March Voice 2021

the March 2021 | Volume 34 | No. 3

UPGRADES TO THE FLOW

PERMEABLE PAVERS

PAGE 3

PAGE 14

of the rockford business community 2021 ROCKFORD CITY MARKET VENDORS INVITED TO APPLY

Village of Machesney Park celebrates 40 years FLYING HIGH AS AN INDUSTRIAL HUB FOR THE AREA On Feb. 24, the Village of Machesney Park celebrated 40 years as a village in Illinois, and highlighted its growth as an industrial and retail center for the area and all things “Made in Machesney.” The village has six actively developing industrial parks and a shopping corridor lined with national big box stores, smaller specialty retail outlets and national and local restaurants.

The area presently known as Machesney Park was first settled in the early 1830s after the end of the Black Hawk War. The name “Machesney Park” is derived from the Machesney Airport, which was founded in 1927 by barnstormer/ aviator Fred Machesney. The airport was located where the Machesney Park Town Center is today (formerly known as Machesney Park Mall).

Residential development began to grow in the early 20th century and started to boom in the 1920s.

The Harlem Consolidated School

District formed to serve the educational needs of the community.

Made in Machesney “We have so much to celebrate in Machesney Park on this 40-year milestone,” said Village of Machesney Park Mayor Steve Johnson. “As home to global leaders of both manufactured products and cutting-edge technologies, our entire region can be proud of what’s made in Machesney Park, Illinois.”

The Rockford Chamber is proud of our members who have been key to Machesney Park’s economic growth including: Hennig Inc., a designer and manufacturer of machine protection and chip/coolant management products for

machine tool customers, has been part of the village for 40 years and currently is its largest employer. It completed a $20 million investment in a state-of-theart expansion and plans to hire about 75 more employees by the end of 2021.

Midwest Packaging and Container has grown over 23 years and recently added two major building expansions, created more than 100 jobs and invested tens of millions into machinery, efficiencies and technology.

FIELD employed 22 when it first moved to Machesney Park in 1997. It has grown to 205 across the country.

Some manufacturers of products made in Machesney Park include: Astro-Physics, Inc.: Precision telescopes, mountings and accessories.

Continued on page 13

The Rock River Development Partnership has opened applications for vending at the Rockford City Market to run Fridays, May 21 to Sept. 24. In addition to the traditional seasonal opportunities for farmers and vendors selling handcrafted items, artisan food, artists, jewelry, bakeries, food tent operators and food truck owners, this season will include an optional five-week food truck session and five-week retail/ vintage sessions indoors in the market hall.

Visit www.rockfordcitymarket. com/vendor-application on vending requirements, options, calendar, fees and deadlines.

OWENS CORNING HIRING Owens Corning now is hiring with a $1,000 sign-on bonus for production and maintenance roles.

Apply at jobs.owenscorning.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ROCKFORD CHAMBER

ANNUAL MEETING

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, NOON FACEBOOK STREAMING For more information, see page 18 PRESENTING SPONSOR

ROCKFORD CHAMBER:

Caitlin Pusateri named executive vice president

THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY

Join the Chamber on Social Media

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

Rockford Chamber of Commerce named Caitlin Pusateri as the organization’s executive vice president.

As lead executive, she will oversee the day-to-day operations of the chamber, an organization with more than 1,200 members that advocates for pro-business public policy related to public education, crime and safety, and business leadership in the public sector.

The new position reports to the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership.

Rockford Chamber President & CEO Einar Forsman was recently announced as CEO of the newly formed GRGP, a non-profit umbrella organization that encompasses and aligns the efforts of both the chamber and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council to positively impact the region’s business growth.

“Caitlin is absolutely the perfect choice for this enhanced role with the chamber,” said Dan Ross, chair of the Rockford Chamber board. “Her experience with our organization, as well as her longstanding passion and commitment to the community, allow her to easily transition into the role and further enhance business growth in our region.”

STADELMAN SECURES $3.2 MILLION FOR DAVIS PARK RENOVATION

Caitlin Pusateri, Executive Vice President of Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

“Having had the pleasure of working with Caitlin for the past six years, I’ve seen firsthand the tremendous positive influence she’s had on our staff, members and organization,” Forsman said. “I look forward to her partnership and leadership on unifying the work of GRGP to elevate our business community and continue to improve our regional business climate.”

Leadership Background Pusateri began working for the Continued on page 17

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced more than $3 million in Build Illinois capital funds for the redevelopment of Davis Park in downtown Rockford. In the spirit of maximizing the use of prime riverfront, the project begins with $250,000 going towards the installation of floating piers where up to 16 boats could dock temporarily this summer.

Another $3 million will go towards a full reimagination of the park once the City of Rockford settles on a master plan and resolves the question of demolishing or repurposing the Lorden Building, a vacant industrial space that has served as a concert backdrop for nearly 30 years.

2

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

EXECUTIVE’S PERSPECTIVE But, amid the bad, there is plenty of good that will also come

CAITLIN PUSATERI Rockford Chamber Executive VP

There’s no place like home.

While the phrase used to conjure up thoughts of ruby-red slippers, a yellow brick road and a green witch, those five words strike a little differently today. Over the past year, our relationship with our home has certainly shifted. Our homes have become our office space, our classrooms, our vacation spots, and our most frequented restaurant. As we continue the long work towards safely reopening our community, I imagine our homes will eventually be a less frequent backdrop to our Zoom calls as we eventually shift to a more hybrid way of working that marries the benefits of remote work and in person connection in a more balanced way.

COVID-19 has demanded a shift in thinking on all fronts. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say that there has been much loss, grief and hardship in the past year that will take a long time to process through. The pain that the pandemic has caused to employees and employers, communities and businesses, families and friends cannot be overstated and will leave a lasting impact on the way we live, work and play. No organization (or person,

for that matter) will come through this pandemic the same way they went into it.

But, amid the bad, there is plenty of good that will also come through innovation, hope and resiliency.

As I take on my new role of Executive Vice President of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, both of these concepts — home and a shift in thinking — have impacted how I plan to approach my work. I began my work with the Chamber as a volunteer for the then-newly-formed young professional group, IGNITE. I transitioned from volunteer to staffer as I took on the role of Executive Director of IGNITE and focused my attention on the economic impact attracting and retaining young talent could have on the Rockford region. After I left my full-time role with the Chamber to work in a variety of fields, providing me a well-rounded background of both nonprofit and for-profit work, I maintained my relationship with the Chamber working part-time in the background. In 2015, after completing my masters in organizational leadership with an emphasis in training and development, I was granted with

through innovation, hope and resiliency. the opportunity to come back to the Chamber full time as Vice President, Leadership Development. I jumped at the opportunity – it felt like coming home.

The Chamber has long served (110 years!) as a home-base for business success in the Rockford region. While the unique challenges and opportunities facing the business community are ever evolving, the Chamber continues to serve as a friendly place, a refuge, a home for businesses.

Looking ahead, our work will certainly shift as the future of business demands. We will continue to advocate for businesses. We will continue to provide leadership and training development opportunities to encourage a robust talent pipeline and workforce.

We will continue to convene key players, organizations and ideas that transform our region. Our core mission remains the same — but our tactics, programs, events, and communications will continue to morph to meet the needs of our members.

It’s an exciting time to be handed the reigns to such a phenomenal

organization. unending

We are faced with an

amount

of

opportunity

and the unique opportunities that an environment that has been disrupted brings. I am excited for all that is to come and look forward to serving my team, our members and our community. As a member, I hope you feel as “at home” at the Chamber as I do. Thank you for your membership. I look forward to working with each and every one of you.

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

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication date. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101 For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100.

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

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

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

3

profile

MEMBER PROFILE

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: Four Rivers Sanitation Authority

By Paul Anthony Arco The more things stay the same, the more they change. That’s the case for the Rock River Water Reclamation District, which is getting a facelift, of sorts, in 2021.

The entity that operates the community’s sewer system, has changed its name to Four Rivers Sanitation Authority (FRSA), to reflect its connection to the region, according to Executive Director Tim Hanson.

“We’ve expanded our region and we’re proud to serve the area that protects the Rock, Kishwaukee, Sugar and Pecatonica Rivers,” he said. “We’re excited about the future.”

FRSA covers 104 square miles of Winnebago County and serves more than 275,000 people in northern Illinois. FRSA services more than 1,136 miles of pipe throughout Winnebago County, which includes eight municipalities. The city of Rockford is its largest customer. It also treats 1.5 billion gallons of contaminated wastewater a year and converts 11,000 tons of solid waste into a bio-solid fertilizer used by local farmers.

Long History in Area The Rock River Water Reclamation

District (District) was originally incorporated as the Rockford Sanitary District in 1926 under the Sanitary District Act of 1917 and opened for business in 1932 when craftsmen used their hand tools and draft horses to build the original facility. There have been many significant improvements over the years: a secondary treatment plant and additional treatment facilities were added in 1958; a nitrifying secondary system was added in 1996 and a solid waste treatment upgrade was completed in 2002.

Recently, Hanson and his team found a photograph from 1931 that featured the original building and first pump house.

The photo now hangs in the foyer of the administration building.

“It tells the tale of the sanitation district,” Hanson said. “Everything was done by hand. There were four huge 72-inch clay pipes that headed off into Winnebago County and handled all the inflow from the community below the surface of the streets.

A lot of it is still used today. It’s amazing to see how that craftsmanship has stood the test of time over 90 years.”

Today, FRSA has 113 employees who work in engineering, collection systems, plant operations, finance and customer

service. “You need the right background and education for this kind of work,” Hanson said. “It’s highly technical work that requires a highly-skilled workforce.”

EPA Mandates The heavy lifting is just beginning.

FRSA is being mandated by the EPA to reduce effluent phosphorous limits to .5mg/L by Jan. 1, 2030. Hanson said this will mean a $225 million investment to add new filtration, nutrient reduction and additional nutrient harvesting for land application of solid materials. FRSA also has a lead role in the Rock River Watershed group, which is made up of 10 sanitation districts and two municipal separate storm sewer system communities collaborating on river water sampling and the use of scientific process technology.

“For the past several years, the Illinois EPA has been working with different reclamation districts to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. This has been going on in surrounding states with positive results,” he said. “It’s an aggressive, but necessary plan.

We’re moving into a new age in Illinois.”

In 2016 Hanson joined FRSA after spending nine years as director of public works for the city of Rockford. “I enjoyed

Four Rivers Sanitation Authority services more than 1,136 miles of pipe throughout Winnebago County, including eight municipalities. my years there,” he said. “Joining the reclamation district was an extension of what I did for the city. We have a gem in this county that is renown in the industry.”

Hanson and his team will spend the next few months making the name change official. Expect a new website, signage and vehicle wraps to be ready by spring. “We have a lot to do over the next year,” he said. “But these are positive changes for everyone involved.”

FOUR RIVERS SANITATION AUTHORITY Executive Director: Tim Hanson 3333 Kishwaukee St. 815-387-7400 www.rrwrd.dst.il.us

4

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

GUEST COLUMNIST

DR. TASHA DAVIS Rockford Promise

Opportunity for new strategic solutions, partnerships, funding

Making post-secondary education affordable and expected for our students

Happy New Year! 2020 was a year of perseverance and change, and I want to thank everyone who continues to support Rockford Promise through these tumultuous times. While overall giving finished less than 2019, Rockford Promise used this time as an opportunity to network and listen to our community, create strategic solutions, and pursue new funding sources.

Through the City of Rockford’s commitment and the addition of NIU as a higher education partner, we are scaling our program at an amazing pace, supporting more Scholars than ever before. While challenging, this is also an exciting step in our organization’s evolution and potential impact.

Education as a catalyst for economic development is only possible when a diverse network of business, education, workforce development and community leaders work collaboratively. As Rockford Promise’s executive director, mentoring our Scholars and developing community partnerships with local businesses are my priorities and passions.

well at Rockford University and Rock

The goal of Rockford Promise is to make post-secondary

Valley

College,

mentoring

thanks

and

to

support

robust services

Become a workforce development partner, offering career, job shadowing and internship opportunities.

provided by Rockford Promise. With

education affordable and

The goal of Rockford Promise is

more Scholars anticipated in 2021,

to make post-secondary education

expected for students in our

we need your support more than ever

community.

Rockford Promise began the new year building pipelines to connect talented Rockford Promise Scholars to internships and career opportunities in the Rockford region.

In January, Rockford Promise created a partnership with Boone County Conservation District to increase awareness and opportunities for minority students within green jobs.

We are communicating with two other organizations creating similar pathways between Rockford Promise Scholars and their local business and organization. We’re committed to helping connect our Scholars to opportunities right here.

Our Scholars continue to perform

before. There are several ways you can be involved!

our community. Our goal is to realize the full potential for Rockford Promise

Volunteer your time and talent as a mentor to a Rockford Promise Scholar.

Support

affordable and expected for students in

by becoming a fully-funded Promise program, meaning that every qualified graduate of Rockford Public School

our

organizational

growth by lending your talents to a Rockford Promise committee.

District 205 is guaranteed funding for post-secondary education.

Imagine the potential. This is our

Make a financial contribution to

vision for Rockford. I look forward to

support the work of Rockford Promise

continuing to work with you to make it

or become a named donor, directly

a reality.

sponsoring a full-tuition scholarship to one of our higher education partners.

Help us connect with and share

Dr. Tasha Davis is executive director of Rockford Promise.

the Rockford Promise story and vision organization,

The views expressed are those of Dr. Davis’

church, neighborhood association or

and do not necessarily represent those of the

personal network.

Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

with

your

company,

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

GUEST COLUMNIST

LYNN MOMBERGER Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

The Girl Scouts’ role in women’s history A legacy of leadership and service

During Women’s History Month, it seems appropriate to note that many of the women who made a mark on history were Girl Scouts. Collectively, Girl Scouts have made remarkable history for over a century, beginning with Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. Low established Girl Scouts in 1912 in Savannah, Ga., with a troop of 18 culturally and ethnically diverse girls.

She is credited with establishing and nurturing a movement with millions of members and alums who have changed the world. Recognized with numerous honors and awards, Juliette Gordon Low received the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously in 2012.

Rockford suffragist, businesswoman and activist, Kate O’Connor also was a very active Girl Scout volunteer in the 1920s to 30s. She hosted Girl Scout activities at her farm and served on the Girl Scout Cookie committee for many years. O’Connor, like Low, was no doubt an ardent believer in the potential of all girls and the importance of fostering their individual growth, character and self-sufficiency.

Service in the Rockford Area Over a 109-year history, Girl Scouts have served their communities in meaningful ways. Rockford-area Girl Scouts collected clothing and supplies for relief efforts in the 1930s and 1940s. During World War II, Girl Scouts collected more than 50 tons of waste fat and were recognized by the Illinois Governor for “outstanding service to the salvage effort.”

Troops also took turns baking 100 dozen cookies weekly for soldiers at Camp Grant.

In 1967, Girl Scouts helped with clean-up efforts after the Belvidere tornado. More recently, Girl Scout cookies were donated to those conducting clean-up efforts after the 2015 Fairdale tornado. Last year, Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois members delivered more than 20,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to first responders, front line workers, homeless shelters, veteran groups and numerous others.

Girl Scout experiences, especially the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Entrepreneurship Program, have helped young girls grow into leaders at the local, regional and

national level, across virtually every segment of society. Fifty two percent of female business leaders, 69 percent of female senators, and 100 percent of female U.S. Secretaries of State were Girl Scouts.

Notable national Girl Scout alums include Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Tyra Banks, Queen Latifa, Melinda Gates, Celine Dion, Astronaut Dr. N. Jan Davis, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, Belvidere native and internationally renowned architect Jeanne Gang, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, to name just a few.

There are thousands of Girl Scout alums within the Rockford region, including: ■ Dr. Lisa Freeman, president, Northern Illinois University ■ Whitney Martin, morning anchor, WTVO ■ Judge Rosemary Collins, retired ■ Venita Hervey, former Rockford alderwoman ■ Sarah Reed-McNamara, artist ■ Mary McNamara-Bernsten, executive director, Rockford Area Arts Council ■ Teresa Beach-Shelow, owner, Superior Joining Technologies ■ Kim Kuborn, organizational development director, Danfoss Drives ■ Christie Jarrett, vice president, Stenstrom Companies ■ Sherry Harlan, partner, Hinshaw Culbertson, LLC

5

■ Mary Jo Hare, owner, ServPro of Rockford ■ Marsha Ackerman, retired IT security director, Woodward ■ Jill Faber, retired principal, Rockford Public Schools When asked about Girl Scouts, Whitney Martin and Teresa Beach-Shelow said the exact same thing, “I loved being a Girl Scout!” Beach-Shelow added that Girl Scouts helped her develop many skills she has used throughout her life. Girl Scout alum Kim Kuborn credits the problemsolving skills she developed in Girl Scouts for helping her quickly take life-saving action after an industrial accident.

During March — Women’s History Month, the month Girl Scouts was founded, and the end of the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program — think of these strong women and those you may know personally who were Girl Scouts. Stop and consider how today’s Girl Scouts are our future. Read the words on your cookie package about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and know your purchase is an investment in tomorrow’s leaders who will champion women’s history for years to come!

Lynn Momberger, CFRE, is director of development at Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

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

6

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

IGNITE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

BRIANNA CROSSER IGNITE

Advice I wish I was told as a young professional

As a younger person, I felt the societal pressures of certain expectations, such as going to a four-year college right after high school — studying abroad, finding your dream job — you name it.

Most of us have experienced those dreadful thoughts of, “what am I doing with my life or where am I going? How can I accomplish my goals?”

As a younger person, I felt the societal pressures of certain expectations, such as going to a four-year college right after high school — studying abroad, finding your dream job — you name it. It created a very chaotic mess in my brain because I was not living up to these expectations.

It took me YEARS to earn my associate’s degree because I had no idea what I was interested in. Financially, I was on my own, which was also a struggle.

I received quite a bit of advice from various leaders and other young professionals that helped guide me along the way.

Comparison is the Thief of Joy. Stop Doing It After years of comparing myself to those I went to school with, I realized that comparison really is the thief of joy.

I was so focused on being “behind” that I forgot to look at the opportunities that were in front of me.

Once I realized that, new opportunities and doors started opening for me, and I felt like everything was falling into place. It felt good that I found my passion in marketing and wanting to help small businesses and local organizations. It is still a daily struggle, but now that I am getting on track, I find myself feeling prouder of the work I have done and what I will continue to do.

Find Your Passion It seems cliché, believe me, I know!

Once I started pushing myself towards my passion, I felt so much happier.

It ignited something in me that I didn’t know I had. When I discovered my love for marketing and wedding coordinating, it made life feel so much brighter!

It really is true when they say if you love what you do, you won’t have to work a day in your life. Of course, not everything we are passionate in can pay the bills, but it is a step toward gaining experience and finding happiness in life and in our work.

Invest in Yourself If you want to advance yourself in any career, you need to invest in yourself. Whether you want to get into trades or another career alternative, it is so important to educate yourself and invest in the building blocks that lay the foundation of your career. Go to seminars or conferences. Take classes or attend workshops. Buy books and gain insight from them.

Depending on where you are in your career, or if you work for a bigger corporation, you may be able to attend free trainings or have those costs covered. Another option is LinkedIn Learning if your company offers it, or you can subscribe free for a month.

Get a Mentor Find someone within your field of interest with experience to guide you and answer questions. A mentor is useful and can offer insight and knowledge in the career field of your choosing. Most mentors are incredibly useful when you need someone to vouch for you. Finding a mentor can help you build professional relationships that turn into long lasting and meaningful relationships.

Recently, I have found my mentor, Danica, who is a big reason why I am here at IGNITE and on my journey to becoming a wedding coordinator.

Learn How to Network and Maintain Your Network As young professionals, we spend a lot of time building our network, but it’s important to learn how to maintain and build those relationships to be long lasting and beneficial to all involved. Make time to schedule coffee, lunches or drinks after work with current colleagues. Of course, with the current state of things, Zoom and other technology make it easier to connect with our peers.

Brianna Crosser is marketing director of IGNITE Rockford, wedding coordinator intern for Weddings by Danica and an operations technician at Woodward, Inc. The views expressed are those of Crosser’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

 Destination

ILLINOIS, USA

ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM

JOHN GROH Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

RACVB’s commitment to our diverse community

In the summer of 2020, I shared with you RACVB’s steps to ensure that our organization is more equitable and inclusive in welcoming diverse populations. RACVB has always been committed to equity, justice and respect for area residents and visitors. However, with recent events, the realization of the need to act with increasing intentionality became more evident.

We understand change cannot be derived from a simple statement, but rather comes from a continuous posture of learning, followed by action and accountability.

To help in our progression from statement to further action, RACVB’s board and staff, under the guidance of board members Jennifer Furst, Tiana McCall and John Penny and team members Martesha Brown and Austin Taylor, facilitated conversations to help us listen and collaboratively develop commitments statements and new organizational policies.

Over a few months last summer and fall, we gathered in person and virtually with individuals from our minority and LGBTQ communities asking for input and feedback on every area of our operation ranging from minority business use, events, to marketing.

The feedback group represented civic, business and non-profit sectors with representation from public health, law, advocacy, marketing, hospitality, small business, our immigrant community and more.

What they shared was helpful, heartfelt and challenging. They helped me, a white male and the organization’s president/CEO, see where we are and are not living up to our higher ideals of being an organization that welcomes all.

Measuring Our Commitments Based on their input, we developed nine commitment statements, and our board unanimously adopted policy changes that collectively constitute RACVB’s “Commitments to our Diverse Community” in order to “Welcome Diversity.” As CEO, I will report to the board multiple times per year on how we are living up to these commitments.

In order to live out our commitments, I want to share them with you, our business community.

We are committed to “increasing awareness of biases and becoming better allies through ongoing diversity and inclusion training.”

We are committed to “continuous engagement and relationship building with our diverse communities and residents.” We recognize engagement is not a one-time investment.

We heard clearly that representation matters and believe diversity will enrich our organization. We are committed to “ensuring our board, staff and volunteers are a reflection of our diverse community” and to “ensuring our marketing and advertising reflects the diversity of our community.”

We will “develop, support, promote and/or recruit events, tournaments and meetings that are created for and/or have a proven attendance of minority and/or LGBTQ attendees.” As we do that, we will “utilize marketing channels owned by and/or proven to be successful in reaching diverse audiences.”

Partnering with others, we will “lead efforts that foster a community where minority and LGBTQ visitors feel welcome” and will “celebrate the contributions and history of residents from our diverse community.”

Finally, we are committed to “utilizing minority-owned businesses and providing opportunities for exposure to event planners and partners.”

Following the board’s approval, our staff worked together and developed specific actions and measurements to ensure we live up to our commitments.

Working with our partners and through daily activities, our entire staff will work to fulfill our pledge.

In closing, I offer my sincere appreciation to the members of the Welcoming Diversity Feedback Group.

Their willingness to share, helped us understand more fully that in order for visitors to feel welcome, our residents must feel welcome.

7

As a community we have more work to do to fully embrace the celebration of diversity and efforts focused on equity and inclusion. While we cannot take ownership in the work of all organizations, RACVB absolutely can and should do our part to help our region be welcoming to all. I invite you, as business professionals, to join us in further embracing and celebrating new-found opportunities to “Welcome Diversity.”

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

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

8

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

R O C K F O R D

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

Small Business Enterprise Sign up for these online sessions!

How are you managing your social media reputation?

HEATHER KELLEY Illinois SBDC

All about building connections, listening to what customers are saying

With the constant monitoring of social platforms coupled with the political landscape in recent times, it’s more important than ever to monitor your social reputation and protect your business brand.

Social media offers an inexpensive platform to showcase your business and brand, but there are potential downfalls to be aware of. All it takes is a poorly executed post or campaign to destroy your company reputation in a matter of minutes.

It is very important to respond to comments good or bad, questions and criticism in a timely manner.

If you’re just getting started with how your company manages social media reputation, read on for your keys to success and some important points to consider.

Post Engaging, Relevant Content Build your pages up and regularly post relevant content and updates like news, announcements, special offers, photos, videos and links.

Also, be sure to show your willingness

to engage with your community of fans and followers by liking, commenting on and responding to their activity on your profiles.

Use a Social Listening Tool Investing in a social listening tool like Hootsuite can save you plenty of time and effort.

Focus on Increasing Reviews, Not Likes and Followers A strong social media strategy can also improve your performance on search engines and give you more control over what’s being said about your business online.

As part of your social media reputation management efforts, make sure you tune into what customers are saying on business review sites like Yelp, Google, Tripadvisor and Facebook.

Apart from monitoring reviews, invest in efforts that generate more feedback and reviews, instead of simply increasing your likes, hearts and followers.

Pay Close Attention to Google and Facebook While it’s important to focus on as many social media channels as you can, pay special attention to Google and Facebook, two platforms where the largest share of consumers are reading and posting feedback about your business.

Share Your Best Reviews on Social Media Share your best reviews on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles, or even on your company blog.

Your personal social media accounts must also be taken into consideration when you’re active on social media.

As a business owner you are always tied to your business, especially if you have included clients, colleagues, co-workers as connections on your personal accounts. Your comments, posts will ultimately be a reflection on your business as well.

Heather Kelley is marketing consultant for Illinois Small Business Development Center.

Go to rockfordsbdc.org THURSDAY, MARCH 4 Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, Reimagining Your Marketing in a Post-COVID Landscape, 11 a.m., featuring Emily Hartzog, Chartwell Agency. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/ workshops-trainings.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, How to Write Engaging Content for your Social Media and PR Audiences, 11 a.m., featuring Katryna Kirby, Social Kat Co. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/ workshops-trainings.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18 Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, Building a BOLD Brand for Your Business, 11 a.m., featuring Chris Wachowiak, Ronin Branding. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/workshopstrainings.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25 Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, Dealing with Difficult People, 11 a.m., featuring Norm Dasenbrook, MS, LCPC, psychotherapist and consultant. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/ workshops-trainings.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

SPECIAL SECTION Education & Empowerment

9

GUEST COLUMNIST

ANN WASSER Severson Dells Nature Center

WORKFORCE TRAINING New Illinois training program to transition workers to e-commerce industry

Trainees earn certificate in Essential Supply Chain Management Skills The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has partnered with the Association for Supply Chain Management to launch a new training program designed to prepare more residents for roles in Illinois’ growing supply chain management industry – one of the fastest growing fields in the state.

The pilots are targeting dislocated workers who have been impacted by COVID-19.

Since the pandemic hit, the rapid growth of e-commerce has generated an unprecedented demand for new skilled workers, with nearly 2,000 supply chain focused job opportunities in Illinois unfilled today. In the next five years, more than 500,000 supply chain jobs will be added nationally.

It will be piloted in some of Illinois’ largest supply chain hubs, Southern Cook County, Metro East and Southern Illinois. An initial 250 participants will begin a one-week virtual training program in topics such as inventory management, logistics and consumer distribution principles and basic management skills and receive a certificate in Essential Supply Chain Management Skills.

Several Illinois companies have committed to the pilot program, including Continental Tires, Geodis, DB Schenker, Worldwide Technologies, PepsiCo, and Phoenix Elevator.

To learn more about training in supply chain management or other workforce training programs, visit DCEO’s Illinois WorkNet page or Get Hired Illinois.

SECONDARY EDUCATION Expanding FAFSA applications in Illinois by making it mandatory Last June, Illinois passed the FAFSA Mandate. Last year, the state ranked #1 for completions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Starting this school year, public high school seniors must complete the FAFSA or, if eligible, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. A waiver provision allows a parent, guardian or the student — if 18 or emancipated — to opt out.

The mandate aims to increase the number of students aware of the resources available to them in affording education after high school, with the hope that some will decide to attempt college who otherwise might not have done so. The aim also is to help limit student loan debt and take a fuller course load to more quickly complete a degree or credential.

To aid in the completion of applications, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will provide targeted outreach, one-on-one assistance to students and families and online financial aid modules that teachers can use with their students. Resources: studentportal.isac.org and a free text messaging app: isac.org/collegeqa.

Learning through ‘play’ at our science institutions

There is a growing body of research about just how significant learning through play is for kids and how much higher retention is when kids learn through play and experimentation.

The hands-on, minds-on learning that occurs in our informal science education institutions, such as our museums, science centers and nature centers, is a prime opportunity for our kids to develop their creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills.

Through science, students experiment, ask questions, define problems, carry out investigations, develop models, make observations and construct explanations for how the world around them works.

Informal science institutions provide students with just enough structure, as well as an added invitation to play.

Science centers let kids naturally experiment with physics through ramps, pulleys, gears and more. Natural history museums allow them to compare and contrast animal adaptations from live mounts, or examine the size, shape and texture of rocks. Nature centers and outdoor schools are perfect learning laboratories for students to ask questions about a habitat or individual species, make observations and collect data, and bring it all back to their classrooms to engage in the full scope of the scientific method.

These practices require analytical skills (math), reading skills (obtaining

information), and writing and verbal skills (communicating information), so it can be relatively easy to incorporate science, math and language arts into one field trip.

Informal science institutions are a great way to bring it all to life in a realworld setting. Think about your job and how often you have to integrate different topics and skill sets on a project to be successful. It is time that we provide more opportunities for students to do more integrated learning, because we know that this approach will be essential for their future success.

Between the Discovery Center, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Atwood Outdoor School and Severson Dells Nature Center, we have so many wonderful science institutions that provide a wide range of opportunities for students, families and the general public to participate in hands-on science.

I know all of us at Severson Dells are actively working to engage more kids, more often in the hands-on learning that we know helps develop a wide range of mental and physical skills in kids.

Ann Wasser is director of Severson Dells Nature Center.

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

10

SPECIAL SECTION Education & Empowerment

GUEST COLUMNIST

GUEST COLUMNIST

The power of “Why?” PAUL BRANDT Rockford Christian Schools

Taking a cue from children’s natural curiosity

Our third-grade granddaughter stopped at my home office for a chat. She asked about what I was doing, so I shared that I was putting final touches on a Bible study for adults. She then asked a question that is simple yet profound.

“Why?” Her question got to the heart of it. I was not just performing a task. I was preparing to serve God and others. While I had been focused on sharing information with the class, her question brought me back to the purpose of my effort. My aim was to make a positive difference in the lives of others through God’s Word.

Early in life, children enter the age of “Why?” While adults like to think they have seen it all, to children, everything is new. God designed children with natural curiosity. From infancy, they test and try. Our infant grandson tests objects to see what noise can be gained from banging them on a variety of surfaces. Of course, he prefers the loudest bang for his efforts. Critical thinking takes a leap forward as children discover the power of the most important question they will ever ask. “Why?” Treasure your curiosity. Never stop wondering “Why?” Reach past explanations of fact to discover motivation. Dig until foundational beliefs are uncovered and examine the core values that motivate your actions, words and decisions. That is the power of “Why?” Although unpleasant, mistakes can

be excellent teachers. When a project falls short of expectations, it is good to know what worked and what did not work as expected. It is even better to know what caused you to make those decisions. Increase your awareness of the foundational beliefs that motivate you. That is the power of “Why?” While noting and examining these foundations, employers who are motivated by a sense of responsibility for the care of employees are likely to make decisions that reach beyond the bottom line to consider the needs and dreams of those workers. Spouses who take seriously their wedding vows are motivated to greater loyalty and longerlasting patience when relationships get rough. Parents who value thoughtful decision-making will guide and discipline their children to reach beyond simple obedience.

Educators are positioned to teach the value of “Why?” We must guide youth to think critically by respectfully and persistently asking “Why?”

Why? To empower them to become adults equipped to make informed decisions.

Why? Because their futures hold value.

Paul Brandt is superintendent at Rockford Christian Schools.

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

Taxpayers reminded to take advantage of Earned Income Tax Credit Taxpayers may be in line for a larger refund this year because of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and its Illinois counterpart, the Illinois Earned Income Credit. But to get it, low- and moderate-income taxpayers must file a tax return and claim it. “Even if an individual does not owe any tax, they may be eligible,” said David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Anyone eligible for the federal EITC automatically qualifies for the Illinois EIC, a refundable tax credit worth up to 18 percent of a taxpayer’s federal claim. In 2020, more than 13,000 Illinoisans claimed a federal EITC credit without also claiming the state EIC, leaving over $7 million dollars unclaimed. The Pritzker Administration and IDOR worked last October to increase Earned Income Credit participation by targeting taxpayers who qualified but failed to claim the credit, resulting in more than 10,000 additional refunds totaling more than $5.5 million.

The Internal Revenue Service recommends that all workers who earned around $56,844 or less use the EITC Assistant to find out if they qualify. Taxpayers must be eligible for federal EITC to receive the state EIC. Taxpayers with qualifying children can mean up to a $6,660 refund.

Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for up to $538.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

KIM WAGNER Rockford University

New online program will address special education teacher shortage

Rockford University has successfully pivoted many times during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the latest example aims to address the critical statewide teacher shortage and help one of the most affected student populations – individuals who need special education services.

Illinois has nearly 4,500 open teaching positions, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. While this shortage existed before the pandemic, a predicted increase in teacher retirements will likely worsen the situation.

Special education has been hit particularly hard by the teacher shortage – more than 600 of those open teaching positions are in the field. During a year of unprecedented challenges across the learning spectrum, our most vulnerable students are at the highest risk of not having the qualified teachers they deserve.

That’s why beginning this fall, Rockford University’s special education endorsement and master’s degree in special education will be offered fully online. This new online graduate program, one of only three to be offered by Illinoisbased institutions, provides flexibility for students who wish to complete a degree but may not be able to attend classes in person two nights a week.

Opening the Doors Shifting online makes the program more manageable for existing teachers and opens new doors to anyone in the state to attend Rockford University. Because special education teaching positions require a special education endorsement, the structure of the degree program was adapted so that teachers can complete the endorsement in year one. This will allow them to move into those positions quickly.

In year two, students finish out their degree while digging more deeply in the field of special education. Students will do research and a thesis project in special education, with a goal to submit that work for presentation, publication, or both.

Rockford University recognized the need to increase the number of special education teachers even before the pandemic. Dr. Gina Braun joined us as our director of special education in fall 2019, and we began to explore different ways to make the path to special education licensure more easily attainable for teachers, paraprofessionals and community members who were considering a career change to education.

Dr. Braun began her education career as a paraprofessional in a life skills program for students with severe and multiple disabilities when she was unable to find a job as an elementary teacher

out of college. She instantly fell in love with her students and the program. She completed her master’s degree in special education while working full time with emergency certification and encourages all teacher candidates to consider adding a special education endorsement to their teaching licenses.

“When you choose special education, you believe all children can learn, and you join a determined community of educators ready to take on the challenge of meeting the individual needs of their students,” she said.

Moving to Online Format As we developed this new online structure, our first step was to reduce the size of our endorsement program for current teachers by streamlining courses and eliminating redundant or obsolete courses. We then began to reach out to our community partners, including local school districts and private schools to establish partnerships that would allow employees to complete endorsements and teaching degrees. Our partnership with Belvidere School District, for example, will result in nine additional special education-endorsed teachers by spring 2023, including paraprofessional Miriam Pope.

Miriam’s first encounter with special education was as a parent in the Belvidere School District.

“My son attended Washington Academy where he got the most amazing support and care,” she said. “I have never forgotten the feeling of great relief to a distraught mother from the caring and reassuring words of his special education teacher. I knew from that day on I wanted to help students and parents feel like that.”

Our goal is to help local districts fill these teaching vacancies with community members who have always thought about teaching as a new or second career. Please reach out to us to talk about the ways you might be able to fill one of those special education vacancies.

With a variety of teaching opportunities available, anyone with a desire to work with children can find a place in special education. What better place to find a solution to this teacher shortage than right here in our own community, at Rockford’s university.

Kim Wagner is chair of Rockford University’s education department, an associate professor of education, and director of the Reading Specialist Program.

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

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

DR. EHREN JARRETT Superintendent RPS 205

March 2021

Changing snow days to learning opportunities

Positivity rates for COVID-19 in the community appear to be heading down. In the Rockford Public Schools, we’re working with the Winnebago County Health Department to get our teachers vaccinated. We’re very excited to transition to more students coming back to in-person learning in the spring.

If we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, at least we can see the tunnel.

As the district moves into an “allin” recovery effort — and we reflect on the changes we have faced and will continue to face — I’m thinking about silver linings.

This column will highlight positives we can pull out of the pandemic, with the potential to make future learning stronger.

One positive is an obvious one as snow falls and temperatures remain chilly. We are increasingly building capacity to allow our students to continue their learning, even when there’s a bad weather event.

I understand that makes a lot of us sad. A lot of us have memories of staying cozy inside — maybe venturing outside to build a snowman — while taking a break from the routines of classroom learning. Nostalgia aside, “snow days” often conflict with state standardized tests or advanced placement tests. It’s usually in our students’ best interest to get the work done now, rather than pushing the academic calendar farther into the summer.

The pandemic has forced us to use technology to connect remotely on what would have been a “snow day” -and keep on learning on days when the learning would have stopped.

That’s one silver lining.

Another silver lining is the realization that in such a huge district — 41 schools, 27,000 students and 4,000 employees — there are ways employees can connect outside of the physical proximity. No doubt we miss in-person contact, and there’s no substitute for that.

But we are using technology to make a big, impersonal district smaller through Zoom and other virtual meeting platforms. From a business perspective, we’ve realized a little savings on mileage and the time it takes to assemble people to a meeting place.

We can now do it quicker and more efficiently.

Not only that: We can expand our perspectives more easily by supplementing face-to-face with technology. We get more input from

more people, which leads to more sound and more sustainable business decisions.

Another silver lining is in the area of sports. Our student athletes are returning to competition as mitigations have relaxed. We will continue, however, to prioritize safety for our athletes and our spectators. One boon technology has provided is allowing fans to watch events virtually.

All four of our high school gymnasiums and two of our stadiums are equipped and operational with Pixellot cameras, giving a broadcastquality viewing experience for family and friends who can’t attend a competition.

For now, that means the limited seating necessitated by COVID-19 can’t stand in the way of watching a child compete. For the future, it means friends, grandparents and anyone with physical limitations can take in a sporting event.

In the short term, this will be a supplement; in the long-term, it will expand access to relatives and loved ones across the country.

Plan to Play Catch Up Of course, the pandemic is not all silver linings. Our students have experienced learning loss, and we are committed to helping them catch up. As we explained in this space last month, we are working with community partners to offer a robust and intensive summer intervention program that reaches students where they are.

We are especially grateful to Alignment Rockford, which has worked to connect business people remotely with our students. High school students have been able to sample careers via a video library, without the time and expense of an in-person visit to workplaces.

It truly does take a village to raise a young person who’s prepared for college, career and all the challenges our world can present. We’ve been touched by how the community has come together to help, even in a pandemic.

Here’s to the coming spring — and silver linings.

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.

SPECIAL SECTION Education & Empowerment

11

12

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

R O C K F O R D

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

economic development 2020 Rockforward20/20 Results Report released

Assisting the needs of investors and the community The Rockford Area Economic Development Council released the 2020 edition of the Rockforward20/20 Results Report with in-depth PDF as well as PowerPoint versions, featuring highlights from the year.

The publication demonstrates the commitment to our community and the desire to build upon the economic wellbeing of our region. Throughout 2020, the RAEDC staff has shifted gears, reprioritized and innovated to ensure the needs of investors and the community, in general, had the information needed to navigate through the pandemic.

The daily work of economic development has continued. The RAEDC responded to requests for information from brokers and site selectors, hosted matchmaking sessions during MAC2020, and found solutions to problems that will allow businesses to continue being successful and expand while remaining in the region.

To add value to our community, the RAEDC started ED Talks, webinars focused on leadership and business development each month and Your EDC; Moving Our Region Forward to help our region understand what the RAEDC does and how it affects the community’s quality of life, businesses, and the people in our community.

Eric Cunningham of Collins Aerospace took over as board chair on Jan. 1, 2021 from Mike Paterson of Midwest Family Broadcasting, who has served in that position since 2019.

The Rockforward20/20 strategic plan will extend through Dec. 31, 2021 due to the unification of the RAEDC and the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. The goals and purpose of the RAEDC will remain unchanged and the daily work of economic development will be to continue to cultivate opportunities for primary job growth and business growth that increases the economic well-being of our region.

The RAEDC is continuing to measure the economic development impact measurements: ■ 70% completed of the 8 million square feet of new or renovated space goal ■ 71% completed of the 10,500 new or retained jobs goal ■ 135% completed of the $925 million capital investment goal The accomplishments of the past year and the daily work of economic development are made possible through the support of our investors.

Download the complete 2020 Rockforward20/20 Results Report (PDF) or the 2020 Rockforward20/20 Results Report Highlights (PPT) at RockfordIL.com.

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

Healthcare systems open new facilities further benefiting the region In the past few weeks, the Rockford Region has witnessed the expansion of our healthcare clusters. Crusader Community Health’s flagship facility located on West State Street and SwedishAmerican’s Women and Children’s Tower on East State Street are both demonstrations of investment in our region.

These projects have a combined 168,000 square feet of space and a capital investment of $71M in the region. The healthcare industry has invested more than $1B in our area between the four health systems in the last 10 years.

SwedishAmerican’s four-story building will better meet the needs of mothers, babies and children, providing larger delivery rooms, state-of-the-art operating rooms, and new technology.

While Crusader Community Health’s new facility will provide medical, dental, behavioral health care services and a full-

service pharmacy on the location where the organization started almost 50 years ago.

The healthcare industry employs 10.3 percent of our metropolitan statistical area’s workforce, including those labeled by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics as healthcare practitioners and technical, which is almost a full percentage point higher than the national average.

SmartAsset has ranked our region fourth as the Best Place for Healthcare Access and Home Affordability for three years in a row. Residents have access to more physicians per 100,000 residents and more doctor’s offices per 100,000 residents than those in other areas in the state.

The Rockford Region’s low cost of living, high quality of life and competitive wage rates benefit both employer and employee.

MAKERS MADNESS HAPPENING AGAIN IMA announces the opening of its second-annual contest to celebrate Illinois’ incredible manufacturing sector. Make nominations in this year’s Makers Madness: The Coolest Thing Made In Illinois, presented by Comcast Business and join us in celebrating Illinois manufacturing!

Makers Madness is an online contest highlighting amazing manufacturers and their fantastic products made in our state. The contest is a partnership with Comcast Business, an innovation champion and technology provider to manufacturers across Illinois.

Illinoisans will be able to nominate and vote for their favorite thing made in Illinois with a winner announced in March.

“There is no doubt that 2020 was difficult – we saw the greatest health and economic crises in generations.

A lot of people say that we don’t have much to celebrate, but I disagree,” said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of IMA. “We need to celebrate American manufacturers that have answered our nation’s call during every crisis in history and are doing so again in the midst of the global pandemic.”

Illinois manufacturers employ 555,000 women and men on factory floors today who are some of the unsung heroes in our communities alongside doctors, nurses, truck drivers, retail clerks and first responders.

Last year, in the inaugural competition, nearly 300,000 votes were cast before Caterpillar’s 797F Large Mining Truck was crowned champion.

Makers Madness nominations ran through Feb. 14. Nominations could only be made at www.MakersMadnessIL. com. Any product manufactured in Illinois was eligible for nomination in the contest. Nominations closed on Feb. 14, followed by several rounds of online voting, until they get to a final round of the top four products. The overall champion – and title of Coolest Thing Made in Illinois – will be named on March 24 in Springfield.

So, let’s celebrate Illinois manufacturing and the great products made right here in the Land of Lincoln.

■ Your favorite food or drink.

■ Sports or recreational equipment ■ Vehicle or mode of transportation ■ Household goods or tools.

■ The latest technology or high-tech gadget.

■ Perhaps a facemask, testing equipment or sanitizer used to battle the pandemic.

The possibilities are endless.

Visit MakersMadnessil.com to vote.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

13

legislative LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

NEW ILLINOIS LAWS FOR 2021 In a typical year, 200-plus laws take effect in Illinois one hour after the Times Square Ball drops on New Year’s Eve. But the cancellation of much of the legislative session last year due to the coronavirus pandemic resulted in only several new laws and the minimum wage increase taking effect in 2021.

Minimum Wage Increase Illinoisans rang in the New Year with a minimum wage of $11 an hour. It will continue to increase $1 an hour each Jan. 1 until it reaches $15 an hour in 2025. The new law maintains provisions for employers to count gratuities to offset wages for workers who regularly earn tips.

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

These workers must still earn the minimum wage after receiving tips or the employer must make up the difference. Workers under 18 years old and working fewer than 650 hours a year will earn a minimum wage of $8.50 per hour beginning Jan. 1.

The youth minimum wage rate will gradually rise to $13 an hour by 2025.

Cap on Insulin Costs Senate Bill 667 amends the Illinois Insurance Code to cap out-of-pocket costs for a 30-day supply of insulin at $100 per month for all patients using a state-regulated insurance plan. It also requires multiple Illinois departments to issue a joint “insulin pricing report” to the public that details insulin pricing practices and recommendations to control high prices. Provides that the limitation on insulin costs also applies to provisions requiring coverage of certain diabetes items to be subject to the same coverage, deductible, co-payment and co-insurance provisions under a policy.

Use of DNA for Missing Persons Cases House Bill 2708 establishes a process by which law enforcement can use DNA in attempting to locate and identify a missing person. If a missing person remains missing for 30 days after being identified in a missing person report, law enforcement may provide DNA samples to partner laboratories of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or try to create a reference sample from family members. Samples obtained from family members of missing persons will not be retained after the location or identification of the remains of the missing person unless there is a search warrant.

Survivors Can Keep Addresses Confidential House Bill 2818 amends the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence Act. A person who is a victim of sexual assault or stalking, as defined in the act, may apply for the address confidentiality program under the act to reduce the risk that their attacker may locate them. They can list the Illinois attorney general’s office as their contact address in some circumstances through the address confidentiality program already established for domestic violence survivors.

Hennig Inc., has been part of the village for 40 years and currently is its largest employer.

MACHESNEY CELEBRATES

OTHER ROCKFORD CHAMBER MEMBERS LOCATED IN MACHESNEY PARK INCLUDE:

FIELD: Fastener supply and engineering partner.

Hennig, Inc.: Enclosure systems for machine tools, manufacturing cells, and interlinked installations.

Interstate Graphics, Inc.: Screen printing and digital printing on an extensive line of materials.

JC Precision Milling, LLC: CNC machine shop, for manufacturing components, fixtures, cutters, and prototypes.

Midwest Packaging & Container: Manufactures shipping containers and industrial crating.

Parker Hannifin Corporation: Manufacturer of accumulators and coolers.

Spider Company Inc.: Manufactures aerospace products that appear in Boeing planes and jet engine after burners.

Superior Joining Technologies: Specializes in micro-TIG and micro-laser welding, laser beam welding, 3D multi-axis laser cutting, CNC machining, fluorescent dye penetrant and magnetic particle inspection. v

A-Sign Designs

Continued from front page

Carz R’ Us, General Automotive & Tire

Dry Otter Basement Water Proofing/ Concrete Raising Easterseals

Edward Jones - Justin D. Jones, Financial Advisor Entré Computer Solutions FIELD

Flood Pros

GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford Harlem Community Center Hennig, Inc.

Heritage Credit Union Horizons Inc.

Illinois Bank & Trust - Route 173 Banking Center Interstate Graphics

JC Precision Milling, LLC McMAHON

MDM Consulting

Menta Academy Northwest

Michalsen Office Furniture Inc.

Midwest Packaging and Container North Park Rental Service, Inc. Parker Hannifin Corporation

Paul Lundeen Merchant Services, Inc. Pizza Hut (Rockford Pizza Inc.)

Rockford Structures Construction Company

Report offers proposals to improve Scott’s Law The Move Over Task Force delivered a report detailing their study of the causes of Move Over crashes and violations and proposing ways to protect law enforcement, emergency responders, highway workers and all motorists.

The Move Over Law, also known as Scott’s Law, requires drivers to change lanes when approaching stationary emergency vehicles, including all highway maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights, and any stationary vehicle with their hazard lights activated. If not possible, drivers are required to reduce speed and leave a safe distance while passing the stationary vehicle.

A couple of the Move Over Task Force recommendations include: Adding improvements to the existing Illinois’ Move Over Law to define that for vehicles to “proceed with due caution,” they should always reduce speed. Therefore, laws should say “Move Over AND Slow Down, as opposed to Move Over OR Slow Down.

Inclusion of distracted driving as an aggravating factor for violations of the Move Over Law. Encourage the Illinois Department of Transportation to amend crash reports to capture “Move Over” law crashes and the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts to amend traffic citations to include a box to denote “Move Over” law violations for a more precise collection of data across all law enforcement agencies.

Astro-Physics, Inc.

Spider Company Inc.

Stanley Steemer of Rockford Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

Superior Joining Technologies, Inc. Swanson’s Discount Vacuum, Inc. The Pension Specialists, Ltd. Village of Machesney Park Weldstar Co.

Superior Joining Technologies, Inc.

Local employees of FIELD.

WinMan LLC

14

SPECIAL SECTION Architecture & Engineering

GUEST COLUMNIST

March 2021

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

With a little creativity, even simple projects like parking lots and driveways can become an asset to a city.

MICK GRONEWOLD Fehr Graham

Permeable pavers in Illinois? Why not?

Permeable pavement – a type of pavement that lets water flow through it rather than pooling on top and running off – is a green infrastructure initiative that continues to prove itself to be structurally sound.

Permeable pavement is good for our planet, good for our future and terrific for water quality. It’s a simple engineering innovation we should consider right here, right now.

So why don’t we see more permeable pavement in Illinois? I’ll get to that, but let me tell you about West Union, Iowa, population 2,400.

More than 10 years ago, West Union officials hoped to reinvent the downtown business district. Water and sewer systems dated back to the 1800s, drainage infrastructure was poor, and most didn’t find the area desirable.

Today, the city’s downtown is thriving and in the national spotlight – partly because leaders didn’t let their community challenges overwhelm them.

They took on a big project, used grants and made sustainability a priority. West Union became a pilot community and showcased viable projects. The largest featured 4.4 acres of permeable pavers used throughout its downtown.

The city took a more sustainable approach to community infrastructure redevelopment and converted a project from a typical streetscape to permeable pavement, taking stormwater below the surface. The result: Stormwater runoff is no more.

West Union’s success story became a case study, and Iowa municipalities have jumped on board to use permeable pavement whenever possible to manage stormwater.

Testing the Waters Permeable pavement has a visual draw, but the benefits to the environment aren’t always as obvious. The design has a big purpose – to improve water quality and decrease runoff. A crushed stone base is used to capture rain and control

West Union, Iowa used permeable pavers in streets and sidewalks throughout the downtown district. runoff velocity by detaining stormwater below ground. The stone base stores rainfall and releases a higher quality of water that reaches local water sources.

A recent assessment of West Union’s receiving stream shows trout are moving into the corporate limits because of improved water quality.

There are a few permeable paver projects in Illinois, and while it is catching on, I’m scratching my head to understand why not at a faster pace.

Is it cost? The overall systems can reduce the need for traditional storm sewer infrastructure while meeting stormwater management requirements, making them competitive with other options.

Do people think it only works in flat terrain with highly permeable soil?

Innovative design techniques have been successful on slopes and with impermeable soils.

Are there concerns about maintenance? The six blocks in downtown West Union have functioned well for 10 years with routine maintenance.

Wouldn’t it be great to shift from the status quo and turn to something that relieves pressure on public infrastructure while reaping other benefits?

While engineers work to create user-friendly infrastructure, we should consider small things we can do that have a big impact. With a little creativity, even simple projects like parking lots and driveways can become an asset to a city.

In Monona, Iowa, the fire department tested

the

city’s

Aquatic

Center

permeable pavement parking lot our firm designed. They dropped 2,000 gallons of water on it in a couple of minutes. The pavers worked perfectly. (See it here: tinyurl.com/mononapavers.)

Permeable

pavement

lets

rain

recharge our groundwater and helps prevent runoff. Recharge also puts our water ecosystem a step closer to the predeveloped state.

It’s up to all of us to push green initiatives and make our infrastructure more sustainable. I’d love to see more municipalities

consider

permeable

pavers.

Mick Gronewold, PE, is one of Fehr Graham’s eight owners.

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

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

SPECIAL SECTION Architecture & Engineering

15

TOP SIX: The greatest innovations of 2020 The 33rd annual Popular Science Best of What’s New Popular Science staff released their

HEALTH

100 picks of 2020’s most important

BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag of products and projects. The following Card rapid are the top six picks in their categories. antigen test For the full list, www.popsci.

by Abbott com/story/technology/ Laboratories innovations, after evaluating thousands

A fast, ultra-cheap coronavirus test

best-of-whats-new-2020.

INNOVATION OF THE YEAR Exposure Notifications System by Apple and Google A virus tracker that doesn’t track you, too Google and Apple’s application programming interface alerts anyone at risk of infection instead of storing individuals’ locations in a centralized database. The Exposure Notifications System sends a ping every time it senses another

phone’s

Bluetooth

signal,

usually within a six-foot radius. If someone with whom you’ve exchanged beacons reports a positive coronavirus test, the system alerts you so you can get checked yourself.

Diagnostic tests to detect SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can take days to deliver results. Abbott’s BinaxNOW rapid test, which received emergency-use authorization from the FDA in August, detects COVID in fifteen minutes for around $5 per test — and without the need for specialized lab equipment. It correctly identifies patients with the novel virus 97.1 percent of the time, on average, and provides an accurate negative test 98.5 percent of the time.

AEROSPACE Perseverance by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory A rover to search for signs of life on Mars On July 30, NASA launched a rocket with the one-ton nuclear-powered Perseverance rover on board. After landing on February 18, 2021, it is the

first rover designed specifically to look for direct evidence of past or present organisms. Its powerful laser scans rocks for glints of biological molecules as scant as one part in a million; looking for clumps of molecules, such as amino acids or lipids, that indicate life. It’s also the first space robot designed to store samples for recovery during a future mission.

ENGINEERING AnimalFree Whey Protein

by Perfect Day Cow milk without the cow To achieve synthesized milk, Perfect Day inserted a bit of cow DNA into Trichoderma reesei fungus. When fed sugar, the engineered microbes churn out the dairy proteins, casein and whey.

Combine those with water, plant-based fats, vitamins and minerals, and you get dairy products.

AUTOS 2021 TLX Passenger Air Bag by Acura The airbag, reimagined Acura’s 2021 TLX features a uniquely redesigned bag, when inflated, looks more like a catcher’s mitt, gently guiding their head into the bag like a baseball going into a well-padded glove.

Though the bag debuted in the TLX, Acura’s parent company, Honda, has agreed to let other manufacturers use the technology down the line.

PERSONAL CARE Custom Jeans by unspun Tailored denim, sans tailor Unspun launched in June 2020 3D scanning tech adapted from the creation of video game avatars to produce tailor-fit jeans with nothing but a quick smartphone scan. Customers select their wash, cut and rise before entering an app from partner in 3d to create their bespoke mannequin; the software analyzes the light that bounces off your body as you turn slowly in a circle a few feet away from the phone. The digital pants the app generates then translate into a custom pattern for your real-world denim.

16

SPECIAL SECTION Architecture & Engineering

March 2021

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

GUEST COLUMNIST

Adaptive reuse:

Rooted in sustainability GARY W. ANDERSON Studio GWA

AARON HOLVERSON Studio GWA

Neither of us are master gardeners, but at the most basic level we know that gardens have a mix of annuals and perennials. Annuals are great: Instant color, attention-grabbers, ready to go. But they have one life cycle.

Think of adaptive reuse as the ‘perennial plants’ in your community and solving the puzzle of reusing existing buildings for a new, innovative use.

These projects are complex, sometimes challenging, and can be rough around the edges. But when it comes to sustainability, their roots run deep. They have been here for much longer than a season and, with the right vision and plan, they can keep growing for seasons to come.

Here are a few reasons why we think older buildings and traditionally designed newer buildings are an integral part of a sustainable community.

Malleability For a building to last beyond one ‘growing season,’ it must be malleable, adaptable, easily reshaped for the next life cycle. Traditionally designed buildings are built for adaptability. Again, much of this is due to the construction method

Traditional buildings the ‘perennial plants’ in the garden and materials. When an occupant can no longer use a building, the materials are not so rigid that they cannot be adjusted to accommodate a new occupant’s needs.

A timely example of this adaptability is the Prairie Street Brewhouse. The Brewhouse has been shaped to serve multiple uses throughout the years, and to this day is home to Prairie Street Brewing, Fehr Graham and Studio GWA among others. Recently, Fehr Graham expanded into a former residential unit in the Brewhouse to accommodate its growing staff. Such versatility and flexibility is an enduring trait in a traditional building.

Massing When it comes to sustainable architecture, the massing of the building – its size, form and shape – matters. Many traditional buildings are constructed in such a way as to maximize natural conditions, which reduces reliance on energy-intensive systems. An excellent example of this is a courtyard building; its massing can take advantage of exterior openings that allow light to reach the depth of the interior and facilitate natural ventilation.

Equally important are the ceiling heights at each floor of the building.

The taller the ceiling, the taller the windows can be. This allows natural light to reach further into the building and reduces reliance on electricity and lighting fixtures.

An example of adaptive reuse: Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza in downtown Rockford. prospective and current tenants find valuable.

Every community wants growth.

And we need sustainable growth,

Materials Materials such as brick, wood and even concrete can serve multiple uses and, when properly maintained, can last for generations. For example, masonry has building comfort benefits due to its thermal mass. This is especially important in climates with large day-tonight temperature swings. The thermal mass of the material stores the heat from the sun during the daytime and releases it into the building at night.

This also lessens the burden on systems to provide occupant comfort.

These materials can be paired with insulation to create a tight building envelope. The improvements can result in lower utility costs and provide efficient, comfortable spaces that both

growth that will last beyond one life cycle. To us, traditional buildings are the perennial plants in the garden. They may not always be flashy; they may need a little care. But someone planted them years ago and, with good care, they can continue to serve our community, sustainably, for years to come.

Gary W. Anderson, AIA, is founder and principal and Aaron Holverson, AIA, partner and senior project architect at Studio GWA. The views expressed are those of Anderson’s and Holverson’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Women gaining ground, but still only 27 percent of STEM workers Make up nearly half of math, life and physical science occupations

Despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, women still are vastly underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce. Women have made gains, however, from eight percent of STEM workers in 1970 to 27 percent in 2019. Men made up 52 percent of all U.S. workers but 73 percent of all STEM workers.

Representing nearly seven percent of all U.S. occupations, STEM occupations play an important role in America’s innovative capacity and global competitiveness as our engineers, medical scientists, sociologists and informational security

analysts. In 2019, there were nearly 10.8 million workers in STEM occupations, according to Census Bureau estimates.

Women Majority of Social Scientists Since 1970, women have made significant gains in social science occupations in particular – from 19 percent in 1970 to 64 percent in 2019.

But social science accounted for only three percent of STEM occupations.

They also made up nearly half of those in all math (47 percent) and life and physical science (45 percent) occupations.

Where women did not make big

gains are in computer and engineering occupations, which made up the largest portion (80 percent) of the STEM workforce. Women represented only about a quarter of computer workers and 15 percent of engineering occupations.

There has been a significant increase, however in engineering occupations, moving from three percent in 1970 to 15 percent in 2019. And while the percentage of women in computer occupations is higher than in 1970, it actually decreased between 1990 and 2019.

What Women Earn Women year-round

employed full-time, in STEM occupations

earned more than their non-STEM counterparts,

but

the

gender

earnings gap persisted within STEM occupations. Among the 70 detailed STEM occupations the Census Bureau reports on, women earned more than men in only one STEM occupation: computer network architects. Women represented eight percent of those in this occupation.

Source: Anthony Martinez and Cheridan Christnacht, U.S. Census Bureau’s Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

PUSATERI VP

March 2021

Continued from front page

“I’m excited to continue

chamber as executive director of IGNITE in 2010 and has worked for the chamber in some capacity ever since. She returned full time as vice president of leadership development in October of 2015. She’s completed three of four years of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute of Organization Management, a program designed to enhance individual performance, elevate professional standards and recognize chamber of commerce professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of nonprofit management.

Her anticipated graduation date is June 2021.

She also is participating in the ACCE Fellowship for Economic Recovery, a selective 10-month virtual cohort program of 45 Chamber professionals from across the country that explores timely theories, approaches and best practices through a combination of peer learning, expert consultations and network-building.

Originally from Byron, Caitlin has worked for The Arthritis Foundation, Rockford University and Blackhawk Bank. She completed her master’s degree in organizational leadership with an emphasis in training & development at Lewis University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music

with my passion to further enhance the organization, make strong connections with our members and advocate for ongoing business growth in our region.”

CAITLIN PUSATERI

& business from Illinois Wesleyan University.

She sits on the boards for the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Discovery Center Museum and Rockford Leaders. She previously held board or committee roles on the River District Association, Club Blue and the YWCA Leader Luncheon.

“I’m honored by the continued trust the chamber has placed in my capabilities,” Pusateri said. “I’m excited to continue with my passion to further enhance the organization, make strong connections with our members and advocate for ongoing business growth in our region. I welcome this particularly unique opportunity to unify the chamber and the RAEDC’s efforts to advance area businesses and our region’s economy.” v

17

18

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

SBA opens application period for Paycheck Protection Program loans Urged to apply by first week in March In order to reach the smallest businesses, the SBA established a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees, beginning Feb. 24.

Many have not received the needed relief a forgivable PPP loan provides, so Congress has set aside $15B for small and Low or Moderate Income (LMI) first draw borrowers.

Larger PPP-eligible businesses will still have time to apply as well before the program expires on March 31.

The latest round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opened one month ago with major improvements to the program’s implementation: ■ For businesses with fewer than 10 employees, the share of funding is up nearly 60 percent.

■ For businesses in rural communities, the share of funding is up nearly 30 percent.

■ The share of funding distributed through community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions is up more than 40 percent.

To foster racial and gender equity and reach low and moderate-income, rural, urban and other underserved areas. The SBA will: ■ Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants.

■ Eliminate an exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions, consistent with a bipartisan congressional proposal.

■ Eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make federal student loan payments by eliminating federal student loan debt delinquency and default as disqualifiers to participating in the PPP. Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the PPP. Visit www.sba.gov (Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources).

aMBaSSaDOR DOR SPOTLIGHT Diane James,

MembersAlliance Credit Union I work for MembersAlliance Credit Union as director of business development. We provide a full range of financial products for the community, support many area non-profits, provide financial education in our local schools, and sponsor many organizations and the events they put on.

I love being an Ambassador! I get to meet new business owners and their employees; network at ribbon cuttings and events. My advice for someone thinking of becoming an Ambassador is to jump right in! Great networking opportunities.

I think Rockford has some amazing parks. There are so many beautiful places to walk, hike and explore. One of my favorites is Rock Cut State Park.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

19

March 2021

in the news MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

1. Dr. Manorama Khare

2. Theresa Kegley

3. Leon Smith

4. K. Patrick Yarbrough

5. Terry Voskuil

6. Dr. David Gomel

7. Tanya Tullock

8. Kathy Paulli

9. Bruce Gingrich

10. Mayana Sims

11. Danielle Nichols

12. Tricia Reed

13. Matt Brenner

14. Esther Lodge

15. Sarah Lambert

16. Marianne Plath

17. Carolyn Morris

18. David Vincer

19. Corey Norton

20. Michael Pura

21. Sarah Cernohous

22. Jarod Schut

BOARD APPOINTMENTS Manorama Khare (1), Ph.D., research associate professor and interim director at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford’s department of family and community medicine, was appointed to the National Rural Health Association’s Journal of Rural Health editorial board for three years.

Transform Rockford added four new community members to its leadership Steering Committee: Theresa Kegley (2), Movement Fitness; Leon Smith (3), Rockford Public Library; Honorable K. Patrick Yarbrough (4), retired, 17th judicial circuit, and Terry Voskuil (5), Woodward.

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos will chair the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over the policies, statutes and markets relating to commodities critical to producers of corn, soybeans, wheat and pulse crops and oversees the Commodity Credit Corporation and crop insurance programs. Bustos comes from a long line of family farmers.

David Gomel (6), Ph.D., president and CEO, Rosecrance, was appointed to the National Association of Addiction Treatment Professionals board.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS First National Bank and Trust promoted Tanya Tullock (7) to loan processing and secondary market manager and officer and Kathy Paulli (8) to loan servicing manager and officer. Bruce Gingrich (9) joined as vice president, agricultural and commercial banking officer.

Rockford Mass Transit District promoted Mayana Sims (10) to paratransit coordinator, Danielle Nichols (11) to paratransit lead

OF GENERAL INTEREST

23. Dr. Brian Bear

24. Dr. Brian Foster

dispatcher and Tricia Reed (12) to finance and procurement assistant.

Weichert, Realtors Tovar Properties hired Tony Hawthorne for its Loves Park office.

Rockford Systems, LLC, promoted Matt Brenner (13) to vice president and general manager, Rockford Systems machine safeguarding.

Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley announces the appointment of Lafakeria Vaughn as the new chief of the Civil Bureau.

Alignment Rockford hired Esther Lodge (14) as its Ready to Learn manager.

In recognition and affirmation of the work duties they perform with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Sarah Lambert (15) and Marianne Plath (16) have new titles: vice president of programs and community investment and controller, respectively.

RAMP named Carolyn Morris (17) as its new executive director.

Retired Rockford Police Investigator James Gulley is the new coordinator for the Rockford Area Crime Stoppers program, with the retirement of coordinator Jeff Stovall.

25. Dr. Scott Trenhaile

26. Dr. Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram

Entré hired David Vincer (18) and Corey Norton (19) as part of the managed service team.

Michael Pura (20) joined Associated Bank as president overseeing the banking and other financial service operations for its seven branches in the Rockford area.

Sarah Cernohous (21) was named the director of marketing and admissions at Rockford Christian Schools.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Rockford Christian Elementary School students Ariana and Audrey delivered 583 children’s books to the Rockford Rescue Mission. Their book drive was part of their class leadership project.

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine accepted two papers co-authored by Scott Trenhaile, M.D., OrthoIllinois, for presentation at its combined annual meeting with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in Nashville this July: “Treatment of partial-thickness rotator cuff repairs with absorbable bioinductive bovine collagen implant: 1-year results from a prospective multi-center registry,” and “Full-thickness rotator cuff tears treated with a collagen implant: 1-year Results of the REBUILD registry.”

Jarod Schut (22), trust and investment officer, First National Bank and Trust, earned the Certified Financial Planner™ certification.

Dr. Brian Bear (23) and Dr. Brian Foster (24), hand surgeons, and Dr. Scott Trenhaile (25), orthopedic sports medicine, OrthoIllinois, were named to Castle Connolly Top Doctors for 2021.

Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram (26), DMV, Ph.D., professor and head of the department of biomedical sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, was named the 2020 Inventor of the Year by the University of Illinois Chicago.

Are you a Member with News to Share?

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

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication

20

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

business

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

Alpine Kiwanis Charities’ No Brat Days fundraiser, held in place of 2020 Brat Days, raised more than $41,000.

Local agencies received $8,500: The Fatherhood Encouragement Project; NAMI Northern Illinois; Sgt. P Lapghan for Veterans; Milestone, Inc.; One Body Collaboratives; Shelter Care Ministries, and Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Wesley Willows and Peterson Meadows employees delivered 140 cold weather kits, a hat and pair of gloves, to students at Conklin Elementary School during in-person classes.

Rock House Kids received two grants from Community Foundation of Northern Illinois: $22,980 through the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund towards a 15-passenger van and $8,350 through the Norris A. & Margaret K. Aldeen Fund towards a new copier.

The Indoor Golf Practice Center at Rockford Park District’s Mercyhealth Sportscore Two is open through April 2. It includes a driving range and putting green to work on the short game during winter months.

Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Visit mercyhealthsportscore.com/indoorgolf to reserve a time slot.

The River District launched a series of four-second video vignettes, produced by Vixen Productions, GinestraWatson and Medicine Man Creative, and highlighting area businesses’ unique offerings.

Eventually more than 60 downtown businesses will appear on social media, digital platforms and broadcast TV. Four area organizations received $1.5 million as a part of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew Program funded from the legalization of marijuana in Illinois. Grants for youth and economic development and violence prevention efforts went to City of Rockford: $520,790; YMCA of Rock River Valley: $86,357; Comprehensive Community Solutions: $199,813, and KFACT (Keeping Families and Communities Together): $186,245.

Rosecrance received a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services to expand Rosecrance Ware Center’s Recovery Resource Center services. The Living Room, a peerrun center, houses a team of Certified Recovery Support Specialists during the day, computer stations, LIHEAP applications, assessments for treatment, counseling, peer-led support groups, and information on housing and food sources.

Lifescape is the new sponsor of the Americorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for Dekalb, Lee and Whiteside counties. It currently runs the program in Winnebago and Boone counties.

Employees from SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health, form a quarter-mile human chain around the outside of the hospital on Feb. 12 in a moment of silence lasting three minutes and 26 seconds; signifying 326 days caring for COVID-19 patients.

Plans are to hire four full- and part-time staff members.

Digital Hive Mind completed a virtual tour for Surface Mount Technologies, Appleton, Wis., a guided walk-through with 360-degree, 8k Ultra-HD views of SMT’s electronic circuit board engineering, prototyping and manufacturing facilities.

University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford is collaborating with Oregon High School to accept 30 students into its new Rural Healthcare Explorers Program, a six-week introduction to healthcare and a degree in health sciences. It’s funded through a $16,806 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Fund.

WATT Global Media announced that Tom Fishburne, who creates cartoons under the name Marketoonist, is the keynote for Petfood Forum 2021, Sept. 22 to 24, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. Using illustrations, Fishburne will explain how pet food “Davids” can compete against Goliaths using innovation.

Rock House Kids received $25,000 from The Bradley and Georgann Gummow Family Foundation to support the Expansion Campaign, Help for Today ... Hope for Eternity, launched in October 2020 towards a recreational activity center. It received a $2,476 grant for COVID-19 safety supplies by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.

First National Bank and Trust will open a new loan production office in Janesville, Wis., this spring at 101 E. Milwaukee St., Suite 203; led by Scott Bordwell, senior vice president and commercial banking manager.

Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center opened OSF Strive Trauma Recovery Center for survivors, age 14 and older, of violent crime experiencing posttraumatic distress but not receiving

other mental health care. It’s open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

SupplyCore was awarded a maximum $33 billion firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity 10-year contract by the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support to provide special operational equipment and support to federal civilian agencies and the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, including survival gear, tactical equipment, protective eyewear and vision enhancing equipment, escalation of force equipment, visit board search and seizure, scuba gear, surface diving gear, thermal protection equipment, communication devices, compressors, hazardous material, air purification devices, hyperbaric instrumentation and lifesaving equipment.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope received a grant from Powertrain Rockford to purchase classroom equipment to better serve its participants during the COVID pandemic and meet requirements including smaller class sizes and more virtual learning.

Forest City Diagnostic Imaging, LLC acquired Summit Radiology.

Patients now will have access to women’s health services such as 3D mammography.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden joined the Museums For All program beginning in 2021. Visitors with state-issued EBT cards, such as LINK or WIC, now are eligible to receive free daily admission. Visit www.klehm.org/museums-for-all.

Chartwell Agency earned five national Service Industry Advertising Awards: Studio GWA Website (gold/ website), Chicago Rockford International Airport (gold/social media content), Studio GWA (bronze/log-letterhead design), Rock River Valley Blood Center (merit/ total advertising campaign), and CAMPUS USA Credit Union (merit/ integrated marketing campaign).

The Band of Misfit Boys wins the Rockford Park District’s 35th annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition with “Hooty and the Blowfish.” The team advanced to the 2022 U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wis. Belvidere North High School won the high school division. Nine state, eight high school and one exhibition team (last year’s winner) participated.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Blackhawk Bank helped many local businesses apply for PPP relief in the first round in April 2020 and the second draw starting January 2021. According to the Small Business Credit Survey by the Federal Reserve Bank, community banks accounted for a 48 percent share of PPP applicants, compared to 43 percent from large banks.

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) announced that the Valentines for Seniors project, as of Feb. 9, resulted in more than 6,000 cards made by local organizations, schools, church groups, businesses and residents and distributed to various long-term and senior citizen housing facilities in the area.

Illinois Bank & Trust through its parent company, Heartland Financial USA, Inc., was named a Forbes Best Bank 2021; ranking 52nd among a nationwide group of 100 leading banking organizations with assets from $9 billion to more than $2 trillion.

Forest City Gear Co., expanded the capabilities of its quality assurance department with the addition of a Zeiss ACCURA® Coordinate Measuring Machine, the company’s fourth CNC inspection system.

Rockford Art Museum will host two new solo exhibitions, Jonah King: How The West Was Won and Veronica Soria Martinez: Memory Access, through May 31 at its New Genres art space inside Riverfront Museum Park.

Rockford Systems, LLC, introduced PROTECTOR Shields to protect operators of mills, drills, lathes, grinders and other cutting and turning machines from flying debris, lubricants, coolants and swarf. The shield incorporate cool, bright LED lighting to illuminate the work area for shadow-free, detailed visibility.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

BUSINESS BRIEFS KMK Media Group designed a corporate brochure for Applied Material Solutions, Elkhorn, Wis. Marco donated $12,000 to provide care packages to frontline healthcare workers at SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health and $7,500 towards the new Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Rockford Area Arts Council held a virtual regional contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest with students from Jefferson High School.

First and second place advance to Illinois’ State Poetry Out Loud Competition. Winners will be announced on March 8. The state champion advances to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on May 2 and May 27, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.

(Cont.)

City First Church and Northern Illinois Food Bank hosted their 13th food distribution. Overall, more than 1.6 million pounds of dairy, protein, and produce have been given away since April, 2020; serving more than 102,000 individuals.

Transform Rockford released its 2020 annual report via YouTube, social media and www.transformrockford. org/2020-video-annual-report/. The 10-minute video tells the story of community progress 2020, in the midst of COVID, and the role Transform Rockford held in the pursuit of making Rockford a “Top 25” community by 2025.

Rockford Christian received the Artist Choice Award at this year’s Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition for its piece, “Fairy-tail.”

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS MEIBORG INC.

Logistics - Warehousing, Trucking, Heavy Equipment, Truck Repair 3814 11th St., 61109 Val Papson 779-221-3608 www.MeiborgInc.com

STATE FARM INSURANCE - ANDREW BLEVINS AGENCY Insurance & Financial Services 6156 E. Riverside Blvd.

Loves Park, IL 61111 Andrew Blevins 779-345-2886 www.ablevins. com/?cmpid=vabl3j_blm_0001

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

80-YEAR MEMBER RSM US LLP

45-YEAR MEMBER MegaFab

30-YEAR MEMBER Sikich LLP

20-YEAR MEMBER

Pumilia Family Dental Group

15-YEAR MEMBER Phantom Regiment

10-YEAR MEMBERS Ameriprise Financial Blount International

5-YEAR MEMBERS

Athletico Physical Therapy Birch Plumbing Inc Forest City Corporate Center Global Spiritual Organization The Literacy Council Talecris Plasma Resources

21

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in January 2021 23WIFR Gray Television, Inc. 2HB Human Resources & Benefits Solutions Abbott Plastics and Supply Co. Advantage Funeral Home & Cremation Services at Willwood Burial Park Affordable Dentures and Implants Alignment Rockford American Precision Supply, Inc. Arc Design Resources, Inc. Barnes International, Inc. Byron Forest Preserve/PrairieView Golf Club Campos Construction, Inc. Caravel Autism Health Circle of Change-Veteran’s Dog Program

Motor Parts & Equipment Corporation (MPEC) - NAPA Auto Parts (East State Street, Rockford) Motor Parts & Equipment Corporation (MPEC) - NAPA Auto Parts (Old Beloit Rd , Belvidere) Nicholson Hardware Northern Illinois Health Plan Northwest Community Center O & L Machine Co. Inc. Orput Companies Inc./Edgebrook Shopping Center Pizza Hut - Machesney Park (Rockford Pizza Inc.) Pizza Hut - 11th Street Pizza Hut - North Main

City Fire Fighters Union IAFF Local 413

Pizza Hut - Perryville

Comcast Business

Rally Appraisal, LLC

Comcast Business - Xfinity Dickey Staffing Solutions Employers’ Coalition on Health (ECOH) Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd. - Mulford Road Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd. - Rockton Avenue Forest Hills Country Club Frink’s Sewer & Drain Inc.

Pizza Hut - South Alpine RK Dixon Rock River Water Reclamation District Rock Valley Credit Union Rockford Broach, Inc. Rockford Housing Authority Rockford Promise Rockford Woman’s Club/ Rockford Theatre

Galapagos Rockford Charter School

Schnuck Markets Inc. - State Street

Gemini Computer Systems, Inc. Glenwood Center Ltd.

Schnuck Markets Inc. Charles Street

Helen Hill Communication

Schnuck Markets Inc. - 11th Street

Holmertz-Parsons, CPA’s

Sedona of Rockford

HR Capital Management Consultants IMEG Corp.

Imperial Surveillance Inc. Jason’s Deli KMK Media Group, Inc. Lowe’s Distribution Center Medicare 411 Co. Motor Parts & Equipment Corporation (MPEC) - NAPA Auto Parts (Northrock Court, Rockford)

SmithAmundsen LLC Stanley Steemer of Rockford The UPS Store TLC Construction Tree Care Enterprises Inc. Triangle Metals USA University of Illinois Extension Winnebago County Vixen Productions Waste Management

22

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

March 2021

on digital

MEMBER PICS

community

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WEBINARS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

MARCH 2021 MONDAY, MARCH 1 Womanspace and Jhoole present their second-annual Experience India fundraising event, March 1 to 31. Visit https://womanspace-rockford.org/ event-4039364.

Crusader on West State Street celebrated its official opening on Feb. 1 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Catherine Brown, chair of the Crusader Community Health board, did the honors with the giant red scissors.

First National Bank and Trust Company seeks submissions by today for its Lights, Camera, Save! video contest. Students (ages 13 to 18) in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois are invited to create a video, 30-seconds or less, on saving/ using money wisely. The winner will compete nationally for $5,000 (first place), $2,000 (second place) and $1,000 (third and fourth place). Visit www.bankatfirstnational.com/ lightscamerasave.

TUESDAY, MARCH 2

Cosmopolitan Club of Rockford presents a $29,500 check to Crusader Community Health on Feb. 18. Cosmopolitan has donated $597,000 to Crusader over 27 years as a part of its mission to fight diabetes until there is a cure.

YMCA of Rock River Valley hosts free SAT Test Taking Workshops using the Princeton Review Prep Guide, March 2 to April 24; Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at SwedishAmerican Riverfront YMCA, Judson University classrooms, 200 Y Boulevard, Rockford. Contact Hannah Long, 815-489-3374 or hlong@rockriverymca.org, to register.

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 4

GSF Office, a cleaning services company, holds a ribbon cutting on Feb. 16 at 6180 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park.

University of Illinois Extension hosts free webinars, Health at Home: Healthy Eats for a Healthy Beat, 11 a.m., March 4, 11. Explore key nutrients for heart health and live food demonstration on a heart-healthy meal. Register at go.illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, Reimagining Your Marketing in a Post-COVID Landscape, 11 a.m., featuring Emily Hartzog, Chartwell Agency. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/ workshops-trainings.

FRIDAY, MARCH 5 Burpee Museum of Natural History’s 23rd PaleoFest 2021 for the first time is virtual, March 5, 6, 7. The lineup of guest speakers, researchers and activities in the virtual format will include more international speakers than usual. Visit burpee.org/paleofest.

Thomas E. Kress, president of Associated Bank’s Rockford community market, is recognized with a key to the city by Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara on Feb. 5, just prior to his official retirement on Feb. 28. Accomplishments noted include helping the city open the Family Peace Center and the Northern Illinois Community Development Corporation, and helping create bridge loans for local small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic before receiving state and federal aid.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9 2HB Human Resource & Benefits Solutions presents the 23rd Annual Spring Human Resources & Employee Benefits Seminar, 8 a.m.

to noon, at Radisson Convention Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford. Speakers: Dr. James Cole, Jr., D.O., FACS, SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health; Attorney Maryjo Pirages; Davin Bentley, U.S. Army PaYS, and Laurie Miller, 2HB Human Resource & Benefits Solutions.

Register with William Duval, 815-9773496, ext. 211 or wduval@2HBSolutions.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, How to Write Engaging Content for your Social Media and PR Audiences, 11 a.m., featuring Katryna Kirby, Social Kat Co. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/ workshops-trainings.

FRIDAY, MARCH 12 Rockford Chamber Government Affairs Council Meeting hosts a virtual session, 8 - 9:00 a.m.

Winnebago County Board Chairman Joseph Chiarelli will speak on his agenda and priorities for Winnebago County. For more information or to register for this event, go to rockfordchamber.com.

Sponsored by AT&T.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13 Sock Monkey Making Workshops, 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., at Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Register by 4 p.m., March 11, or until filled at www. midwayvillage.com or 815-397-9112.

Ladiworkz hosts a Small Entrepreneur Seminar, 9 to 10:30 a.m., at 730 N. Church St., Rockford.

Register at eventbrite or call 815-7424754.

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

Contact 815-332-1414 or timmonsp122uiu.edu.

TUESDAY, MARCH 16 University of Illinois Extension presents its virtual Think Spring Gardening Series, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 16 to April 1, through Zoom. Register at go. illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18 Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, Building a BOLD Brand for Your Business, 11 a.m., featuring Chris Wachowiak, Ronin Branding. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/workshops-trainings.

Continued on page 23

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

community

ADVERTISERS INDEX

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WEBINARS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

(Continued from page 22)

THURSDAY, MARCH 25 Illinois Small Business Development Center hosts a virtual session, Dealing with Difficult People, 11 a.m., featuring Norm Dasenbrook, MS, LCPC, psychotherapist and consultant. Visit rockfordsbdc.org/ workshops-trainings.

University of Illinois Extension presents Emotional Eating: Understanding How Stress Impacts Hunger & Appetite, 1 to 2:30 p.m., a free online presentation with Diane Reinhold. Register by March 23 at 815-986-4357 or go.illinois.edu/jsw.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27 Ladiworkz presents Author DeAnna Lynn’s Book Release & Read Along, 9 a.m., at 730 N. Church St., Rockford.

Email Brandi@ladiworkz1.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 Deadline for early bird registration for Rockford Cosmopolitan Club’s Golf Classic on Aug. 13 at Forest Hills Country Club and Mauh-Nau-Tee-See Country Club. Benefits Crusader Community Health’s diabetes program and other local charities. Register at rfdcosmo.org.

23

March 2021

APRIL 2021 THURSDAY, APRIL 1 Rockford Christian Elementary School, 220 Hemlock Lane, hosts an Open House, 5 to 7 p.m., PreK-3 through grade 4. Call 815-391-8006 to reserve a spot. www.rockfordchristian.org.

Alignment Rockford . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 17-18, 23

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP . . . . . 24 Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) . . . . 8 Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . 21

Ladiworkz hosts a Casting Call for two women and two men, 30 to 40 years old, all ethnic groups, for an upcoming talk show, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 730 N. Church St., Rockford. Must schedule an appointment at info@ ladiworkz1.com.

Rock Valley College . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Schmeling Construction Co. . . . . 14 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Studio GWA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Project First Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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

VOICE

SATURDAY, APRIL 24

Rockford University . . . . . . . . . . . 11

OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 10

Ladiworkz presents Business As Usual-Know Your Business, a two-day seminar, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on April 10, 11, 9 a.m., at 730 N. Church St., Rockford. Business bags included.

Tickets at eventbrite, 815-742-4754 or Brandi@ladiworkz1.com.

Rockford Christian Schools. . . . . . 9

the

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

CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS Brent Bernardi Alpha Controls & Services LLC

Chair of the Board Dan Ross Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

Kimberly Blascoe Wipfli LLP

Vice Chair Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate

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

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

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA Univ. of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Jeff Hultman Illinois Bank & Trust

Terry Voskuil Woodward

Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Robert Young Midwest Packaging and Container

Carly LaMonica LaMonica Beverages, Inc.

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS

Kris L. Kieper Machajewski YWCA Northwestern Illinois Mike Paterson Mid-West Family Broadcasting Joel A. Prah Mercyhealth

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

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

APRIL VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS Business Planning

(Services That Support Growth, Meeting Business Targets, Revenue & Profit)

Talent Management & Acquisition (The Right Fit for Your Business)

For information on advertising, call 815

987-8100