April Voice 2023

of the rockford business community

Finders and keepers

Hiring and retention in a competitive employment environment

By Andrew Wright, Rockford Chamber of Commerce

In Winnebago County, the unemployment rate in December 2022 was at the lowest it’s been since the COVID-19 outbreak. At 5.3%, it’s comparable to the lowest unemployment numbers in the last 20 years.

is February, Stephanie Ferguson, director of global employment policy

and special initiatives for the U.S. Chamber, published an article titled “Understanding America’s Labor Shortage: e Most Impacted Industries.”

In the article, Ferguson writes about the rising numbers of job openings in a wide range of industries, including education, health services, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and the trades.

Companies are actively competing to ll positions in a very employee-friendly environment. And for companies looking to grow and expand through 2023, that means HR managers and business owners need an edge to hire quality candidates.

The growing need for professional hiring experts

Hughes Resources is a Freeport-based sta ng agency that recently opened a new location in Rockford to meet the growing demand for workforce development in the area. In May, they’ll celebrate 20 years in business.

“Employers are still looking to ll a variety of jobs, and I haven’t sensed a slow-down in 2023. It continues to be incredibly di cult to ll all those jobs,”

Vanessa Hughes, president of Hughes Resources explained.

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Most likely to be celebrated

Inaugural Superlatives honorees named

e Rockford Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the honorees of the inaugural Superlatives Awards. is recognition, inspired by high school yearbooks going back generations, recognizes honorees for their ongoing contributions to the Rockford community. Over 140 nominations were submitted and reviewed by a chamber member committee comprised of local leaders.

Congratulations to our 2023 honorees:

Rockford’s A/V Club – WTVO Engineering Sta

Rockford’s Booster Club – Gary Anderson & Studio GWA

Most Adorable O ce Pet – Franz Furwig at Furst Sta ng

Best Amateur Chef – Ron Clewer

Best Professional Chef – Paul Sletten

Best Dressed – Kylar Hayes

Rockford’s Class Clown – Kevin Haas

Rockford’s Coolest Car – Electric Mustang owned by Patti ayer Geissler

Most Iconic Artist – Laura Gomel

First to Volunteer – Jill Beeman

TIF DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

The City of Rockford is opening the TIF Commercial and Industrial Rehabilitation Program to assist building and business owners in improving the exterior of commercial and industrial spaces in select TIF Districts in the city.

The city will offer a 50/50 match up to $25,000 in assistance for permanent building improvements. Matching funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis for any project that meets the qualifications and until the allocated funds are exhausted.

Qualifying TIF districts include: Auburn Street TIF, Broadway TIF, East River TIF, E. State and Alpine TIF, East State and Mulford TIF, Midtown TIF, and North Main and Auburn Street TIF. Each TIF has $150,000 in available funds on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on the program and how to apply, visit www.rockfordil.gov or contact Anna Garrison at Anna.Garrison@ rockfordIL.gov or 779.348.7419.

VISITOR SPENDING IN ROCKFORD CONTINUES TO RISE

According to a report by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, total visitor spending in the Rockford area increased to $436.4 million in 2021, a 21.7% increase over 2020 but still 9.7% below 2019.

Comparing 2021 to 2019, the economic impact of the visitor industry in Winnebago County recovered faster than nine of 12 comparative destinations in Illinois. And additional industry data points to continued recovery through 2022.

“Rockford’s resilient performance is due in part to our diversified tourism product that includes sports tourism, leisure products and corporate travel, and our ability to focus on and market tourism products that allowed for continued visitation to outdoor experiences throughout the pandemic,” said John Groh, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau president/CEO.

As visitors spent more than $436 million visiting Winnebago County, they directly supported the livelihood of 3,798 hardworking area residents working in hospitality and travel related jobs with employment income of $130 million.

CAITLIN PUSATERI president, Rockford Chamber of Commerce

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Leadership, ducks and my grandma

A Rockford love story

I graduated from the Leadership Rockford program in 2011. I was 25, only about three years into my Rockford journey, and the executive director of IGNITE. e program opened my eyes to so many sides of Rockford I had no idea existed. As a Byron native, I knew Rockford as the place I went for everything my small town couldn’t provide – clothes, the movies and an amazing egg roll at Royal Dragon (gosh, I miss that place.)

A er immigrating from Germany, my grandmother lived in Rockford for most of her adult life. She was a regular at the YMCA along the river, a proud volunteer at Klehm Arboretum, a docent at Anderson Gardens and a fervent walker of the Sinnissippi bike path. She was a volunteer usher at the Coronado and dined at Rockford’s hip spots with

her friends.

She introduced us to her Rockford as kids. We would take old bread down to the river and feed the ducks (a pastime I’ve learned is frowned upon but holds a wonderful memory in my heart). We gawked at the Rock Men, smelled all the roses in the rose garden and peered into the ower clock. We enjoyed shows at the Coronado, threw pennies into the Colonial Village Mall fountain and rode the giant escalator in the middle of Cherry Vale Mall when it was time to meet my mom by the big clock.

When my grandmother was battling dementia in her later years, I found joy in taking her to her favorite stomping grounds. Anderson Gardens—a place she had love—suddenly was new for her. Witnessing that rebirth for her was both a beautiful experience and a heartbreaking

one for me. Now, she has a memorial brick near the roses at Sinnissippi Gardens, and it makes the place even more magical for me.

My childhood and early-adult life are tied to two di erent sides of Rockford — the original Rockford and the “bigcity” convenience Rockford. Leadership Rockford was the seamstress that wove those two Rockfords together for me.

Whenever I bring up Leadership Rockford in casual conversation, I’m frequently regaled with stories of the program that impacted the lives of so many in the Rockford region. Leadership Rockford is a jovial, impactful and inspiring program for all those who have had the pleasure of attending. It introduces long-time Rockfordians to new organizations and projects they didn’t know existed and gives newcomers a better understanding of who-does-what in a city that is somehow big and small at the same time.

is month, we have the honor of graduating another class of participants. Having been involved in the program

for more than 10 years (as a participant and then on the administration side), I have made life-long friends, learned new things every year and am re-energized every time I attend a session. While my involvement with the 2022/2023 class was limited, I am so excited to celebrate them and welcome them as members of our new Leadership Rockford Alumni Program.

My grandma passed away in December of 2018, but so much of her spirit lives on in so much of Rockford. She would be proud of all that our community has accomplished. She would be thrilled that I created a life here—a life I love, am proud of and nd meaning in. As I continue my love a air with Rockford, I can’t say that I won’t sneak a few pieces of stale bread to my children to feed the ducks down by the river. But I can say I will continue to engage in all that Rockford has to o er thanks to my foundation, my career and my experience with Leadership Rockford.

Celebration of Leadership

Ceremony to honor Leadership Rockford graduates

e Rockford Chamber of Commerce is proud to host this year’s Celebration of Leadership on April 20, honoring the graduates of the 68th session of Leadership Rockford (previously known as CAP – the Community Awareness Program). e ceremony, to be held at Ho man House, is a culmination of 18 educational sessions about Rockford, the companies and nonpro ts that serve the community, and the means and methods to become an emerging leader within the community.

is year’s class learned about the manufacturing industry in Rockford— past and present. Sessions also covered transportation, public safety, mental health services, the state of education in Rockford, and arts and culture in the city. ey had important discussions about diversity, equity and belonging. And they heard from business leaders and government o cials. Along the way, they enjoyed an IceHogs game, visited the Beloit SkyCarp stadium, got tips on addressing local media, and even got to see how a complex system like Four Rivers Sanitation works to serve the community. Along the way, these leaders met with local nonpro t organizations and,

in self-directed small groups, helped to complete service projects that will meet an immediate need and have a long-term impact on Rockford’s future.

“ e Leadership Rockford program is truly valuable and has been one of the best experiences I have had,” said Danielle DeDario, graduate Leadership Rockford 2022 class and moderator for the class of 2023. “ rough the program, I learned things that I never knew about Rockford, and I have lived here most of my life. e educational component is impactful as it brings people closer to the community they are in, increases engagement through activity, and provides awareness and clari cation of the processes/ operations/systems that are in place to protect and enhance our region. e way the program connects participants to real issues, challenges, opportunities, activities, etc. makes us comprehend more introspectively.”

“ e people I have met, learned about, helped lead, and learned from have participated in my growth as a person and community leader. I am grateful to have had the chance to be around such strong ambition, so much caring and tons of fun while being a part of Leadership

Rockford,” she said. “ ere is so much greatness and so much initiative in the Rockford region, and we are lucky to be included. I am proud to do my part.”

Friends, coworkers and family members of graduates of Leadership Rockford are encouraged to join us for the Celebration of Leadership event on April 20 at Ho man House. e event begins at 10 a.m. and will feature keynote speaker Eric Cunningham, vice president of Electric Power Systems at Collins Aerospace.

Tickets are $50 per person, with corporate tables available to reserve. Register on the events calendar at www.RockfordChamber.com

CAP and Leadership Rockford alumni are welcome to participate in our new Leadership Rockford Alumni Program. Members are able to join future classes for sessions they might have missed or visit new sites as the program continues to seek new topics and emerging industries within the community.

To sign up for the Leadership Rockford Alumni Program, one must have completed and graduated Leadership Rockford or CAP. Register through the Leadership Rockford/CAP Alumni page at www.RockfordChamber.com.

Superlatives

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Hardest Working Volunteer – Peg Herschberger

Most Likely To Take Over the World – Peter Provenzano

Most Likely to Save the Planet – Sarene Alshareef

Most Likely To Get Something Done – Danielle DeDario

e Hustle Award – Kyle York

Smartest Person in the Room – John Kale

Most Impactful Duo – Vanessa Hughes & Sally Noble

Rockford’s Inventors Club – Ingersoll Machine Tool

Best Motivational Speaker – Mandolen Mull

Best Shoulder to Cry On – Brittany Freiberg

Most Trustworthy – Brent Scott

Rockford’s Varsity Team Award –Auburn High School’s Girls Swimming & Diving Team

Most Likely to Know Everyone in the Room – Maureen Solverson

Most Unforgettable – Rick Nielsen

Rockford’s Pep Band – Phantom Regiment

Rockford’s Most Unique Workspace – Tinker Swiss Cottage

Most Likely to Brighten Your Day – Cathy Bayer-Eberle

Rockford’s Up & Comer Award – Miranda Swanson

Most Hopeful for the Future – Dr. Heather Psaltis

Rockford Spirit Award – Meredith MacKay

Thank you to all who submitted nominations.

e Rockford Chamber will celebrate these honorees at the Superlatives Reception, presented by UW Health, on June 15 at Byron Forest Preserve. Pro les of each of the honorees will be featured in this summer’s edition of ONE Magazine, published by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members will receive One Magazine in the mail in early June.

Join us in celebrating Rockford’s Superlatives. Register at www.rockfordchamber.com.

Special thanks to Leader sponsor, Thayer Energy Solutions; and Photography Sponsor, Mindy Joy Photography.

TOM MCNAMARA Rockford Mayor

GUEST COLUMNIST

Addressing crime in our community

City projects focus on prevention and intervention

Whether I’m at a city event, a neighborhood meeting or the grocery store, I’m always asked the same question —what are you doing to address crime in our community? I know it’s a topic that is important to each and every resident of Rockford. Let me be clear, we are tough on crime.

We are also investing heavily in our police department. We have increased our authorized police force to more than 300 o cers. We’ve purchased more than 100 license plate readers. We’ve quadrupled the number of cameras in high tra c and high crime areas. We’ve purchased gun detection and social analytics so ware.

However, we know that enforcement alone is not enough. We need to stop the cycle of violence that has plagued our city for decades. We are doing that by implementing prevention and intervention strategies to change lives and reduce crime. Here’s a look at some of our

prevention and intervention initiatives:

Family Peace Center

Knowing that approximately 40% of our violent crime is related to domestic violence, we opened the state’s rst Family Peace Center for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Navigators

We worked with Rockford Park District and YMCA to place navigators at a er-school recreation sites to help connect youth and their families with support services and resources.

Handle With Care

We collaborated with Rockford Public Schools to create a system that noti es school sta when a student may have been exposed to a traumatic event.

Diversion Program

We implemented a 21-week intervention/diversion program that provides group and individual support to youth and their families.

Human Trafficking Response Team

We established a Human Tra cking Response Team to identify, refer, investigate and prosecute human tra cking in Winnebago County.

Camp Hope

We launched Camp Hope for youth to help them process experiences of being exposed to domestic and/or sexual violence in a trauma-informed way to help with healing and nding hope.

No Entry Program

We launched a ve-year initiative to address racial and ethnic disparities and reduce the number of youths entering the justice system.

Re-entry Program

We partnered with Winnebago County to establish a program to identify and deter members of the community who are at a heightened risk of committing future acts of crime and gun violence.

Engaging Men and Boys Project

We were awarded a grant to develop a train-the-trainer program to help sta of youth-serving agencies identify, respond and redirect behaviors, beliefs and actions that may lead to violence against women, girls and marginalized communities and encourage them to be positive mentors to their peers.

Children Exposed to Violence Project

We were awarded a grant to support the establishment of a Community Healing Center, a multiagency, multidisciplinary facility, where children exposed to

violence, and their families, can come to receive healing and supportive services that promote trauma recovery, youth development and violence prevention and interventions.

Youth Programs

We supported youth programs, such as Comprehensive Community Solutions, 815 Alive, New Genres Art Space and Boys and Girls Club, to provide youth with positive experiences and outlets, as well as reduce the number of youths entering the criminal justice system.

Workforce Development Program

We partnered with a local minority contractor to hire at-risk young adults to help them gain job skills by building sidewalks in neighborhoods across our community.

We are working hard to ght violent crime every day. However, we know we can’t do it alone. We need every person and every organization to ght for our community together. Please nd a way to get involved. Talk to your neighbors. Encourage your employer to join the e ort. We can achieve great things when we work together.

e views expressed are those of Mayor McNamara and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

profile profi leMEMBER PROFILE

Jen Reisinger, financial advisor, Edward Jones

At the age of 19, Jen Reisinger did what any sensible teenager would do— she began investing in mutual funds.

At least, that’s what she thought any sensible teenager should do.

Reisinger, now a nancial advisor for Edward Jones Investments, admitted she didn’t realize how unusual it is for a 19-year-old to be interested in investing until she became a nancial advisor.

“I have an accounting degree, so I’ve worked in nance since I was 19. I worked in banking, public accounting and manufacturing nance before coming to Edward Jones,” Reisinger said. “I also owned two other businesses during that time, and I’ve loved owning a business. Business development, helping people, networking with other people in the community—I love that aspect of starting businesses from scratch.”

Just over eight years ago, Reisinger joined Edward Jones.

“Being able to build something from nothing, to connect with people in the community, help other people, and still get to do nance related work was the perfect combination for me,” she said.

Despite her interest in nance at a young age, she was concerned that getting a job in nance meant that she’d have to move to New York City to nd work.

“I didn’t want to leave my family and friends, so I stayed and worked in accounting,” Reisinger said.

She grew up in the Yorkville-Oswego area and married her high school sweetheart. A er leaving for Ohio for a decade, she returned to Illinois in 2008 to be closer to family.

Since 2016, Reisinger has operated from her o ces in the old Sundstrand headquarters building on Harrison

Ave. in Rockford. Reisinger commutes from Davis Junction daily, so she values opportunities to connect with the business community in Rockford.

“I love to connect and network. I love to be a resource to my clients. If a client needs something to help them achieve their goals, I like to connect them with what they’re looking for,” she said.

Reisinger is proud to sponsor the rst Co ee with the Chamber: “I love Meg’s Daily Grind. I love their co ee and the opportunity to meet people in the community, to share a cup of co ee with people. It’s fun.”

Before seeking out an investment strategy, Reisinger says it’s important to know some basics.

“Don’t start investing until you have an emergency fund in place. It’s important that you have money on hand so you don’t have to pull from stocks or funds when the market is low,” she said. “And if you’re approaching retirement, or want to know how much money you need to get to retirement, that’s an important rst step.”

She also recommends aiming for a speci c goal. Whether it’s basic budgeting, saving for a second home or a child’s education, or travel, a nancial planner can help you plot a course to achieve those goals.

Reisinger is looking forward to meeting everyone at the Co ee With the Chamber event at Meg’s Daily Grind, 1141 N. Alpine Rd. in Rockford, April 13, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

e views expressed are those of Reisinger and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

AMY NORD executive director, Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce

GUEST COLUMNIST

Opportunities in Boone County

Dispatch from the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce

Belvidere is beginning a new chapter of opportunity.

Most of us are aware that the Stellantis assembly plant in Belvidere was o cially was placed on “idle” back in February. While the automaker has been a part of the community since 1964, it’s far from the only game in town. Belvidere has attracted a broad base of businesses and built a successful community that has so much more to o er.

ere’s a lot of new construction happening in Belvidere today, and there’s more to come. Here’s a snapshot:

■ A new 43-acre, multimillion dollar travel center is underway at the intersection of I-90 and Genoa Road. is development will feature a 12,000 square foot convenience store, Jimmy Johns, Wing Stop and Smoothie King. Additionally, the city council approved Belvidere’s rst marijuana dispensary that will be built just north of the trucking center.

■ A new Dunkin Donuts will soon open on the site of the former Grandma’s Restaurant along US 20. e new development will o er two additional new retail spaces, available for lease in a prime location.

■ e downtown business district welcomes Full Circle Brewery this summer. e Morris family are Belvidere natives and have taken their love of brewing beer to the next level.

■ e restaurant scene is growing in Belvidere too. Buchanan Street is adding

the new restaurant More an Dogs, brought to you by the family that owns Big Jon’s Dogs N’ More food truck, will open soon on Buchanan Street. And a new DQ Grill & Chill will also open on the north end of town.

■ Industry is thriving in Belvidere as well. Boone County is looking forward to the completion of a new General Mills 1.3 million square foot distribution warehouse, located o Irene Road. is is one of the largest development projects in Belvidere’s history, according to Mayor Clinton Morris. is $100 million investment will bring between 55 and 75 full-time jobs.

■ Another major employer, Conserv FS, is nearing the completion of its Caledonia Service Center to better serve farm customers in Rockford, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. e updates include a new 6,000-ton dry fertilizer building, a crop protection products warehouse, and a 1-million-gallon bulk liquid fertilizer storage tank.

e idle of Stellantis de nitely stings, but there are plenty of reasons to remain optimistic about the many new commitments and exciting opportunities coming to the Belvidere community. Take another look at Belvidere. We’re ready to take on the future!

Be the Voice of expertise

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

Send your idea to ckellerman@rockfordchamber.com.

Finders and keepers

(continued from front page)

According to Hughes, workforce shortages come from a variety of reasons, including boomers retiring earlier than expected because of COVID, people choosing to stay home and operate on one income, and a disengagement among potential employees.

A focus on work-life balance has intensi ed due to the shutdown during the pandemic.

“It takes a lot more work to nd good candidates that are going to be committed to the job that they’re attempting,” she said.

Hughes describes how companies are working harder to cater to employees to increase retention and make the workplace more appealing to new hires: “Most companies are trying to do all the things one would think to attract and retain employees. Various fun days and treats and food to make employees feel appreciated. Bene ts are well-rounded for the most part. Safety has advanced dramatically in manufacturing in the 20 plus years I’ve been in the industry.”

And while creating and maintaining a healthy corporate culture remains vital, Hughes says some of it boils down to pay, because it’s easier now to quit and go nd another job if the engagement, loyalty and pay isn’t there.

Managing staff demand in the healthcare sector

Natasha Weberg, chief nursing o cer for Encompass Health Van Matre Rockford, has to be exceptionally creative when attracting new talent in the competitive eld of healthcare. Weberg was a divisional director of clinical services for a national hospice company, overseeing 35 agencies in six states, before joining Van Matre.

“ e workforce crisis we’ve been in pertains to healthcare as much as it pertains to the service industry, so recruiting people has been di cult. COVID forced a lot of people out of healthcare, so we’ve had to be creative on how we bring people on,” she said.

Weberg described some of the new ways Van Matre is approaching the hiring process, including opening doors to nursing colleges, helping those nurses to complete rotations, as well as creating nurse extern positions—paying student nurses to learn the nursing role in the hope that they will like working at Van Matre and want to stay.

“Many people hear about Encompass Health Van Matre and think we’re a nursing home; they don’t think we’re a hospital. When they come here and see what it’s like within this hospital, they see how much they like it. O en, students see patients at the onset of an illness. Here, they get to see those patients recover through the illness and what they’re like a er the illness. ere’s a whole new sense of reward and grati cation that

comes from that,” Weberg said.

ese internship and externship opportunities create a competitive advantage for Van Matre, helping students new to the workforce to nd a home right away. And there are advantages to taking on graduating students entering the workforce as well.

“Keep an open mind to a lack of experience. You can guide them to be the employee you would like them to be, and they don’t bring bad habits with them,” Weberg said. “New grads are some of the best nurses you can get.”

Weberg recommends making signi cant e orts to keep sta happy

Although Francis understands the appeal of an experienced employee that doesn’t require micromanaging, she thinks there is value in people who are eager to learn and understand something new.

“ ey’re not just trainable; they’re eager to do the work. You tend to see a stronger retention rate there than with people who feel they can do their job somewhere else,” she said.

Right now, millennials and Generation Z are entering the workforce with a better understanding of technology and entrepreneurship than the generations before them. Between online in uencer

Professional development makes a workplace inviting and helps retain a diverse and loyal workforce. at’s what drives Francis’ work with Ignite Change Solutions—the opportunity to help companies build a healthier workplace culture that attracts young talent and keeps them engaged in the teamwork needed to succeed in a competitive workforce environment.

Professional development is also key to promoting from within, which is another critical step in creating a loyal workforce.

“Organizations have to get really good at supporting their sta through promotion and empowerment. Nobody wants to keep doing the same thing forever. And if they do, you’re still not doing your job because you should be growing your team,” said Francis. “ ere’s usually something deep down inside that drives everyone in your organization and it’s the job of the leader to gure out what that is to help them grow and to retain them. It’s really easy to retain someone who loves their job.”

once they’re hired: “Happy employees don’t leave.”

Weberg regularly makes the rounds with the nursing sta at Van Matre, referring to it as “swooping the loop.” She addresses everyone by name, asks about their day, answers call lights and takes part in employee recognition and celebrations.

“We need to put the term ‘employee engagement’ at the forefront of our mind and continue to think outside the box about how we develop and nurture employee engagement. If you can gure out employee engagement, you can almost gure out your turnover problem,” she said.

A workforce of equals

Rebecca Francis, founder and CEO of Ignite Change Solutions, works hard to make sure business owners appreciate the value that everyone can bring to the table.

“When I was working as a hiring manager in education, I learned really quickly that sometimes we assume that it’s OK to only hire those who have a certain degree or have the most experience,” Francis said. “But some industry veterans can be the hardest to guide or course correct. Sometimes it’s better not to seek out someone who has a degree in something but rather seek out someone who has the skill set to do it.”

culture, and YouTube videos with full and clear explanations on how to do just about anything, a workplace must have an appeal that goes beyond simply earning a paycheck.

“I try to tell employers, ‘Please don’t get cocky. ese people will walk out on you. And they will gure it out,’” Francis said. “Employers must open their eyes and pay attention to trends. Pay attention to exit interviews; that’s free advice. It’ll teach you what you have to do to keep your best employees.”

Ignite Change Solutions helps educate business leaders and sta about diversity, equity and inclusion, aspects of a healthier corporate culture that have increasingly become sought a er as younger generations take their place in the job market.

“As younger generations enter the workforce, they’re coming with di erent expectations, and they want to make sure that their organization is equitable,” Francis said. “If you’re telling me that people don’t want to work at your workplace, and you’re telling me that you don’t want to be respectful of someone’s gender identity, what they believe, you’re going to create an issue about race or name or pronouns, you can’t create a bathroom within the organization for them, and you’re questioning them as if they owe you an explanation behind any of it—why would they stay there?”

Francis says today’s job seekers place greater importance on work-life balance: “I’ve worked in a corporate setting, I’ve worked in education, I’ve had all these di erent experiences and my work-life balance was o because I’ve always been in a leadership position. Working for myself, I can make my own schedule, I can still make money, and I can have a sense of normalcy in my life. And if I were to return to a corporate role, it would be only for an organization that understands that, because I could never go back to a job where my whole life is predicated on the company’s demands.”

JOHN GROH Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Breau

Destination  ILLINOIS, USA

For the love of art

Rockford’s vibrant arts industry

If you know me personally, you know that I am a patron of and advocate for the arts. My wife Kaylene and I collect art, the organization I lead produces public art, and I serve as a member of the Rockford Arts Council Board of Directors. I love and appreciate art.

Luckily, we live in an area that can claim a vibrant arts community. According to the 2022 Southern Methodist University Arts Vibrancy Index Report, Winnebago County has an overall Arts Vibrancy Score of 80-89, meaning we scored 8089% better than the other 3,100 counties in the nation.

Our arts vibrancy generates both cultural and economic bene ts.

In 2021, the Rockford Area Arts Council published an analysis of the indirect economic impact of the arts industry in the Northern Illinois region, revealing that, in 2019, the arts industry created a total output of roughly $145 million and supported 4,000 jobs in the four county region of Boone, DeKalb, Ogle and Winnebago.

Americans for the Arts notes that arts travelers are ideal visitors. ey stay longer and spend more to seek out authentic cultural experiences. Arts and cultural events drive incremental spending as audience members spent $31.47 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking and lodging—vital income for local businesses.

When considering the contributions of the arts, it’s also important to consider the intangible bene ts the sector and individual artists provide. According to the National Center for Arts Research, “creativity is a desirable and necessary element for an innovative and thriving community. Aside from being an engine of job creation and economic growth, arts and culture contribute to social wellbeing and are essential to creating more livable, safe, memorable and connected communities.”

For these and many other reasons, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB) remains committed to developing our destination through arts and culture.

We are supporting the Rockford Region Cultural Plan, led by Rockford

Area Arts Council, as a funding partner and member of the advisory team. Developing and implementing this plan is a key step to not only understanding the importance of the arts in our community but assessing the underlying health of the sector.

Challenged even before the pandemic, our arts and cultural organizations have been slow to recover from the pandemic, which eliminated audiences as a key source of support and revenue.

According to Americans for the Arts, small investments in the sector produce big returns. ey note that, for example, in 2017 the combined $5 billion in direct arts funding by local, state and federal governments yielded $27.5 billion in government revenue. Given the sector’s current challenges and the opportunities for growth, I’m eager to learn what the plan will recommend as needed actions by public, private and civic partners.

Another way RACVB is fostering our culture community is through our public art program, CRE8IV: transformational art. Plans are well underway for this summer’s mural installations, and we have ample ways for individuals and organizations to support this e ort. If you love art and want to support, call Kristen Paul, our vice president of destination development, at 815-963-8111.

So o en, our community is focused on issues to resolve. In the case of arts and culture, we have a strength on which to build and further establish our community as one of the most culturally vibrant in the state and the nation.

is spring, I’d encourage you to explore the art that is all around you in the Rockford area. Take in a local concert, gallery hop your way through Spring ArtScene (April 21-22), visit a local museum, enroll in dance lessons at the Rockford Dance Company, or take a tour of the community’s extensive public art collection.

Art is everywhere in Rockford. I love it and you will too.

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

LESLY COUPER president, workplace staffing

GUEST COLUMNIST

5 benefits of employer branding

How do employees and applicants feel about your organization?

If attracting and retaining top talent is important to your organization, employer branding is just as important as corporate branding.

So, what exactly is employer branding and how can it help your organization?

First of all, employer branding is not a series of vague qualities like exible and caring. In the simplest terms, an employer brand is your organization’s reputation as an employer. It’s the promise you make to your employees and deliver on day in and day out. Employer branding must go deeper than a stated value proposition, because your values and bene ts must be reinforced internally and match the actual experience of your employees.

ese important questions are part of your employer brand:

■ Do your employees feel valued?

■ Would they recommend your organization to friends?

■ What story does your career site tell?

■ What do job applicants say about the candidate experience?

■ How does your organization rate on social media and review sites?

■ Is your organization a good place to work?

As you contemplate whether to invest in formulating and articulating your organization’s employer brand, consider these ve important bene ts.

1. Improved talent pool

To state the obvious… People want to work for an organization with a good reputation where employees are treated well and feel valued. Recent research found that job seekers may even be willing to consider a lower wage if an employer can o er non-monetary bene ts like a great culture, exibility and growth opportunities. A strong employer brand can tell your organization’s story through word of mouth, online employer searches and social media research.

Regardless of economic conditions, a strong employer brand can be the secret to building and maintaining a solid talent pipeline. When candidates are plentiful, it helps create a healthy pipeline of people

Why businesses reject resumés

Is your H.R. software excluding good candidates?

Walking down the street, it’s rare to spot a business that doesn’t have a “Help Wanted” sign in the window. e “Great Resignation” and the people abandoning their 9-to-5 jobs for a new career have resulted in a talent shortage for almost every industry.

However, it may not be a dearth of viable candidates that has made it di cult for you to ll a position at your business. Your hiring so ware could be rejecting quali ed job applicants before you get a chance to see them.

HR software that’s too smart

e days of the paper application are largely gone. Now, many companies, even small businesses, use human resources so ware to automate the hiring process.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Recruiting Marketing Systems (RMS) manage the job application pipeline and streamline the recruiting process. Hiring managers can use ATS to sort through dozens of online applicants for entrylevel positions, while the RMS allows recruiters to lter and rank potential

applicants for middle- to high-skills positions.

ese automated hiring so ware systems can help employers quickly nd a strong pool of candidates, but the protocols in the programming may automatically reject otherwise quali ed candidates, such as those with a gap in employment history or those whose experience from one industry could easily transfer to another industry that requires similar skills.

As a result, ATS and RMS systems automatically exclude viable job candidates from consideration. Hiring managers never see the resume and cover letter, the latter of which could address an employment gap or demonstrate how a candidate could apply cross-industry skills.

High-skills candidates being vetted out

Some chamber members note that quali ed, high-skills candidates may be automatically vetted out of the hiring process because they don’t match

eager to join your organization. In a tight labor market, it can help attract quality candidates who might not otherwise consider leaving their current position.

2. Decreased time and cost per hire

With a strong and desirable employer brand, your talent pipeline will likely be robust because your organization will attract more quali ed candidates. is is great news for your hiring managers and your bottom line. With more quali ed candidates in your pool, it will take less time to hire for key positions and less money and fewer resources will be spent on sourcing and vetting potential candidates. Referral hiring also becomes easier with a strong employer brand. Employee referrals can be one of the most e cient and cost-e ective ways to bring talent into your organization.

3. Higher employee engagement

ere is a sense of pride that comes from working for a great organization and a lot of credibility in employees knowing that they are taken seriously and treated fairly by their employer. Investing in training and support, developing career paths, and o ering competitive compensation and bene ts are all ways to ensure that your employer brand is laying the foundation of a culture of inclusion and engagement.

4. Lower employee turnover

When employees are engaged and feel valued, they are more likely to stay for the long haul. Most managers intuitively know that high employee turnover hurts

the bottom line. But experts estimate that the cost to nd and train a replacement could be upwards of twice an employee’s salary. In addition, constant turnover can damage morale among existing employees.

5. Better company performance Regardless of your industry, happy employees create happy customers. Satis ed and engaged employees are more focused and dedicated to their work, which translates to better individual performance and better corporate performance. Having a consistent and hard-working team in place helps create a consistent, e cient and meaningful experience for your customers.

Building and managing an employer brand might feel overwhelming, but employer branding is only going to get more important as job seekers become savvier in their research and decisionmaking process. Every employer brand is unique, and the process of building that brand is di erent for every organization. e key is to recognize it as a priority and start small.

e views expressed are those of Couper and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

the exact criteria of the ATS or RMS algorithms. e number of middleskilled workers vetted out is even higher.

However, the criteria used by the hiring so ware didn’t appear out of thin air. In fact, many quali ed candidates are rejected because they don’t match the job description posted by the company. Oops! Some recruiters may use a stringently written job description to remove the marginally-quali ed candidates and minimize the number of potential job applicants.

How businesses can Increase the hiring pool

One way to increase the number of available applicants is to rewrite the job description to include more “so skills” such as work ethic, engagement and innovation. Firms open to seeking hidden workers—those weeded out by the automated process— may discover an

untapped resource.

Hidden workers are those who aren’t an exact match for the speci cations of the job description but who may have plenty to o er employers, especially companies that are willing and able to provide extra training for applicants with drive and potential.

Instead of adding new skills and requirements to existing job descriptions, switch the lters on your hiring so ware from negative, which weeds out more applicants, to positive, which increases the hiring pool and includes candidates with a broader range of experience.

If you’re struggling to ll a position in your company, or if you’re su ering from a lack of available front-line workers, take a closer look at your hiring so ware. A few simple tweaks to the system lters and some revamped job descriptions may yield remarkable results.

DR. EHREN JARRETT superintendent, RPS 205

The power of partnerships

Business community + RPS = a winning partnership for all

Future trends small businesses need to know

The world of work is changing, and small businesses need to look ahead

By Sammi Caramela , contributor, Co – by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

e business world hasn’t looked the same since 2020, and small businesses are still trying to adjust. From allowing hybrid work to investing in the metaverse, there are countless ways small businesses may have to adapt to ensure their employees are satis ed. Here are some future work trends small businesses should prepare for.

are using this tool to generate marketing copy within seconds. However, small business owners should keep in mind that the content produced o en needs a human eye to catch mistakes and false information, as this tool is far from perfect. Rather, companies can use generative AI as a tool in their overall content creation process.

Class of 2023 graduate Kelvin Morales is already on a successful career path and contributing to the local economy a er being recruited by Kadon Precision Machining. e manufacturing company’s leadership team was impressed with the Roosevelt Community Education Center senior, and they o ered him a job when he graduated shortly a er his job shadow experience at Kadon.

A story like Kelvin’s doesn’t happen every time a local business hosts RPS 205 students for a job shadow experience. But more students are connecting with local businesses—like Modern Advanced Manufacturing, LLC and Jerhen Industries—and lining up summer internships and prospective jobs.

at’s the power of the partnerships between Rockford Public Schools and local businesses, and those are exactly the kind of connections we’re hoping to build through our high school academies.

Each year, more than 1,200 RPS 205 students attend an on-site job shadow with industry experts who are looking for local talent. e job shadow experience shows students rsthand what jobs are available in the Rockford community, and it connects businesses with potential employees.

e academies provide high school students with learning experiences in industries and careers right here in our community. In addition to enhancing educational outcomes and creating smaller collaborative learning groups, academies provide an avenue for community and business leaders to become involved in shaping their future workforce. Experiences are planned for students in each of our high school academies—business, health, production and service—throughout the year.

e Production Academy is for RPS 205 high school students interested in building or product design, structures, working with tools, transportation, xing things and working with their hands. Students’ coursework is delivered within that context, so their lessons are relevant to their interests. Students could be interested in careers in construction, engineering, industrial technology/fabrication, automotive and manufacturing.

Students enrolled in the Production Academy can earn college credit, work experience and job certi cation while they’re still in high school. Certi cations include AutoCad and MakerBot 3-D Printing, OSHA 10 and NIMS, plus microcredentials in blueprint reading, additive and subtractive manufacturing, measurement, hand and power tool safety, and calibration fundamentals.

Production Academy students from Auburn, East, Guilford, Je erson and Roosevelt high schools spent the day with local business leaders at the end of January and early February. From that job shadow event, 85% of students surveyed said they found value in the experience, and 77% said they now know more about a career in production or manufacturing. More than half of the students surveyed said the experience either con rmed their career choice (32%) or the experience changed their mind (19%). Knowing, perhaps, what career or industry isn’t the right t for them is important feedback for students.

Megan Droy, Guilford High School special education teacher, recently participated in the job shadow experience at Collins Aerospace and shared this feedback: “It was eye opening how many di erent types of jobs, with varying levels of required education/experience, exist within this one company. I believe the job shadowing opportunities allowed students to get an inside view of companies in the Rockford region and possible future career opportunities.”

rough academies, our students graduate with a head start for wherever life takes them. To learn more or volunteer to host a job shadowing opportunity, contact Work Based Learning Coordinator Jessica Hayes, jessica.hayes@rps205.com.

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

Flexible schedules and work arrangements

With the increase in remote work during the pandemic and a subsequent push for rmer work-life boundaries, small businesses are experimenting with letting their workers set their own schedules. Not only does this reduce stress and increase productivity, but it also decreases dissatisfaction in the workplace, translating to less employee turnover.

In fact, according to a recent study, 78% of respondents say hybrid schedules (working outside of the o ce for at least some of the time) boost employee productivity. Rather than requiring all employees to be in the o ce every day, consider being exible with your arrangements so employees feel more motivated.

Reskilling and upskilling

Training current sta for new or expanded roles is a trend many small businesses are following. Rather than recruiting new talent, business owners are nding ways to invest in their existing employees.

Reskilling helps employees learn new skills to take on new responsibilities and roles, while upskilling focuses on developing skills that will help employees perform better in their current roles. Both processes are a ordable ways to leverage your talent without having to hire and onboard new workers.

Investing in the metaverse

e metaverse is a virtual universe or network of virtual realities. Small businesses can use the metaverse to create engaging experiences for their customers and reach a wider audience. is also comes at a lower cost to small businesses, as they won’t need to invest in physical infrastructures to create an immersive experience or experiment with new business models.

e metaverse can also bene t workers, as you can utilize it to host employee training, virtual meetings and more.

Generative AI

Generative AI like ChatGPT produces original content from just a key phrase or brief description. Many small businesses

Tailored employee benefits

Due to the current labor shortage, small businesses — especially those with limited budgets — should o er more personalized bene ts to attract and retain employees. Such bene ts can include mentorship programs, unlimited PTO, opportunities for growth, and more. Workers appreciate companies that reward their hard work and dedication, and providing these bene ts will incentivize employees.

Child care bene ts can help broaden your reach when recruiting and hiring new workers, as many parents struggle to balance their work life with their child care needs. Helping employees nd and a ord child care will both entice new workers and make current employees feel more valued.

Alternative funding

It’s become increasingly di cult for small businesses to secure loans for funding. As a result, many companies are seeking alternative lenders and investors to cover their nancial needs. Examples of such funding types include grants, crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capitalists, peer-to-peer lenders and other private funding sources.

Automation

While automation has been a popular tool for some time, it’s only continuing to grow. AI and other automation technologies can help businesses streamline their processes, allowing employees to focus on more important tasks.

Additionally, automation can personalize the customer experience by collecting data from website visitors and o ering more personalized recommendations. Customers are more likely to purchase products if they’re seeing recommendations tailored to their speci c interests and digital behavior. is type of automation can also improve marketing campaigns. AI can both collect and interpret data to help small businesses create more targeted marketing campaigns — an important tactic for smaller companies that heavily rely on their marketing e orts to increase visibility.

economic development

GUEST COLUMNIST

Making strides in the community

A new strategic plan focused on regional economic development

e last year has been a year of change for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC). With a new board president and new sta , we are refocused on the core work of economic development.

At RAEDC’s annual event and strategic plan presentation on Feb. 23, we gathered with community leaders, business executives and investors to celebrate economic development in our region over the past year. Among the accomplishments were:

■ Completing four business expansion projects in which RAEDC was directly involved.

■ Completing 43 business retention visits.

■ Completing 71 assists, a value-added connection to a primary employer or partner that would not have happened without RAEDC’s engagement.

■ Developing a partnership with e Workforce Connection, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the City of Rockford, Growth Dimensions, and the City of Belvedere to minimize the

impact of the announced Stellantis plant closing in our community.

■ Winning a ve-year, $5 million award from the Department of Defense, as a part of the Illinois Defense Manufacturing Consortium, to support the casting and forging industry in northern Illinois.

■ Convening the Rockford Area Aerospace Network’s, Midwest Aerospace Conference 2022.

As I hit the one-year anniversary of living and working in the Rockford region, I look back with gratitude for the warm welcome I have received. Our community is lled with hard-working, dedicated leaders who want to see our region thrive, and we are grateful to be a part of the momentum.

If you are a current investor, thank you for your support. If you’re not yet an investor, we hope you’ll come on board soon.

Looking forward, RAEDC will rely on our strategic plan to serve as a guide for the next chapter of Rockford area economic development. We commissioned the plan through Next Move Group, and it outlines

what should be our guiding lights moving forward. e focus is on prioritizing four major goals: organization development, product/property development, business retention and expansion, and marketing and attraction.

e goals are stacked to rebuild the foundation of RAEDC and are of equal importance. However, organizational development is rst, followed by ensuring good product development before the organization can market, attract, retain and expand.

Key takeaways of the strategic plan included:

■ Prioritizing marketing, attraction and retention.

■ Making connections and generating leads for the community.

■ Identifying the most impactful growth areas, such as the airport, available land, and location amongst major metro markets.

■ Committing to speci c actions and achieving results to rebuild the organization’s reputation.

I like to think of economic development like the gears in a watch, all interconnected and all necessary to make the watch function.

Some of the gears of economic development in our community are the school system, the beautiful parks, access to healthcare, and major events like Stroll on State. e work that RAEDC does is the center gear that powers all the rest. It is job creation, retention, new and retained capital, generating a new tax

base to pay our teachers, support our parks, re departments, community college, libraries and social services.

All of these things are what makes the Rockford area a great place to live. We’re making great strides in our community, and, with your support, we can further our economic impact for our region.

RAEDC is largely funded through investments by private sector companies, public sector municipalities, labor and trade unions, business organizations, quasi-governmental organizations, educational institutions and nonpro t agencies. Investors pool resources together to sustain the work of the organization, as everyone bene ts from having a stronger, more sustainable economy.

We hope you will join our new Partners in Performance investment initiative to become a part of growing our economy in the Rockford region.

We are excited by what the organization has achieved in the past year and what is currently in the works to increase the economic prosperity of the region for companies and residents. Together, we can go further and build upon the successes of the last year.

For information on how you can get involved in the growth and development of our region, visit www.rockfordil.com.

e views expressed are those of ill and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THERESE THILL, president, RAEDC

BEVERLY ALFON partner, Amundsen Davis

GUEST COLUMNIST

The latest on employee severance agreements

Is yours compliant with new NLRB rulings?

It’s time to dust o your severance agreement template again. New rulings from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) apply to all private employers—whether you have a unionized workforce or not.

Last month, the NLRB issued a decision in McLaren Macomb, ruling that the mere act of o ering a severance agreement with terms that have “a reasonable tendency to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their Section 7 rights” under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or Act) can constitute an unfair labor practice—regardless of other employer conduct or external circumstances (e.g., employer motive, employer animus against Section 7 activity or whether or not the employee accepts the agreement).

Although this latest shi is just one in a long line of ip- opping Board positions due to the partisan, labor-friendly change in control of the NLRB, it is now the legal standard and compliance is a must.

In McLaren Macomb, the Board speci cally found that the con dentiality and non-disparagement provisions in the separation agreements that the employer o ered to furloughed employees were

unlawful, and the mere act of o ering the agreement with these unlawful terms was in and of itself, an unfair labor practice under the Act.

e speci c language at issue in McLaren Macomb and the NLRB’s ndings and reasoning regarding the same are summarized here:

Confidentiality - e Board found the con dentiality clause to be unlawful because it broadly prohibited the employee from disclosing the terms of the agreement “to any third person.” In sum, “[a] severance agreement is unlawful” if it precludes an employee from assisting coworkers with workplace issues concerning their employer, and from communicating with others, including a union, and the Board, about his employment.” So, although the clause did not speci cally prohibit the employee from disclosing the terms to the Board, former coworkers, or his union—it did not “narrowly tailor” the language to “respect the range of [the employee’s Section 7 rights]” by making clear that the con dentiality limitations did not extend to the employee’s right to disclose the terms of the agreement to the Board or his union, or the rights of the employee’s

How to register a business name

Six steps to get started

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

Your business name is one of your most important assets, and once you’ve found the right one, you want to protect it by registering it with the state. Here are six steps to register your business name.

Make sure your business name is available

Before you attempt to register your business name, perform your due diligence and ensure it’s available. ere are a few di erent ways you can check to ensure no one else has reserved that name.

e easiest way is to do a quick domain search to see if it’s available. You can check GoDaddy.com to see if the domain name is available to purchase. It’s also a good idea to do a Google search to see if you come across other businesses with that name.

Next, you can do a business name search in your state. Assuming all these

come back clear, you can do a federal trademark search to see whether someone else has trademarked that name.

Register your business with the state

Now you’re going to choose your business structure and register your business with the state. For instance, you could set up an LLC, a partnership or a corporation.

e state you live in and the type of entity you’re forming will dictate the paperwork needed to get started. Your best bet is to check your Secretary of State’s website to see what you need to do.

Apply for your EIN

Once you’ve registered your business with the state, you need to apply for an Employer Identi cation Number (EIN).

a separate tax number for your

“former coworkers to call upon him for support in comparable circumstances.”

Non-Disparagement - e Board found the non-disparagement clause to be unlawful because it prohibited the employee from making any “statements to [the] Employer’s employees or to the general public which could disparage or harm the image of [the] Employer, its parents and a liated entities and their o cers, directors, employees, agents and representatives.” It did not limit this prohibition to matters regarding past employment with the employer. It did not exclude any statement asserting that the employer violated the Act. It did not have a time limitation, but instead applied “[a]t all times herea er.” It did not exclude “e orts to assist fellow employees, which would include future cooperation with the Board’s investigation and litigation of unfair labor practices with regard to any matter arising under the NLRA at any time in the future[…]” It also did not exclude communications with the employee’s “[…]former coworkers, the Union, the Board, any other government agency, the media, or almost anyone else.”

Waiver/release of claims

e Board relied on the long-standing principle that employers cannot ask individual employees to choose between receiving bene ts (in this case, under a severance agreement) and exercising their rights under the NLRA. So, although not speci cally discussed in the McLaren Macomb decision, the Board’s reasoning requires some evaluation of the waiver/ release language contained in severance agreements. For example, following the Board’s reasoning in McLaren Macomb,

business, and you can apply on the IRS’s website.

You’ll start the application by selecting your business entity. For instance, if you choose an LLC, you’ll provide the following information about your business:

■ Legal business name

■ Number of members

■ e state where you’re incorporated

■ Managing member information

■ e reason you’re applying for an EIN

■ e date your entity began

Secure your domain name

Now that your business is legally set up, you’ll want to secure your online domain name. If the business name is available but the domain is taken, you have a few di erent options available.

One thing you could do is choose another variation of your business name. For instance, Peloton’s business name is Peloton Interactive, LLC. But the domain name is onepeloton.com.

If you use GoDaddy, you can also request that a domain broker contact the owner of your desired domain name and negotiate a deal for you to buy it. However, there is a fee for this service, and there’s no guarantee GoDaddy will be successful in

an employer cannot broadly stop a former employee from bringing an unfair labor practice charge against it for presenting a severance agreement with unlawful terms, even if the employee accepts the agreement. Employers should consider adding “disclaimer” language to the waiver/release that makes clear that the employee is not prohibited from ling a charge or complaint with any government agency or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by a government agency, etc., but perhaps bookend that language with the understanding that in consideration of the severance bene ts, the employee is waiving monetary relief related to those claims.

So, now what?

In light of the Board’s recent decision, make sure that the con dentiality, nondisparagement, and waiver/release of claims clauses in your severance agreement templates are updated to “narrowly tailor” the extent of the limitations that you are trying to impose on the departing employee. Note: e NLRA does not apply to supervisors, managers and a few other categories of employees that are speci cally exempted (e.g,, agricultural laborers).

Beverly Alfon is a partner in Amundsen Davis’s Labor, Employment, Bene ts & Immigration Service Group, balfon@ amundsendavislaw.com.

e views expressed are those of Alfon and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

securing the domain name for you.

Register a DBA

Under certain circumstances, you may want to set up a DBA (doing business as) registration. Companies set up a DBA when the name they’re doing business as is di erent from the legal business name.

You’ll ll out the form to apply for a DBA in the state where your business is located. And multiple companies can use the same DBA in a single state, so you have more leeway as to the name you choose.

Consider applying for a trademark

It’s a good idea to take the extra step and apply for a federal trademark. A trademark protects your business name at the national level, not just the state level. If you have a trademark, this prevents other companies from using your business name.

If someone does use your business’s name, they’ll be subject to trademark infringement laws. You can apply online at the United States Patent and Trademark O ce (www.uspto.gov/trademarks/ apply) to get started.

Read more at www.uschamber.com/co, “A Practical Guide to Funding Your Small Business with Business Loans and Beyond.”

GUEST COLUMNIST

Allocating liability

Utilizing warranty, indemnification and limitation of liability to allocate risk

TIM ROLLINS partner, WilliamsMcCarthy, LLP

Contracts allocate risks. e role of a contract attorney is to ensure that the client understands how risks are being allocated so that the client can make an informed decision. In this article, I focus (in no more than seven hundred words) on three provisions that expressly allocate liability: (1) warranty; (2) indemni cation; and (3) limitation of liability.

Role of the Uniform Commercial Code

e Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”), a version of which has been adopted in every state in the U.S., applies to all contracts for the sale of goods. Although service contracts are not subject to the UCC, provisions that were dra ed with the UCC in mind tend to appear in service contracts as well. e UCC, which dates to 1942, was intended to make it easier to do business across

all 50 states by creating a standard set of rules that apply to contracts for the sale of goods. Some of the provisions in the UCC are mandatory, but some are “background rules” from which the parties may expressly opt out.

Warranty

e UCC imposes very broad warranties on sellers unless the parties agree to limit those warranties by “conspicuous” language. Most sellers try to limit their warranties to a warranty that their products or services comply with the speci cations provided in writing to the seller prior to contract execution, and that the materials (for goods) and workmanship are free from defects. Buyers, particularly larger buyers, o en ask for very broad warranties, including design warranties and warranties that the goods are t for their intended purpose. Both of those warranties are risky for

sellers, because they guarantee that the products will work, even if the buyer provided the speci cations and the seller simply met those speci cations. ose warranties should only be given by a seller if the seller actually designed and developed the product speci cally for the buyer’s application, and the buyer relied on the seller’s expertise to design the products for that application. In all cases, it is critical for sellers of goods to “conspicuously” disclaim any warranty other than the express limited warranties in the contract.

e other warranty issues that should be addressed are de ning a warranty period and limiting warranty liability. Most sellers try to limit their warranty liability to repairing or replacing the defective product or services or issuing a credit to the buyer. Many sellers seek open-ended warranty liability, which can include the cost of line shutdowns and eld repairs.

Indemnification

e use of indemni cation provisions in contracts has exploded recently, with little understanding of what they mean. An indemni cation provision requires a party to do exactly what an insurance company does—it requires one party to “defend, indemnify and hold harmless” the other party from de ned categories of losses.

O en, though, the indemnifying party has no insurance that will backstop that undertaking. Most standard Commercial General Liability (CGL) policies include an endorsement that provides coverage for “insured contracts,” which is limited to an agreement to indemnify a third party from losses for personal injury (including death) and damage to tangible property resulting from the insured’s acts

or omissions.

Many indemni cation provisions being proposed these days include purely economic losses, including requiring the seller to “indemnify” the buyer from any breach of contract, which, by de nition, would include a breach of warranty.

e “market” provision for parties that understand these issues limits the indemni cation undertaking to losses resulting from (i) personal injury, (ii) damage to tangible property, and (iii) intellectual property infringement claims (if whatever is being purchased includes any intellectual property component).

Limitation of liability

Under the common law, a party who breaches a contract is liable for all of the damages that naturally ow from that breach, including incidental, consequential and special damages. at is also the background rule under the UCC. Like warranties, though, the UCC allows the parties to limit their liability by contract. Most sellers try to limit their warranty liability, and, in many instances, the parties expressly agree that neither party will be liable under any circumstances for any incidental, consequential or special damages. Many rst dra s of contracts from large companies impose this limitation on the buyer’s liability, but not the seller’s.

Tim Rollins is a partner with WilliamsMcCarthy LLP specializing in corporate law, employment/labor law, and municipal law. He can be reached at trollins@wilmac.com or 815-987-8942

e views expressed are those of Rollins and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

GUEST COLUMNIST

Celebrating fair housing month

Increasing homeownership through the affordable sale of homes

Everyone knows that April is the month of spring showers and April fools. It’s o en the month of Easter in the Christian tradition and Passover in the Jewish tradition. April is home to obscure national days dedicated to niche interests ranging from astronomy to zippers. But at Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity (RAHFH), we are highlighting Fair Housing Month in April.

While the 1968 Fair Housing Act codi ed into law protections from housing discrimination, racial disparities remain embedded in the American housing landscape from decades of discrimination. In other words, fair housing is not a historical accomplishment but rather an ideal we must continue to work and strive for.

While fair housing work covers all forms of housing, RAHFH is particularly focused on the way discrimination continues to impact homeownership

opportunity, since that is our organization’s core.

RAHFH’s mission, put simply, is to increase access to homeownership through the a ordable sale of homes. On its surface, this work addresses a presentday need: the need for safe, a ordable, owner-occupied homes for families in our community.

But when we dig deeper, we see that this work is contextualized by a long history of serious inequity and discrimination in housing. Decades of harmful governmental practices shut people of color out of homeownership opportunity beginning in the mid-20th Century, while simultaneously o ering heavy incentives and subsidies for white families to buy homes. ese practices continue to haunt the housing market today. One illustration of their enduring legacy is that Black households make up close to 20% of the population in

The advantages of chamber membership

Are you maximizing your benefits?

e Rockford Chamber of Commerce serves its members and the business community by helping companies—large and small—connect with each other, nd resource, and build relationships with community and government leaders.

Is your company a member of the Rockford Chamber? If so, do you take full advantage of your membership? Here are some of the many bene ts chamber members enjoy:

Networking

Chambers of Commerce everywhere are best known for providing opportunities to network with other business leaders, and the Rockford Chamber is no di erent. With dedicated networking programs like Co ee on the Chamber, Speed Networking, Ambassadors, Advantage Club and the Business Networking Group, members have ample opportunity to meet new

business contacts or make a new friend. Successful networking experts will tell you that consistency is key. Being a familiar, friendly face is the optimal way to open doors to your next collaboration.

Events

e Rockford Chamber hosts great events year-round that recognize exceptional members and celebrate successes in the business community. From our annual dinner and Celebration of Leadership to Pow(H)er and our annual golf outing, there’s something for every member to get involved with. And members can build their brand by sponsoring an event.

Education

Rockford Chamber members have a full schedule of opportunities to learn more about the community and trends in business growth, including the new

Rockford but own only 4% of the city’s housing value.

Although this April marks 55 years of the Fair Housing Act, the ght for fair housing must continue to undo these lingering harms. We are an equal housing lender that serves everyone equally regardless of race. But we have a responsibility to acknowledge the way race has informed access to credit in this country, and we are intentional about making our mortgages equitably accessible for everyone.

Accordingly, our mortgage loan bears no interest. Our underwriting criteria uses inclusive credit evaluation. Our closings require only a minimal cash down payment, so that there is no need to rely on wealth arising from generations of owning property. And we work to educate our homeowners on unfair practices, like

series “ e Update,” breakout sessions at Pow(H)er, Leadership Rockford, and the monthly Business Over Lunch presenters.

Publications

Share your company’s successes with the business community by sending us your press releases and promotions. We’ll tell the business community about the movers and shakers in your company through our on-demand email publication, e Voice Now, and our print publication, e VOICE. Members also get special rates for advertising in e VOICE and on the chamber’s website.

As a member, you can share your expertise and build your company’s reputation by writing two educational articles each year for our publications. In addition, members may be asked to contribute feature articles on hot business topics or industry trends.

Members and nonmembers alike bene t from the Rockford Chamber Jobs Board—where member companies can post open positions and job seekers can nd new career opportunities.

Advocacy

e Rockford Chamber Government

A airs Council gives you direct access to the elected o cials and government workers making decisions that a ect your community and business. Your voice carries more weight when you can ask questions as a member of the chamber in these small monthly public forums.

appraisal discrimination, that can prevent them from getting fair value out of their homes. In other words, to every extent we can, we aim to divorce the opportunity of bene ting from homeownership from all of the barriers that have taken root in the mortgage market.

is Fair Housing Month, and every month, we acknowledge that if we, as a country, are to realize the Fair Housing Act’s decades-old goal of creating a community in which everyone has fair and equal access to housing, we must recognize that fair housing is not yet preserved in the amber of history; it remains a call to action and a moral imperative today.

Credibility

Being a member of the Chamber of Commerce not only gives you credibility with consumers but with other member organizations who frequently turn to fellow members for referrals and recommendations. Serving on chamber committees and perhaps even the board helps distinguish you from your competitors.

Leadership

e path to becoming a business leader includes training, education and mentorship. With programs like Leadership Rockford and Lead 360, we help mold and support emerging and existing leaders. Since 1968, graduates of the Leadership Rockford program (formerly known as CAP) have gone on to become company presidents, successful entrepreneurs and public o cials. e Rockford Chamber’s dedication to developing and celebrating leadership is built into our commitment to the business community.

Recognition

Celebrating leadership is an important part of the chamber’s mission. We host high-pro le programs and events each year to recognize the successes of our members—Citizen of the Year, Women in Business awards, People You Should Know, 40 Leaders Under 40, and the new Superlatives event. Members should always be on the lookout for opportunities to recognize their business.

CAITLYN BAYLOR, grants and special initiatives director, Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity

e views expressed are those of Baylor and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

First Mid Bancshares, Inc. and Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. announced the merger of Blackhawk with First Mid in a 100% stock transaction. Blackhawk is the parent company of Blackhawk Bank and is headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, operating 10 branches in Wisconsin and Illinois. Under the terms of the agreement, First Mid will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Blackhawk, and Blackhawk shareholders will receive 1.15 shares of FMBH common stock for each share of BHWB common stock. Based on First Mid’s price per share at closing on March 20, 2023, of $27.13, the aggregate consideration to be paid by First Mid is approximately $90.3 million, subject to certain conditions and adjustments.

Jay Solomon, University of Illinois

Extension natural resources, environment and energy educator, will host “Understanding Farm Scale Manure Management,” on Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. This is the final program in the Getting Started with Livestock webinar series. There is no cost to attend, but you must pre-register by April 12 to receive the Zoom link. To register or get more information, call at 815-986-4357 or visit www.go.illinois.edu/jsw.

Exhibitor space for Petfood Forum, May 1-3 in Kansas City, Missouri, is sold out. The event has nearly 630 booth spaces occupied by over 360 companies, making it the largest tradeshow to date for Petfood Forum. Attendees will engage with suppliers vital to pet food manufacturers and brand owners from around the world. Petfood Forum is organized and hosted by Petfood Industry. Both are owned by WATT Global Media

Patti Thayer Geissler, Thayer Energy Solutions, presented “Our Emerging Leaders and the Power of Mentorship” at the February meeting for the Rockford Network of Professional Women held at the Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club in Rockford.

Approximately 60 women attended the meeting where Thayer spoke on why mentorship is important for women, some of the challenge’s women face in the workplace, benefits of mentorship and how to start your own mentorship program.

Two employees from Thayer Energy Solutions attended the Wisconsin Technology Association’s “Innovation – Electric Vehicles.” The event included an overview of the electric vehicle (EV) landscape and recent innovations

in that area. Experts from Pieper Electric, Madison Gas & Electric, Clean Cities, and the City of Madison Fleet discussed advancements and challenges in the EV industry.

Anderson Japanese Gardens was named a “Best of the Midwest” wellness destination by Midwest Living Magazine (Spring 2023 Eco Issue). Award categories included wellness, culture, and food and drink. Anderson Gardens is one of three Illinois destinations to receive the award and the only recipient representing Rockford, Illinois.

Two Forest City Gear employees, CNC Supervisor Mike Miller and CNC Lead/Programmer Josh Gates, attended a 4-day training retreat in Pfronten, Germany, hosted by DMG MORI. The event featured seminars and demonstrations of DMG’s newest equipment and technologies, as well as networking and a taste of German culture. Forest City Gear has a DMG MORI NLX 1500 SY on order and scheduled for delivery later this year.

Rock House Kids (RHK) will host a Volunteer Open House on Saturday, April 29, 9-11:30 a.m. at 1325 7th Street, Rockford. Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to attend. RHK staff will give tours and share the organization’s vision for serving the inner-city children of Rockford. Current volunteers will answer questions, share their personal experiences and discuss why they are so committed to being there for the kids each week. For questions or more information, contact RHK Volunteer Coordinator Kathy Bartz at 815-962-5067.

Children’s Home & Aid is hosting a virtual hiring event on April 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. As a leading child and family service agency with more than 20 locations across Illinois, the organization’s mission is to advance the well-being of children by investing in families to disrupt the systemic and multigenerational cycle of racial, social and economic inequality. Registration information can be found at https://forms.gle/ RuFaFavR9idGHQeH6.

Nik’s Wish received a 2023 Global Grant of $10,000 from the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Foundation, which gives to charitable organizations worldwide, that demonstrate the generosity, service, and impact of MDRT members. This grant will fully fund the wish of one young

adult cancer patient and help fund the wish of another.

Rockford Public Library is joining libraries across Illinois to host actor, author and restaurateur Danny Trejo on Tuesday, April 4, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Trejo will discuss his prolific career in the entertainment industry with a hard-earned and atypical road to success. From years of imprisonment to helping troubled youth battle drug addictions, from acting to producing, and now as a restauranteur, Trejo’s name, face, and achievements are well recognized in Hollywood and beyond. But his roles as a devoted father of three and an intervention counselor bring him the most satisfaction. Register for this virtual event at www. rockfordpubliclibrary.org/events.

Enjoy the ‘Egg-Spot Family Scavenger Hunt’ at Edgebrook on Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8, 1-3 p.m. both days. Start at Norm’s Piggy Pen by picking up a map and stickers. Then hunt down the special eggs hidden at certain Edgebrook Merchants. Once you’ve found them all, come back to Norm’s Piggy Pen to pick up a special treat bag. Admission is free.

Per Mar Security Services, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients based in Iowa, acquired Homeguard Security in Des Moines, Iowa. Homeguard used Per Mar as the company’s monitoring center for the past 23 years. Now Per Mar will build on its relationships with Homeguard customers by providing service and security solutions.

The Village of Machesney Park was awarded $506,150 from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant program. These funds will be matched by the Village to acquire and demolish up to seven properties in the floodway. Through the voluntary acquisition program, funds will also be used to relocate the residents of homes in the floodway. The acquisition and demolition of properties will provide a contiguous area along Shore Drive for planned improvements and additions to Stone’s Landing Park & Boat Launch.

Region 1 Planning Council (R1) was designated an Economic Development District covering Winnebago, Boone and McHenry Counties by the Economic Development Administration of

the U.S. Department of Commerce. R1 staff and board members worked for 12 years to achieve this critical federal designation, which better positions the three-county region for federal funding to advance its economic development goals and priorities.

Stateline Youth for Christ will host its annual Be the Story banquet on April 27 at Embassy Suites Rockford, 5:30-8 p.m. Journey through the mission and passion of Youth for Christ to transform the lives of youth, and leave inspired to be a part of that transformation in our community. Tickets are $50 and available at statelineyfc.org.

UScellular made a $68.6 million investment in its Illinois network in 2022. This included $27.4 million in network upgrades and 5G modernizations that enhanced connectivity across the state and $41.2 million in 5G spectrum that advances the company’s multi-year 5G network strategy.

Blackhawk Bank’s mortgage department and mortgage planners were recognized as a top mortgage producer for Illinois Housing Development Authority in the Northwest Illinois Region for 2022, with more than $15 million in production.

Woodward, Inc. was named on the Forbes list of America’s Best Midsize Employers 2023. It is the second year in a row the company has made the Forbes America’s Best Employers list. This award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

Rockford Community Bank, 1825 N. Perryville Road, Rockford, invites the community to celebrate it’s one year anniversary on Wednesday, April 26 from 4-7pm.

OSF HealthCare has been recognized by Fortune as one of America’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023. It is the only health care system headquartered in Illinois to earn the distinction. The 300 U.S. companies with the highest score were awarded by Fortune as America’s Most Innovative Companies 2023. OSF was rated at 194 in product rank, which helped it place 254 overall.

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

in the newsMEMBERS IN THE NEWS

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

The YMCA of Rock River Valley Board of Directors added seven new members: Tamir Bell, Patti DeWane, Dr. Jared Erdmier, James Rozinsky, Toni Vander Heyden, Dr. Terrell Yarbrough and Robert Young. Each will serve a three-year term, assisting the 20-member board with the strategic oversight of the YMCA of Rock River Valley in achieving its mission of building a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS

Illinois Bank & Trust promoted Eric Magnuson (1) to vice president, business banking team lead.

Fehr Graham promoted Zach Sims (2) to staff engineer and Jean Pijan McKeever (3) to senior engineering technician, and hired Margaret Trowbridge (4) as an engineer.

Gary Binicewicz, senior vice president business banking at Blackhawk Bank, was added to the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) Small

Lender Committee Roster for 2023. NAGGL is one of the most trusted voices in Small Business Association (SBA) lending, as they support lenders who offer the SBA’s business loan program by providing advocacy directly to lawmakers and the SBA.

Marc C. Gravino (5), partner with WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, was selected by his peers to the 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers list.

Jessica Labatte (6), associate professor and head of the photography department at the NIU School of Art and Design accepted the position of director of the school effective July 1, 2023.

Dale R Gray, MD (7), joined Northern Illinois Hospice as its new medical director.

Duncan Geddes (8) was promoted to executive director of The Parks Chamber

Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. promoted Tatiana Mazzei (9) to

regional manager for Latin America. Byron Bank welcomed Kristie Sullivan, mortgage loan originator, to the Byron location.

Thayer Energy Solutions welcomed Nicole Roggenbuck (10) as vice president of operations and promoted Karl Arvidson (11) to senior vice president.

Rock Valley Credit Union promoted Rachel Sprayberry (12) to director of human resources and Zachary Lupeamanu (13) to data analyst, and gave Juana Alcantar (14) a new position as an accounting assistant.

Bob Thompson (15) joined Midland Wealth Management, a division of Midland States Bank, as a retirement plan services officer.

Engineering Enterprises, Inc. welcomed Cassandra Barrett, EI (16) and Tom Parkinson, EI (17) as project engineers in the Environmental Group, and Hayden Isham (18) as a project technician in the Municipal Group.

Hughes Resources promoted Casey Douglas (19) to search consultant.

First National Bank and Trust welcomed Mark Woodward (20) as vice president, retail market manager, and Angie Cruz (21) to branch manager of the bank’s Williams Bay Branch.

Kristen Lyons (22) was promoted to commercial underwriter with Rockford Mutual

The Chicago Blackhawks recalled forward Anders Bjork from the Rockford IceHogs and assigned forwards Brett Seney and David Gust, and defenseman Isaak Phillips to Rockford.

Forest City Gear promoted Zac Denny (23) to setup technician.

Illinois Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank, promoted Kayla Hernandez (24) to treasury & payment solutions analyst.

OSF HealthCare welcomed to its staff new gynecology specialists Dr. Jack Lenox, M.D. (25) and Andrea Rossow, APRN (26).

(continued on page 20)

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

17. Tom Parkinson,EI

18. Hayden Isham

19. Casey Douglas

20. Mark Woodward

21. Angie Cruz

22. Kristen Lyons

23. Zac Denny 24. Kayla Hernandez

25. Dr. Jack Lenox, M.D.

26. Andrea Rossow, APRN

27. Jacob Genens

28. Jason Goode, EdD

29. Chris Anderson

1. Eric Magnuson

2. Zach Sims

3. Jean Pijan McKeever

4. Margaret Trowbridge

5. Marc C. Gravino

6. Jessica Labatte 7. Dale R Gray, MD 8. Duncan Geddes

9. Tatiana Mazzei

10. Nicole Roggenbuck

11. Karl Arvidson

12. Rachel Sprayberry

13. Zachary Lupeamanu

14. Juana Alcantar

15. Bob Thompson 16. Cassandra Barrett, EI

GUEST COLUMNIST

Remember to vote April 4

The importance of local elections

By Claire Flynn McIntyre, co-president, League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford

Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy. It’s the reason the League of Women Voters motto is ‘Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.’ Using our vote to elect those who re ect our values to represent us and to weigh in on ballot measures, gives us a voice in how our government is run and how it impacts our lives.

e consolidated elections will be held on April 4, 2023. Voters select their choices for school board members, various city, township and county o cials, as well as trustees for Rock Valley College.

More than any other elections, local election have a direct impact on our lives. Local government manages many di erent things. Elected o cials spend money to in uence and decide what a community’s priorities are and how it will be run. ese decisions directly a ect the lives of residents.

Electing school board members and college trustees who can responsibly

(continued from page 18)

Crandall Stats and Sensors hired Jacob Genens (27) as marketing manager.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford welcomed Jason Goode, EdD (28), as director of student affairs-career services.

lead our educational institutions helps strengthen our community to the bene t of all. Education is the bedrock of our community and an economic engine that provides and attracts an educated workforce and a strong business environment.

What should you consider when you vote for school board candidates? Here are a few key points to remember:

■ e school board is responsible for making sure all students receive an excellent and equitable education.

■ e school board oversees your tax dollars at work and must do so in a knowledgeable and responsible way. ey must spend our money wisely, bene tting our children in the best possible way.

■ School boards are nonpartisan, and candidates should be committed to the best possible education for all students without being in uenced by special interests.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Chartwell Agency was recognized for five marketing initiatives from the 38th Annual Educational Advertising Awards, the largest educational advertising awards competition in the U.S. This year, more than 2,000 entries were received from over 1,000 colleges, universities, and

■ Schools are o en the largest employers in the district. Candidates should understand they will be operating a business, requiring good communication and negotiation skills.

On the other hand, when voting for Rock Valley College Trustees, the focus goes from district to include students from di erent communities and the emerging and needs of many constituencies. e college’s strength depends on the quali cations of citizens entrusted to govern. Diversity that represents the entire community is particularly important. Diversity gives a board balance, depth and a variety of resources and ensures that the needs of the entire community are recognized and addressed.

e League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford, a partner organization in GO VOTE 815, will hold candidate meet and greets, giving voters the chance to ask questions of those running for

school board and trustee.

■ Harlem School District School Board Meet and Greet, March 22, 6-8 p.m., Windsor School, 935 Windsor Rd., Loves Park.

■ Rockton Village o cials and Hononegah District School Board, March 22, Rockton Community Center, 302 W. Main St., Rockton.

Be proactive by checking your voting status at IllinoisVoterGuide.org is nonpartisan guide is a one stop shop for candidate and voting information.

Remember… Your Vote. Your Voice. Our Future.

e views expressed are those of McIntyre and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

secondary schools from all 50 states and other countries.

Chris Anderson (29), owner of A.W. Anderson Agency, Inc., was inducted into Pekin Life Insurance Company’s exclusive “Inner Circle Club.” Membership is awarded for outstanding sales and service of life insurance. Only 105 agents from across the country achieved this

honor in 2022.

Rob Grindle (NMLS# 462766), Blackhawk Bank, was recognized by the Illinois Housing Development Authority as a top mortgage producer in 2022 for the Northwest Illinois Region, with more than $4 million in production.

March 1, 2023-Upper Iowa University-Rockford, 1161 Tebala Blvd, Rockford, celebrates 15 years in the Rockford area!

Carpenter’s Place celebrates the grand opening of Carpenter’s Corner March 9, 2023.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Thank

23WIFR Gray Television, Inc.

Advantage Funeral Home & Cremation Services at Willwood

Burial Park

Ameriprise Financial - Studio Wealth Advisory Group

Birch Plumbing Inc.

BMO Harris Bank

Boy Scouts of America, Blackhawk Area Council

Boylan Catholic High School

Broadmoor Agency, Inc.

Carpenter’s Local 792

Chartwell Agency

Chick-fil-A Rockford

Circle of Change

CIT Trucks

Comcast Business

Comcast - Xfinity Retail Crandall Stats and Sensors, Inc.

Crystal Precision Drilling, Inc.

Custom Concrete Ltd.

Dickerson & Nieman Realtors

Distinctive Roofing, Inc.

Dixon Automatic Tool, Inc.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford

Riverfront & Rockford Conference

Center

Embassy Suites - The Top Rooftop

Bar & Lounge

Embassy Suites - Tower Kitchen & Bar

Employers’ Coalition on Health (ECOH)

Evolution Digital Marketing Agency

First Free Rockford

Forest City Corporate Center

ForeverLawn Chicago

Gambino Realtors - Team Lunde

Gambino Realtors Home Builders, Inc.

Giordano’s

Guyer & Enichen - Attorneys at Law

Hidden Creek Estates

Illinois Beverage Association

IMEG Corp.

Jason’s Deli

Keith Country Day School

Kelley Williamson Company

Klaas Financial Asset Advisors, LLC

L.K.G. Industries, Inc.

La Quinta Inn & Suites Rockford

Leading Lawyers

Lechtenberg & Associates LLC

Lehan’s Medical Equipment

Lindstrom Travel

Maney’s Lawnscape Inc.

Market Dimensions, Inc.

Midwest Stitch

Nicholson Hardware

Northern Illinois Food BankRockford Branch

Northern Public Radio (WNIU/WNIJ/ NIRIS)

Northwest Community Center

NorthWest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS®

Northwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council

OfficePro

Orput Companies Inc./Edgebrook

Shopping Center

Paper Recovery Services Corp.

Pepper Creek/Fourth Street Greenhouse

Pumilia Family Dental Group

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Rockford Area Arts Council

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Rockford Broach, Inc.

Rockford Community Bank, A Wintrust Community Bank

Rockford Gastroenterology Associates, Ltd.

Rockford Park District

Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries

Rocktown Adventures

Severson Dells Nature Center

Shogun Japanese Restaurant Izakaya 88

State Farm - Danna Krischke

State Farm - Meagan Semmelroth

State Farm Insurance - Solomon Foley

Stepping Stones of Rockford, Inc.

T K Group, Inc.

Thor Computing, Inc.

Trajectory Energy Partners LLC

Van Matre Encompass Health

Rehabilitation Institute

Village of Machesney Park

Warner Contracting, LLC, Dba Warner

Roofing & Restoration

WilliamsMcCarthy LLP

Winnebago County Medical Society

YMCA of Rock River Valley

YMCA - Camp Winnebago YMCA

YMCA - Children’s Learning Center

YMCA - Northeast Family YMCA

YMCA - Puri Family YMCA

YMCA - SwedishAmerican Riverfront

YMCA

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

CARPENTER’S PLACE

Day shelter and supportive services for homeless people in Rockford region.

1149 Railroad Ave, 61104

Michael O’Connor (815) 964-4105

www.carpentersplace.org

INTERIM HEALTHCARE OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Provides skilled home healthcare, including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

1491 S Bell School Rd Ste 1, 61108

Jacquie Kundinger (815) 888-6560

www.interimhealthcare.com/

LMF SOLUTIONS, LLC

Offering HR and marketing services, including handbook creation, payroll services, training modules, website and logo design, and social media management.

Logan Feritta (815) 601-5649

www.LMFSOLUTIONS.com

MID-WEST FAMILY

Radio advertising, community information resource & entertainment.

2830 Sandy Hollow Rd Rockford IL 61109

Mike Paterson (815) 874-7861

midwestfamilynorthernillinois.com/

POWER RESTORATION

Water damage restoration; fire damage remediation, mold removal, sewage cleanup.

Ramon Darby (815) 839-6181

www.mypowerrestoration.com

ROCKFORD RIDES

Limousine services, local rides, and wedding services

Joshua Beitel (630) 440-6691

www.rkfdrides.com

WOODWARD PRINTING SERVICES

Commercial printer offering full service mail and distribution services.

11 Means Dr Platteville WI 53818

Mike Spillane (608) 348-2817

www.woodwardprinting.com

WOVEN FILM CO.

Loves Park based commercial videography company helping businesses grow through curated, video-based marketing.

Elizabeth McMullen (815) 494-4630

www.wovenfilmco.com/

APRIL 2023 ANNIVERSARIES

85 YEAR MEMBERS

Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association

70 YEAR MEMBERS

WQRF-TV/WTVO-TV

13 WREX

65 YEAR MEMBERS

Hoffman House

45 YEAR MEMBERS

Midland States Bank

Willett Hofmann & Associates, Inc.

35 YEAR MEMBERS

LaMonica Beverages

Village of Machesney Park

25 YEAR MEMBERS

Anpec Industries

Ballard Properties, Highcrest Centre, LLC, Ballard Properties

5 YEAR MEMBERS

Severson Dells Nature Center

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GREATER ROCKFORD GROWTH PARTNERSHIP

community COMMUNITY EVENTS

APRIL 2023

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 10 & 17

Beginning Acrylic Painting, 6-8 pm., Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr. Rockford. Instructor Laura Gomel takes the fear out of learning to paint and replaces it with fun. You’ll learn what acrylic paint is and how it works, he differences in paint surfaces and brushes, how to use gels, mediums and palate knives, and color theory and blending. Supplies are included in this three-part class.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Equity in Board Representation with Martesha Brown, MBA, 5:30-7:30 pm, NIU CollabLab, 8500 E. State Street, Rockford. Join Martesha Brown for a five-week Equity in Board (EIB) Representation certification program focused on advancing equity on local nonprofit boards. Class dates are April 5, 12, 19, 26 and May 3. Graduation ceremony and public networking celebration to be held on Wednesday, May 17. Intended audience: Members of black and brown communities who are newer to board service or who aspire to build personal leadership capacity to serve on a nonprofit board of directors.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Egg-stravaganza, 11 am, Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main Street, Rockford. Hop into the museum to fill your basket with yummy treats. Children ages nine and younger can hung for eggs at scheduled times based on age. The rest of the time, children of all ages can create super springtime art and jump into egg-cellent fun.

Hunt times:

• Ages 1 and 2 - 11:00 am or 1:00 pm

• Ages 3 and 4 - 11:20 am or 1:20 pm

• Ages 5 and 6 - 11:10 am or 1:10 pm

• Ages 7, 8 and 9 - 11:30 am or 1:30 pm

We recommend arriving AT LEAST 20 minutes before the hunt time you wish your child to participate in.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Craft Swap, noon-3 pm, Hart Interim Library, 214 N. Church Street, Rockford. Rockford Public Library supports reuse with its annual Craft Swap, returning after a few years absence. During the month of March, we gather new or gently used craft items, then hold the swap in April. Just come to the Rockford Public Library on April 8 and choose some free craft materials.

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

Easter Brunch, 10 am-2 pm, Abreo, 515 E. State Street, Rockford.

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

Listening Matters: Build 5 Habits for Effective Listening, 8:30-11:30 am, NIU Rockford, 8500 East State Street, Rockford. Organizations report deep losses resulting from misunderstandings in the workplace. Strong listening skills are often expected but not reflected. A recent study found that feeling heard and understood is what most happy employees desire in their workplace. It’s time to train ourselves to become better listeners. Strong organizations prioritize listening and build cultures of trust and respect. In this two-part course, you’ll learn the five habits of highly effective listening that will change the way you communicate in the workplace, at home and in all your relationships. Register at niu.edu/nicne.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

An Evening of Melodies at the Museum, 5:30 pm, Rockford Art Museum, 711 N Main St, Rockford. Enjoy two performances of eclectic chamber music that weaves together music and art. Signature pieces from Rockford Art Museum’s (RAM) permanent collection will be on display, and Carrie Johnson, RAM curator and executive director, will offer context on the visual art while Rockford Symphony Orchestra musicians share thoughts on the music.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

Cars and Cadavers Paranormal Evening at the Historic Auto Attractions, 7-10 pm, Historic Auto Attractions, 13825 Metric Drive, Roscoe. This amazing place is filled with a wide variety of historical objects and historic vehicles. Hear about the historic accidents, fateful rides and murders attached to these artifacts, and tour a portion of this huge facility. Come and explore this truly unique space. Kathi Kresol and Dan, the museum’s manager, will share the history of the objects. Sara B. and Samantha H. will share their psychic impressions of the spirits that linger in the objects and vehicles.

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

KidVentures: The Engineering Process – Egg Drop, 10 am-noon, Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main Street, Rockford. Before new cars or new buildings are built, engineers draw up designs, create models and test those models to make sure they work. Design, build and test ways to keep eggs safe as you drop them from great heights.

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

Garden Skill Share: Weed and Pest Management, 2-4 pm, Angelic Organics Learning Center, 1545 Rockton Rd, Caledonia. Maintain your garden without toxic pesticides and chemicals that harm people, pets and the environment. If your garden is troubled by pests, this skill share is for you. On-farm educator Allyson Rosemore shares techniques to help you maintain your garden more naturally, with beneficial predators, pestrepelling plants and weed-discouraging practices. Dress for weather and for getting dirty. Please bring water and gardening gloves.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

Northwest Quarterly “Conversations” Presents: An Evening with Don Manzullo—Defending Manufacturers & Small Businesses, 5:30-7:30 pm, Fisher Chapel at Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford. For 20 years, former Congressman Don Manzullo helped small businesses and manufacturers across America bust through red tape and push against well-intentioned policy, and he did it with bipartisan support. In this engaging conversation with the editors of Northwest Quarterly Magazine, Manzullo shares how well-intentioned ideas in Washington can have negative consequences, what it takes to fight back, and how you can work with your legislators to craft policy that works for all. In the Q&A to follow, small-business owners and manufacturers can share their own concerns and fine-tune their message to Washington and Springfield. The event is free, but registration is required. Please visit northwestquarterly.com/ nq-conversations or call 815-316-2300 to sign up today.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, APRIL 29-30

The Great War: World War I, 10 am-4 pm; Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Dozens of reenactors will portray soldiers and civilians from the U.S. and Europe in the museum’s historic village. Visitors can enter encampments, tour a reproduction 150-yard trench system, and watch narrated battle reenactments. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

Garden Skill Share: Straw Bale Gardening, 2-4 pm, Angelic Organics Learning Center, 1545 Rockton Rd, Caledonia. Short on gardening space? Not sure of your soil quality? Straw bale gardening might be the solution. On-farm educators Randy and Jessie will lead this skill share focused on using bales of straw to grow your vegetable plants. Straw bale gardening uses ordinary bales of straw as the growing medium, and can be used for growing vegetables, herbs, flowers and ornamentals. Straw is affordable, biodegradable and even provides additional nutrients to your plants as it breaks down throughout the growing season. Dress for weather and for getting dirty. Please bring water and gardening gloves.

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

APRIL 2023

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

Coffee On the Chamber, 8 am, Meg’s Daily Grind, 1141 N Alpine Rd Rockford. Presented by Edward Jones - Jen Reisinger, AAMS™, CRPS™, Financial Advisor

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

Government Affairs Council, 7:45 am, Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford. Presented by AT&T. Keynote speaker: U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

Celebration of Leadership, 10 am, Hoffman House, 7550 E State St, Rockford. Presented by Mr. Goodwater. Keynote speaker: Eric Cunningham, Collins Aerospace.

MAY 2023

FRIDAY, MAY 12

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

TUESDAY, MAY 16

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

MONDAY, MAY 22

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

THURSDAY, MAY 25

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

JUNE 2023

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

The Update. 9 am, location TBA. Premiere Small Business Sponsor

Thayer Energy Solutions. Speakers and topics: Jay Sandine – Rockford Park District; Senator Steve Stadelman – passenger rail; J. Jeffers & Co. – Colman Yards.

Chamber Night at the Rockford Rivets, 6:35pm, 4503 Interstate Blvd., Loves Park. Join our friends at the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce for this joint Chamber Night out at the Ballgame!

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

The Superlatives Reception, 4 pm, Byron Forest Preserve, 7993 N. River Rd, Byron. Presented by UW Health.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

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

JULY 2023

THURSDAY, JULY 20

Chamber Night at the SkyCarp, 6 pm, ABC Supply Stadium, 217 Shirland Ave, Beloit.

AUGUST 2023

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8

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

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17

The Update, 9 am, NIU Rockford, 8500 E State St, Rockford. Premiere Small Business Sponsor Thayer Energy Solutions.

Group

Kelly Epperson Rosecrance Health Network

Ira Grimmett

Collins Aerospace

Troy Haggestad WilliamsMcCarthy LLP

Sherry Harlan, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Carly LaMonica LaMonica Beverages, Inc.

Jake Loescher Savant Wealth Management

Jamar Luster Ripe Life Juice

Kris Machajewski YWCA Northwestern Illinois

Dawna Menke OSF HealthCare

Denise Sasse RSM US LLP

Peter Schmeling Schmeling Construction Co

Brent Scott Rockford Community Bank

Teri Sharp American Precision Supply, Inc.

Ryan Snider Rockford Ice Hogs

Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA

University of Illinois College of Medicine

Rockford

Karl Swanson Illinois Bank & Trust

Christina Valdez

CMM & Associates

Dustin Vock Meiborg, Inc.

Robert Young Midwest Packaging and Container

EX-OFFICIO

DIRECTORS

Caitlin Pusateri, President Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Therese Thill Rockford Area Economic Development Council

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau