MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY FOR 28 YEARS
WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE MAP?
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HEALTH DEPT. RECEIVES ACCREDITATION PAGE 19
THE VOICE IS ONLINE AT ROCKFORDCHAMBER.COM
2018 MONEY SMART WEEK
of the Rockford Business Community
APRIL 2018 | Volume 31 | No. 4
Haney addresses
State of the County Balancing budget, public safety remain two key issues Winnebago County Board Chairman Frank Haney will never be accused of lacking enthusiasm for his job. That was evident during his secondannual State of the County address, held March 21 before 400 business and community leaders at Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center. For nearly an hour, Haney passionately weaved through the past year and his plans for the future. He covered a range of subjects such as deficit spending, public safety and getting our young people ready to become future leaders. “I’m optimistic,” he said. “I like some of the headways in our community. There are
PHOTOS BY BRIAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY
Winnebago County Board Chairman Frank Haney gave a thorough presentation in his State of the County address. a number of things we under celebrate — economic development, property values, unemployment is down.” “He has a very ambitious agenda,” said Einar Forsman, president & CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “As we heard, he’s pulling other people into the discussion, from county board members to other elected officials, to other community leaders. He’s expressed an awareness of issues and priorities that’s far greater than what the county responsibilities are, which is important. Haney talked about change, how it’s uncomfortable but necessary in county government.” “When I campaigned I said we were going to reform county government –
budget reform, purchasing reform, how we do business, consolidation discussion. One of the ways to build trust is to say what you’re going to do, do it and tell people what you’re doing next.” “I think that first phase was tough; the budget was brutal, but we took on the budget deficit. We made some tough decisions, but we were inclusive in a series of open meetings. It’s a change in how we do business. Does it fix all of our problems? No. But as we’re standing here today our public partners are working together. We’re not fighting. You do see some head butting over dollars inside the county, but that was inevitable.” Continued on page 4
Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com ■ online registration ■ keynote speaker video clips ■ event photos ■ list of Chamber events
Questions? 815-987-8100
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Tenants announced for Indoor City Market to open in 2018 The Rock River Development Partnership announced the first three tenants for the Indoor City Market at a construction kickoff ceremony on March 7. Jojo Gendenbaatar of Crust & Crumbles, Aakash Patel of Curry Bowls! and Emilia Almonaci of Lulu’s are the first to commit to expanding their business year-round with their participation in the indoor market. All are current vendors of the Rockford City Market, an outdoor market that’s a popular draw on Fridays to downtown Rockford from May to September. The indoor city market is expected to open late this year next to the outdoor market pavilion at the intersection of Water and Market streets and will feature a market hall, year-round tenants, a shared-use commercial kitchen and programs for the community. Funders for the project
In addition to tax deadlines and spring showers, April marks the return of Money Smart Week, a partnership of organizations throughout the United States offering free programs, classes and activities to consumers of all ages, income levels and demographics in better managing their personal finances. What began in 2002 by a diverse group of more than 40 Chicago-area organizations, has grown to a campaign that last year saw 2,400 partners presenting more than 3,800 events in 46 states. Organizations in the Rockford Region have participated for years in Money Smart Week. This year, these organizations, including many Rockford Chamber members, offer more than 60 events on topics such as financial freedom, homeownership, retirement readiness, scholarships and understanding credit. Click on Events at moneysmartweek.org for a listing of 2018 Money Smart Week events in the Rockford Region, running April 21 to 28.
Jojo Gendenbaatar, owner of Crust & Crumbles, is one of the first vendors announced as a tenant of the soon-to-beconstructed Indoor City Market. Slated to open this year, it’s managed by the Rock River Development Partnership, creators of Rockford City Market and Rockford Vintage Market and manager of North End City Market. include the City of Rockford, Rockford Bank & Trust, SCORE, US Bank, Twain Financial and Rock River Development Partnership. theVoice
The Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau has partnered with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) to educate consumers on the safe way to buy medications online. NABP evaluated 100 websites selling medication to patients in the United States, and all of them were found to be operating illegally: 54 percent were selling controlled substances, 98 percent did not require a valid prescription, 76 percent offered foreign or non-FDA approved drugs, and 40 percent were selling controlled substances linked to fentanyl-related overdoses. The most common controlled substance being offered with no prescription was Xanax. The BBB advises when considering an online pharmacy to look for the pharmacy domain at the end of the website address to see if it’s verified by the NABP. Avoid any random emails or pop up ads trying to get you to shop at their pharmacy. Consult safe.pharmacy for a list of safe online pharmacies.
2 | april 2018
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
US CHAMBER:
Middle Market outlook soars, Middle Market Business Index reports
Business leaders bullish on economy and tax cuts; plan to raise wages in a tight labor market “The middle market employs forty million Americans and a majority of these are planning to raise wages for their employees.” The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, climbed to an all-time high in the 2018 first quarter, with business leaders bullish on economic strength, the arrival of large tax cuts, a strong labor market, and increased spending they believe will be reflected on the bottom line. The report marks a record-high on both current and forward-looking economic conditions, signaling that leaders are confident the economy will remain a strong environment for business over the next six months. In the first quarter of 2018, the MMBI posted a composite score of 136.7, a 4.5-point increase overtaking last quarter’s 132.2 record. (A reading above 100 indicates an expanding
middle market.) The report comes amidst an incredibly tight labor market, yet 58 percent of business leaders report plans to increase hiring over the next six months. “This quarter’s MMBI findings correspond nicely with the direction of fundamental hard data, soft data and anecdotal evidence we’re seeing nationwide,” said Joe Brusuelas, RSM US LLP chief economist. “The U.S. economy is growing well above its long-term trend of 1.5 percent amid a tightening labor market that’s fueling wage growth. This could lead to potential near-term middle market economic headwinds as the difficulty in finding skilled, semi-skilled and public-facing labor increases as does the potential for ongoing trade spats that risk escalating into a full-blown trade war.” In an effort to attract talent in these labor conditions, 62 percent of middle market leaders report plans to increase compensation over the next 180 days; 49 percent reported doing so during the current quarter. “The middle market employs forty million Americans and a majority of these are planning to raise wages for
their employees. This is great news for American families and further proof that pro-growth policies like deregulation and tax reform work,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce Middle Market Business Council Executive Director Tom Sullivan.
Revenue on the Rise Amidst Inflation Expectations According to the report, revenue expectations remain strong, with 75 percent of middle market leaders expecting increases in the next six months. Middle market executives also reported fresh cyclical highs on increased prices received versus the last quarter and expectations over the coming six months, indicating middle market businesses believe they have sufficient market power to begin passing price increases to customers downstream.
Lack of Investment in Digital Economy Emerges as Concerning Trend Despite a track record of increasing optimism, middle market businesses remain hesitant on capital expenditures, a concern as the digital economy
constantly demands more advanced technology and could leave mid-sized companies struggling to catch up. A lag in capital expenditures has been a theme for middle market businesses over the past few quarters; despite strong reports on profits, revenues and economic outlook, less than half of middle market executives reported increasing capital spending this quarter. “Now is the time for middle market companies to invest in their businesses, as for many companies, the new tax rate is likely the lowest in their lifetime,” added Brusuelas. “It is paramount the middle market begins to get ahead of the curve of the coming disruption to their industries. The primary way to do that is to invest in software, equipment and intellectual property.” The survey data that informs the index reading was gathered between January 12 and February 5, 2018. To learn more about the middle market and the MMBI, visit the RSM website. Source: Press Release dated March 20, 2018 from the US Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the report go to www. uschamber.com and select their research tab.
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 3
PROFILE Member Profile With two locations in Rockford, Frank Savitski has plans for growing Panino’s in upcoming years.
BACK FOR MORE: Panino’s celebrates 28 years in business By Paul Anthony Arco Even after all these years of operating Panino’s, one of Rockford’s favorite restaurants, Frank Savitski never grows tired of customers heaping praise on the business. “People say to me all the time, ‘whenever my son or daughter comes back home, he or she has to come to Panino’s,” he said. “It’s the biggest compliment we get.” Panino’s is best described as an Italian restaurant thanks to its homemade bread, baked fresh daily from scratch. In fact, all salads and pasta dishes are served with a half loaf of the mouth-watering bread. Panino’s has locations at 2725 N. Main St. and 5403 E. State St. For years, Savitski also occupied concession space inside the BMO Harris Bank Center, but is giving it up this year to spend more time at his two primary locations and pursue other growth opportunities. “It was a great experience, and I’m thankful for the Rockford IceHog fans and entire staff at the BMO.” Savitski was no stranger to running a business thanks to his late father, Frank,
Sr., who owned the West End Tap. The younger Savitski studied business at Illinois State University, where he met Mary Ann, his wife of 38 years. After college Savitski returned home to help with the family business when his father became ill. In 1983, Savitski opened his first bar, Nectars Tavern, and later opened Rockford’s first sports bar, Frank’s Sports Page, and Mulligan’s Pub & Grill. (Savitski left the bar business in 2010.) In 1990, he bought Panino’s from a friend who owned one location on Charles and 20th Streets. “We opened the North Main location in 1992 and East State three years later,” said Savitski, who closed the Charles Street store in 2000.
Signature Items The Panino’s menu has stayed consistent over the years. Pizza came and went, and in recent years, Savitski has added seasonal desserts such as lemon bars, pumpkin bars in the fall, and cupcakes that are made from scratch. Panino’s caters and does a solid drive through business. What sets Panino’s apart is its
signature items — the Panino and the Panizza. The Panino is a hearty, 17-inch sandwich, and includes homemade bread, ham, salami, American cheese and lettuce. The Panizza features Panino’s homemade bread topped with sauce, mozzarella cheese and pizza ingredients. The Panizza menu includes the choice of cheese, pepperoni, sausage, veggie or build your own. Savitski recently trademarked the Panizza name and now sells a take-home version called Bake at Home that cooks in 15-20 minutes. Savitski hopes to one day sell them in grocery stores. Many of Panino’s employees are high school or college students, while a few have called the restaurant home for
a decade or longer. “They’re excellent. We couldn’t do it without them,” Savitski said. “It’s an opportunity for the kids to grow in their first job. Our turnover is very low because of our friendly, family environment.” After all these years, Savitski is still excited about the business. “I think we can take it to another level,” he said. “The restaurant business doesn’t always mean long hours, especially when you have the right staff. For us, it’s working.” Much has changed since the Savitskis took the reins of Panino’s 28 years ago. “Business is different, but it’s good,” Savitski said. “There’s more competition than ever. We’re proud that we’ve been able to hang in there. We’ve been blessed.” Panino’s is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
PANINO’S Owners: Frank and Mary Ann Savitski 5403 E. State St. (815-227-9200) 2725 N. Main St. (815-636-0036) www.paninosofrockford.com
4 | april 2018
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
State of the County (continued from front page)
What’s Going Well Haney highlighted the good. He said employers at the Chicago Rockford International Airport added 1,000 jobs in the past year. There are more than 250 aerospace suppliers based within “90 miles of our homes and places of businesses.” Winnebago County generated $353 million in tourism in 2016, which resulted in 2,882 jobs. He expects 2017 numbers to be even better. He lauded the young people from the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council who were in the audience, encouraging them to come back to Rockford after college to ‘make your mark and serve this great community.’ “We need to differentiate ourselves in the future so we attract these young people who serve in the youth advisory council.” “I was pleased to see the chairman highlight the importance of the city and county’s work together on public safety,” said Mayor Tom McNamara “That’s my top priority and is an issue where we must collaborate to have real success.” Haney said significant cuts were made to balance the fiscal year 2018 budget, however, over-spending remains a challenge. Since 2005, Winnebago County has spent down on reserve funds in the amount of $18 million a year. “We cannot continue down that path.” He tossed out the idea of raising
the public safety sales tax by a quarter percent to generate an extra $6.5 million. A half a percent would mean $13 million. “There are issues there, but he doesn’t shy away from them such as services, budget and crime,” said Forsman. “But he has a broader philosophy that we’re all working together to solve these issues. What he’s done in two years as county chair is demonstrate a great awareness of challenges we have and what the processes are to address them.” But Haney knows he can’t do it alone. There are ways for chamber members, he said, to become engaged. “One thing I threw out today is consider running for office,” he said. “We need more from our business and private sector
and our chamber members, which is the perfect demographic to draw from for our trustee and our council positions. We need more people to get involved. “I’m proud to be associated with people who are planting their feet in this
community; people who are making a point of who they are and what they believe in. That is the future of this community.” The sponsors of the luncheon were BMO Harris Bank, Alpha Control & Services LLC and AT&T. theVoice
Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101
For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100. The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 1086-0630, is published monthly by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, Illinois 61101. Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.
theVoice
april 2018 | 5
It may not be too late
Come for the celebration honoring two from Rockford Astrological significance figures in 2018: The Bicentennial of Illinois, the Sesquicentennial of Decoration/ Memorial Day, the Centennial of the end of WWI, the 90th anniversary of the Coronado Theatre, and the 54th anniversary of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois (LA). Focusing on Rockford, on May 5 at 5:30 p.m., sharp at the Coronado (doors open at 4:45 p.m.), the LA will stage its annual spring convocation honoring a small number of outstanding Illinoisans. This year, eight people (the Laureate class of 2018) will receive the highest award the state offers, The Order of Lincoln, with formal pageantry. Returning to Rockford after an absence of 40 years, the academy will also stage a patriotic concert featuring the Rockford Symphony and Chorale; and, along with the Governor, host a gala reception following the music. The concert segment will conclude with a world premiere, composed, orchestrated and performed by Emily Bear, one of the 2018 Laureates and the youngest ever so honored. Dave Rydell, chairman of Bergstrom, international businessman and philanthropist, is the other Rockfordian to be honored.
Get Your Tickets Now While there has been abundant publicity concerning this important event, this 11th hour article is targeted at Rockford Chamber of Commerce members, hoping that many may have already taken advantage of this occasion so important to northern Illinois and the whole state. There still may be time. Myrna and John Borling, co-chairs of the sponsor and civic committee, have been busy over the past months securing financial commitments to make this event possible and the annual Student Laureate convocation in Springfield in the fall. Tickets at $175 per person may still be available (contributions welcome as well). Additionally, a limited number of free tickets (convocation and concert only -- no reception or special seating) may still be obtainable online. For both options, register online at LAOIL2018.EVENTBRITE.com. Keep checking even up to the day. To learn more or sign up (paid tickets only) visit www.thelincolnacademyofillinois.org. The academy enjoys official partnership with the City of Rockford and the Friends of the Coronado. For questions email John at JLBViking@ yahoo.com or the academy’s Executive Director Julie Kellner at JKellner@ thelincolnacademyofIllinois.org.
ANNOUNCING THE 2018 LINCOLN LAUREATES (Two are from Rockford) Emily Bear, pianist, composer, songwriter Dick Butkus, athlete, professional football player, linebacker Stephen Shih Chen, founder and chief technology officer of YouTube Father Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., university administrator, professor, author, scholar Mellody Hobson, president, chairman, director, charitable leader Edward L. McMillan, agribusiness leader, president & CEO of Purina Mills Louis H. Philipson, M.D., Ph.D., professor, diabetes authority, director, discoverer David Rydell, president, CEO, & chairman of Bergstrom Inc.
Join in a cross-sector call to action The path to financial stability for CBOs
Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence invites you to an event revealing key findings from a report on the economic and social impacts of community-based organizations and the need to strengthen and preserve their role in promoting the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities. “State of the Sector: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in America,” will take place on Friday, April 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford. Speaker Susan Dreyfus, CEO, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, will reveal key findings from the newly-released report, “A National Imperative: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in America.” She’ll identify five “north star” initiatives designed to put CBOs on the path of financial stability, while improving population health and well-being, increasing economic productivity and lowering social costs over time. Register at StateoftheSector2018.eventbrite.com or call 815-394-4384.
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theVoice
A FEW WORDS FROM RPS 205 SUPERINTENDENT
Opening the doors to employee feedback
A focus on transparency, high-quality professional development Being in touch with our students, our families, our employees and our community is essential to the Rockford Public Schools becoming the first choice for all families. Last month, 51 parents at six elementary schools — Ellis, Swan Hillman, Lathrop, Rolling Green, Nelson and Spring Creek — participated in focus groups. They met for 90 minutes and answered questions such as: What do you think about your child’s academic instruction or learning in this school? How can that instruction be improved? What do you think about the support your child receives in this school? How can that student support be improved? A research and communications company, K12 Insight, ran the focus groups to ensure confidentiality and demonstrate the district’s dedication to getting honest feedback. We are grateful to two of our community partners — Discovery Center Museum and the Rockford Park District — for helping us provide child care at the schools so parents could participate. Results of the focus groups will be shared with school principals this month. They will review the data and form action plans. Next year, K12 will help us send a survey on school quality to students and parents across the district. It’s all part of our commitment to continuous improvement.
The Surveys Say … Surveys are a great tool to drive continuous improvement as well. The district is proud of the results from last year’s Rockford Chamber of Commerce Public Education Survey. Nearly three in four respondents believed RPS 205 is headed in the right direction. We still have work to do, but are building on those positive results and following our Strategic Plan. We are encouraged by what we hear from our staff, too. This fall, we surveyed our employees on the critical topic of engagement. In asking for their opinions, we acknowledged we hadn’t always been intentional with survey data. We asked for their feedback a lot, but we were lax in sharing the results and responding with steps for improvement. We are diligent about communication and follow-through this time around. It’s a bright spot alone that 57 percent of our staff and 82 percent of our teachers responded to the survey. Not only that: A total of 77 percent of employees who responded were engaged
Dr. Ehren Jarrett Superintendent RPS 205
or highly engaged with their work, according to the survey administrator K12 Insight. We discovered in the survey, though, that we have plenty of work to do to leverage high engagement. District leaders chose to focus on these areas: understanding employees’ professional needs, making sure leaders’ actions are consistent with their words and encouraging employees to share ideas to improve performance.
‘Let’s Talk!’ Employee Engagement To that end, I am visiting each school building and highlighting a specific problem of professional practice. So far this school year, I have visited three early childhood centers, six elementary schools and one middle school. A topic that comes up frequently in these discussions is high-quality professional development. We want to make sure the millions of dollars we spend every year on continuing education aligns with school improvement and our Strategic Plan. Responsiveness and transparency are among the highest values at RPS 205. In January we created a place on our interactive customer service platform Let’s Talk! so employees can address concerns about engagement. In this space a year ago I shared data on Let’s Talk!, which allows the public as well as staff to submit questions, suggestions, concerns and compliments to the district 24/7 from their mobile phone or computer. It’s our fourth school year with Let’s Talk! and we are proud of the results. We have received 6,812 dialogues and our average time to close is 2.3 days (the goal is 48 hours). While the time to close is about the same as a year ago, there’s been a 44 percent increase in number of dialogues during that time period. We’re an organization that believes in continuous improvement, and our door will continue to be open — to our community, to our students and families, and to our staff. Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools. The views expressed are those of Dr. Jarrett’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 7
R O C K F O R D
C H A M B E R
O F
C O M M E R C E
Small Business Enterprise The principles of great delegation Benefits include building high performers Delegation is one of the foundational skill sets in management. In its simplest form, delegation is described in three primary parts: accountability, authority and responsibility. The caveat is execution. Frequently, I hear established business owners comment their delegation approach is not achieving the results they want. We’ll explore the actual purpose of good delegation. What are some proven steps that experts say are not only necessary, but, in most cases, mandatory? After all, it should not be that challenging. Many hard-working managers do it frequently, and their staffs are content. Most importantly, productivity is up. A definition that I like is, “Delegation is the art of achieving predetermined results through empowering and enabling employees. This art project entails, trust, skills matching, training, retraining, coaching, correction, enthusiasm, encouragement, and patience. Just to exacerbate the issue, we are working with and dealing with the most complicated organism on earth – The Human Being.” Let’s break this into a few smaller pieces. When you have a chance today, take 15 minutes and ask yourself two questions: 1. Why and what should I delegate? 2. Why don’t I delegate? We delegate because it accomplishes more work, your department is more productive, most importantly, it builds morale with employees. Yes, they will feel more empowered and fulfilled. The list of reasons why we don’t is a very long list. 1. No time to train. 2. By the time I train someone, I could have done the job twice. 3. I like to do that. 4. I’ve delegated that task, and no one can do it as good as me, etc.
There is an old saying that I use frequently, “if they (employees) can do something 80 percent as well as me, let them do it.” Conversely, what should I delegate, is an equally long list: Tasks that my staff can do better, tasks that require more tactical thinking and skills, etc. There is an old saying that I use frequently, “If they (employees) can do something 80 percent as well as me, let them do it.” As a matter of fact, some sage masters tell me that 80 percent is really good. For most of us, we are not packing parachutes or a physician practicing brain surgery. Maybe we need to give our employees a little leeway. Many of the great delegators that I have known mention quite often that coaching and delegation live in the same house; monumentally arduous to separate the two. Good coaches and delegators are growth-oriented managers and leaders. They want their employees to develop, becoming more salient and critical to the organization. If you are delegating, you are also coaching, because they are getting more information, building skills, becoming more important and developing.
Six Steps to Achieving Clarity Like most management skills, there are guidelines; in this case, six meaningful steps that lead us to sound, practical principles and clear standards of delegation. Remember, just because you say it, and your language is fairly simple and unambiguous, does not necessarily create understanding. Ask for understanding! 1. Indicate what new responsibility you would like the person to handle and why. 2. Describe the new responsibility in detail; outlining specific tasks and
performance standards. (How well you want this task done or job done.) 3. Ask for questions and suggestions. (Communication is a twoway exercise. Is there understanding?) 4. Listen to the employee’s comments and respond empathetically. 5. Ask the person for a commitment and offer your help. (Make certain the employee knows problem solving is their responsibility, but you can help.) 6. Express your confidence in the person’s ability to successfully handle the new responsibility.
What to Always Delegate ■ Operating and Technical work. A general rule is to delegate everything possible relating to management work except the initiation and final inspection. ■ Routine and Detail. Work that must be done over and over again in the same way should be delegated.
■ Define the work in writing. The ancillary to this is a conversation, in writing if it is helpful. Your subordinate can refer to your notes.
Bo Boger SBDC
■ Make Standards Clear. What are your expectations? How well do you want this done? ■ Motivate the Delegatee. Inspire, and give your employee adequate authority. ■ Get Completed Work. Don’t settle for a half-way job. ■ Recall Delegation When Necessary. Sometimes your people may not be able to handle the work you delegate to them. If this happens, take back the delegation.
What to Never Delegate
Keep in mind the three primary pitfalls of delegation:
■ Final Management Decisions. Making the final decision does not necessarily involve work leading to it.
■ Poor Communication
■ Decisions on Overall Operating/ Technical Problems. ■ Work that Subordinates Cannot Perform Effectively. This “How to Delegate” is another approach that experts all agree has great merit: ■ Select & Organize the Job. Select routine duties and tasks that you may now be performing or a job that you feel may assist in developing subordinates.
■ Making Assumptions ■ Micro-Managing Last, but not least, a brief reminder of the reasons we should delegate, and what is accomplished when we do. It saves time, improves productivity, improves employee self-esteem, reduces stress, divides the load, develops people, is cost effective (my time costs more than theirs), builds depth behind you and challenges your high-performers. Bo Boger is director at the Illinois SBDC at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
ABOUT THE SBDC The Illinois SBDC at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce offers services free of charge to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Rockford area, both chamber members and non-members. As a partnership between the Rockford Chamber and the Illinois DCEO, it operates out of NIU EIGERlab, NIURockford, 8500 E. State St., and maintains an office at the chamber’s downtown location. For questions, contact Bo Boger, SBDC director, at 815-316-4301.
8 | april 2018
theVoice
Rockford University PERSPECTIVE
Navigating your story with a message map, part deux Last month, Rita Elliott, director of university communications, and I worked together on a fun project, one that had us going back in time and down memory lane as we explored and presented on the brand evolution of Rockford University for the March Breakfast Buzz. Our findings, centered on Rockford University’s branding campaigns from 2003 to present day, not only reminded us of where we’ve been, but also of the important lessons that we have learned along the way. One such lesson is grounded in the creation and use of our Rockford University Message Map. Simply put, we shared with our audience, “develop a Message Map,” and then briefly explained how this tool helps drive our messaging. After receiving several questions and some feedback after the event, we decided to re-share an article that I wrote for the March 2012 issue of The Voice. What follows is an edited, shorter version of how to begin to navigate the topic of Message Maps. Marketing and communications professionals are in many ways storytellers. Whether the stories they tell unfold on screen or in print, are 30 seconds or 140+ characters in length, they tell the story of their company and its brand. Moreover, “marcom” professionals serve two important roles: identifying their company’s narrative like a biographer and adding imagery to this narrative like an illustrator. But how do we begin to identify our organization’s compelling narrative and meaningful illustrations? Our society is inundated with message after message. Cutting through the clutter is no longer just about developing a clever tagline or a creative ad campaign. Instead, it’s about sharing clear and memorable messages with consistency, authenticity and repetition. What better device for any type of navigational challenge — whether navigating road trips or storytelling — than a good, old-fashioned map?
Telling the Company Story I had the privilege of learning from an industry expert by attending a seminar hosted by the Rockford Chamber back in April 2008. Led by the late media expert and trainer Tripp Frohlichstein of MediaMasters, Inc., this seminar introduced me to the Message Map, now one of my most coveted, strategic tools. Simple in its design but complex in its significance, the Message Map is a one-page (or one-screen) overview of an organization’s most important messages for all of its audiences. Quite simply, the Message Map tells the story of a company and represents that infamous red dot
Nellie Miller
noting, “you are Rockford University here.” As instructed by Tripp, the Message Map has four important components or levels, and they include: Home Base > Positive Points > Positive Proof Points > Anecdotes.
Touching Home in Your Message Central to the map is your “home base” — your single most significant message. The reference to “home” is important. Whenever talking about your company, you want to bring it back “home” to your central message. Whatever this statement comprises, it is the number one statement that you want audiences to know about your company. So, start with a blank piece of paper and write your home base message in the center. At Rockford University, our home base is comprised of our brand promise statement. This statement, representing our value proposition, was not created in isolation. It was developed during an extensive brand development process involving representatives of all of our stakeholders. While your home base is your top priority, it does not stand alone. Reasons and real-life examples exist that explain and support your home base, so the rest of the map needs to represent those parts (Positive Points > Positive Proof Points > Anecdotes), and they surround your home base.
Sharing Your Story A Message Map is the foundation for any company’s story and provides transparency and direction to that story. Just like your organization, your Message Map is a living and breathing entity. As your story grows and further develops, so does your Message Map. By adopting an official Message Map and sharing it with all of your internal stakeholders, you are not only empowering all of your employees to tell your story, but they can now tell the same, consistent story — something central to strong brand recognition and messaging. Relevant and authentic message maps can uplift and strengthen your reputation and also keep you from that dreadful GPS moment of “recalculating” and getting lost. Nellie Miller is director of marketing at Rockford University. The views expressed are those of Miller’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
theVoice
april 2018 | 9
Guest Perspective insight
Offering talent pipeline solutions in manufacturing Help at hand for employer training The responses from around the room were almost identical. “I don’t know where to go to find skilled workers.” At a recent meeting of area manufacturers, employers were asked about the workforce issues that keep them awake at night. The responses from around the room were almost identical. “I don’t know where to go to find skilled workers.” The Workforce Connection offers several solutions for manufacturers and other employers. Magna, one of the FCA suppliers located in Belvidere, has an ongoing need for forklift operators. For the last four months, the business team at The Workforce Connection has worked with Magna’s staffing agency to identify nearly 100 potential employees and enroll them in one-day classroom and hands-on training, resulting in the forklift certification needed for employment. Nearly all of those workers who completed training were hired by the company. Using funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), The Workforce Connection was able to cover 100 percent of the cost of the training. Another potential workforce solution is on-the-job training, which helps place jobseekers into new positions by reimbursing the employer up to 50 to 75 percent of the cost of training. This can be a win-win for both the employer and the jobseeker, especially if the new employee is in need of additional skills to
Robert Jones The Workforce Connection
be successful in the workplace. “Programs like OJT allow manufacturers the ability to offset the high cost of training and develop a strong workforce for our region,” said Sarah Johnson, director of business operations at Imperial Punch & Manufacturing in Rockford. “This program gives individuals targeted training while they are working and earning wages and also enables employers to provide quality training in-house.” Incumbent Worker Training is another increasingly popular program offered through The Workforce Connection, assisting employers in upgrading the skills of its existing workforce to remain competitive. TriStar Metals in Freeport received assistance to help implement a new quality management system. “The program enabled them to achieve certification in a much shorter timeframe than they would have been able to accomplish without this training, opening new doors and opportunities for the company,” said Sherri Schulz, director of quality management systems and continuous improvement. Every company has unique needs and the assistance available through The Workforce Connection is flexible and can be customized to help fill critical job openings and skill demands. For more information, contact me at 815-395-6619. Robert Jones is business account manager with The Workforce Connection. The views expressed are those of Jones’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
10 | By The Books – Accounting & Finance
april 2018 • theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
Guest Perspective insight
Are emotions about money working against you? Time to do a ‘paycheck checkup’ IRS releases new Withholding Calculator, Form W-4 By Barbara Connors
This includes those who:
Following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December of last year, the Internal Revenue Service has sent a notice urging taxpayers to check if they have the right amount taken out of their paychecks. With too little tax withheld, the IRS warned that taxpayers could face an unexpected tax bill or penalty next year. The act calls for tax changes, including increasing the standard deduction, removing personal exemptions, increasing the child tax credit, limiting or discontinuing certain deductions and changing the tax rates and brackets. To assess the impact of those changes, the IRS released an updated Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov and a new version of Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate) for taxpayers to check their 2018 tax withholding. The withholding changes do not affect 2017 tax returns due this April.
Do a ‘Paycheck Checkup’ Use the results from your completed 2017 tax return to work with the Withholding Calculator. Then fill out Form W-4 to adjust your income tax withholding. Groups with more complicated financial situations that might need to revise their W-4s include: ■ Two-income families. ■ People with two or more jobs at the same time or who only work for part of the year. ■ People with children who claim credits such as the Child Tax Credit. ■ People who itemized deductions in 2017. ■ People with high incomes and more complex tax returns. Taxpayers with more complex situations might need to use Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, expected to be available on IRS. gov in early spring, instead of the Withholding Calculator.
■ owe self-employment tax. ■ use the alternative minimum tax. ■ have tax on unearned income from dependents. ■ have capital gains and dividends.
Using the Withholding Calculator Gather your most recent pay stub from work. Check to make sure it reflects the amount of federal income tax that you have had withheld so far in 2018. Have a completed copy of your 2017 (or possibly 2016) tax return handy. Information on that return can help you estimate income and other items for 2018. However, note that the new tax law made significant changes to itemized deductions. Keep in mind the Withholding Calculator results are only as accurate as the information entered. If your circumstances change during the year, come back to the calculator to make sure your withholding is still correct. The Withholding Calculator does not request personally-identifiable information such as name, Social Security number, address or bank account numbers. The IRS does not save or record the information entered on the calculator. As always, watch out for tax scams, especially via email or phone calls and be especially alert to cybercriminals impersonating the IRS. The IRS does not send emails related to the calculator or the information entered. As a general rule, the fewer withholding allowances you enter on the Form W-4, the higher your tax withholding will be. Entering “0” or “1” on line 5 of the W-4 means more tax will be withheld. Entering a bigger number means less tax withholding, resulting in a smaller tax refund or potentially a tax bill or penalty. If you complete a new Form W-4, you should submit it to your employer as soon as possible. With withholding occurring throughout the year, it’s better to take this step early on.
If you’ve ever felt a rush of excitement at making a big purchase or experienced feelings of shame at making a financial mistake, you know that our relationship with money isn’t always rational. For example, before the recent correction, we had clients asking us to get more aggressive with a pedal-to-the metal attitude, while others were anxious to cash out. For most people, money comes with a lot of emotional and psychological baggage that affects our decisions. Those unconscious beliefs that affect your income, debt and financial decisions are a combination of what you observed about money from your parents, your personal points of reference and generational biases you have. Behavioral economists refer to these emotions as “biases” and find they can drive many positive and negative financial behaviors. Because of these biases, we encourage our clients to talk to their kids about money and teach them good financial skills early in life. As adults, it’s our responsibility to understand our own feelings about money, learn to recognize our psychological triggers and how they drive our financial behavior.
■ How
■ Emotional investing decisions: Investing with emotion can wreak havoc on long-term performance by leading to overconfidence when markets rally and panic when markets decline.
you focused on your goals and the big
■ Anxiety about the unknown: Fear of the unknown can leave people feeling paralyzed with worry and unable to make financial decisions or prepare for the future. ■ Shame and avoidance: Regret of a past financial decision can lead to inaction and push people into ignoring critical financial tasks that make them uncomfortable. ■ Emotional spending: The rush of excitement of making a big purchase can give people a brief feeling of euphoria or distraction, but cripple your savings strategies if left unchecked.
Understanding Your Financial Behaviors The first step to unraveling your psychological relationship with money is to realize that you’re not alone. Everyone has positive and negative emotions related to money that can lead them to make not-so-savvy decisions. One way to help you explore your internal money scripts is by imagining how you feel in certain common financial scenarios: ■ How does buying something make you feel?
10501 North 2nd Street Machesney Park, IL 61115-1455 Phone: 815-394-5500 | Toll Free: 800-963-5501
■ How does saving for the future make you feel?
does
budgeting and
tracking
expenses make
Thomas Weightman Wells Fargo Advisors
you feel? ■ How do you feel when markets are up or down and a bit bumpy? ■ How do you feel about your financial future? If you have strong positive or negative reactions to any of these questions, take note of those feelings and explore them in more depth – perhaps with the help of a financial advisor. While some emotional triggers can lead to positive activities like saving and preparing for the future, others can cause negative behaviors like avoidance, overspending and emotional investing. Even positive emotions like self-confidence and optimism can lead to negative outcomes when they cause people to ignore the future. Use your new-found understanding of your biases towards money to avoid letting emotions derail your finances by: ■ Developing a long-term plan to keep picture. ■ Building financial strategies to help neutralize your emotions during stressful periods. ■ Automating your saving and investing through your workplace retirement plan. Taking small steps toward financial behaviors like bi-weekly family budget meetings. ■ Forgiving yourself for mistakes and getting back on track as quickly as possible. By far, the most important thing you can do to keep emotions out of your investment decisions is to develop a detailed financial plan. The markets are inherently reactionary, but a longrange plan incorporates that volatility in determining your probability for success. It allows you to monitor your progress along the way to help you stay focused on the long-term, without the distraction of the news of the day. Thomas Weightman is a financial consultant and associate vice president – investment officer for the Gummow Wealth Advisory Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, with 12 years of experience in wealth management. The views expressed are those of Weightman’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
april 2018 • theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
By The Books – Accounting & Finance | 11
Guest Perspective insight
Reduce stress, raise productivity Employee financial well-being programs As Americans take on more debt, the need for employer-sponsored financial well-being programs has increased. In fact, MetLife reported in its 15th Annual Benefits Trend Study that 42 percent of employees believe their employer has a responsibility for providing these programs. Offering a financial well-being program may not only impact your recruitment and retention efforts, but also your bottom line. The impact of financial stress is widespread and even impacting employees’ performance in the workplace. ■ 87 percent of U.S. workers say they have some amount of stress or anxiety due to personal finances, and 48 percent reported either a moderate or significant amount of stress.* ■ About 45 percent of workers age 18 to 45 say personal financial worries impact their ability to do their job.* ■ 85 percent of U.S. workers say they occasionally use time during the workday to address personal financial concerns, and 41 percent say they do so multiple times per month.* Given the impact financial stress can have on employees and the employers’ bottom line, many companies are now establishing financial wellness programs. In the 2017 Year of Employee Financial Wellness Programs study, the Society for Human
Resource Management reported that 49 percent of employers are providing access to financial resources to their employees, including resource materials or referrals, online assessments and advice tools. Some are also providing group training and oneon-one sessions with a financial counselor. Historically, employers’ role in the finances of their employees has been through their retirement plan benefits and maybe with an underutilized employee assistance program. This approach has not been effective, especially for individuals looking at a mountain of debt. Similar to making changes to one’s physical and emotional well-being, taking action on addressing your financial situations can be just as daunting. Most people know they “should” exercise more or eat healthier, but that does not result in us actually doing it. The same is true for financial wellness — most people know they “should” pay off credit card debt and save for retirement, but that can be easier said than done.
No ‘One-Size-Fits-All’
A successful program will include both educational information as well as resources. The educational component should cover the various aspects of an employee’s financial life, such as: ■ Meeting day-to-day needs (i.e. budgeting, debt management, etc.) ■ Saving for the future (i.e. saving for college, retirement planning, etc.) ■ Preparing for the unexpected (i.e. life insurance, disability insurance, etc.) Available tools and resources should encourage people to take some sort of action. They may include a financial wellness assessment which outlines the bigger picture of an individual’s financial situation, and access to financial consultants or planners to identify and guide employees through the first steps in the process.
Financial Wellness Programs ■ Education and awareness alone will not lead to behavior change, but are a necessary component of the program.
motivational support and accountability. ■ Leaders and Brecken Haak top managers Associated Bank need to be committed to the program. Simply announcing it and indicating where to go for information will not produce positive results. The program needs to be continually promoted and barriers to accessing it need to be removed or limited.
Putting It All Together Providing financial resources may only be one piece of the puzzle. The MetLife Study stated that providing benefits that support financial well-being helped employees gain peace of mind (74 percent), relieved financial anxiety (70 percent) and impacted productivity and focus at work (51 percent). A holistic approach of a financial wellness program combined with the right benefits may be the best way to boost productivity and recruit and retain top talent. Brecken Haak is a vice president and private banker with Associated Bank. *Source: Workplace
■ Offer a variety of resources, from debt As with health-related wellness, there is management, budgeting, to retirement no “one-size-fits-all” approach to financial planning services. Options Public Policy Polling National Survey, 2017 wellness. Employees are at different places ■ Offer a variety of formats — in person, on the financial wellness spectrum and have online, telephonic or self-service. Financial The views expressed are those of Haak’s and do not varying preferences for accessing services coaching (regardless of delivery method) necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber they may need. can be helpful as it offers additional of Commerce.
12 | By The Books – Accounting & Finance
april 2018 • theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
Guest Perspective insight
Some tax considerations for choosing a trustee Family? Corporation? Shared?
David Cyrs CYRS Wealth Advisors
for example, a bank, a trust company or a neutral professional to serve as trustee. A professional trustee is expected to bring experience, objectivity and extensive resources to help insure the trust is administered according to the trusts terms. Corporate trustees also assume fiduciary responsibility and maintain insurance coverage. Perhaps most of all professional ■ Administer and invest the trust trustees may be more non-judgmental property according to the trust document. than a family member and do not hold the emotional ties that can become problems ■ Act impartially when dealing with trust when dealing with family members. property and payments to beneficiaries. Selecting suitable trustees and appropriate mechanisms for naming trustees over time is often a part of our estate, retirement and wealth management planning discussions. As trusts can often span decades, they can only be as successful as the named trustees. Fiduciary responsibilities include acting ethically in the best interest of the beneficiary, of course, and include among others:
■ Exercise discretionary powers over distribution of income and principal.
Shared Trustee
■ Distribute the principal of the trust to the appropriate person or persons upon termination of the trust.
Some families, we have found, prefer a shared relationship or co-trustee, ordinarily a family member and a professional or corporate trustee who serve as a check and a balance for each other. In such cases, look for a mechanism to mediate or arbitrate disputes to deal with any potential conflicts that can arise among family members or co-trustees.
Family Member Trustees
Tax Considerations
A family member or close relative or friend usually is used when trusts are structured primarily to transfer assets such as real estate or family business to children. When considering family or friend, make sure to know exactly what the trust document’s purpose and specific provision are prior to naming a trustee. Making sure the grantor notifies the individual trustee is essential. Consider whether the trustee has the skills and expertise to administer and manage the trust in an impartial manner. Selecting an investment advisor who is also a fiduciary, is quite important in our view. Consider whether the family member will expect to be paid or compensated. Consider the trustee’s residence, as that might cause undue taxation of the trust. (For example, if the trustee is a resident of California or another high-income tax state, the trust will be subject to higher income tax rates).
Regardless of choice, we advise in our conversations that consideration be given to tax planning. Optimal locations for trust administration is a planning consideration and taking advantage of certain states trust laws are consideration of trust attorney and ourselves in conversation, including states like Delaware, Nevada, South Dakota or Alaska. This is meant only for discussion with our planning clients and does in no way constitute any legal advice, not be construed as such.
■ Maintain clear and accurate financial records and report as to tax returns. ■ Follow up on any legal claims to defend the trust.
David Cyrs, M.S., is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, AIF®, CRC® with CYRS Wealth Advisors. Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed Insurance and services through CYRS Wealth Advisors LLC or CES Agency.
The views expressed are those of Cyrs’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford You may name a professional trustee; Chamber of Commerce.
Corporate Trustees
Be prepared for short-term market volatility Stay disciplined and don’t let it derail your long-term investment perspective February has brought some big drops in stock prices, but local investors should not allow short-term stock market fluctuations to derail their longterm investment decisions, especially when the likely causes of the market volatility actually suggest reasons for optimism. Some good economic news may have contributed to the sell-off of stocks. A 17-year low in unemployment and solid job growth have begun to push wages upward. These developments have led to fears that the Federal Reserve may seek to fight inflation by raising interest rates -- and just the expectation of these higher rates has helped pushed stocks downward. Another cause of the market volatility appears to be investors’ response to the long bull market, which is nearly nine years old. While rising stock prices typically draw more investors into the market, some people still need to liquidate their stocks, and this pent-up selling demand, combined with short-term profit-taking, has helped contribute to the large sell-offs in recent days. Some market pullbacks really do signify the beginning of a bear market, and possibly even a recession, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case right now. Over time, we expect stocks to be supported by a strong economy and by corporate earnings growth -- and both are currently looking pretty good. In fact, the U.S. economy is near full employment, consumer and business sentiment have risen strongly, manufacturing and service activity are at multiyear highs, and GDP growth in 2018 appears to be on track for its best performance since 2015. Furthermore, corporate earnings are expected to rise at a double-digit pace this year.
Recent History Apart from these solid economic fundamentals, the stock market’s recent history also should provide investors with a sense of perspective. We had pretty sizable sell-offs over
Over time, we expect stocks to be supported by a strong economy and by corporate earnings growth — and both are currently looking pretty good. short periods in 2015 and 2016, and in both cases, the market regained all the ground it lost, and then some, in just three months. Of course, past performance of the markets is no guarantee of what will happen in the future, but investors should take comfort in knowing that we’ve been here before. The current situation can provide good opportunities for longterm investors to purchase quality investments at lower prices. Still, investors should first review their portfolios to determine if any changes are needed. Higher market volatility seems likely to continue, so be sure you’re prepared for it. And one of the best ways to do that is to own an appropriate mix of stocks and bonds, based on your risk tolerance, time horizon and longterm financial goals. You may need to rebalance by adding fixed-income vehicles -- or even some new stocks -- to return your portfolio to a position where it’s helping you move toward your key objectives, such as a comfortable retirement. Ultimately, investors need the discipline to look past short-term downturns and the perseverance to keep investing in all types of markets. Article provided by Edward Jones. Visit www.edwardjones.com and its recruiting website at www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC. The views expressed are those of Edward Jones and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
Tax Freedom Day is April 23 in 2017
This date represents how long Americans as a whole have to work in order to pay the nation’s tax burden. ■ Americans will pay $3.5 trillion in federal taxes and $1.6 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total bill of more than $5.1 trillion, or 31 percent of the nation’s income. ■ Americans will collectively spend more on taxes in 2017 than they will on food, clothing and housing, combined. If you include annual federal borrowing, which represents future taxes owed, Tax Freedom Day would occur 14 days later, on May 7.
Source: Tax Foundation
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 13
Accuride supervisors graduate after year-long training Wednesday, March 21, 2018 marked a very special evening for nine Accuride Wheel End Solutions Supervisors as they graduated from a year-long management and leadership development program. This program developed in collaboration with Rock Valley College’s Business and Professional Institute (BPI). Eric Pansegrau, Accuride Director of Operations, and Ron Teliszczak, Accuride Human Resources Manager, approached Rock Valley College in late 2016, seeking a training partnership. They sought a customized curriculum to assist with increased skill sets for short tenured supervisors from manufacturing operator positions. Ron stated that, “We needed to provide an advanced level of formalized leadership development to ensure success for these key employees. Our end-point vision is a world-class supervisory team, to be developed with a concise, profound and repeatable curriculum, designed to enhance practical skills and key competencies, while enabling us the flexibility to modify the program as it progresses.”
Front row (sitting down) L to R: Scott Frederick, Trinette Little, Jordan Welch, Teena Graham Back row (standing) L to R: Carl Goebel, Antonio Luster, Kinnie Luster, Michael St. John Sr., Jeffrey Ballard.
other half attended from 5 to 8 p.m. “Accommodating their specific work schedules and proximity of the training location to Accuride was imperative to the success of this program,” said Bernie Luecke, Director of the Business and Professional Institute. “We are very fortunate at Rock Valley College to have various instructional locations to meet the needs of our students and customers.”
Training Staff for Promotions
Specialized Curriculum
Accuride continues to be a competitive North American supplier of wheel-end systems and components for the heavy and medium duty truck market. It regularly promotes at the supervisor level from the operator level; an investment driven by their senior management team. Eric stated, “We struggle to find individuals with the appropriate skills needed for our operation here in Rockford. As it pertains to this program, for many of our supervisors, this is their first experience with college. Our hope is that they will pursue an advanced degree supported by Accuride upon completion of this program.” The first of 47 training sessions began on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Rock Valley College’s Stenstrom Center for Career Education located at 4151 Samuelson Road. The new supervisors voluntarily participated in this program before or after their work shift every Wednesday. Half attended from noon to 3 p.m., while the
Curriculum development for this supervisory program was a collaborative effort between Accuride’s senior management team and the Rock Valley College team. The training began with 10 sessions of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. All Microsoft modules were taught by certified Microsoft instructor Emily K. Kelps. Each supervisor successfully completed all the requirements for Microsoft Office, with their last assignment being a culmination of all skills learned; demonstrated through a PowerPoint presentation to senior management. Each supervisor earned three college credits applicable toward an advanced degree. The soft skill portion of the program was led by H.C. Bo Boger, highly renowned local trainer and Director of the Illinois SBDC at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Soft skill training comprised 17 training sessions with topics designed
to create a skill set to enhance the skills of these supervisors. Soft skill training sessions included the following: Business Writing, Essential Communication Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Conflict Resolution, Change Management, Coaching & Motivation, Time Management, Professional Attitudes and Business Ethics. Bo was instrumental in the success of this program and spent a great deal of time with the students. For Bo, “During every dialogue-driven step within the management and leadership skill set sessions, we adjusted the material and content, addressing individual and collective issues that all participants wanted. That informational improvement, for the next day or the next class, provided immediate and new management skills.” For Eric Pansegrau, the priority was creating a stronger culture for process improvement. He said, “The Rockford Operation has become a proven leader in the process improvement area and reinforcing this through training to the supervisors was an absolute must.” In order to reinforce this skill set, the program featured 20 instructional sessions of Six Sigma and Lean disciplines, in four increments of five weeks each. BPI’s Master Black Belt instructor, Allen Softley, created a curriculum utilizing Accuride’s data as well as real life examples that supervisors would experience during their day-to-day operations. All nine supervisors attained
a Green Belt Certification for successfully completing these 20 sessions, as well as passing the audited exam. Along with Bernie Luecke RVC BPI their Green Belt Certifications, each supervisor received a Certification of Excellence for completing the program at the graduation ceremony on March 21. As we seek continuous improvement, we ask the following: How are the supervisors who participated in this curriculum progressing? What positive impact or change has this curriculum provided? On a larger scale, how did their training impact not only their departments, but the organization as a whole?
Industry Week Best Plant Award Founded as Gunite Corporation in 1854, Rockford’s oldest foundry and oldest working manufacturing plant, Accuride Wheel End Solutions, continues to be a major manufacturing asset in Rockford. On March 1, 2018, the Accuride Wheel End Solutions Rockford Plant won the prestigious Industry Week Best Plant Award; one of only eight plants in North America to achieve this high honor. Through their strong economic impact and workforce investment commitment, it continuously strives to grow its most valuable asset; its employees. If you are interested in learning more about the Management and Leadership Development that BPI offers, or have other customization needs, please call Bernie Luecke at 815-921-2067 or e-mail B.Luecke@RockValleyCollege.edu. Bernie Luecke is director of the Business & Professional Institute at Rock Valley College. The views expressed are those of Luecke’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Manufacturing News is sponsored by RVC BPI
14 | april 2018
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
Retention: The ugly duckling of workforce I often hear business owners, HR directors or managers share their frustrations when trying to fill open positions within their organizations. Our workforce is definitely changing and finding qualified workers to fill positions can be a daunting task. The frustrations seem to cross industry line and profession. People need skilled labor, highly education labor, skill-set specific labor – the need for talent knows no bounds. But with all the attention on the need for labor, it’s easy to miss the other side of the equation: retaining the talent you have. The retention side of the equation is an important one, but I feel it’s one
REGISTER FOR THE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP MINI SERIES! May 17: Emotional Intelligence July 26: Coach-Like Leadership 8:30 to 10 a.m., at Rockford University’s PURI School of Business. $100 per session or $185 for both. Register online at www.rockfordchamber.com.
that’s often overlooked and pushed to the wayside. After all, we’re busy professionals with no time to spare – who has time to retain talent?? The good news is while attracting talent can be expensive, retaining talent doesn’t have to be. There are vast amounts of ways to help improve your chances of retaining talent without breaking the bank. Here are just a few: Use Your Words It always amazes me how many times companies or managers do not use a very simple tactic to retain talent: words! Talk with your employee about their needs, their professional goals, how they feel things are going, if they are enjoying their work, etc. Actually having a meaningful conversation more than the day they are hired and the day they leave will do wonders for your relationship. Frequent conversations will help you better understand problems before they become crises and identify small ways to make employees lives even better. Find Some Fun Believe it or not, employees may have interests outside their office or cubical. Show your appreciation for employees by offering
company tickets to fundraisers or dinners to more than just senior execs. Many times, companies have seats at corporate tables or fundraisers that they are unsure how to fill. Extend the offer beyond the traditional senior team. Corporate table always full? Consider sponsoring an employee baseball team in a summer league or sponsoring an IGNITE Cup Team. Encouraging employees to let loose and have some fun while engaging in the community in which they live will help them plant deeper roots. The more connections a person makes, the harder it is to break them – so help them find activities that they may be interested in and foot the bill. It usually is a small amount for a business but makes a big impact for employees. Encourage Engagement When employees engage with one another outside of their daily responsibilities, they may find themselves building a team they are not interested in leaving. Consider bringing donuts to the breakroom and having a conversation around the coffee pot. Grab lunch for everyone – just because – and encourage people to spend their lunch hour on the patio out
back with coworkers. Start an employee book club, an on-site weightloss group or even an after-hours yoga class. Caitlin Pusateri Anything Rockford Chamber to build connections and make employees feel valued and cared for. Retention can be a difficult nut to crack. Sometimes, even when you create an awesome work environment that really helps fill people up with meaning and intention, employees still leave. Be sure to complete an exit interview that asks real questions – and then act on those suggestions. Ask your employee if they have anyone that brings a similar skill set to the job as they did that they could recommend. Feeling valued – even as they head out the door – will go a long way to building a solid corporate culture that values employees.
theVoice
april 2018 | 15
Destination
ILLINOIS, USA
ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM
‘You can’t watch just one’ Videos reveal Rockford’s soul, one story at a time Who doesn’t love a good story? Rockford is full of them, and thanks to local videographer Pablo Korona, these uniquely Rockford stories of character, challenge and triumph are being told and enjoyed by audiences here and across the internet. In a weekly video series titled, “Our City, Our Story,” Pablo focuses on interesting people who make Rockford a great place to live, work and play. You can view them on our website, gorockford. com, and on the project’s home site, ourcityourstory.com. I have to warn you, though: The videos are binge-worthy, in fact. Nobody can watch just one. The intention of this project is to honor the diversity and authenticity of our community. In addition, these professionally produced pieces often “go viral” on social media channels, which makes them a valuable marketing tool for the city. One video has produced almost 350,000 views. The RACVB actively promotes these videos on national channels, and the results have been terrific. Subjects of OCOS videos have been featured by national media outlets, including USA Today, CNN Money, Entrepreneur Magazine, Business Insider and others. It’s all positive press for Rockford. In order to ensure the storytelling continues, RACVB and Woodward partnered last year to sponsor the current season of videos. We sat down recently with Pablo to talk about the success of OCOS. Q: When did you launch OCOS? Pablo: It was 2011. There was a lot of negativity going around about the community – we were on a lot of ‘bad’ lists. We felt that our story wasn’t being told, and we wanted to change the conversation. We asked ourselves: What is a city? It is a collection of people. So, we launched Our City, Our Story. Q: Besides the marketing goal, what’s your goal for each piece? Pablo: I want to make sure that there’s a human revelation of character that has a little magic in it. I look for the unexpected perspective, stories that connect not only with the community, but with the world beyond Rockford. When we tell stories, we don’t tell them through the Rockford perspective specifically; we tell them through the perspective of the greater human condition. The connecting theme, of course, is that they all happen to be in Rockford. Q: What is the process for making one of the videos?
John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Pablo: We have an editorial team and nothing goes out without getting past the team. They help steer the project. (The team includes representatives from RACVB, Woodward, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and Transform Rockford.) I spend 10-12 hours with the subject and about 25 hours on editing. Each video has original music created by a studio team. Q: Why does it matter to tell these stories? Pablo: Every single story is a reason to break through any negative perceptions about this community. Sure, we have challenges, but Vito Grisanzio is there cranking out pizzas at Capri despite all the negative things. The ‘Band Grandpas’ are going back into the schools to help kids despite all the negative things. (See “More than a Million” and “Band Grandpas” episodes in OCOS Season Two.)
Let’s Continue the Storytelling The reach of this project is truly astounding. A charming story of love that has endured 79 years titled “Merle & Stella,” which we pushed out on social media for Valentine’s Day this year, is nearing 100,000 views on Facebook alone. “Band Grandpas” has been viewed more than 62,000 times and “More than a Million” is at 82,000 and counting. I agree with Pablo when he says, “It’s hard not to like somebody when you’ve heard their story.” We invite our partners in the community to join the RACVB and Woodward in sponsoring OCOS to continue promoting the best aspects of our city, one story at a time. If you’re unable to sponsor, please consider sharing the video series on your corporate social media sites. We believe they are valuable as a reputation builder for our community and as a recruiting tool. Please contact me for more information. John Groh is president/CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The mission of the RACVB is to drive quality of life and economic growth for our citizens through tourism marketing and destination development. www.gorockford.com The views expressed are Groh’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
18 | april 2018
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
Young Professionals ignite
New volunteer, networking opportunities Return of some annual favorites There is a ton going on in Rockford for young professionals right now, and IGNITE is really seeing an influx of new members. Over the past several years, I’ve been really involved with IGNITE, and it seems like 2018 has brought about a new sense of urgency and the want to become more involved for young professionals. It seems like every day or two I’m seeing new members from Mercyhealth; OSF Healthcare; SwedishAmerican, a Division of UW Health; Greenlee, and a host of other organizations, submit their applications to join IGNITE in hopes of becoming more involved in the community, meeting like-minded individuals and being introduced to ways to develop their personal brand and grow professionally. The way IGNITE has gone about helping young professionals get more involved in the community has been varied over the years. We all care very deeply about Rockford for a variety of reasons, whether it’s our home, close to family and where we grew up, or a career choice has brought us here. We all (young professionals and our more tenured leaders alike) stand to gain
much from helping Rockford thrive. The best way to feel engaged with your community is to volunteer and feel like you’re making a difference – something that’s very important to many of our young professionals. But how do we accomplish this with a professional life that is consistently becoming busier and wanting to spend time with our loved ones?
What’s Happening in 2018 In 2018, IGNITE has moved on from the model of volunteer events at specific times. We want our members to volunteer when it makes the most sense for their schedules and to the causes that matter the most to them. We have had members submit their volunteering efforts (whether that’s serving on a board of a non-profit or cleaning up a neighborhood) and telling us why they do that, in hopes of encouraging others to volunteer somewhere that matters to them. It’s early, but we think this will catch on throughout 2018 and beyond. IGNITE’s membership has always seemed to be outgoing and willing to strike up conversations at After 5
events (our happy hours) or through the annual IGNITE Cup. Our goal is to continue this and be a more inclusive group. We’ve had hosts at each of our 2018 After 5 events and are consistently working to introduce people and make them feel welcomed. IGNITE Cup 2018, presented by Blackhawk Bank, kicks off with opening ceremonies on April 19 at Abreo from 5:30-7:30pm. IGNITE Cup is an event series designed to help young professionals meet people in a friendly competitive environment with some fun events around Rockford. Professional development has grown in IGNITE to date in 2018. We have established our Lunch with a Leader series in the first week of each month. These have morphed into intimate settings with a conversational feel. We’ve had featured leaders, Dr. Jarrett of Rockford Public Schools and Dale Gustafson of Gustafson’s Furniture. Jeff Kaney of Kaney Aerospace will speak on April 4 and Chairman Frank Haney of Winnebago County on May 1. IGNITE started a new Advantage Club (a referral networking group) – IGNITE BNG. The goal of IGNITE BNG
is to introduce young profesAndrew sionals and Hendrickson refer business. IGNITE Ideally, members will see both their network and their business grow. The group still has room to expand. If you’re interested in joining IGNITE’s BNG, please email bng@ignite rockford.com. Overall, 2018 is very bright for IGNITE and its membership. We look forward to continuing events like IGNITE Cup and seeing how our membership enjoys volunteer efforts and new professional development programs and groups. IGNITE’s mission is to attract and retain young professionals in the Rockford region. If we can help in any way at your organization, please reach out to myself or info@igniterockford.com. Andrew Hendrickson is president of IGNITE and an assurance supervisor at RSM US LLP. The views expressed are those of Hendrickson’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 19
Guest Perspective insight
WCHD achieves national accreditation Three health priorities emerge for community
Health Priorities: A New Focus
By Sandra Martell, WCHD A community health assessment by the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) as part of its application
for
accreditation
has
resulted in a shift in health priorities, focused
on
maternal/child
health,
mental health and violence. The WCHD announced that on Nov. 14, 2017 it received a five-year accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board. The accreditation acknowledged WCHD’s capacity and commitment to protect and promote the health of the community. It was made possible thanks to contributions by governmental and non-governmental partner
organizations
during
the
application process.
As a part of the application process, the WCHD completed “2020 Wellness Focused Winnebago County,” which contained a community assessment and community health improvement plan. After assessing the health of the population, it developed a plan to work with non-governmental organizations throughout the county to address priorities for improved health. Three health priorities emerged: 1. Maternal and child health 2. Mental/behavioral health 3. Violence These priorities were significantly different from past health priorities centered around obesity, cardiovascular disease and smoking.
Addressing Community’s process allows health departments to Health Priorities The public health accreditation
measure their performance against a set of national standards, share successes, identify opportunities for improvement, and
increase
collaboration
community stakeholders.
with
WCHD has developed a strategy to identify how it will work to address these identified health priorities and is committed to working with its community partners toward a collective
impact on health. With partner agencies, it has established a common agenda by which it will embrace mutually reinforcing activities and use shared measurements to assess progress and accountability. Community advisory groups have convened around each of the three health priorities to develop action plans, with involvement by the Rockford Regional Health Council, the Mental Health Advisory Committee, the Violence Reduction Workgroup and the Early Childhood Learning Council.
Up
WCHD Services
outbreaks, including tuberculosis and
The WCHD provides services designed to protect, promote and maintain the health of residents, including birth and death certificates, assistance with lead hazard and healthy home rehabilitation. While it does provide direct patient care in the clinic for uninsured or underinsured residents, most of its services are not clinical. Some WCHD programs that do provide direct services to residents include the High Risk Infant Follow-
Program;
Women, Infant, Child
and (WIC)
Dr. Sandra Martell WCHD
Supplemental Nutrition Program, and Northwest Illinois HIV Care Connect Program. For the population, it oversees the Food Protection Program, which ensures the safety of food, and the Communicable Disease
Control
Program,
which
conducts surveillance and identifies and contains communicable disease sexually transmitted diseases. For more information, visit Facebook (@WinnebagoCountyHealth), (@WinnCoHealth),
(winncohealth) and www.wchd.org. Sandra Martell, R.N., DNP, is public health administrator of the Winnebago County Health Department. The views expressed are those of Martell’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
20 | april 2018
theVoicE • rockfordchamber.com
Strong network boosts region’s aerospace industry The Rockford Region is home to four aerospace tier-one companies and more than 250 suppliers within a 90-minute radius. Gerald “Jerry” Sagona, who is the RAAN (Rockford Area Aerospace Network) staff liaison, notes that it was formed in 2008 as a response to a Targeted Industry Study from Carter & Burgess in 2006, as well as the Northern Illinois University Aerospace Study of Winnebago County in 2007. Members came together with a common purpose to support the growth of companies in the aerospace industry. Now, RAAN attends and sends delegations to events like the Orlando MRO Americas Conference, NBAA and the Paris Air Show. Members include AS9100- and Nadcap-certified suppliers of electric power generation systems, power management, actuation systems, metal component fabrication, aircraft interior manufacturing, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). The aerospace network works with RAEDC through their partnership with the Illinois Defense Network. In
Staff liaison Gerald “Jerry” Sagona and chair Khoi Vu of RAAN work to help aerospace companies in the Rockford Region and beyond. 2017 the RAEDC obtained a grant that substantially offset AS9100 Revision D Internal Auditor training fees for 12 small- and medium-size manufacturers in the Rockford Region. Many companies working in aerospace have limited resources and have reported an increase in training, regulations and certifications required to do business in the industry.
Improving Climate for Business The Rockford Region, just northwest of Chicago, is the largest center of aerospace production employment in Illinois and sixth in the United States. Driven by private industry, members of RAAN meet regularly to discuss
collaboration opportunities related to business climate, innovation, technology and workforce development. “Though collaboration and a strong aerospace network, RAAN is designed to continuously strengthen our region’s supply-chain and foster a sustainable aerospace cluster. This will benefit not only GE Aviation; but to other companies within the Rockford Region and beyond,” said Khoi Vu, Sr. Product Leader, GE Aviation and RAAN chair. Examples of how the RAAN group works together include national/ international trade show participation, supplier symposiums, networking opportunities, educational and
vocational partnerships and initiatives, marketing efforts and training and information-sharing. Brent Johnson and his company, Midwest Aero Support Inc., have been a member of RAAN for many years. He said, “my company has obtained a big benefit by being able to attend the Paris Air Show and the Farnborough Air Show in England. Attendance previous to RAAN was out of our price range.” RAAN has scheduled the thirdannual Aerospace Symposium & Networking event on Thursday, April 26 at Giovanni’s in Rockford. This is an opportunity to connect with Tier-1 suppliers and manufacturers and learn about the latest innovations happening in aerospace. Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available. Tara Cook of American Precision Assemblers, Inc., and the B2B Coordinator for RAAN, is enthusiastic about the upcoming symposium. She said, “there were over 100 companies last year, and the event has grown each year. Tier-one companies attend and suppliers are able to network with these larger companies with common goals to grow in the aerospace industry.” To join RAAN, contact the RAEDC for details at information@rockfordil. com or 815-987-8118.
WORKFORCE WEDNESDAYS
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Vice President for Development
Each Wednesday the RAEDC posts information about our region’s workforce on our social networks. The customized education-to-workforce pathways are a workforce strategy that is a global differentiator when businesses are evaluating possible locations for expansion, relocation and investment. Learn more and share the message!
Our award-winning economic development organization offers a unique opportunity for an economic development trailblazer. Our public/private partnership organization seeks a vice president to assume a leadership role in northern Illinois to manage our development programs and selected strategic projects. The Rockford Region is home to: ■ The sixth-largest aerospace employment concentration in the United States.
/RockfordAreaEconomicDevelopmentCouncil /RockfordAreaEDC /company/rockford-area-economic-development-council
■ Growing advanced manufacturing and healthcare. ■ A well-positioned, uncongested air/rail/ truck logistics. Candidates must possess great dedication, commitment and strategic qualities as well as
a broad range of business management skills. The organization’s staff is held to an extremely high level of professionalism and productivity. This person must be able to manage diverse and multi-level projects as a “self-starter,” capable of taking ideas and tasks at different levels and implementing them at a fast pace. This position requires prior economic development experience as well as basic computer skills and database management experience. Minimum of Bachelor’s degree required. A professional work environment and competitive salary/benefits are available. Send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to information@rockfordil.com.
HOW DOES YOUR COMPANY SUPPORT
“Every System Every Aircraft?” RAAN and the RAEDC want to know what your aerospace capabilities include to make sure we have a comprehensive representation of the region aerospace cluster. Please take four minutes to help us out.
or
RockfordIL.com/ aerospacecapabilities
bilities to provide information that
manufactured
in
the
Rockford
Region -- home to four tier-one aerospace companies and more than 250 suppliers within a 90-minute radius. Visit RockfordIL.com/aerospacecapa will
be
included
on
the
RAAN
Every commercial aircraft has a (RockfordAerospace.com) and RAEDC’s component or system that was designed (RockfordIL.com) websites.
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 21
NIU EIGERlab expands its entrepreneurial reach Working together rather than in isolation By Sherry Pritz Enderle, NIU EIGERlab NIU EIGERlab’s mantra has always been “a rising tide lifts all boats.” The unique combination of expertise, programming, services and community connections offered at NIU EIGERlab helps startups and small businesses navigate the choppy waters of business growth and product development. One of the primary causes of small business failure is isolation of the entrepreneur. NIU EIGERlab helps ensure that entrepreneurs are embraced and supported through their journey. In the same vein, NIU EIGERlab works closely with regional partners to assist businesses in accelerating their development. NIU EIGERlab is a longtime partner with area chambers of commerce and economic development organizations. The Rockford Chamber’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) consults with business clients at NIU EIGERlab’s coworking space at NIU-Rockford. Other innovation partners include DeKalb County Incubator, Fox Valley SCORE, Irontek (Beloit), other regional SBDCs, Thinker Ventures (Rockford) and UWW (Whitewater).
Drawing Business to Rockford NIU EIGERlab’s programs and activities draw entrepreneurs and investors from surrounding states to
Rockford. Monthly Innovation Tuesday Meetup programs offer a wide-variety of top-of-mind subjects — bringing together solopreneurs, inventors, students, business owners and those considering becoming an entrepreneur. The 12th annual FastPitch Competition will be held Oct. 3, 2018 at NIU-Rockford. Over the years, participants have shared that they valued the opportunity to win cash prizes, hone their pitches and receive invaluable feedback. The 2017 winner, Dr. Trevor Gibbs invented Anestand. The tray that holds an anesthesiologist’s supplies is set to launch through the C4PD this spring. Gibbs identified a problem and invented a product that solves the problem of assisting anesthesiologists in inducing anesthesia in a hygienic way, while keeping the items immediately available at arm’s length. Both of NIU EIGERlab’s locations offer affordable accommodations for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Rockford and Loves Park. Cubicles and light industrial spaces are options in Loves Park, while cubicles and open coworking spaces are available at our East State Street location. Coworking members enjoy meeting with clients in a professional setting with an atmosphere conducive to doing business versus jangling spoons and other distractions at local coffee shops.
NIU EIGERlab’s newly renovated coworking space at NIU-Rockford on East State Street is the center for activities such as business consultations with the Rockford Chamber’s Small Business Development Center.
Collaboration is Key NIU EIGERlab urges entrepreneurs to seek opportunities to collaborate, and the organization excels at collaboration as well. The Center for Product Development (C4PD) partners with industry leaders to acquire leading-edge equipment to help the C4PD provide leading-edge product development services to clients. Recently, Nota 3D provided a 3D Systems MJP 2500 Plus with the latest in materials that the industry has to offer. The C4PD recently held an open house for area manufacturers and technology enthusiasts to take a look at its current technologies and to introduce the area to a new 3D printer from Super 3D Plus that is capable of both ceramics and full color. There is a wide variety of applications including aerospace, dental, ornamental, artistry and complicated fragile parts not easily produced on the legacy systems.
Expanding Throughout the Region NIU EIGERlab is taking its show on the road. Mike Cobert,
director of the C4PD, regularly meets with entrepreneurs in Naperville, Schaumburg, Elgin and DeKalb. “I’m interested in removing any barriers that prevent us from connecting with inventors who need assistance moving their product ideas forward,” he said. NIU EIGERlab is increasingly familiar and connected throughout the region. This April, the NIU College of Business will replicate the signature FastPitch Competition on the DeKalb campus. Students will pitch their ideas and compete for a variety of prizes. Most importantly, they will receive valuable feedback and mentoring from NIU professors and alumni. NIU EIGERlab’s Sherry Pritz Enderle, longtime manager of FastPitch, is mentoring the students and faculty members as they plan their event. To learn more about NIU EIGERlab’s programming and services, visit www. EIGERlab.org or call 815-753-2192. Sherry Pritz Enderle is marketing & events coordinator/business development at NIU EIGERlab Innovation Network.
Accuride Rockford Operations wins IndustryWeek Best Plants competition The facility’s origins go back to the 1850s, making it the longest continuously operating manufacturing plant in Rockford. The efforts of Accuride Corporation’s Rockford Operations to increase competitiveness and customer satisfaction through capital investments and a lean culture have resulted in it being named the winner of IndustryWeek magazine’s 2017 Best Plants competition. The Rockford facility will be recognized during the 2018 IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo, May 8 to 10, in Raleigh, N.C. The Rockford Operations, which are part of the Accuride Wheel End Solutions business unit, manufactures
and assembles Gunite® and KIC®brand brake drums, hubs, rotors, slack adjusters and other wheel end components for the North American commercial vehicle industry. The facility’s origins go back to the 1850s, making it the longest continuously operating manufacturing plant in Rockford. The principal drivers of the plant’s manufacturing resurgence include: ■ Building a culture of continuous improvement through the engagement of the associates and support of the leaders of Accuride and UAW Local 718, which represents hourly workers at the plant. ■ Investing more than $70 million in capital for upgrades to machining, foundry, assembly and facilities and grounds. ■ Adopting common Lean manufacturing and Quality management pro-
What Accuride Corporation President and CEO Rick Dauch calls the Rockford plant’s “phoenix-like turnaround” has resulted in it being named the winner of IndustryWeek magazine’s 2017 Best Plants competition. cesses that enabled the plant’s achievement of consistent world-class operating metrics for quality, on-time delivery, warranty and lead-times. ■ Implementing the Plex ERP system that supports data-driven operation and rapid decision-making. “Rockford was a classic story of a rust-belt factory that had been starved for capital and left for dead by previous owners,” said Rick Dauch, president and CEO of Accuride. “Together with our UAW-represented workforce, we
decided to restore the business to competitiveness and profitability. It was hard work, requiring all stakeholders — suppliers, local government, management, union leadership and the workforce — to work together to save a business. The plant’s ‘phoenix’like turnaround demonstrates that American manufacturers can be competitive and profitable while paying a good wage. In my 25 years as a manufacturing and business leader, I have never been prouder of a team.”
22 | april 2018
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
in the news Members in the News
1. Martha Byrnes
2. Chad Clauson
3. Seth Gronewold
4. Yvonne Pahnke
5. Chris Gleason
6. Natalie Wilson
7. DaShanda Mosley
8. Kelly Hellickson
9. Dr. Montoya Taylor
10. Renee Dahm
11. Christopher Carter
12. Doreen Timm
13. Shanta McGee
14. RussTabaka, Jr.
15. Sarah Conley
16. Justin McAuliffe
Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
The River District Association board elected Sean Muserallo, media specialist, Mercyhealth, as its new president & CEO; replacing interim board president Chris Kelley, V2 Marketing. Martha Byrnes (1) joined the Alzheimer’s Association®, Illinois Chapter as the 2018 Walk to End Alzheimer’s event chair in Rockford.
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Fehr Graham promoted Chad Clauson (2) and Seth Gronewold (3) to staff engineers, and hired Caleb Beck as engineer and Yvonne Pahnke (4) as project assistant at its Rockford office.
Rosecrance appointed Chris Gleason (5) to executive director of Rosecrance Central Illinois. SwedishAmerican named Natalie Wilson (6), MBA, BSN, RN, as director of the Regional Cancer Center. KMK Media Group promoted DaShanda Mosley (7) to full-time
communications specialist. Chartwell Agency hired Kelly Hellickson (8) as director of business development focusing on national sales and client services. Mercyhealth welcomed Montoya Taylor, M.D. (9), to Mercyhealth Heart and Vascular Center, and Renee Dahm (10), MSN, ANP-BC, to the Occupational Health and Wellness Department at its Rockford Avenue facility. It promoted Christopher Carter (11) to manager of research, ethics and chaplaincy services and system clinical ethicist, and Doreen Timm (12) to senior director and chief nursing officer for Mercyhealth Hospital – Rockton Avenue and Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center – Riverside. Illinois Bank & Trust promoted Michele Berning to senior vice president—mortgage sales manager. Winnebago County Health Department hired Katherine O’Toole as director of communications/public information officer. OSF Medical Group hired Shanta McGee (13), APN, as family nurse practitioner at OSF Center for Health – Parkview.
Midland States Bank promoted Pat Morrow and Don Banks to market presidents serving the Rockford and Belvidere markets, respectively. Dan Riggs, executive director, Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, submitted his retirement letter, effective June 8. A search committee will look for the next executive director. American Rigging & Millwright Service hired Russ Tabaka, Jr. (14), as project estimator/manager. Fehr Graham hired Sarah Conley (15) as human resources generalist. Per Mar Security Services promoted Justin McAuliffe (16) to district operations manager for its Bemidji, Duluth and Eau Claire branches.
EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS Gordon Eggers, Jr. (17), CEO, celebrated his 30th year at Crusader Community Health.
Mae Borja, dining services, Peterson Meadows, was named Employee of the Year for 2017 by her peers.
Marc A. Zussman, M.D. (18), OrthoIllinois was peer selected to the Best Doctors in America® List for 2017-2018. Only four percent of U.S. doctors achieve the honor based on the biennial Best Doctors Poll. YWCA Northwestern Illinois presented Women of Achievement Awards in March to: Rozene Smith (19), Mercyhealth (business); Amy Ott, Boylan Catholic High School (community leadership); Paulina Sihakom, PNC Bank (mentorship); Dr. Juliette Kalweit, SwedishAmerican Health System (professions); Amy E. Mullen, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center (promise), and Linda Zuba, Zuba & Associates, P.C. (racial justice). It presented scholarships to Emma Eaton, Galena High School; Arja Kumar, Aquin Catholic High School (Bright Future), and Paloma Velasco, Auburn High School (La Voz Latina). Rockford Area Arts Council announced 2018 Rockford Area Arts Awards recipients: Sherry Pritz Enderle, individual artist, and Charles Prorok and Marcia Mueller, arts advocate.
Continued on page 23
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 23
in the news Members in the News
17. Gordon Eggers, Jr.
18. Dr. Marc A. Zussman
19. Rozene Smith
20. Saban Sisko
21. Michael Vincent LaLoggia
22. Joe Tortorice, Jr.
23. Lynette Jacques
24. Dr. John Pingo
25. Steve Smith
26. Barbara Connors
27. Michael Cyrs
28. Brent Brodeski
(continued from page 22) Meridian named Saban Sisko (20) as February employee of the month. Michael Vincent LaLoggia (21), managing director – investment officer, The LaLoggia Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, was recognized as a 2018 Best-In-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes. Joe Tortorice Jr. (22), founder and board chairman, Jason’s Deli, received the 2018 Dr. J.C. Crager Community Award at the Golden Triangle American Heart Association’s annual Heart Ball for improving the quality of life for others. Barry Kramer, personal financial consultant, Illinois Bank & Trust, was inducted into the Rock Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame. He played quarterback, wide receiver and punter on the state junior college and N4C championship football team in 1978, earning Offensive Team MVP honors. He was named to the All-State team, All-Conference team and NJCAA’s first team All-American squad. Lynette Jacques (23), VP, member investment, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, completed the Dale Carnegie sales training, “Winning with Relationship Selling,” and was honored with the Sales Presentation Champion award.
OF GENERAL INTEREST
John Pingo (24), Ph.D. BCBA-D, CEO, Goldie B. Floberg Center, presented the keynote address at the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network annual conference in March. Chris Gleason, executive director, Rosecrance Central Illinois, and Steve Smith (25), administrator of child and adolescent services, presented the webinar, “Growing Like a Weed: Cannabis Impacts on Adolescent Behavioral Health,” at the Institute for the Advancement of Behavioral Health in March. Barbara Connors (26), MS, BSN, RN, and Amy Kirsch, MSN, RN, SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health, presented the CEU-accredited session, “Improving care for psychiatric patients in the emergency department,” at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association conference in Phoenix last October.
Philip R. Schalow, D.C., DCCJP, clinic director, Upper Cervical Care Center-Rockford, will attend the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine conference in April on investigating adjunct therapies for whiplash-injured patients. Michael Cyrs (27), director of wealth advisory, and Brent Brodeski (28), CEO, Savant Capital Management, were invited to speak at the TD Ameritrade National LINC conference in Orlando.
Are you a Member with News to Share?
Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101 DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION
Guest Perspective insight
Easy changes = big environmental impact Did you know that the t-shirt you’re wearing at this very moment is a product of the second-most-polluting industry in the world? For every t-shirt made, 700 gallons of water and 1/3 of a pound of pesticides were used. The fashion industry consumes 24 percent of pesticides for cotton production worldwide, and the fields themselves are mostly on irrigated land, which funnels chemical runoff back into waterways and drinking water. Unfortunately, the screen-printing industry has always been about using the cheapest materials to make the most money. Many shops don’t know or give much thought to what their shirt is made out of or who actually created it. As a consumer, it doesn’t generally cross your mind either. But there is opportunity both for the producer (screen-printing company) and the consumer (you!) to contribute positively to both the environment and economic development. Screen-printing companies now have the opportunity to purchase shirts that are sourced and made responsibly. To understand how to make an informed decision, you must first understand the process of how a t-shirt is actually made.
Environmentally Friendly Choices Most t-shirts are made primarily of cotton or a mix of cotton and polyester. A typical t-shirt will travel 16,000 miles: cotton grown in one country, shipped to another to be processed into fiber, and another to be spun into yarn, and another to be knitted into fabric, and so on. Most of this shipping is done using bunker fuel, a heavy oil residue so toxic most countries won’t let ships using it within 200 miles of shore. Once the t-shirt has actually been created, it then lands in screen-printers’ shops (among other places). While no method of screen-printing is perfectly environmentally friendly, there are multiple choices that can be made to lessen environmental impact. From ink-type and solvent use to how much actually goes down the drain during the process, little (and sometimes big) choices throughout the process have environmental impact. Without going into the chemical nittygritty, the choices screen-printers make should matter to the end-consumer. It is not unreasonable to ask your local screenprinter what they are doing in-house to curb their environmental effects and make the world a better place. After the t-shirt is out of the hands of the producer, it is up to you to continue to be environmentally friendly. Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them to dry (to reduce energy used to heat the water and the dryer). Purchase clothes from thrift-stores or second-hand shops or items like pillows, handbags or blankets
made from old t-shirts. Donate Jarrod Hennis your clothes Rockford Art Deli when you are finished with them rather than throw them away. Your daily actions in the t-shirt life-cycle are extremely environmentally important. It has been estimated that recycling, reusing and composting can create six to 10 times as many jobs as waste incineration and landfills.
Take an Active Role We expect our large corporations to be socially and environmentally conscious — the same ideas can be expected of our local small businesses. While processes may vary greatly between large and small businesses, it is important that small businesses take an active role in reducing their environmental footprint. Rockford Art Deli has always worked towards becoming as eco-friendly screenprinters as possible by using water-based inks and biodegradable cleaners. We also use recycled materials throughout our shop, have an onsite recycling program and converted all of our lights to LED. We decided to take a giant environmentally friendly step forward and became one of 10 founders of Allmade and use Allmade t-shirts in our work. Allmade t-shirts are made from organic U.S.-grown cotton, recycled polyester and TENCEL™ Modal. Every t-shirt contains the equivalent of six plastic water bottles — reducing waste from America’s 29 billion plastic water bottles disposed of yearly. Fortunately, the plastic in these bottles has the same chemical makeup as polyester so they can be cleaned and processed into polyester yarn. Our modal is made from sustainably harvested beech trees — trees that regenerate from the root system — and is broken down in a lowimpact process. In addition to the direct impact to the environment, most materials are sourced right here in the United States, shipped to Haiti to be sewn into shirts, and shipped back to the United States for sale. As an economic note, facilities in Haiti that create these shirts pay their workers four times the typical daily wage in the apparel industry in Haiti. Rockford Art Deli is proud to serve not only our community, but the environment we live in. We encourage you to be an informed consumer in all areas of your life. Ask questions. Research. And demand the people you purchase goods and services from do their part. Jarrod Hennis is owner of Rockford Art Deli. The views expressed are those of Hennis’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
24 | april 2018
business
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
Business Briefs
Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.
Chicago Financial Advisors for the third straight year in a selection process conducted by AdvisoryHQ.
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with Sports Illinois to launch the inaugural Sports Illinois Huddle Host Impact Grant for area nonprofits with positively impacting sports programs. A RACVB Charitable Foundation matching grant of $1,000 elevates the available grant to a maximum of $2,000. Apply by April 27 at larellano@gorockford.com.
Approximately 620 students from 29 area high schools competed in the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics High School Regional Mathematics Contest at Rock Valley College on Feb. 24. Individuals and teams scoring well will advance to the state finals on May 5 at the University of Illinois.
Cliffbreakers Riverside Hotel and Conference Center announced renovations are complete to the main banquet and meeting facilities including new carpeting, built-in dance floor, sound proof air walls and rejuvenation of the antique bar. Renovations to the hotel’s 84 rooms, pool and fitness room are slated for completion in second quarter of 2018. The hotel will be renamed when it becomes a part of the Ascend Hotel Collection® by Choice Hotels. Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that the Illinois Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism’s spring/summer 2018 Travel Illinois magazine will highlight Anderson Japanese Gardens on the cover and as a feature story. The magazine also named Rockford area businesses, MainFraiM – Habitat for Art and Rockford Roasting Company, as Illinois Made Makers. Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomed 215 bowlers to the 2018 Illinois High School Association Girls Bowling State Finals on Feb. 16 to 17. Local teams and individual bowlers from Harlem, Guilford, Freeport, Belvidere North, Auburn, East and Belvidere high schools competed at Cherry Bowl for an estimated economic impact of 550 room nights and $103,000. Chicago Rockford International Airport released its annual cargo statistics for 2017, reporting a 50 percent year-over-year increase in landed cargo weight. This came as a result of UPS, ABX and ATI increasing their day-to-day and seasonal operations; creating nearly 2,300 new jobs. Wesley Willows and Peterson Meadows hosted Rockford Christian High School students on Feb. 23 for a day of service and introduction to career opportunities in senior living, including nursing, administration, marketing, maintenance, fund development, dining services, fitness and chaplaincy. Savant Capital Management was named one of the Top 10 Best
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois and Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence received a $14,700 grant on behalf of the Rockford Area Case Management Initiative from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois to scale up the comprehensive case management system and community of practice for human service agencies. KMK Media Group designed an annual report and pledge card for Boy Scouts/Blackhawk Area Council. SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health, won approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to construct a new, state-ofthe-art women’s and children’s tower on its main hospital campus in downtown Rockford. The new four-story structure is expected to be open in 2020. Modernizations within the hospital will include a new, larger emergency department, surgical areas, catheterization labs and increased capacity in the behavioral and mental health department. Midland States Bancorp, Inc., completed its acquisition of Alpine Bancorporation, Inc., the parent company of Alpine Bank & Trust Co. The transaction brings Midland’s total assets to approximately $5.7 billion and its wealth management group to more than $3.1 billion in assets under administration, based on information as of Dec. 31, 2017. Specialty Screw Corporation completed its certification audit and was recommended by Intertek for IATF16949 certification, which emphasizes continual improvement, defect prevention and reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain, and ISO 9001:2015 certification. Its in-house laboratory received the A2LA ISO/IEC 17025:2005 recertification. Blackhawk Bank held a seminar and workshop on Quick Response Office Cells featuring QRM expert Bill Ritchie on Feb. 27 at the Blackhawk Technical College Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Milton, Wis. Topics included improving staff effectiveness and team building, ways to turn quotes around faster and more accurately, reducing lead times, and improving on-time delivery.
Entré Computer Solutions was named as VIPRE Security’s Emerging Partner of the Year with the strongest new sales growth of more than 3,000 technology solution providers. Rock House Kids purchased a new freezer thanks to two $1,500 grants from Try-Beta Foundation and Catholic Women’s League of Rockford. The new freezer will safely store food items for nutritious hot meals for the up to 300 children served each week during its evening programs. GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford received $10,000 from the 2018 Rockford Auto Show in February at CherryVale Mall. Rock Valley College welcomed the eight best teams in the country in March for the 2018 NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Tournament on the main campus in the Physical Education Center. This is the first time that an NJCAA championship has been hosted in the Rockford area. Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that the roughly 2,500 players, coaches and fans would generate $117,000 in estimated economic impact. Chicago Rockford International Airport, along with partners Crawford, Murphy & Tilly and Larson & Darby Group, received an Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. The AAR Aircraft Maintenance and Overhaul Facility was recognized for exceptional engineering for meeting owner needs and benefitting public welfare. Discovery Center Museum received a $33,971 grant by the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program for a comprehensive Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program for nine schools through the Rockford Public Schools’ After School Achievement Program. Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.’s “Reinhart Ale,” won a gold ADDY award in the specialty advertising and direct marketing category in Madison, Wis., in February. The-16 oz. cans were designed in-house by Reinhart for a limited-edition ale brewed by Reinhart client MobCraft for distribution at the Milwaukee Business Journal’s annual “Book of Lists” event in early 2017. Mercyhealth started a support group for patients with cancer and their families on the second Wednesday of the month, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at Mercyhealth Cancer Center. Blackhawk Bank’s Commercial Banking Center now is open in Elgin,
Ill. The bank identified Kane and McHenry counties as the right fit for expanding its business services. Chartwell Agency will oversee the 2018 direct mail campaign for both of Wesley Willows’ senior living communities, Wesley Willows and Peterson Meadows, to ensure brand consistency. Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau celebrated a 16-year partnership with the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation with a tournament at the BMO Harris Bank Center, along with the Rockin’ Rock Amateur Athletic Union Grand Prix volleyball tournament at the UW Health Sports Factory, March 9 to 11. The estimated economic impact was $675,000. Advanced Machine & Engineering (AME) invested in a Toyoda FH800SX-i, Horizontal Machining Center. AME experienced 25 percent growth in their tombstones, custom fixtures, and workholding components as a result of reshoring and insourcing of manufacturing. Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois announced the Elizanne Gold Award Scholarship Fund in honor of Elizanne Hanitz Lewis, the oldest living recipient in 2017 of the Golden Eaglet, Girl Scouting’s highest award available from 1916 to 1939. Rockford Rescue Mission held a grand opening ceremony in March for the new Marie’s Salon at its Women’s Crisis Center. Salon services such as hair wash, cut and styling are available by appointment to mission guests only. Rockford Park District’s Therapeutic Recreation Summer 2018 Program Guide is available free of charge at park district customer service, facilities and www. rockfordparkdistrict.org/tr. Registration for summer 2018 programs is open at www. rockfordparkdistrict.org (click My RPD) or 815-987-8800. SwedishAmerican’s marketing team earned three gold and Best in Broadcast ADDY awards for consumer website, local television campaign and internet commercial. V2 Marketing Communications won two silver ADDY awards for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and Benassi Family Dentistry, and four bronze ADDY awards for Orthoillinois, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters and Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Digital Hive Mind won Best Video for J.L. Clark, three gold ADDY awards for J.L. Clark and Remedies Renewing Lives and three bronze ADDY awards for Applied Products, PGS and itself.
Continued on page 25
theVoice
april 2018 | 25
business
Business Briefs
(continued from page 24)
The American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois presented its 2018 American Advertising Awards in March 9 at the Prairie Street Brewing Company. Of the 91 entries received, 20 gold, 22 silver and 21 bronze ADDY awards were presented. Winners of gold ADDY awards advance to the Midwest regional competition in April. KMK Media Group completed the development of a file sharing component for Civil Engineering Services at www.civilideas.com so that both company and client can confidentially share files with one another. SwedishAmerican Foundation’s Swedes’ Night (formerly known as Cruise) drew more than 450 in March to Giovanni’s and raised more than $170,000 for modernization projects such as the Riverwest Clinic scheduled to open this fall. Discovery Center Museum opened its newest exhibit, Treehouse Adventure, to encourage an appreciation of the natural world and help children connect with nature in a variety of ways in the Tot Spot Gallery. Circle of Change Veterans Dog Program received a $500 grant from
Rockford Area Arts Council to present a mixed performing arts observance at the historic Veterans Memorial Hall on Memorial Day. Rockford Area Arts Council announced 2018 Rockford Area Arts Awards recipients: “Project Art” presented by The Arc of Winnebago, Boone & Ogle Counties, (community impact), and “Heartstrings: Connections Between Music & Medicine” presented by The Music Academy (creative cultural). Colorwave Graphics, LLC received gold, bronze and three silver ADDY awards for creative visual displays and fleet graphics for Ipsen USA, Rockford University, UTC Aerospace Systems and Midwest Family Broadcasting of Rockford. OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center announced the completion of a $1 million upgrade to its medical communications (MedComm) department. With primary responsibility to dispatch Lifeline Ambulance EMTs in emergent and non-emergent medical situations, the upgrades also give it the capacity to be the community command center for any larger emergency or disaster in Winnebago or Boone County.
26 | april 2018
legislative
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
Issues to Watch
New Illinois laws for 2018
The state of Illinois has 217 new laws that took effect on Jan. 1, 2018. For more details on any of the following, visit www.ilga.gov. Notice for Filing Complaint Against a Judge HB 3054/PA 100-0034 States that court clerks must post in common areas of the courthouse a notice that a person may file a complaint against the judge, which will include contact information for the Judicial Inquiry Board. The Judicial Inquiry Board will develop a statewide notice and format for each clerk. Military Casualty Notification HB 3017/PA 100-0033 Provides that in lieu of notice being provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, any other state or federal entity, agency, or person holding such information, may notify the Governor of the death by hostile fire of an Illinois resident member of the United States Armed Forces. Juvenile Justice Training SB 1519/PA 100-0019 Removes specialized degree and experience requirements for Department of Juvenile Justice personnel who participate or assist in the rehabilitative and vocational training of delinquent youths.
Bail Reform Act of 2017 and State RICO Extension SB 2034/PA 100-0001 Grants a right to counsel at bail hearings, provides for mandatory bail
re-hearings on nonviolent offenses, and provides that any bail set should be non-monetary and that the court should address the risk in the least restrictive way possible. Also extends state RICO Act (“Illinois Street Gang And Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations Law”) by five years. Expands existing law regarding threats to public officials. Barack Obama Day SB 55/PA 100-0037 Designates Aug. 4 of each year as Barack Obama Day.
Cybersecurity Training for DoIT HB 2371/PA 100-0040 Requires state employees under the governor to annually undergo training by the Department of Innovation and Technology concerning cybersecurity, which includes phishing scams, spyware infections and identity theft, preventing and responding to data breaches.
Mandatory Minimum Firearms/Drug Penalty Reductions SB 1722/PA 100-0003 For five years, subjects repeat firearm offenders to presumptive sentencing at the higher range of existing sentencing laws unless the judge finds that a departure from the presumptive sentencing is warranted.
Reduces the protected area for drug crimes from 1,000 to 500 feet, requires protected persons be present at the time, and requires prosecutors prove a connection between the crime and the protected area before a felony can be enhanced. Expands the eligibility for the Offender Initiative Program, Second Chance Probation and other drug probation programs as well as creates a five-year First Time Weapon Offender Diversion Pilot Program for offenders younger than 21. Expands eligibility of sentencing credits for inmates in the Department of Corrections. Increases access to educational, vocational and re-entry programming for individuals incarcerated for truth-in-sentencing offenses, allowing eligible individuals to reduce their sentence. Allows the Prisoner Review Board to terminate a person’s mandatory supervised release if that person is determined to be low-risk. Creates the Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force within the Department of State Police. Organ Donor Registry HB 1805/PA 100-0041 Provides that the age of an individual who has the opportunity to have his or her name included in the First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry to be 16 or older, rather than 18.
Birth Record Fee SB 1413/PA 100-0042 Waives the search fee for a birth record search, or an additional fee for a certified copy of the record, for people released on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge or pardon.
Ambassadors on the Move representing
Snow Inconvenience Fees for Farmers HB 1800/PA 100-0046 Allows county boards to pay increased inconvenience fees to farmers that allow farmable land to be used as snow breaks on highways. ISP Rank Removal HB 1849/PA 100-0049 Removes ranks at Illinois State Police that no longer exist, including: Special Agent Sergeant, Special Agent Master Sergeant, Special Agent Lieutenant, Special Agent Captain and Special Agent Major. Direct Care Staff Training HB 2383/PA 100-0050 Provides a training program for direct care staff of residential facilities and day programs to administer medications under supervision of a registered nurse, to give providers more flexibility in administering medication.
DCFS Daycare Database HB 2388/PA 100-0052 Requires DCFS to establish and maintain a searchable database, freely accessible to the public, that provides information on whether, within the past five years, a day care home, group day care home, or day care center has had its license revoked or has surrendered its license during a child abuse investigation, or whether an application for renewal of a license was denied by the department.
Metal Beverage Containers HB 2386/PA 100-0051 Authorizes any person to sell or offer to sell at retail any metal beverage container designed and constructed in such a manner that a part of the container is detachable in opening the container without the aid of a can opener if the part comprises substantially all of one of the ends of the metal beverage container.
Rockford Chamber Ambassadors met for their monthly luncheon at the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois on March 9.
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 27
community
Community Events
Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.
APRIL, 2018 Thursday, April 5
OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center presents a VIP Reception for the new North Tower, 5 to 7:30 p.m., at 5666 E. State St., Rockford. Register at osfsaintanthony. org/VIP.
Friday, April 6 Rockford Park District’s Aldeen Golf Club hosts Adult Golf Lessons, ages 21 and older, instructed by PGA members and apprentices on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, April 6 to June 16. Register at least one week before session start dates at golfrockford.org/lessons (click My RPD).
Saturday, April 7
UIC College of Pharmacy Rockford presents High School Pharmacy Camp, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave. Apply by March 1 at go.uic.edu/hspc. For questions, contact Ken Smith, 815-395-5736 or smithke@uic.edu. Breakfast with the Butterflies takes place at Rockford Park District’s Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., on April 7, 8 to 9:30 a.m., 9:30 to 11 a.m.; April 14, 8 to 9:30 a.m., 9:30 to 11 a.m., April 28, 8 to 9:30 a.m., 9:30 to 11 a.m. Register at least one week in advance at nicholasconservatory.com. For questions, call 815-987-8858. Alpine Kiwanis Club hosts a 50th Anniversary Celebration, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Forest Ridge, 11189 Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park. Keynote by Paul Palazzolo, 2009-10 president, Kiwanis International. Highlight is presentation of more than $50,000 to non-profit agencies serving children and youth. Reservations at 815-9798669 or karentilly@comcast.net. Visit alpinekiwanis-il.org. OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center presents Community Day for the new North Tower, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 5666 E. State St., Rockford. Live local entertainment, refreshments, commemorative gift and door prizes. Parking and shuttle service in adjacent lots off Roxbury Road.
Sunday, April 8
Register by April 8 for the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) program, which begins on April 16 at SwedishAmerican hospital. Learn how to lose weight sensibly, lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure, slow down and reverse pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and improve gastrointestinal conditions. Visit CHIPhealth.com, call 815-9754523 or e-mail jody.perrecone@ CHIPhealth.com.
Tuesday, April 10
NIU Engineering @ RVC presents Mechanical Engineering Careers in Different Industries, a spring 2018 information session, 4:30 to 6 p.m., at the main campus of Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford. Register at go.niu.edu/niuatrvcapr. NIU EIGERlab Innovation Network hosts an Innovation Tuesday Meetup, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at 8500 E. State St., Rockford. Bo Boger, director of the Rockford Chamber’s Small Business Development Center, presents “Sales & Marketing: How do I Differentiate Myself from the Crowd of Competitors?” Register at www. EIGERlab.org or 815-753-2192.
Friday, April 13
University of Illinois Extension presents Science Siesta for girls in fourth to sixth grades, April 13 and 14 at the Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Register at 5 p.m., on Friday. Concludes with checkout at 8:30 a.m., on Saturday. Visit go.illinois.edu/ScienceSiesta2018 or call 815-758-8194. Rockford Park District Foundation presents the 5th annual Ties and Tennies fundraiser, 5:30 p.m., at the new UW Health Sports Factory, 305 S. Madison St., Rockford. Features entertainment by Piano Fondue Dueling Pianos. Buy tickets at rpdfoundation. org. For questions, call 815-987-1630 or email BrendaSmith@ rockfordparkdistrict.org. Spring ArtScene takes place April 13, 5 to 9 p.m., and April 14, 4 to 9 p.m., with new exhibits of original works at galleries and studios all over town. Visit springartscene.com or email info@ artsforeveryone.com.
Saturday, April 14
Discovery Center Museum, AstroPhysics and Forest City Gear host Astronomy Day, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Includes free planetarium show. Call 815-9636769 or visit discoverycenter museum.org. UIC College of Pharmacy hosts a Pharmacy Information Session, 10 a.m. to noon, at the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave. For more information, contact Rachel Van Den Broek, 815-395-5749 or rachelv@uic.edu. Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network presents the 15th annual Red Shoe Run-For Donor Awareness, with 5K run race time at 8 a.m.; fitness walk at 8:10 a.m., at Northern Illinois
University-Rockford, 8500 E. State St. Visit RedShoeRun.org. Pre-registration packet pick up at Rock River Valley Blood Center, 419 N. Sixth St.
Friday, April 20
Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence presents State of the Sector, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford. Features Susan Dreyfus, CEO, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, on key findings from the newly-released report, “A National Imperative: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in America.” Register at StateoftheSector2018.eventbrite.com or call 815-394-4384.
Saturday, April 21
Discovery Center Museum and OSF College of Nursing host Future Nurse Academy, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Learn how to check X-rays, take blood pressures and make the rounds. Call 815-963-6769 or visit discoverycentermuseum.org. GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford presents its annual Boots & Bling “i have a Voice” Gala, 5:30 p.m., at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Keynote speaker is Sean and Sandra McElwee from the hit A&E TV show, “Born This Way.” Tickets at gigisplayhouse.org/ rockford/gala.
at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Silent auction at 11 a.m.; lunch at 11:45 a.m. Register at www.eventbrite.com. UIC College of Pharmacy hosts a Pharmacy Information Session, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave. For more information, contact Rachel Van Den Broek, 815-395-5749 or rachelv@uic.edu. Mercyhealth holds a Volunteer Fair for reception desk, patient transport services, gift shop, emergency trauma center and Loving Tails pet therapy program, 9:30 a.m. to noon, at the Mercyhealth Perryville second floor conference room, 3401 N. Perryville Road, Rockford. Call 815-971-6284 for questions.
Wednesday, April 25
Rockford Art Museum presents its Pop-Up Restaurant Series, 7 to 9:30 p.m., at 711 N. Main St. Features restaurant Alchemy, seating in the galleries, multiple-course menu, conversation with curator Carrie Johnson and DJ. For tickets call 815-968-2787. Jen Reisinger, Edward Jones, presents Outsmart the Scammers, 2:30 p.m., at Heritage Woods, 202 N. Show Place Dr., Rockford. Call 815-397-5157.
Thursday, April 26
Tracey Fults, Medicare 411, and Jen Reisinger, Edward Jones, present Healthcare and Retirement, 10 a.m., at 4949 Harrison Ave., Rockford; and Social Security: Your Questions Answered and the 411 on Medicare, 2 p.m., at 5192 Harrison LE, Rockford. Call 815-397-5157.
Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN) presents 2018 Aerospace Symposium & Networking, 2 to 7 p.m., on, at Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Connect with Tier-1 suppliers and manufacturers. Register at RockfordAerospace.com.
Barbara Olson Center of Hope brings back the Rock for the Center Family Festival, noon to 4 p.m., Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Road, Rockford. Kid’s games, family activities, facepainting, raffles, prizes, music and dancing. Kids are invited to come in superhero costumes. For information visit Facebook or b-olsoncenterofhope. org.
Rockford Regional Health Council and Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter, present Alzheimer’s: An Unforgettable Journey, Education for the Entire Community, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club, 5151 Guilford Road, Rockford. Includes lunch. Contact Gary Jahnke, 815-395-5702 or alzheimers@ rockfordhealth.org.
Sunday, April 22
Monday, April 23
Tracey Fults, Medicare 411, and Jen Reisinger, Edward Jones, present It’s Not Just What You Make, It’s What You Keep! 10 a.m., at 4141 N. Rockton Ave., Rockford; and Five Money Questions for Women, 6 p.m., at YMCA Northern Illinois, 4990 E. State St., Rockford. Call 815-397-5157.
Tuesday April 24
Zion Development Corporation hosts a Spring Banquet/Luncheon, 11 a.m.,
Are You a Member with News to Share?
Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101 DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION
Friday, April 27
Saturday, April 28
WTVO/WQRF presents Bergstrom Stateline Quiz Bowl Tournament of Champions, featuring eight top academic teams statewide and hosted by anchor Eric Wilson, April 28 and 29 at the historic Nordlof Center, Rockford. All matches will be recorded live to tape and air May 26 to July 15. For questions, call 815-963-5413 klattimer@wtvo.com. The Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter, presents the 15th annual Unforgettable Art: An Affair for Alzheimer’s, 6 p.m., at University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave., Rockford. Tickets are available at 815-484-1300 or unforgettableart.org.
28 | april 2018
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
One Body Collaboratives to launch shared non-profit platform Connecting resources with those in need By Alex Gary, Thinker Ventures Even in a strong economy, we have thousands of people and families in need. We also have tens of thousands of compassionate people, organizations and businesses willing to meet that need. One Body Collaboratives is launching a city-reaching platform to better match those in need with the resources they need. It launched a project called Compassionate Impacts, which is a project of Transform Rockford that will engage all community organizations and all members of the community to meet the needs of those in need in our community. Part of the project utilizes software to manage needs of individuals being served by community organizations. “This tracks someone through a light-weight case management system so we know
who’s helping and what resources each individual has received,” said Mary Cacioppi, executive director of One Body Collaboratives.
Project of the Heart In 2015, Allan Barsema, founder of One Body Collaboratives, began talking with Love Inc., an organization that for more than 20 years coordinated the compassion ministries of the various churches, to form an alliance. Love Inc., moved under the One Body Collaboratives banner. Cacioppi came on board about a year ago because she was looking for something that engaged her faith. “I was looking for new opportunities and was interviewing with economic development groups when Al talked to me about this organization’s mission,” Cacioppi said. “My head said stay with what you know. My heart said this is where you are supposed to be now.” Now, she’s tackling several projects simultaneously. In theory, the Compassionate
Mary Cacioppi joined One Body Collaboratives one year ago, in part to engage her faith. Impacts project will be a system where any area church or nonprofit organization can enter the needs of a family or individual and that need can be seen by everyone on the platform. Perhaps one organization can meet part of the need and a congregation or single person can meet the rest. In practice, there are technological issues. Many groups or churches currently use other systems to track the individuals with whom they are providing assistance. The Compassionate Impacts Steering Committee is working to recruit a group of tech savvy professionals to see if there’s a way to integrate all existing technology. There are funding issues. Like any non-profit, One Body Collaboratives needs to develop sustainable revenue so that Cacioppi doesn’t have to spend all of her time raising funds and instead
can work on expanding the group’s reach. There’s also expanding the reach. Cacioppi said One Body Collaboratives currently has a partnership with more than 100 churches, but with more than 350 churches in Boone and Winnebago counties, there is room to grow. The number of operating nonprofits is even higher. There already has been successes. One Body Collaboratives did an inventory of churches with compassion ministries and found a gap. When Central Christian Church wanted to start a compassion ministry, One Body Collaboratives informed them the biggest need not being met was for school supplies, and Central Christian adopted it as its mission. Still, growing and expanding One Body Collaboratives’ reach is a lot to ask for an organization with one fulltime, and three part-time staffers. But Cacioppi sees potential rather than problems. “It’s been just over a year now, and it has not felt like work. It’s a great sense of purpose and fulfillment.” Alex Gary is communications director of Thinker Ventures.
Total employment in January (2006-2018)
Jobs boom finally hits Rockford It has taken a decade, but employment in the Rock River Valley finally is nearing its pre-Great Recession levels. In January, according to preliminary estimates by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, 136,846 people were working in Winnebago County. That was a 9.2 percent increase from January 2017’s estimate of 125,376. It also was the highest number of people working in January since 2008 when the local economy was feeling the first effects of the economic downturn that altered the lives and finances of millions of people. Alex Gary
Year
Illinois
% Change Winnebago
% Change
2006
6,036,555
2007
6,229,564
3.2%
137,709
4.9%
24,545
5.6%
26,017
4.6%
2008
6,271,190
0.7%
137,933
0.2%
24,743
0.8%
25,938
-0.3%
2009
5,966,550
-4.9%
124,502
-9.8%
22,324
-9.8%
24,136
-7.0%
2010
5,784,712
-3.1%
124,997
0.4%
22,857
2.4%
24,246
0.5%
2011
5,858,867
1.3%
127,563
2.1%
23,553
3.1%
23,994
-1.0%
2012
5,879,133
0.4%
127,569
0.0%
23,516
-0.2%
23,576
-1.7%
2013
5,882,715
0.1%
127,189
-0.3%
23,558
0.2%
22,931
-2.7%
2014
5,916,747
0.6%
126,910
-0.2%
23,528
-0.1%
22,783
-0.7%
2015
6,002,520
1.5%
128,905
1.6%
24,028
2.1%
23,770
4.3%
2016
6,077,639
1.3%
131,059
1.7%
24,384
1.5%
23,547
-0.9%
2017
6,066,522
-0.2%
125,376
-4.3%
23,398
-4.0%
23,106
-1.9%
2018
6,464,968
6.6%
136,846
9.2%
25,711
9.9%
24,657
6.7%
131,335
Boone
% Change
23,254
Ogle
% Change
24,865
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 29
Membership Renewals Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in Febuary, 2018. Allen Heating & Cooling Inc. Amberwood Care Centre Ameriprise Financial Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. Associated Bank Athletico Physical Therapy Audentio Blount International Byron Forest Preserve/ PrairieView Golf Club Capri Restaurant, Inc. Chartwell Agency Chick-fil-A Rockford Choice Furniture, Inc. - Alpine Road Choice Furniture, Inc. - Deane Drive CIT Trucks City First Church Comcast Business ComEd, An Exelon Company Cord Construction Company Crash 1 Collision Center Cronies Grill Custom Concrete Ltd. Diversified Machining, Inc. ESCO Grinding & Supply Company Fisher’s Ethan Allen Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd. - Mulford Road Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd. - Rockton Ave Frink’s Sewer & Drain Inc. FurstSearch LLC Gambino Realtors Home Builders, Inc. Giordano’s Global Spiritual Organization Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois Greater Rockford Airport Authority d/b/a Chicago Rockford International Airport Ground Floor Skateboards Guyer & Enichen - Attorneys at Law Hanson Professional Services Inc. Insurance Pro Agencies Jason’s Deli Kaney Aerospace Kilbuck Creek Knopp Construction Inc. L.K.G. Industries, Inc. Lechtenberg & Associates LLC Lindstrom Travel
Maney’s Lawnscape Inc. Marden Tire & Auto (Marden Distributors, Inc.) MegaFab New York Life - Chad DeMarre Next Rockford NFP, Inc. Northern Illinois Food Bank Rockford Branch Northwest Community Center Northwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council OC Creative Inc. Oliver Close, LLC Olson Aluminum Casting Ltd. P. A. Peterson at the Citadel Pepsi-Cola of Rockford Pierce Laminated Products, Inc. Resort Release Restoration Cafe Rock River Development Partnership/Rockford City Market Rock River Training Corp. Rockford Area Realtors Rockford Consulting & Brokerage Rockford Foundries Rockford Mass Transit District Rockford Mass Transit District/ Paratransit Rockford Public Library Rockford Register Star Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries Rockford Rivets Baseball Rocktown Adventures Sandvik Coromat Co. Schmeling Construction Co. Shogun Japanese Restaurant Izakaya 88 Sikich LLP State Farm Insurance Solomon Foley Stepping Stones of Rockford, Inc. Superior Realtors & Rental Properties, Inc. TK Group, Inc. The Literacy Council The Workforce Connection UNION Savings BANK Welders Supply Company WilliamsMcCarthy LLP Wilson Electric Co. Winnebago County Medical Society Zion Development Corporation
April 2018 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the members celebrating their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
85-YEAR MEMBER
30-YEAR MEMBERS
Townsquare Media Rockford
LaMonica Beverages, Inc. Village of Machesney Park
80-YEAR MEMBER Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association
65-YEAR MEMBERS WQRF-TV/WTVO-TV 13 WREX
60-YEAR MEMBERS Hoffman House Sprinkmann Sons Corporation
40-YEAR MEMBERS Alpine Bank Willett Hofmann & Associates, Inc.
20-YEAR MEMBERS Anpec Industries Highcrest Centre
5-YEAR MEMBERS Capri Restaurant, Inc. Discount Tire First Free Rockford PCI Pharma Services Transformations Plastic Surgery & MedSpa
National Indicators theRegional, economy U.S. Indicators February 2018
Consumer Price Index Unemployment Rate
0.2 percent 4.1 percent
Payroll Employment Average Hourly Earnings Producer Price Index Employment Cost Index Productivity U.S. Import Price Index U.S. Export Price Index
313,000 $0.04 0.2 percent 0.6 percent (fourth quarter, 2017) 0.1 percent (fourth quarter, 2017) 0.4 percent 0.2 percent
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment Rates Region / State / Nation Nov. 2017
Dec. 2017
Jan. 2018
Feb. 2018
Rockford
5.1
5.1
5.3
---
Chicago
4.8
4.9
5.6
5.3
Illinois
4.9
4.9
4.8
4.7
United States
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Illinois 2nd Highest Property Tax Ranking, Lowest Vehicle It should come as no surprise that Illinois has one of the highest property tax rankings in the United States, according to WalletHub.com, which released its 2018 Property Taxes by State report. It compares home and vehicle taxes of states and the District of Columbia. New Jersey was the only state to receive a higher ranking. But there’s some good news. The state comes in at one of the lowest vehicle tax rankings, tying with 23 other states (and the District of Columbia) with a 0% tax rate. Average American household spends (annually) $2,197 real-estate property taxes $436 vehicle property taxes (27 states have this tax)
PROPERTY TAXES IN ILLINOIS ANNUALLY:
Real-Estate Property Tax Rank (1st=Lowest; 25th=Avg.) rank
tax rate
annual tax median tax on state’s $185K home* home value median home value
50th
2.32%
$4,288
$174,800
$4,058
New Jersey 51st
2.40%
$4,437
$316,400
$7,601
Hawaii
0.27%
$501
$538,400
$1,459
Illinois
1st
*$184,700 is the median home value in the United States as of 2016, the year of the most recent available data
Vehicle Property Tax Rank (1st=Lowest; 25th=Avg.) Illinois
rank
tax rate
taxes on $24K car**
1st
0.0
$0
4.77%
$1,144
Rhode Island 51st
**$24,000 is the value of a Toyota Camry LE four-door sedan (as of February 2018), the highest-selling car of 2017.
30 | april 2018
theVoice
on digital
Members Caught on Digital
SwedishAmerican breaks ground on its new $24-million, 70,000-sq.-ft. Creekside Medical Center at 3505 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Adjacent to the SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center, the clinic will offer OB/GYN, pediatrics, family practice, internal medicine and endocrinology services. Completion is slated for spring 2019.
Northwest Bank executives, board members and local officials break ground on Northwest Bank’s major new banking facility at 4402 Peak Drive, on the corner of Perryville Road and Broadcast Parkway in Loves Park. This new facility marks another milestone for Northwest Bank as the largest locally-owned banking organization headquartered in Winnebago County and a member of Foresight Financial Group, Inc.
Phoebe Morris The Rockford Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the addition of Phoebe Morris to our team as our Program & Event Coordinator. Phoebe is a Michigan native who completed her undergraduate degree at Miami University in Ohio. Moving to Rockford in early 2018, Phoebe is excited to become engaged in all Rockford has to oer. As you see Phoebe at Chamber events, please give her a warm welcome! Phoebe can be reached at pmorris@ rockfordchamber.com or 815.316.4302.
Let your Voice be heard Are you a Member with news to share?
Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE, Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101 DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION
theVoice • rockfordchamber.com
april 2018 | 31
chamber
Upcoming Chamber Events
APRIL, 2018
MAY, 2018
Tuesday, April 3
Tuesday, May 1
Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mary’s Market Banquet Facility, 4431 E. State St., Rockford. Adam Keen & Kelli Semmelhack, Associated Bank, present “Payment Fraud: Trends & Types.” Sponsored by Associated Bank.
Wednesday, April 4
IGNITE Lunch with a Leader, noon to 1 p.m., at the Region 1 Planning Council, 313 N. Main St., Rockford. Features Jeff Kaney, CEO, Kaney Aerospace.
Thursday, April 5
Ribbon Cutting/Open House, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center - North Tower, 5666 E. State St., Rockford. Open house, 5 to 7:30 p.m.; ribbon cutting, 6 p.m. Space is limited. Register by April 2 at osfsaintanthony.org/vip. Wednesday, April 11 7:30 - 9 am Rockford University PURI Business School Bldg., Rm. 124 5050 E. State St. , Rockford
Breakfast BUZZ Mike Mastroianni and Norm Dasenbrook present “Jerks at Work.” Sponsored by RSM US LLP.
Thursday, April 12
April Ambassador Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Alpine Bank, 6838 E. State St., Rockford. Ribbon Cutting and Open House, Keller Williams Signature Realty, 4 to 6 p.m., at 4201 Galleria Dr., Loves Park.
Friday, April 13
Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., at Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Philip W. Eaton, president and CEO of Rosecrance Health Network, will present “Responding to the Opioid Epidemic.”
Friday, April 20
Ribbon Cutting, Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Inc. - ReStore, 2 to 3 p.m., 7141 Harrison Ave., Rockford. Wednesday, April 25 4 - 8 pm Giovanni’s, Inc. 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford
Celebration of Manufacturing EXPO & DINNER
Keynote speaker is Dr. Federico Sciammarella, interim chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Illinois University. Expo, 4 to 6 p.m.; dinner and program, 6 to 8 p.m. Individual Business Catalyst of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year will be awarded. Sponsored by QPS Employment Group (presenting); FMA, Rockford Bank & Trust and Wipfli LLP (gold), Thayer Lighting, Inc. (silver) and United Way of Rock River Valley (manufacturing awards).
Business Women’s Council, noon to 1 p.m., Mary’s Market Banquet Facility, 4431 E. State St., Rockford. Kelli Peterson, CFP®, CPA, MPA, Savant Capital Management, presents “Start Planning for Your 2018 Tax Return Now!” Sponsored by Associated Bank.
Tuesday, May 1
IGNITE Lunch with a Leader, noon to 1 p.m., at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190. Features Winnebago County Chairman Frank Haney. Wednesday, May 9 7:30 - 9 am Rockford University PURI Business School Bldg., Rm. 124 5050 E. State St. , Rockford
Breakfast BUZZ Penelope M. Lechtenberg and Brent Strand present “Business Compliance 101: Preparing for When ICE and DOL Come Knocking.” Sponsored by RSM US LLP.
Thursday, May 10 11:30 am - 1:15 pm Tebala Event Center 7910 Newburg Rd., Rockford
Celebration of Leadership LUNCHEON
Celebrate the 64th class of Leadership Rockford. Keynote speaker is Chief Derek Bergsten, Rockford Fire Department. Sponsored by PNC Bank (presenting), ALPHA Controls & Services LLC, OSF HealthCare, RSM US LLP and Savant (graduation).
Friday, May 11
Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., at Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford.
Tuesday, May 15
Chamber 101 with Speed Networking, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Century Plaza Business Center, 7210 E. State St., Ste. 102, Rockford. Sponsored by MembersAlliance Credit Union. IGNITE Adulting 101- Homebuying, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Aero Ale House, 6164 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park.
Thursday, May 17
Leadership Workshop - Emotional Intelligence, 8:30 to 10 a.m., PURI School of Business - Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., room 124. Facilitated by The Anser Group. Monday, May 21 11:00 am The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club 5151 Guilford Rd., Rockford
Rockford Chamber
GOLF CLASSIC
Registration and lunch, 11 a.m.; shotgun start, noon. Dinner immediately follows golf. Sponsored by Blackhawk Bank (gift), SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health (cart), OSF HealthCare (photo) and The Alliance (greens).
Advertisers Index advertisers Alpine Bank / Midland States Bank . . . . . . . . . . 3 ATHENA PowerLink . . . . . . . . . . 19 Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Boylan Catholic High School. . . . 9 Broadmoor Agency . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Brian Thomas Photography . . . 15 Comcast Business . . . . . . . . . . 32 Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Illinois Small Business Development Center . . . . . . . . . . 7
Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . 25 OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Northwest Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Pension Specialists, Ltd. . . 10 Quartz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Rockford Bank & Trust Co. . . . . . 9 Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . 8, 18, 19, 22, 25, 30 Rock Valley College . . . . . . . . . . 13
Lincoln Academy of Illinois . . . . 14
Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
McDaniels Marketing. . . . . . . . . . 9
Thayer Lighting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 5
of the Rockford Business Community
Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100 ............................................. Direct Line Harold “Bo” Boger, IL Small Business
Development Center Director ............................................................. 815-316-4301
Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO ......................................... 815-316-4304 Heidi M. Garner, Chief Operating Officer ................................... 815-316-4312 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology .................. 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Vice President, Member Investment ................... 815-316-4317 Phoebe Morris, Program & Event Coordinator............................. 815-316-4302 Caitlin Pusateri, Vice President, Leadership Development .................. 815-316-4337 Doug Rand, Accounting Manager/Controller .............................. 815-316-4316 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator ........................ 815-316-4320
Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman of the Board Richard Zumwalt Z Resource Chair-Elect Michele Petrie Wintrust Commercial Banking & Mortgage Vice Chair Dan Ross Gallagher Williams-Manny Treasurer Amy Ott Boylan Catholic High School Immediate Past Chair Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc.
DIRECTORS Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Kimberly Blascoe Wipfli LLP Jan Bowman TLC Construction LaVonne Brown Savant Capital Management Paula Carynski OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Samuel J. Castree Staff Management, Inc. Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc.
Sue Schrieber Don Daniels SwedishAmerican, A Mercyhealth Division of UW Health John Schuster Rosecrance Health Rebecca Epperson Network Chartwell Agency Ira Grimmett UTC Aerospace Systems
Karl Swanson Rockford Bank & Trust Co
Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory
Udaya Talwar Woodward
Jeff Hultman Illinois Bank & Trust Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Elizabeth Lee Greenlee Textron
Kris L. Kieper Jean Crosby Machajewski Berkshire Hathaway YWCA Northwestern HomeServices Crosby Illinois Starck Real Estate Mike Paterson Doug Curry Mid-West Family Stenstrom Excavation Broadcasting and Blacktop Group Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale
Jon Thompson Butitta Brothers Automotive
EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Nathan Bryant Rockford Area Economic Development
MAY VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS On the Move — Transportation, Logistics & Travel For information on advertising, call 815
987-8100