March Voice 2013

CELLUSUEDE CELEBRATES 75 YEARS The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

Health Reform:

PAGE 8

March 2013 | Volume 26 | No. 3

By Henry J. Aaron, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies - Brookings

Manufacturing

As the storm moves on, wind and rain return, often with increased force. Those fooled by the calm who leave safe havens may be destroyed by what follows.

The life cycle of a hurricane will bear an eerie similarity to that of health reform. Nearly four years elapsed between president Obama’s initial call for national health reform until the bill became law and the Supreme Court ruled on its constitutionality.

The political and legal turmoil was intense and continuous. The process was rancourous and the outcome in doubt from start to finish. It took a bitterly fought presidential election to put an end to this phase of the struggle.

Now, we are in a period of relative calm. The 2012 election settled the immediate fate of the Affordable Care

Act (ACA). The candidate who swore to repeal it lost. The ACA was the major domestic legislative achievement of the victorious incumbent president who won reelection. Now, eighteen states are in process of designing rules for health insurance exchanges—the administrative entities that will manage implementation of the new law, the most important provisions of which will take effect one year hence. The other states will either leave implementation entirely to the federal government or share administrative responsibilities with federal agencies.

A huge amount of work remains to be done by October 1, 2013 when people can begin enrolling for insurance coverage in the new exchanges. more on page 3

while mitigating their investment risk

By Barbara Connors

n online registration n keynote speaker video clips n event photos n list of Chamber events Questions? 815-987-8100

Join the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group www.linkedin.com/e/gis/2544

ROCKFORD EXHIBIT FEATURED ON AMERICAN PICKERS IN MARCH

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Celebration of

Resources to help businesses grow,

Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com

PAGE 10

Cheap Trick guitarist/songwriter Rick Nielsen and his exhibit, Rick’s Picks: A Lifelong Affair With Guitars & Music, located at Burpee Museum of Natural History in downtown Rockford, will be featured in an episode of HISTORY’s American Pickers on March 11, according to exhibit creative team GrahamSpencer.

Visit www.history.com/shows/ american-pickers.

the political storms are far from over The history of president Obama’s health reform bears an uncanny and disturbing similarity to the life cycle of a hurricane. With Sandy fresh in our memory, the similarity is not comforting.

Hurricanes have three phases. The front wall of the storm brings high winds, lightening, and rain. Next, at the hurricane’s center, or eye, the wind drops and the air warms. If one is at sea, the water may turn calm and warm, bringing the illusion that the storm has ended.

INTERNET CRIME SCAM ALERTS

Housed at 120 W. State St., Ste. 306, in downtown Rockford, the Rockford Local Development Corporation (RLDC) is a not-for-profit, certified development company by the Small Business Administration that has been a trusted resource for area businesses seeking to grow. It has made a significant impact by offering diverse loan programs that enhance conventional bank financing, while mitigating investment risk.

“We try to be as entrepreneurial as we expect our clients to be,” said John Phelps, president of the organization for

more than a decade. The organization manages an SBA 504 program, with millions in loan for businesses in Winnebago and Boone counties.

Among its many projects, the RLDC was instrumental in turning the abandoned K-Mart property on North Main into a $5 million mixed-used community, complete with a medical clinic. It helped homeowners who were victims of the 2006 and 2007 floods at Keith Creek in Rockford, by acquiring devastated properties and relocating homeowners while the City of Rockford applied for state and federal grants. more on page 2

Expo & Dinner March 21 • Cliffbreakers For more info, see page 23

FAST GROWTH IN Ph.D.s, MASTER’S DEGREE HOLDERS From 2002 to 2012, the highest rate of increases in education attainment levels were doctorate and master’s degrees, according to new statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. Those with a doctorate grew by about 1 million, or 45 percent, while those who held a master’s climbed by 5 million, or 43 percent.

The population with an associate degree rose by 5 million, or 31 percent. Those whose highest degree was a bachelor’s degree grew at a smaller rate: 25 percent to 41 million.

Meanwhile, the number of those without a high school or GED diploma declined by 13 percent, falling to 25 million.

Women outnumbered men in 2012 among people whose highest level of education was a bachelor’s degree (21 million versus 19 million) or a master’s degree (9 million compared with 7.4 million).

Conversely, more men had doctorate (2 million versus 1.2 million) or professional degrees (1.8 million compared with 1.2 million).

Between 2002 and 2012, however, the gap between the number of men and women with professional degrees shrank.

Tabulations also show that education continues to pay off.

Among people 25 and older who had any earnings in 2011, average earnings were $59,415 for people with a bachelor’s degree (but no graduate degree), compared with $32,493 for people with a high school diploma, but no college.

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March 2013

Business Resources

SBA

Nationwide, the SBA offers small business owners many types of programs, with specific qualifications for each. It can help facilitate a loan with a third party lender, guarantee a bond or help with finding venture capital.

Understanding how SBA works is the first step towards receiving assistance.

A Primer to SBA Financing The SBA provides a number of financial assistance programs for

guarantee

bonds

for

performance and payment bonds, and in

‘Window to Wall Street’

What SBA Offers

can

contracts up to $5 million, covering bid,

Continued from front page

The RLDC packages, processes, closes and services SBA 504 loans, such as the SBA 504 “Small Businesses’ Window to Wall Street,” which provides growth financing with a low down payment.

Many healthy businesses have expansion plans that call for investment and use of real estate or equipment. Yet, coming up with a 20 percent or more in down payment knocks them out of the running for expansion financing. These businesses may qualify for 90 percent financing, through the program.

The RLDC also manages more than $3.5 million in micro-lending through several revolving loan programs.

Commonly used for gap financing, these funds have assisted borrowers in leveraging more than $50 million in projects.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

some cases up to $10 million for certain contracts.

Venture Capital Program small businesses that specifically are designed to meet key financing needs, including debt financing, surety bonds and equity financing.

Guaranteed Loan Programs (Debt Financing) SBA does not make direct loans to small businesses. Rather, it sets the guidelines for loans, which then are made by its partners (lenders, community development organizations and microlending institutions). It guarantees that these loans will be repaid, thus eliminating some of the risk to the lending partners. So, when a business applies for an SBA loan, it is actually applying for a commercial loan, structured according to SBA requirements with an SBA guaranty. SBA-guaranteed loans may not be made to a small business if the borrower has access to other financing on reasonable terms.

SBA loan guaranty requirements and practices can change as the government alters its fiscal policy and priorities to meet current economic conditions. Therefore, you can’t rely on past policy when seeking assistance in today’s market.

Bonding Program (Surety Bonds) SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program helps small business contractors who cannot obtain surety bonds through regular commercial channels.

A surety bond is a three-party instrument between a surety (someone who agrees to be responsible for the debt or obligation of another), a contractor and a project owner. The agreement binds the contractor to comply with the terms and conditions of a contract. If the contractor is unable successfully to perform the contract, the surety assumes the contractor’s responsibilities and ensures that the project is completed.

Through the SBG Program, the SBA makes an agreement with a surety guaranteeing that SBA will assume a percentage of loss in the event the contractor should breach the terms of the contract. The SBA’s guarantee gives sureties an incentive to provide bonding for eligible contractors, thereby strengthening a contractor’s ability to obtain bonding and greater access to contracting opportunities for small businesses.

SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program is a publicprivate

investment

partnership

created to help fill the gap between the availability of growth capital and the needs of small businesses. The SBA does not invest directly in small businesses, relying instead on the expertise of qualified private investment funds. The SBA licenses these funds as SBICs and supplements the capital they raise from private investors with access to low-cost, government-guaranteed debt.

With these two sources of capital backing them, SBICs search across the United States for promising businesses in need of debt or equity financing.

SBICs are similar to other investment funds in terms of how they operate and their pursuit of high returns. However, unlike other funds, SBICs limit their investments to qualified small business concerns as defined by SBA regulations.

For more information, Call 815-987-8675 or visit www.rldc.us.

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March 2013

Healthcare Reform Continued from front page

■■ Data systems have to be developed.

■■ Software must be written and computers purchased to permit online enrollment or assist officials in signing people up in hundreds, if not thousands, of offices.

■■ State insurance regulations need to be conformed to the new national law. Insurance companies must design the plans they will offer through the exchanges and, in most states, the separate products that they will offer outside the exchanges.

■■ Small businesses will have to decide what plans to offer their employees.

Individuals and employees of those businesses need to be informed of the options they face and decide what products to buy.

■■ The state insurance exchanges or their federal equivalent will have to enroll people, compute the subsidy to which each person is entitled, and pay that subsidy to the insurer that each person has selected.

■■ Myriad other activities are going on in many federal government offices and to a greater or lesser extent–or not at all–in state government agencies.

A hive of activity is ongoing in state and federal agencies, but no one is fully aware of everything that is going on.

By its very nature, these activities are decentralized and dull. No exchange, other than two that existed before enactment of the Affordable Care Act, has yet opened its doors or will before late 2013. No one is yet applying to them for insurance coverage or for subsidies. A hive of activity is ongoing in state and federal agencies, but no one is fully aware of everything that is going on. More importantly, perhaps, no one is aware of what activities that should be but are not going on. Like those in the eye of a hurricane, a deceptive and short-lived calm is upon us.

The storm will gather force once again starting on October 1, 2013.

That is when millions of people will start applying for coverage through the newly created health insurance exchanges. Exactly how many will apply will depend on the rules that the 18 states setting up their own exchanges and the federal government adopt. The

full fury of the storm will return on January 1, 2014. Nothing approaching the complexity of this ‘roll out’ has ever taken place in U.S. peacetime history.

To appreciate what is involved, consider the complexity of the law.

■■ People will be eligible for coverage in one of the following ways: 1) through Medicaid, if their income is below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) in those states that choose to extend Medicaid coverage as permitted under the ACA, but only those with incomes up to 100 percent of FPL will be covered in those states that do not extend coverage; 2) through a ‘basic health plan’ if their income is between the Medicaid level and 200 percent of the FPL in those states that adopt such a plan (but the federal regulations for such plans have not yet been released); 3) through ordinary insurance if they are not covered by Medicaid or a basic health plan, with subsidies provided through the exchange if their income is less than 400 percent of the FPL and without subsidies if their incomes are above 400 percent of the FPL. ■■ People within the same family may be eligible for coverage under two or more categories of coverage.

■■ Each exchange will offer insurance at a minimum of four levels of generosity.

People under age 30 will have a fifth option, a special bare-bones class of insurance to keep costs down.

■■ The subsidy payable to an individual depends both on his or her own income and on the coverage categories of other family members.

■■ Coverage and subsidy amounts can change if income changes—for example, if the person or some other family member changes employment status— or if family structure changes.

■■ Premium subsidy amounts, based on current income or income expected over some future period are paid directly to the particular insurer that the enrollee selects. If those payments turn out to be excessive—for example, because income rose after application, the individual must repay the overage, up to legislatively specified maximums based on income.

■■ Families residing in metropolitan areas that span state borders, such as New York, Washington DC, Kansas City, or St. Louis, may have family members working in different states and, hence, come under different exchange rules. more on page 4

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce ­ elcomes and encourages submissions for The w VOICE of the Rockford Business Community.

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Send news releases and other ­ items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101

For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100.

The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 1086-0630, is published monthly by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, Illinois 61101.

Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.

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March 2013

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Healthcare Reform Continued from page 3

■■ The federal government must provide earnings data for people, many of whom do not and will not file tax returns that are sufficiently accurate and current to enable the health exchanges to compute the correct subsidies for applicants. Tax returns and Social Security earnings records won’t do, as they are available now only with delays of months or even years.

■■ Individuals will be required to carry insurance of one sort or another that meets standards under the law and may have other features required by the state exchanges. They are subject to a fine if they fail to do so, but there is no effective enforcement mechanism other than failure to return tax refunds due people who had more tax withheld than they end up owing. The requirement is waived altogether if premiums exceed more than certain proportions of income.

The major challenge will be to make sure that the system works in enough places and fast enough to permit supporters to point to the successes and explain that the inevitable glitches are reparable.

This is just a partial list of the more visible administrative challenges that have to be met. Confronting this list, one could either feel optimistic or lapse into despair. Optimists regarding prospects for implementation will recall the comparatively trouble-free introductions of two other even larger federal programs—Social Security and Medicare. These programs differed in essential and administrativelyrelevant ways from the Affordable Care Act. Both entailed relatively simple eligibility criteria—age or disability and requisite work experience over many years. Under both programs, workers and their employers were required simply to pay a tax proportional to covered earnings. Social Security beneficiaries initially had nothing to do other than cash the checks they receive each month. Administration of Medicare is somewhat more complex and subject to error and fraud. Even so, the challenges under the ACA associated with enrolling people, determining subsidies, paying them to the right companies, and adjusting subsidies as circumstances change are vastly more complicated.

Pessimists might conclude that implementation will inevitably break down or go through an error-prone period of administrative over-load so long and politically fraught that program collapse is likely. In contrast to the redundancy built into such

complex enterprises as the space program—where, if one system fails, one, two, or even three back-up systems are built in to keep things working— health reform is replete with elements each of which is vital to success, such that if any one fails, the whole system could ‘seize up’ and fail. Determining eligibility, keeping track of which type of insurance applies to which family members, computing subsidies, and making sure that premiums go to the right insurers will be a never-ending headache.

In my view, neither the optimistic nor the pessimistic view is fully justified, although the pessimists have the better case, at least at the outset. The mixed-public-private insurance system perpetuated in the ACA is inherently complex. But, with time, bugs in the software will be ironed out and initially overloaded and imperfect data systems will be steadily improved. Among the 18 states setting up exchanges, a few are bound to get the job mostly done and show the way for other states. In brief, with time, most administrative problems can be overcome. The major challenge will be to make sure that the system works in enough places and fast enough to permit supporters to point to the successes and explain that the inevitable glitches are reparable.

It is also worth noting that were Congress not neck deep in a swamp of partisanship legislators could find ways to minimize the problems that remain.

The actual course of events after January 1, 2014 is likely to be stormy and filled with developments investigative reporters will enthusiastically describe and ACA opponents will point to with relish.

There is every prospect that during the years 2014 and 2015 the political storms will be as furious as they were when a committed president and Democratic Congressional leadership gave life to the long-delayed dream of national health reform. Those who said that the presidential election would settle the fate of heath reform will be proven mostly right. But it will become clear that they had the date wrong: the key election will turn out to have been not 2012, but 2016.

A noted health care expert, Henry Aaron focuses on the reform of health care financing; public systems such as Medicare and Medicaid; Social Security; and tax and budget policy The views expressed are those of Aaron’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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March 2013

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Workers skilled in manufacturing are a valuable commodity Companies can put plans in place to close the skills gap

The story in the Midwest is not uncommon. Pressure to fill manufacturing jobs can be felt across the United States.

The lack of skilled/qualified workers to fill open positions is becoming a larger issue facing companies today.

According to QPS’ latest employment forecasting survey, 44 percent of Midwest companies say that the lack of workers is the biggest obstacle they face.

Specifically, the lack of skilled labor is plaguing 40 percent of the companies surveyed. CNC, machine operators, welders and other skilled positions made the list of the most difficult positions to fill.

The story in the Midwest is not uncommon. Pressure to fill manufacturing jobs can be felt across the United States. Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute recently released their 2012 Annual Index, which contained the public’s perception

of manufacturing. The findings include the following: ■■ The manufacturing sector is viewed as fragile and unstable, with 46 percent of respondents believing it is becoming weaker, not stronger.

■■ 43 percent believe a manufacturing career is as stable and secure as other industries.

■■ 80 percent of survey respondents fear that manufacturing jobs are the first jobs to be moved to other countries.

■■ Only 35 percent of Americans say they would encourage their children to pursue a career in manufacturing.

The report also focused on adults, 18 to 24 years old, who are the newest additions to the workforce. Only 20 percent said the school system in their

community encouraged students to pursue manufacturing as a career, and only 36 percent of students said they knew how to find and secure a job in manufacturing. In fact, the manufacturing industry ranked fifth among desired industries to work in -behind technology, energy, healthcare and communications.

There is some good news — 53 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds surveyed said manufacturing careers are both interesting and rewarding. This figure is up 14 percent from the 2011 survey.

What’s more, 49 percent believe the school system in their community provides exposure to skills required to pursue a career/job in manufacturing (for example, science, technology, engineering and math).

Ways to Bridge the Gap So how can we help bridge the skills gap? Some suggestions are to show

the public that

Anne Jabusch QPS Employment Group

manufacturing offers high-paying, highquality careers. If your company is able, consider a partnership with a local high school. Offer tours to show students and their parents that manufacturing plants are not dirty, but are often times on the cutting edge of technology.

For more suggestions on helping find qualified workers, from general labor to professional positions, visit www.qpsemployment.com or call 815961-6000.

Anne Jabusch is marketing coordinator for QPS Employment Group, a full-service Rockford staffing firm.

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

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March 2013

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EIGERlab in expansion mode New tenants, new businesses in our region

Announcing Go Global 2013 speakers, topics Learn how to optimize your global supply chain and go global successfully at the sixth annual Go Global conference at Giovanni’s in Rockford on May 1. International trade experts will speak on a variety of topics essential to your company’s global success. Speakers and topics include: Photo by Brian Thomas Photography

Fabrice Bonvoisin, president, FB International LLC

Dave Barr’s company, Lyons Consulting Group, was one of three to grow exponentially during its tenure at E-L.

FB International is an international business-development consulting firm.

By Sherry Pritz, EIGERlab

connected with John Ekberg, controller at

Topic: Strategic Planning for Global Markets

Circle Boring and Machine, who clarified

Anne E. Borkovic, associate, Akin Gump, Straus Hauer & Feld LLP

With four new tenants, EIGERlab’s footprint expands again; ranging from business expansion to new start-ups.

Overall, the four business owners, presidents and directors agreed on several reasons which led them to house their businesses at EIGERlab (E-L) including: overall pricing structure, which includes a variety of services and amenities; location; attentive management and support staff, and options for expansion without relocating.

Included in the variety of new or expanding businesses are: EZ-Hire, which assists small and midsized companies with the intricacies of HR management and recruitment.

Friction Bonder, which builds standard and high-speed friction bonding machines.

NISEnergy, whose mission is to leave every residence with lower utility bills and an all-round healthier and more comfortable home, is an energy-auditing and efficiency retrofit company.

Southern Wisconsin Interpreting and Translation Services, better known as SWITS, which offers a variety of translation and interpretation services in addition to assistance with American Sign Language.

additional questions, thereby speeding up

Making Business Connections

the region who can assist and support in

EIGERlab connects with potential clients and tenants in a variety of ways.

Saul Arteaga, director of SWITS, connected with E-L’s executive director Dan Cataldi when they both were chosen for the Rockford Chamber award, 2012 Twenty People You Should Know.

Owner Patrick Lynch, Friction Bonder, met with Brian McIntyre, director of the Small Business Development Center, and learned more about business development and E-L’s accommodations, and was

the process of opening his business.

Teresa Pesina, EZ-Hire president/ CEO, also connected with E-L through McIntyre and was impressed with all the amenities, but believes E-L is a premier location and first in mind when it comes to technology in the region.

Lastly,

Brian

Casey,

owner

of

NISEnergy, was inspired by a talk given

by Dan Cataldi in 2010. Casey shared, “after chatting with Dan, I realized that anybody can go work for themselves, and I knew if I wanted to do something spectacular, I would need help. EIGERlab has the necessary tools to help me grow and shape my business successfully.”

E-L was instrumental in assisting a “shunkworks” type project, now known as B/E Aerospace’s Water and Waste Systems, to grow exponentially from two to 70+ employees within five years. As most know, the company relocated in 2012 to a new building near the airport.

“That’s the intended, natural progression in an incubator-setting,” Dan Cataldi said.

“A company utilizes our resources, and we provide introductions to people in various ways.” the

E-L

houses

22

businesses. Three of the faster-growing businesses at the E-L: Manufacturing Technologies Group, Lyons Consulting Group and Accelerated Machine Design and Engineering, have grown between 129 to 800 percent, respectively, during their tenure.

Sherry Pritz is marketing coordinator at EIGERlab, Rock Valley College.

Topic: Understanding and Managing Economic Sanctions Jerry Greenwell, director of export compliance, Miller & Co. P.C. Miller & Company is a Kansas City-based law firm serving a diverse clientele in import, export and foreign-trade zone law.

Topic: ECCNSelect: Your Path to Export Compliance Michael Hugos, principal, SCM Globe Author of a best-selling supply chain book worldwide since 2004, Hugos consults clients in supply chains, business intelligence and new business ventures.

Topic: Designing Supply Chains from Rockford to the World Sabrina Houlton, assistant general counsel, international trade compliance for UTC Aerospace Systems UTC Aerospace Systems is one of the world’s largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and defense products.

Exponential Growth

Currently

A team of litigators, dealmakers and policy lawyers and advisors that provide a comprehensive suite of services for global companies and local individuals.

Topic: Navigating the ITAR Denis Leclerc, Ph.D., clinical professor, Thunderbird School of Global Management Based in Glendale, Ariz., Thunderbird is rated the number one international-business MBA program globally.

Topic: Cross Cultural Communication – Negotiation John Murphy, vice president international affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce A business federation representing companies, business associations, state and local chambers in the United States, and American Chambers of Commerce abroad.

Topic: The State of World Trade Tim White, president electric systems, power, controls & sensing systems, UTC Aerospace Systems Kristin Smith, director of international trade compliance – aircraft systems, UTC Aerospace Systems UTC Aerospace Systems is one of the world’s largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and defense products.

Topic: UTC Aerospace Systems’ International Story

Register today at www.goglobalitc.com!

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March 2013

A lesson from the past Building tomorrow’s skilled workforce

By Becky Brown, Brown Ink Skills gap. Worker shortage.

Shrinking labor force. Whatever you call it, it’s no surprise to anyone leading a business today that finding properly educated and trained employees can be a struggle. What is unexpected is the solution many of those business leaders are implementing with great success.

Called Training Within Industry (TWI), it dates back to the start of World War II — when thousands of “Rosie the Riveters” were taking their places in American factories.

“Just as new people were entering the workforce for the first time in World War II, new workers are joining manufacturers today without any past job experience,” said Ed Huey, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), which works with manufacturers throughout the state to implement TWI. “Helping them become fully productive in a short time is still the goal, and TWI is a time-tested process that works across industries, across vocations and in union and nonunion environments.”

Program Borrowed from World War II TWI got its start in the 1940s as a way to boost U.S. industrial production in support of the war effort. The program focused on creating work environments where jobs were performed the same way by all team members and problemsolving occurred at the operator level. By any measure, it was a great success: All the companies that implemented TWI during World War II reported reducing their training time and grievances by at least 25 percent, with 86 percent increasing production by at least 25 percent, and 55 percent reducing scrap by at least 25 percent.

Despite the program’s success, most U.S. manufacturers turned their focus

elsewhere after the war, and TWI found a home in Japan instead. The country’s business leaders used the program’s principles to rebuild their industrial base and eventually implement the world’s first lean manufacturing system, the Toyota Production System. An integral element of Kaizen, continuous improvement and standard work, TWI is still in widespread use throughout Japan.

Learning by Doing And now, 70-plus years after Rosie the Riveter entered the workforce, a new generation of U.S. employees are finding success with TWI’s hands-on, participatory style and standardized modules that provide the essential skills needed by supervisors, team leaders and anyone who indirectly leads others. Steve Barnhart, IMEC service manager and TWI specialist, has seen the benefits firsthand — including increased productivity from new and existing

Ed Huey, IMEC manufacturing specialist, and Jo-Ellen Dunbar, president of Quality Metal Products. IMEC works with manufacturers to implement TWI. employees alike, fewer quality issues, lower turnover and improved safety.

“Supervisors become more confident and therefore much more proactive rather

than

reactive,”

he

said.

“Manufacturing processes become more lean because the methodology helps supervisors and employees see and eliminate waste.”

TWI’s Skill-Based Modules Over the past four years, IMEC has

used

Rockford Chamber member manufacturers appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

The Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN) in Rockford is teaming with the State of Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Trade and Investment at the 50th annual International Paris Air Show, June 17 to 23 — the world’s largest tradeshow focused on aerospace and aviation.

Woodward, Inc., shipped its 100,000th OH natural gas engine control system, which reduces fuel costs and exhaust emissions of industrial engines fueled by CNG (compressed natural gas) or LNG

three

proven,

systematic training modules to help Illinois manufacturers build a skilled workforce

and

improve

job

performance.

Job Instruction. Leaders learn how to quickly train employees to do their jobs

Manufacturing Briefs

TWI’s

correctly,

safely

and

conscientiously — resulting in less (liquefied natural gas) in heavy-duty transport applications.

EIGERlab in Rockford welcomed the following new or expanding businesses: EZ-Hire (HR management and recruitment), Friction Bonder (builder of friction bonding machines), NISEnergy, LLC (energy-auditing and efficiency retrofit company) and Southern Wisconsin Interpreting and Translation Services (SWITS, Ltd.).

Woodward, Inc.’s board of directors (NASDAQ:WWD) announced on Jan. 23 its approval of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on March 1, 2013 for stockholders of record as of Feb. 15, 2013.

scrap and rework, fewer accidents and less tool and equipment damage.

Job Methods. Employees learn continuously how to improve the way they do their jobs — making the best use of the people, machines and materials available.

Job Relations. Supervisors learn how to develop and maintain positive employee

relations

problems

from

—

preventing

happening

and

effectively resolving any conflicts that do arise.

Becky Brown, Brown Ink, is a contributing writer for IMEC. The views expressed are those of Brown’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Manufacturing Update is sponsored by IMEC.

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March 2013

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Member Profile PROFILE

Cellusuede’s flock is used on familiar products such as decorative welcome mats and art projects.

Cellusuede Products, Inc. celebrates 75 years in Rockford

By Paul Anthony Arco You might not be familiar with the Cellusuede Products, Inc. name, but you most likely know the products the company makes right here in Rockford.

Cellusuede Products is a manufacturer of precision cut fibers. “We take fiber, precision cut it, dye it, and we finish it,” said Andy Honkamp, director of sales.

“We provide unique products. There aren’t many companies in the world that do what we do.”

The company was started by Jack Sutton in 1938 to manufacture flocked paper. Flocking is the process of depositing many small fiber particles (called flock) onto a surface. After making flock for its own use, the company began to supply the U.S. flocking industry in 1945. Soon, Cellusuede started to deliver cotton flock to the automotive industry.

Flock is used to make glove boxes, center consoles and the rubber seal found along car windows.

These days, Cellusuede also produces flock for other industries such as walk-off mats, paint pads, screen-print graphics, apparel, plastics, cosmetics, a variety of packaging and greeting cards. In fact, Cellusuede has supplied Hallmark and American Greeting cards for the last 40 years. Welcome mats with decorative designs found on front porches and higher-end designer t-shirts also contain flock fibers.

“The quality starts with the cutting of the fiber, which takes an incredible amount of expertise and attention to detail,” said Honkamp, who started working in the shop as a teenager and rejoined the company five years ago.

His father, Dave Honkamp, became company president in 1989. “The result is good quality flock.”

Employee-Owned Area Manufacturer In 1989, Cellusuede Products became employee-owned. It now supplies to five continents and more than 20 countries.

The company supplies many major corporations including Johnson Controls, Exide Technologies, and Abercrombie

and Fitch. Estwing Manufacturing is the company’s only local customer.

A typical batch size of flock is 125 pounds and takes about four hours to produce from the time the fibers are cut to packaging. “We do about three million pounds a year that we’re moving out the door,” Honkamp said. All manufacturing is done in Rockford at its Madison Street location. Its main distributors are located in New York City and Los Angeles.

Cellusuede Products has 34 employees in its Rockford plant. During its heyday, the company produced twice what it’s making now, and had about 75 employees in the local facility. But a sluggish economy forced the company to tighten its belt in the early 2000s, like so many other businesses. Six years ago, Cellusuede Products went from two shifts to one, which resulted in the layoff of several employees.

“We’ve certainly been impacted, but we’ve managed to survive this long,” Honkamp said. “I attribute our success to the diversity of our customer base. And we’re a fairly conservative company. We’ve not been burdened with a lot of debt.

When you think about all the thousands of jobs that have left the country for China, it means we’ve done something right to set us apart and remain viable. That speaks to our dedication to quality and being smart about how we do business.”

Cellusuede Products has plans to recognize its 75 years in business with internal celebrations for its dedicated employees. “To know that we provide a work environment for families is the most satisfying thing,” Honkamp said. “We think we have a product that the world needs and we have a business philosophy that sustains itself over time. We’re looking to do business for several more decades right here in Rockford.”

CELLUSUEDE PRODUCTS INC. President Dave Honkamp 500 N. Madison St. Rockford, IL 61107 815-964-8619 www.cellusuede.com

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March 2013 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

FOCUS ON WIRELESS PRODUCTS, COMPUTER & IT SERVICES

Internet Crime Complaint Center issues January scam alerts The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center, accepts online Internet crime complaints from the actual victims or third parties to complainants. Be prepared to offer accurate and complete information when filing a complaint. Visit www.ic3. gov/media/default.aspx. You’ll also find information on the most recent Internet scam alerts.

Below is information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, with details on recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously existing cyber scams.

Most Popular 2012 Passwords Revealed SplashData.com recently published the most popular 2012 passwords on the web. The ranking was based on password information from compromised accounts posted by hackers online. The article also was featured on blogs.avg.com.

Most Popular Passwords of 2012 1. password 2. 123456 3. 12345678 4. abc123 5. qwerty 6. monkey 7. letmein 8. dragon 9. 111111 10. baseball 11. iloveyou 12. trustno1 13. 1234567 14. sunshine 15. master 16. 123123 17. welcome 18. shadow 19. ashley 20. football 21. jesus 22. michael 23. ninja 24. mustang 25. password1 If your password is on the list, or is a close variation, it’s important to take action now! Fixing your password problem can be very simple.

Long is strong. The longer the password, the more difficult it will be for someone to try to crack using brute force. Instead of a single word, with a jumble of symbols, numbers and characters, try a string of words. Use a line of your favorite poem, song or just something memorable. Feel free to add your lucky number at the end if you like.

Something like: “withnodirection home1085.”

A famous Dylan lyric like this will always be easy to remember, and say you were born in October 1985. This means that you’ve suddenly got a 23-character password, which is much harder to crack than something much harder to remember such as “Phu!R7tRjX”.

Variety is the spice of life. The trouble with smaller, complex passwords is that they can be a real hassle to remember, often forcing you to use the same password for multiple accounts, which is never a good idea. So, another benefit of having long, easy-to-remember passwords is that you keep many passwords.

New Twist to Online Tech Support Scam The IC3 continues to receive complaints reporting telephone calls from individuals claiming to be with Tech Support from a well-known software company. The callers have very strong accents and use common names such as “Adam” or “Bill.” Callers report the user’s computer is sending error messages, and a virus has been detected.

In order to gain access to the user’s computer, the caller claims that only their company can resolve the issue.

The caller convinces the user to grant them the authority to run a program to scan their operating system.

Users witness the caller going through their files as the caller claims they are showing how the virus has infected their computer.

Users are told the virus could be removed for a fee and are asked for their credit card details. Those who provide the caller remote access to their computers, whether they paid for the virus to be removed or not, report difficulties with their computer afterwards; either their computers would not turn on or certain programs/ files were inaccessible.

Some report taking their computers to local technicians for repair and the technicians confirmed software had been installed. However, no other details were provided.

In a new twist to this scam, it was reported that a user’s computer screen turned blue, and eventually black, prior to receiving the call from Tech Support offering to fix their computer. At this time, it has not been determined if this is related to the telephone call or if the user had been experiencing prior computer problems.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

March 2013

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Protecting your organization from disasters For most business manages, IT managers or business owners, the idea of a disaster impacting the daily business cycle usually gets pushed to the back of the priority list. Let’s face it, we all get accustomed to our daily tasks. The lights are on, the business is open, the phones are working, our computers are functioning, and the Internet is, well it’s slow, but that’s normal. We all have way too much on our plates to worry about a disaster, right?

To answer that question is as complex as the business cycle is for your organization.

The more complex your organization, the more important it is to look at the impact of a disaster on any one of those business functions. Where do you start?

You can contract this effort to a consulting firm to evaluate your organization’s risk, business impact of loss and develop a complete turnkey emergency response plan. However, there are steps you can do to give you a great starting point.

Develop a basic understanding of how your business functions and what data is required from start to finish within each business function – not just the IT department. Keep it high level. Use your internal expertise over a short project timeframe. This should help you define the Critical Assets of your organization -- those assets that require protection and restoration. An additional benefit is increased internal knowledge, which at disaster time might prove invaluable.

With your basic understanding intact, review what typical risks might impact your business. Consider Natural Threats, like tornados, flood, earthquakes, ice storms; Human Threats, like power outages, computer system crashes, viruses, internal sabotage, intruders; and Building Threats, like old wiring, weak floors, the age of the roof, adjacency to rail lines or air traffic patterns.

Basic security and housekeeping is important and can pay off during an emergency. Make sure files are filed and desks are clean. During a fire or flood, file cabinets and desks can help protect documents from damage. Ensure that all your fire extinguishers are charged, and your staff knows how to use them. Make sure exit ways are clear and clearly posted.

Security is important as well. Develop a security policy that states who has access to the building, when and which doors are open or locked, visitor sign in/out logs and basic visitor badges. Security also is an IT resource issue. Define who should have access to IT resources, computer room, remote devices, networks, shared drives, etc. Perform regular updates and monitoring of computer virus software.

Define an Emergency Response Team. Remember, a disaster can take many forms: physical, network, computer crashes, medical emergencies, as well

as intruders.

Have this team Timothy J. Goodwin regularly perform The DataCenter Data Protection, Inc. fire drills, fire extinguisher training, response drills and medical evacuation drills.

Keep vital records and data off-site and away from threats. Make regular data backups and keep them safely offsite. This can be done via computer tape technology, CD, replication to an alternate site, or online (cloud-based) backups. Also, verify that your backups actually worked and that data is truly being safeguarded and recoverable.

Maintain an updated inventory of current vendors. This inventory should contain the vendor name, contact information (including after hours phone numbers) as well as services each vendor provides. You might also consider including contracts, leases or legal forms.

Maintain an updated inventory of all critical equipment. This list should include equipment that is critical for the operation and recovery of your organization. You may not want to include all machines on your manufacturing floor, but IT resources should be completely documented inventoried. This includes software versions, passwords or keys, and unique equipment.

Develop and maintain a list of key employees. This is your emergency response team in time of disaster. Names, emails, cell phones and functional responsibilities should be part of this database. This also might include workfrom-home procedures -- with today’s technology, this is a great option.

Keep it Simple, Yet Structured Just as there is no perfect disaster, remember there is no perfect business recovery plan. No matter how well you plan, no one truly can foresee all possible emergency situations. Keep the planning simple, yet structured in design, and add contingencies as required. Maintain focus on the key business functions, protect vital data, have emergency response teams and procedures, plans for replacement of resources, and a recurring testing and modification schedule.

It’s common for disaster plans to grow quickly. If the task becomes overwhelming, there are great self-help resources available, such as Disaster Recovery Journal, www. drj.com, and disaster recovery specialists who can assist in most any-sized project.

Timothy J. Goodwin is owner, president of Rockford-based The DataCenter Data Protection, Inc., assisting with more than 350 recovery plans worldwide.

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

FOCUS ON WIRELESS PRODUCTS, COMPUTER & IT SERVICES

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March 2013 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Why your company should be using SharePoint

Terrence McClearly RK Dixon

The creative training of all things Microsoft What is SharePoint? SharePoint is a browser-based business tool with its main focus on communication, collaboration and document/knowledge management. It’s not a one-trick pony, and because of that, it fits into most, if not all, businesses — small and large. SharePoint allows you to access the most up-to-date documents, while staying in contact with your team and business processes.

According to the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM), “one in two corporations are now using SharePoint Server, and in 22 percent of those companies, every employee uses SharePoint.” Recently the Nielsen Norman Group released the 10 best designed intranet sites for 2013, and 70 percent of them were built on SharePoint.

people are notified of their tasks to prepare for this new employee.

Computer, phone, business cards, forms and building access are just a few things that this employee may need. The workflow manages the tasks and keeps the manager up-to-date throughout the process. Because of the workflow, when the employee starts, everything is setup and ready to go without one step being forgotten.

SharePoint also can save you time and money through search functionalities. There are two pieces to search: document and people search.

Both are important.

First, let’s take a look at the documents search. Have you ever spent

time

manually

searching

through folder upon folder on your

SharePoint can save time and money by improving upon business processes, organizing communication and keeping the business information that you need at your fingertips.

SharePoint is structured in a way that makes it affordable for businesses of any size. Microsoft has three versions of SharePoint: Foundations, Standard and Enterprise Server. The version that is right for your company should be based on business needs and features of the particular version.

Improving Business Processes SharePoint can save time and money by improving upon business processes, organizing communication and keeping the business information that you need at your fingertips. Two examples of how SharePoint can do this.

The first example is workflows. In SharePoint, workflows help to organize and manage a process where you always will have a place to see where you are at in a process, along with automatically notifying people of their role (tasks) in the process. I can think of hundreds of examples of workflows in a business, but one might be a new employee workflow. With a workflow setup, a simple form can be filled out, and once submitted, all the designated

shared drive only to come up empty?

With SharePoint, you don’t have to remember where the document is stored, the file name or even what the document is about. SharePoint’s search will find the document not just searching by title, but also by searching the content of the documents or by key words (metadata). SharePoint also has a people search, which is a search of your employee directory, including but not limited to active directory. This is a benefit not only to find someone’s extension number but in looking up skills or projects that person might be working on.

With the release of SharePoint 2013, Microsoft is focusing on the next generation of businesses, including putting a greater focus on social computing capabilities, like microblogging, feeds and communities for message boards and discussions. Other mobile features include notification, location-based features and capabilities for

displaying

Microsoft

office

documents on mobile devices. For a complete list of SharePoint version capabilities visit: www.rkdixon.com\ sharepoint Terrence McClearly is SharePoint & training team lead at RK Dixon.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

FOCUS ON WIRELESS PRODUCTS, COMPUTER & IT SERVICES

March 2013

Computer Facts

Source: www.funfactz.com

HP, Google, Microsoft and Apple have one thing in common – apart from the obvious that they are IT companies.

They were all started in garages.

If you opened up the case of the original Macintosh, you will find 47 signatures. One for each member of Apple’s Macintosh division as of 1982.

The domain name www.youtube.com was registered on Feb. 14, 2005.

The first computer mouse was invented by Doug On an average workday, a typist’s fingers travel

12.6 miles

Engelbart around 1964 and was

made of wood.

The Dvorak keyboard is more efficient than QWERTY. 20 times faster, in fact.The standard “QWERTY” keyboard was not designed with ease of typing in mind. Rather, it was designed to keep early typewriters from jamming. 130 years later, people are still using this awkward, inefficient keyboard layout. Few know that there is a much faster, easier, more efficient, and more comfortable alternative: It’s the layout used by some of the world’s fastest typists.

The average 21 year old has spent 5,000 hours playing video games, has exchanged 250,000 e-mails, instant and text messages and has spent 10,000 hours on the mobile phone.

Domain names are being registered at a rate of more than one million names every month.

The first banner advertising was used in 1994.

The first

Bill Gates’ house was designed using a Macintosh computer.

The average computer user blinks seven times a minute, less than half the normal rate of 20.

While it took the radio 38 years, and the television a short 13 years, it took the World Wide Web only four years to reach 50 million users.

Bow Chicka Bow-wow For every “normal” webpage, there are five porn pages.

domain name ever registered was Symbolics.com.

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theVoice rockfordchamber.com

New sports complex is ‘major win’ for Rockford

By John Groh, RACVB Rockford will have one of the largest indoor amateur sports complexes in the Midwest when a new 115,000-squarefoot complex opens in 2014 in downtown Rockford along the Rock River.

The Rockford City Council voted unanimously to green light the project.

The Rockford Park District will own and operate the complex, and the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will market the facility and book sports tournaments.

Strong Interest in Tournament Bookings A national sports tournament director already has said he wants to bring a fivetournament basketball booking to the new facility. He has toured the existing site, seen the drawings and thinks it is ideal for his tournaments. It’s a good example of the type of tournament the region was previously unable to handle.

The new facility is expected to host more than 30 tournaments per year. It also will be available for use by local residents.

New Sports Complex Viewed as Major Win Peter Provenzano, SupplyCore president and chief executive officer, said, “The new sports complex is a major win for our center city and our community as a whole. The year-round visitation to downtown that it will generate will create great synergy with other developments currently underway such as the Indoor City Market.”

Rockford Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey added, “This complex will cement our reputation as a premier sporting destination in the Midwest, spur downtown development, generate new tax revenue and grow jobs. I commend our city council for their leadership, as well as our staff and partners at the State of Illinois, Rockford Park District and the RACVB for making this a reality.”

The 115,000-square-foot riverfront sports complex in the former Ingersoll

John Groh building at the Rockford Area Chestnut Street Convention & Bridge and Visitors Bureau Water Street will have the following features:

■■ 8 basketball courts ■■ 14 volleyball courts or more ■■ an extreme sports park for skateboarding, rollerblading and BMX ■■ children’s play area ■■ air conditioning ■■ boardwalk along the river and more!

Construction Schedule City of Rockford officials say construction will begin later this year with the facility opening in fall of 2014.

Project Team Selected A leading sports-recreation architectural firm, Sink Combs Dethlefs (SCD) was selected by a committee that represented the City of Rockford, RACVB, Rockford Park District, City of Loves Park and other stakeholders. SCD is an internationally acknowledged leader in sports-facility planning and design with offices in Chicago, Denver and Fresno, www.sinkcombs. com. They will lead the architectural and engineering project team that includes local firms Larson & Darby Group, architects; McClure Engineering Associates; and Missman, Inc., civil engineers.

Reclaiming First Status The new downtown complex is one of four projects included in the region’s Reclaiming First master plan for sports tourism announced in November, 2011. The master plan includes the modernization and expansion of the existing Indoor Sports Center, Sportscore One and Sportscore Two. Efforts to proceed with those three upgrades continue with optimism, particularly with the progress being made with the riverfront sports complex.

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

Larson & Darby’s rendering of the new downtown sports complex to open in 2014.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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March 2013

Leveraging funding through endowments

By Gloria Lundin, Community Foundation During Northern Illinois Money Smart Week, April 20 to 27, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will present “What is an Endowment and Why Should I Have One?” a program focused on the magic of endowment.

Particulars will include how endowments create sustainability for an organization, maximize dollars, and even make a donor’s charitable wishes live on forever.

Endowments Create Long-Term Impact In 1987, when the Barber-Company was sold to Siebe, 41 Barber-Colman managers were concerned that the company’s history of charitable support would end. Siebe, an English-based corporation, would not continue Barber-Colman’s funding of local nonprofit programs and projects.

To ensure the company legacy’s and ongoing philanthropy, the managers made a gift of $3.2 million to the Community Foundation. The gift was divided into three funds: $1 million for Rockford College, $1 million for the United Way of Rock River Valley and $1.2 million for broad community needs. The money was endowed, meaning the principal never would be touched.

What was the result? Today the original $3.2 million has more than tripled in value ($10 million), with one half ($5 million) awarded in grants to Rockford College, United Way and nonprofit agencies

throughout the foundation’s four-county service area. The endowment remains invested by the foundation, and continues to grow -- providing ongoing resources for charitable needs.

Similarly, the Howard D. Colman Family gifted the entire Barber-Colman Foundation to the Community Foundation.

The resulting Howard D. Colman Memorial Fund has tripled in value, awarding grants totaling $800,000.

Endowments Maximize Dollars How do endowments maximize dollars?

Ask the nonprofit agencies participating in the Foundation’s Carroll H. Starr Endowment Challenge. The challenge, named after one of the Community Foundation’s founding members, is an opportunity for nonprofits in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties to build permanent endowments, with the added incentive of receiving matching dollars. Nonprofits chosen through a competitive application process establish an endowment goal, and upon completion of their goal, receive $1 for every $3 raised.

Dan Ross, a board member of the Discovery Center Museum, said, “our hope is that through the growth of our endowment fund, we may be able to devote more of our valuable resources to our core mission and less to the art of fundraising.” Dan Williams, past president of the Natural Land Institute’s board, said, “the tried and true way for a nonprofit to guarantee its long-term future stability is to build an endowment.”

The Starr Endowment Challenge began in 2001, and to date, has partnered through the Community Foundation with 12 organizations. The foundation has provided $500,000 in matching dollars, and the value of the collective endowment funds is projected to be $2.5 million by 2014. This means the 12 nonprofits divide a total of $100,000 annually for their own specific purposes. No grant writing, no donor appeals, no fundraising. Each year, the agencies get a check in the mail!

Endowments Assure Legacy The Community Foundation offers a variety of ways for individuals and families to give back to their communities and charitable pet-projects. One opportunity for donors is a Community Foundation Acorn Fund. This program encourages people to build a fund of $12,500 over 10 years.

When the goal is met, donors recommend what charitable programs or projects they would like to support with their fund’s annual distribution. The first distribution is $500, and with additional contributions and anticipated investment growth, the Acorn Fund grows over time. It is pleasing to see how soon the appropriated charitable dollars exceed the original gift (principal.)

Individuals easily can set up endowments through their wills, trusts and estate plans. Funds can be designated for a particular charity, a field of interest (i.e. arts, environment, human services, education), or as a scholarship. A small contribution can be made now to establish the fund,

The Community Foundation hosts a program on the magic of endowments during Northern Illinois Money Smart Week. which becomes active upon receipt of the bequest. Paperwork is straightforward, and area professional advisors are familiar with the foundation’s procedures. Keep in mind that endowments established at the foundation are particularly advantageous if the identified charity dissolves or changes its mission. The foundation, the steward of donor intent, will find another “like” organization to channel the charitable dollars (and the donor’s passion).

Endowments are simple, and they are for everybody! When charity is on one’s mind, endowments become the perfect vehicle. Establish an endowment, and you can give back every day, every year and always. Charities will thank you!

Gloria Lundin is president of Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.

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

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March 2013

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Rockford College PERSPECTIVE

Developing leaders of the future Are leaders born, or made?

We hear and read all kinds of clichés about it. Without it, we are lost. With it, we are capable of great things. The word automatically conjures adjectives of huge proportion. But if we consider the concept of leadership rationally, what comes to mind?

A well-led organization, more often than not, is productive, dynamic and successful, and a good leader inspiring, perceptive and visionary. Enter the next cliché: Leaders are born, not made. People make this statement frequently, but from all appearances, don’t believe it. If they did, organizations wouldn’t spend countless hours and resources training and preparing their people for leadership positions.

So, how do you train good leaders?

What kind of classroom, experiences or program can teach someone how to be a better leader? Does leadership come from experience, books or a combination of both?

What Makes a Leader?

When great leaders are asked what makes their leadership great, they usually cite a lesson learned from another, an observation that made a lasting impression, a comment a superior made that made them think, someone’s behavior they sought to emulate. Many say some of the most valuable leadership lessons are learned from observing others’ behavior or listening to others and then working with a team to move toward a goal. That’s why teaching leadership through the examples and experiences of others is so powerful.

Collaboration with other leaders, either from the same organization or from different organizations, is just such a solid leadership development technique.

How else can you develop good leadership? People often refer to a solid leader as “innovative.” By that, they usually mean not afraid to try something new – whether an organizational process or structure, a new product idea, etc. Teaching new leaders to challenge the status quo in order to lead organizations in a new direction is the second important technique in developing leaders for the future.

Challenging the Past Executive leadership development programs should train leaders from the premise that leaders are neither born nor made, but intentionally formed through unique experiences, lessons and exchanges with other leaders. Through this process, leaders build on their past experiences, challenge their current thinking and develop new methods and practices for effectively building their organizations.

This process is common in the many executive leadership development programs, as the demand for leadership training has grown exponentially with local, regional and national institutions

offering some Andrea Gibbs form of classroom Rockford College and/or online instruction.

When you prepare to train your leaders or send them to a development program, how can you know what will be effective instruction? One way is to examine the core program offerings, which should contain leadership instruction in eight critical areas: communication, team-building, negotiation, problem-solving, decisionmaking, coaching and motivation, and conflict resolution. More specific skills in marketing, human resources, customer service, project management, ethics and financial management should be included, but springboard off the core leadership instruction.

Including participants from a mid-to upper-level of management ensures there is appropriate perspective and experience during class discussions and instructional exercises. This environment provides a dynamic learning environment where everyone is a student and everyone is a teacher. Participants should be engaged throughout the process on both an individual and team level.

Rockford College recently developed an Executive Development Program (EDP) for area mid- to upper-level managers that follows these principles.

Born out of the MBA program, the EDP encourages participants to share unique experiences, lessons and insights with other leaders. Through this process, leaders are able to build on their past experiences, challenge current thinking and develop new methods and practices for effectively building their organizations.

Jeff Fahrenwald, assistant professor and one of the program’s instructors, talks about the energy in the room when different people from different organizations share their perspectives on leadership. “Putting leaders together is exciting in that it gives people the opportunity to focus specifically on what it is they want to do to move their organization forward.”

Fahrenwald continues, “When organizations invest in leadership development they are, in effect, planning for their future. There is nothing as important as ensuring that your organization is prepared for what it will face in the years ahead, and a critical part of that is cogent leadership.”

For more information, visit www.rock ford.edu/executive or call 815-226-4040.

Andrea Gibbs, a principal at Act2 Strategists, is adjunct professor in the BSMS and MBA programs and an instructor for the Executive Development Program at Rockford College.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

March 2013

Taking the doctor to our students There’s such a feeling of satisfaction when we come together as a community to do what’s right for our students in District 205. That’s just one of the many reasons why I’m so pleased to see our plans for a school-based health center moving forward.

The new health center truly will be a public – private effort, bringing the community’s resources together to help our students move toward healthier lives while continuing to strive for academic excellence. District 205 will partner with Crusader Community Health, Rosecrance Health Network, Swedish American Health System and Dr. William Hillman of the Primary Eye Care Center to provide medical, dental, behavioral, social, nutritional and optical services. The clinics will be located on the campuses of Auburn High School, Kennedy Middle School, McIntosh Elementary School and Wilson ASPIRE. An estimated 3,000 students attend these schools in some of Rockford’s most economically challenged neighborhoods.

Offering health services on school grounds makes it easier for parents who may not have access to transportation.

The site would be staffed by a pediatric nurse practitioner or a pediatrician and focus on helping Rockford School District students and their siblings, although no child would be turned away.

Community Health Trend School-based health centers are growing in numbers nationwide.

Rockford isn’t alone in this effort to help our nation’s youngsters gain better health. The use of school-based health services has gained momentum and recognition across the United States as a unique tool in the fight to prevent poor outcomes in both health and education, especially among vulnerable populations. It’s a movement that not only is focusing on students, but in some cases the general public.

When last surveyed in 2008, the number of school-based or school-linked

health clinics in the United States had surpassed 1,900, with most of them run by a public health care provider or a nonprofit agency and operating out of school-owned buildings across the country. The clinics generally provide primary care, mental health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, dental health, nutrition education, health education and health promotion activities. They’ve been shown to reduce asthma-related ER visits and hospitalization costs; reach greater numbers of racial minorities, especially young men; and increase the likelihood by 10 to 20 times that a student uses mental health services.

Of course all of this wouldn’t be possible without District 205 receiving a $500,000 federal grant. The federal grant will cover half of the center’s start-up costs, and is made possible under the Affordable Care Act. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has awarded more than $80 million to 197 school-based health centers across the country. An additional 384,000 students nationwide will be served by centers like ours.

Good health care increases attendance and increases learning. The end result will be healthier students, happier families and overall improved academic performance. The district has an advisory board to work out the details of the new clinic, and it still needs approval of the Rockford School Board. The health center is expected to operate five days a week, year-round. We hope the center will open this summer, in time to provide school physicals and sports physicals for the 2013 to 14 school years. I can’t think of a better way for our district and our students to start out a new school year than to have this great opportunity for healthier lives.

Dr. Robert Willis is interim superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.

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

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Issues to Watch LEGISLATIVE UPDATE The following is Illinois legislation for key areas, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s positions.

BUSINESS REGULATION Credit Card Surcharge (HB0977)

Prohibits merchants from passing credit charge interchange fees down to customers.

Sponsor: Rep. Wheeler (R-Fox Lake) Status: Referred to Rules Committee Illinois Chamber position: Oppose

DCEO Business Database (HB0075)

Requires DCEO to establish a searchable online database containing information about businesses located in Illinois.

Contains provisions concerning registration of businesses.

Provides that the department shall charge an initial registration fee of $100 for small businesses and $200 for businesses that are not small businesses. Provides that the department shall charge an annual fee of $25 for each registered small business and $50 for each registered business that is not a small business. Provides that the fees shall be deposited into the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Support Fund. This is NOT a Chamber initiative.

Sponsor: Rep. Ford (D-Chicago) Status: Assigned to Business Growth & Incentives Committee Illinois Chamber position: Oppose

Trans Fat Prohibition (HB0077) Prohibits schools from making industrially produced trans fat from being available to students

throughout school premises.

Sponsor: Rep. Ford (D-Chicago) Status: Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education Committee Illinois Chamber position: Oppose

Athletic Shoe Tax (HB0978)

Imposes a $0.25 sales tax added onto any pair of athletic shoes sold by a retailer.

Sponsor: Rep. Davis (D-East Hazel Crest) Status: Referred to Rules Committee Illinois Chamber position: Oppose

CIVIL LAW Concealed Carry (HB0154/ HB0997)

Allows the Department of State Police to issue a license to carry a loaded handgun to those that meet qualifications and specified fees. The bill allows those to carry a handgun concealed or openly, and on person or in vehicle, except in prohibited locations.

Licenses must be renewed every five years.

Sponsor: Rep. Reis (R-Olney)/ Rep. Phelps (D-Harrisburg) Status: Referred to Rules Committee Illinois Chamber position: Reviewing

EMPLOYMENT LAW Medical Marijuana (HB0001/HB1076)

Creates a medical cannabis pilot program as an alternative treatment for serious diseases causing chronic pain.

Sponsor: Rep. Lange (D- Skokie) Status: Referred to Rules Committee Illinois Chamber position: Reviewing

Unemployment Protection (HB0011)

States that any unemployed individual who is eligible for unemployment benefits or who is no longer eligible for extended benefits cannot have their gas or electric turned off by any public utility company, cannot be denied by any pharmacy the refusal to dispense prescription medication, shall not be sentenced for failure to make child support payments, and/or any mortgagee to institute foreclosure proceedings.

Sponsor: Rep. Flowers (D-Chicago) Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee Illinois Chamber position: Oppose

Workers’ Compensation Definitions (HB0107)

Defines “accident” and “injury.”

Injury includes the aggravation of a per-existing condition by an accident arising out of and in the course of the employment.

Sponsor: Rep. Kay (R-Edwardsville) Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee Illinois Chamber position: Support

Workers’ Comp. for Partial Disabilities (HB0108)

Objective findings in medical records are taken into consideration in determining a partial disability.

Sponsor: Rep. Kay (REdwardsville) Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee Illinois Chamber position: Support

Workers’ Comp. for Repetitive Trauma (HB0109)

Requires a written, signed and verified notice of an accident to be given to an employer. In regards to repetitive trauma, a notice shall be given within 45 days of the date the condition manifests itself. The notice must contain no defect or inaccuracy unless the employee proves otherwise.

Sponsor: Rep. Kay (REdwardsville) Illinois Chamber position: Support Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee

Workers’ Comp. for Previous Injury (HB0111)

Limits cumulative awards for partial disability to 500 weeks.

Sponsor: Rep. Kay (REdwardsville) Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee Illinois Chamber position: Support

Workers’ Comp. for Carpal Tunnel (HB0112)

States that an employee with an injury involving carpal tunnel would be able to return to work without restrictions. Licensed physician shall determine the impairment level of a permanent partial disability.

Sponsor: Rep. Kay (REdwardsville) Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee Illinois Chamber position: Support

Workers’ Comp. for Intoxication (HB011) Sponsor: Rep. Kay (REdwardsville) Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee Illinois Chamber position: Support Description: Employees may overcome the assumption that intoxication was the proximate cause of an injury with valid evidence that intoxication was not the proximate cause.

Unemployment Insurance Misconduct Definition (HB0139)

Redefines “misconduct” by deleting language requiring that a violation of a reasonable rule or policy of the employing unit be deliberate and willful. Also deletes language requiring an instruction from the employing unit be explicit.

Sponsor: Rep. Tracy (R-Quincy) Status: Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee Illinois Chamber position: Support

Family Medical Leave (SB1190) Allows family medical leave up to 12 weeks for birth or adoption of grandchild.

Sponsor: Sen. Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) Status: Referred to Assignments Illinois Chamber position: Oppose

Parkinson’s Disease (SB1253)

Provides that any condition or impairment of health of a firefighter, emergency medical technician, or paramedic that results directly or indirectly from Parkinson’s disease resulting in any disability to the employee shall be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and in the course of the employee’s firefighting, EMT, or paramedic employment and shall be rebuttably presumed to be causally connected to the hazards or exposures of the employment, except as otherwise specified.

Sponsor: Sen. Holmes (D-Aurora) Status: Referred to Assignments Illinois Chamber position: Oppose

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March 2013

IGNITE

Young Professionals

See you in the sandbox Harnessing an irrepressible spirit I learned that the rules of the sandbox are easily applied to life: Play fair. Be kind. Apologize. The millennial and young professional (YP) generation share a strong character trait with our current leaders – we are no strangers to multitasking. I have been known to be writing a press release for an event with one hand while packing cans of nonperishable items for food banks with the other, and simultaneously soliciting bids for fundraising promotional items.

My profession suffered nationwide during the recession, and I personally have lived the new millennial story: reinvent yourself and your career to find new success.

This is what makes me Rockford: an inextinguishable spirit that will find a way to thrive.

My life changed dramatically in 2011. Despite my immense love of local journalism, in July, I became one of many laid-off journalists as part of a budget cutting initiative, along with my friends in the industry. But I’m a fighter. I don’t give up. I don’t say no.

I say, what new route can I take to success? Sure, alternatives existed – but they were outside of Rockford.

Rockford became my home in 2007, and in 2013, I’m still certain this is where I belong. I did what I had to do to make ends meet by organizing fundraisers, continuing my volunteer obligations, soliciting freelance work in marketing and communications while working at an art café. This is what makes me Rockford: an inextinguishable spirit that will find a way to thrive.

Be the Difference It’s this new millennial spirit that is helping birth a new Rockford, including

Ignite.

New Betsy Lopez minds are IGNITE generating new ideas and ways to grow beyond the status quo. My biggest hope and promise as a young professional is to be a part of it. I don’t just want to make a difference. I will be the difference.

I’ve transitioned into a career in bilingual education at a local school district and continue to freelance. My goals are lofty and evolving, but never impossible. I look to people who think outside the box to inspire me and to build ideas that can be put into action.

I surround myself with those who know with combined efforts, good things are possible.

It’s friends like DJ and Nicolle Wilson, who believe they can help change the local world through charitable bike rides with an eclectic group of philanthropic cyclists (www.teamfurbandit.org).

Kryptonite Bar owner Chris Wachowiak, who is pushing to give entrepreneurs access to donor dollars to fund their business improvements or ideas through an easy-to-navigate web experience (www.

EntreFunding.com). Brent Murray, who alongside his mother, is successfully running the Dairyhaus in Rockton, serving on his community’s planning commission and putting his family’s homemade ice cream on local shelves.

It’s sweet business, smart thinking. In the months to come, you’ll get more acquainted with me and others making a difference.

I’m excited to bring my experience to young professionals looking to invest their time and spirit into Ignite as we work together towards achieving all of our goals. I’ll see you in the sandbox.

Betsy Lopez has been a member of Ignite since 2009. She began working as Ignite’s coordinator in February. Contact her at Betsy@igniterockford.com.

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20

March 2013

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the News IN Members THEin NEWS

1. Katryna Kirby

2. Mary Breeden

3. Sara Porter

4. Kerry Williams

5. Patty Ribovich

6. Scott Green

7. Rev. Meridith T. Graham

8. Jane Armitage

9. Elizabeth J. Bartos

10. Tiffany Staman

11. Karen Foley

12. Nancy K. Kertz, PhD.

13. Dr. Gene C. Crume, Jr.

14. Ann Marie Santora

15. Brenda Ziegler

16. Aletha Beard

BOARD APPOINTMENTS, RETIREMENTS

The Alliance® board elected Vikki Brueggeman, chairman, and Kyle Reading, vice chairman. Brad Olm, was elected to board, and Wendy Culver, SPHR, and Pat Whitmore, re-elected for additional terms.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners elected new officers: Judith Barnard, president; Mary McNamara Bernsten, vice-president; Steve Chapman, treasurer; Cheryl Maggio, assistant treasurer; Audrey Johnson, secretary, and Judi Day, assistant secretary.

The Crusader Community Health board elected a new executive committee: Barbara Jackson, chair; Peter Roche, immediate past chair; Barbara Huffman, chair elect, and Tracy Richter, treasurer. Executive members are: James Powers, Jr.; David Ruffin, and Roger Jansen. Two members retired: Gladys Sanders and Ann Mayock.

University Club of Rockford elected new board officers: Ted Liebovich, president; Ron Gustafson, vice president; Helen Hill, secretary, and Michael Carlson, treasurer. New board members are Jay Maddox and Rex Parker.

Katryna Kirby (1) was elected president of the Seward Park District board.

OSF Saint Anthony Foundation Board elected new officers: Brent Bernardi, chair; Pat Shaw, vice chair; Penny Lechtenberg, secretary; Dave Koch, treasurer, and John Lichty, immediate past chair. New board members are: Ajaz Kahn, M.D., Dave Koch, and Brian DeBenedetto.

Tom Nelson joined the Riverside Community Bank board.

Mitch Brechon and Brad Marinelli joined the Rockford Area Services Association board.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Martin Lipsky, M.D., regional dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, announced his resignation after 10 years to join wife Darice Zabak, M.D., in Portland, Ore. Rockford College President Robert L. Head, Ph.D., accepted a twoyear extension to his contract by the Board of Trustees. Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D., was hired as vice president for enrollment management.

Entré Computer Solutions hired Jason Siemens as network engineer.

Alpine Bank promoted Mary Breeden (2) to vice president and cash management & merchant services manager, Sara Porter (3) to assistant vice president and application support & ebanking manager, and Kerry Williams (4), Kirkland branch, and Patty Ribovich (5), North State branch, to assistant vice president and branch managers.

McGladrey LLP hired four interns, all students or graduates of Northern Illinois University: Ryan Held, Alex Cronauer, Jacob Johnson and Brooke Pleva.

Ticomix, Inc., hired Jim King, vice president of sales; Ilean Bettis, Patrick Martin and Gary Elwert, account managers; Dave Powers, senior network engineer, and Nathan Erickson, intern. David Achilli was promoted to director of support services, Mike Karstetter to service coordinator, and Tony Vrolyk to network service manager.

Saint Anthony College of Nursing hired Nancy K. Kertz, PhD, FNPBC (12), as associate professor and coordinator of its graduate family nursing practitioner (FNP) program track.

Rosecrance Health Network hired Scott Green (6), accounting manager; Rev. Meridith T. Graham (7), chaplain; Jane Armitage (8), director of development, The Rosecrance Foundation, and Elizabeth J. Bartos (9), director, Rosecrance Health Center, Harrison Adult Campus.

Security First Title Company hired Karen Foley (11) as a closing agent serving Rockford and surrounding areas.

The Judson University board of trustees announced Dr. Gene C. Crume, Jr. (13), as the seventh university president.

Ann Marie Santora (14) joined Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful as director of development.

Burpee Museum of Natural History appointed Maureen R. Mall as executive director.

Brenda Ziegler (15) joined Spectrum Insurance Agency Inc., as agency/ human resources administrator. Aletha Beard (16) and Aimee Bermen (17) obtained their life/health licenses and joined as life/health account administrators.

Carpenter’s Place hired Tiffany Staman (10) as director of development.

Alpine Bank promoted Pam Dunbar (18) to assistant vice president of finance & accounting, Betty Hoshaw

17. Aimee Bermen

18. Pam Dunbar

19. Betty Hoshaw

20. Dianna Cruden

21. Tim Kane

22. Jami Hamilton

23. Dr. Michael Roh

24. Jerry Paulson

25. Bruce Graham

26. Ed Youdell

27. Beverly “Bam” Edwards

28. Joe Clinton

29. Frank Haney

30. Rod Eckberg

31. Teresa Beach-Shelow

32. Will Banks

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21

March 2013

the News IN Members THEin NEWS

Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Kelly Vinje Company: Gordon Flesch Company Position: Account Executive and Board Member of the GFC Charitable Foundation How long have you been an Ambassador?

3 to 4 years

33. Brandon Latino

34. Warren Zeigle

35. Bonnie Arrington

36. Shirley Geiser

(19) to item processing officer, Dianna Cruden (20) to vice president and credit administrator manager, Tim Kane (21) to assistant vice president & appraisal review manager and Jami Hamilton (22) to credit officer.

Association, International, received the annual CMA Leadership Award from the Council of Manufacturing Associations of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Mid City Office Products hired Chrissy Walsh as business interiors sales consultant.

Beverly ‘Bam’ Edwards (27), outreach case manager at Crusader Community Health, received the second-annual Crusader Community Advocate Award.

Savant Capital, LLC, welcomed Dan Rezin, chief financial officer, and Dave Barton, director of advisory services & business, who purchased ownership interests and joined the company.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS Brittany Marshall, former graduate of LYDIA Urban Academy, was named Huskie Legacy by Northern Illinois University for outstanding academic achievement and received a $1,000 scholarship.

Dr. Michael Roh (23), Rockford Spine Center, received the 2013 Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award as best in his field by consumers.

Jerry Paulson (24), executive director of Natural Land Institute, received the Dedicated Conservationist Award by the Winnebago County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Bruce Graham (25), Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc., met the requirements for membership in the 2012-2013 Pekin Inner Circle Club.

Graham also earned the Gold Key Award with Pekin Life Insurance in 2012 for superior life insurance production.

Eclipse Inc., announced the graduates of its Leadership Development Program: Doug VanHeeren, Dave Ward, Kent Campbell, Jim Shepard, Jr., Rose Leid and Dan Quisenberry.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Rock Valley College announced the 2013 Concerto Competition awards for music students, 13 to 21: Kristiana McCombs, cello (first prize-$350); Thomas Wu, clarinet (second prize-$250), and Ella Caswell, piano (third prize-$150).

Ed Youdell (26), president and CEO, Fabricators & Manufacturers

Joe Clinton (28), Frank Haney (29) and Rod Ekberg (30), business insurance specialists with WilliamsManny, Inc., were awarded the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor.

Teresa Beach-Shelow (31), owner and president, Superior Joining Technologies, Inc., received one of the first Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Awards.

Will Banks (32), Lifescape Community Services, was recognized as Employee of the Quarter.

Karen Weis, project and governance manager, won Rockford Park District’s 2012 Employee of the Year. The Support Services staff won 2012 Team of the Year: Marty Bloom, Joe DominoMusselman, John Sundstrom, Pete Montana, Kyle Koelker, Troy Mattila, Pat Krueger and Luke Shearrow.

Scott C. Sullivan, partner with law firm of WilliamsMcCarthyLLP, was inducted into the Irish Legal 100 by the New York-based Irish Voice newspaper and Irish America magazine.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Bruce Graham, Brandon Latino (33), Warren Zeigle (34), Bonnie Arrington (35) and Shirley Geiser, (36) Spectrum Insurance Agency Inc., completed the Business Ethics course for continuing education requirements in January.

Lisa Marie Johnson, RN, NEABC, FACHE, director of Trauma, Emergency Services and Regional Development at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, completed the American College of Healthcare Executive’s Executive Program.

What do you like most about being an Ambassador? Getting to know all about businesses in our area, people in the community, and ways we can help make the community a better place. Rockford has so many wonderful things to offer and being an active Ambassador allows you to see what you can do to help and guide Chamber members to be more successful by utilizing all the resources available. My favorite part is meeting a ton of really amazing people who serve as both professional and personal mentors. They really care about the community, and it inspires you to get involved. We need more of that!

Member Category of the Month MEMBERSHIP The following is a listing of Rockford Chamber members highlighted in a specific industry.

ADVERTISING, DIRECT MAIL Midwest Mailworks Inc.

ADVERTISING, DIRECTORY & GUIDE Orange Peel Gazette

ADVERTISING, OUTDOOR Lamar Outdoor Advertising of Rockford Thor Advertising

ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING

Adams Letter Services, Inc./ Magnum Creative American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois Cain & Company Forty Two Eighty Nine Forward Equity Marketing Group GinestraWatson Co. GrahamSpencer Inspired Strategic Communications Helen Hill Communication KMK Media Group, Inc. Larson Group Design Company Oblique Ideas PR Etc., Inc. PS Designs & More, Inc. V2 Marketing Communications

ADVERTISING, SPECIALTIES A Printed Memory C & E Specialties, Inc. Creative Pig Minds Design Meridian Promotions Skyward Promotions

MAILING SERVICES

Adams Letter Services, Inc./ Magnum Creative Midwest Mailworks Inc.

MARKETING

Arco, Paul Anthony COMTECH Corporation Meridian Promotions

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS

Heinzeroth Marketing Group

PHOTOGRAPHERS, PHOTOGRAPHY

Brian Thomas Photography, Inc. Photobooth Rockford Professional Graphics Inc.

PRINTERS

Adams Letter Services, Inc./ Magnum Creative Central Printing & Media Solutions L & S Label Printing Meridian Meridian Courier Meridian Midwest Mailworks Inc. Minuteman Press PIP Printing/Mencarini Enterprises Professional Graphics Inc. Rockford Litho Center

PUBLICATIONS, PUBLISHERS Northwest Quarterly Magazine StatelineBusiness (Greater Beloit Publishing Co.) Village Profile

WRITING, TECHNICAL Aikon Desktop Services

Listings for our loyalty categories are generated directly from the Business Directory based on the category designated by the member.

Member-to-member Loyalty Card Cut out and write your company name on the card. Give it to the member you are doing business with to show your support of member-to-member business.

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Friday, March 1

The Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra hosts its fourth Trivia Night fundraiser, 6:30 p.m., at Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., in Kresge Hall. Community experts submit trivia questions in 10 categories. Prizes for top three winning teams. Register at www. rockfordsymphony.com or call 815972-2939.

Saturday, March 2

Rockford Public Library presents Genealogy Pathways, 10 and 11:30 a.m., at the Main Library Local History & Genealogy Room, 215 N. Wyman St. Registration not required. Call 815-965-7606.

Six-time Grammy winners The Chieftains perform at 7:30 p.m., at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. Tickets at 815-968-0595.

Midway Village Museum presents the Sock Monkey Madness! festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 2 and 3, at 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Tickets at the door or call 815-379-9112.

Sunday, March 3

Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., presents a free public opening of the 72nd Young Artist Show: High School Division, 1 to 3 p.m. (awards at 2 p.m.) Information at 815-972-2874 or ssauer@ rockfordartmuseum.org.

Monday, March 4

The YWCA of Rockford presents Leader Luncheon XXXIII: Women of Achievement, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Giovanni’s, Rockford.

Keynote speaker is Abigail E. Disney, filmmaker, philanthropist and executive producer of PBS mini-series “Women, War & Peace”.

Visit www.ywca.org/rockford.

Tuesday, March 5

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents the series, Facilities Management-Beyond Buildings and Grounds, 1:30 to 4 p.m., on March 5, 12, 19 and 26 with instructor Sharon Beu. Call 815-394-4384.

Wednesday, March 6

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey presents the State of the City Address, 6 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St. Open seating. No registration.

Doors open at 4 p.m.

Rockford Public Library presents Turning 65--Get the Facts about Medicare, 1 to 3 p.m., at the East Branch Friends of RPL Community Room, 6685 E. State St. Informational materials provided.

Registration required at 815-9657606.

Men For Moral Change hosts a conference to discuss the increased

March 2013

Community Events COMMUNITY

role of talk therapy, 6 to 9 p.m., at Rock Valley College Woodward Technology Center, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, rooms 141 and 142. Call 815-721-2163.

Landscape Planning and Design, 6 to 7 p.m., at Midway Village Museum, Rockford. Register at web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

Thursday, March 7

The YMCA of Rock River Valley hosts a free Raising Teens workshop, March 12 to April 2, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the I.D. Pennock Family YMCA. All parents are welcome and no Y membership required. Call 815-489-1252.

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents Advancement: Informing and Persuading Key Constituencies with Andrea Gibbs, 1:30 to 4 p.m., on Thursdays, March 7 to 28, at 5100 E. State St., Rockford. Call 815-394-4384.

Friday, March 8

Rockford Public Library hosts an After Hours Book Discussion to discuss Anointed with author Patricia Haley, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Montague Branch Connie Lane Room, 1238 S. Winnebago St. Registration not required. Call 815965-7606.

Rockford Art Museum hosts an Art Talk with Dimitri Liakos, professor emeritus, on “The Draped, The Nude and the Naked in Greek Art and the Exultation of Physical Beauty,” noon, at the Riverfront Museum Park theater, 711 N. Main St. Call 336-266-6626.

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center presents singer/songwriter Buddy Mondlock, 7:30 p.m., at Mendelssohn Hall (former First Presbyterian Church). Call 815-9649713 or visit www.mendelssohn pac.org.

Saturday, March 9

Womanspace presents StrengthsFinder® for Your Future: A Community-wide Education, Career and Leadership Workshop with Gallup’s Jo Ann Miller, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, rooms 117 and 119. Call 815-8770118 or visit www.womanspacerockford.org.

Rockford Park District hosts a three-week Golf Conditioning Clinic, 8 to 9 a.m., at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford.

Register at least one week prior at www.rockfordparkdistrict.org or 815-987-8800.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents Salute to the Big Bands with guest performance by Emily Bear, 7:30 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at www.rockfordsymphony.com or 815-965-0049.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden hosts Klehm Family Days, “The Early Signs of Spring,” 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 2715 S. Main St., Rockford. Call 815-965-8146 or visit www.klehm.org.

Tuesday, March 12

University of Illinois Extension presents Introduction to

Thursday, March 14

The Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center at Rock Valley College presents an IDOT no-cost workshop on government contracting: Bonding and Financing Training, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Ave., Rockford. Register at ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ Conferences.action (keyword: IDOT) or call 815-921-2091.

The Rockford Area Hotel-Motel Association hosts a Job Fair, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn, 7675 Walton St., Rockford. Local hotels and restaurants will have booths to speak to interested job seekers.

Friday, March 15

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center presents Aaron Copland’s America, featuring the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra and Rockford Dance Company, 7:30 p.m., at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St., Rockford. Call 815-964-9713 or visit www.mendelssohnpac.org.

Saturday, March 16

Discovery Center Museum presents the Family Fun Day: Bubble Festival. Showtimes at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., at Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets on sale at 815-963-6769 or www. discoverycentermuseum.org.

Wednesday, March 20

The Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center at Rock Valley College presents an IDOT no-cost workshop on government contracting: Certified Payroll and Force Account, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Ave., Rockford. Register at ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ Conferences.action (keyword: IDOT) or call 815-921-2091.

Womanspace presents a Lunch & Learn: Labyrinth Equinox, noon to 1 p.m., with Barrie Carter Gibby in Anjali Pavilion, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford. Bring a sack lunch.

Call 815-877-0118 or visit www. womanspace-rockford.org.

The YMCA of Rock River Valley presents its first “Celebrating Community” Fundraiser Dinner,

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

5:30 p.m., at Giovanni’s, Rockford.

Features special celebrity guest, Bill Rancic, from reality television show, The Apprentice. Proceeds support the Strong Kids Foundation. Visit www.rockriverymca.org.

Friday, March 22

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents SoundBites lunchtime discussion on soloists featured in Handel’s Messiah with Steven Larsen, music director, noon, at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club, 5151 Guilford Road. Reservations recommended at 815-965-0049 or www.rockfordsymphony.com.

Saturday, March 23

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents Handel: Messiah with the Mendelssohn Chorale and soloists, 7:30 p.m., at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at www. rockfordsymphony.com or 815-9650049.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents Symphony Saturdays for families with the RSO Brass Quintet, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and 11 a.m. to noon, at Kresge Hall, Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St. Tickets at 815-965-0049 or www.rockfordsymphony.com.

Monday, March 25

Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, presents a Supper and Film: Moonrise Kingdom, 6 to 9 p.m., in the media room (library).

Call 815-877-0118 or visit www. womanspace-rockford.org.

Tuesday, March 26

University of Illinois Extension presents Right Plant, Right Location, 6 to 7 p.m., at Midway Village Museum, Rockford. Register at web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

Wednesday, March 27

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents a Leadership Café, “Where are you in the life cycle of your nonprofit organization?” noon to 1 p.m., at Burpee Center, 5050 E. State St. Register at least five days prior at 815-394-4384 or email kream@rockford.edu.

Thursday, March 28

Northern Illinois University presents the Retail Leadership Expo, 5 to 8 p.m., at the NIU Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center. Registration required at www.niu.edu/careerservices.

Saturday, March 30

Discovery Center Museum presents the Family Fun Day: Egg Hunt, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. More details at 815-963-6769 or www. discoverycentermuseum.org.

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March 2013

Regional, National Indicators THE ECONOMY Midwest Manufacturing Output Increased in December

U.S. Indicators January, 2013 Consumer Price Index

q 0.3 percent

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 0.7 percent in December, to a seasonally adjusted level of 94.7 (2007 = 100). The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) moved up 0.8 percent in December. Regional output rose 6.2 percent in December from a year earlier, and national output increased 2.7 percent.

Unemployment Rate 7.9 percent Payroll Employment

 157,000

Average Hourly Earnings

 $0.04

Producer Price Index

 0.2 percent

Employment Cost Index

 0.5 percent (fourth quarter, 2012)

Productivity

q 2.0 percent (fourth quarter, 2012)

U.S. Import Price Index

 0.6 percent

U.S. Export Price Index

 0.3 percent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates—Region, State, Nation

Monthly Index

% Change

Oct 12

Nov 12

Dec 12

Dec 11 - Dec 12

Chicago Mfg. Index

92.2

94.1

94,7

 6.2

CFMMI-Auto

95.4 99.2 100.7

 16.8

CFMMI-Steel

89.1 90.6 91.2

 3.3

CFMMI-Machinery 90.2 90.3 90.7

 1.0

CFMMI-Resource 89.6 90.3 90.3

q 0.4

IPMFG

 2.7

94.5 95.7 96.4

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Updated Jan. 28, 2013

Dec 2012

Nov 2012

Dec 2011

Change/Mo. Change/Yr.

Rockford

11.2 10.5 12.3 q 0.7

q 1.1

Chicago

8.6 8.3 9.3 q 0.3

q 0.7

Illinois

8.6 8.3 9.3 q 0.3

q 0.7

United States

7.6

q 0.7

7.4

8.3

q 0.1

Source: U.S. Department of Employment Security

“The future of North America depends on people realizing that manufacturing is the backbone of our economy.”

– Jeremy Bout, host of Edge Factor

Edge Factor host to keynote Rockford Chamber manufacturing event Join the Rockford Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, March 21, as it welcomes keynote speaker Jeremy Bout, producer and host of the show, Edge Factor, at the Celebration of Manufacturing Expo and Dinner. The event takes place at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort with an expo from 4 to 6 p.m., and dinner, presentation and announcement of the annual awards for Manufacturer of the Year and Business Catalyst from 6 to 8 p.m.

Keynote speaker Jeremy Bout is a 12-year veteran in design and tool engineering. He will address the need to inspire young people – and get support from parents – in choosing a career in manufacturing.

“Before Edge Factor, I worked for 12 years as a CNC programmer,” Bout said on the Edge Factor website. “I quickly realized how difficult it was to explain what I did, why it mattered and how it contributed to the world. The majority of the general public has a very limited understanding of how critical manufacturing is to our economy. I decided to use my passion for art and media to unlock the awesome world of manufacturing to the public. In June 2010, Edge Factor was born.”

Bout’s show tells action-packed stories of the people behind some of the greatest manufacturing accomplishments in North America -- from rockets in space, to bikes in the air, to prosthetics, to motors. Visit edgefactor.com/edgefactorshow.

The Celebration of Manufacturing Expo and Dinner is sponsored by QPS Employment Group (presenting); Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International, Rockford Bank & Trust Co., and Wipfli LLP (gold); Thayer Lighting, Inc. (silver); CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (bronze); and Savant Capital Management (Manufacturing Awards).

Population Clock As of February 20, 2013: U.S.

315,362,864 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

World 7,067,461,669

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March 2013

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Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS

Rosecrance Health Network and SwedishAmerican Health System announced a new partnership, whereby Rosecrance will manage SwedishAmerican Hospital’s mental health unit. Nurses providing direct patient care will be hospital employees, while the unit’s psychiatrists and therapists will be Rosecrance employees. Rosecrance also purchased SwedishAmerican’s outpatient behavioral health clinic, now at Camelot Tower. On March 1, the clinic closes and services will be integrated with existing Rosecrance operations through its affiliate, Aspen Counseling & Consulting.

Rockford Park District’s Atwood Center staff received from the Illinois Park & Recreation Association the Outstanding Facility & Park award for its Birds of Prey exhibit, which opened last September as an accessible tree house and family-friendly day and overnight destination.

Rockford Memorial Hospital received a rebate check for $102,159 for its participation in an energy-saving business incentive plan through the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program for high-efficiency gas-firing burner equipment, which will save more than 102,000 therms of natural gas annually.

The 2013 ADDY Awards were presented in February. Top awards went to GrahamSpencer, best of show, for its Rick’s Picks advertising campaign for Burpee Museum of Natural History; V2 Marketing Communications, best of print and judge’s choice award, for its AES Presentation Package for Applied Ecological Services, and Rockford Health System, best of electronic, for its “Redirect” television commercials. GrahamSpencer also receive a judge’s choice award for its Rockford Visitor’s Guide for the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

An estimated 800 jobseekers attended The Workforce Connection’s annual Belvidere Job Fair in January, held in conjunction with the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce BoCo Expo.

Rock Valley College received LEED Gold Certification for the Karl J. Jacobs Center for Science and Math for high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

A $3 million gift to the University of the Illinois from the C.W.B. Foundation and matching funds will result in a new center for regenerative medicine for individuals with disabilities at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. The project will include a new research program director, curriculum, renovated lab space and

educational program for students interested in regenerative medicine.

boots and socks for Rockford School District students.

Brian Thomas Photography was retained to capture aerial images for the construction of the new SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center at North Bell School Road near Interstate 90. The outpatient center, a collaboration between UW Health and the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, is scheduled for completion in late 2013. SwedishAmerican Camelot Tower OB/GYN Clinic retained prints

by Brian Thomas with scenes unique to Rockford.

V2 Marketing launched a new website for Rockford Coronado Concert Association at www.rccaconcerts.org with upcoming events and online ordering.

Discovery Center Museum received a $30,000, three-year grant from the PNC Foundation to provide at-risk preschool children in Rockford Public School’s Early Childhood Program with hands-on science, math and arts activities in school and at the museum as part of the district’s strategic plan, Visualize 2015.

Womanspace welcomed more than 100 guests for the dedication of the William Reif Gallery. Reif directed all memorials following his death in 2012 to Womanspace, which resulted in new LED lighting for the formerly known Gallery 1.

Reno & Zahm LLP launched a series of original thought leadership papers, “Legal Briefs,” with timely and objective legal insights for individuals and businesses and written by Reno & Zahm partners and associates.

View and download at www.renozahm.com.

Two Rockford area Taco John’s restaurants, including the Rockford store on 3007 N. Main St., donated a portion of each Nachos Navidad® sold through Dec. 25 to Rockford Rescue Mission in January.

Rockford Orthopedic Associates and Crystal Lake Orthopedics announced their intent to merge and have entered into a due diligence process with a target of fall, 2013.

Members of Court Street United Methodist Church in Rockford donated funds through its Angel Tree Program to purchase two Christmas gifts for 26 children on behalf of their incarcerated parents.

SwedishAmerican Health System granted the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA® program with $15,000 to continue its work with cancer survivors in 2013. The 12-week small group exercise and support program is designed to meet the needs of adult cancer survivors to gain or reclaim their health before, during and after treatment.

Next Rockford, in partnership with Keith Country Day School and Holy Family Church, collected more than 1,000 new and gently used cold weather jackets, hats, gloves,

The Northern Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects gave Larson & Darby Group, Gary W. Anderson Architects and Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects awards for architectural design in January.

Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects received the Award of Excellence for the Jacobs Center for Science & Math at Rock Valley College. Larson & Darby received Honor Awards for the new Systems Test Facility for Woodward, and the renovation and addition for Field Fastener, and a Merit Award for the addition and renovation to the University of Illinois Chicago, College of Medicine at Rockford.

Rockford Country Club hired PR Etc., to assist with its marketing efforts.

The Rockford Public Schools Creative and Performing Arts Program hired KMK Media Group to produce two videos demonstrating the program’s opportunities for students in music, art, dance and theater. HomeStart hired KMK to handle public relations and to develop a website on critical housing issues, foreclosure help and financial assistance for home purchases.

Rockford Memorial Hospital’s REACT helicopter program resumed full air and ground transport service in February. The permanent replacement aircraft, a Eurocopter EC135, continues to be prepared for delivery to Rockford Health System.

Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, purchased three acres on Smokey Hollow Road near Freeport, with funds from the Pepsi Refresh Everything contest.

The new facility will use eco-friendly solar and wind power, composting, greenhouse and garden and is estimated to draw 10,000 visitors per year.

Entré Computer Solutions attained a Microsoft Gold Hosting competency, demonstrating a “bestin-class” ability and commitment and placing it within the top one percent of Microsoft’s partner ecosystem.

The Eclipse Foundation gave funds to preserve the Frank Lloyd Wright Laurent House in Rockford. The house was the only building ever designed by world-famous American architect Wright for a person with a disability. It is considered to be one

of his 35 most important works, and Kenneth and Phyllis Laurent lived in it until 2012. The home will open as a public museum in 2013.

The Our City, Our Story video series, founded by Rockford-based cinematographer Pablo Korona, received a sponsorship from Duclos Lenses of Los Angeles. It joins a growing list of local and national sponsors for the project that gives voice to the people and stories that define Rockford.

GrahamSpencer opened its fourth location, in Nashville. Other offices are in Rockford, Ridgway, Colo., and Hoboken, N.J. Riverside Community Bank donated more than $3,200 to Crusader Community Health from 2012 Pink Ribbon Debit Card transactions and fundraisers since May of last year.

SwedishAmerican Foundation’s annual spring gala, Cruise ’13, on March 2 is a “sell-out” for the second consecutive year, with proceeds to benefit the new SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center scheduled to open in 2013.

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful was named a President’s Circle award winner at the 60th National Conference for “exemplary performance in building and sustaining a vibrant community.”

Wesley Willows received a check for $18,991 for participating in the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program. It upgraded its HVAC system in the Willows Arbor and Willows Health and Rehab Center buildings, with new boiler plants and digital controls and a projected savings of 25,000 therms annually.

Rockford Memorial Hospital launched its pet therapy program “Loving Tails” on Feb. 14 to bring volunteer therapy dogs for patient visits.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois completed a second annual donation drive at its McHenry store to benefit the FISH (Friends In Service Here) of McHenry Food Pantry. Goodwill presented $2,500 and two gaylords of non-perishable food items and non-food items, serving more than 650 families in December.

Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital ranked third for its clinical excellence among HealthSouth’s network of 100 rehabilitation hospitals for 2012.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in the first three weeks of tax season this year completed more than 725 returns and returned more than $1.1 million to communities.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

March 2013

New Chamber Members MEMBERS ADVANTAGE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES AT WILLWOOD BURIAL PARK

KILBUCK CREEK

Leader in Affordable Funerals & Cremation, Pre-Planning Services 7000 W. State St., 61102 Doug Nehls 815-968-5313 www.advantagerockford.com

6752 N. Kilbuck Road

ALLEN HEATING & COOLING INC.

Unique Venue For Retreats,

Conferences, Weddings and Reunions Monroe Center, IL 61052 Mona Ames

815-393-3247

www.kilbuckcreek.com

MATTRESS FIRM America’s #1 Tempur-Pedic Retailer

A Full Service Heating & Air Conditioning Contractor Serving Residential and Commercial Customers 122 N. 2nd St., 61107 Tom Howe 815-298-8020 www.allenheatcool.com

and All Major Brands

C.P.M. RECYCLING SERVICES

Integrate, Manage, Design,

Full Service: Cardboard, Plastic, Pallets, Paper, Metals, Office, Warehouse & Storage Clean Out 2525 11th St., 61104 Magaly Espinoza 815-13-8169

CARPENTER’S PLACE Providing Tools Necessary for Rebuilding Lives of the Homeless 1149 Railroad Ave., 61104 Tiffany Staman 815-964-4105 www.carpentersplace.org

CIT GROUP INC, ROCKFORD

5946 E. State St., 61108 Joshua Shook 815-397-5884

www.mattressfirmwi.com

MONTEL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC Operate and Maintain Informational Technology Systems

6281 Denwood Dr., 61114 Ray Montelongo 815-966-1267

www.montel-technologies.com

R.R. FLOODY COMPANY, INC. Offering a Variety of Value-Added

Solutions for Your Factory Automation Needs

5065 27th Ave., 61109 Karl Floody

815-399-1931

Large Truck Repair 4301 N. Bell School Road Loves Park, IL 61111 Bill Sixsmith 815-639-2000 www.cittrucks.com

www.rrfloody.com

CUSTOM CONCRETE LTD.

the Metal Working Industry

Residential Driveways, Sidewalks and other Concrete Needs P.O. Box 417 Byron, IL 61010 Rick Snodgrass & Tom Hanlin 815-234-4205

ELARASYS WORLDWIDE A Leading Reseller of New and Off-Lease Refurbished Technology Solutions 180 Corporate Dr. Elgin, IL 60123 Cheri Witzman 847-468-8900 www.elarasys.com

ELITE GUTTER SERVICE, INC. Seamless Aluminum Gutters 6336 Wicklow Close, 61107 Jay Villani 815-397-5933 www.elitegutter.com

SANDVIK COROMAT CO. World’s Largest Supplier of Tools,

Tooling Solutions and Know-How to 1665 Penny Lane

Schaumburg, IL 60173 Kevin Clay

815-871-1996

www.sandvik.coromant.com/us

THE VITAMIN SHOPPE 619 Dedicated to Inspiring Health and Wellness One Life at a Time 5946 E. State St., 61108 Ryan Donahue 815-397-9244

www.vitaminshoppe.com

WILD WILD WESTMOR LANES BAR & GRILL Neighborhood Bowling Alley, Banquet Hall & Bar ’n‘ Grill. Offering Year Round Entertainment

2407 N. Central Ave., 61101 Marjorie Axelson 815-963-7210

Do you have 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 p ­ ublication.

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March 2013

March 2013 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the members who celebrate their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber in March 2013.

35-YEAR MEMBER

15-YEAR MEMBER

Rockford Foundries

Interstate Graphics

30-YEAR MEMBERS

10-YEAR MEMBER

Broadmoor Agency, Inc. Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd.

Women of Today’s Manufacturing (WOTM)

20-YEAR MEMBERS

Anderson Dodge Anderson Toyota/Lexus of Rockford Diversified Machining, Inc. Rock River Ford, Kia, Mitsubishi Zuba and Associates

Adams Letter Services, Inc./ Magnum Creative Residence Inn by Marriott/Rockford

5-YEAR MEMBERS

Membership Renewals Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber in January, 2013.

AARP Illinois Aerotek, Inc.

Aikon Desktop Services

Arthritis Foundation, Heartland

Region – Northwest Illinois Office

A-Sign Designs

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Barron Metal Finishing, LLC

Bell Harbour Condo Association Bella Luna Bakery

Broadmoor Agency, Inc. Bug Lady Pest Control

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. Catholic Diocese of Rockford

Cincinnati Tool Steel Company

City Fire Fighters Union Local 413 Comcast Business Services

Community Bank of Rockford, A Division of The Harvard State Bank

Crescent Electric Supply Company Custom Gear & Machine, Inc. CYRS Wealth Advisors LLC Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd.

Forest Hills Country Club Glenwood Center Ltd.

Hayes Beer of Rockford Healing Pathways –

Cancer Resource Center

Midwest Stitch Morgan Stanley - The PCMW Group Mulford Park Apartments New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Next Rockford Northern Illinois Health Plan NTS Technical Systems Orput Companies Inc. Paychex, Inc. Pierce Laminated Products, Inc. Pizza Hut - 11th Street Pizza Hut - North Main Pizza Hut - South Alpine Pizza Hut (Rockford Pizza Inc.) PS Designs & More, Inc. RAC Adjustment Company Richard L. Johnson Associates, Inc. Rock River Energy Services, Inc. Rock Town Consulting Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Inc. Rockford Broach, Inc. Rockford Foundries Rockford Manufacturing Group Rockford Metal Polishing Co. Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Security Finance

Hicksgas Belvidere

Siena on Brendenwood

Kelley Williamson Company

Staff On Site, Inc.

Law Office of Jim Black

The DataCenter Data

Leading Lawyers

TLC...the Learning Center, Inc.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

Marden Tire & Auto

Winnebago County Board

Martin Group

Winnebago County Health

Midwest Building Management

Youth Services Network

J & M Plating, Inc.

Skyward Promotions

Kitchens by Diane

Sugarjones Inc.

& Associates

Protection Inc.

Lee ’n Sons Plumbing, Inc.

Union Fence Company

LOESCHER & Associates, Ltd.

Windmill Hill LC

(Marden Distributors, Inc.)

Metropolitan Title Agency

Chairman’s Office Department

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events MARCH, 2013 Tuesday, March 5 Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Jennifer Hall, Catalyst Business Solutions, LLC, presents “The Lost Art of Interpersonal Communication in the Age of Social Media.” Sponsored by Siena on Brendenwood.

Wednesday, March 6 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

PYSK TALKS Bill Gorski, SwedishAmerican Health System, presents “Health Care Reform.”

Friday, March 8 Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. To join the council, contact Heidi Garner at 815316-4312.

Tuesday, March 12

Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, March 13 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

PYSK TALKS Kathy Weber, BMO Harris Bank, presents “Building Your Own Brand Awareness.”

Wednesday, March 13 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@ whiteheadcommercial.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Tiffany Staman, Carpenter’s Place, tiffanys@carpentersplace.org or 815-964-4105, ext. 221.

Ribbon Cutting, Staffing Network, 7210 E. State St., Rockford, 11 a.m. to noon.

Breakfast Buzz: 1 on 1 with Rockford Township Supervisor Mickey Goral, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford. Sponsored by McGladrey LLP.

Thursday, March 14

Ambassador Club Lunch Meeting, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Gleason Cutting Tools Corporation, 1351 Windsor Road, Loves Park.

Wednesday, Wednesday,March March20 20 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

PYSK TALKS Peter Provenzano, SupplyCore, presents “Mindful Capitalism: Social Enterprise & Community Renewal.

Thursday, March 21 4:00 - 8:00 pm Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort 700 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford

Celebration of Manufacturing Expo & Dinner Expo, 4 to 6 p.m.; Dinner, presentation, awards, 6 to 8 p.m. Jeremy Bout, producer and founder of the TV show Edge Factor keynotes. Stay for the announcement of the Manufacturer of the Year and Business Catalyst awards.

Sponsors: QPS Employment Group (presenting); Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Int’l., Rockford Bank & Trust Co., Wipfli LLP (gold); Thayer Lighting, Inc. (silver); CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (bronze); Savant Capital Management (manufacturing awards)

Tuesday, March 26 Multicultural Business Council, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Rockford Chamber conference room, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford. Share information, discuss best practices, promote collaboration and foster business growth for minority professionals, business owners and managers.

Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, March 27 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

PYSK TALKS Philip Eaton, Rosecrance Health Network, presents “Drift Management.”

Wednesday, March 27 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@ whiteheadcommercial.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Tiffany Staman, Carpenter’s Place, tiffanys@carpentersplace.org or 815964-4105, ext. 221.

APRIL, 2013 Tuesday, April 2 Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Sponsored by Siena on Brendenwood.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events Wednesday, April 3 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

Wednesday, April 17 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Radisson Conference Center 200 S. Bell School Rd., Rockford

PYSK TALKS

State of the County

Jeff Fahrenwald, Rockford College, is presenter.

Winnebago County Chairman Scott Christiansen will address the county’s activities to spur economic development.

Friday, April 5

Sponsors: BMO Harris Bank (presenting); Humana, SwedishAmerican Health System and AT&T (gold); Rock Town Consulting (bronze).

Ribbon Cutting, Wild Wild Westmor Lanes Grill & Bar, 3 to 4 p.m., 2407 N. Central Ave., Rockford.

Tuesday, April 9

Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, April 10

Breakfast Buzz, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford.

Sponsored by McGladrey LLP. Wednesday, April 10 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

PYSK TALKS James Keeling, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, presents “A Casting Call for Rockford’s Renaissance.”

Friday, April 19 - Saturday, April 20 2013 Illinois Sister Cities Association Annual Conference, Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford. Friday evening banquet in Coronado Theatre. Saturday conference, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with speakers, including Mary Kane, president & CEO of the Sister Cities International, 11 a.m. to noon. Call Jay Mathur, 815-978-2583, with questions.

Tuesday, April 23 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, April 24 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@ whiteheadcommercial.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Tiffany Staman, Carpenter’s Place, tiffanys@carpentersplace.org or 815964-4105, ext. 221.

Friday, April 12 Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. To join the council, contact Heidi Garner at 815316-4312.

Wednesday, April 17 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Rockford College 5100 Bldg.

5050 E. State St., Rockford

PYSK TALKS

PYSK TALKS Dr. Robert Head, Rockford College, is presenter.

Wednesday, April 24 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@ whiteheadcommercial.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Tiffany Staman, Carpenter’s Place, tiffanys@carpentersplace.org or 815964-4105, ext. 221.

Open House & Ribbon Cutting, Riverside Community Bank, 6855 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Ribbon cutting, 6 p.m.

John Phelps, Rockford Local Development Corporation, is presenter.

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

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March 2013

ADVERTISERS Advertisers Index

Alpine Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Athena PowerLink. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Bisconti Computers Inc.. . . . . . . . 13 Brian Thomas Photography. . . . . 15 Broadmoor Agency. . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Comcast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 The DataCenter Data Protection Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Entré Computer Solutions . . . . . . 10 First National Bank and Trust Company . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Gordon Flesch Company. . . . . . . 10 Humana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 IMEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful . . 19 McGladrey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Riverside Community Bank . . . . . . 5

Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . 8,18, 23, 25 Rockford College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Rockford Health System. . . . . . . . . 3 Rock Town Consulting. . . . . . . . . 13 Select Telecom & Technologies . . 12 Sikich LLP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 T6 Broadband. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Thayer Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 TSYS Merchant Solutions. . . . . . . 13 Upstream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Van Galder Bus Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Widmer Interiors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Wipfli LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 YMCA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100.............................................. Direct Line Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO.......................................... 815-316-4304 Heidi M. Garner, Executive Assistant to the President.................... 815-316-4312

Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology................... 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Advertising and Sponsorship Executive............... 815-316-4317

Vee Jevremovic, Manager of Education Programs and Events. . ........ 815-316-4337 Andrew Kobischka, Membership Development Manager.................... 815-316-4336 Cyndie Landis, Financial Assistant. . .......................................... 815-316-4300 Joy Moriarty, V.P. Finance. . ..................................................... 815-316-4316 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events. . ............................................ 815-316-4302 Diane Navickis, Membership Development Manager..................... 815-316-4315 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator......................... 815-316-4320

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS

Chairman of the Board Richard Walsh SwedishAmerican Health System Vice Chair Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc. Vice Chair Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Treasurer Larry Bridgeland Mid-City Office Products Immediate Past Chairman Mike Broski Entré Computer Solutions

Romero Bennett Blue Sky Insurance Agency, Inc. Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Ryan Brauns Rockford Consulting & Brokerage Paul Callighan ComEd, An Exelon Company

Michele Janke Petrie BMO Harris Bank

Pat Shaw McGladrey LLP

Penelope Lechtenberg Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Somchan Thatsanaphon K-I Machine Tool & Production Inc.

Michael Mastroianni Rock Valley College Paul McCann Stanley Steemer Pat Morrow Alpine Bank

Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc.

Amy Ott Chicago Rockford International Airport

J Chapman Maverick Media of Rockford LLC

Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale

Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University

Timothy Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy

Darlene Furst Furst Staffing

Tim White UTC Aerospace Systems Jennifer Wood Sikich LLP

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Janyce Fadden Rockford Area Economic Development Council

Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Daniel Saavedra Saavedra Gehlhausen Commerce Architects John Groh

Henry Seybold Jeff Hultman Riverside Community Rockford Health Bank System

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

April 2013 Special Sections

Healthy Living & Preventive Medicine For information on advertising, call 815 987-8100