March Voice 2023

Rockford landmarks –reclaiming history

By Andrew Wright, Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Landmarks tell the story of a city. The skyscrapers along the lakefront in Chicago, the industrial core of Milwaukee, the capitol building on the isthmus in Madison—these landmarks represent the identity of their cities and

are a great source of pride for the people who live and work in them.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce has the privilege to work in downtown Rockford in a building named Stewart Square, on the corner of State Street and Main Street. Now the home of professional services offices, DLaJe’ Beauty flower shop, Ripe Life Juice Company, a tasty taco restaurant and a welcoming barber shop, Stewart Square once housed retail stores like D. J. Stewart Dry Goods and JCPenney®.

Built in 1890, Stewart Square was converted in 1988 to offer a public atrium space with a food court and three stories of office space above it. It’s one of the buildings that native Rockfordians know by name, without needing to put the address in GPS.

Bob Goldbeck, commercial property manager for Fridh Corporation, takes pride in developing and leasing professional spaces in local landmarks like Stewart Square: “Rockford has a lot

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Chamber endorses candidates for RPS 205 Board

Pearson, Bennett and Haley backed by business community

After hearing presentations and reviewing completed questionnaires from RPS 205 School Board candidates, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce voted to endorse the following candidates: Denise Pearson (Subdistrict A), Nicole Bennett (Subdistrict D), and Kimberly Haley (Subdistrict F).

The Rockford Chamber supports candidates that reflect our fervently held belief that a viable, healthy community requires a healthy and vibrant business community. The largest educating body in our community, Rockford Public Schools-District 205, is an important part of the equation for a healthy and vibrant business community as they educate today’s youth and tomorrow’s workforce.

“With over 27,000 students and 4,000 employees, the Rockford Public School

District impacts our community on a multitude of levels. A community with a robust and thriving school system attracts talent, increases home values and drives economic development with a guarantee for future workforce,” said Jean Crosby, chair of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “The Rockford Chamber is committed to working with those elected to the Rockford School Board to ensure a connection to and support from the business community. The candidates endorsed by the Rockford Chamber are candidates that will help strengthen that bond, hold the District accountable and keep it moving forward in its mission to be a first choice for all families.”

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce

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GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $2.6 MILLION FOR AVIATION MECHANIC PIPELINE IN ROCKFORD

Governor JB Pritzker announced a $2.6 million grant to AAR Corp. and The Workforce Connection (TWC) to support and expand AAR’s apprenticeships, pipeline development and workforce training.

“This grant will assist our region in meeting workforce needs in the growing aviation industry and provide highwage technical jobs to our region,” said Dr. Gina Caronna, executive director of TWC.

This grant award is the result of local and state collaboration by Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, AAR Corp., the City of Rockford, The Workforce Connection, Inc., Rock Valley College and state and local government officials.

“When we invest in Rockford’s airport and the programs it boasts, we invest in Rockford’s people — advancing opportunity for every Northern Illinoisan,” said Governor Pritzker. “Illinois is already a transportation powerhouse, and by working closely with our state’s powerhouse aviation companies, we are laying the groundwork to keep our communities connected and competitive for years to come.”

AFFORDABLE DAY CARE WITHIN REACH

The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services and administered within Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties by YWCA Child Care Solutions. The CCAP program helps eligible families who work or go to school pay for childcare. Parents/guardians must complete an application and supply verification of employment and/or education activity. Those who previously applied and were not eligible are encouraged to reapply as income guidelines have recently changed. Learn more at www.dhs.state.is.us.

JEAN CROSBY Rockford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, chair

CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Looking ahead, never behind

What it means to be “Chamber strong”

At the Chamber, our main priorities are three-fold. First, we need to be business strong, generating a consistent work environment for businesses in Rockford to prosper. Next, we need to be community strong, upholding excellence in our neighborhoods, education systems and community. Finally, we need to be Chamber strong, a vibrant and sustainable Chamber that is the lifeblood of small and large businesses. Our Chamber also partners with industries, corporations and other enterprises that have selected Rockford as their chosen place of business.

The Rockford Chamber needs to be a place of collaboration, the bringing together of business, industries, non-profit, educational institutions, municipalities and elected officials to work together to advance common goals. A strong economic environment necessitates a strong Chamber. We work to improve the quality of life for our members, volunteers and sponsors.

Economic development of the Rockford area helps our members across all industries. A robust economic community maintains prosperity in all sectors of business. The Rockford Chamber is pleased to announce that the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) and the Chamber now share the same footprint and are under the same roof. Both entities are devoted to building smart economic growth to enable advancement in our business community.

The Chamber seeks to build and expand governmental relations to create a greater focus on shared ambitions. These relationships serve as a clearinghouse for new ideas and collective efforts by providing centralized initiatives that benefit the entire community. The Chamber will be mission driven and service orientated.

The business community, RAEDC, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and our elected government officials are the architects of our future. As architects, we are entrusted with creating a better tomorrow. We have accepted the mission with unwavering dedication to build a better region.

Moving forward, the Chamber will provide members and stakeholders with a report card update on the activities

of the board of directors, standing committee collaborations and the status of partnerships throughout the Rockford area. After all, Rockford is the economic engine for all of Winnebago County. At the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, our door is always open. Your questions and suggestions are always welcome. In this endeavor, we are looking ahead and never behind.

3 ways to get more from your membership

Being a member of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce isn’t a community obligation—it’s a vital partnership that comes loaded with benefits to help make your business more successful. And if you aren’t an active participant in this partnership, you’re missing out. Here are just a few benefits you can take advantage of today:

1. Utilize our FREE job board at www.rockfordchamber.mcjobboard.net. Post your company’s job openings (and board positions) on our easy-to-use system. All positions are simultaneously posted to the Rockford Chamber Facebook page to broaden your job posting’s reach.

2. Show off your expertise. Companies and individuals are encouraged to highlight their areas of expertise or interest by writing a non-advertorial guest column for The VOICE. While members are technically eligible to submit two a year, we are always looking to grow our library with great content.

3. Promote yourself through our social media. We want to tell your story on our social media outlets. Send us your press releases, good news, upcoming events, people moves, etc. and we’ll share it with the world. And when you’re posting on social media yourself, remember to tag @rockfordchamber.

Want more information on how to take advantage of your benefits? Connect with Kristin at kmuehlfelder@rockfordchamber.com to learn more.

Chamber endorses

Continued from front page has an active Government Affairs Council focused on advocating for a strong and healthy business environment by influencing legislative, economic and social policy. All members of the Rockford Chamber are welcome to join the council to represent the business community’s interest by encouraging business growth, promoting a strong local economy and fostering a favorable business climate in the Rockford region.

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. 350 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. 350, 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. 350, Rockford, IL 61101.

Kimberly Haley Subdistrict F

Denise Pearson Subdistrict A

Nicole Bennet Subdistrict D

JOIN 815 AMBASSADORS

If you would like to share fresh perspectives with your social network, RACVB makes it easy for you. Visit gorockford.com/ media/815ambassadors to join other digitally active community members, professionals and leaders who help elevate our national reputation by sharing positive news stories. You’ll be alerted to opportunities to share content in just a few clicks.

The power of a fresh perspective

A few years ago, as a visitor to the beautiful California coastal towns of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, I overheard a resident say, “Why do tourists love it here so much? The traffic is awful!” As a visitor, I could think of multiple reasons to love the bay area, however, the comment reminded me that locals tend to notice the pitfalls and can lose sight of the pleasures.

That’s why the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB) works diligently to position Rockford positively, pitching stories to the media on why our locale is a great place to visit and live. In sharing highlights from a few recent media placements, I hope these fresh perspectives inspire you enjoy the sites and attractions of our region and share them on social media.

In the media

Katie Mills Giorgio at Matador Network told her readers that Rockford “offers beautiful landscapes and plenty of family-friendly adventures that make it a great destination for people who love the outdoors. The city and Winnebago County have more than 10,000 acres of protected recreational land, as well as 42 forest preserves for hiking, camping, fishing and kayaking.”

As locals, we often joke that “eating is recreation,” and, without a doubt, we have a reputation for outstanding pizzerias, upscale dining and quaint cafes.

“When you’re ready to nosh, you’ll find plenty of vegan options, including Pig Minds Brewing Company, America’s first vegan brewery. The Spicy Peanut Tofu Zoodle Bowl is delicious, while its 10-beer flight is a generous tasting,” wrote Cortney Fries from Chicago Parent Magazine in her article, “Cool Places to Travel with Your Kids Before School Starts.”

She further noted, “Prairie Street Brewing Company has a fantastic patio along Rock River, plus kids can’t get enough of their arcade games. Grab brunch at The Norwegian. Families eat up breakfast treats like the Swedish cinnamon knot.”

A view on Rockford’s livability was reported by Brunno Braga in Travel Noire’s, “8 Cities Black Americans Should Consider for Career Growth in 2022.” He wrote, “Being Illinois’ fourth-largest metro, Rockford is starting to rise to the occasion with its unique nature attributes and a revitalized downtown, ranking as one of the Cities with the Lowest Cost of Living in America (Niche) and

Top 50 Most Diverse Midsize Cities

(WalletHub).” He also shared that, over the last decade, we welcomed Black Americans at an increased growth rate of 9.2%, which is above the national average.

Our story of welcoming diversity continued in perspectives shared by reporters who picked up on our new Rockford Peaches Fan Trail. “If you’ve binge watched the Amazon TV series, ‘A League of Their Own,’ or seen just the 1992 movie, you should head to Rockford to learn more about the reallife professional women’s baseball team made famous on screen,” wrote Michele Herrmann in a Forbes article titled “New Rockford Peaches Fan Trail Goes to Bat in Promoting the City’s Past and Present.”

