March Voice 2017

ALORICA LOOKS TO ADD JOBS PAGE 4

IMA RELEASES MIDDLE CLASS MANUFACTURING AGENDA PAGE 8

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

NO SMOKING IN ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT PARKS

March 2017 | Volume 30 | No. 3

Rockford Chamber event sparks new ways of thinking

Creating healthy organizations built on trust

By Barbara Connors On the morning of Feb. 2, New York businessman Adam Elberg, founding partner and president & CEO of Professional Physical Therapy, flew in, arriving by Uber to hear nationally acclaimed writer and leadership guru, Patrick Lencioni, speak on stage of the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

The Rockford Chamber event featuring Lencioni aimed to draw business people not only from Rockford, but also from the surrounding areas. It did just

that, with participants coming from as far as Chicago, Elgin and St. Charles, Ill., to hear the speaker and founder of The Table Group present “The Untapped Advantage of Organizational Health” based on his book, “The Advantage.”

The event, which drew 810, kicked off the second year of the Rockford Chamber’s Rockford Leadership Alliance, which focuses in 2017 on organizational health. This, Lencioni claims, “will surpass all other disciplines in business as the greatest opportunity for improvement and competitive advantage.” He asserts that leaders and organizations need not only to be smart — good at strategy, marketing, finance and technology — but also

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

Join the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group

The former ordinance stated that smoking was prohibited within 50 feet of park district buildings, bleachers, playgrounds and concession areas.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

CELEBRATION OF MANUFACTURING

Expo and Dinner April 6 • Giovanni’s, Inc. For more info, see page 27

Illinois’ potential to raise quality of life

SPONSORED BY

Report points out strengths, weakness of the state

BBB WARNS OF ‘CEO OR BOSS SCAM’

By Barbara Connors

Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com

healthy.

Healthy organizations have minimal politics, minimal Patrick Lencioni confusion, high morale, high productivity and low turnover.

“It is my hope that organizational health will someday be a standard in business,” Lencioni said. “Coming to Rockford and seeing how a whole community is focused on developing its leaders and is embracing organizational health, was truly inspirational. Rockford Continued on page 3

The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners tightened its no smoking rules; voting in February to prohibit smoking in park district facilities or parks, including cigars, cigarettes, pipes and e-cigarettes.

This came as a part of revisions made to its section 9.18 Clean Air Ordinance. One exception was made for public golf courses, where adults can smoke 50 feet beyond enclosed and partially enclosed spaces on golf course playing fields, in the presence of consenting adults and away from the general public.

Illinois ranked 34th nationally in well being, in a report, “The Path Forward for Illinois,” published by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in February, but was praised for its potential and “tremendous assets,” as well as for the successes of its neighboring states.

BCG compared all 50 states on economics, investments, sustainability and equality; generating Sustainable Economic Development Assessment (SEDA) scores gauging how states translate wealth into well being for their people.

Illinois’ strongest score was in investments, ranking 17th overall. The report praised the state’s investment in health and education, underscoring that this reflects “a solid commitment to supporting the well being of its residents.”

By comparison, Illinois ranked in the bottom 15 in three of the four categories, earning 44th in economics “despite its significant wealth,” 38th in sustainability due to factors like “violent crime, low voter turnout and poor air quality,” and 39th in equality. The report stressed that Illinois “fairs poorly” in both racial and income equality, allowing some residents to prosper while others struggle to get by.

Potential for the State In looking towards Illinois’ future, the

report had many positive things to say, praising the state for its large and diverse economic base, educated workforce, abundance of human capital, access to health care, and educational system that, “in parts of the state at least, matches the best in the country.”

It said Illinois performed relatively well in the 2015 State Integrity Investigation conducted jointly by The Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity; ranking above average in integrity for procurement, internal auditing and pension fund investment management (separate from pension funding), and received an overall ranking of 13 on the basis of nearly 100 indicators.

It suggested that “residents and outsiders seem to have lost sight of Illinois’ strong foundation.”

The report pointed out that the most successful large states appeared to have clear aspirations and a plan to realize their goals. “Illinois, by contrast, currently has no similar long-range plan. It is instead mired in gridlock. What it needs is a vision, a strategy, and the will—political, economic, and social—to think through tradeoffs, make well-considered choices, and lay the groundwork for long-term success.”

To read BCG’s report, visit media-publications. bcg.com/BCG-The-Path-Forward-for-IllinoisFeb-2017.pdf.

With tax season in high gear, the Better Business Bureau warns businesses about the “CEO or Boss Scam,” which involves a phishing e-mail sent to accounting using the name of the company CEO or boss and instructing the department to wire money.

In another version of the scam, accounting, payroll or human resources receives a fake email appearing to be from the head of the company asking for W-2 forms for employees; which exposes all the information a scammer needs for identity theft.

“Leaders of companies need to inform their accounting departments that these types of e-mails could be coming in,” said Dennis Horton, director, Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau. “A scammer tried to hit the BBB last tax season.

An alert accountant questioned the transaction, which exposed it as a phishing e-mail.”

Anyone encountering this scam is urged to report it to www.bbb.org/ scamtracker/chicago, phishing@ irs.gov with “W2 Scam” in the subject line, or file a complaint with the FBI Chicago Field Office, chicagoBEC@ic.fbi.gov.

2

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

President’s Message VIEWPOINT

Lencioni and organizational health — where do we go from here?

Since hosting Patrick Lencioni last month at the Coronado Theatre to speak on “The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business,” the feedback we have received from those who attended his presentation was tremendous!

Patrick made an overwhelming case that organizational health will surpass all other disciplines in business as the greatest opportunity for improvement and competitive advantage.

As many of us tend to do after attending a conference or a training session that served as inspiration for us, we come back to the office and after a few days, all of our motivating factors have disappeared because work or business got in the way. Let’s not let that happen here!

Members of a leadership team can gain a general sense of their organization’s health, and more importantly, identify specific opportunities for improvement by completing the following checklist:

Build a Cohesive Leadership Team ■■ The leadership team is small enough (three to ten people) to be effective.

■■ Members of the team trust one another and can be genuinely vulnerable with each other.

■■ Team members regularly engage in

productive, unfiltered conflict around important issues.

■■ The team leaves meetings with clearcut, active, and specific agreements around decisions.

■■ Team members hold one another accountable to commitments and behaviors.

■■ Members of the leadership team are focused on team number one. They put the collective priorities and needs of the larger organization ahead of their own departments.

Create Clarity ■■ Members of the leadership team know, agree on, and are passionate about the reason that the organization exists.

■■ The leadership team has clarified and embraced a small, specific set of behavioral values.

■■ Leaders are clear and aligned around a strategy that helps them define success and differentiate from competitors.

■■ The leadership team has a clear, current goal around which they rally.

They feel a collective sense of ownership for that goal.

■■ Members of the leadership team understand one another’s roles and responsibilities. They are comfortable asking questions about one another’s work.

■■ The elements of the organization’s clarity are concisely summarized and regularly referenced and reviewed by the leadership team.

Overcommunicate Clarity ■■ The leadership team has clearly communicated the six aspects of clarity to all employees.

■■ Team members regularly remind the people in their departments about those aspects of clarity.

■■ They leave meetings with clear and specific agreements about what to communicate to their employees, and they cascade those messages quickly after meetings.

■■ Employees are able to accurately articulate the organization’s reason for existence, values, strategic anchors, and goals.

Reinforce Clarity ■■ The organization has a simple way to ensure that new hires are carefully selected based on the company’s values.

■■ New people are brought into the organization by thoroughly teaching them about the six elements of clarity.

■■ Managers throughout the organization have a simple, consistent, and nonbureaucratic system for setting goals and reviewing progress with employees.

That system is customized around the Einar K. Forsman elements of Rockford Chamber clarity. of Commerce ■■ Employees who don’t fit the values are managed out of the organization. Poor performers who do fit the values are given the coaching and assistance they need to succeed.

■■ Compensation and reward systems are built around the values and goals of the organization.

Meetings ■■ Tactical and strategic discussions are addressed in separate meetings.

■■ During tactical staff meetings, agendas are set only after the team has reviewed its progress against goals. Noncritical administrative topics are easily discarded.

■■ During topical meetings, enough time is allocated to major issues to allow for clarification, debate, and resolution.

■■ The team meets quarterly away from the office to review what is happening in the industry, in the organization, and on the team.

Checklist source is The Table Group, www.tablegroup.com.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Lencioni

(continued from front page) is a role model for other cities.”

Last year, the Rockford Leadership Alliance focused on building trust in organizations.

“During a strategic planning session with The Anser Group, we had a lightbulb moment that helped us see that Lencioni’s work fit really nicely with Stephen M.R. Covery’s work on trust,” said Caitlin Pusateri, vice president, leadership development at the Rockford Chamber.

Food for Thought “Lencioni sparked ideas in the leaders in the room,” Pusateri said.

Tom Walsh of Northwest Bank said he appreciated Lencioni’s use of humor and real-life examples and took away “the need for senior leadership to overcommunicate the mission and goals of the organization.” The three virtues of an ideal team player as “humble, hungry

“It is my hope that organizational health will someday be a standard in business.

Coming to Rockford and seeing how a whole community is focused on developing its leaders and is embracing organizational health, was truly inspirational.

Rockford is a role model for other cities.” and smart” rang with Sherry Pitney of Rockford Rescue Mission.

Steve Schmeling of Schmeling Construction Co., said he took away this thought: “Remind everyone we are working for the good of the entire company, not just their silo.”

“Trust is still the key biggest issue!” said Rebecca Epperson of Chartwell Agency.

“Since everyone in our company went, we can talk openly about the subjects and enact some impact in our organization.”

Biggest Takeaways In a survey following the event, many members weighed in on their biggest takeaways from the event. Some of their ideas included: ■■ The importance of “soft” skills in a work environment.

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

3

March 2017

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.

— Patrick Lencioni

■■ Establishing trust first. Then conflict can be resolved, and a healthy dialogue can occur.

■■ It’s not necessarily the people, but the culture of an organization that needs changing.

■■ How critical some of the “unseen” team dynamics are to performance.

■■ The importance of being honest, even if it means “conflict.” Conflict can be healthy and necessary so that negative emotions do not arise out of frustration.

■■ Unless we learn to trust each other, our organization will not succeed.

■■ Most of what we need people to do can be taught. Valued employees are much more about who they are as people than what they can learn.

■■ Being able to have critical, conflictcentered conversations that move an organization forward, versus ones that create disruption.

■■ Employers need to look beyond technical skills at job candidates.

■■ Trust and vulnerability is key, especially in leading a team. Trusting that work is a safe space for everyone to share ideas, and the best idea will prevail — after everyone is heard and feels their input is valued.

■■ NOT letting further conversations happen post-meeting. Instead of going back to a silo and continuing to complain about the issue, everything needs to happen during a meeting with all eyes and ears present.

■■ Health and attitude are important than technical skill.

more

Taking it to the Office Participants said ideas they would act on included tailoring interviews towards candidates with the necessary characteristics of a team player, and a “zero tolerance” policy for silence in meetings and sidebar conversations/criticisms.

Other ideas included understanding that voicing differing opinions only makes an organization more effective, building trust starts at the highest level and has all staff being honest in their opinions, and focusing on behaviors rather than results.

“Being able to bring Lencioni in was a powerful and energizing way to help participants quickly understand the message and propel us into the deeper work of this year’s Rockford Leadership Alliance,” Pusateri said.

“Harnessing Lencioni’s ideas and putting them into action in organizations will bring transformational change,” she added. “Though the ideas presented were simple upon first glance, the work that needs to be done is complex. Lencioni presented it in such a way that was inspiring and attainable with a little elbow grease.” theVoice

4

MAKING ITS MARK

March 2017

Member Profile PROFILE

Alorica looks to add 175 jobs in Rockford

By Paul Anthony Arco Alorica is a modern day success story.

The global customer experience provider, which includes a Rockford location, was founded in 1999 with one client and a dozen employees. These days, the California-based company has grown to more than 100,000 employees in 150 locations in 16 countries.

“We’re in the customer engagement business,” said Ken Muche, director of global public relations. “Technology, best practices and procedures are all important, but at the end of the day, it’s about hiring the best people.”

Last year, Alorica acquired Plano, Texas-based company Expert Global Solutions, which had an office in Rockford.

Alorica employs 860 people in Rockford and is planning to add another 175 in the near future. The Rockford facility is open until 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Its client base is strong. Alorica works for more than 600 companies in the automotive, energy and utilities,

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Alorica holds a meet and greet (job fair) in February in Rockford with a plan to fill 175 new positions in the near future. financial services, government services, health care, insurance, communications, retail, technology, travel and hospitality industries. “Things have changed drastically within our industry,” said Muche. “We work on multiple platforms to better serve our clients, whether it’s instant messaging, email or social media.”

According to Muche, 70 percent of Alorica’s management team started out on the frontlines. All employees have the chance to advance through training and classroom work held onsite. “We believe in investing in our people,” he said. “It’s not just a job, but a career. We like to recruit people who have a history in the service industry. It could be a bank teller or a stay-at-home mother who is looking to start a second career. We need employees who can solve problems and think quickly on their feet.”

A Family Culture Applying for a job at Alorica is not your typical interview experience. For starters, Alorica refers to its job fairs as meet and greets. Four to five potential employees meet with a supervisor in face-to-face meetings, followed by tours of the facility. If candidates advance to the next round, they meet one-on-one with another company official. And if all goes well, a candidate can expect to receive a job offer that same day.

“It’s a different way to relate to the workforce, a chance to connect,” Muche said. “It gives us a feel for who we’re hiring, and it gives the candidates an understanding about us as a company. There is a mutual respect in our interview process.”

And working at Alorica can be fun as well as rewarding. Each location has a position called culture champion, an employee whose job is to provide a positive

environment for his or her co-workers.

“It’s all about creating culture,” Muche said. “We recruit people who are outgoing and engaging to take care of customers and those types of people tend to be fun to be around. It makes for a family-type atmosphere. That’s what helps set us apart.”

Alorica is also a generous company.

More than $1.1 million has been raised and 6,700 hours have been logged at Alorica locations across the country. Employees plan onsite activities such as dunk tanks to raise money, daily drawings or summer barbecues. All locations work to support organizations that help veterans.

For its efforts, Alorica has received several industry recognitions including: named a top leader on Gartner’s 2016 Magic Quadrant Report; named as an industry leader by Everest Group and named by Victory Media as a “Military Friendly Employer” for its AloriCares veterans initiative.

It’s all part of being a team, said Muche.

“It’s important for our company and employees to make our communities better places to work and live. It’s what we do.”

ALORICA

Eve Harker, site director 7180 Spring Brook Road 815-654-6791 www.alorica.com

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

5

March 2017

Rockford University PERSPECTIVE

Do you have a life plan?

Start now to reach for your dreams In business, planning is one of the keys to organizational success. The same is true for people in general. However, sadly, many people are not very good at planning in their personal lives. Would it surprise you to hear 56 percent of Americans have less than $10,000 total saved for “retirement” or that one in three Americans have $0 saved for retirement? According to a study on Money.com, this is America’s reality today. With those sobering numbers, there’s probably a 50-50 chance you just read the above statistics and thought to yourself, “I fit into these numbers, I don’t have much saved for my future.” If you or someone you know fits into this group, it is time for you to develop a plan. You NEED a plan. Yes, a retirement plan is important, but if you don’t already have one, maybe the place to start is with another plan – a life plan.

A life plan is a plan to accomplish your dreams. It might seem silly, but it may be the most important type of plan you can make.It is your personal strategic plan. What if someone asked you about the dreams you have for your life? Could you tell them about the wild, crazy and exciting plans you have for your future;

where you’d go, who you’d go with, what you’d be doing? If you do know your dreams, could you tell them how you were going to pay for them? If you are like most Americans, probably not.

Sound strategic planning starts with knowing where the organization is currently and also identifying where it will go in the future. If we let ourselves dream about where we want to be and honestly assess where we are, we can make plans to help us achieve our dreams! If we don’t do this and just put our heads down and get caught up in our work, then we’ll look up and realize five or more years have gone by, and we are no closer to our dreams!

Keep doing this, and soon you’ll look up and be close to retirement “age,” and you won’t be able to retire, because retirement is no longer an age, it’s a number — a financial number. One you are not going to hit by accident.

Not only will you not have enough money to retire, but you will have also missed out on countless experiences and dreams along the way. All this because you didn’t have a personal strategic plan.

Sketch Out Your Dreams How can you start on your plan? Get a journal or a notebook, go to a quiet place and write down your dreams. At the same time, honestly assess where you are today in terms of your financial health. The sooner you do this, the better: Don’t put this off.

The next step is to take control of your money and have a plan for it. This plan for your money is your budget. Some folks cringe when they hear the word budget, but a budget is simply a plan to tell your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went. It’s an absolutely necessary step in planning, and without a budget it’s pretty difficult to move into the next step in your plan, which is the actual financial portion of the plan. If you don’t know where your money is going, it will be impossible to reach your dreams. Don’t sell yourself, and your dreams, short by missing this key step in your life plan.

If you’ve never done a budget, just google “budget worksheet,” find one you like, and print! The goal of course, just like in business, is to spend less than you make and to “find” ways to have money left over to put towards helping you

accomplish your Jenn Smith Rockford University dreams.

Of course it isn’t enough to have a budget, you also have to have the personal accountability and discipline to follow your plan. Business leaders learned a long time ago that a budget puts structure to plans and helps keep everyone in the business accountable toward reaching the goal. If you are new to budgeting in your personal life, it is going to be hard the first few months, and it’s not going to work out as smoothly as planned the first few times.

The good news is, it gets easier over time.

Remember you are planning for the long term; you are planning to reach your dreams! Take the time to develop your personal strategic plan — your life plan.

Don’t push this off to some unknown future date. Set your dreams, know your goals, develop a budget and hold yourself accountable. You’ll be glad you did!

Jenn Smith is a graduate assistant in the MBA Program at Rockford University.

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

6

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

IGNITE

Young Professionals

Breaking down barriers Getting inspiration from Google If you are like me, you spend a lot of time Googling things — the weather, who won last night’s game, directions, pictures of puppies, videos of babies and the answer to the question you just can’t figure out. Sometimes I check Google to see if there is a Google Doodle that day. I’m sure you’ve seen them, when the Google Logo opens up a whole new world of interactive distractions.

Now most people don’t take the time to check out these Google Doodles, but back in January there was a Doodle I won’t forget.

Because it is my favorite website, Google is my home page when I open up Google Chrome. I looked at the logo and refreshed the page to make sure I was seeing things right. Was I seeing what I thought I saw? Was Google celebrating disability rights activist Ed Roberts?

To save yourself the Google search, I’ll answer your question. Yes, yes they were. There he was, disability rights activist Ed Roberts sitting on my home page. I got so excited, I emailed all my co-workers to check it out. Later, when I checked Facebook, I saw that this Google Doodle was making headlines across the nation.

Now, who is this disability rights activist Ed Roberts? He is such a big deal, his wheelchair is in the National Museum of American History. At the age of 14, Roberts contracted polio and became paralyzed from the neck down, with only movement in one finger. During the day, Roberts used a wheelchair and at night slept in an iron lung. Roberts had to advocate for himself beginning in high school, when they withheld his diploma due to not completing driver’s education and physical education. Don’t worry, he got it and went on to attend University of California-Berkeley, where he was one of the first students with a serious disability to attend the campus. It was a challenge, but Roberts didn’t quit.

Roberts had to prove that he was able to live on his own, rather than in the hospital they invited him to live in. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in political science while creating the first student-led disability services program in the country, providing counseling, housing referrals, and a repair crew for wheelchair users.

Roberts went on to help create the first Center for Independent Living in Berkley, California, which helped individuals with disabilities break through the many barriers they may face — transportation, employment, housing, education. Oh, he also co-founded the World Institute on Disability while

Hannah Schoenberg

traveling IGNITE the world raising public awareness on disabilities rights.

It Takes a Village Ed Roberts isn’t the only disability rights activist I would love to see grace the Google homepage. I’d love to see Judy Heumann, who helped develop needed human rights legislation and policy, both nationally and internationally for people with disabilities and co-founded the World Institute Disability alongside Roberts. Max Starkloff, who was a leader during the independent living movement and fought for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Justin Dart, who helped with the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and founded the American Association of People with Disabilities alongside Paul Hearn, Bob Dole, John Kemp, Tony Coelho, Pat Wright, Jim Weisman, Lex Frieden, Sylvia Walker, Paul Marchand, Fred Fay, I. King Jordan, Denise Figueroa, Judi Chamberlin, Bill Demy, Deborah Kaplan, Nancy Block, Starkloff, Mike Auberger, Neil Jacobson, Ralph Neas and Ron Heartly, to just name a few.

All of these people have fought hard to break down the many barriers that people with disabilities face on a daily basis. I am not just talking about the physical barriers (but check out what Roberts and Starkloff did for sidewalks) Attitudes, lack of awareness and support are some of the biggest barriers faced by people with disabilities. The barriers don’t stop there, unemployment rates are higher for individuals with disabilities, regardless of education attainment, and those who are employed are twice as likely to be working part time. A student with a disability is less likely to graduate and has a greater risk of living below the poverty line.

And, if you are still in need of something to Google, I’d highly recommend searching for any of the activists I named above or the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, or when Chicago hosted the First Disability Pride Parade in 2004, or the 2006 protest that took place at Gallaudet University.

Hannah Schoenberg is youth education advocate for RAMP and co-chair of IGNITE INVOLVE. The views expressed are those of Schoenberg’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

7

March 2017

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Individual employee coaching Retaining, developing key personnel If you’re a manager, supervisor or business owner, you are probably familiar with many methods used over the years to develop and improve the performance of employees. The rationale is that investing in people is better for the person and for the organization, and less expensive than recruiting and orienting someone else.

But how you go about doing it can make a significant difference in its lasting effect on your business.

Oftentimes, an employee’s success and potential is assessed using a metric, most often a performance review. That can spark the need for employee training. The need also can arise when someone is disciplined, and improvement is needed immediately.

Typically, the employee is then sent to training or asked to read materials or attend Webinars to improve skill sets in order to get promoted or to keep a job.

This type of training can be a valuable tool, especially when paired with intense follow-up and practice of the skills taught in the program. Unfortunately, organizations rarely have time to hold sessions to practice what’s been taught.

Without that step, the training principles may not “stick,” and desired behaviors become extinct. The result? The employee reverts to previous unacceptable behaviors

over time, especially when there is neither with areas such as interpreting policies, no consequence for demonstrating poor teaching others, constructively confronting performance or no reinforcement when poor performance, or speaking in groups. desired behaviors occur.

The third type of coaching is for remediation. An employee may be in a Three Types of Coaching key role but exhibiting some performance There is another tool that can often be areas that need to be changed, enhanced or more effective for businesses to use when corrected. Awareness is the first step, but working to retain and develop key person- then skills need to be acquired. nel. It’s individual coaching. Working with A coach can work with the employee an experienced leader one-on-one can be to make that happen and recommend an invaluable tool to improve employee other solutions, if needed, such as sending performance and enhance skill levels. the employee to additional training, or There are three types of individual finding other resources. The coach then coaching. The first is organizational observes how the person uses those skills coaching. It happens when a small business on the job and can guide and redirect or or organization may not have experience in reinforce when the appropriate behaviors a key area and needs support. For example, are displayed. a business owner or leader may need help developing a business plan, strategic plan, Working the Plan marketing plan, human resource policies If you are considering coaching for or key procedures. A coach can help your organization, the first step is to assess the person design items needed for the what type of coaching you need and then organization and help the business owner work with a business coach to design a implement those plans into the workplace. plan. Assessment tools typically are used A second type of coaching is used to confirm the identified issues and what for skill development, normally to help needs to be addressed. The coach builds someone with high potential to develop or rapport with the employee, goes over the hone skills needed for his or her existing issues and the plan for development, and job or to rise to the next level. Perhaps gets agreement from the employee and the someone is being prepared for a key supervisor. leadership role, and a coach can help them A code of conduct (how will I perform),

and/or action plan (what will I perform) is then Mike Mastroianni given to the suMDM Consulting pervisor. Coaching sessions can vary depending on the numbers of skill sets or the severity of issues being resolved or improved, but many times, improvement can take place in 10 to 15 sessions. The employee must participate, be prepared for the sessions, and do the work assigned. A key component is observing the practice of what’s been taught within the real job setting, where the coach becomes an observer to give feedback to the employee and determine where more intervention is needed.

One employee in a recent coaching session said to me, “This is awesome! I feel like I received a real perk from my boss. I think things are going better for me already.” When this occurs, coaching proves to be the best investment in improving performance and developing key staff toward overall productivity and business success.

Mike Mastroianni is president of MDM Consulting.

Visit www.mdmbusinessconsulting.com.

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

8

March 2017

There’s an urgent need that exists in Springfield to improve Illinois’ manufacturing climate and to revitalize the middle class. The numbers are striking: Illinois lost 304,900 manufacturing jobs since 2000.

Since the recession ended in 2009, only 4,600 manufacturing jobs have been created in Illinois, compared to neighboring Michigan with 171,300, Indiana with 83,700, Ohio with 75,900 and Wisconsin with 44,100. Even Idaho, a state more known for potatoes, created 9,100 manufacturing jobs during this time frame.

Even so, this past August the Illinois manufacturing industry lost 4,400 additional jobs according to an Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) report.

Drawing attention to this dilemma is Greg Baise, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA), who is addressing this topic statewide.

When the state’s industry that

IMA releases its Middle Class Manufacturing Agenda contributes the single largest share to Illinois’ GDP – 12.4 percent – loses nearly a quarter of well-paying, middle class positions, it becomes apparent that an Illinois manufacturing and middle class jobs revival is long overdue. On average, an Illinois manufacturing job, including benefits, pays $74,000 annually, adding to the importance of why manufacturing jobs, and not lower-wage service sector positions, need to be created.

In Baise’s statewide remarks, he unveils the IMA’s “Middle Class Manufacturing Agenda.”

Five Key Points Get the state’s fiscal house in order.

We need to restrain spending, balance the budget and adopt pension reform.

Enact permanent workers’ comp

Join IMA event on April 20 at NIU-Rockford Learn more about the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s Middle-Class Manufacturing Agenda to improve Illinois’ manufacturing climate and revitalize the middle class. Greg Baise, president and CEO, IMA, keynotes the event on Thursday, April 20, Greg Baise, IMA 7:30 to 9 a.m., at NIU-Rockford, 8500 E. State St., Rockford.

Baise will address the urgent need that exists in Springfield to improve Illinois’ business climate, particularly within the manufacturing sector.

The immediate and long-term solutions put forward in the Middle Class Manufacturing Agenda aim to challenge Illinois’ existing state of affairs and bring industry back to the state.

According to Baise, the numbers are striking. Since 2000, Illinois has lost more than 304,000 manufacturing jobs, impacting all corners of the state.

reform. It’s time to push back union leaders, trial attorneys and special interests to say no more feeding off this system.

Reform the state’s tax code. Start broadening the tax base and reinstating vital tax credits.

Overhaul property taxes. Stop shifting the tax burden onto commercial and industrial taxpayers.

Strengthen the education and workforce development system to ensure a pipeline of qualified workers for our economy.

“Since 2000, politicians have added 4,709 pages of laws and thousands of additional pages of rules and regulations for businesses to comply with in order to trade in Illinois, and the result – a state that cannot run itself has become the expert on how to run a business, and it’s closing the manufacturing industry,” said Baise. “Dictating wages, an unnecessarily high cost workers’ compensation program, high taxes and irresponsible spending puts manufacturers in a challenging position and many of them won’t take it anymore.”

The immediate and long-term solutions put forward in the Middle Class Manufacturing Agenda aim to challenge Illinois’ existing state of affairs and bring industry back to the state. The IMA urges lawmakers to prioritize a manufacturing rebirth in Illinois in order to revitalize the middle-class and help jumpstart the state’s economy.

Source: Illinois Manufacturer’s Association, ima-net.org

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

IMA’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA – ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY The IMA is focused on a five-point plan for manufacturing growth that includes (1) fiscal stability and pension reform, (2) workers’ compensation reform, (3) education and workforce development, (4) tax reform, and (5) property tax relief. In addition, the IMA has introduced a number of bills this year that include: HB 209 (Ford) / SB 956 (Barickman): Allow companies to pay unemployment taxes quarterly rather than all at once in the first quarter of the year.

HB 2745 (Zalewski): Comprehensive tax bill that modernizes and makes permanent the R & D credit, merges the Manufacturers Purchase Credit and Graphic Arts exemption into the Manufacturing Machinery & Equipment exemption, and makes the coal, mining and off-highway credit permanent.

SB 1286 (Mulroe): Rewrites the Captive Insurance law making it easier for self-insured employers to domicile their insurance risk in Illinois.

SB 1455 (Manar): Reinstates a credit for combined heat and power systems in Illinois that was deleted in the energy bill in 2016.

HB 3109 (Stewart): Creates an income tax credit for expenses paid by employers for qualified apprenticeship programs.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

March 2017

Volunteers make it work Providing value to students, community

On any given day in our district, you can find volunteers reading to students, mentoring them in math, teaching them the fundamentals of aerodynamics or the importance of working in teams.

Earlier this year, 200 people from all over the state gathered at Giovanni’s to talk about how to achieve a common goal: ensuring that 60 percent of all adults have a college or career credential by 2025.

Part of the reason the Illinois 60 by 25 Network chose Rockford for its annual meeting is that people want to know: How have we been so successful in engaging the community? I joined Mayor Larry Morrissey and the Rev. K. Edward Copeland in opening remarks that tried to answer that question.

However, many of you have already provided the answer.

More than 7,600 volunteers have donated nearly 39,700 hours to help the students of the Rockford Public Schools.

And that’s just since July. Since then, we’ve already counted $1 million in value from volunteers’ contributions. Last year, we realized $1.6 million in value from volunteers.

On any given day in our district, you can find volunteers reading to students, mentoring them in math, teaching them the fundamentals of aerodynamics or the importance of working in teams.

Chris Underwood is one example. He’s an engineer at UTC Aerospace Systems.

For six years, he has helped coordinate our math-mentoring program at Lincoln Middle School. One of the greatest rewards, he says, is when students have an “aha” moment and can figure out the rest on their own.

One of Underwood’s colleagues at UTC, Senad Vilic, has his own motivation for volunteering in the math-mentoring program at Lincoln. He wants to pay back for what he received from mentors and tutors in his life. Vilic wants to have the same kind of impact on the students he helps.

For each of these stories in our district, community partners such as Alignment Rockford have their own narratives of gratitude to share.

Rockford never would have been named a Model Community by Ford Next Generation Learning without the leadership of Alignment Rockford in implementing high school academies in RPS 205. Alignment, in turn, would have never been able to do its magic without a heavy assist from its 200 volunteers.

In 2016, Alignment volunteers provided nearly $264,000 in value to our community.

These are people like Jessica Hendon of Alpine Bank, who volunteers for

Alignment’s Healthy Starts committee and also leads the support team for Jefferson High School’s Business, Arts, Modern World Languages and Information Technology (BAMIT) academy.

They are people like Jake Castanza of Project First Rate, who volunteers with Alignment’s College and Career Readiness Council, which advises the district’s Engineering, Manufacturing and Industrial Trades Technology (EMITT) academies. Castanza is also on the Operating Board of Alignment and serves on two of its five committees.

As the superintendent of RPS 205, one of my favorite things is attending our annual volunteer recognition event in the spring. It’s such a privilege to say thank you to the people who give because they value our students. They give because they see the connection between a strong public school system and a strong community.

Many of these volunteers could not do what they do without the support of their employers. You saw UTC Aerospace Systems mentioned earlier in this column, but UTC is joined by more than 100 other businesses, civic organizations, governmental entities, churches and nonprofits in the Rockford area.

It’s my joy to thank these organizations for their contributions, the contributions of their employees and the contributions of other loyal citizens.

If you volunteer for us or have volunteered, we are so appreciative of your work.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to volunteer yet, Marsha Sisney with our Parent and Community Engagement Department at RPS 205 would like to hear from you. Email her at sisneym@ rps205.com As Rockford continues on its journey to becoming a Top 25 community — strengthened by a first-choice school district in Rockford -- we know the only way we can get there is with the continued excellence and support we receive from volunteers.

Thanks a million.

Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.

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

9

10

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

First impressions: What does your presence say?

There were plenty of moments at which I was extremely impressed by Pat, but there’s one in particular that stands out to me.

There’s a saying that I’ve seen floating around the depths of the Internet attributed to all sorts of different people: “Everyone has the power to make someone happy — some by entering the room and others by leaving it.” While the phrase always makes me chuckle, I haven’t always put a lot of thought into it. After meeting Patrick Lencioni last month, I’ve tumbled the phrase around in my mind a bit more than usual.

Patrick Lencioni is a world-famous author of 11 New York Times bestselling books, the founder of a very successful organization (The Table Group), and according to the Washington Post, one of the top five most in-demand speakers in the United States. Pat is the real deal. I would venture to say that in the professional development/business cultural field, you don’t get much bigger.

When working with big names, there’s this idea that they will be extremely difficult. They have lists of demands 10 pages long that include ridiculous requests like only green M&Ms or water filtered directly from a spring along the

coast of Maine in June on a 98-degree day — things like that. There’s always this anticipation that, while the speaker may “perform” well, he or she could be a nightmare to work with.

Lesson Learned Pat was the complete opposite – he was an absolute delight. While Pat was extremely low-maintenance in his speaking requirements, it’s his character that really made the experience. There were plenty of moments at which I was extremely impressed by Pat, but there’s one in particular that stands out to me.

After giving his 90-minute keynote, Pat came off stage energized and excited. While we chatted for a few minutes, he noticed a stagehand was pulling the curtain (for those who aren’t aware, the stage hands can sometimes be hard to spot — they are in all black specifically so as not to be seen). Pat took a moment, walked over to the stagehand and simply said “Hi, I’m Pat. What’s your name?”

He continued a conversation for a few minutes, genuinely interested in the stagehand’s role at the theatre and thanked him for his work. And then he moved on. All in all, it was probably a two to three minute exchange, but one I won’t soon forget.

I had been standing back stage off and on for the entire morning, and I hadn’t taken the time to ask the stagehand’s name. I knew my main contact and can say that I was pleasant with the stagehand, who helped me

out more than once, and said “thank you” — but I never asked his name or offered mine. Sure, I can blame nerves, excitement or lack of time … but really, it just didn’t occur to me. How terrible is that?

When I work with the Coronado staff again in the future, will that stagehand be glad I walked in the room or happier when I leave it? (At this point, I am just hoping he’s indifferent to my presence… but I know his life would be made better if Pat walked in again.)

That’s exactly the sort of life Pat is leading,

Caitlin Pusateri Rockford Chamber

and

one that I’m hoping I can emulate.

Perhaps it’s also worth noting that sometimes leaving the room is the best possible option as well.

When can you leave a room and make it brighter? The obvious answer is if you didn’t bring much light into it to begin with. Sure, that’s true. No one

What Do You Leave Behind?

likes a nasty person.

You see, as leaders, we walk into “rooms” all of the time. Perhaps it’s an exchange at the water cooler, a pop into someone’s office, grabbing coffee at the local downtown shop. We have the opportunity to be a delight — to make the room brighter by just walking in — hundreds of times a day, but how often do we take it? How often do we take the time to do the very smallest things that can add up and make a world of difference?

Pat’s short visit in Rockford left me realizing that I always want to be the person who makes the room brighter by being in it — someone you notice when they leave. And not because I could make you laugh, I refilled your drink, or picked up the tab. I want to be remembered for taking the time to treat each and every person with respect and honor whatever it is they are contributing to the world — because we are all contributing something.

have the obligation to know when to

But as leaders, I think we also gracefully exit. Perhaps it’s turning over an important project to a younger employee who’s proven her abilities, and then not micromanaging the project via email from next door.

Perhaps it’s giving up your board seat for someone with more passion and time, rather than use it as a resumebuilder or a time-filler. Maybe it’s stepping back in a meeting and letting others shine rather than monopolizing the conversation.

Really, leaving a room and making it brighter requires trust — a topic that really builds the foundation for success.

Whether you are entering or leaving a room, do it in such a way that your presence is noticed — not for your flashy entrance, cute shoes or loud laugh … but more for the way you make people feel.

Leadership Development news is sponsored by Comcast Business.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

11

March 2017

BYG2RKFD is about raising our game

Sports tourism building momentum Bring Your Game 2 Rockford (BYG2RKFD) is more than a sports tourism campaign; it tells an ongoing story that represents and speaks to the residents of and visitors to the Rockford region. It’s about showcasing our community and elevating the playing field in our desire to be a topflight community. It’s about Raising Our Game collectively. And, while the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau formally announced the comprehensive BYG2RKFD campaign in the latter part of 2016, its impact is already significant.

With the release of the 2017 Sports Planning Guide and an RACVB sales mission to New York City for the 2016 Momentum Sports Marketing Symposium, the campaign’s soft launch generated immediate organic ad value and response from local and national media outlets.

Coupled with this launch, the RACVB recently announced three “Raising our Game” tournaments to be held for the first time in the Rockford region in 2017, highlighted by the two largest youth soccer tournaments ever to be held here (the Elite Clubs National Playoffs and the Premier SuperCopa).

The momentum continued last December when Toronto Raptors guard and Rockford native Fred VanVleet was announced as RACVB’s first-ever sports ambassador. The announcement solidifies a strategic long-term partnership that will help promote the region, generate in-market and outof-market activations, and strengthen RACVB’s relationship with one of Rockford’s many current successful sports professionals.

VanVleet’s influence is both measurable and immeasurable — through his continued support of helping to build the campaign across social media (27,000-plus Instagram and 45,000-plus Twitter followers) at the FVV All-Star Party fundraising event held last month in Rockford and in the eyes of all of his fans who follow his story. (This is enhanced with strategic print advertising placements in Sports Planning Guide, 2016 RPS 205 Tip-Off Classic Tournament Program and billboards in-market and out-ofmarket.)

Nick Povalitis Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

announcement and joining GoRockford in activating at the 2016 U.S. Sports Congress in Fort Myers, Fla. At that conference, Arachnid 360 outfitted the RACVB-sponsored trade reception booth with two dart boards and an account executive to help spread the dart board producer’s role as an industry supplier, partner and international event owner through its Bullshooter Tour. The relationship continues with Arachnid and RACVB, as the two continue to bid for more regional and national tournaments.

Thus, BYG2RKFD isn’t just about sports tourism, it is also about economic development and reputation building for the entire region.

The sports success stories of VanVleet and Arachnid represent the hard work, quality and commitment to our process-first approach. RACVB is continuing this notion with more targeted sales and marketing efforts, including premium BYG2RKFD gifts delivered to more than 100 local, regional and national sports event and marketing partners in early 2017. From this strategic touchpoint, the first two site visits to Rockford have already been slated for February and March.

The ROI will undoubtedly continue to trickle in through organic media value (already yielding more than 2 million media impressions), and what GoRockford is already projecting as monumental championship event years in both 2017 and 2018. And our mentality remains: we are just scratching the surface of what we will accomplish.

By extending BYG2RKFD into future years, our roadmap to continued ROI is threefold. The campaign will be a platform to establish new and build existing relationships with successful sports professionals; foster new sports marketing partnerships to support our organization’s role as a DMO; and continue our industry’s need to blend the mutual significance of locals and visitors.

Three words from our rollout VanVleet storypiece in Sports Planning Guide may sum BYG2RKFD up most effectively: RAISE YOUR GAME.

Working with Arachnid 360

Nick Povalitis is sports destination & sales manager at the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In addition to VanVleet, Arachnid 360 — the Loves Park-based global leader in soft-tip dartboards — agreed to opt in by attending the BYG2RKFD

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

12

Financial Savvy/Business Law

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

What do fingerprints have to do with wealth?

Making your own choices in leaving your legacy “Traditional estate and financial planning doesn’t work! That’s right, what you have heard and what you think you know about those things are broken,” I proclaimed as their look of bewilderment was written on their faces.

Even so, they sat listening to the story of why their father decided to create a wealth preservation plan that exhibited his life values.

“Surely dad had already done an estate plan, didn’t he?” Jim’s children asked, still reeling from the untimely death of their father. They just couldn’t understand why in the world their father, a retired business owner, had engaged in wealth planning at the age of 80 even after he had done estate planning.

As questions filled the room and the heads of everyone there, I answered, “Steve, your dad didn’t want to leave his family with an inheritance of just his money. He wanted to pass on his values, and he wanted to leave a lasting legacy within his community.”

“It is all about dreams and lifeprints,” as they looked at me skeptically.

I asked, “Have you ever said to

yourself, ‘One day when I have more money I’m going to…?’ Well, those are dreams. It is the thing that you most want to do, given the chance. The older you get, those dreams tend to shift a little bit, because what you felt were important at one time aren’t as important.”

“Lifeprints, on the other hand are those things you would like to leave your mark on, even when you are gone. Think of it this way, if I pick up this glass of water and leave the room, how would the police know who was here?”

Steve said, “Well, they would look for the fingerprints on the glass.”

“Exactly!” I exclaimed. “What are the people, causes and institutions where you want to leave your fingerprints (or what I call, lifeprints?) You see, your dad, even at the age of 80 still had dreams he wanted to accomplish. The unfortunate thing is that no one ever asked about them.”

“Didn’t you ever wonder why he started looking up his old friends from college and started visiting the grandkids every few months?”

They said, “Yeah, we used to see him

a couple of times a year for the holidays, but he was around a lot more the past few years.”

“That is because those were some of his dreams. Did you know that Jim’s uncle made it possible for him to be the first person in your family to graduate from college? His desire was to make that same opportunity for each of his grandchildren, as well as other deserving students. You also know how much he loved his church. Those are just a few of the areas that Jim wanted to leave his lifeprints on. You see, traditional financial or estate planning never addressed the things that were nearest and dearest to his heart, his dreams and fingerprints.”

“This new approach goes way beyond estate and financial planning. It truly begins where tradition leaves off. The problem is that in its essence it is just one dimensional – narrowly focusing on the financial dimension. It is appalling even at that! The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the taxpayers will generate $27.5 billion in estate taxes, unnecessarily.”

“You see, to simply break it down, there are three beneficiaries of your money when you pass; your family, the government, and charity. You only get to choose two out of the three. Which

Philip A. Guske ones do you Pathfinder Wealth think your dad Management wanted?”

Steve answered, “I imagine it was family and charity.”

“That’s right, because your dad didn’t want “planning” whether it was estate or any other type. He wanted to simplify his financial life, stay in control of his money and decisions, make sure he had enough for the future, give more to his heirs and ensure it wouldn’t hurt them, and leave a legacy that made a positive difference.”

What about you? Are there any dreams you will still like to accomplish?

Will you leave your fingerprints on the people, causes or institutions that you really love? Find a wealth preservation specialist who can help you move beyond the traditional broken planning, so you are able to secure your dreams, pass on more to your heirs, and leave a lasting legacy.

Philip A. Guske, CFP®, Pathfinder Wealth Management, Inc., is a nationally recognized financial author, teacher, consultant and business owner.

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

Montford Point Marine Charter Banquet Montford Point Marine Association presents its third-annual Charter Banquet, Saturday, April 29, at Boundaries Bar & Grill in the Birch Room (formerly the Marine Corps League), 3807 S. Riverside Dr., Beloit, Wis. Cocktail hour, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; dinner, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; program, 7:30 to 9 p.m.; DJ to follow at 9 p.m.

Keynote speaker is C.L.H. Johnson, Sr., charter president, Beloit-Rockford Chapter 41, Montford Point Marine Association.

Tickets for a $40 donation can be purchased from James Akbar, 608-3462251 or Mo Ruffin, 608-312-3773 (Wisconsin); Curly Thompson, 815-9882735 or George Blake, 815-218-5485 (Illinois). Tickets also can be purchased at The Symbols clothing store, 316 W. State St., in downtown Rockford.

History of Montford Point Marine Association In 1942, President Roosevelt established a presidential directive giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited into the Marine Corps. These African Americans, from all states, were not sent to the traditional boot camps of Parris Island, S.C., and San Diego, Calif. Instead, African American Marines were segregated -- experiencing basic training at Montford Point -- a facility at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Approximately 20,000 African American Marines received basic training at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949.

Twenty years after World War II, in the summer of 1965, an enterprising group of Marine veterans in Philadelphia formulated and developed plans to hold a national reunion of the Montford Pointers. Among them was the late Civil Rights Leader, Attorney Cecil B. Moore.

From Sept. 17 to 18, 1965, more than 400 former and active duty Marines, representing 17 states attended the reunion held in the Adelphia Hotel in downtown Philadelphia. This led to the establishment of the Montford Point Marine Association, a non-profit veteran organization chartered in Philadelphia. Subsequent charters were immediately organized in more than 11 additional cities. Today the association proudly boasts 33 active chapters.

Visit www.montfordpointmarines.org to learn more.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Financial Savvy/Business Law

March 2017

13

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Make charitable giving part of your financial plan I believe everyone has a basic desire to help those in need. For many, it’s a way we can give back and recognize that we are where we are in part because of the people and circumstances that helped make it happen. We can give back with our labor, counsel or financial assistance.

Labor and counsel are reasonably straightforward: choose a group and dedicate your time and skills. There are many ways you can provide financial assistance, but having a thoughtful strategy for your charitable giving can help you make the greatest impact with your generosity while also receiving some tax savings.

As a financial consultant at Charles Schwab, I’ve noticed a boost in interest among my clients — particularly Baby Boomers who have spent decades accumulating their wealth and are keen on being good stewards of their assets. Many clients attend charitable events and often write checks to support causes they believe in, but they’re also more interested in having conversations about how they can incorporate their charitable giving goals into their broader financial plans for the long-term.

It’s an encouraging interest, as we

find that when our clients stick to a plan, it helps them build wealth and meet their financial goals, which can put them in a better position to give with greater impact to the causes that are meaningful to them.

I make it a habit to ask people what drives them and what they are passionate about. Many in our community contribute to a wide variety of charities that help build a greater Rockford.

What if there were a way to easily increase these charitable contributions at no extra cost to the donor, and what if the donor could take the tax deduction for the donation this year but spread out each charity’s contribution over future years?

Ways to Meet Your Giving Goals One of the most common ways my clients choose to make the most of their giving is through a donoradvised fund, which is a private fund administered by a third party on behalf of donors for the purpose of managing charitable donations. You can open this type of account with a tax-deductible contribution and then make donations to public charities over time. The

contribution is irrevocable, but you pick the 501(c)(3) charities that it will benefit.

You can contribute a variety of taxdeductible assets, including appreciated securities, real estate and cash, and the fund sponsor handles the administrative details.

For clients who are interested in making meaningful contributions while also adding another source of retirement income, charitable remainder trusts may be an appropriate choice. A charitable remainder trust is an irrevocable trust you set up and make a contribution to in cash, investments and property.

The trust provides you — and other income beneficiaries, if desired — with distributions from the trust annually for life or a period of time up to 20 years.

After that, the remainder of the trust passes to the named charity. There are various types of charitable trusts, and the rules governing them can be complex, so they can be expensive to set up and will require an attorney to draft the trust document.

There are a number of additional vehicles to carry out your giving goals, but remember, if you make charitable donations with a more holistic plan

in place, you will likely Mark Gerard have a better Charles Schwab impact on the organizations you donate to and your overall financial picture.

Mark Gerard is an independent branch leader and financial consultant at Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (Member SIPC) with over 18 years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals. Some content provided here has been compiled from previously published articles authored by various parties at Schwab.

A donor’s ability to claim itemized deductions is subject to a variety of limitations depending on the donor’s specific tax situation. Consult your tax advisor for more information.

Information presented is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as personalized investment, tax or legal advice as individual situations vary. Charles Schwab does not provide tax or legal advice. Information presented is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as personalized investment advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Charles Schwab recommends consultation with a qualified professional. © 2016 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Member SIPC. (1216-3667)

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

14

Financial Savvy/Business Law

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Employee path to retirement Ensuring a good future for employees

In regards to retirement benefits, your first priority is to make sure you’re offering the right retirement benefit programs to assist employees in hitting their retirement goals. Start with a review of your current plan.

The first few weeks on a new job can be a whirlwind. Your new employee is trying to make a good impression on coworkers, learn new duties, and figure out if an 8 a.m., start time actually means 7:30 a.m. … and what are the rules pertaining to the community coffee pot? On top of all of this, your new employee is figuring out how to make the most of a new benefit package — or should be.

Employers care about the financial well being of their employees, but it can be tricky to properly educate them on what you have to offer.

In regards to retirement benefits, your first priority is to make sure you’re offering the right retirement benefit programs to assist employees in hitting their retirement goals. Start with a review of your current plan. Reviewing it with an experienced retirement plan consultant will help you to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your program.

Do you provide a match or other employer contribution? For example, with a match, if an employee contributes

6 percent of his compensation, you will contribute a 50 percent match or 3 percent of his compensation, often encouraging employees to contribute more. Is an annual discretionary profit sharing contribution a better option?

Because it is discretionary, it is subject to the profitability of the company and whether there will be a contribution and what amount can be decided upon annually.

A Simple IRA plan may be a more appropriate retirement plan for an organization with a small employee base. This type of plan entails setting up individual IRA accounts for each employee. The employee may defer income into this plan; but, it is mandatory for the employer to match up to 100 percent of the employee contribution up to 3 percent of the employee’s compensation or 2 percent of all eligible employee’s compensation.

These types of plans have lower cost involved than a 401(k) plan.

However, they have less flexibility and the maximum employee contribution is lower than the maximum allowable

contribution to a 401(k) plan ($12,500 v. $18,000 in 2017).

their

Clearing the confusion

amount.

The second (and often overlooked) half of the battle is making sure your employees actually understand the benefits at hand. Even someone well into their career can become confused about rollovers, matches, etc. And chances are — when asked if they understand — they will say yes, even if they don’t understand. After all, who wants to seem confused when they start a new job? It’s likely that they will put it off, saying that they will deal with it later. In fact, experts estimate that nearly 900,000 workers have lost track of a 401(k) account after switching jobs.

Providing education opportunities is vital, if not more important, than designing the right plan. An employee armed with knowledge about the retirement saving process is much more likely to participate. Make sure that your plan is supported by the right people and tools to bring effective consulting and education to your program.

Understanding the value and the benefit of the plan is key to increasing contributions and employees making strides towards reaching retirement goals.

Sometimes it can be as simple as giving examples that equate the contribution to a discretionary expense like one Starbucks or one night out per week. After all, an entry-level hire probably hasn’t even received a real paycheck yet. They probably have no idea how a 6 percent contribution will affect their paycheck. Showing examples of how these somewhat small sacrifices can grow over many years into large retirement balances may be all it will take to get employees to begin making contributions or increasing

current

contribution

Betsy Pierson Alpine Trust & Investment Group

In addition, if you provide a matching contribution, explaining the benefit of a 50 percent or 75 percent immediate return on the employee’s contribution is another great way to get the employee to buy in and begin saving.

Another suggestion is to provide continuing education opportunities.

Have your HR department follow up with employees to check on the status of their accounts. Help them keep their retirement accounts top of mind by giving them examples of times it might make sense to adjust their contributions. Did you just pay off your car or your student loans? Perhaps it’s time to increase your contribution rate.

These are just a couple of examples of how you can get your employees on a good path to financial well being and retirement planning. As a business owner, before making any changes to your plan, consult your professional adviser to ensure the changes fit your business’ profile. Taking these minor steps can make a difference in the longterm outcome for both you and your employees.

Investment and insurance products are: not FDIC insured; not guaranteed; and, may be subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal.

Betsy Pierson, CFA, is a senior vice president, chief investment officer at Alpine Trust & Investment Group.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Financial Savvy/Business Law

March 2017

15

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Lifelong financial planning for women is critical If you’ve ever worried about becoming a “bag lady,” you’re not alone.

Regardless of the level of education and wealth achieved, many women worry about outliving their money.

Multiple societal factors contribute to a savings disparity between men and women, including the gender gap in wages, leaving the workforce periodically to be caregivers, and less participation in corporate retirement plans. Women have saved less than men for retirement, and they live longer. As a result, lifelong financial planning for women is now more important than ever.

Increasing financial literacy among women is necessary, and knowledge in the five areas below is a start.

Get Comfortable with Equities as an Investment Vehicle. Equities are more volatile than fixed income, and women need to be comfortable with the volatility. With longer lives, women need a growth component in their portfolios. It’s important for women to study historical performance among asset classes so they know what to expect going forward and as a result can maintain a long-term perspective on investing.

Have a Retirement Savings Plan of Your Own. Women need to have a greater sense of urgency about saving early and often. If your company has a

401(k) retirement program, try to save the maximum possible: $18,000 per year, $24,000 if you are 50 or older. Review your investment options annually and pick the lowest cost, most efficient funds.

In addition, save outside of your plan in a traditional or Roth IRA. If your income exceeds the limit for deductibility, consider making a nondeductible IRA contribution with a conversion to a Roth IRA. If you are married and not currently working, continue to save in a spousal IRA. If you are divorced and receiving maintenance, you can use it to fund an IRA. Invest every salary increase/bonus. Because it’s never too early to start investing, encourage even your teenaged daughters to save their earned income in a Roth IRA. Time for growth is on their side, and they will thank you later. The important thing to remember is to continue saving regardless of your life’s circumstances.

Negotiate a Pay Raise. Women need to be encouraged to negotiate higher salaries and pay raises. Studies show that if a woman was negotiating on another person’s behalf instead of her own, she was more successful in the negotiation.

Annually compare your salary and benefits with those of others doing similar work in your community at websites such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/ ncs/ and PayScale, www.payscale.com/.

Know Your Spending Habits. Women may spend a significant portion of their lives living alone. Newly single women may be especially anxious about their finances because managing finances may not have been one of their primary responsibilities.

A good starting place would be to create a household budget detailing income and expenses. Married women may have become accustomed to a lifestyle which may not be sustainable as a single person.

This sensitive situation is best illustrated by projections, which determine what level of spending is reasonable under different market conditions.

For clients undergoing divorce, we model different settlement scenarios to make sure she and her attorney have enough information to make informed decisions.

We also calculate what amount of income and savings are necessary to support a given level of spending. Projections can be especially helpful for women making

SAVVY WOMEN Join financial advisors Theresa Harezlak, Libby Muldowney and Allison Alexander, co-founders of Savvy Women. The group meets several times a year to empower women to establish and maintain financial independence and get to know other savvy women in the community.

major life decisions.

Establish Allison Alexander Savant Capital Your Own Management Gifting Strategies.

Women are more likely to make greater charitable donations than men, and surprisingly, this is true regardless of income levels. As a result, gifting strategies such as the use of Donor Advised Funds and Qualified Charitable Distributions may be more important for women. It’s possible to distribute your wealth in a way that is personally satisfying and also in a tax-efficient manner.

Even accomplished women may not have the interest or time to devote to planning for retirement. That said, it’s critically important that women understand and plan for their futures, whether as part of a couple or as a single person.

Allison Alexander is financial advisor at Savant Capital Management and co-founder of its Savvy Women Group.

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

Savant Capital Management is a Registered Investment Advisor. Savant’s marketing material should not be construed by any existing or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if they engage Savant’s services.

16

Financial Savvy/Business Law

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

As with other laws and regulations that the Trump administration might revisit, Sweeney said that until the new administration and its DOL take definitive action, employers “have to move forward” with preparations for reporting and disclosure.

The following are excerpts taken from an article by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) published Jan 3, 2017 at www.shrm.org. Authors are Stephen Miller, CEBS, Lisa Nagele-Piazza, SHRMSCP, J.D., and Allen Smith, J.D. Deregulation at the federal level is likely to be prevalent in 2017, but expect more protections at the state level, employment attorneys say. While storm clouds loom over the fiduciary rule, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the overtime rule, state laws relating to pay equity, parental leave and predictable scheduling are likely to proliferate.

Fiduciary Rule The Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) controversial rule to apply the fiduciary standard to those who provide investment advice to sponsors and participants in 401(k) and similar retirement plans is set to take effect in April 2017. While it is directed at financial advisors, plan sponsors may need to revise contracts and compensation agreements with their advisory firms and to review and amend plan documents, among other compliance steps.

Employers and their retirement plan investment committees “still need to move full speed ahead, getting themselves in a place where they understand what their vendors are doing and any new programs that their vendors are rolling out,” advised Erin Sweeney, an attorney in the Washington, D.C., office of Miller & Chevalier.

“My prediction is that the Trump administration provides for a delay of the rule,” Sweeney said. “But a little bit of the wild card is that much of Wall Street [and its investment firms] have already prepared for the fiduciary rule. There are a lot of moving parts, and one of the goals of the Trump administration is not to upset Wall Street and its expectations.”

CEO Pay Ratio Starting next year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will require public companies to calculate how their chief executives’

Top Seven Workplace Legal Trends for 2017 compensation compares with their workers’ median pay and to disclose the so-called CEO pay ratio in proxy statements reporting on fiscal year 2017. The rule implements part of the Dodd-Frank Act, and many public companies are already working through the calculations involved.

As with other laws and regulations that the Trump administration might revisit, Sweeney said that until the new administration and its DOL take definitive action, employers “have to move forward” with preparations for reporting and disclosure.

administration may withdraw that appeal and allow the preliminary injunction to become permanent, noted Eric Magnus, an attorney with Jackson Lewis in Atlanta.

Another possibility: Congress could roll back the overtime regulations, said Alfred Robinson Jr., an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Washington, D.C., and former acting administrator of the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division. Then the new DOL might start rulemaking all over again to raise the exempt salary level from $26,660 to a lower level — not the final rule’s $47,476.

Affordable Care Act

Pay Equity

Sweeney noted that there is not yet a plan for transitioning to a post-ACA world.

Repeal of the employer coverage mandate “is what everyone is talking about” as a possible early move by the Trump administration. The question facing the administration, she said, is “Can we take out the employer and individual mandates [that provide insurance companies with clients] without all the marbles falling down?”

Companies should consider preparing for health care legislative changes that Trump supports, “such as repeal of the employer mandate and allowing the sale of health insurance across state lines,” said Jacqueline Breslin, director of human capital at TriNet, a San Leandro, Calif.-based HR services provider. “They should be looking ahead to determine the best course of action for updating their company’s benefits in accordance with any new legislation.”

Employers also should communicate with employees as they hear news of ACA changes — “for instance, letting them know how their health benefits will or will not be affected if the employer mandate is repealed,” Breslin advised.

Pay equity laws are likely to spread into more states in 2017, predicted Kris Meade, an attorney with Crowell & Moring in Washington, D.C. In 2016, pay equity laws took effect in California, Maryland and New York, and a pay equity statute was signed into law in Massachusetts, becoming effective in 2018.

Each has unique provisions, Meade noted.

Massachusetts prohibits salary history questions. Employers may instead use market surveys, to the extent they are available for positions, noted Christine Hendrickson, an attorney with Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago. For an existing position, employers know what the market is; it’s the new positions that are trickier, she observed.

In Maryland, employers now are required to inform employees about promotions in the full range of career tracks. So, they probably should post all open positions, even those that typically had not been posted, such as for vice president and above, Meade said.

In New York and Maryland, comparisons in pay are made between similar positions in the same county, Hendrickson said. But in Massachusetts and California, there are no geographical limitations on pay comparisons. Still, she said, geographic differences should be taken into account when conducting a statistical analysis between, for example, a job in Fresno, Calif., and the same one in San Francisco.

Overtime Rule As the year begins, the future also looks uncertain for the overtime rule.

While the rule was preliminarily blocked by a federal district court on Nov. 22, 2016, that injunction has been appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the Trump

Parental Leave A wave of local paid-sick-leave laws swept across the nation from New Jersey to California in 2016, and some of those laws will take effect in 2017.

Paid parental leave is yet another area where employment attorneys expect to see movement at the state level in the next year.

Businesses with 50 or more employees are required to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act to eligible employees for certain qualifying events, including baby bonding. However, federal law doesn’t provide for paid leave.

At the state level, only California, New Jersey and Rhode Island offer paid family leave, but the number of states offering such benefits is expected to grow.

New York passed a law that will take effect in 2018, and Washington, D.C., has approved one of the most expansive paid leave laws for private-sector employers; it includes eight weeks of paid leave for new parents after the birth or adoption of a child.

Activists will likely continue with statelevel efforts, because they don’t expect Trump’s administration to support such regulations.

Predictable Scheduling The same cities and states that saw efforts to raise the minimum wage and to provide paid sick leave in recent years may also see efforts in 2017 to pass predictable-scheduling laws.

Predictable-scheduling laws limit “just-in-time” or “on-call” scheduling practices, particularly in the retail and restaurant industries. Generally, these measures require employers to provide work schedules to employees in advance and to compensate employees for any lastminute changes.

Stephen Miller, CEBS, is online manager/ editor, compensation & benefits, for SHRM. Lisa Nagele-Piazza, SHRM-SCP, J.D., is senior legal editor for SHRM. Allen Smith, J.D., is manager, workplace law content, for SHRM

theVoice rockfordchamber.com March 2017

Building on our competitive edge The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC), now in its 37th year of operation, has been and will continue to be focused on primary job growth for the region. From rallying investors, partners and stakeholders, the RAEDC has leveraged regional assets, building the foundation we have today. That foundation is the momentum of initiatives we all should know and be proud to share when speaking about our community.

Did you know that?

■ At the end of 2016, Rockford ranked as the fifth fastest growing community for jobs by the Milken Institute. We actually jumped 51 spots in one year.

■ There

are

more

than

90

companies in aerospace within Winnebago County alone. We are the sixth largest concentration of aerospace employment in the country. If it’s flying in the air today the Rockford Region made a component on that aircraft.

■ USA Today ranked Rockford as the sixth fastest growing housing

■ Our community is raising $6 million to support engineering degrees right here in the Rockford Region with a partnership of Northern Illinois University and Rock Valley College.

The RAEDC is not the only entity that can celebrate these regional successes, but if not for the RAEDC, some of these foundational steps may not have occurred. The RAEDC has regularly brought the right partners to the table, ignited initiatives and proudly watched them thrive in our community.

“Being part of the RAEDC that has traditionally been instrumental in the creation of so many strategic initiatives is exciting.

Moving forward, the RAEDC will use these foundations to focus on primary job creation/retention by leveraging the economic growth of our region and its industries,” said Nathan Bryant, president and CEO of the RAEDC.

market in the United States; we grew our values 15 percent in one year.

John Groh, president/CEO of Rockford

Area

Convention

and Visitors Bureau (RACVB), and Nathan Bryant, president and CEO of the Rockford Area Economic Development

Council

Conducting the daily work of economic development nationally, globally As part of the daily work of economic development, the RAEDC attends and exhibits at trade shows and conferences throughout the year to promote Your Opportunity Region to businesses and organizations as an ideal place for relocation or expansion.

Through these events, the RAEDC cultivates business attraction opportunities that will lead to primary job growth, which in turn will increase the economic well being of our region.

RAEDC participation increases the awareness of the Rockford Region amongst potential businesses and promotes some of the region’s strengths.

These include the ease of access to highways and interstates for logistics and distribution, including the Union Pacific Intermodal Facility in Rochelle. The region has a skilled workforce with a 20 percent higher concentration in manufacturing capabilities than the national average. In addition to those strengths, the region has a strong supply chain for the aerospace, automotive and advanced manufacturing clusters.

Those qualities, in addition to a lower cost of doing business, a lower cost of living and a high quality of life truly make the Rockford Region, Your Opportunity Region for many of the connections made during these trade shows or conferences.

If you know of any area organizations also attending these events, contact the RAEDC to provide additional networking or meeting opportunities.

The schedule for the first sixmonths of 2017 includes: ■ Advanced Design and Manufacturing Conference, Cleveland, Ohio, Wednesday, March 29 to Thursday, March 30 http://admcleveland.com ■ Select USA Investment Summit, Washington, D.C., Sunday, June 18 to Tuesday, June 20 www. selectusa.gov ■ International Paris Air Show, Paris, France, Monday, June 19 to Sunday, June 22 (open for trade participants from June 19 to 22, open to the public from June 23 to 25) https://www.siae.fr/en/ ■ Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA Airventure), Oshkosh, Wis., Monday, July 24 to Sunday, July 30 https://www.eaa. org/en/airventure

Sharing Knowledge @ Wharton - SiruisXM

RAEDC

the

17

(RAEDC),

joined host Dan Loney of Knowledge @ Wharton on SiriusXM to discuss the extensive and purposeful progress the Rockford Region has made over the

past decade resulting in collaborative momentum. The business-oriented, call-in talk show aired on Feb. 14, featuring a caller from Rockford asking what Rockfordians should be excited about, what is the next big thing? To find out, download the complete 30-minute broadcast (55MB file) on our website: www.rockfordil. com/wharton.

RAEDC Business Minute launches on local media outlets Over the next few months, keep your eyes and ears out for the

RAEDC Business Minute. Working with local media outlets, Nathan Bryant recorded some of the good things happening in the Rockford Region. They will be broadcast on local TV and radio stations. Sharing the good news about the region will help continue the momentum needed to drive the region to Top 25 status.

The RAEDC continues to collaborate with many regional stakeholders to cultivate opportunities for primary job growth and increase the economic well being of our region.

Connect with us socially The RAEDC shares informative, exciting and helpful news, events and stories through our social networks.

A strong online connection with local and regional businesses, colleges and friends helps to increase the reach of our community. Be sure to connect with us so we can share your good news and events.

18

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Red-hot housing market finished 2016 strong

By Alex Gary

Coordination key to Transforming Rockford

By Alex Gary, Thinker Ventures Lots of people like to talk about Rockford and its various issues – that’s a big part of the reason Transform Rockford generated so much interest when it was founded.

People are vested. They are interested. They want to be part of the solution.

In my former career, I used to get at least one or two calls a month from people complaining about the area and the direction it was going. Invariably, when I’d ask them what was the root cause to all of the ills, they usually traced it back to a single source, whether it was crime, the loss of manufacturing jobs, education. I even had a former school

board member insist that if Rockford just fixed its abnormally high property tax rate, that would make all the other issues go away.

In early February, Transform Rockford asked Jon Bates, head of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois to give a talk about Collective Impact. Collective Impact was coined

by John Kania and Mark Kramer of FSG, a mission-driven consulting firm for people looking to make large-scale social changes.

Kania and Kramer studied efforts such as Strive in Cincinnati, Ohio, where dozens of organizations have rallied to raise student achievement, and the Elizabeth River Project in southeastern Virginia and Shape up

Get to Know Your Ambassadors

After years of disturbingly drastic declines in home prices, the Winnebago County housing market had its 10th straight quarter of yearover-year price gains in October, November and December.

And the percentage prices rose in 2016 was the best in decades.

According to Illinois Association of Realtors data, 952 homes sold in Winnebago County in the final quarter of 2016 at a median price of $104,500.

That was 22.9 percent higher than the median price of $85,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The final three months of 2016 marked the third straight quarter that median prices in Winnebago County were above $100,000. It hadn’t topped $100,000 since the fourth quarter of

Somerville in Massachussetts, which has the goal of lowering childhood obesity. What they found is that any successful effort to make large scale changes similar to what Transform Rockford is trying to do requires five things:

As an ambassador, we experience firsthand the growth of Rockford. Rockford is a “community of the future.” This is validated by the number of new businesses opening in the community. 2017 can only be better!

together

organizations

can reach way more than working separately.

The Collective Impact model is something being studied by the Funding & Alignment Spoke of Transform analyst for the Illinois Department of

3. Mutually reinforcing activities.

Employment Security, and a member

4. Continuous communication.

“When trying to affect largescale change,” Bates said. “You have emergence. As you tackle the various issues, unforeseen things are going to emerge, both good and bad. So your solutions have to adapt. One plan or idea may work for a while, but then you have to adjust to the situation.”

Bates has studied Collective Impact for a while and the community foundation embraces it. Anyone who has tried to get a grant from the organization knows there is a section on collaboration. With what

business professionals and community members at various Chamber/ community events. Additionally, it has provided me with excellent networking opportunities, business leads and visibility.

working

2. Shared measurement.

Position: Director – Community Relations

What do you like most about being an Ambassador? The Ambassador Club has opened many doors that I did not know existed in the Rockford community. Being an ambassador has allowed me to work with an amazing group of

groups are you collaborating, because

Rockford. Tom Austin, an economic

5. A backbone. An organization coordinating all the moving pieces.

How long have you been an Ambassador?

1.5 years

Alex Gary is communications manager at Thinker Ventures

1. A common agenda.

Name: Vicky Beard

Company: The Atrium Memory Care

2010 and in the first quarter of 2014 had fallen as low as $65,000.

For the year, in Winnebago County prices were up 21.6 percent in the first quarter, 18.1 percent in the second and 12.1 percent in the third.

The number of sales continues to climb as well. In 2016, 4,018 homes sold in Winnebago County. It was the first time recorded sales topped 4,000 since 2008.

Of course, the real estate market remains a long way off from its preGreat Recession peaks of a median price of $129,700 in the fourth quarter of 2006 and 7,032 home sales for all of 2006. But for the first time in a while, you can start to believe that eventually home prices will make a full recovery.

of the Funding & Alignment Spoke said at the start of the presentation, “As the team researched these points, the idea of Collective Impact started to become one answer to providing effective services through alignment, which would then attract and ensure funding.

To achieve transformational change, we understood we would have to work together.”

Austin said it: The Funding & Alignment Spoke’s goal is to have collective impact initiatives addressing significant social issues by 2025.

Alex Gary is communications manager for Thinker Ventures

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

19

March 2017

Regional, National Indicators THE ECONOMY U.S. Indicators January 2017



Consumer Price Index Unemployment Rate

0.6 percent 4.8 percent

      

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

227,000 $0.03 0.6 percent 0.5 percent (fourth quarter, 2016) 1.3 percent (fourth quarter, 2016) 0.4 percent 0.1 percent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates Region / State / Nation Sept 2016

Oct 2016

Nov 2016

Dec 2016

Rockford

6.6

6.0

5.8

6.5

Chicago

5.2

5.7

5.3

5.4

Illinois

5.5

5.6

5.6

5.7

United States

5.0

4.9

4.6

4.7

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Top Five U.S. Trading Partners in 2016 1. CHINA ■ Trade in goods: $578.6 billion.

Exports to: $115.8 billion. Imports from: $462.8 billion ■ Top U.S. exports: civilian aircraft, soybeans, passenger cars ■ Top imports: cell phones and other household goods, computers, telecommunications equipment

2. CANADA ■ Trade in goods: $544.9 billion.

Exports to: $266.8 billion. Imports from: $278.1 billion.

■ Top U.S. exports: automotive parts and accessories; passenger cars; trucks, buses and special purpose vehicles.

■ Top imports: passenger cars, crude oil, automotive parts and accessories.

3. MEXICO ■ Trade in goods: $525.1 billion.

Exports to: $231.0 billion. Imports from: $294.2 billion.

■ Top U.S. exports: automotive parts and accessories, electric apparatus and computer accessories

■ Top imports: automotive parts and accessories; trucks, buses and special purposes vehicles; passenger cars

4. JAPAN ■ Trade in goods: $195.5 billion.

Exports to: $63.3 billion. Imports from: $132.2 billion.

■ Top U.S. exports: civilian aircraft, engines and parts; pharmaceutical preparations and medicinal equipment ■ Top imports: passenger cars; automotive parts and accessories; industrial machines

5. GERMANY ■ Trade in goods: $163.6 billion.

Exports to: $49.4 billion. Imports from: $114.2 billion.

■ Top U.S. exports: passenger cars; civilian aircraft, engines and parts; pharmaceutical preparations ■ Top imports: passenger cars; pharmaceutical preparations; automotive parts and accessories Source: U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis

20

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

Saint Anthony College of Nursing ranked sixth in the top 20 RN programs in Illinois, out of 76 analyzed by registerednursing.org, for exceeding the state and national average NCLEX pass rates for the past five years.

SwedishAmerican purchased a life-sized, state-of-the-art patient simulator named SimJunior, giving pediatric providers and nurses a realistic training tool to further develop their skills in caring for young patients.

Chartwell Agency and Ignition Studio, Inc., were hired to provide messaging and branding services to the Center for Sight and Hearing, to complete projects for the Wesley Willows and Peterson Meadows communities and to develop a new website for the Scottsdale Institute.

Chartwell was hired by the Catholic Diocese of Rockford to help implement new strategies for advancing Catholic education in the region.

Mercyhealth and Blain’s Farm & Fleet of Rockford delivered 454 snow boots, snow bibs, mittens, hats, scarves and winter coats to students at Dennis Early Childhood Center in Rockford for its Snow Angel Donation Program.

Prairie State Legal Services received a $22,840 grant from the Bengt & Mary Kuller Endowment of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois to fund a medicallegal partnership project with Crusader Community Health. An on-site attorney will identify clients seeking medical care for issues that derive from legal concerns such as poor living conditions, utility shutoffs, abuse in the home or benefits wrongfully terminated that result in loss of access to food, Medicaid or housing.

Carz R’ Us presented checks to seven local schools in January, totaling more than $1,000. Each month, it donates funds raised through its School District Loyalty Program to a designated school of the month, with more than $13,000 donated to local districts over the past three and a half years.

The Woodward, Inc., board announced a cash dividend of $0.125 per share for the quarter, an increase of approximately 14 percent payable on March 6, 2017, for stockholders of record as of Feb. 20, 2017. The board authorized a new stock repurchase program to expire in November 2019, under which up to $500 million in Woodward shares may be purchased in the open market and private transactions. It reported financial results with net sales for the first quarter of 2017 at

$443 million, compared to $445 million for the first quarter of last year.

Both aerospace and industrial segment sales were essentially flat with the prior year.

Beef-A-Roo celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017 with monthly giving promotions, sponsoring eight Salvation Army families over the holidays, school night fundraisers and support of SCRIP programs. Visit beefaroo.com for updates.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center made a donation to two organizations, the Boys and Girls Club of Rockford and the United Way of Rock River Valley at the Rockford Chamber’s annual dinner in January.

Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners approved the 2017 budget in January. In order to reduce an approximate $1 million deficit in the 2017 budget, the park district made some cuts including the elimination of Imagination Station, Cottontail Trail and Camp Lone Oak, along with a reduction of the cash voucher program to community partners.

Mercyhealth Hospital-Rockton Avenue teamed with Project SEARCH, licensed to RAMP, to become the first host site in Rockford for a one-year work-preparation program that will transition young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from high school to work, with the goal to secure competitive employment for every participant.

Mercyhealth announced proposed plans to build a small micro-hospital and clinic on its land at the corner of Route 31 and Three Oaks Road in Crystal Lake, Ill., to serve its current patient population in McHenry County. The 13-bed micro-hospital would contain private inpatient and intensive care beds, two operating rooms and ancillary services. As Crystal Lake does not have an emergency department, it would include a 24/7 emergency room.

Rockford Art Museum opened a new feature exhibition, “The Others,” on view through May 29 with 50 iconic selections by 44 seminal artists from the 200-piece Francis and June Spiezer Collection.

SwedishAmerican and Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness is partnering to establish an on-site clinic offering primary care, women’s health and mental health services at the hospital this spring, pending approval from the Health Resources & Services Administration to operate as a community-based Federally Qualified Health Center. It would provide a medical home for many uninsured members of the community who now rely on expensive emergency department visits, and would be Aunt Martha’s 22nd facility in Illinois.

Stateline Youth for Christ raised $7,665 at its eighth-annual Tutoring Clubs Holiday Fundraiser in December with support by the following credit unions: Cornerstone, First Northern, Generations, Heritage, Illinois State, MembersAlliance, Rock Valley, Rockford Bell, Rockford Municipal and Rockford Postal.

Rockford Park District announced results for the 31st annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition at Sinnissippi Park in January. The Chilly Trio team of George Harnish (captain), Fran Volz and Danica Rogers won with “The Huntress” and advanced to the 2018 U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wis. Ten state teams, 15 high school teams and one exhibition team participated. Visit www. facebook.com/ilsnowsculpting.

Rosecrance received a $40,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for the Open Access Child and Family Counseling program, which offers short-term counseling services for children served by the School-Based Health Center at Auburn High School in Rockford.

The Salvation Army received a $15,000 grant for the Salvation Army and YMCA Teen Center from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program. The center in Rockford provides a safe environment for high school students in the Midtown and Ellis Heights neighborhoods.

Midway Village Museum received a $7,516 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Community Grants program for the digitization of items in its collection.

Comcast Business now is offering DOCSIS 3.1-based Internet service to business customers in northwest Illinois in Business Internet 1 Gig and Business Internet 500 speed tiers. Visit www.business.comcast. com/gig.

Discovery Center Museum received a $27,422 grant from the BarberColman Management Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program for STEM learning opportunities in the Rockford Public School’s After School Achievement Program and United Way After School Program.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services awarded $270,833 in Affordable Care Act funding to LifeSpring Health Systems, Salem, Ind., a client of theFranaGroup. This is theFranaGroup’s 36th FQHC to be funded in 16 years.

YMCA of Rock River Valley and Judson University have partnered, with Judson relocating its campus inside the I.D. Pennock Family YMCA at 200 Y Blvd., in downtown

Rockford. Classes will begin in fall 2017.

Rockford Public Library, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and United Way of Rock River Valley partnered in July, 2016 to launch a new app to encourage reading on the go. Find the RPL APP. HomeStart achieved the rating of exemplary after undergoing a comprehensive program review conducted by NeighborWorks® America; the highest rating it could receive.

Rockford IceHogs raised $34,377 from its annual Pink in the Rink game on Jan. 28 to benefit breast cancer research through SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health and A Silver Lining Foundation. The IceHogs has donated more than $180,000 to breast cancer research since its inaugural Pink in the Rink game in 2010.

Fishwithme.net was selected for the State of Illinois’ pilot program, Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship. The woman-owned start-up with the goal to become the Match.com of the recreational fishing industry scored highly in Gallup’s Entrepreneurial Profile Assessment (EP10), a research-based talent tool designed to identify high-potential entrepreneurs.

The Puri Family and First Midwest Group donated the 6,000-sq.-ft., $750,000 Cherry Valley Golf and Games building across from Cherryvale Mall, 7282 Mid Mall Dr., to PAWS Humane Society of Rockford. It will be named the Sonal Puri Family Animal Rescue after the late Sonal Puri.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope announces its main fundraiser of the year, Rock for the Center Family Festival, on May 7 at the Tebala Event Center on Newburg Road, featuring three well-known local bands, a local talent show with cash prizes for children. It will support programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, now in their 70th year.

Partner by calling 815-964-9275 by March 15.

Crusader Community Health was recognized in February at the Crusader School Based Health Center at Auburn High School in Rockford with the Liberty Dental Plan 2016 Center of Excellence award for above and beyond commitment and dedication to quality care.

YMCA of Rock River Valley has charter memberships on sale for its newest facility, the Puri Family YMCA at 1475 S. Perryville Road. The 15,500-sq.-ft. micro-Y facility, scheduled to be open in April, will offer cardio and strength-training equipment, group exercise classes, space for families and seniors and

(continued on page 21)

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

21

March 2017

Members Caught on Digital ON DIGITAL Ceremonial ribbon donated by SERVPRO of Rockford.

Comfort Keepers held a ribbon cutting and open house on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 4835 Manhattan Dr., Rockford.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois held a ribbon cutting, tour and luncheon on Feb. 16 for its new admin/mission services building at 850 N. Church St., Rockford.

Business Briefs Continued from page 20 on-site child watch area. The first 250 charter members get special rates.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope seeks donations of Garmin navigation devices and chargers for its vans and buses. Call 815-964-9275.

Classic rock band, KANSAS, brings its 40th anniversary Leftoverture Tour to the Coronado Performing Arts Center, May 20. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com, the BMO Harris and Coronado PAC box offices and 815-968-5222.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomed the 2017 Illinois High School Association Girls Bowling State Finals, Feb. 17 to 18; drawing roughly 220 bowlers at Cherry Bowl and filling roughly 550 room nights with visitors projected to spend an estimated $103,000.

Fehr Graham received a Special Achievement Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois in the Waste and Storm Water category for the Second Street Pump Station & Force Main in Champaign, and a Merit Award in the Small Projects category for the Auburn High School tennis court improvements.

Rockford University received a $200,000 pledge from Woodward Charitable Trust to support the $1.2 million plan for modernizations to the

Starr Science Center. The university also received $22,200 from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Science Equipment Program and $50,000 from the Smith Charitable Foundation, which also will go towards construction of the new Athletic and Event Center.

Digital Hive Mind was chosen by J.L. Clark for a comprehensive rebranding initiative.

Rockford Paratransit, part of Rockford Mass Transit District, will now schedule and provide Medicaid rides any time during its standard hours of operation, pending availability, for Medicaid riders who have a Medicaid Recipient Identification number and who need transportation to medical facilities who may not otherwise be eligible for Rockford Paratransit.

EGS/Alorica, one of the largest customer service companies in the United States, announces a hiring event to fill 175 open positions, mostly for chat-based customer service representatives, at its Rockford facility at 7180 Spring Brook Road. The company already employs more than 800 people in Rockford since opening last year.

Rockford Park District chose Screaming Lizard as the name for the new Magic Waters Waterpark waterslide, the AquaLoop, from among hundreds of contest entries.

Charitable Trust of Woodward, Inc., awarded $152,400 to Discovery Center Museum for a two-year, multi-faceted, hands-on, interactive STEM education program focused on instilling third grade students in the Rockford Public School and Harlem School districts with an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Science (STEM) disciplines.

Rockford Chamber Ambassadors, along with area companies and individuals, showered wish-list gifts on 84 individuals in area group homes through the Adopt-A-Home Program during Christmas 2016. Many live off their monthly social security budget of $50. The Ambassadors adopted Hampshire House through Mosaic in Rockford. Some of the other donor/adopters included Sam’s Club of Rockford and Mid-West Family Broadcasting.

22

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

the News IN Members THEin NEWS

1. Damon Heim

2. Jeff Hultman

3. Stephanie Meier

4. Megan Lloyd

5. Valerie Primuth

6. Vanessa Stanton

7. Ryan Holmbeck

8. Lauren Downing

9. Jason Stone

10. Dr. Samuel Pope

11. Amy Sola

12. Jim Reynolds

13. Georgia Ruggles

14. Shanti Goppert

15. Ryan Sword

16. Joe O’Neil

17. Kim Alexander

18. Daniel Christiansen

19. Bryan Moscinski

20. Tim Dimke

21. Dr. Mary Brown

22. Ed Rivas

23. Kim Wilson

24. Cheryl Rice

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

BOARD APPOINTMENTS Diana Clark and Lisa Henke were elected and Mary Kay Brooks, Kyle Reading and Mark Stevens re-elected to The Alliance board.

Wendy Culver was elected board chair and Larry Pribyl as vice chair.

The Center for Sight & Hearing board named Jean Beranek, chairman; Dr. Joel Lynch, vice chairman, and Craig Shelton, secretary/treasurer. It named Scott Clark, Judi Jobe, Craig Shelton, Marty Nielsen, Tony Phelps and Al Wonn as directors; David Maggio and Craig Stallings as directors – emeritus, and John Bendixen as director – Lions liaison.

Shurice Hunter was named secretary of the Rockford Rescue Mission board.

Transform Rockford announced the officers of its steering committee: Bobbie Holzwarth, chair; Dave Schertz, vice chair; Rev. Ken Board, treasurer, and Jeff Glass, secretary. Christie Jarrett and Nathan Boelkins joined the committee.

Illinois Bank & Trust welcomed Damon Heim (1), Coldwell Banker Network Realty, to its board.

Jeff Hultman (2), president & CEO, Illinois Bank & Trust, joined the SwedishAmerican board.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Rock Valley College hired Jim Ryan as its new vice president and chief operating officer. He was city administrator for the City of Rockford.

Stephanie Meier (3) joined Blackhawk Bank as VP marketing.

Alpine Bank promoted Megan Lloyd (4) to deposit operations officer and Valerie Primuth (5) to loan operations officer. Martesha Brown joined as a community outreach officer.

Illinois Bank & Trust promoted Vanessa Stanton (6) to mortgage loan originator.

Mercyhealth welcomed Ryan Holmbeck (7), DPM, podiatrist, to its staff at Mercyhealth Rockton Avenue, Rockford.

Arc Design Resources, Inc., promoted Lauren Downing (8) to assistant project manager and Jason Stone (9) to sr. project engineer.

Samuel Pope, Ph.D., J.D. (10), joined the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford as a research associate professor.

Associated Bank promoted Amy Sola (11) to private banker within the Private Clients Services Group.

Jim Reynolds (12) joined the Business Banking team at Blackhawk Bank. Georgia Ruggles (13) joined as a personal banker serving clients from the Belvidere office.

Klaas Financial welcomed Shanti Goppert (14), client service associate, at its Madison branch.

Entré Computer Solutions hired Ryan Sword (15) as delivery and PC setup specialist.

Crusader Community Health honored Dr. Mary Brown (21), board-certified internal medicine physician, and Ed Rivas (22), security guard, with 2016 Crusader Advocate of the Year awards.

Joe O’Neil (16) joined Larson & Darby Group as a mechanical engineer.

The American Conservative Union gave State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) as a recipient of its 2016 Conservative Ratings Award.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Kim Wilson (23) is Meridian’s employee of the month for January.

Kim Alexander (17), ATC, PT, MPT, physical therapist, Rockford Spine Center, completed course work at the Titleist Performance Institute in Philadelphia for golf-related injuries and treatments.

Cheryl Rice (24), client service associate, Klaas Financial, Loves Park, was named Employee of the Year in 2016.

SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health named Joseph Hulbert as winner of its first-ever PHIL Award, given to outstanding respiratory therapists across the nation.

Daniel Christiansen (18), first vice president – financial advisor, RBC Wealth Management, was selected as a member of its Portfolio Focus – Portfolio Manager Group.

Bryan Moscinski (19), CFP®, financial advisor, Robert W. Baird, earned the Certified Financial Planner™ certification.

Tim Dimke (20), executive director, Rockford Park District, received the IPRA Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award and IAPD Honored Professional Award at the annual Illinois Park and Recreation Association/Illinois Association of Park Districts State Conference Awards Luncheon in Chicago.

Jeff Hendry (25), professor of performing arts, Rockford University, won Best Costume Design from Broadwayworld.com for his work on Mamma Mia! last August at Maine State Music Theatre, in Brunswick, Maine. He received the same award last year for Sister Act and The Music Man. Jennifer Spencer (26) was named a new partner at Gary W. Anderson Architects.

Three of Blackhawk Bank’s mortgage loan originators were recognized for outstanding closed loan volume in 2016: Margie Nowak, more than $28 million; Kelly Pospischil, $21 million, and Mike Hughes, $18 million in sales.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Dr. Philip Schalow, Upper Cervical Care Center – Rockford, a division of 1st Step Chiropractic, spoke to Admissions and Discharge Planners

(continued on page 23)

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

March 2017

Members in the News

25. Jeff Hendry

26. Jennifer Spencer

Continued from page 22 Marketing Ideas Together, at P.A. Peterson in January. Dr. Hannah Orem gave an educational presentation to students at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

John Groh, president/CEO, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Nathan Bryant, president/CEO, Rockford Area Economic

Development Council, were the featured guests on the SiriusXM Radio Show, Knowledge at Wharton, hosted

by Dan Loney on Feb. 9. Broadcast 27.Dr. Troy Skwor from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, they talked about Rockford’s comeback.

Troy Skwor, Ph.D. (27), associate professor of biology, Rockford University, presented “Photodynamic therapy: Targeting multi-drug resistant bacteria and cancer with metalloporphyrins and portable LEDs” in February at University of Illinois at Chicago’s Pathology Grand Rounds.

New Chamber Members FEBRUARY

MARCH

AFRICAN ARAB ASIAN AMERICAN VOICE

FLOOD PROS

An educational and cultural not-forprofit created to assist refugees and immigrants to become successful individuals and families in their American community.

123 N. Alpine Road, Ste. D, 61107 Mustafa Abdall 815-608-0778

CENTURY PLAZA BUSINESS CENTER A high-tech, smartly designed shared workspace used by a diverse community of entrepreneurs, independent professionals, small business teams, and national and international branch offices.

7210 E. State St., Ste. 102, 61108 Jan Mansfield 815-391-9202 www.CenturyPlazaBusiness Center.com

H & R BLOCK Providing tax preparation and banking services.

3720 N. Main St., 61103 Roshelle Fetzer 815-654-8848 www.hrblock.com

MDM CONSULTING Business development, HR consulting and coaching.

Michael Mastroianni 815-979-0135 www.mdmbusinessconsulting.com

THE STANDARD A special events venue that offers a unique and sophisticated downtown experience.

214 E. State St., 61104 Kayleigh Hughes 815-289-5487 www.standardonstate.com

Home Restoration Services Smoke, Fire, Water, Mold 11137 Bertram Road Machesney Park, IL 61115 Jennifer Bogie 815-398-2379 www.rockfordwaterdamage.com

HAYES MARKETING SERVICES, INC. Full Service Advertising Agency 631 N. Longwood St., Ste. 101, 61107 Michael Hayes 815-227-4400 www.hayes-marketing.com

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES Celebrate life’s special moments with hand-decorated cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes adorned with inspired decorations and signature frosting.

881 S. Perryville Road, Ste. 200, 61108 Jana Caulk 815-580-8170 www.nothingbundtcakes.com

STEPPING STONES OF ROCKFORD, INC. Northern Illinois’ leading provider of residential programs designed to meet the recovery needs of adults living with serious mental Illnesses.

706 N. Main St., 61103 Susan Schroeder 815-963-0683 www.ssrinc.org

WELDERS SUPPLY COMPANY Welding supplies and gases for welding, fabricating, processing, commercial and medical applications 3485 Brick Dr., 61109 Steve Beckman 779-208-4035 www.weldersupply.com

23

24

March 2017

Your Products and Services in front of Key Decision Makers The 2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory, published once a year by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, is an opportunity to build name recognition in our region.

This resource for living, working, playing and visiting the Rockford region includes a listing of Chamber members and a buyer’s guide.

Who sees it?

■ 1,200+ Chamber-member companies.

■ Non-Chamber-member companies.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

March 2017 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the members celebrating their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

75-YEAR MEMBER

10-YEAR MEMBERS

Associated Bank

DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois Midland General Contractors, Inc.

40-YEAR MEMBERS

Furst Search LLC McClure Engineering Associates, Inc. 5-YEAR MEMBERS Rockford Mass Transit District Rockford Mass Transit District/ APEXteriors, Inc. Paratransit Glenwood Center Ltd. Knopp Construction Inc. 15-YEAR MEMBERS Meridian Accuride Wheel End Solutions – NTS Technical Systems Rockford Gunite Rockford Coronado Concert Northpoint Benefit Group Inc. Association Stateline Business Journal Rockford Metal Polishing Co.

■ Relocating families and individuals interested in visiting the Rockford region.

■ Large corporations, hospital systems and local realtors recruiting high-level employees and receiving relocation inquiries.

The 2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory, distributed in glossy magazine form, also will be published as an e-publication and online resource.

Contact Lynette Jacques at ljacques@rockfordchamber.com or 815-316-4317 for a variety of advertising opportunities.

www.rockfordchamber.com

Membership Renewals Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in January, 2017.

1st Family Home Healthcare, Inc.

Nicholson Hardware

AAA Rockford

Orput Companies Inc.

A-1 Lapping & Machine Co. Inc. Abbott Plastics and Supply Co.

Advantage Funeral Home & Cremation Services at Willwood Burial Park Aerotek, Inc.

Allen Heating & Cooling Inc. Anderson Dodge

Anderson Nissan

Anderson Toyota/Lexus of Rockford APEXteriors, Inc.

Art Van Furniture Rockford

Barron Metal Finishing, LLC

Best Events Hospitality Group Birch Plumbing Inc.

BMO Harris Bank Center

Briargate Management, LLC Bridge Ministries

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. City Fire Fighters Union IAFF Local 413

Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance Pizza Hut - Eleventh Street Pizza Hut - North Main

Pizza Hut - South Alpine

Pizza Hut - West Lane Road (Rockford Pizza Inc.) R.R. Floody Company, Inc. Rally Appraisal, LLC Ray King REALTOR Richard L. Johnson Associates, Inc.

Rock River Ford, Kia, Mitsubishi Rock Valley Credit Union Rockford Health Council

Rockford Manufacturing Group

Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning (RMAP) Rockford Rivets Baseball Rocktown Adventures

Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects Sodexo

Classic Limousine of Rockford, Inc.

Staff On Site Midwest Inc.

Exclusive Condominium Management

Tebala Event Center

EverSmart Insurance Agency

Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center

Faith Center

theFranaGroup

Freeway Rockford, Inc., Subsidiary of Freeway Corporation

Tyler’s Landscaping

gift it! Rockford

UTC Aerospace Systems

Grandview Condominium Association

Vixen Productions

Forest Hills Country Club

TLC Construction

Gemini Computer Systems, Inc.

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Loves Park

GKN Rockford

Vape-N-Juice

Hyundai on Perryville Kelly Services

Kitchens by Diane

Konica Minolta Business Solutions

Winnebago County Board Chairman’s Office

YMCA of Rock River Valley

YMCA - Camp Winnebago YMCA

Laser Quest

YMCA - Community Outreach YMCA

Maxim Healthcare Services

YMCA - Northeast Family YMCA

LOESCHER & Associates, Ltd.

YMCA - ID Pennock Family YMCA

Miller Eye Center

YMCA - Youth Achievement YMCA

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

25

March 2017

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

MARCH, 2017

Thursday, March 2

Winnebago County CASA presents Canvases for CASA; Painting with a Purpose, 6:30 p.m., at the IBEW Hall, 6820 Mill Road, Rockford. Paint with local artist, Angie Scordato. Includes a light dinner and customized takehome apron. Reserve a seat at https://winnebagocountycasaorgpresencehostnet.presencehost.net/ news-events/registration.html.

Friday, March 3

Rockford Rotary Club hosts a Wine-Tasting Fundraiser to Benefit Rotary Academy, a leadershipdevelopment program for middle school students, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Artale & Co., 6876 Spring Creek Road, Rockford.

Saturday, March 4

Keeping Families and Communities Together (KFACT) presents the third-annual Thrifty Teen Fashion Show, 5:30 p.m., at Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford.

Proceeds provide graduating “Lady All Star” mentees with college/career essentials and basic necessities towards post-secondary education in fall, 2017. For tickets visit Blackhawk Bank locations, www.k-fact.org or 815-519-1072.

Lou Bachrodt AutoMall and First Northern Credit Union present the sixth-annual Rockford City Winter Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the showroom at 7070 Cherry Vale N. Blvd.

Steve Summers from 95.3 The Bull broadcasts live. Free.

University of Illinois Extension presents Gardening for Food, Flowers & Fun, 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., at NIU Rockford, 8500 E. State St. Register at web.extension.illinois.edu/ jsw/ or call 815-986-4357.

SwedishAmerican Foundation hosts its 23rd annual Fundraising Gala at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, with proceeds benefitting the hospital’s holistic services. Call 779-696-2496.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center presents its next Fit Families sessions, March 4, 11, 18, 25, from 9 to 11 a.m., at OSF Center for Health, 5510 E. State St., Rockford. The program is intended for families with children, 6 to 12 years old. Register at 815-395-4591.

Rockford Public Library will hold Onsite Voter Registration with the League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the East Branch, 6685 E. State St., and the Main Library, 215 N. Wyman St.

Sunday, March 5

WWE Live Road to WrestleMania Tour takes place at 5 p.m., at BMO

Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford. For tickets visit the box office, ticketmaster.com or 815-9680595.

Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., opens its 76th Young Artist Show: High School Division, 1 to 3 p.m. Free. Awards announced at 2 p.m., from among the nearly 1,100 student pieces submitted from 20 area schools. Exhibit remains through April 2.

Monday, March 6

Hulsebus Rockford Chiropractic hosts Lower Back Awareness Week, March 6 to 10, 1877 Daimler Road, Rockford. Call 815-398-3434 for more information.

Tuesday, March 7 Dr. Shylendra Sreenivasappa presents a free health and wellness seminar, Lung Cancer, Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave. Register at 815-395-5649, prrockford@uic.edu or rockford.medicine.uic.edu.

University of Illinois Extension and Annie’s Project – Education for Farm Women present Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning, Tuesday evenings, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 7 to 28 at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 1350 W. Prairie Dr., Sycamore, Ill. Register at web. extension.illinois.edu/bdo/ or contact 815-758-8194 or andylars@illinois.edu.

Wednesday, March 8

Friday, March 10

University of Illinois Extension hosts Science Siesta for boys in fourth to sixth grades, Friday, 5 p.m., to Saturday, 8:30 a.m., at the Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Register at web.extension. illinois.edu/bdo/ or call 815-758-8194.

Saturday, March 11

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring, 7:30 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St. For tickets call 815-965-0049 or visit www.rockfordsymphony.com.

Discovery Center Museum of Rockford presents Ag All Around Us, a Family Fun Day, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 711 N. Main St. Call 815-9636769 or visit www.discovery centermuseum.org.

Sunday, March 12 Award-winning Christian singer/ songwriter Matthew West performs at First Free Rockford, 2223 N. Mulford Road, for Restart 2017, a concert benefiting Rockford Public Schools, 7 p.m. For tickets visit Firstfreerockford.org, iTickets.com or call 800-965-9324.

Tuesday, March 14

Entré Computer Solutions presents Avaya IP Office: Simple, Reliable, Proven Solution, with Matt Furrer, sales engineer, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club, 5151 Guilford Road, Rockford. Lunch provided. Register at 815-399-5664, ext. 245, or tiffanyh@entrerock.com.

Rockford Art Museum Women’s Art Board, presents Art Talks, noon at 711 N. Main St. Features Kailley Lindman Federighi, Chicago food writer, photographer and blogger. Call 815-968-2787 for lecture and lunch tickets.

Thursday, March 16

Thursday, March 9

Friday, March 17

Center for Sight & Hearing presents its fifth-annual Dining in the Dark at Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Spring Creek Road, Rockford. Visit www. centerforsighthearing.org or call 815-332-6828 for reservations.

Women of Today’s Manufacturing (WOTM) hosts its annual Fundraiser Dinner & Silent Auction, 5:30 p.m., at Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford. Keynote speaker is 13 WREX’s Kristin Crowley. Visit www. wotm-rockford.com.

YWCA Northwestern Illinois presents A Nation of Immigrants: Interfaith Exploration of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, a panel discussion exploring the intersections and similarities between the religions, 7 p.m., at Sullivan Theater in the RPL Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford.

Free. Contact info@ywcanwil.org or 815-968-9681 for questions.

The YMCA of Rock River Valley hosts comedian Michael Jr., as the headline entertainer at its annual Community Dinner, 5 to 9 p.m., at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Visit www.ymcacommunitydinner.com.

American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois hosts a Lunch ’n‘ Learn: The Changing Face of Facebook featuring Lisa Chatfield, Hills Marketing, at 11:45 a.m., at Katie’s Cup, 502 7th St., Rockford. Visit www.niadfed.org.

Saturday, March 18

The Music Academy and the Rockford Public Library hosts a free Concert and Book Talk, 10 a.m., at the JR Sullivan Theater in the Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford. Performer is Edward Kelsey Moore, professional Chicago-area cellist and author with a best-selling first novel, “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat.” GiGi’s Playhouse/Rockford hosts its sixth-annual I Have a Voice Gala, 5:30 to 11 p.m., at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Guest speaker is comedian Rob Snow. For tickets visit https://gigisplayhouse.org/rockford/ gala or 815-654-7529.

Tuesday, March 21 Rockford Police Department announced new dates for its Spring 2017 Citizens Police Academy, running Tuesdays, 6 to 8:30 p.m., March 21 to May 9, at headquarters and District Station 3, 557 S. New Towne Drive. Graduation will be held May 16. For an application, visit www. rockfordil.gov/police.

Natural Land Institute presents 2017 Annual Dinner and Presentation featuring Arthur Melville Pearson and the announcement of the George and Barbara Fell Award, 6 to 9 p.m., at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. For tickets call 815-9646666 or visit www.NaturalLand.org.

Thursday, March 23

University of Illinois Extension presents Backyard Apple Tree School with Grant McCarty and Bruce Black, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Rockford Public Library East Branch, 6685 E. State St. Pre-registration required at web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

Saturday, March 25

Discovery Center Museum presents Nano Day, a Family Fun Day, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Call 815-963-6769 or visit www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

Monday, March 27

Discovery Center Museum presents Spring into Science, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 27 to 31, at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Call 815-963-6769 or visit www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

APRIL, 2017 Saturday, April 1

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents I Hear a Symphony Motown’s Greatest Hits! with Broadway singers Mandy Gonzalez, Joy Lynn Jacobs and Destan Owens, 7:30 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St. For tickets call 815-965-0049 or visit www. rockfordsymphony.com.

Wednesday April 5

Rock Valley College hosts a free Hour of Code workshop: Code with Anna and Elsa, 5 p.m., at its downtown location, 99 E. State St., second floor of the Rockford Register Star news tower. Create a game about the movie “Frozen.” Visit hourofcode workshops. eventbrite.com.

Thursday, April 6

University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., host their 2017 Summer Science Open House, 4 to 6 p.m., at the Robert J. Vickrey, M.D. Auditorium, 1601 Parkview Ave. Presentations by research mentors for the Summer Science Internship Program. Call 815-395-5680 or daryl. messenger@thermofisher.com.

26

March 2017

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events MARCH, 2017 Tuesday, March 7

Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rockford Country Club, 2500 Oxford St., Rockford.

Michelle Bowman and Jen Reisinger, Edward Jones, present “Getting Your Financial House In Order Investing Principles: The Rules of the Road,” on the 10 rules of investing. Sponsored by First Northern Credit Union.

Thursday, April 6 4 - 8 pm Giovanni’s, Inc. 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford

CELEBRATION OF MANUFACTURING Expo and Dinner

Dr. Douglas J. Jensen, president, Rock Valley College, will outline his vision for workforce development and meeting the demands of the region. Announcement of the Individual Business Catalyst of the Year and the Manufacturer of the Year awards.

Sponsored by QPS Employment Group (presenting); Nuts, Bolts, & Thingamajigs (FMA Foundation); Rockford Bank & Trust Co., and Wipfli LLP (gold); United Way of Rock River Valley (awards), and Thayer Lighting, Inc. (silver).

Wednesday, March 8 7:30 - 9:00 am Rockford University PURI Business School Bldg., Room 124 5050 E. State St., Rockford

Breakfast Buzz Jay Sandine, assistant executive director, presents a “Rockford Park District Update.”

Sponsored by RSM US LLP.

Tuesday, April 11 8:00 am - Noon Forest Hills Country Club 5135 Forest Hills Rd., Rockford

Glen Shepard

How to Supervise People and Lead a Team

Thursday, March 9 March Ambassador Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Northern Illinois University, 8500 E. State St., Rockford.

Ribbon Cutting at Lehan’s Medical Equipment, 3 p.m., 811 S. Perryville Rd., Ste. 101, Rockford.

March of Dimes hosts a Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., at Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Ste. 203, Rockford.

Friday, March 10

Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. The council, in partnership with Next Rockford, will host a Rockford Mayor Candidate Forum for the four candidates on the ballot for the April 4 Consolidated Election. Sponsored by AT&T.

APRIL, 2017 Tuesday, April 4

Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rockford Country Club, 2500 Oxford St. Jody Perrecone, CHIP Program, and Sherri Habben, Team Tree, present “Is Stress Stressing You Out?” Sponsored by First Northern Credit Union.

The Rockford Chamber presents Glen Shepard, whose work and training programs in the areas of human resources are highly-valued. Register online at rockfordchamber.com.

Wednesday, April 12

Breakfast Buzz 7:30 - 9:00 a.m., Rockford University PURI Business School Bldg., Room 124, 5050 E. State St., Rockford. Joseph Granneman, CEO & principal consultant, Illumination.io, will present “The Cybercriminal View of Your Business.”

Sponsored by RSM US LLP.

Friday, April 14

Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Sponsored by AT&T. Thursday, April 20 11:30 am - 1:30 pm The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club 5151 Guilford Rd., Rockford

Business Growth Luncheon Featuring Scott Hanson

Scott Hanson is a seasoned business coach who will present key strategies to help you grow your business. During Scott’s training and speaking, you’ll come away empowered, on purpose, informed and ready to crush it.

Sponsored by BMO Harris Bank (presenting) SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health (gold).

APRIL VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS:

Talent Management: Acquiring / Growing Talent Educational Avenues For information on advertising, call 815

27

March 2017

987-8100

Advertisers Index ADVERTISERS

Alpine Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,12

Athena PowerLink . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 ®

Klaas Financial Asset Advisors, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Blackhawk Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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

Brian Thomas Photography . . . . 19

Northwest Bank of Rockford. . . . 15

Century Plaza Business Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Comcast Business . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Rockford Bank & Trust Co.. . . . . . 5

CoyleKiley Insurance Agency Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Illinois Bank & Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Honquest Family Funeral Homes with Crematory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Prorok Law Office, P.C.. . . . . . . . 14 Rockford Chamber of Commerce. . . . . . . 8, 11, 23, 26, 28 RSM US LLP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Thayer Lighting, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . 9 WilliamsMcCarthy LLP . . . . . . . . 13

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100.............................................. Direct Line Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO.......................................... 815-316-4304 Heidi M. Garner, Chief Operating Officer.................................... 815-316-4312 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology................... 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Vice President, Member Investment. . .................. 815-316-4317 Caitlin Pusateri, Vice President, Leadership Development................... 815-316-4337 Doug Mark, Membership Development Executive............................... 815-316-4336 Stephanie Mathews, Administrative & Finance Assistant .................... 815-987-8100 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events. . ............................................ 815-316-4302 Doug Rand, Accounting Manager/Controller............................... 815-316-4316 Sue Boyer, Member Relations................................................. 815-316-4315 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator......................... 815-316-4320

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc.

Chairman of the Board Richard Zumwalt Z Resource

Jan Bowman TLC Construction

Vice Chair Michele Petrie Wintrust Bank

LaVonne Brown Savant Capital Management

Vice Chair Dan Ross Williams-Manny Insurance Group

Paula Carynski OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Samuel J. Castree Staff Management, Inc.

Treasurer Amy Ott Boylan Catholic High School Immediate Past Chair Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc.

Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc. Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate Don Daniels SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health

Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency

Patrick Shaw RSM US LLP

Ira Grimmett UTC Aerospace Systems

Karl Swanson Rockford Bank & Trust Co.

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Jon Thompson Butitta Brothers Automotive

Jeff Hultman Illinois Bank & Trust Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Kris L. Kieper Machajewski YWCA Northwestern Illinois Patrick Morrow Alpine Bank Mike Paterson Mid-West Family Broadcasting Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale John Schuster Rosecrance Health Network

Laura Pigatti Williamson Rockford Park District

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

Let your Voice be heard 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 ­PUBLICATION