETT Superintendent RPS 205

Buying time to help our kids

Community partnerships crucial in meeting our four universal goals

Time is the most important investment we can make for our students. As we reflect on what students have lost during the pandemic — and how we can help them get it back — we know time is the greatest variable. We believe all students can learn if they get enough time. This is the principle guiding us as we spend about $200 million in federal pandemic relief over the next three years. Since the pandemic began, this money has come to us in three distributions from the government to safely reopen and operate schools and help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on students. The program is formally known as the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER). In the Rockford Public Schools, the money is being spent in two ways: ■ $160 million will go toward improvements to facilities and upgrades

in information technology and information services. ■ $40 million will go toward community partnerships to support students and support for our staff. We still have improvements to make in our IT/IS capacity, even though early in the pandemic, we quickly ramped up to reach a one-to-one student-to-device ratio for remote learning. Keeping pace with technological change — and staying ahead of the hackers — takes constant vigilance and planning. As I shared in this space last month, we are leveraging federal dollars to improve air quality in our buildings. We will go from 37 percent of airconditioned classroom space to 100 percent of air-conditioned classroom space. That, combined with heating and ventilation upgrades, translates into much greater access to school buildings. No longer will we be held back by the time of year or the vagaries of weather

our school leaders, our teachers and other support staﬀ stretched thin. patterns. We will be able to offer more robust offerings year-round for students — before and after school as well as during the summer.

We Need Your Help No longer will we be limited by seven hours a day, 172 state-mandated days a year. And that’s where community partnerships come in. We need help in knowing what’s new and exciting for students and providing it to them. We will rely on community partners to collaborate with us on programming that buys more time with students – more time for academic and social-emotional support and more time for enrichment opportunities, especially in athletics and fine arts. Our staff can’t do it all. This pandemic has left so many of our school leaders, our teachers and other support staff stretched thin. We will spend some of our pandemic relief money to give them the relief they need and deserve. We will invest in renewing and developing staff, including addressing the substitute teacher shortage, providing

wellness programs and offering targeted professional development. Those things, in turn, allow our staff to be fully present to support our students. We are doing all we can to assure our students don’t go backward in this pandemic. We are committed to giving them the support they need while making progress on our four universal goals – improving our graduation rate and freshman on track, assuring our middle schoolers are on track, and increasing literacy and numeracy at the critical third-grade level. To accomplish those goals, we need to both extend our time with students and maximize the time we have. Time is the most valuable resource a community can offer its young people. Time is the variable we can control – and by 2024, with the government’s help, we plan to buy more time to help our kids. 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 2022

 Destination

ILLINOIS, USA

ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM

JOHN GROH Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Come home to Rockford Be a part of our 815 Ambassador team

Encouraging people to visit Rockford is one thing, inviting them to live here is another, and yet both are tightly aligned. Both require an in-depth knowledge of area attractions and amenities, expertise in marketing strategy and execution, and a track record for successfully promoting the uniqueness of our region. The Rockford Relocation initiative is a collaboration of the RACVB, the City of Rockford and the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership. Our work to date has been funded by the City of Rockford, Woodward Charitable Trust and RACVB – thanks to our partners for their investment in our community! We kicked-off the effort by gathering diverse experts from around the region to tackle the assigned marketing challenge of increasing the population in Rockford and Winnebago County. The Relocation Marketing Team set two objectives. One, drive regional residential growth and talent attraction and two, improve existing residents’ perception of the region. Knowing that effective marketing is built upon a solid understanding of the market and the opportunity, we began the effort by partnering with GrahamSpencer on research and analysis. We explored similar campaigns and set benchmarks with Northwest Arkansas (check out findingNWA.com), Cincinnati Experience and Ascend West Virginia, while also understanding what’s happening with our neighbors to the south in Peoria. All these examples are part of the current explosion of promotions spurred by the societal shift toward remote working and acknowledgement that, for many workers, they no longer need to live and work in the same community. To set our region apart from other communities, our research phase also explored why people who have recently moved to our region chose Rockford. We conducted one-to-one interviews and spoke with human resources professionals who recruit workers to our area. This qualitative research uncovered several themes. People moved here for family connections, good jobs and/or affordable living. These motives were reinforced by the attractiveness of our diverse population, strong neighborhoods, downtown amenities, options for rural lifestyles, quality educational institutions, proximity to a major airport, and abundance of outdoor activities. Our research and analysis revealed more opportunities than our current resources can chase, so the Relocation Marketing Team recommended focusing

our efforts on the target audience most likely to generate leads that result in new residents. Out of the gate, our campaign will focus on “boomerangers,” those who would choose to move back to our region after spending time away studying or working. This group already knows the region and likely has family in the area or within the Midwest. Our campaign creative will speak directly to this audience, and we’ll connect with them through digital targeting and perhaps a little nudging from their families who want them to come home. Concurrently with the research phase, RACVB initiated a national media relations effort to create awareness of our region. Our PR firm is currently pitching stories to publications, writers and influencers who specialize in tourism and livability stories. In addition, we partnered with Pablo Korona to revive “Our City, Our Story” video profiles about residents who chose to live in our area. With the support of local consultancy, Social Kat, we are pushing these stories out through our social media channels and through our 815 Ambassadors program. If you want to do your part to share positive stories about our region, I encourage you to visit the Media page of gorockford.com and sign up to be an 815 Ambassador. We plan to increase our use of this platform to leverage the collective connectivity of our community and will be amplifying it in the weeks ahead. With a solid foundation of research, analysis and campaign planning, we have moved into creative development – the colorful, excitement-generating component of marketing – with greater confidence in our ability to generate results. Since our secondary objective targets existing residents, you will likely see elements of the campaign in your digital feeds, and if funding and strategy allow, perhaps in more tangible ad placements. Stay tuned! John Groh is president/CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The views expressed are those of Groh’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

IGNITE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

CARMEN KELLERMAN IGNITE/Rockford Chamber

What to do in the winter

Don’t let the cold weather stop you

Winter in the Rockford area can last from December to March; sometimes even April. We are getting closer to the end of the winter season, but spring still feels so far away. For some, winter is their favorite season, and they love to be outside and enjoy every aspect of the season. Others are not huge winter supporters and love to stay warm inside. Below you can find activities for the outside lover and for those who love to stay inside.

For the Outdoor Lovers Head over to Snow Park Alpine Hills, where you can snowboard, ski and tube all in one location. According to the website, “This 5-acre snow park is divided into separate tubing and terrain park sections designed to accommodate riders of all abilities. On-site snowmaking equipment will keep the snow park covered with fresh powder and the snow cat machines will help maintain perfectly-groomed hills. The handy surface lift will bring tubers and

boarders to the top of the hill so more time is spent riding down and less time hiking up.” For more information, head to the website at alpinehillsadventure.com. Enjoy snowshoeing and cross country skiing with Rocktown Adventures. They have a snow sports course for anyone, from a beginner to expert. Through these courses, you are able to experience different trails through the Rockford area. Rocktown Adventures has equipment you can rent, plus winter gear for purchase. For more information, check out the website at rocktownadventures.com. Take a winter hike. 815 Outside has some tips on how to stay safe during those hikes. Check them out here: 815outside. com/winter-activities.

For Those Who Love to Stay Warm Inside Do some local shopping at stores around the area, such as Rockford Art Deli, Roxy Carmichael or the multitude of stores in Forest Plaza.

Stay warm with a cup of coffee from Rockford Roasting Company, Wired Café or Meg’s Daily Grind. Take some time to enjoy Rockford’s local museums, such as Burpee Museum, Discovery Center Museum, Midway Village Museum, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, Ethnic Heritage Museum, Rockford Art Museum or Swedish Historical Society. For more events in the Rockford area, visit the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www. gorockford.com.

IGNITE RockfordEvents to Attend IGNITE Rockford hosts a multitude of events each month, which allow young professionals to network, create friendships and enjoy time in the Rockford area. Lunch with a Leader: This event series features local leaders in an intimate lunch setting answering questions on leadership. Usually more of a conversation than a presentation, this is a great time to learn from a VIP in the community in an easy, laid-back way.

After 5s: Join IGNITE for some fun networking with fellow IGNITE members! Whether you’re interested in personal/ professional development or community involvement, IGNITE’s After 5s will have all of these opportunities! IGNITE Meets a Non-Proﬁt: The goal of this series is to allow IGNITE members to learn more about some of the non-profits in the Rockford area and engage with them. IGNITE members are able to work on personal development and volunteering through these events. All of these IGNITE events can be found on the events calendar on the Rockford Chamber of Commerce website, the IGNITE Facebook page, IGNITE Instagram page or IGNITE LinkedIn page. Carmen Kellerman is IGNITE coordinator and the event & program coordinator with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed are those of Kellerman’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

R O C K F O R D

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

Small Business Enterprise Work smarter, not harder EDWARD CACERES Rockford SBDC

Resources for building business resilience, restructuring your current business model

Helping small businesses start and grow is the goal of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, or Rockford SBDC. We accomplish these goals by providing resources and tools to small business owners and people looking to start a business. From creating a business plan to financial advice, we can connect you with the resources and people to move your business project forward. We had the privilege of assisting more than 400 clients in 2021, among established firms, growth companies and start-ups to meet their challenges in today’s evolving global marketplace. We are focused on delivering business advising and management training to

small businesses in the following counties: Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago. Our confidential business advising services are provided at no cost to the client by our eight counselors in all five of our locations. Advising sessions are tailored to help our clients address their new business challenges in areas like digital marketing, business planning, financing, accounting, cybersecurity, human resources and emerging technologies. We are happy to announce that we began providing in-person and live trainings on 3D FDM Printer for Beginners & Intermediate (classes 1 and 2) on Jan. 26 and 28 at the Rockford NIU Campus. In February, the classes will be hosted by the Rockford Regional Hispanic

Shown are SBDC consultants: Shelby Flores, business planning & community outreach; Heather Kelley, digital marketing & social media, and Mustafa Abdall, business planning & community outreach. Chamber of Commerce in its tech center (with assistance in Spanish available for participants). This class will be live broadcasted on our Rockford SBDC Facebook & YouTube channels. In addition, our business advising services are offered in English, Spanish and Arabic. As we continue dealing with COVID-19, please use the free resources that we provide through our website at www.rockfordsbdc.org to prepare your

business resilience or restructure your current business model. Adaptability is necessary for business success, and we are here to help you maneuver in this new challenging business landscape. We wish you the best of success with your entrepreneurial efforts and appreciate the opportunity to help you along the way. Edward Caceres is SBDC director, business planning & business sustainability, at the Rockford SBDC.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

BBB reveals top 10 local scams of 2021 People’s emotions regarding the pandemic as well as the huge increases in remote working and online shopping have given fraudsters plenty of new opportunities to con people out of their money, according to Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau. “Scammers have been notorious for taking advantage of current events and what’s in the news, and unfortunately, the pandemic has been no exception.” Horton said. The Better Business Bureau released its annual Scam Tracker report; revealing that the menacing problem of online purchase scams still dominates the #1 position for the second year in a row by a wide margin. Related to online purchases, phishing scams moved up the top 10 to the #2 scam reported locally. In the ever-evolving era of remote working, employment scams were the #3 reported scam for the second year in a row. The top five scams involved are counterfeit products (related to online shopping). New to the list were fake invoices and supplier bills, which have increased in the remote workplace. The remaining five scams in order are: identity theft, sweepstakes and lottery

scams, debt collections, tech support, and the rising threat of cryptocurrency scams. Cryptocurrency has remained in the headlines and the BBB Risk Monitor Index rates these types of scams high because people tend to lose a larger sum of money.

Top 10 Scams of 2021 1. Online Purchase – #1 for second year in a row – most often fake websites – often pets 2. Phishing Scams – Clicking on scam links can lead to malware – imposter scams 3. Employment – Scam job offers – often work from home 4. Counterfeit Products Clothing, electronics, shoes, purses, etc. 5. Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill Sent to businesses who sometimes pay without checking 6. Identity Theft 7. Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams (new) 8. Debt Collections 9. Tech Support Scams (new) 10. Cryptocurrency (new) BBB urges anyone encountering a scam, whether they lose money or not, to report it to the BBB Scamtracker. When you alert others, you help protect your community. Visit www.bbb.org.

Prepare and prevent home heating dangers According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, in 2017, 399 people died of unintentional non-fire carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges or furnaces. It can build up indoors and poison the people and animals who breathe it. ■ During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow build-up. ■ Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters and candles. ■ Create a kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters. ■ Never use an oven to heat your home.

Check the manufacturer’s instructions for information on replacement. ■ Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from doors, windows and vents. “Home fires occur more during the winter months than any other time of the year,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez. “It’s also important to make sure your smoke and CO alarms are working properly and are not expired. Test those alarms monthly and replace any broken or expired alarm.” Make sure your vehicle is in good winter driving condition, add a winter survival kit to your car, change your furnace filter at home and stock or update your family’s emergency supply kit. For more information, visit www.Ready.Illinois.gov.

DRIVE PREPARED IN WINTER

■ Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. Remember ... space heaters need space!

Stock your vehicle’s emergency supply kit with:

■ Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before being placed into a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

■ Flashlight with extra batteries

■ Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on each floor of your home and within 15 feet of each sleeping area. ■ CO detectors have a limited life span.

■ Blankets or sleeping bags ■ First aid kit ■ Non-perishable snack food ■ Water ■ Sand or cat litter ■ Shovel ■ Booster cables ■ Cell phone charger

SPECIAL SECTION Health & Wellness

February 2022

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

GUEST COLUMNIST

SCOTT EGE Ege WorkSmart Solutions PC

Musculoskeletal pain: Move upstream with early intervention Create engagement, retain employees, promote safety, reduce cost

An employer’s ability to control the outcome often evaporates when the employee leaves the workplace to seek medical care. Sprain and strain injuries have plagued employers for years. OSHA refers to these “soft-tissue” conditions as Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Prevalent in the workplace, these musculoskeletal conditions are at the top spend category for an employer’s group health costs (more than $190 billion annually). MSDs affect more people than cardiovascular disease and cancer combined! More than half of the population are dealing with an MSD problem on any given day. How does your organization react to the following statements from workers? ■ My wrists hurt with this job, but I’ll just deal with it for now. ■ My back pain is getting worse. I’m just getting older these days. ■ My shoulder only hurts if I lift something heavy or move it the wrong way. ■ What do I do if my fingers are numb and tingle? ■ It hurts whether I’m working or at home. I’m not sure what is causing it. ■ It’s not bad enough for me to see the doctor ... yet. MSDs include injury to bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and spinal discs. Familiar conditions include carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, trigger finger, tendonitis, bursitis, back pain, rotator cuff tear – the list goes on and on. Traditional medical management of these injuries can quickly become complex. The average direct cost for

a non-surgical case is $15,000. The indirect costs are four times the direct costs. The combined cost of a “sprain/ strain” injury can easily exceed $60,000. MSDs represent more than 30 percent of OSHA recordable cases every year. “Aches and pains” are both frustrating and costly for employers – to the tune of more than $100 billion annually in the United States. These injuries negatively impact a company’s reputation, create a disengaged workforce, reduce employee retention and erode confidence among stakeholders. MSDs are multifactorial in nature. Workers find it difficult to identify a specific task or activity that may have “caused” their pain – leaving the “root cause” in a state of mystery. As Albert Einstein said, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Keep an Ache From Becoming a Pain The goal is to keep workers on the job, healthy, happy and pain-free. An employer’s ability to control the outcome often evaporates when the employee leaves the workplace to seek medical care. To achieve success, employers must move their game plan upstream.

Addressing Early Warning Signs Early Intervention (EI) is a proactive strategy that is gaining momentum with employers to keep an ache from becoming a pain. Similar to the sports medicine model, EI addresses the early warning signs of discomfort by identifying potential

EI Specialist Russ Morgan, Ege WorkSmart Solutions, provides job coaching to Sharon Malone, employee with Crandall Stats and Sensors Inc., on proper work technique and ergonomic guidance for her job tasks. root causes and preventing progression to an injury. EI specialists have advanced training and expertise in musculoskeletal conditions, industrial care, movement and ergonomics. Workers are seen onsite, where the work is occurring. Treatment is provided under the umbrella of “evaluation and first aid” as defined by OSHA. Typical interventions include heat or ice, overthe-counter medications, movement awareness training, stretching and other recovery/wellness strategies. EI specialists work one-on-one with an employee to address their symptoms. They collaborate with the other team members (Supervisor, EHS, HR) on ergonomic improvements and risk mitigation strategies. Beyond this, they might: ■ Instruct group stretching/warm-up exercises/wellness activities. ■ Job coach and group train on postural awareness/work techniques.

■ Perform

job

demands

analysis/

ergonomics risk assessments. Whether you have 1,500-plus or 30 employees, ignoring reports of musculoskeletal discomfort is a mistake. Discomfort eventually progresses into pain and movement dysfunction, which leads to an injury. Our clients report a six-to-one return on investment using the EI model. Preventing just one MSD injury pays for the program. Identifying root causes, managing symptoms early, implementing solutions quickly and ensuring consistent communication throughout the process will foster engagement, retain employees, promote safety and reduce cost. Scott Ege, PT, MS, is president and founder of Ege WorkSmart Solutions PC, and creator of Stretch It Out!® The views expressed are those of Ege’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

SPECIAL SECTION Health & Wellness

February 2022

GUEST COLUMNIST

Don’t forget to prioritize behavioral health needs CRAIG STALLINGS Rosecrance

We’ve learned a lot about ourselves in the past couple of years

Many of us have experienced stress, anxiety or grief as the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives two years ago. We have faced one challenge after another as we have adapted to social distancing, mask wearing and virtual connections for work, school and other functions. The loss of routines, human interaction, financial stability and loved ones have left most of us feeling a bit outof-sorts at one time or another. Whether we observe it in relational circles or on the news, we know that anxiety, depression and substance use have become a behavioral health epidemic within the viral pandemic. To give you a picture of the behavioral health situation we face, more than 100,000 of people died from drug overdoses last year. That is the most substance use deaths ever recorded. In addition, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 30 percent of adults had symptoms of anxiety or depression, which is nearly triple the rate from 2019. Among youth, the CDC noted that emergency room visits for mental health reasons jumped more than 25 percent in

the first year of the pandemic. In early 2021, there was a 50 percent spike in ER visits for suicide attempts among girls ages 12 to 17.

Make It a Focus This Year Despite the statistics, there is much to celebrate. Behavioral health has become an important part of the national conversation. Many celebrities and other high-profile public figures have publicly shared their struggles with mental health or substance use, and their stories of recovery are becoming motivation and support for us. Each shared story is a positive push against the stigma that still exists regarding behavioral health. We also have learned a lot about ourselves, and that is a key positive to build on. Our limits as humans are much clearer, as is the need for genuine in-person relationships. We also have embraced healthy coping skills and bounced back from unexpected disappointments. This resilience will be valuable for the rest of our lives. Here are a few practical suggestions focused on behavioral health this year:

The loss of routines, human interaction, financial stability and loved ones have left most of us feeling a bit out-ofsorts at one time or another. ■ Know that it is OK to not feel OK and be comfortable admitting so. This will take courage at first, but like building a muscle, it will become easier the more you are honest about feelings and needs. ■ Rethink priorities to include self-care. Make time to do things or be with people who comfort or invigorate you. It may be taking time to read, going for a walk, meditating, working out, connecting with a friend or doing other activities that refresh your mind, body and spirit. ■ Recognize how physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health are connected. If you’re taking care of basic needs through life structure, a healthy diet, proper rest and exercise, other areas will be positively impacted. ■ Do life together. Find two or three

trusted supporters with whom you can be “you.” Vulnerability in the tough stretches will give strength to face challenges, as well as friends to savor fun times. ■ Don’t be afraid to seek help. There are many healthcare professionals, spiritual leaders and counselors in the Rockford area prepared to walk with you on the journey. Finally, remember that life’s waiting. At Rosecrance, we have been serving our neighbors for more than 100 years and are proud to be champions of hope. Craig Stallings is regional vice president of operations at Rosecrance. The views expressed are those of Stallings’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

SPECIAL SECTION Health & Wellness

February 2022

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

Risk analysts offer information on how to live a healthier life

Research review shows many causes of death, disability can be prevented The Society of Actuaries Research Institute released its 2021 report, Maximizing Health Span: A Literature Review on the Impact of a Healthy Lifestyle on Retirement. The report is a review of many research papers on the leading causes of death and chronic disease and how they can be prevented. In 2019, 37.8 percent of years lived with disability and 58.6 percent of deaths were attributed to modifiable risk factors. The report focused on pre- and postretirement age groups, finding the five risk factors with the largest impacts on long and healthy lives to be: tobacco use, high body-mass index, high fasting plasma glucose, dietary risks and high blood pressure. The number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to go from 16 percent of the population (2018) to 23 percent in 2060.

Quit Smoking Good news is that daily smoking prevalence in the United States, ages 65 to 69, decreased from 13.7 percent in 2000 to 11.1 percent in 2015, mirroring a decline in the population as a whole. Smoking cessation prior to age 40 appeared to lead to the greatest gains in life expectancy. Those quitting between ages 25 to 34 gained an average of 10 years relative to those who continued to smoke. Those who stopped smoking between ages 45 to 54 gained six extra years of life relative to those who continued to smoke.

Lose Weight The 42.4 percent of U.S. adults who were obese in 2017-2018 represented an increase from 30.5 percent since 19992000. Almost 12 percent of deaths and 11.3 percent of years lived in disability among adults 70 years and older were attributable to a high BMI. A population cohort study of 3.6 million adults found that life expectancy was approximately four years shorter in obese adults. Life expectancy amongst the severely obese was reduced by an estimated 5 to 20 years.

Improve those Lab Values Amongst U.S. adults 70 years and older, 39.5 percent of deaths and 25.9 percent of years lived in disability were attributable to metabolic risks. The first line of treatment recommended for

high fasting plasma glucose, high blood pressure and high cholesterol: Improving one’s diet, achieving a healthy weight, increasing physical activity and quitting smoking. If lifestyle changes are not sufficient, medication is a second line of defense, but it was found that patients with chronic diseases typically only took 50 percent of their prescribed doses.

Eat Healthy Amongst U.S. adults 70 years and older, 14.8 percent of deaths and 5.2 percent of years lived in disability were attributable to dietary risks. This is particularly true among older adults at greater risk of chronic disease as well as osteoporosis and reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia). A healthy diet was associated with lower rates of coronary heart disease and hypertension and lower mortality rates across the age spectrum. It also prevented malnutrition, which contributes to functional impairment. One large study found that participants who adhered most closely to a Mediterranean diet experienced lower cognitive declines than participants who ate more of a traditional Western diet. Older adults also were advised to eat protein to stave off the loss of lean muscle mass and Vitamin B-12, since the

absorption of this nutrient can decrease with age. Intentionally drinking enough fluids to stay hydrated was important, as the sensation of thirst tends to decline with age.

Get Active In the United States, 28 percent of adults aged 50 and over were not meeting physical activity guidelines. Per 2019 data of U.S. adults 70 years and older, 1.6 percent of deaths and 0.8 percent of years lived in disability were directly attributable to insufficient physical activity. Compared with individuals who were insufficiently active, highly active individuals exhibited a risk reduction of 14 percent for breast cancer, 21 percent for colon cancer, 28 percent for diabetes, 25 percent for ischemic heart disease and 26 percent for ischemic stroke. For older adults, physical activity is associated with improved performance of daily activities, prevention of falls, improved quality of life in those with arthritis, increased longevity, lower risk of cognitive decline and an increased sense of purpose. Adults should get at least 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes to 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical

RRVBC kicks off ‘Two in 2022’

Get Screened In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death, exceeded only by heart disease, with one out of every four deaths in the United States due to cancer. Prevention includes mammography screenings, cervical cancer screenings and colorectal cancer screenings for the recommended age ranges to detect cancer at the early stages when it is most easily treated.

Get Immunized Each year, nearly 42,000 adults in the United States die due to diseases that could have been prevented with an available vaccine. Seasonal influenza contributes to more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths per year. It was estimated in 2010 that four major vaccine-preventable diseases – influenza, pneumococcal disease, herpes zoster and pertussis – cost the U.S. health care system $15 billion dollars, with the cost of influenza hospitalizations alone resulting in $8.3 billion per year.

Get Some Sleep

Challenges donors to give at least twice to solve shortage problem With the local blood shortage, the Rock River Valley Blood Center calls on individuals to donate blood at least twice in 2022. Blood transfusions are the most frequent procedure performed in hospitals, and it takes more than 33,000 donations each day to meet the need nationwide, according to ADRP, an international division of America’s Blood Centers. One out of every seven patients entering a hospital needs blood, but fewer than

activity. Going beyond the equivalent of 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week has added benefits. Muscle-strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity and that involve all major muscle groups two or more days a week also is important.

10 percent of Americans are donors. Locally, RRVBC needs to see 800 donors per week to supply blood to 13 hospitals in the region. Because blood has a short shelf-life, fresh donations must constantly be collected. Make an appointment at rrvbc. org, the myRRVBC app or 815-9658751. Walk-ins are also welcome at one of the four RRVBC donor centers in Rockford, Belvidere, Freeport or the mobile blood drive.

Adults should sleep 7 to 9 hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. Adults over 60 should sleep 7 to 8 hours. Vision and hearing impairment is common amongst older adults in the United States, with 18 percent aged 70 and over experiencing blindness in one or both eyes and 33.2 percent reporting hearing problems. Adults aged 65 and over should receive an eye exam annually. Screening for hearing loss has not yet been recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, which notes that more research is required before broader recommendation can be made, although the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends that adults be screened by an audiologist once every three years after age 50.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

SPECIAL SECTION Health & Wellness

February 2022

Chicago ranks #2 for cities with an active lifestyle With “exercising more” and “losing weight” among the top four New Year’s resolutions, the personal-finance website WalletHub compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities across 34 key metrics in its report on the 2022 Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle. It looked at everything from average monthly fitness-club fee to bike score to the share of physically inactive adults. Chicago tied for first place in most swimming pools, tennis courts and park playgrounds and ranked fourth for most basketball hoops. Overall, it placed number two.

Best U.S. Cities for an Active Lifestyle

U.S. births declined during the pandemic

Fewer babies born in December, January but number rises in March, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has affected both the beginning and end of the life cycle for the U.S. population: Births declined and mortality went up. Provisional monthly data show a downturn in births in winter 2020-2021, but there were signs of a possible rebound by March. While the data indicate the pandemic caused the decline, other mitigating factors include: ■ Births in the United States have a seasonal pattern. ■ The number of U.S. births has declined every year since 2008 (except for 2014). COVID-19 was declared a national emergency March 13, 2020. The largest percentage of babies conceived after that would be born during or after the first week of December 2020. Evidence that the pandemic affected fertility can be seen starting in December 2020. It is still too soon to make broad conclusions about the pandemic’s effect on U.S. birth trends. But the data so far indicate there was a temporary drop in births amid the pandemic after accounting for other factors that existed before the pandemic — declining births and seasonality.

The Seasonal Effect U.S. births have regular annual cycles; normally increasing in the spring, peak in the summer, decline in the fall and lowest in the winter. Even in the absence of a pandemic, we would expect births to be lower in December and January than in the summer. However, comparing one month during the pandemic to the same month before the pandemic shows a substantial drop that can’t be explained by seasonality. There were 285,138 births in December 2020 — 23,664 (7.66 percent) fewer than in December 2019.

U.S. Births Declining Since 2008 Not all of the decrease in births should

necessarily be attributed to the pandemic. The number of U.S. births has been declining every year since 2008 (except 2014). Between 2000 and 2019, the number of daily births declined an average 0.39 percent a year. The pace of decline accelerated between 2010 and 2019, when the number of daily births dropped on average 0.96 percent a year. But the decline was much steeper in 2020: The average number of daily births was 4.06 percent lower than in 2019. There was a noticeable decline in births especially in the summer. The summer decline suggests 2020 may have already been on track to experience a sharper decline in births than in previous years, even without the pandemic. It is also possible that the pandemic led to a higher rate of conceptions not being carried to term.

Dip and Possible Rebound The winter decrease in births may have been prompted by couples who consciously chose to delay having children amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. It may also have been influenced by stress or limited physical interaction with a sexual partner. There was a substantial decline in births (7.66 percent) in December of 2020 compared to December 2019. January births were down 9.41 percent from 2020 to 2021, and births also declined in February 2021 compared to last year. By March 2021, the decline slowed. Births declined only 0.15 percent between March 2020 and March 2021. This is substantially smaller than the 0.91 percent drop from March 2019 to March 2020. This trend suggests that some people who postponed having babies in 2020 had them in 2021. Source: Anne Morse is a demographer with the U.S. Census Bureau.

1. San Francisco 2. Chicago 3. New York, N.Y. 4. San Diego 5. Honolulu

6. Los Angeles 7. Portland, Ore. 8. Philadelphia 9. Denver 10. Seattle

Tips for someone looking to maintain an active lifestyle on a budget? Build walking or biking into your daily routine as the primary mode of transportation whenever possible. Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each week. Invest and get fitted in the best running/ walking shoe possible for your body and change them every 500 miles. Walk everywhere whenever possible. Take the stairs inside your building, place of work, and outdoors whenever possible.

When you must drive, park as far away from your destination and walk more. Watch YouTube or other free videos for inhome strength, core and flexibility exercises three to four times per week. How can parents encourage children to be active to combat obesity? Children, by design, are natural movers. Therefore, it is up to parents, caregivers and schools to reduce barriers to movement. Model an active lifestyle whenever possible, at least one hour each day. Play basketball, ride bikes, roller skate, dance, hike, jump rope, walk the dog or explore your neighborhood, playgrounds and parks together. Preschool-aged children should be physically active throughout the day to enhance growth and development. Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderateto-vigorous physical activity daily. These activities should include aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening and bonestrengthening activities. To reduce sedentary behavior and sitting, delay giving your child a cell phone until at least eighth grade. Read and play with toddlers under age two instead of tablets, phones or other screens. Limit supervised screen time for toddlers two years and older to one hour a day. Source: Sandy Bargainnier, State University of New York at Oswego

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

R O C K F O R D

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

economic development Rockforward Key Economic Indicators Progress

RAEDC releases 2022 Quick Reference Guide The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) has released the 2022 version of the Quick Reference Guide. This annual publication featured information about Winnebago County and the Rockford Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Winnebago and Boone counties. The RAEDC supplies the community data each year as a regional snapshot utilizing nationally recognized data sources. This publication includes information on population, largest employers and industries that are key to our region, such as advanced manufacturing and logistics/distribution. Other important data includes quality of place and statistical information about the people that call our region home, to provide a well-rounded representation about the region. The 2022 version includes additional data points including additional

demographic expanded

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section

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the

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employers in the region and information on logistics and distribution. This is in addition to the information traditionally found in the Quick Reference Guide. Information like this is used when people are relocating into the area as well as when the RAEDC responds to Requests for Information for real estate professionals, brokers and site selectors. This is especially important when we talk about our customized education to workforce pipelines, the support of the 7:2:1 workforce ratio, our skilled workforce and the cost of doing business in the region. All of the information and data points in this publication demonstrate why we are Your Opportunity Region. Download the Quick Reference Guide at: RockfordIL.com/QuickReferenceGuide

Attending MAC2022 Registration for MAC2022 is open! MAC2022 creates connections, discusses innovation and strengthens supply chains and opportunities for attendees and exhibitors. One of the primary functions of MAC2022 is matchmaking and networking. MAC2022 features Dr. Ronald Sega as the keynote speaker and Dr. Kevin Michaels with an aerospace industry update, provides matchmaking opportunities and continues the discussion about innovation, cybersecurity and emerging technology. Innovation and technology are the heart and soul of aerospace. Registration includes access to workshops, exhibitions and presentations tackling key topics relevant to the aerospace industry from cybersecurity to supplier development and workforce development to electriﬁcation. Learn more about registration and the exhibitors attending at MidwestAerospaceConference.com. See you on March 10, 2022!

Figure 1

The current Rockforward strategy began Jan. 1, 2016 and will now continue through Dec. 31, 2022. 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 daily 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, 2021, the region has reported the following ﬁgures towards the progress of the Rockforward goals.

We have exceeded the capital investment goal and are closing in on the other two goals. (See Figure 1) The creation of the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership, the uniﬁcation initiative, means our region has an aligned vision to reach these three key economic indicators as part of the Rockforward strategic plan. The successes of our region’s economic development is made possible through the support of our investors and is a critical component of creating a businessand lifestyle-friendly region that is competitive with our Midwestern neighbors.

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THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

SPECIAL SECTION Wealth Management — Estate Planning

Big yearly gains in living-wage jobs, wages, according to Ludwig Institute In spite of significant year-over-year gains, inflation looms The percentage of Americans defined as “functionally unemployed” took the biggest drop year-over-year in more than 25 years, according to the December 2021 True Rate of Unemployment (TRU), released by the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity in its monthly report. It also released its quarterly True Weekly Earnings (TWE) report for the fourth quarter of 2021. While worker earnings posted significant gains over the past year, growth stagnated in the latter part of 2021 due to inflationary pressures, LISEP found. TRU is a measure of the functionally unemployed — the jobless, plus those seeking but unable to secure full-time

employment paying above the poverty line. TWE is a measure of real median weekly earnings after adjusting for inflation and differs from the data issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through inclusion of all members of the workforce, including parttime workers and the unemployed. The LISEP December report showed that 23.3 percent of the American workforce is unable to secure a full-time job paying above the poverty level. This is a 2.6 percent drop from January 2021. The increase in living-wage jobs resulted in an overall increase in median weekly earnings over the past year, with the TWE report climbing from $844 per week in Q4 of 2020 to $862 per week in Q4 of 2021.

Survey shows how Americans are navigating financial uncertainty A survey from Quicken Inc., highlighted Americans’ uncertainty about the economy and their financial wellbeing in the years ahead. At the start of a new year and amid recent market volatility, there are two major financial concerns on the minds of Americans: inflation and a potential stock market crash. The SurveyMonkey online poll was conducted in January 2022 on a sample of 1,200 U.S. adults, ages 18 to 74, from the Cint consumer network. The survey found that inflation, which is at 7%, is a top concern for Americans. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (71%) ranked inflation among the top three issues they’re most worried about at the moment, followed by new COVID-19 variants, supply chain disruptions and a stock market crash. Retirement and job security, which often are cited as major worries for Americans, surprisingly fell to the bottom of the list of issues respondents are most worried about today. “It’s important to understand exactly how economic changes, such as inflation and an unsteady stock market, impact our daily lives, and to have a handle on your personal finances so that you are prepared for the uncertainties ahead,” said Quicken CEO Eric Dunn.

Varied Opinions on Stock Market In addition to managing the impact of today’s inflation, more than half of Americans (52%) agree that there will be a stock market crash in the next five years. Of the people who see a stock market crash on the horizon, 58% think it will impact their finances negatively. But not everyone views a potential crash as all bad. Some Americans saw the financial gains that bold investors made from the 2008 stock market crash and are preparing to capitalize for the next one. In fact, more than half (52%) of investors who consider themselves ‘aggressive’

are likely to say the 2008 crash benefited them financially, as compared to just 18% of conservative investors. The survey also found 71% of aggressive investors, compared to 20% of conservative investors, believe a stock market crash in the future would benefit them financially. Further, 35% of people who think there’s going to be a crash in the next five years agree that they are waiting for a stock market crash to invest some extra cash. Gen Z and millennial respondents also noted potential upsides to a crash. 41% of Gen Z and 36% of millennials agree that they are waiting for a stock market crash to invest some extra cash. Another 30% of Gen Z and 28% of millennials are waiting for a market crash to begin investing altogether. A quarter of all respondents are waiting for a housing market crash to buy a home; this jumps to nearly 40% for Gen Z and millennials.

How are Americans Preparing? Many Americans are also adjusting their portfolios to weather potential volatility ahead. Thirty-seven percent of respondents already have or plan to adjust their asset allocation in 2022 in preparation for a stock market crash. Notably, people with higher income — 49% of people who have an income between $200,000-499,000 and 73% of people who make more than $500,000 — and younger generations — 49% of Gen Z and 46% of millennials — are most likely to have already made or plan to make adjustments to their asset allocation in preparation for a crash. If a stock market crash occurs, respondents are most likely to ride it out and not do anything (41%) or buy individual stocks (42%). Over a quarter (26%) of respondents said they are likely to move money into an alternative asset like crypto or NFT.

“It’s fantastic that we are starting the new year in better shape than we started the prior one in terms of earnings and living-wage jobs, but trends are emerging that may threaten gains we have seen for low- and middle-income workers over the past year,” said LISEP Chairman Gene Ludwig. “While inflation has affected everyone, it can’t be ignored that corporate profits are at an all-time high. This is emerging as an inflationary cycle primarily affecting the low- and middle-class – giving rise to inflation inequality. “While the one-year horizon certainly

indicates an economy in recovery, recent

Whom Do They Trust?

■ 29% of respondents are likely to do what their family or friends suggest in the event of a stock market crash.

In the event of a crash, Americans across generations are likely to do what their financial advisor suggests, while Gen Z and millennials are much more likely than older generations to listen to their family and friends or turn to social media for advice. ■ 49% of respondents are likely to do what their financial advisor suggests in the event of a stock market crash.

inflationary trends pose a threat to the gains realized by low-and middle-income workers over the past year,” Ludwig said. “Policymakers need to recognize that the yardstick used to measure the economy as a whole is not a true indicator of the status of low- and middle-income families, and it’s the success of this group that will be critical to a sustainable, long-term economic recovery.” Source: Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity

■ 16% of respondents would turn to social media for advice in the event of a stock market crash. Younger generations are most likely to turn to social media, with 21% of Gen Z and 29% of millennials selecting social platforms as a source for advice.

SPECIAL SECTION Wealth Management — Estate Planning

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

Those married once, more likely than others to have retirement savings Examining diﬀerences in retirement savings How many times you marry and whether you have children with one or more partners can have continual and lasting impacts on retirement finances. Based on 2018 data, many adults approaching retirement age may not be financially prepared to retire: 49% of adults ages 55 to 66 had no personal retirement savings in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation. The SIPP is a nationally representative longitudinal survey administered by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides comprehensive information on the dynamics of income, employment, household composition and government program participation. As the U.S. population ages, examining differences in retirement savings within the context of family history sheds light on whether men and women are prepared for retirement.

Do Men or Women Have More Retirement Savings? About 50% of women ages 55 to 66 have no personal retirement savings, compared to 47% of men. Women also lag men at the other end of the spectrum: 22% of women have $100,000 or more in personal retirement savings compared to 30% of men. Women and men have more comparable retirement savings when couples’ savings are combined with personal savings. However, there is still a smaller percentage of women who have retirement savings of $100,000 or more compared with their male counterparts (34.2% compared to 36.4%).

How Does Marital History Affects Retirement Savings? Marriage, divorce, widowhood, and any change in marital status can have lasting impacts on finances and savings. Those married had more savings than those single and those married two or more times. The same pattern occurs looking at men and women separately. Among both men and women, adults married once are less likely to have no retirement savings and more likely to have $100,000 or more in

retirement savings, compared to those who have never been married and those who have been married two or more times.

How Do Children Impact Retirement Savings? Whether an adult has biological children and whether they have children with multiple partners can have financial impacts across the life course, and specifically influence retirement savings. Those married and single who have children with one partner had more savings

that those with multiple-partner fertility. Among adults who have never married, those who have children with a single partner are more likely to have no retirement savings than those with no children (72.7% compared to 52.7%). In addition, a larger percentage of never married adults who have children with multiple partners have no retirement savings than never married parents with a single partner (81.7% compared to 72.7%). Source: Brittany King, U.S. Census Bureau

How small business owners can deduct their home office from their taxes The home office deduction allows qualified taxpayers to deduct certain home expenses when they file taxes. Confusion might come in the sharp increase in the numbers working from home. The IRS reiterated that employees are not eligible to claim the home office deduction on their 2021 tax return.

Can You Claim It? Those eligible can deduct items such as mortgage interest, insurance, utilities, repairs, maintenance, depreciation and rent. It’s available to both homeowners and renters.

What is “Home” (for Purposes of this Deduction)? Home includes a house, apartment, condominium, mobile home or boat. Also structures on a property, such as an unattached garage, studio, barn or greenhouse. Does not include any

part of the taxpayer’s property used exclusively as a hotel, motel, inn or similar business.

Two Basic Requirements for the Taxpayer’s Home There generally must be exclusive use of a portion of the home for conducting business on a regular basis. For example, a taxpayer who uses an extra room to run their business can take a home oﬃce deduction only for that extra room so long as it is used both regularly and exclusively in the business. The home must generally be the taxpayer’s principal place of business. A taxpayer can also meet this requirement if administrative or management activities are conducted at the home and there is no other location to perform these duties. Therefore, someone who conducts business outside of their home but also uses their home to conduct business may still qualify for a home oﬃce deduction.

Expenses that relate to a separate structure not attached to the home may qualify for a home oﬃce deduction. They will qualify only if the structure is used exclusively and regularly for business.

Two Methods to Calculate the Deduction The simplified option has a rate of $5 a square foot for business use of the home. The maximum size for this option is 300 square feet. The maximum deduction under this method is $1,500. When using the regular method, deductions for a home office are based on the percentage of the home devoted to business use. Taxpayers who use a whole room or part of a room for conducting their business need to figure out the percentage of the home used for business activities to deduct indirect expenses. Direct expenses are deducted in full.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

Former businessman, Rockford Chamber board member passes peacefully

Comcast RISE applications now open to all women-owned small businesses Millions in grants, marketing services available to grow businesses One year after its launch, Comcast announced that its Comcast RISE program is open to all women-owned businesses in its footprint, including those in the Rockford area. Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment (RISE) is a multi-year commitment to provide marketing, creative, media and technology services to small businesses owned by people of color or women. The program has provided more than $60 million in grants, marketing and technology services to more than 6,700 small businesses owned by people of color – including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and Asian Americans. Nearly 550 were in the company’s Greater Chicago Region.

Offering Growth Services Businesses that qualify have the opportunity to receive marketing consultations, media placements, commercial creative production services or technology services from Effectv and Comcast Business. Selected businesses could receive one or more of the following: Consulting. Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to grow your business. Media. A linear TV media schedule, over a 90-day period. Creative Production. Turnkey production of a 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and 90-day media placement schedule. Technology Makeover. Computer equipment and internet, voice and cybersecurity services for 12 months. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)

Monetary Grant. In 2021, Comcast RISE announced $11 million in grants to 1,100 businesses across select metropolitan areas. Each business received $10,000 to invest in its own growth and sustainability.

Investing in Women Pays Off According to a study by the National Association of Women Business Owners, 42 percent of businesses in the United States are owned by women, and women start more than 1,800 new businesses each day. That’s nearly five times the national average. But according to the same study, women-owned businesses tend to grow at only half the rate of those run by men, namely because women struggle to access capital and other resources to help them succeed. “The data about how women, a rapidly increasing number of whom are small business owners, have fared during the pandemic is stark,” said Karen Cahn, founder & CEO of IFundWomen. “Women business owners tend to have limited access to capital and debt-free funding options, yet they represent a tremendous opportunity. Women-owned businesses deliver two times higher revenue per dollar invested than those founded by men, making them great investments.” Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs, like Comcast RISE, and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The next wave of applications for Comcast RISE Marketing & Technology Services will close on June 17, 2022. Visit www.ComcastRISE.com.

Women of color account for 89 percent of the new businesses opened in the past year, largely due to the rise of necessity entrepreneurs, those who start their own business after losing a job, to supplement their income or for more flexibility in their lives.

William (Bill) Fisher, age 85, formerly of Cherry Valley, Ill., passed away peacefully in his Ft. Myers, Fla., home on Jan. 16. The Rockford native and Rockford East High School graduate founded Fisher’s Appliance and TV Centers and grew it to 10 stores, with hundreds of employees. He won the Forward Rockford Award, Illinois Retailer of the Year, National Merchandiser of the Year and National Retailer of the Year. He served on dozens of advisory roles for retail associations, most notably as board member, vice president, president and chairman of the board for NARDA and board member, vice president and president of MARTA. He was the longest-seated board member in history for both organizations. Fisher served as chairman of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce from 1981 to 82. Other board positions: Rockford Memorial Hospital

Foundation, Northern Illinois Epilepsy Association, The Valley Bank of Illinois, Alpine Bank, Cherry Valley School District 205 and the Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago. He was a Commissioner for the Winnebago County Police Department, a long time Shriner, and served as “Member of the Divan,” Potentate and Past Potentate for the Tebala Shrine in Rockford. An avid pilot, Bill flew nearly 150 round trip flights to the Shriners Burn Hospital in Cincinnati. Each flight was free transportation for a burn victim (and their family). He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years Charlene Fisher, sister Jan Bauer, and great grandson Eli McHugh. He is survived by his brother John Fisher, his four children, Kevin Fisher, Lori (Fisher) Reyes, Jennifer (Fisher) Chamberlain, Kimberly (Fisher) Monson, his 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Proposed Indoor Equestrian Center at Lockwood Park Park district incorporating horses into traditional clinical interventions

The Rockford Park Board is moving forward on the idea of developing an indoor riding arena at Lockwood Park. Based on a series of stakeholder meetings in August 2021, customer surveys, like the 2018 Community Engagement Survey, and benchmark data, an indoor equestrian center was determined the most important need for the park. In particular, it would help youth living with mental health issues, developmental disabilities, trauma, domestic abuse and substance abuse gain valuable recreation-based life skills through evidence-based, year-round, equineassisted activities. The park district is pursuing funding opportunities to secure the estimated $4 million needed. The Perks Family Foundation pledged $500,000 towards the project.

“We chose to invest in this project because it is one of the only places in our region where our children can blossom through the connection to horses,” said Doug and Lach Perks. “Our family believes that this equine center can help serve our community and provide a new avenue to help those with mental health issues. This connection to horses teaches, in a very deep, impactful way, how to listen and respond to others without speaking, how to care and feel without embarrassment, and how to achieve without bullying.” The district also received a $50,000 donation from the Smith Charitable Trust. Staﬀ is asking for park board approval to apply for a grant to the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board for capital and operational support of the project.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

legislative LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

Syverson Cosponsors Legislation: The Voter Empowerment Project State Senator Dave Syverson cosponsored Constitutional reform legislation on Jan. 18. The Voter Empowerment Project includes four Senate Joint ResolutionConstitutional Amendments: 1. Requirements for an independent redistricting commission made up of 17

commissioners, seven representing the Democratic Party, seven representing the Republican Party, and three independent commissioners. The ﬁrst redistricting process would occur in 2023 and then after every subsequent federal decennial census.

2. Illinois voters could circulate petitions for and vote on many key issues such as taxation, redistricting and other important constitutional provisions. 3. Citizens could initiate up-ordown referendums on newly passed laws; giving citizens the right to veto unpopular or rushed legislation.

Stadelman Voices Support for Times Theater Restoration

Stadelman Cosponsors Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act

State Senator Steve Stadelman and State Representative Maurice West joined local officials in January to show support for plans to redevelop the historic Times Theater in downtown Rockford on North Main Street. Proponents of the long vacant 1938 auditorium seek $3 million in assistance from the Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets Capital Grant program, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, toward a $14 million total restoration. The vision is for the facility to host live performances and films for audiences of 600 to 900, filling a mid-size gap between the Coronado Performing Arts Center and the Nordlof stage.

State Senator Steve Stadelman cosponsored legislation that would allow consumers to buy directly from smartphone apps; avoiding a 30 percent fee smartphone companies currently collect — a move that beneﬁts Illinois companies including local newspapers that could directly enroll paid subscribers. Senate Bill 3417 would establish the Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act to provide smartphone app companies with the legal right to do business directly with their customers, overriding current smartphone app store policies. Current policies force customers to pay the smartphone company — Google or Apple — not the app company providing the service. Google and Apple charge as much as 30 percent of total revenues, extracting hundreds of millions from Illinois companies. Stadelman, instrumental in the legislation to create a Local Journalism Task Force, said local newspapers would beneﬁt by being able to use smartphone technology to enroll paid subscribers. The task force will study and recommend ways to revive the collapsing local journalism industry, especially newspapers.

4. Voters could recall elected officials including any executive branch officer, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, the Auditor General, members of the General Assembly, and local government officials. Currently, only the Governor is subject to recall.

Rockford a Focus of the State’s Effort to Prevent Gun Violence Rockford was named as one of 10 cities outside of Chicago to receive state funding under Illinois’ new Reimagine Public Safety Act. Rockford will share in $50 million being spent statewide this year on frontline, community-based efforts to address addiction, mental illness, youth trauma and other underlying causes of firearm violence. Another $200 million is expected to be spent on RPSA programs in 2023 and 2024. RPSA creates the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention under the Illinois Department of Human Services with individuals named to serve on local advisory councils to oversee distribution of funds to local organizations.

Rockford Mayor Highlights Some Actions Done in 2021 The Mayor’s Oﬃce under Rockford Mayor Thomas P. McNamara worked with City Council to establish a Civilian Oversight Board for the Rockford Police Department. The seven-member citizen board will monitor community complaints and the internal investigations of those complaints and review use of force incidents. The board will help identify areas for improvement and solutions to continue building trust between residents and the department. Information on how to apply for the board will be available soon. The City of Rockford approved

a $200,000 long-term loan to create a Community Development Financial Institution in partnership with Rockford Local Development Corporation. The CDFI will provide ﬁnancial products and services to create economic opportunity in lowand moderate-income communities. The City of Rockford approved using $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to establish a Critical Residential Repair Program with Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity. Home repairs will be made on 50 homes owned by low- to moderateincome homeowners in Rockford. Revenue from the temporary

Rockford casino will fund the Rockford Promise Northern Illinois University Scholarship for Rockford Public School students who live in Rockford and earn a 3.0 GPA. It provides the opportunity to earn a degree at NIU tuition and general fees free. Local taxes gathered on adultuse cannabis retail sales is funding the REGROW Grants program for reinvestment and wealth creation for disproportionately impacted communities, individuals and families due to long-lasting negative impacts caused by more than 80 years of cannabis prohibition

laws. It’s also going towards a health literacy initiative to address the social determinants of health in Rockford. The city, along with Nexamp and ComEd, launched a new 15-year program to provide solar energy beneﬁts and savings to low- and moderate-income citizens in the Rockford area for free without taxpayer dollars. The city approved a development agreement with SiFi Networks to advance a Citywide Fiber Optic Network with ﬁber optic cable to be installed in front of every residence and business in the city over the next four years.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

business

BUSINESS BRIEFS

WATT Global Media hosted the feed conference and showcase, World Poultry Trends, at the International Production & Processing Expo, Jan. 25 to 27 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. WATT showcased its current publications, newly acquired Feed & Grain brand and upcoming events for 2022. Winnebago County hired womanowned KMK Media Group to develop its new website. On the heels of its state certification, KMK received certification from the City of Rockford as a Woman Business Enterprise. Rosecrance, a member of the Boone County Behavioral Health Task Force, expanded its crisis response services in Boone County thanks to a threeyear grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. It will provide a mental health clinician to work with the county’s community law enforcement officer on mental health-related calls and link residents in crisis to services. Mercyhealth Development Foundation’s Holiday Give a Gift Drive in 2021 raised more than $12,500 in gift cards and monetary donations to benefit patients and families of the neonatal intensive care unit at Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside. Stroll on State, presented by Illinois Bank & Trust, drew an estimated 62,500 guests to downtown Rockford, a significant increase from the last in-person event in 2019 that was impacted due to inclement weather. Rockford Park District’s Therapeutic Recreation Winter/Spring 2022 Program Guide is available at rockfordparkdistrict.org/therapeutic and customer service locations. The Winter 2022 Program Guide is available online at www. rockfordparkdistrict.org/guides. Rock House Kids hosted its annual Christmas Gift Wrapping Event in December. Volunteers wrapped more than 1,000 gifts for the Rock House Kids Christmas Party. Barbara Olson Center of Hope received a $1,000 grant from Powertrain Rockford to be used for training programs for people with developmental disabilities. Brian Thomas Photography, partnered with Diamond Assets in Milton, Wis., to create and capture marketing photography. The business was named a preferred vendor by Rockford Casino (Hard Rock Casino Rockford) for marketing photography. Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois launched its free Accelerate program for adults ages 18 to 24 in Winnebago, Boone or Stephenson counties in need of a second chance after involvement in the legal system.

The program will include free training and career opportunities in truck driving, forklift operation and the warehouse industry. Classes take place at 850 N. Church St., Rockford. Register at 815-408-1557. Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Global Action Sports Solutions for $105,017 to complete design and build services as a part of Phase 1 of the trails construction at Alpine Hills Adventure Park. Grant funding was received from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for $68,600. The 1.2-mile trail will be built speciﬁcally for beginner level riders but also will oﬀer technical features such as log rides and boulder causeways. It will connect to the surrounding neighborhoods, allowing neighbors direct access without having to drive. The snow park currently is open for tubing and snowboarding. The district will continue to make snow and enhance the terrain park features throughout the season. The Rockford Christian High School Robotics team hosted meet three of the Rockford Area First Tech Challenge. Robotics teams designed, built, programmed and operated robots and competed in a head-tohead challenge leading to the qualifying tournament of teams from across northern Illinois. That tournament determined which team represents in the state tournament. N-able received Entré Computer Solutions’ 2021 Vendor of the Year award. The cyber security workspace leader enabled Entré to be more proactive with client security patches, monitoring and support and was essential in managing the company’s exponential growth in 2021. The YMCA of Rock River Valley received two grants from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The $20,284 grant supports the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program. The $6,097 grant supports the YMCA Achievers program. Feed Strategy magazine, part of WATT Global Media, announced the launch of the 2022 European LIVE Feed Congress, co-located at VIV Europe on May 30, 2022 at Jaarbeurs Exhibition Centre in Utrecht, the Netherlands. First National Bank and Trust raised $520 for United Way Blackhawk Region. For a donation of $1, patrons visiting the bank during the Holidazzle event in downtown Beloit could enjoy a beverage and snacks. Rockford Area Arts Council announced the recipients of the 2022 Community Arts Access Grants: River District Association with 317 Art Collective, Artists’ Ensemble

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

Theater, Boone County Arts Council, Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois, Seventh Street Coffee/Katie’s Cup, RAMP, Rock and Roll Institute, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Rockford University, Rockford Wind Ensemble, Sinnissippi Quilters, Stepping Stones of Rockford Inc., The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties, Village of Mt. Morris, West Side Show Room and Womanspace, Inc. Rockford Park District’s Golf Performance Academy is open for all ages and skill levels led by PGA/ LPGA members, PGA/LPGA apprentices and Rockford Park District certified instructors. Indoor sessions begin early February and early March, 2022 at the Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two. Register at golfrockford.org. The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Community Grants Program, with support from the United Cerebral Palsy of Blackhawk Region Fund, awarded RAMP a $25,000 grant for its Project SEARCH program. RAMP received a $10,000 grant from The Smith Charitable Foundation for Fast Track Services, which helps high school students with disabilities by encouraging enrollment in college, preparing for employment or career opportunities and independent living. Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club retained its certification with Audubon International and was designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary; one of only 89 courses in the world so designated. It was noted by Audubon to show a strong commitment to its environmental program and preserving the area’s natural heritage by protecting the local watershed and providing sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property. Rockford IceHogs announced incentives for season tickets for the upcoming IceHogs season. All new members who purchase 2022 to 2023 season tickets are eligible for complimentary tickets for IceHogs games and one Chicago Blackhawks game. IceHogs also will offer three incentive periods with benefits to encourage early ticket purchase. Visit icehogs.com. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the fifth-annual UScellular Black History Month Art Contest

launched. Boys & Girls Club of Rockford members will create original artwork in recognition of influential Black icons in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Finalists will be chosen and their artwork digitally displayed, Feb. 1 to 28. Anyone 18 and older can vote for their favorite. The top three votegetters will be announced in March. Find art content details at newsroom. uscellular.com. Thayer Energy Solutions added a 2021 Electric Mustang Mach-E to its fleet of vehicles to help promote Electric Vehicle Chargers for both residential and commercial use. With the help of V2 Marketing & Management and Image Signs, the “electric” design on the vehicle was brought to life. MarshBerry named CoyleKiley Insurance Agency, Inc., the 2021 Midwest Regional Winner of its MAX Performer award; given to an independent firm that has strong financials and fosters a client-first culture throughout the entirety of the company. Community Foundation of Northern Illinois gave RAMP a $1,250 grant from the In Youth We Trust Fund to help support classroom needs for Project SEARCH. Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc., reported record earnings for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021 with net income of $13.62 million, exceeding the previous year’s net income of $10.85 million by 26 percent. Jefferson High School will host a reunion for the Class of 1972 on June 11 with a tour of the “Old Jefferson,” (currently Flinn Middle School) and an evening get together at the Lombardi Club. Contact Jeffersonclassof72@ aol.com or visit the Facebook group, Jefferson J-Hawks Class of 1972. Rock River Valley Blood Center is continuing to test for COVID-19 antibodies on all successful blood donations. The antibody testing began in August 2020. Prior to November 2021, it could only detect antibodies from the virus, not the vaccine. Since that time, RRVBC began more comprehensive testing which identifies antibodies from both the virus and the vaccine.

For Up-to-date Event Information, visit rockfordchamber.com

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

in the news

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

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

1. Elizabeth Andekian

2. Venessa Glendenning

3. Ken Thompson

4. Jorge Bueno Arguello

5. Seth Gronewold

6. Todd Shankland

7. Miranda Zuroske

8. Dr. James Hall

9. Tom Walsh

10. Anthony Brown

11. Don Schreiner

12. Zach Rice

13. Crystal Gulley

14. Tracey Anderson

15. Dan Yesbeck

16. Molly Beckford

BOARD APPOINTMENTS The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners accepted a letter of resignation from Commissioner Ian Linnabary, who expressed his intent to focus on select community projects and programs. He’s been commissioner since 2011.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS OSF HealthCare hired Elizabeth Andekian (1), APRN, primary care, OSF Medical Group – Primary Care – Rock Cut, and Vanessa Glendenning (2), FNP, primary care, OSF Medical Group – Primary Care – Guilford Square. Fehr Graham announced the retirement of longtime owner Ken Thompson (3) and the hiring of Marlyn Ripalda as designer and Jorge Bueno Arguello (4) as

engineering technician in the Rockford office. Seth Gronewold (5), project manager, and Todd Shankland (6), chief financial officer, joined the ownership group. Miranda Zuroske (7 joined the Freeport office as EHS specialist. J.L. Clark welcomed Laura Martinez as vice president of financial planning and analysis in Rockford and Daniel Pedia as mechanical engineer in Lancaster, Pa. James Hall, M.D. (8), board certified cardiothoracic surgeon, joined Mercyhealth Heart and Vascular Center–Rockford. Therese Michels joined Mercyhealth as media relations specialist. Midland Wealth Management, a division of Midland States Bank, hired Tonia Maly as senior portfolio manager in Rockford. Tom Walsh (9), president and CEO,

Northwest Bank, announced his retirement eﬀective June 30, 2022.

underwriter. Jamie Keltner (17) transitioned into underwriting.

Anthony Brown (10) assumed duties as CEO of OrthoIllinois; replacing former CEO Don Schreiner (11), who retired on Dec. 31 after 22 years with the organization.

Hard Rock named Geno Iafrate (18) as president of its new Rockford Casino.

Zach Rice (12) joined M3 Insurance as employee beneﬁts account executive focused on Rockford and northern Illinois region. Donna Murphy, Wisconsin marketing representative, retired from Rockford Mutual Insurance Company. The company hired Crystal Gulley (13) as customer service specialist II and Tracey Anderson (14) as claims representative. Dan Yesbeck (15) was promoted to assistant vice president of information technology and Molly Beckford (16) to farm

Edward ‘Teddy’ Aribisala (19), MBA, joined as director of oncology services for OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford appointed Funminiyi A. Taylor (20), M.D., MEd, FACOG, as chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology. Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley announced assistant state’s attorney appointments: Kris Carpenter and David Smith, criminal unit; Lucy Hoﬀman, juvenile unit; Sandra Paulson, domestic violence unit; and Luke Ranard and Ryan

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in December 2021 A-1 Lapping & Machine Co. Inc. Arc Design Resources, Inc. Artale Wine Co. Barnstormer Distillery (formerly GrantView Distillery) BMO Harris Bank Center Campos Construction, Inc. Catholic Diocese of Rockford Children’s Home & Aid CIT Trucks City of Rockford - Human Services Department Collins Aerospace Edward Jones - Michelle Bowman, AAMS, CRPC, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Erna Colborn, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Karre J. Cromwell, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Lea Evers, CFP®, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor

Edward Jones - Bryan G. Orvis, Financial Advisor

Hicksgas Belvidere

Edward Jones - Jenny Redington, CRPC®, Financial Advisor

Home2 Suites by Hilton

Edward Jones - Jen Reisinger, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor Edward Jones - Maren Sanders, Financial Advisor Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront & Rockford Conference Center Embassy Suites - The Top Embassy Suites The Tower Kitchen & Bar First Class General Contracting First National Bank and Trust - Rockton First National Bank and Trust - Roscoe G & O Landscaping Inc. Gehrke Construction, General Contractors Hennig, Inc.

Rockford Promise

Holmertz-Parsons, CPA’s

Rockford Roasting Company

Jason’s Deli

Rockford Woman’s Club/ Rockford Theatre

Kelley Williamson Company

The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful KMK Media Group, Inc. Lindstrom, Sorenson & Associates, LLP

Market Dimensions, Inc.

SVL Productions The Observer The Workforce Connection TLC Construction

Meiborg, Inc.

University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Mrs. Fisher’s, Inc.

University of Illinois College of Nursing - Rockford Campus

Nothing Bundt Cakes

University of Illinois-Chicago College of Pharmacy at Rockford

Midwest Packaging and Container Northern Illinois Health Plan Olson Enterprises LLC Pierce Distribution Services Company Powertrain Rockford, Inc. Rock River Energy Services, Inc. Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Inc.

Winnebago County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit Winnebago County-River Bluﬀ Nursing Home workplace

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

in the news

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

17. Jamie Keltner

23. Ashley Reed

18. Geno Iafrate

24. Mary Ann Laudicina

Shaneer, misdemeanor unit. Collin Dougherty was appointed director of the Deferred Prosecution Program. Administrative assistant appointments: Kaidyn Goodman and Sarah Minnis, domestic violence unit, and Courtney Nelson, records unit. Many 7-11 law students and interns also were welcomed. Alignment Rockford welcomed Emily Klonicki (21) as its new executive director; replacing Anisha Grimmett. Sonya McCoy and Desiree Metzger joined Weichert, Realtors® - Tovar Properties’ team of agents. Nancy Epperson (22) joined the CoyleKiley team as employee benefits account manager and Ashley Reed (23) as commercial property & casualty account manager. M3 Insurance announced seven new company shareholders: Beth Dettman, chief financial officer; Brad Winchester, director of construction & real estate practice; Brian Meyer, director of risk

19. Edward 'Teddy' Aribisala

25. Kate Rosenwinkel

20. Dr. Funminiyi A. Taylor

26. Kristina Hawthorne

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS Mary Ann Laudicina (24) completed Baird’s Financial Advisor Training Program and now is a ﬁnancial advisor at Baird. The Rockford Symphony Orchestra board passed a resolution conferring Steven Larsen, music director, with the lifetime title of music director emeritus. Nate Goodloe, Weichert, Realtors - Tovar Properties, completed the Weichert Real Estate Aﬃliates, Inc. Fast Track training program.

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company announced Kate Rosenwinkel (25), assistant manager of commercial underwriting, as its 2021 Associate of the Year.

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

50-YEAR MEMBERS

20-YEAR MEMBERS

Comcast Business YMCA of Rock River Valley Camp Winnebago YMCA Children’s Learning Center YMCA Northeast Family YMCA Puri Family YMCA SwedishAmerican Riverfront YMCA

City Fire Fighters Unions IAFF Local 413 Pierce Laminated Products, Inc.

30-YEAR MEMBER

Flood Pros Nothing Bundt Cakes Stepping Stones of Rockford, Inc.

Rockford Woman’s Club/ Rockford Theatre

25 YEAR MEMBERS Boy Scouts of America, Blackhawk Area Council Employers’ Coalition on Health (ECOH) Frink’s Sewer & Drain Inc.

10-YEAR MEMBER Giordano’s

5-YEAR MEMBERS

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

21. Emily Klonicki

27. Jason Clancy

management-employee beneﬁts; Chris Halverson, risk management sales director/director of disaster response & recovery; Jeﬀ Anderson, senior account executive; Katie Ott, director of worksite practice, and Tom Schmidt, business development executive.

22. Nancy Epperson

28. Rex Roth

Entré Computer Solutions named Kristina Hawthorne (26), senior Avaya telecommunications engineer, and Jason Clancy (27), senior network engineer, as its 2021 Co-Employees of the Year. Rockford Area Arts Council, in

partnership with the Rockford Public Library and the City of Rockford, named Giulyana Gamero, junior, Auburn High School, as the 2022 City of Rockford Youth Poet Laureate. Forest City Gear congratulated Wendy Young, president & CEO, for being named the 2021 Individual Business Catalyst of the Year by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Michaela Harris, Section 3 compliance manager, received the December Rockford Housing Authority Director’s Spotlight Award.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Rockford Christian Schools announced the passing of its founder, Rex Roth (28). He founded Rockford Christian Day Camp in 1960, before growing it into an internationally recognized institution that serves students Pre-K to 12th Grade.

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

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS AMERICAN FACTORY OUTLET

KUBORN CONSULTING LLC

Food wholesaler 4790 Colt Road, 61109 Fayez Ahmad 708-506-9592

Executive coaching and HR consulting services, specializing in organizational eﬀectiveness. Kim Kuborn 815-218-0861 www.kubornconsulting.com

ANGELIC ORGANICS LEARNING CENTER Nonproﬁt helping urban and rural people build local food systems 1545 Rockton Road Caledonia, IL 61011 Jackie de Batista 815-389-8455 www.learngrowconnect.org

BURN BOOT CAMP A boutique gym 5615 Wansford Way, 61109 Stacey Allen 815-217-9373 www.burnbootcamp.com

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD We create real estate solutions to prepare our clients for what’s next. 9500 W. Bryn Mawr, Ste. 600 Rosemont, IL 60018 Al Caruana 847-720-1326 www.cushmanwakeﬁeld.com

PULSE TECHNOLOGY Copier, printers and business solutions sales. Dawn Reints 815-654-4115 www.pulsetechnology.com

ROCKFORD ICEHOGS Professional sports team 300 Elm St., 61101 Ryan Snider 815-986-6465 www.icehogs.com

STAFFING TOGETHER Professional staﬃng and placement 2720 Dundee Road, Ste. 225 Northbrook, IL 60062 Carey Rothbardt 888-908-6922 www.staﬃngtogether.com

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

February 2022

community

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WEBINARS

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

FEBRUARY 2021

practices. Register by Feb. 15 at 815-964-6666.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25

University of Illinois Extension hosts Intro to Fruit Tree Pruning, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Elizabeth Community Building, Hwy. 20 W. Elizabeth, Ill., and Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St. The Zoom webinar will be Feb. 11, 3 to 5 p.m. Register at go.illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, opened Discovery Town, an exhibit running through May for children to learn about the people and places that make a community. Sponsored in part by Smith Charitable Foundation and JL Clark. Reservations required at www.discoverycentermuseum.org or 815-963-6769. Thayer Energy Solutions hosts Spot the Mustang, a contest in the Rockford region through April 30 to help bring awareness to electric vehicle chargers. Spot the 2021 Electric Mustang Mach-E, a part of the Thayer company ﬂeet, and post a photo to the Thayer Energy Solutions Facebook page for a chance to win one of four $100 gift cards to Greenﬁre restaurant. Visit RechargeRockford.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Softball players 50 and up are invited to drop-in sessions at Rockford Park District’s Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Sessions are Mondays and Thursdays through March 31, 10 a.m. to noon, Bring your own equipment. Visit mercyhealthsportscore.com/isc or call 815-987-8890.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Rockford Park District hosts Frosty Fridays discounted indoor public ice skating sessions every Friday, 8 to 10 p.m., at Carlson Ice Arena, 4150 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park, through March 25. Visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/skating or call 815-969-4069.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated – Rockford Alumnae Chapter, Rock Valley College ISS Intercultural Student Services and Rockford Branch NAACP present the ﬁrst-annual College Fair in the RVC student center atrium, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford. Features schools such as Howard University, Spelman College, Fisk University, Lincoln University, Northern Illinois University and Judson College. Admission free for high school students.

Comedian and podcaster Theo Von will bring his Return of the Rat tour to the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, at 8 p.m. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com, the Coronado box oﬃce or call 815-968-5222.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Discovery Center Museum announces its lineup of science enrichment classes, January to May for homeschool and remote learning students, ages 7 and older.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Heritage Museum Park, 1129 S. Main St., Rockford, opens for the 2022 season. The African American Gallery of the Ethnic Heritage Museum will unveil its newest exhibit examining the Black Panther Party and its accomplishments, 2 to 4 p.m., and on display until the end of April.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, presents Microscope Madness, a science enrichment class for children, Feb. 8, 10:30 a.m., and Feb. 10, 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Advance registration required at www.discoverycenter museum.org or 815-963-6769.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Erna Colborn, Financial Advisor, presents The Entrepreneurial Equation ™ Seminar, noon to 1 p.m. Includes lunch. Free, but reservations are required. Seating is limited. Call Whitney at 815-315-1808.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Rockford Symphony Orchestra Music Director Finalist, Scott Terrell, will conduct the RSO in his musical program, “The Great Gatsby,” 7:30 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St. Visit rockfordsymphony.com for opportunities to meet him.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Rockford Branch NAACP’s Environment & Climate Justice Team hosts a Zoom meeting on the environment, ways to conserve it and projects to enhance school and community environment at 4:30 p.m. Join at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/83641927031, meeting ID: 836 4192 7031, one tap mobile+13126266799, 83641927031# US (Chicago) or call (voice only) 312-626-6799.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Rockford Park District invites all current and future golf enthusiasts to the free Rockford Loves Golf event, 4 to 9 p.m., at the Indoor Golf

Practice Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. All ages welcome. Visit www.golfrockford.org or call 815-968-PLAY or 815-987-8800.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Aaron Lewis performs following the January 2022 release of his fourth studio album “Frayed at Both Ends,” 8 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at BMO Harris Bank Center and Coronado PAC box oﬃces or 815-968-5222.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Rockford Park District hosts Snow Fort Skirmish, 1 to 3 p.m., at Atwood Center, Seth B. Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Road, Rockford. Registration recommended at www.atwoodpark.org/programs. University of Illinois Extension hosts the Joys of Gardening, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Highland Community College Student Conference Center, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport. Registration required at go.illinois. edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, presents 3...2...1… BLAST OFF!, a science enrichment class for children, Feb. 22, 10:30 a.m., and Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m., or 12:30 p.m. Launch into the physics of ﬂight, engineer “aerogami” launchers and complete the ultimate paper plane challenge! Advance registration required at www. discoverycentermuseum.org or 815-963-6769. Natural Land Institute, Natural Resources Conservation Service and The Conservation Fund present a complementary pasta dinner, 5 to 5:30 p.m., and presentation, 5:30 to 7 p.m., at American Legion, 221 W. Main St., Rockton, for landowners and/or producers in the Raccoon Creek watershed of northern Winnebago County. Federal costshare funding is available for conservation land management

Keller Williams Realty Signature hosts a Diversity Meeting, Improving Communication Through Empathy and Active Listening, noon to 1 p.m., at 4201 Galleria Dr., Loves Park. Call 815-315-1111.

MARCH 2022 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 Accelerating Creatives & Entrepreneurs (ACE) Conference and Expo takes place March 2 (virtual on Zoom) and March 3 at Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Sessions in the Hobby to Hustle, Gotta Keep on Movin’ and Full Steam Ahead tracks. Make connections with local business inﬂuencers, partners and other entrepreneurs, innovators and creators. Register at www. theaceevent.com/home.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 Multi GRAMMY® Award winner Zach Williams and special guest Anne Wilson perform 7 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com, the Coronado box oﬃce or call 815-968-5222.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 Rockford Park District hosts Skill Building: Archery and Tomahawk, 1 to 3 p.m., at Atwood Center, Seth B. Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Road, Rockford. Registration recommended at www.atwoodpark. org/programs.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27 Angelic Organics Learning Center, 1545 Rockton Road, Caledonia, presents Sunday Skill Share: Planning a Summer Garden, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a part of a “Sunday Skill Share” series the second and fourth Sunday of each month at Caledonia. Visit www. learngrowconnect.org/farmprograms.

MONDAY, MARCH 28 Keller Williams Realty Signature hosts a Diversity Meeting, The Wealth Gap and Housing in America, noon to 1 p.m., at 4201 Galleria Dr., Loves Park. Call 815315-1111.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

CHaMBER

ADVERTISERS INDEX

CHAMBER EVENTS & WEBINARS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

FEBRUARY, 2022 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Illinois SBDC at Rockford Chamber hosts 3D FDM Printing, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Rockford Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 4249 E. State St., Ste. 209. Basic class; Feb. 2; intermediate class, Feb. 4. Free. Basic class required prior to intermediate. Registration required at www.rockfordsbdc.org/workshopstrainings.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Illinois SBDC at Rockford Chamber presents How to Start a Business in Illinois, a free virtual event, 11 a.m. to noon. Presenter Shelby Flores, Rockford SBDC, discusses various legal, ﬁnancial and administrative requirements to start your business. Register at www.rockfordsbdc.org/ workshops-trainings.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Government Aﬀairs Council, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Gary Anderson, Studio GWA will be speaking on Rockford's Industrial History - speciﬁcally 1850-1930. Sponsored by AT&T.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Illinois SBDC at Rockford Chamber presents How To Pick Your Best Marketing Channels for 2022, a virtual event, 11 a.m. to noon. Presenters Shelby Flores and Theresa Knauf, LOCALiQ, will talk about

February 2022

current and trending marketing channels and how to pick the best to market your business. Register at www.rockfordsbdc.org/workshopstrainings.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Illinois SBDC at Rockford Chamber hosts 3D FDM Printing, 9 a.m. to noon, at NIU-Rockford, 8500 E. State St. Basic class, Feb. 23; intermediate class, Feb. 25. Free. Basic class required prior to intermediate. Registration required at www.rockfordsbdc.org/workshopstrainings.

Accelerating Creatives & Entrepreneurs Conference . . . . . . . . . 6

The Northwest Illinois Opportunity Equity Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

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

Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6, 9, 24

Ege Worksmart Solutions, PC . . . . . . . 13 Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) . . . . . . . . . 8 Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

TUESDAY,MARCH 8 Business Woman's Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Sponsored by Associated Bank.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 Government Aﬀairs Council, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. For more information on how to join Government Aﬀairs Council, contact Einar Forsman at 815-987-8100. Sponsored by AT&T.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31 Rockford Chamber Annual Meeting, Facebook Streaming, starting at Noon. Sponsored by OSF HealthCare.

aMBaSSaDOR DOR SPOTLIGHT Melissa McCormick

Retired global senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Taylor Company Roscoe native Melissa McCormick, a retired global senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Taylor Company, and an Ambassador with the Rockford Chamber, launched her new book, Grace & Salt: 12 biblical lessons to transform you and your team into better leaders. There she shares lessons learned in 30 years in the corporate world that ultimately shaped her leadership style. “I’ve found that many people struggle with showing their faith at work or bringing Jesus to work with them,” McCormick said. “Work stress is becoming stronger and stronger as companies require employees to do more [work] with fewer [people]. When I learned how to integrate my faith into business in an authentic way, I experienced a freedom and peace that relieved work stress.” Grace & Salt walks leaders through the process of creating a leadership development plan for themselves and their team while surviving the chaos of leadership. It includes practical lessons to help the reader leave behind a life of stress, struggles and being stuck. “Most leaders strive to get to a leadership position but when they arrive, realize it’s full of more stress than anticipated. For some, wisdom comes through experience. They have to learn through their own experiences of failure, diﬃculty and setback. However, Godly wisdom is found in also gleaning from the experiences of others.” Visit www.graceandsaltbook.com.

Schmeling Construction Co.. . . . . . . . . . 6 StateFarm, Leslie West Insurance Agency, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Thayer Energy Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

VOICE

MARCH, 2022

Rockford University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

the

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

CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS LaVonne Brown Savant Wealth Management

Chair of the Board Dan Ross Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Vice Chair Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate Vice Chair Don Daniels

Samuel J. Castree Staﬀ Management, Inc. Lesly Couper workplace Doug Curry Stenstrom Construction Group Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency

Treasurer John Schuster Rosecrance Health Network

Carol Friesen OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D. Rockford University Ira Grimmett Collins Aerospace Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Carly LaMonica LaMonica Beverages, Inc. Kris L. Kieper Machajewski YWCA Northwestern Illinois Christina Valdez Peacock CMM & Associates Joel A. Prah Mercyhealth Nicole Radford UW Health Northern Illinois Region Denise Sasse RSM US LLP Peter Schmeling Schmeling Construction Co.

Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA Univ. of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Karl Swanson Illinois Bank & Trust Dustin Vock Meiborg, Inc. Robert Young Midwest Packaging and Container

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

Brent Scott Wintrust Financial Teresa Sharp American Precision Supply, Inc.

MARCH VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS

The Architecture & Engineering Issue Educating for the Future For information on advertising, call 815

987-8100

February Voice 2022

Articles inside

Chairman's Perspective - February Voice 2022

MEMBER PROFILE - Advanced Chimney Systems

Small Business Enterprise - SBDC February 2022

IGNITE February 2022