This Peaches story also received fresh eyes from travel writer Rachel Chang from Travel + Leisure who wrote, “Rockford, Illinois, may have become a household name in Hollywood thanks to the beloved 1992 film ‘A League of Their Own,’ starring Geena Davis and Tom Hanks, but fast-forward to today, the charming town is filled with just as much female-led spirit and grit off-screen as its iconic baseball team was portrayed.” Her article, “The Small Illinois Town from 'A League of Their Own' is Filled with Female-owned Businesses” reported that, “Much like the new show, the city [Rockford] symbolizes an unparalleled sense of female empowerment in the form of its tributes to its history as well as its roster of diverse, women-owned businesses.”

Share on social media

The viewpoints of these five nationally published writers—along with 17 other travel and livability reporters who have written about Rockford in the past year—created nearly two billion positive impressions of Rockford. As the digital sharing continues, we’ll rack up even higher numbers on readership, which will likely inspire more folks to visit and see Real. Original. Rockford. through their own eyes—and perhaps you too.

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

ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM

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Veterans Memorial Hall

Rockford’s significant contribution to the Union Army during the Civil War is widely known. In April of 1861, a meeting was held at the Winnebago County Courthouse in which $10,000 was raised from business leaders in support of a 100man military unit known as the Rockford Zouaves. By September of that same year, 13 local military companies had been established. Winnebago County had a population of 8,700 at the time and sent more than 3,000 men to fight with the Union Army.

Almost as soon as the war ended, veterans of the Civil War began talking about a proper memorial. The project would take almost 40 years to complete.

On June 3, 1903, Veterans Memorial Hall was opened and dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt. Announcing the opening of this new asset to Rockford’s busy and growing downtown, Roosevelt admired the new landmark as a beautiful building because of what it was built to do—tell the story of area veterans.

Today, artifacts are carefully labeled and archived on display in the public museum space. Plaques on the wall recognize local service men and women who served their country and those who lost their lives protecting the Union.

“Only three memorial halls like ours have survived in Illinois. Ours is the biggest, grandest and most used,” said Scott Lewandowski, museum director at Veterans Memorial Hall. Lewandowski, who has a background in property management, started working with Veterans Memorial Hall as a volunteer. He’s done everything from building maintenance to operating the audio for events in the 295-seat auditorium.

“I’m proud of the work that we’ve put into protecting this landmark and telling the stories of the people this place was built to memorialize,” Lewandowski said.

Indeed, Veterans Memorial Hall has programs that range from small gatherings for special occasions to longstanding veteran support groups that call the hall their home.

For example, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), predecessor to the American Legion and Veteran of Foreign Wars organizations, was formed in the wake of the Civil War, and GAR Post #1 made its home at Veterans Memorial Hall. Since then, the hall has hosted annual events on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, as well as groups such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Montford Point Marines, a group of African-American Marines who formed a local chapter after participating in the hall’s Black History Month programs alongside surviving Tuskegee Airmen.

Rockford has played a significant role in the foundation of groups designed for veterans, ranging from Navy Club #1 to VietNow. The Rockford American Legion, post 60, dates back to 1919.

Today, this stately landmark remains a constant reminder of those who have protected and served our country for 120 years.

To Lewandowski, it’s a living monument to history: “History doesn’t have to be stale or old. It can be genuinely exciting. For me, it’s never boring.”

Veterans Memorial Hall is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with after-hours tours available by reservation. Auditorium rental is also available by reservation.

Reclaiming History

Continued from front page

to offer. And that’s easy for people to overlook from day to day.”

Goldbeck took me on a tour of another generational building near the bustling corner of Alpine and State.

“A homestead first built for Ezra and Ruth Hamilton in 1842, soon served as a stagecoach stop on the Old Lead Road from Chicago to Galena, now known as State Street,” Goldbeck said. “After undergoing several renovations through the 1930s, the Ecklund family moved their café from Broadway and Seventh Street to the building at 4615 E. State St.”

While the building was also known at one time as the home for the Sweden House Restaurant, of late it’s mostly been the home of local bank branches and other professional offices after undergoing an expansion in the 1980s by Fridh Corporation patriarch, Roy Fridh.

Today, the legacy of 4615 E. State St. is proudly displayed in the halls on the main floor, just outside the First Community Credit Union lobby, complete with artifacts, articles and documents showing the progress of adapting this historic building to the modern needs of the tenants.

Adaptive reuse

In a city full of legacies like Rockford, many of the 75 and 100 plus yearold factory buildings don’t meet the needs of modern, technology-based manufacturing companies.

Robert Wilhelmi, brownfields redevelopment specialist with the City of Rockford explained some of the other

hurdles of reclaiming aging factories for manufacturing: “Industry is coming back to Rockford, just not in our urban core, not surrounded by residential properties. Factories are looking for interstate access. Not many want rail access, most want trucking resources.”

The way that Rockford developed entire neighborhoods around manufacturing plants served by rail lines gave local workers walking access to the plants they worked at for decades. Neighbors were frequently coworkers because employees were given assistance to purchase houses in the blocks near the factories through government-backed employee loans. The clock tower at the National Lock building was a proud reminder to the neighborhood when the shifts were changing and the workers were heading home for the day.

Today, workers are changing jobs multiple times throughout their careers, and housing isn’t restricted to walking distance, as subdivisions attracted workers looking to own larger and newer homes. Infrastructure designed around roads focused on passenger cars, followed by access to high-speed internet, is what connects workers to their jobs, rather than a punch clock in the neighborhood factory.

That means many of these neighborhood factories need to be adapted to a new purpose. And to do that, sites need to be cleaned up and made safe from pollution and outdated building materials, funded through EPA grants.

“A brownfield is any property with limited reuse as a result of known

or perceived contamination issues,” Wilhelmi said. “Rockford takes an aggressive approach to remove these environmental issues, preparing sites for new use.”

Brownfield remediation allows for properties to be properly prepared for adaptive reuse. By tapping into federal and state funding to remove contaminants and clear the site for use, significant Rockford landmarks have been converted from blighted property to valuable asset.

“When we see developments like the Embassy Suites and the UW Sports Factory, we are watching properties that were once eyesores becoming community assets,” Wilhelmi said.

Remediation of these properties has saved developers from having to wait for a supply chain that’s making the development of new open land, aka greenfields, take far longer than expected. And a reinvestment in these building sites near the city’s core helps reduce urban sprawl.

Brownfields versus greenfields

Therese Thill, president of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, moved to Rockford a year ago from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thill believes that Rockford needs to get the word out on the availability of some of these urban industrial properties.

“The greenfield properties often don’t have full infrastructure, and the timeline to get that infrastructure has increased. Years, in many cases, due to supply shortages and COVID,” she said. “When we look at some of the larger old industrial sites, they at least are served by electric, water, sewer, gas and broadband.”

Thill sees these existing industrial sites in two categories of opportunity: “There are sites that can be reused for an industrial purpose. Something of a larger size, like 100,000 square feet, with good transportation access. And redeveloping historic buildings for other purposes, like the Embassy Suites hotel or residential lofts. In Grand Rapids, we saw quite a lot of similar activities, including an older downtown building developed into a beautiful hotel. When we’re able to rehabilitate those buildings, it adds to the community character. It gives a lot of local flavor to our downtown.”

Modern developers have seen these successes and have begun to take notice over the past decade.

Developing for modern use while preserving history

“We erase history when we doze buildings,” said Ron Clewer, Illinois Market president for Gorman & Company, developers behind the Embassy Suites, built at the site of the old Ziock building that once housed a knitting factory, a hardware manufacturer and office space.

In 2011, the Ziock building was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places and was purchased by Gorman & Company in 2015 to begin development into what is now the 12-story Embassy Suites.

Projects like the Embassy Suites are made possible through grants and tax credits, like Illinois’ River’s Edge Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program.

“By preserving history through these programs, we have a chance to get the costs of redevelopment back. It may be more expensive, but the differences in quality are also significant. To rebuild the Embassy Suites building would be impossible with today’s costs, but the building’s quality is such that it will withstand another 100 years.” Clewer said. “We are often too quick to move to demolition at the risk of preserving the fabric of our community. Because new is somehow better in many people’s minds, we take away valuable resource that make for the betterment of our community because of the allure of what’s new.”

Living in the city center

Justin Fern, founder and CEO of Urban Equity Properties, sees properties at the heart of the city as opportunities for a better way to live.

Urban Equity Properties has had a major impact on bringing new residential apartments to the downtown area, replacing office spaces with apartments in historic buildings like the Burnham Lofts, once known as the Rockford Trust Building, and the Talcott building, now known as the Residences at Talcott. The Talcott building was constructed in 1927 by founder of the Manny Reaper Company and incorporator of Rockford College and Beloit College, Wait Talcott.

Today, the Residences at Talcott house the newsroom of the Rockford Register Star and other offices on the lower floors, as well as upscale loft apartments with remarkable views of the Rock River Valley.

“The Talcott was always a very luxurious building. For a while, it’s been the home of a lot of medical offices and law firms. But when it was first built, it was one of the tallest buildings in Rockford. It had an upscale Block and Kuhl department store, and it was elegant,” said

The Residences at Talcott

Stewart Square

Embassy Suites at the Ziock building

ROTELLO

GUEST COLUMNIST Making schools more energy efficient

In September of 2020, a school district in Northern Illinois entered into a Facility Optimization Agreement with Alpha Controls & Services. As part of an energy assessment, the district was encouraged to reduce the operating hours for their heating and cooling systems when the building was unoccupied. They noticed a dramatic reduction in their utility costs at that particular facility, and worked with Alpha to see if similar opportunities might exist throughout their district. Alpha gathered the utility bills across all their properties and, by February of 2021, had assessed the energy savings potential.

Preliminary report

The school district had more than a million square feet of facilities operating 180 school days per year with an average class size of 26 students.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Target Energy Performance tool on the

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Fern. “We kept that elegance throughout the apartments. In those units we did high end finishes with Calcutta gold marble countertops. We wanted the elegance to extend throughout the building.”

Landmarks with decorative facades and inviting lobbies create a modern sense of city living for the residents that call the spaces home.

“The buildings we choose are typically the best of the best. They could be in really bad shape, but it doesn’t mean that they couldn’t be restored back to their former glory. Certain buildings built 100 years

Energy Star website provides a national database reference tool to rank all buildings of similar types to compare energy efficiency. Entering the energy use data for the district’s facilities indicated an average Energy Star score of less than 25, meaning the buildings performed in the bottom 25th percentile for energy efficiency. This suggested a significantly high energy use as compared to similar facilities.

Comprehensive analysis

In March of 2021, the school district moved forward with a comprehensive analysis of their facilities. This included the creation of an energy model for every building in the district to provide accurate energy savings estimates and help qualify the project for utility incentives from ComEd and Nicor. To build an accurate model, all heating and cooling systems were assessed throughout their facilities.

ago were built simply for function, while others were built not just for function, but also for beauty,” Fern said.

He also credits the River’s Edge tax credit program with helping restore these century-old properties into modern spaces for urban professionals: “That helps us offset the costs of the construction in these buildings, because the costs to restore and repurpose these buildings are extremely high. Today they’re higher than they’ve ever been, and tomorrow they’ll be more expensive.”

To protect their investment, Urban

By the end of June 2021, the comprehensive analysis was completed, and a proposal was generated for the district to upgrade their temperature control system and save $280,000 per year on utility costs. Furthermore, $400,000 of the initial investment could be covered by utility incentives, helping make the project more cost effective.

Program implementation

The project was approved by the district’s board of education and began implementation in August of 2021. Changes were made to the temperature control systems of buildings in order of savings potential. Alpha worked with the school district to train staff on best practices in operating their new system and inspired a change in the mindset of operators to become more committed stewards of building energy use. The high school, one middle school and a large

Equity has to identify these desirable buildings through a complex and comprehensive assessment program, considering location, potential floor plans, window sizes and views, rent and lease rates, parking and infrastructure, as any developer would.

“At the same time, we have to make sure that the building fits the beauty that we’re looking for,” Fern said. “Every one of our buildings are different. Different architecture, different feel, different amenities, and that’s on purpose. On each project, we have a lot of different architecture going on. That keeps it interesting. If you build the same thing over and over again, you end up with a subdivision. We’re not going for that. We want the best existing buildings to convert them into the best residential buildings.”

The suite spot

Vinnie Bucci has been in the hospitality business for more than 40 years. Last May, Bucci looked at the opportunity to join the Embassy Suites as their General Manager and decided to check out what was happening at the former Ziock building: “I was like, ‘Wow, this is incredible what they did here,’ and I thought that I had to come and be a part of it.”

The Tower Kitchen and Bar, overlooks the ongoing renovations at Davis Park. Inside the restaurant is a section of steam

elementary school were all completed by the end of the year, with the remaining school buildings completed by the end of the following summer.

Sustained performance

As changes were made to the buildings, their utility bills were closely monitored for energy savings. As of December 2022, the district had saved over $250,000 in utility costs. At $280,000 per year, this would equate to $4,200,000 in total savings to the district over the 15-year life of the system. The energy savings were also verified by third party reviewers from ComEd and Nicor, with over $400,000 paid directly to the school district. These funds could then be reinvested in their core mission of educating students.

From building automation to boilers and chillers, lighting to airflow management, and power monitoring to building analytics, Alpha Controls & Services keeps it all running smoothly, making facilities comfortable, secure and efficient. To learn more, visit www.alphaacs.com

pipe boiler from the original building, one of many artifacts archived on site, designed to be a part of a permanent interactive exhibit, a scavenger hunt for guests.

Videos play in the lobby, telling the story of the manufacturers that called the building home, while hotel guests or conference goers pass through the twostory lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river.

A feature wall with an ornamental map displays downtown, featuring Rockford-made products representing Rockford’s past.

“This building is the best of old and new. The best of what was already here, and we made it newer,” Bucci said.

Bucci’s proud of the reputation that his hotel has earned, winning a 2022 Conrad Achievement Award from the Hilton corporation, top marks for their rooms and service from TripAdvisor, and a restaurant that ranks among the top five local restaurants.

On the fifth floor, the photos of women working on the paint line are accompanied by a section of the conveyor system, still intact, that remind visitors of the unique history of the space.

“It’s important that this building has a history,” Bucci said. “It gives people questions to ask, and it gives you an experience to sell.”

ZACH

CEO, Alpha Controls & Services

The views expressed are those of Alpha Controls & Services and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

The Residences at Talcott

GUEST COLUMNIST

What was old is new again

Historic building renovations add prominence to Rockford

JOHNATHAN GRIFFIN, project administrator, Studio GWA

Like numerous other cities scattered throughout the Midwest, Rockford has its fair share of abandoned warehouses, industrial sites and brownfields, a testament to yesteryear’s manufacturing prominence. But what used to be considered city blight and an eyesore ready for the bulldozer, is now starting to be considered opportunity, city history and economic viability.

Over the last decade, Rockford has seen an old brewery and warehouse become the Prairie Street Brewhouse, a former Ingersoll-Rand manufacturing plant become the UW Sports Factory, and the one-time Amerock building become a new Embassy Suites Hotel. These large-scale projects have become catalysts for community interaction and economic development for Northern Illinois.

A number of new projects are about to add more prominence to Rockford as compelling historic renovations, new community gathering places and models for historic redevelopment. The following are two wonderful examples of what is possible—one on the larger scale, the other being smaller.

Colman Yards

Once the epicenter of industry in Rockford, Barber-Colman employed more than 5,000 people, thanks to the numerous inventions patented by its founder, Howard Colman. The company’s machines, cutting tools and industrial instruments were used in a diverse number of industries and products, from textiles to machining.

The original multi-building complex at 1300 Rock Street housed BarberColman’s manufacturing operations until 1984 when the business was sold

to Reed-Chatwood Inc. In 2001, ReedChatwood vacated the campus, and the property was purchased by the City of Rockford in 2002. The historic complex has remained vacant since.

J. Jeffers purchased the 23-acre property in 2022, with an eye to redevelop the brownfield site into Colman Yards—a reimagined, mixeduse campus composed of 10 buildings, consisting of both renovated and new construction residential apartments, commercial and retail spaces.

Colman Yards will bring a whole new vibrancy to the South Main Street corridor and, hopefully, spur continued development in the neighborhood. There is great excitement that this project will bring disparate communities together and be a new gathering place in the southwest quadrant of the city. Construction of Phase 1 is scheduled to begin early this spring.

Midtown Faust

Brad and Sue Roos have long had a vision of sustainability and restoration, and have been involved in projects in the Midtown District with Zion Development for years. Katie’s Cup and Lantow Lofts are two of their most notable restorations. The Midtown Faust building project is their latest effort to bring new life to the neighborhood.

Originally the carriage house for the Hotel Faust, it’s now comprised of three storefronts located on the Southeast corner of 5th Ave. and 6th St.

The historic and sustainable renovation included replacing 16 new storefront windows, disassembling and rebuilding 16 art glass panels, all new plumbing and wiring, restoring the maple floors, waterproofing the basement, and

recycling over 20,000 pounds of metal found at the site. The building is solidly reconstructed, energy efficient and offers easy access to the heart of Rockford.

The building is fully rented, with Three Ravens Pottery Studio already in the building and the LIAM Foundation relocating to their new space this spring.

Funding solutionHistoric Tax Credits

One of the tallest hurdles for many historic renovation projects is financial viability. The cost to renovate a historic building, coupled with the need for economic sustainability once renovations are completed, is often a non-starter. Historic Tax Credits provide vital funding that can bridge the gap for many of these projects.

The Secretary of the Interior has renovation standards to preserve a building’s historic nature, but owners are given the freedom to be creative on how to give these landmarks new life. In Illinois, there are both state and federal credits available, giving qualified applicants 45% of a project’s total cost in tax credits. This large percentage of credits can make a project more attractive to investors and limit the need for large bank loans. The Barber-Colman and Midtown Faust

projects both benefit from Historic Tax Credits.

Northern Illinois has made great strides in repurposing historic buildings and giving them new life, but there is much more to do. With a little imagination, the proper financial tools and a willingness to go against our throwaway culture, the region’s architectural history can be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come.

Studio GWA is a creative, visionary team that believes in engaging the community through design. We are well-versed in urban and architectural design, economic development, real estate development, planning, placemaking and other services that have benefited communities throughout the Midwest. If you are looking to purchase a historic building and need assistance with next steps, Studio GWA is here to help. From feasibility studies and pro-formas to full-service design and construction management, our firm has the expertise to walk you through every step of the process. 815-963-1900 or info@ studiogwa.com

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

Brad and Sue Roos replacing windows circa 2020. Photo Credit: Michael Smith

Barber-Colman Building 5. Photo Credit: StudioGWA

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON president, Larson & Darby Group

GUEST COLUMNIST

Reflections on architecture

What our buildings say about what’s important to us

At a very basic level, architecture exists to provide shelter for the activities of life. Great architecture transcends its role as shelter and has the power to shape our experience, inspire awe and create a sense of place that can last for generations. The link between great architecture and society can be seen in the way that buildings and structures shape our physical environment, impact our emotional and psychological wellbeing, and serve as symbols reflecting the values, beliefs and cultural identity of a community.

One of the most notable examples of the link between great architecture and cultural identity is the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. As Greek mythology was central to Greek life, the ancient Greeks

celebrated their deities by building grand temples as worldly homes on earth for the gods. Built in the 5th century BC, the Parthenon symbolizes the classical ideals of beauty, harmony and proportion that are still revered in Western architecture today. The magnificence of the architecture conveys the significance of the temple to Greek life.

The importance of our institutions is expressed in the architecture that houses them. Beyond a mere container for the activities occurring within, architecture is the physical expression of how we see ourselves, as well as how we see the world.

What are we are building in our community, and what do those projects say about what is important to us?

GUEST COLUMNIST

Engineering is everywhere

Making

Everywhere you look, you can see the touch of an engineer. It’s in the sidewalks and parking lots around the Embassy Suites by Hilton Riverfront. It’s in the South Beloit Wastewater Treatment Plant. It’s in roads and bridges around the Rock River Valley and along the banks of the Rock River.

Because of engineers, you can turn on a faucet in your home and get water that’s traveled through the city to get to your glass. An engineer is the reason there are safe turn lanes at busy intersections in your community. And engineers make sure we don’t have to think about what happens after we flush the toilet.

For the past 50 years, Fehr Graham has delivered engineering services to the Rock River Valley and helped shape our communities into what you see today. Our firm was launched in 1973 by Freeport engineers Al Fehr and Joe Graham. Since then, we’ve been instrumental in everything from designing the sewer lines that connect to new subdivisions to cleaning up brownfield sites for redevelopment.

The engineering contributions Fehr Graham brings to the Rock River Valley are far from over. Some of our more notable projects are:

■ Jane Addams Tollway – The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority completed the reconstruction of I-90 from Rockford

to Chicago to relieve congestion and reduce pollution. This widening and reconstruction project is one of the first projects completed under Move Illinois, the Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program. The project was awarded an Engineering Excellence Honor Award.

■ Rockford Lead Service Line Replacement Program – Rockford was the second city in Illinois to take advantage of a program replacing water service lines for free after the Lead Service Line Notification Act was signed into law in 2021. We’re helping the city find funding, investigate and develop plans to replace the pipes. With strategic planning, this project is also helping improve other infrastructure, like sidewalks and roads.

■ Rockford Public Library – The main branch of the Rockford Public Library is in the midst of $33 million redevelopment project along the Rock River. Remediation for the building started long before construction. Our engineers and landscape architects designed a site to blend in with the riverfront while keeping a contemporary look. We can’t wait to see the design come to fruition, complete with river access, seating and walking paths.

■ Barber-Colman site – This industrial complex has been a blighted property in south Rockford for more than 20 years, but it will soon transform into Colman

Here in Rockford, one example might be the Rock Valley College Woodward Technology Center. This state-of-theart facility provides a welcoming and inclusive space for students to learn, collaborate and socialize with one another. The building's modern design, with its bright, open spaces and cuttingedge technology, reflects the college's commitment to partnership, innovation and progress, and serves as one of many symbols of Rockford's thriving educational community.

Recent developments in downtown Rockford and along the riverfront have transformed our central city into a thriving city center. It’s a destination, once again, providing numerous entertainment and recreation opportunities for the community. This reinvigorated interest in downtown Rockford has produced many great new and renewed places and spaces for residents and visitors alike. The Embassy Suites and Rockford Conference Center, BMO Harris Bank Center, Coronado Theater, Nicholas Conservatory, UW Health Sports Factory, and many developments in progress, including the reimagined Rockford Public Library, are

all outstanding examples of architecture and its positive impact on life within our downtown core.

While the Parthenon served the sacred needs of the Greek community, the agora served as their place of assembly or the center of athletic, artistic, social and political life in the city. Our modernday agora, the Rockford City Market has become a ritual event on Friday nights from spring into fall and continues yearround within the Indoor City Market. Centrally located on State Street between Madison and Water Streets, its location and iconic pavilion is testament to its importance in our city fabric and its role as the soul of the community.

Whether reflecting the identity of a community or expressing its vision for the future, great architecture has the power to inspire awe and create a sense of place that lasts for generations. As Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei said, “Architecture is life, and architecture is a mirror of life.”

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

Yards – a mixed-use development of townhomes, stores, dining and more. Fehr Graham has worked behind the scenes helping with environmental remediation so the project can move forward.

■ Embassy Suites – Those who have been in Rockford long enough remember the former Amerock factory, which had become an eyesore along the western banks of the Rock River. We helped the city enroll in the Illinois Environmental Agency Voluntary Site Remediation program, and we helped with remedial planning before developer Gary Gorman bought the building and turned it into Embassy Suites, a hotel and convention center that opened in July 2020.

There’s no doubt, we are proud of the difference we make in our community and are excited to see a new generation continue to propel us forward. Rockford Public Schools and Alignment Rockford have worked with support from key stakeholders to establish paths for the next generation of engineers to launch their careers.

We’ve seen public and private high schools throughout the region offer courses that encourage students to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Students exposed to engineering early see futures in everything from robotics and computeraided design to structural, electrical and

civil engineering. These are the programs that will lay the foundation for a new Industrial Revolution in our country.

At the college level, Rock Valley College and Northern Illinois University (NIU) have partnered on the Engineering Our Future program. This allows local students to attend Rock Valley at a nominal cost, while earning bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from NIU. It keeps students in their hometowns and connected to future employers.

Often, engineering is viewed as a career that is focused on numbers and data. But that misses the point of why engineers do what they do… to make a difference.

Whether it’s helping with the redevelopment of a former manufacturing plant or improving traffic flow at a busy city intersection, the role of an engineer remains the same—to solve a problem, make an improvement, turn a dream into reality.

Mick Gronewold is a professional engineer who enjoys helping clients find solutions to their toughest problems, even when they reach beyond engineering. As one of the firm’s owners, Mick specializes in leading engineering and environmental projects in the private and public sectors. Contact him at mgronewold@fehrgraham.com

MICK GRONEWOLD Fehr Graham

/RockfordAreaEDC

/RockfordAreaEconomicDevelopmentCouncil

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/company/Rockford-Area-Economic-Development-Council

Over the last two decades the price of hospital services has increased more than 200% while medical care (non-hospital) services have increased nearly 120%. In comparison, wages have increased just over 80%, and overall inflation increased just under 55%. And as most employers know, average health insurance premiums for a family have gone from $5,000 to $20,000 annually during that same period.

The medical-industrial complex has become our country’s largest employer. The market power and political influence of the industry allow the average consumer or average business to have little impact on price or quality. And those who provide employer-sponsored health care bear the largest burden for the explosion in health care costs. Constant premium increases paralyze an employer’s ability to increase employee wages, invest in new technology, grow their business and stay competitive.

Identifying the problem

But if you’re willing to see it as a “business” problem rather than an “insurance” problem, there is hope. You can’t solve a business problem with an insurance solution. It requires a strategic

Dare to see things differently

It’s a business problem, not an insurance problem

Don Daniels and Terry Shook, Pimum Risk Strategies, Inc.

approach to integrate your health plan into your business objectives. And in doing so, you can reduce your health plan spend and enhance employee benefits.

Did you know you can manage your health plan using the same supply chain management principles applied to other parts of your business? It’s an innovative concept not readily seen in the benefits marketplace, because it involves more than just comparing traditional insurance offerings. But it’s completely plausible and very effective. The approach produces results because it’s strategic and not merely transactional.

Legislative hurdles

Another looming challenge is The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA). It imposes new and complex obligations on health plan fiduciaries that mirror the rules governing retirement plans. If you offer a group health plan, the CAA makes you a fiduciary. It doesn’t matter whether you’re fully insured or self-funded; your fiduciary obligations are the same and cannot be passed on to a third party.

Among other things, ERISA fiduciary duty includes the requirement to prudently protect your employees and

their families’ health and welfare when receiving medical care paid for by the health plan you sponsor. Employers have an ERISA obligation to provide the safest medical care at the best price available. The CAA requires employers to obtain and understand information from their health insurers and their healthcare administrative providers that those parties may be unwilling to provide.

Don’t settle for the status quo

Regardless of the size of your company, there are options to help you take control of your health plan costs and ensure that plan members are receiving the safest, highest quality care available.

Don Daniels, MBA, and Terry Shook, RHU, CEBS, are partners in Primum Risk Strategies, Inc. With a combined 84 years in the insurance carrier and hospital/healthcare environments, Primum Risk Strategies helps employers of all sizes reduce spend and provide better benefits. For more information, visit primumriskstrategies.com.

The views expressed are those of Primum Risk Strategies and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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. 350 Rockford, IL 61101

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication

Looking for more great content from RPS 205? Stay in the know with the 205 VIBE™. READ. LISTEN. WATCH.

The 205 VIBE™ was created to share the amazing things happening in Rockford Public Schools. The 205 VIBE publishes firsthand stories from district staff, students and community members who support RPS 205. Podcasts, Blogs, News & Videos! rps205.com/205vibe

Grow-your-ownteacher

A creative approach to a nationwide problem

The nationwide teacher shortage is affecting Rockford Public Schools, and we’re throwing as many creative resources at the problem as we can. In the past few years, we’ve implemented housing assistance and relocation bonuses as incentives, plus sign-on bonuses for staff in what are traditionally hard-tofill teaching positions, such as bilingual education, secondary math and science, and special education.

But that’s not enough.

RPS 205 is fortunate to have strong partnerships within our community and region to help us attack this problem.

Northern Illinois University is supporting K-12 school districts, Rockford and Elgin U-46 included, to grow our own teachers and staff with a program called PLEDGE, which stands for Partnering to Lead and Empower District-Grown Educators. The NIU PLEDGE initiative brings licensure programs to where the potential students are.

Here’s what it looks like in Rockford… NIU connects with RPS 205 staff who are already in our schools and working with our students. For example, our current cohort is made of paraprofessionals, behavior interventionists, building substitutes assigned to our schools, and parent liaisons. Each of these staff members plays a critical role in supporting our students and families, and they are committed to our district. This group of staff has enrolled in coursework through NIU to earn bachelor’s degrees in special education and teaching certification. The Licensed Educator Accelerated Pathway program (LEAP) provides a fast-track to the classroom, including credit for prior learning.

LEAP participants enjoy the benefits of a dynamic, evening course schedule tailored to the lives of working adults. Through this partnership, the curriculum

is also tailored to meet the specific needs of RPS 205 students and staff. In other words, they are learning to be teachers specifically in Rockford Public Schools. Students also receive support from an NIU completion coach, after-hours academic advising and access to peer academic coaches. NIU supports the idea that if dedicated staff had the opportunity to pursue a certified teaching career—and if some barriers to becoming educatorlicensed were removed—they would be happy to take that next career step.

Student teaching and graduation are scheduled for the spring, and we are excited to celebrate this first cohort of graduates from the NIU LEAP program. More than a dozen LEAP program participants are on track to graduate this summer, with three more expected to graduate this fall. A second cohort of 35 staff will start in the fall with plans to graduate as new RPS 205 teachers in summer 2025. With successful graduates from both cohorts, we’ll add 55 new special education teachers in RPS 205 by fall 2025.

After they graduate, Rockford LEAP participants will stay in RPS 205 to teach for a minimum of three years. We hope we can continue to invest in them and encourage them to stay longer.

It’s a grow-your-own teacher approach to battle the teacher shortage and help diversify the district’s teacher population. It also supports great employees who already have strong connections with our students and families. We want to keep them in our district and supporting our students, so they can continue to thrive and help our students do the same.

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

DR. EHREN JARRETT RPS 205 Superintendent

Dealing with the child care crisis

Why business leaders should be concerned

You need child care, you need child care, you need child care!

Bottom line… Businesses cannot succeed without a productive workforce. Let’s go further… How many workforce members have dependents that need a place to be cared for while parents work? Parents, businesses and the economy require a reliable child care system. Moreover, children deserve a quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) experience. If COVID taught us anything, it’s that a prosperous economy depends on an effective, available, affordable, accessible ECEC system.

We are ALL stakeholders in this system and this crisis. That means YOU—the business owner, the mother, the father, all caretakers and the economy.

According to a Feb. 12 article by Gianna Melillo at www.TheHill.com, the current state of the child care crisis threatens the future of our youngest minds, is hindering employment, and educational advancement of the American workforce.

It’s understood that children are the workforce of tomorrow and caretakers are the workforce of today. Businesses may ponder, what is my return on investment here? Why is the child care crisis something I need to be concerned about? According to Professor James Heckman (www.heckmanequation.org), there is a 13% ROI for comprehensive, high-quality, birth-to-five education. The highest rate of economic return comes from the earliest investments in children and, in comparison, late investments are often too late.

Furthermore, according to a 2020 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Survey, 76% of businesses said they’ve seen employees leave, and 43% of those businesses said that 75-100% of the employees they lost were women. Thus, businesses are already paying for the lack of childcare. Current and future productivity is at risk. As most are wellaware, parenting is the toughest job on the planet. Wh at can businesses do to support the toughest job on the planet and their bottom line?

The options range from small changes to targeted community investments. According to the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Employer Roadmap, (www. uschamberfoundation.org) some quick wins include flexible scheduling and understanding back-up care options. Whereas targeted investments can include publicly advocating for ECEC investments, integrating child care options into the local business landscape, or incentivizing offsetting the cost of care through subsidies or vouchers. The Roadmap is available to businesses to assist senior leaders and owners to better understand their options for supporting caretakers in their workforce.

Finally, you may have listened to the governor’s State of the State Address on February 15, 2023. If you did, you heard that Illinois is on target to become the best state in the nation for ECEC. As the governor stated, “Enhancing quality early care and education is a win-win solution for re-mobilizing parents in the workforce, enhancing brain development and kindergarten readiness, saving taxpayers money and increasing economic activity now and in the decades ahead”. And the most important sentiment, “When we rise, we rise together”.

I opened with the descriptor dependents; those dependents are our children. They are our future, our human capital. The time to invest big and small in our future is now.

Livia Bane is the regional council manager, Region 4, for Birth to Five Illinois (www.birthtofiveil.com/region4). She has worked in the early childhood field for over 20 years, working directly with children, parents and organizations that support and advocate for the early childhood field.

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

Livia Bane, regional manager, Birth to Five Illinois

Train yourself to lead

5 tips to develop your leadership potential

Jamie Johnson, contributor, Co –by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

We all know people who possess seemingly innate leadership skills. They communicate well, are respected by their peers, and navigate challenges with ease. However, many people in leadership positions worked tirelessly to sharpen their talents.

In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, author and leadership Expert John C. Maxwell wrote, "If you want to be a leader, the good news is that you can do it. Everyone has the potential, but it isn't accomplished overnight. It requires perseverance."

Indeed, self-training, experience, mentorship and formal education can help you become a great leader. Explore five leadership competencies that anyone can learn.

Emotional intelligence

The emotional quotient (EQ), more commonly known as emotional intelligence (EI), is a skill set that helps you be aware of your feelings (and their impact on others). Leaders with high EI can read the room and the individuals in it and use their understanding to influence others. This talent is highly learnable through self-reflection and mindfulness.

Harvard Business School Online's Business Insights blog highlights four dimensions of emotional intelligence:

■ Self-awareness: The capacity to

understand your physical, cognitive and emotional self.

■ Social awareness: Showing empathy (considering others' perspectives) and recognizing their emotions.

■ Self-management: The ability to manage your feelings and emotions in healthy ways while adapting to changes.

■ Relationship management: Managing conflicts, connecting with others, and communicating clearly.

Communication

Like emotional intelligence, communication is a critical leadership skill that anyone can learn, and it's a skill you work on throughout your life. This ability helps you convey your ideas to people in many formats (verbal, written, visual and body language). According to Mental Health America, "High EI overlaps with strong interpersonal skills, especially in the areas of conflict management and communication."

Today's leaders use storytelling and active listening to engage employees while motivating them. These same tactics work in many situations, from supervising class trips to organizing events.

Improve your communication by:

■ Using your cell phone to record yourself making a phone call or practicing a public speech.

■ Taking a free or low-cost online communications class from Coursera, Udemy or a community college.

■ Learning to focus on the person talking and avoid interrupting them, even if you disagree with what they're saying.

■ Exploring multimedia tools for giving presentations, creating sales pitch decks and hosting online meetings.

Learning agility

"An ability to continuously learn is not just a key entrepreneurial skill but also a very valuable life skill," according to Investopedia. When you're in learning mode, you understand that every experience has value. With dedication and a commitment to learning, even introverts can be leaders.

Active learners continually build upon their existing skills by:

■ Being open to and comfortable with receiving feedback.

■ Asking questions and then taking the initiative to expand your knowledge.

■ Exploring different leadership styles to fit the situation.

■ Seeking lessons and experiences outside of your comfort zone.

Management skills

Management skills are life skills, and anyone can learn how to manage their time, property and emergencies. These talents help you make better decisions that can save money and protect investments. In addition, preparation and organization skills enable you to guide others, promote accountability and delegate tasks.

Discover ways to better manage your:

■ Time: Prioritize tasks and boost productivity by taking a free timemanagement class.

■ Property: Explore software and tutorials for tracking (and protecting) assets and inventory for your home or business.

■ Emergencies: Understand crisis communication best practices and work on managing your response under pressure.

Delegation

Successful leaders empower others to accomplish tasks and projects. But you don't have to be an entrepreneur or manager to learn the art of delegation. Even if you’re organizing a community event or getting your kids to help around the house, knowing which tasks to hand out helps you effectively use your time and accomplish more.

The American Management Association recommends learning how to:

■ Evaluate potential duties and people who can help.

■ Outline expectations and define what success looks like.

■ Provide support and resources.

■ Follow up after completion to assess and improve your process.

CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

CAITLIN PUSATERI Rockford Chamber President

How workforce education levels affect recruitment

U.S. Census Bureau releases Educational Attainment study

Education doesn’t stop at age 18 or when you leave the traditional classroom walls. While “education” statistics tend to conjure up images of report cards, newly sharpened pencils, and brown bag lunches, education is a lifelong journey often in the form of everyday experiences. To understand where today’s workforce may need additional development or opportunities, it’s helpful to understand traditional educational statistics of today’s workforce.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released findings from the Educational Attainment in the United States: 2022 table package, which uses statistics from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement to examine the educational attainment of adults age 18 and older by demographic and social characteristics. Here are some highlights:

Stats by age and race

■ From 2012 to 2022, the percentage of adults age 25 and older who had completed high school increased for all races and Hispanic origin groups. During this period, high school completion increased from 92.5% to 95.2% for the non-Hispanic White population; from 85% to 90.1% for the Black population; from 88.9% to 92.3% for the Asian population; and from 65% to 75.2% for the Hispanic population.

■ In 2022, the highest level of education of the population age 25 and older in the United States ranged from less than high school to advanced degrees beyond a bachelor’s degree.

• 9% had less than a high school diploma or equivalent.

• 28% had high school as their highest level of school completed.

• 15% had completed some college but not a degree.

• 10% had an associate degree as their highest level of school completed.

• 23% had a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree.

• 14% had completed advanced education such as a master’s degree, professional degree or doctorate.

■ From 2012 to 2022, the percentage of adults age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more increased from 34.5% to 41.8% for the non-Hispanic White population; from 21.2% to 27.6% for the Black population; from 51% to 59.3% for the Asian population; and from 14.5% to 20.9% for the Hispanic population.

What it means for Rockford

In Rockford, 52% of adults 25+ have not completed a college degree. And while minorities are certainly increasing

their educational attainment levels, the non-Hispanic White population still has a higher completion rate.

But many careers require specific skill sets—not necessarily traditional college credentials. Amid a talent crisis, consider this when recruiting for open positions:

■ Are you requiring credentials that are not essential to the position you need to fill?

■ Can you offer on-the-job training to new or existing employees to upskill your workforce?

■ Can you develop a robust internship or apprenticeship program to grow-yourown talent?

If your organization needs training or program-development assistance, including potentially financial, contact The Workforce Connection to learn more about a robust set of opportunities available to your business. Examining your recruitment efforts and broadening the applicant pool will also have an additional bonus – your organization may attract and benefit from the skills of a more diverse workforce.

Stats by sex

■ In 2022, 30.1% of men age 25 and older had completed a high school diploma or GED as their highest level of educational attainment, compared with 27% of women age 25 and older.

■ In 2022, 39% of women age 25 and older, and 36.2% of men in the same age range, had completed a bachelor’s degree or more as their highest level of educational attainment.

What it means for Rockford

For those positions that require a bachelor’s or advanced degree, your organization may find more qualified women than men. To ensure your organization can acquire the best talent, examine your job postings, benefits package, and recruitment practices. Consider flexible work schedules, onsite childcare or childcare subsidies, mentorship programs and professional development opportunities for women. While offering childcare solutions will be extremely attractive benefit for some women (and men), it’s important to remember that not all women are caregivers. Focus on ensuring that all women feel supported, heard and valued for the highly-desirable skill sets they bring to the table.

U.S. teen girls at risk

Studies show record-high levels of violence, sadness and suicide risk

According to new CDC data released in February, 2023, nearly three in five (57%) U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021—double that of boys, representing a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade.

While all teens reported increasing mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, girls fared worse than boys across nearly all measures. The new report also confirms ongoing and extreme distress among teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning (LGBQ+).

“High school should be a time for trailblazing, not trauma. These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope and thrive,” said Debra Houry, M.D., M.P.H., CDC’s chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science. “Proven school prevention programs can offer teens a vital lifeline in these growing waves of trauma.”

The analysis includes 2021 data and trends from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which examines health behaviors and experiences among U.S. high school students. Youth mental health has continued to worsen—with

particularly stark increases in widespread reports of harmful experiences among teen girls:

■ Nearly one in three (30%) seriously considered attempting suicide—up nearly 60% from a decade ago.

■ One in five (18%) experienced sexual violence in the past year—up 20% since 2017, when CDC started monitoring this measure.

■ More than one in 10 (14%) had ever been forced to have sex—up 27% since 2019 and the first increase since CDC began monitoring this measure.

The report also found more than half (52%) of LGBQ+ students had recently experienced poor mental health and, concerningly, that more than one in five (22%) attempted suicide in the past year. Trend data are not available for students who identify as LGBQ+ due to changes in survey methods.

Findings by race and ethnicity also show high and worsening levels of persistent sadness or hopelessness across all racial and ethnic groups, and that reported suicide attempts increased among Black youth and White youth.

“Young people are experiencing a level of distress that calls on us to act

with urgency and compassion,” said Kathleen Ethier, Ph.D., CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health director. “With the right programs and services in place, schools have the unique ability to help our youth flourish.”

School-based activities can make a profound difference in the lives of teens with a relatively small infusion of support to schools. More than 95% of U.S. youth spend much of their daily lives in school. While their primary goal is academic learning, schools can take evidencebased steps to foster the knowledge, skills and support needed to help prevent and reduce the negative impact of violence and other trauma and improve mental health.

For example, safe and trusted adults— like mentors, trained teachers, and staff— can help foster school connectedness, so teens know the people around them care about them, their well-being and their success. Schools can provide education that equips teens with essential skills, such as understanding and ensuring true sexual consent, managing emotions and asking for what they need. Schools can also connect teens to their classmates and communities through school-based clubs and community outreach.

CDC has collected and analyzed data on youth health and well-being for more than three decades. These data are a critical first step to revealing, understanding and addressing emerging threats to the health and well-being of the nation’s youth.

Parents may feel a mix of emotions, especially if the child believes they aren’t meeting perceived expectations from home. In the latest On Your Radar podcast (available on Spotify), Rosecrance experts

aMBaSSaDOR SPOTLIGHT

Adriana Durán Krauss, benefits consultant and client manager for Gallagher Benefit Services

What is your business?

Gallagher Benefit Services, your trusted global insurance and consulting partner.

What do they provide for the community?

Gallagher is a global leader in insurance, risk management and consulting services helping clients face challenges and providing effective solutions. We provide tailored and comprehensive insurance solutions designed for ALL your business needs.

What is your favorite thing to do in Rockford or favorite thing about Rockford? Visiting the many parks in the area, driving around town to see what’s new, and thrift store and antique shopping with my daughters!

Advice for someone, especially young professionals, considering becoming an Ambassador? Jump in with both feet! Participate and don’t be shy about getting to know all the people in our community, not only potential business opportunities. Get involved in OUR community. There are many nonprofit organizations with memberships that are down (or stagnant) and that need help to continue to grow so they can, in turn, continue helping the people of Rockford and surrounding areas.

Call or text 988. Chat at 988lifeline. org. Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free and available 24/7/365. Visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

discussed the importance of maintaining a safe, supportive home environment and guiding children to professional help if needed.

“When a child is trying to tell you that they are hurting or experiencing hard things, it’s really important how the parent handles it,” said Teisha Hoppe, LCSW, a therapist at Aspen Counseling, a division of Rosecrance. “You may want to scream or cry inside, but you need to be an active listener and control emotions.”

To help youth build resilience, families can prioritize conversations at dinner and activities that help children feel comfortable, or opportunities to unwind before having conversations about a concern. Parents also are encouraged to show vulnerability when appropriate to model healthy emotional regulation.

If you sense a child needs extra support, community resources such as school counselors and social workers are available. You can also call Rosecrance at 888-928-5278. Rosecrance offers a full continuum of outpatient and inpatient services for youth, with treatment plans designed to meet individual needs.

988 Suicide Prevention

Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Call or text 988. Chat at 988lifeline.org. Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free and available 24/7/365. Visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org

Sources: www.cdc.gov/media and www.rosecrance.org/onyourradar/.

business

The Rockford Area Arts Council will host its annual Rockford Area Arts Awards on Friday, March 10, 2023. The Arts Awards will be held at the Rockford Theatre at the Rockford Woman’s Club and will feature inspiring performances and powerful testimonials. The Arts Awards celebrate those who have contributed to the enrichment of our Rockford community. Nominees include individual artists and arts and culture organizations that demonstrated innovative, imaginative, and outstanding achievement in the arts in 2022.

Studio Wealth Advisory Group, a financial/private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Rockford, earned the Ameriprise Client Experience Award for 2022 for consistently delivering personalized, goal-based advice and exceptional client service.

Field announced that it has merged with Mid-State Bolt & Nut Company, a full-line fastener distributor headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. This strategic partnership will enhance their combined position in North America by expanding their products, services and geographical footprint.

Join Nik’s Wish for the Shamrock 5K Beer Run/Walk & Shamrock Auction on Saturday, March 18, noon, Rockford Speedway, 9572 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park. Sip and sprint (walk or crawl) your way to providing wishes for young adult cancer patients.

University of Illinois Extension is hosting its annual Winnebago County 4-H Fun Day (previously called Project Workshop Day) on Saturday, March 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace Church in Rockton. 4-H Fun Day is designed to give area youth, ages 8 to 18, a chance to explore the many project areas and activities available through 4-H.

On February 1, 2023, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Region 1 Planning Council will receive a $400,492 Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan grant to update the

State Awards

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Regional Transportation Safety Plan and complete Local Safety Action Plans for the City of Rockford, Boone County and Winnebago County. With this funding, R1 will pursue an update to the regional plan, including robust stakeholder and public engagement, as well as extensive data collection and analysis to help determine the causes of crashes. Additionally, R1 will assist the City of Rockford and Boone and Winnebago Counties in developing local traffic safety action plans.

The Rockford Area Arts Council announced the recipients of the 2023 Community Arts Access Grants:

■ Artists’ Ensemble Theater

■ Boone County Arts Council

■ Crossroads Blue Society

■ Discovery Center Museum

■ Maria Montessori

■ Midway Village Museum

■ Rockford Art Museum

■ Rockford Park District Foundation

■ Rockford Symphony Orchestra

■ Rockford Wind Ensemble

■ Rosecrance Foundation

■ Rock and Roll Institute

■ Serenity Hospice and Home

■ Sinnissippi Audubon

■ The Arc of Winnebago, Boone, Ogle counties

■ Village of Mt. Morris

■ West Side Show Room

Carpenter’s Place will open its new retail ‘thrift and more’ store, Carpenter’s Corner, on March 10, at 9 a.m. The grand opening marks the culmination of a two-year project that has transformed the empty Schnuck’s grocery store on 1715 Rural Street in Rockford into an important retail destination for shoppers seeking exceptional value and selection on a curated selection of gently-used adult and children’s clothing, jewelry, toys, household goods, furniture, bicycles, books and other merchandise. Most importantly, the new Carpenter’s Corner will help generate the resources Carpenter’s Place needs to help fund its many programs

benefiting the homeless and families in crisis,

The Rockford Area Arts Council announced the winners of the Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition. Representing Jefferson High School, Sara Carter took first place and Mikira Rogers took second place. The first and second place winners of this competition advance to Illinois’ State Poetry Out Loud Competition.

Don Daniels, MBA, and Terry Shook, RHU, CEBS, of Primum Risk Strategies, Inc. attended the Ascend 2023 advisor’s symposium. Shook was a keynote speaker on the subject of identifying and understanding the pitfalls of the traditional health insurance marketplace.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The anniversary theme, “Growing Connections”, recognizes the impact that connections among people and organizations can have on the health, vitality and resilience of our region. It also celebrates CFNIL’s role connecting community generosity to community need for the past 70 years and in the generations to come. Events throughout the year will center on uplifting stories of the good work happening day in and day out in the communities CFNIL serves.

The Rockford Cosmopolitan Club is hosting its March Madness Charity Fundraiser Thursday, March 16, 6 p.m. at the Venetian Club, Rockford. $150 entry includes open bar and dinner. For more information and to register, visit www.rfdcosmo.org.

OSF HealthCare is offering advanced technology for patients with diabetes to get an exam to check them for diabetic retinopathy and macular edema when visiting their primary care provider or endocrinologist. Diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of blindness for adults in the U.S. The IDx-DR software analyzes photos of the retina and uses artificial intelligence to evaluate the extent of damage to blood

vessels that might occur from high sugar levels in the blood caused by diabetes. The test typically takes a few minutes, and, in most but not all cases, doesn’t require the eyes to be dilated.

The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference is heading to the Mercyhealth Sportscore facility in Loves Park for its 2023 tournament. The top six collegiate-level teams in each division will participate in the tournament, which runs April 28-30.

Per Mar Security Services was named 2022 Top Regional Channel Partner by Axis Communications.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) awarded more than $1.7M in grants in December via the Community Grants Program, benefiting dozens of organizations across the region. Learn more at cfnil.org/community. The CFNIL scholarship application closed with a record-breaking 1,579 applications in this cycle. Volunteers will read and score every application with recipients to be announced May 1, 2023 and celebrated at the 2023 CFNIL Scholarship Award Night on June 15.

Caring communities in the 35th District have provided more than 10,000 Valentines for senior citizens and residents of long-term care facilities across the region, as part of State Sen. Dave Syverson’s third annual Valentines for Seniors Card Drive.

Forest City Gear passed its annual AS9100/ISO 9001:2015 quality system audit. The third-party audit company, Quality Systems Registrar (QSR), evaluated Forest City Gear’s quality management systems to ensure compliance with AS and ISO standards. The audit performed yearly as part of AS and ISO certification, focused on processes and systems structured to ensure risk mitigation and customer satisfaction. This involved reviewing quality policies, analyzing standard operating procedures, and verifying records establishing conformance.

The results are in for the 37th Annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition, hosted by the Rockford Park District.

■ Committee’s Choice – Patricia “Pat”

Hayes Parks Award

■ People’s Choice Award

■ 3rd Place – Rockford Park District Award

■ 2nd Place – City of Rockford Mayor’s Award

■ 1st Place – State of Illinois Champions Award

Voting Results

■ Snow Dazed - “Pulling Together”

■ Windy City Snowmen - “Don’t Take the Bait”

■ Two Blondes and a Brunette“Morsmordre”

■ The Band of Misfit Boys - “Web Design”

■ Windy City Snowmen - “Don’t Take the Bait”

High School Awards

■ Linda K. White Spirit Award

■ Fred Gardner Award

■ Artist’s Choice

■ People’s Choice

■ 3rd Place

■ 2nd Place

■ 1st Place

Voting Results

■ Jefferson High School - “Wings of Freedom”

■ Keith Country Day School - “B-Nice”

■ Keith Country Day School - “B-Nice”

■ Rockford Christian High School - “Bowler Bear”

■ Byron High School - “Gnome’s Best Friend”

■ Rockford Christian High School - “Bowler Bear”

■ Keith Country Day School - “B-Nice”

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

in the newsMEMBERS IN THE NEWS

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Rockford Public Library Board of Trustees welcomes Colleen O’Brien (1) and Ryan Monette(2)

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS

Rock House Kids welcomes Nikki Reid (3), as their new outreach coordinator.

Savant Wealth Management announced that Myles Cavell joined the firm as director of new partner optimization, Patrick Lawlor, CFP®, CFA®, joined the firm as head of mergers and acquisitions, and Brad Felix, CFA®, joined as director, Ideal Futures Platform.

Community Foundation of Northern Illinois promoted James Patterson (4) to senior program director and Ciara Stahly (5) to assistant development director.

CFNIL also welcomed Shannon Gustafson (6) as director of finance.

Remedies Renewing Lives welcomed Miranda Swanson (7) as vice president of marketing and fund development.

Chelsea Collins, RN, BSN (8), was promoted to vice president of accreditation and performance improvement at Rosecrance

Fehr Graham announced the

promotion of J’Sondra Veracini (9) to associate engineering technician and Emily Massingill (10) was promoted to senior marketing coordinator.

Mercyhealth welcomed Yaqoob Syed, DO, board certified family medicine and fellowship trained sports medicine physician, to the staff of Mercyhealth Alpine and Mercyhealth Sports Medicine Fellowship Program–Rockford.

Rockford Community Bank promoted Brent Scott (11) to president.

Hughes Resources welcomed Emily Seagren (12) as marketing specialist.

Geronimo Hospitality Group named Michael Ransom (13) the general manager of stadium food and beverage operations at ABC Supply Stadium, home of the minor league baseball team, the Beloit Sky Carp.

Union Savings Bank welcomes Donald Moore (14) as a portfolio manager in the Investment and Trust Department and David Gerber (15) as an assistant vice president and mortgage loan officer.

First National Bank and Trust welcomed Joe Shere(16) to the FBNT commercial banking team in

Janesville and Mark Siebold (17) to the leadership team as senior vice president, marketing director.

Joseph (Joe) Magnelli (18) joined Blackhawk Bank’s mortgage team as vice president mortgage planner (NMLS#363231) in St. Charles, Illinois.

Jon Paul Diipla rejoined Region 1 Planning Council as transportation principal. Celestina Edleman recently returned to R1 as a community impact planner.

WATT Global Media welcomed Tijqua Daiker (19) as digital advertising coordinator.

Wells Fargo Advisors welcomed Jeff Aurand (20) as a senior vice president, investment officer

Peter Schmeling (21) was promoted to VP of sales at Schmeling Construction, Co.

COUNTRY Financial welcomed Ty (22) Harmston and Dustin Jarrard (23) as insurance.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

The Kiwanis Club of Rockford inducted seven new members: Bonnie Gosdick, Jeff Kelly, John Buzzard, Leah Junor, JoAnn Zarnke, Heather Hall Wang and Jo Minor. Kiwanis International is a

global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time.

Diane Derr, personal underwriter, celebrated 40 years with Rockford Mutual.

State Representative Maurice West was presented with the Illinois Association of Park Districts Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award. The award recognizes Representative West for his outstanding support of legislation promoting park districts, forest preserves and the quality of life recreation and parks provide to citizens of the State of Illinois.

Lana M. Engen, CFP®, a private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial, Inc. in Rockford, was named to “Forbes Best-in-State Women Wealth Advisors.”

Hughes Resources celebrated Mike Wright’s four-year anniversary as client specialist.

Erna Colborn, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Rockford, was named a field trainer, a position created for those financial advisors who voluntarily give their time and energy to help their new colleagues succeed. Field trainers are certified to work with new Edward Jones financial advisors to help them through their training and while they build their businesses.

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

17. Mark Siebold18. Joseph (Joe) Magnelli

19. Tijqua Daiker 20. Jeff Aurand 21. Peter Schmeling

22. Ty Harmston23. Dustin Jarrard

1. Colleen O'Brien

2. Ryan Monette3. Nikki Reid4. James Patterson

5. Ciara Stahly6. Shannon Gustafson

7. Miranda Swanson 8. Chelsea Collins

9. J’Sondra Veracini

10. Emily Massingill

11. Brent Scott12. Emily Seagren

13. Michael Ransom

14. Donald Moore

15. David Gerber16. Joe Shere

on digital

On February 2, Chamber members and business leaders gathered to hear 3 updates in 60 minutes at NIU Rockford. Special thanks to Principal Small Business Sponsor, Thayer Energy Solutions All photos by Mindy Joy Photography, LLC

Empire Tax Firm celebrated the opening of two Rockford locations on February 16, 2023.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in December 2022

AAA Rockford

Addante & Associates, Ltd.

Alignment Rockford

Arc Design Resources, Inc.

Baker Tilly US, LLP

Benning Group LLC

Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education

Children's Home & Aid

City of Rockford, Health & Human Services Department

Cloisters of Forest Hills

ColorLab Cosmetics, Inc.

Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois

First Class General Contracting

Galapagos Rockford Charter

School

Gateway Professional Baseball, LLC

- Beloit Sky Carp

Gehrke Construction, General Contractors

Giuseppe Verdi Society/Verdi Club

Global Spiritual Organization (Sikh Temple)

Hennig, Inc.

Holmertz-Parsons, CPA's Home2 Suites by Hilton

Hughes Media Corp.

Illinois Bank & Trust

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful

KP Counseling Management, LLC

Law Office of Mario J. Tarara

Leland L. Freberg, CPA, PLLC

Mary's Market

Merrill Lynch

Michalsen Office Furniture Inc.

Midwest Packaging and Container

Mrs. Fisher's, Inc.

New Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Northern Illinois Terrazzo & Tile Company

Nothing Bundt Cakes

PACCAR Parts, A Division of PACCAR

Pierce Distribution Services Company

Porter Pipe & Supply Co.

RAC Adjustment Company

Rock Valley College Foundation

Rockford Auto Glass and More Rockford Ball Screw

Rockford IceHogs

Rockford Promise

Rockford Woman's Club/Rockford

Theatre

Saavedra Group Architects

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Savant Wealth Management

Siepert & Co., LLP (Beloit)

Siepert & Co., LLP (Roscoe)

Siepert & Co., LLP (Sycamore)

Stanley Steemer of Rockford

SVL Productions

The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club

University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

University of Illinois College of Nursing - Rockford Campus

University of Illinois-Chicago

College of Pharmacy at Rockford

Van Galder Bus/A Coach USA Co.

Winnebago County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 17th Judicial Circuit

Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office workplace

YWCA Northwestern Illinois

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in January 2023

Aetna Building Solutions

Anderson Dodge

Anderson Nissan

Anderson Toyota/Lexus of Rockford

Artale Wine Co.

Barnstormer Distillery (formerly GrantView Distillery)

BMO Harris Bank Center

Byron Forest Preserve/PrairieView Golf Club

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.

Campos Construction, Inc.

Catholic Diocese of Rockford

Creative Crane & Rigging, Inc.

Dickey Staffing Solutions

Engineering Enterprises, Inc.

Envoy Mortgage

Farm & Fleet of Rockford

Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd. - Mulford

Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd. - Rockton

Forest Hills Country Club

Gemini Computer Systems, Inc.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

Golden Apple Foundation

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois

Hicksgas Belvidere

Hyundai on Perryville

I. Spinello Locksmiths and Security, Div. of Nate, Inc.

In Home Medical Group LLC

JFS Services

Marshmallow's HOPE Nonprofit Organization Corp

Meiborg Inc.

Metropolitan Title Agency

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

Natural Land Institute

Next Rockford NFP, Inc.

Oliver Close, LLC

Pathway to Living / Grand Victorian of Rockford

Pizza Hut - West Lane Rd (Rockford Pizza Inc.)

Pizza Hut - 11th Street

Pizza Hut - North Main

Pizza Hut - Perryville Road

Pizza Hut - South Alpine

Powertrain Rockford, Inc.

Rally Appraisal, LLC

Rasmussen University

Region 1 Planning Council

Richard L. Johnson Associates, Inc.

Riverview Inn & Suites at Cliffbreakers

Rock River Ford, Kia, Mitsubishi Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Inc.

Rockford Housing Authority

Rush Creek Distilling

Taylor Company

The Olympic Tavern

The Workforce Connection

TLC Construction

University of Illinois Extension Winnebago County

Winnebago County Board Office

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

ABLE HOME HEALTH, LLC

Providing a wide range of home based care through licensed services.

1946 Daimler Rd, 61112

Margaret Rios-Gladney, 815-3992600 www.ablehome.com

BYGONE BRANDS

Reviving the lost places we loved growing up.

3600 E State St Ste 1C, 61108

Keith Watson, 815-978-7188

www.bygonebrand.com

COLEMAN CPA & CONSULTING, INC.

4048 E State St, 61108

Bridgett Coleman, CPA, 815-3989881

COMFORT 1ST INSULATION

Providing top-quality insulation services that will create comfort and save money all year round.

612 Harrison Ave, 61104

Michael Callahan, 833-244-7283 www.comfort1stinsulation.com

GIO EVENTS

1902 Reid Farm Rd, 61107 Al Castrogiovanni, 815-987-6411 www.giodine.com

GIO EVENTS/ALCHEMY AT ALDEEN

1902 Reid Farm Rd, 61107

Al Castrogiovanni, 815-987-1662 www.giodine.com

REVIVE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS PLLC

Providing medical aesthetic and wellness services, including Botox, dermal fillers, skin care, weight loss, and peptide and vitamin injections. 5804 Elaine Dr Ste 105, 61108

Kisha Turner, 815-900-9558

www.revivewell.net

ROCKFORD RIVETSROCKFORD BASEBALL

PROPERTIES LLC

4503 Interstate Blvd

Loves Park, IL 61111

Steve Malliet, 815-240-4159

www.northwoodsleague.com/ rockford-rivets/

MARCH 2023 ANNIVERSARIES

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

40 YEAR MEMBERS

Broadmoor Agency, Inc.

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Ltd. - Mulford

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Ltd. - Rockton

30 YEAR MEMBERS

Residence Inn by Marriott/ Rockford

25 YEAR MEMBERS

Interstate Graphics

20 YEAR MEMBERS

Women of Today's Manufacaturing (WOTM)

15 YEAR MEMBERS

Anderson Dodge Anderson Nissan

Anderson Toyota/Lexus of Rockford Hyndai on Perryville

Rock River Ford, Kia, Mitsubishi Zuba and Associates, P.C.

10 Year Members

Above and Beyond Associates

American Precision Supply, Inc. The Carriage Homes of Park Hills VI

I. Spinello Locksmiths and Security, Div. of Nate, Inc. In Home Medical Group LLC

5 YEAR MEMBERS

RU Recovery Ministry Stratus Networks

FEBRUARY 2023 ANNIVERSARIES

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

25 YEAR MEMBERS

Maney's Lawnscape Inc. Meridian

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Wilson Electric Co.

15 YEAR MEMBERS

Rock River Energy Services, Inc.

10 YEAR MEMBERS

Advantage Funeral Home & Cremation Services at Willwood CIT Trucks

Custom Concrete Ltd. R.R. Floody Company, Inc.

5 YEAR MEMBERS

Circle of Change

O & L Machine Co. Inc.

Thor Computing, Inc. Triton Test and Balance

The Rockford Chamber is always on the look out for educational speakers for our events! Want to share all you know about a particular topic? Reach out to discuss potential speaking opportunities at an upcoming event! Send your idea to cpusateri@rockfordchamber.com.

community COMMUNITY EVENTS

MARCH 2023

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

Shen Yun, 7:30p.m., Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Experience China before communism through this visually stunning show. Shen Yun takes you on an extraordinary journey through China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture.

FRIDAY, MARCH 3 – SUNDAY, MARCH 5

PaleoFest, Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford. Burpee Museum is celebrating 25 years of PaleoFest, with research talks from paleontologists around the world, and special activities and programming. This event draws dino lovers, rock collectors and fossil diggers from around the world.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

WNIJ Live presents: An Evening with Scott Horsley, 6 p.m., Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Rockford. NPR Chief Economics Correspondent Scott Horsley reports on the ups and downs in the national economy and previously spent a decade on the White House beat covering both the Trump and Obama administrations.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

Writing Successful Grant Proposals with Kim Suedbeck & Lynn Gibson, 8 a.m.-noon, Northern Illinois University, Rockford 8500 E. State St, Rockford. Gain tools and skills to develop strong grant proposals to support your organization. Writing intensive component and tool kit provided.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

Women in Construction Safety Fair, 2:30 – 8 p.m., IBEW Local 364, 6820 Mill Rd, Rockford. RSVP: https://bit.ly/WCSF23

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Compost for your Garden Workshop, 1:30-2:30p.m., Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford. Come learn the ins and outs of composting from experts Allyson Rosemore, owner of Owl's Roost Farm, and Julie Uram, executive director of Nature at the Confluence.

Sock Monkey Madness, 9 a.m., Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Rd., Rockford. Discover the importance of the iconic sock monkey to Rockford’s Industrial past. Learn how a simple sock led to the growth of a city and the creation of a universally recognized symbol.

Ag All Around Us, 10:00a.m. - 2:00p.m., Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main Street, Rockford. Roll up your sleeves and get down on the farm! Meet local farmers, create barnyard crafts, peek at some barnyard babies, and get hands on with where our food comes.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

Bridal Open House, noon – 3 p.m., Riverview Inn and Suites and Cliffbreakers Conference Center

700 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. The event is free and includes complimentary appetizers, sweets and mimosas.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

Considerations for Updating Your HR Handbook with Samuel J. Castree, Jr., 8:30-10:30 a.m., Northern Illinois University, Rockford 8500 East State Street, Rockford. A well-drafted handbook balances the need to provide essential information with wording and style that promote the values, communication, employee experience and compliance goals of the organization. An HR handbook template will be provided.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

Book Discussion: Verity by Colleen Hoover, 2-4p.m., Rockford Public Library - Hart Interim Library, 214 N. Church St., Rockford. Get your hands on this sensational psychological thriller that has readers obsessed. Then join the discussion about the good, the bad and the ugly.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

Bert Kreischer: Tops Off World Tour, 7 p.m., BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford. Renowned comedian, podcast host and author Bert Kreischer.

APRIL 2023

FRIDAY, APRIL 7 & SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, Edgebrook, 1639 N. Alpine Road, Rockford. Come join the First Annual Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt at Edgebrook on Friday, April 7, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. or Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Reduce, Reuse & Remake, 10:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main Street, Rockford. Celebrate Earth Day with environmental activities and crafts. Bring in one shopping bag filled with recycled material and receive ½ off admission to Discovery Center for the whole family!

TUESDAY, APRIL 11 & TUESDAY, APRIL 25

Listening Matters: Build 5 Habits for Effective Listening, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Northern Illinois University - Rockford 8500 East State Street Rockford. Organizations report deep losses resulting from misunderstandings in the workplace. Good listening skills are often expected but not reflected. Strong organizations prioritize listening and build cultures of trust and respect. In this two-part course, you will learn the five habits of highly effective listening that will change the way you communicate in the workplace and in all your relationships.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27 - SUNDAY, APRIL 30

Art in Bloom, 10:00a.m. - 5:00p.m., Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main Street, Rokford. Art In Bloom returns for the seventh year with an imaginative display of live florals and other organic materials by local designers based on the current feature exhibition, Outer Harmonies.

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

MARCH 2023

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

Government Affairs Council, 7:45 am, Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford. Add Presented by AT&T.

TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Business Over Lunch, 11:30 am, Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Presented by Thayer Energy Solutions.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23

Speed Networking, 11 am. GRGP Office, 308 W State St, Suite 350, Rockford.

THURSDAY, MARCH 30

The Update, 9 am, NIU Rockford, 8500 E State St, Rockford.

APRIL 2023

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

Business Over Lunch, 11:30 am, Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Presented by Thayer Energy Solutions.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

Government Affairs Council, 7:45 am, Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford. Presented by AT&T.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

Celebration of Leadership, 10 am, Hoffman House, 7550 E State St, Rockford. Presented by Mr. Goodwater.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Speed Networking, 3 pm. GRGP Office, 308 W State St, Suite 350, Rockford.

MAY 2023

FRIDAY, MAY 12

Government Affairs Council, 7:45 am, Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford. Presented by AT&T.

TUESDAY, MAY 16

Business Over Lunch, 11:30 am, Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Presented by Thayer Energy Solutions.

MONDAY, MAY 22 Rockford Chamber Golf Classic, 11 am, Rockford Country Club, 2500 Oxford St, Rockford.

THURSDAY, MAY 25

Speed Networking, 8:30 am, GRGP Office, 308 W State St, Suite 350, Rockford.

Sherry Harlan, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Carly LaMonica LaMonica Beverages, Inc.

Jake Loescher Savant Wealth

Management

Jamar Luster Ripe Life Juice

Kris Machajewski YWCA Northwestern Illinois

Dawna Menke

OSF HealthCare

Denise Sasse RSM US LLP

Peter Schmeling Schmeling Construction Co

LLP

Brent Scott Rockford Community Bank

Teri Sharp

American Precision Supply, Inc.

Ryan Snider Rockford Ice Hogs

Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA

University of Illinois College of Medicine

Rockford

Karl Swanson Illinois Bank & Trust

Christina Valdez

CMM & Associates

Dustin Vock Meiborg, Inc.

Robert Young Midwest Packaging and Container EX-OFFICIO

DIRECTORS

Caitlin Pusateri, President Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Therese Thill Rockford Area

Economic Development Council

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau