June 2011 Voice

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

June 2011 | Volume 24 | No. 6

Leadership Rockford provides renewed enthusiasm for program participants

THE VOICE ONLINE NOW ON ISSUU™

By Paul Anthony Arco Roger Kienast hasn’t lived in Rockford for very long. Being fairly new to town was one of the reasons he decided to participate in the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Rockford program.

“It opened my eyes to the possibilities in Rockford – all the boards, different industries, and companies,” said Kienast, a design engineer at ComEd. “I definitely networked a lot, and met a lot of leaders.

Now, if I want to get involved in the parks or the arts, for example, I know who to go to.”

Photo by Brian Thomas Photography

Jeff Kaney, founder and CEO of Kaney Group, LLC, shared his vision of leadership and the importance of service, volunteerism and community involvement.

Kienast was one of 26 professionals from local nonprofits, businesses and government agencies who made up the 56th annual class of the Leadership Rockford program. The class was recognized on May 12 during a celebration luncheon at Franchesco’s.

The keynote speaker was Jeff Kaney, founder and CEO of Kaney Group, LLC, who shared his vision of leadership and the importance of service, volunteerism and community involvement. “The best way to get what you want out of life is to

help others get what they want out of life,” he told the program participants.

Inspiring Community Leadership Leadership Rockford is the Chamber’s signature leadership development program that enhances class participants’ knowledge and awareness of business, government and civic issues. For seven months, the participants took part in group events, panel discussions and performed community projects. The class

Hot town ... cool summer in the city

■ online registration ■ keynote speaker video clips ■ event photos ■ list of Chamber events Questions? 815-987-8100 Join the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group www.linkedin.com/e/gis/2544

Photo by RACVB

Rockford City Market, on Fridays in downtown Rockford, celebrates opening day on June 3 with more than 25 vendors and Frank Calvagna and Mike Youngblood’s classic and Latin jazz standards.

By Barbara Connors Temperatures are heating up and thoughts are turning towards summer fun in the sun with family and friends. In the Rockford Region there are as many summer venues and events on the calendar as you have time available to spend.

Many days of the week, you can browse

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Women in Business Expo and Lunch Cliffbreakers Thursday, June 23

more on page 3

Summer in the City

Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com

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for fresh produce and other natural goods for purchase at the various farmers markets around town. Day or evening, there are an assortment of free and budgetfriendly events for fans of the great outdoors, movie and music aficionados, history buffs, airplane and car enthusiasts, and more. Here is just a sampling of what you can find in the region. more on page 12

REPS. MANZULLO, RYAN LAUNCH WEBSITE ON HOUSE MANUFACTURING CAUCUS ACTIVITIES U.S. Reps. and House Manufacturing Caucus co-chairs Don Manzullo (R-IL) and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) have launched a new website at www.housemanu facturingcaucus.com to keep citizens informed of caucus activities. Anyone interested in manufacturing can sign up for email updates.

Manzullo and Ryan co-founded the caucus in 2003 and nearly 80 members of Congress have joined.

According to the 2011 House Manufacturing Caucus, manufacturing historically has contributed more than 60 percent of U.S. exports – or about $50 billion a month – and every dollar spent has generated an additional $1.37 in economic activity. This is greater than other sectors. Yet manufacturers have faced unbalanced global competition, inadequate enforcement of existing trade laws, rising costs and the constricted availability of capital.

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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President’s Message VIEWPOINT

Redistricting process fails Illinoisans How we are grouped can have a profound effect Very recently, the latest legislative map for the Illinois General Assembly has been proposed and is now in a process of review. As has been typical in the past, the political party holding the majority thinks the current process works just fine, while the minority party complains about the flaws in the system. There have been growing calls for far more citizen involvement in the mapping process and far less control by the elected officials in this process, who’s own districts are being remapped.

I am providing below an abbreviated analysis by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform on the need for a change in how districts are remapped.

Redistricting — the once-in-a-decade process of drawing state legislative and congressional district boundaries — has a substantial impact on our democracy. How Illinois residents are grouped into districts can have a profound effect on who will represent the district, and what those elected officials will do.

Districts can be drawn to give one political party a distinct voting advantage over others. Also, candidates or incumbents can be cut out of or crowded into a district, either to force candidates out of office or to force specific candidates to compete against each other. Racial and ethnic communities can be split across multiple districts, so as to dilute their voting strength, or they may be packed into one district, thereby limiting the number of elected officials they can select.

Controlling the redistricting process is important to the political parties because it allows them to create districts that advantage their candidates and

increase the likelihood that they will win more offices.

Simply put, the public is not best served by a process that grants one political party the sole authority to draw maps, and with no requirement that the party listen to the public’s concerns. The process by which Illinois’ districts are drawn must be substantially altered to ensure redistricting protects the public’s interest, not a political party’s interest.

Problems with the Process Partisan: The General Assembly has a poor history of conducting redistricting in a bi-partisan manner. During each of the last three redistricting processes (1981, 1991 and 2001), lawmakers have failed to reach an agreement on the district maps, thus necessitating the creation of the commission and later, the selection of a ninth member.

As such, in each of the last three

redistricting years, one political party has single-handedly been able to draw the entire state’s district maps. Party leaders have used redistricting to blatantly gerrymander districts to favor one political party. Because redistricting is a once-in-adecade process, political parties are often able to dominate these manufactured “safe” districts for 10 years.

Controlled by lawmakers: Under the current process, legislative leaders and lawmakers control the process by which the districts they represent are constructed.

This creates a situation whereby lawmakers are, in some respects, selecting the citizens they will represent. Illinois lawmakers repeatedly have used redistricting as a way to preserve their own interests, rather than those of the public.

No transparency: The current process denies Illinois residents from having a voice in the redistricting process, as there is no opportunity for public hearings or their participation in other ways. In past decades, partisan leaders have constructed the state’s maps in secret, so much that the public only learns of the maps after they’ve been created.

Allowing lawmakers to single-handedly control the redistricting process means

Einar K. Forsman there is little Rockford Chamber opportunity for of Commerce oversight from individuals whose careers and livelihoods are not reliant on legislative elections.

Outdated and poorly enforced criteria: The criteria that the Illinois Constitution lists are nebulous, incomplete, and not necessarily enforced. Notably, the listed criteria do not include the need to respect minority communities. Furthermore, there is no requirement calling for the preservation of communities of interest, such as neighborhoods or municipalities, whenever possible.

While lawmakers have adhered to the requirements that districts be of equal population and contiguous, they have ignored the “compact” standard. A quick glance at Illinois’ existing map reveals many rambling boundaries. Varying population densities (between rural and urban areas, for example) necessitate some differences in district size, but not to the extent of our recent maps. See page 17 for more redistricting maps.

Source: Illinois Campaign for Political Reform www.ilcampaign.org.

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

2011 Leadership Rockford graduates Lisa Breitsprecker, Girl Scouts Northern Illinois Janet Cowan, Provena Patricia Diduch, Village of Machesney Park Tasha Dozier, Workshop America Greg Gann, Aqua-Aerobic Bryan Gatlin, Alpine Bank Michael Iasparro, Hinshaw & Culbertson Tom Jeske, RSM McGladrey, Inc. Lisa Johnson, OSF Healthcare Nichole Johnson, Reno & Zahm, LLP Debby Jones, Rockford Health System Roger Kienast, ComEd Jennifer Kuroda, SwedishAmerican Health System

Leadership cont from front page

met bi-weekly to discuss topics ranging from downtown development to education. In April, participants had an opportunity to meet with state legislators during a visit to Springfield.

“I have a renewed enthusiasm for this community,” said Michael Iasparro, an attorney at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP and a Rockford native. “We lose sight, I think, of the good people here who are trying to make this a better place to live and those who are invested in the community. I know I came back home for the right reasons and I want to stay here.”

The leadership program participants took part in several community service projects, including the Harlem Community Center, Kids in the Kitchen (Discovery Center Museum), Rockford Rescue Mission, Womanspace and Youthbuild.

Leadership Rockford benefitted Caitlin Ludwig in her position as executive director of IGNITE, a regional organization intended for young professionals. “My job is to promote Rockford and to connect people with different organizations and opportunities,” she said. “Leadership Rockford is a great way to connect those dots. There are a lot of great people out there with plenty of good ideas.”

The moderators for this year’s program were Martesha Brown, Rockford Park

Dawn Larson, SwedishAmerican Health System Adam Lied, Williams McCarthy LLP Caitlin Ludwig, IGNITE Mary Martin, Woodward Marie Nlend, Thermo Fisher Scientific Zackary Oakley, Rockford Airport Authority Thomas Okite, Artisan Consulting Sean O’Sullivan, Thermo Fisher Scientific Anthony Phelps, Reno & Zahm, LLP Nick Redieske, CORD Construction David Spencer, Rockford Park District Jeff Tilly, Rockford Register Star Serrita Woods, Saint Anthony College of Nursing

District; Mary Grimborg, Ispen USA; and Ben Hunter, Woodward. The moderators for the 2011-2012 program are Patricia Diduch, Village of Machesney Park; Lisa Johnson, OSF Healthcare, and Jeff Tilly, Rockford Register Star. Ludwig was named as an alternate. “This was a very successful class,” Tilly said. “I’m really looking forward to getting started on next year’s program.”

SwedishAmerican Health System was the presenting sponsor for the Celebration of Leadership event. Other sponsors were Reno & Zahm, LLP, ComEd, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Since its inception, more than 1,600 professionals have graduated from the program, which used to be known as the Community Awareness Program (CAP).

“Leadership Rockford is a great way for the Chamber and its members to invest in the region’s emerging leaders by providing opportunities to build relationships with other leaders and become engaged and informed about our community,” said Einar Forsman, president and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “Looking at the list of graduates from the Leadership Rockford program over the last 56 years, you are sure to find many notable individuals who have made significant contributions to our region.”

Applications now are being taken for next year’s Leadership program, which starts in September. For more information, contact the Chamber at 815987-8100.

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101 For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100.

The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 10860630, is published monthly by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, Illinois 61101. Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.

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June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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MEMBERSHIP Member Category of the Month

The following is a listing of Rockford Chambermembers highlighted in a specific industry.

RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS AND CATERERS ABC Catering Abreo Restaurant Aunt Mary’s Restaurant Beefaroo, Inc. Bella Luna Bakery Chilis Grill & Bar-State Street Chilis Grill & Bar-West Lane (Rte 173) Ciao Bella Ristorante Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort Command Post Countryside Meats & Deli Cronies Grill Culver’s Restaurant D Q Grill & Chill Egg Harbor Cafe Eickman’s Processing Company Franchesco’s Ristorante Garrett’s Café Giovannis, Inc. Granite City Food & Brewery Hearth Rock Cafe-Benson Stone Co. HoneyBaked Ham Hooters of Rockford Illinois Machine Shed J M K Nippon Restaurant Johnny Pamcakes Katies Cup

Maciano’s Pizza - Columbia Parkway Macianos Pizza (Perryville Pizza, LLC) Mary’s Market Cafe & Bakery Megs Daily Grind Old Chicago Restaurant Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, The Olive Restaurant & Martini Bar Pizza Hut - Eleventh Street Pizza Hut - North Main Pizza Hut- West Lane (Rte 173) Quiznos Rathskeller Der Red Mango Restoration Café Shogun Japanese Restaurant Sonic of Rockford-Perryville Stockholm Inn Swilligans Pub T G I Friday’s Texas Roadhouse Thunder Bay Grille U Bake Vito’s Ristorante Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers (K & K Foods Inc.) Whiskey’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill Wired Café

Member-to-member Loyalty Card Cut out and write your company name on the card below.

Give it to the member you are doing business with to show your support of member-to-member business.

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman of the Board Mike Broski Entré Computer Solutions Vice Chairman Rich Walsh SwedishAmerican Health System Treasurer Larry Bridgeland Mid-City Office Products Immediate Past Chairman Pam Maher KMK Media Group DIRECTORS Teresa Beach-Shelow Superior Joining Technologies, Inc. Romero Bennett Blue Sky Insurance Agency

Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Walt Boothe Harris Bank, N.A. Ryan Brauns Rockford Consulting & Brokerage Paul Callighan ComEd Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc. J. Chapman Maverick Media Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Darlene Furst Furst Staffing Penny Lechtenberg Hinshaw & Culbertson Mike Mastroianni Rock Valley College

Paul McCann Stanley Steemer of Rockford Patrick Morrow Alpine Bank John Oller Mark Peterson CBL Associates CherryVale Dee Premo Whitehead, Inc. Realtors Peter Ricker Rockford Register Star Tim Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy LLP Dan Saavedra Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects Henry Seybold Rockford Health System Patrick Shaw RSM McGladrey, Inc.

Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc. Jennifer Wood Sikich LLP Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Janyce Fadden Rockford Area Economic Development Council Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau President/CEO

INSIGHT Guest Perspective

New CFP® campaign helps clear up confusion Following the decline in the economy and an increase in the discovery of “Ponzi” schemes, many people are finding it difficult to put their trust in some people in the financial services industry. Many individuals know they need help in meeting their financial goals, but they don’t know whom they can trust.

The Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Board of Directors has launched a new campaign to help the public understand the important role that CFP® professionals play in educating Americans on their financial well-being and helping people meet their life goals. The campaign will help provide clarity to consumers who are looking toward designations and certifications to provide guidance on choosing a financial planner or advisor.

The new campaign called, “Let’s Make a Plan,” includes national television, online and print advertising promotions.

A public service website – www.LetsMakeaPlan.org – will serve as a core feature of the campaign, where consumers can learn about financial planning, the personalized approach CFP® professionals provide, and find a local CFP® professional through a search function.

The CFP® certification is a meaningful professional credential that continues to evolve and be strengthened by new education, ethics and examination requirements. There are now more than 63,000 CFP® professionals in the United States, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 149,000 “personal financial advisors.” It’s no doubt consumers are confused about where to turn for help.

The CFP® mark truly serves as the “gold standard” for personal financial planning. Just about anyone can use the term “financial planner,” but only those individuals who have passed a rigorous set of criteria and meet the strict ethical qualifications can call themselves a CFP® professional.

Unlike many financial advisers, CFP® professionals must develop their theoretical and practical knowledge by completing a comprehensive course of study at a college or university offering a financial planning curriculum approved by the CFP® Board. CFP® professionals must pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam, which tests their ability to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations. The exam covers the financial planning process, tax planning, employee benefits and retirement planning, estate planning, investment management and insurance.

The test is a tough one, too. The average pass rate for this difficult exam is only 56 percent. This comprehensive exam ensures that Certified Financial Planner™

professionals are Thomas Muldowney Savant Capital highly qualified Management to successfully develop a plan for your finances.

The CFP® Board also enforces a set of professional standards and holds CFP® professionals accountable for any misconduct. Consequences can be severe — up to and including public suspension or revocation of CFP® certification.

Holding the CFP® designation also means agreeing to a true fiduciary standard of care that places clients’ interests first.

What is a Fiduciary?

In practical terms, a fiduciary has the highest standard of customer care imposed by either equity or law. A fiduciary owes a duty of loyalty to the clients and is expected to be above reproach in carrying out its duties. A fiduciary must not put its personal interests before its clients, and it may not profit from its position as a fiduciary without the knowledge and consent of the person to whom it has pledged these fiduciary duties.

While investors often assume their advisor is held to such a standard, in reality most in the brokerage and insurance industries are not. This confusion has stirred up a visceral debate that has reached the halls of Congress.

Most brokers follow the “suitability standard.” Simply put, they are not “required” to recommend the most appropriate investment in any given situation. While they cannot make unsuitable recommendations that they know to be inappropriate for you, they have no duty to seek out the “best” recommendations for you.

Creating a financial plan is not about selling anything, especially financial products. Creating a financial plan helps you see the big picture and set long and short-term goals, a crucial step in mapping out your financial future. When you have a strategy, it’s easier to make financial decisions and stay on track to meet your goals. Working with a CFP® professional can secure your financial wellbeing and give you peace of mind. People are pulled in so many different directions when it comes to their finances, but a CFP® professional is uniquely qualified to pull all these pieces together and provide a comprehensive evaluation that looks at the whole picture of a person’s financial life Thomas Muldowney, CFP®, MSFS, ChFC®, CLU®, CMP®, AIF®, CRC®, is chairman of the board and financial advisor at Savant Capital Management.

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

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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Harold Winebaugh, serial entrepreneur

By Sherry Pritz, EIGERlab In 2007, Harold Winebaugh inquired about what the EIGERlab had to offer a business like his, Universal Manufacturing. Being a serial entrepreneur, he realized the value of staying connected and networking. In 2007 and 2009, he participated in the Stateline FastPitch Competition and went on to win $10,000 in the 2009 Innovate Illinois Competition, where 137 companies competed statewide.

Reinventing himself is something EIGERlab client Winebaugh does best.

After graduating with a business degree, he tried his hand in the construction field and decided it was not for him. He stumbled on the feeder business and found it was a good fit.

Soon he received an offer to manage the office, but decided to accept it only if he “could buy in.” Eventually the opportunity to become a partner presented itself, and even though he was not totally knowledgeable on the feeder business, he felt confident he could “figure it out.”

Winebaugh Unveils His Latest Invention Today, Winebaugh has developed and is marketing one of his newest inventions, Univ-lok Drum Lock. It solves an important issue for many companies worldwide as a costeffective answer for securing storage drums and as a perfect fit for Homeland Security-related issues. His system, using an anti-tampering seal or padlock, secures chemicals and liquids.

Photo provided by EIGERlab

EIGERlab entrepreneur Harold Winebaugh with wife Sherry at the 2009 Innovate Illinois Competition finals.

Winebaugh conveyed that his newest invention is starting to take hold. With distributor connections worldwide, he states that his 2011 sales already have exceeded his 2010 total sales.

This isn’t Winebaugh’s “first rodeo!” His list of clients includes Pepperidge Farms, Hormel Foods and Los Alamos National Lab, just to name a few. One of his newest clients, Argonne National Labs, recently phoned to inquire if he could solve a safety issue it was experiencing, due to a Department of Energy mandate. He took the initiative to visit, learn about the unique problem and solved the dilemma during his drive home.

Winebaugh’s unique talent of constantly visualizing how to build a “better mousetrap” often solves his clients’ personal or business-related issues. He said he is even more passionate about pursuing other ideas/inventions, after realizing that many of the inventions he’s thought of, but never developed, have been invented by others.

Sherry Pritz is marketing coordinator at EIGERlab, Rock Valley College.

Left to right: Christine Reed, Illinois Department of Transportation; Mayor Larry Morrissey, City of Rockford; Gary Hannig, Illinois Department of Transportation; Joe Shacter, Illinois Department of Transportation; Congressman John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Tom Oakley, WREX/Quincy Newspapers Inc.; Mark Gottlieb, Wisconsin Department of Transportation; Kristi Lafleur, Illinois Tollway; Susan Shea, Illinois Department of Transportation.

Tri-State leaders discuss moving on key infrastructure issues More than 150 area leaders from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin learned how speaking with one voice can further regional infrastructure needs in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. They attended the fourth-annual Tri-State Annual Summit on Monday, May 9 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford and heard presentations from federal, state and regional officials and leaders.

Dr. Ruben Anthony, senior vice president of Bloom Companies, LLC in Madison, Wis., said, “There is great partnership amongst transportation stakeholders in the region.

Local leadership did an outstanding job putting this conference together. This level of cooperation is crucial for creating economic development.”

Infrastructure Improvements The keynote speaker was U.S. Congressman John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. He is a nationally recognized leader with extensive experience and numerous accomplishments in transportation

and infrastructure issues and policy. Congressman Mica’s presentation, “Transportation and Infrastructure; National Priorities Update and Regional Collaboration,” focused on the legislation his committee is working on, including a major transportation bill to improve road, rail and port infrastructure, as well as an aviation bill. He emphasized the importance of state and local leadership in moving infrastructure improvements forward, and that public-private partnerships will be increasingly helpful in leveraging federal dollars.

Rockford Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey and Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen welcomed the regional leaders, thanking them for their leadership in collaborating on infrastructure needs and encouraging them to continue.

Janyce Fadden summarized the summit and provided the next steps for the Tri-State Alliance, “Regional connectivity will continue to be important moving forward.

Understanding the changes that are taking place in transportation legislation will aid us in successfully bringing infrastructure improvement dollars to our region.”

Too busy to seek out beneficial business resources?

Here are expansion programs at your fingertips

By Matthew Simpson, RAEDC It is better to be busy than bored.

But sometimes, businesses are so busy manufacturing products or providing services, that news and information on programs that could benefit them go unnoticed. Here are a few programs that Rockford area businesses may find beneficial.

From Tax Credits, to Training, to Prototyping The Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit recently was

expanded. The program allows small businesses (50 employees or less) to receive a $2,500 tax credit for each full time employee hired between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. For more information, visit www.JobsTaxCredit .illinois.gov.

The Business & Professional Institute (BPI) at Rock Valley College provides training programs tailored to the specific needs of your company.

Training topics range from lean manufacturing principals to interpersonal communication workshops. More information on BPI can be

found at www.RockValleyCollege .edu/Business.

The Workforce Connection offers business services as well, including recruitment and assessment of employees and financial assistance for training. For more information, visit www.BooneAndWinnebagoWIB.org.

EIGERlab offers a number of programs to help expanding, existing businesses. These include rapid prototyping, which is capable of producing a 3-D product model in as little as 24 hours. EIGERlab also houses the Small Business Development

Center, with business counseling services, as well as the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center, which helps companies do business with the government. For more information, visit www.EIGERlab.org.

Feel free to contact me with questions about programming available in the Rockford area. I am happy to be a resource! MSimpson @RockfordIL.com.

Matthew Simpson is business development specialist at the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

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Six Sigma: Still worth the investment?

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Perspectives on the nation’s infrastructure

Three key principles to your project’s success Those who have tried Six Sigma processes would say that Six Sigma takes “gut-feel management” out of decision making. It puts in clearly defined disciplines and takes the focus off people and onto processes.

Essentially it enables the company to better determine root cause analysis and introduce appropriate corrective actions.

Recently, Tyson Foods determined that eight individuals covering two production shifts at their plant in Buffalo, N.Y., would be trained and certified as Six Sigma Green Belts. All eight individuals received their certification and realized significant improvement in product yield and waste reduction. Ken Murray, plant manager, shared that the company experienced a $300,000 impact in the first year alone by implementing Six Sigma methodologies. Tyson intends to continue to seek out process improvement opportunities and train additional Green and/or Black Belts.

Closer to home, several Rockford manufacturing companies also have seen the value of Six Sigma projects implemented by their Certified Green Belts: Company A Project. Reduce dead zones on paint line. Reduced dead zones by 64 percent, production time increased by 26 percent -- equivalent to 55 more days of production a year.

Company B Project. Improve productivity of actuator assembly. Pieces increased from 263 per hour to 500 per hour. Savings = $235,000 per year.

Company C Project. Reduce Lead Time. Lead time reduced from 118 days to 28 days without additional labor with significantly increased customer satisfaction.

Bernie Luecke RVC BPI

[Note: The above companies utilized the Business and Professional Institute at Rock Valley College for Green Belt Certification.]

Six Sigma: Still Worth the Investment? Probably.

When formulating your Six Sigma project, remember that there are three proven key principles to the project’s success. Those principles are: Pick the Right Project. A project connected to finances and to a company’s bottom-line is a very important factor in the equation.

Good Management Support.

Management committed to a Six Sigma project ensures ongoing comprehensive communication throughout the entire organization for the life of the project – beginning to end.

Execute the DMAIC Method. Six Sigma works if you know where you’re going, and the DMAIC method is the roadmap of choice providing an established route to follow.

The Business and Professional Institute is hosting a Six Sigma Green Belt Training and Certification course on July 14 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center. The course ends on Aug. 12. To register or for more information, contact Bernie Luecke at 815-921-2067 or B.Luecke@RockValley College.edu.

Bernie Luecke is director, business development, Business & Professional Institute, Rock Valley College.

Manufacturing News is sponsored by Rock Valley College, BPI

The U.S. Chamber is invested in leading in the modernization and expansion of the nation’s transportation, telecommunications, energy and water networks. It states that without proper investment and attention to infrastructure systems, the nation’s economic stability, potential for job growth, and global competitiveness are at risk.

The Facts Transportation: One-third of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, 25 percent of bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and the air traffic control system faces a multiyear overhaul. If transportation networks continue to deteriorate, the Chamber’s Transportation Performance Index projects that over the next five years, the economy could forgo as much as $336 billion in lost growth.

Energy: Successful construction of the 351 energy projects identified in the Project No Project inventory could produce a $1.1 trillion short-term boost to the economy and create 1.9 million annual jobs.

Telecommunications: Making broadband available everywhere in America will take up to $350 billion.

Water: 1.7 trillion gallons are lost annually via water distribution systems, costing $2.6 billion annually.

The U.S. Chamber’s Plan for Modernizing American Infrastructure Spur private investment and remove red tape: Remove the legal, regulatory and legislative impediments to unlock upward of $180 billion in private capital waiting to be invested.

Invest in the ailing transportation and water infrastructure: Pass pending legislation to improve and invest in highway and transit, water and aviation systems.

Modernize and protect energy infrastructure: ■ Streamline regulatory and licensing processes to enable industry to make investments with surety.

■ Increase power transmission capacity across state lines by establishing federal siting authority.

■ Make timely decisions on energy projects to avoid costly delays.

■ Provide incentives and loan guarantees to encourage the use of all energy technologies.

Update telecommunications infrastructure: Pursue federal policies that spur private sector investment, foster public-private partnerships, recognize the competitive nature of today’s telecommunications market, and avoid overregulation.

Source: www.uschamber.com

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Preparing to pass the baton Succession planning ensures continuity of core mission More than 70 percent of nonprofit executives have the potential to retire in the next five years. Are we planning for this leadership gap?

Succession planning is a sound risk management practice, and every board member should raise the question on preparing for leadership transition.

When asked about succession planning, we envision a large corporation in the for-profit sector that grooms an heirapparent over a period of two or more years. Most nonprofit organizations cannot support the expense of an additional executive for a long period of time. Besides, executives are too preoccupied with the numerous daily concerns to devote time and energy to the question of who will take their place, especially with no plans to leave in the next year or two.

For most executives, creating a succession plan is an uncomfortable topic, and volunteer board members feel disloyal broaching the subject with the very executive they may have recruited. In some cases, funders and other stakeholders have built trusted relationships with the executive, and any word of his/her departure raises concerns about the organization’s stability and jeopardizes support.

Head in the Sand In general, succession planning implies change, and change often is fraught with fear. So … it’s no surprise that succession planning is not a top priority. But it should be. Without a transition plan, an organization may find itself at serious risk with the planned or unplanned departure of its executive. Succession planning is a sound risk management practice, and every board member should raise the question on preparing for leadership transition.

Succession Plan: Two Approaches Nonprofits should consider two approaches that ensure agency stability, by developing bench strength behind the executive to prepare an organization for a change in leadership.

An emergency succession plan essentially is a “back up” plan for filling key executive responsibilities due to an unexpected departure or extended absence. It answers the questions, “Who will take the ED’s place? Who will handle

Pam Clark Reidenbach NICNE

specific aspects of the ED’s work? Who is authorized to speak on behalf of the organization? What financial systems need to be instituted? At what point, and how, will the board initiate a formal search for a new ED?” Answers to these questions and others will ensure that leadership functions will continue without disruption.

A departure-defined succession plan is used when a leader announces his/her planned retirement/departure a year or more in advance. It includes leadership development efforts and planning activities that involve both board and staff.

This process requires the board to identify the nonprofit’s goals for the future, determine the skills sets necessary for the new executive, and build capacity of board, staff and organizational systems to sustain programs and funding beyond the tenure of the current executive.

Consistent with Core Values For a leadership transition to succeed, it must be based on core values and organizational culture. It must be consistent with mission, vision and existing strategies as expressed in a formal strategic plan.

Organizations should plan for executive transition as carefully as they plan for capital campaigns or new initiatives. Who is responsible for the executive transition? The board of directors. When is the best time to begin planning for succession? NOW. There is much that a board can do to create the right environment for a smooth transition: 1. Recognize responsibility in raising the question, 2. Know your ED’s professional and personal plan, 3. Create an emergency plan, 4. Build succession planning into your strategic plan, 5. Engage the executive in the planning processes, and 6. Institutionalize a culture of inquiry, mutual respect and constructive debate that leads to sound and shared decision making in the best interest of the nonprofit organization.

Succession planning is one of the most critical issues facing nonprofits today. Is your organization prepared for a change in leadership?

Pam Clark Reidenbach is director of the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College.

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

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

Plan in place to accentuate a regional strength, amateur sports RACVB recently welcomed nearly 300 community and visitor industry leaders to our annual breakfast. In this month’s column, I would like to share with you excerpts from my keynote address.

In less than 30 years, our community has become one of the most culturally vibrant, entertainment-rich communities of our size in the nation.

In 1984, the year RACVB was created, tourism as a coordinated industry really did not exist. There were just four hotels at East State Street and I-90. Sportscore One was just opening, and SC2 had not been envisioned. There was no Anderson Japanese Gardens, Klehm Arboretum, Discovery Center Museum, Road Ranger Stadium, Carlson Ice Arena or Volcano Falls.

Today, we boast an excellent symphony and dance company; we restored our beautiful Coronado, when other cities let their theaters crumble. The city and county worked together to modernize the MetroCentre, we recently expanded the Discovery Center and Burpee museums, and we see a growing collection of public art in our parks and along our riverfront.

Last summer, we saw the Rockford City Market emerge as a runaway success, with nearly 20,000 people coming downtown to buy their produce, fresh flowers and locallymade pastries. The slow pace of progress is beginning to pick up steam.

The Competition Never Rests While the Rockford region offers a really rich experience, our tourism product is not complete. While we try to do more with less, our competition is doing more.

They’re connecting their dots and creating complete visitor experiences.

In Peoria, construction of the Peoria Riverfront Museum is underway. Based in large part on Rockford’s successful Riverfront Museum Park, the $100 million dollar museum complex is a collaborative effort of eight organizations. When complete in 2012 it will be the home to the city’s art museum, historical society and history museum, nature conservancy, an IHSA Hall of Fame, African American Hall of Fame Museum and the Caterpillar Experience.

In Springfield, President Lincoln is still making history. Despite a national economic downturn, Springfield continues to benefit from the opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. To ensure the experience of visiting Springfield is memorable, last summer they launched “History Comes Alive — A Living History Program”. Imagine Midway Village-meetsLincoln. For 60 days last summer, the streets of downtown Springfield came alive with historic re-enactments, musical performances and plays.

9

John Groh RACVB

Sports Competition Continues to Grow In Rockford, we position ourselves as the Amateur Sports Capital of the country.

For years we’ve led our competitive set with modern facilities and great service. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. Unfortunately, we are being imitated all over the place.

Just down the road in Elgin, they’ve built a new soccer and softball complex with 10 diamonds and eight soccer fields.

And, that’s just phase one. In Waukegan, they’ve opened a new Sports Park. It’s home to 13 natural turf soccer fields, one synthetic turf field for soccer and football, four softball diamonds, and, again, that’s their first phase.

In 2009, Overland Park Kansas opened a new mega-sports complex. In addition to its 12 lighted synthetic soccer fields with scoreboards, the Overland Park Sports Complex has 18 softball diamonds and a field cooling system that minimizes the effects of the afternoon temperatures of the synthetic turf, as well as evaporative cooling fans located next to player benches.

Investment is Critical The amateur sports market is our calling card – it’s what we are known for, and it’s a market we must protect. As noted, other communities are building bigger and better complexes all the time.

In the coming weeks RACVB and the Rockford Park District will release a master facilities plan that will outline the steps we should take to protect and grow our sports industry and importantly, meet the recreation needs of our residents.

Additionally, RACVB believes that in order to grow jobs and our economy, and in order to have a truly balanced tourism economy, we need to offer ample space for the meetings and convention market. The CVB board has been constant in its support of a Rockford Convention Center, and believes that when the timing is right this project will move forward.

It’s vitally important that we continue to invest in ourselves and do so in a way that connects the dots for our visitors.

When we do this, we’ll have a coordinated and integrated experience that is attractive to visitors and residents alike, and we’ll continue to grow and improve our local community and economy.

To watch the full keynote address, go to www.youtube.com/gorockfordregion.

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

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

10

PROFILE

Member Company Profile

“The customer always came first to my dad,” Gary Akerman says of his father Edgar, who founded Akerman Shoes, a business that’s been in Rockford for 51 years.

These shoes were made for walking Akerman Shoes celebrates five decades in business

By Paul Anthony Arco Nothing was more important to Edgar Akerman than taking good care of his customers.

Akerman was the founder of Akerman Shoes, an independent shoe store that has been a part of the Rockford community for 51 years. “He might have had one customer, but he had 15 boxes out,” said his son Kent Akerman. “He was very dedicated to his customers.”

Before moving to Rockford, Akerman co-owned a shoe store in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for 15 years. In 1960, he opened Akerman Shoes in the Rockford Trust Building. He eventually moved to South Church Street before relocating to East State Street in 1980.

Akerman passed away eight years ago, but his business lives on, thanks to his sons, Gary, who is president of the company, and Kent, who also works at the shoe store. These days, the store is located at the Edgebrook Mall, an ideal location to reach its desired audience, according to its owner.

“We try to keep the customers happy and satisfied,” said Gary, who joined his father in the family business in 1985, and oversees a staff of five. “We’ve expanded our product line, we’ve remodeled the store, and we’re meeting a need in the community for people who are looking for a high quality pair of shoes.”

Akerman Shoes, a chamber member since 1964, sells a variety of brands including SAS, Hushpuppies, Florsheim, Evan’s, Earth Shoes, Dansko, Daniel Green, Birkenstock, Rockport, New Balance and Naturalizers. Akerman also sells accessories such as socks, purses and winter boots.

Plenty of Repeat Business In the early years, Akerman’s success was built largely on orthopedic shoes that featured padded removable footbeds, wide toe boxes and arch support that helped customers dealing with foot problems. “I get satisfaction by helping a customer who comes in with sore feet, tries on some shoes and says

‘that feels good,’” Gary said. “That’s why we’re here.”

On any given day, it’s not uncommon to see a spouse shopping for athletic shoes for her husband or a woman searching for a comfortable pair of slippers. In fact, 80 percent of Akerman’s clientele are women, many of whom are longtime customers.

According to Gary, the biggest change over the years has been the customers’ desire for comfort casual shoes. Leather shoes are out and dress shoes aren’t as popular as they once were. “Thinner soles may look more stylish, but you lose the comfort,” he said. “Shoes can look good, but they wear out and lose its support.

“Shoes are like tires on your car, it depends on how you drive,” he added.

“The way some people walk or the way they are built, they can tear a shoe up in six months.” Other shoes, he added, can last for years.

To avoid painful problems, Gary recommends customers consider the shape and size of their feet when buying a pair of walking shoes. Shoes should conform to the shape of your feet. And your feet should never be forced to conform to the shape of a pair of shoes.

Shoes that are too narrow or too wide can lead to blisters and calluses.

“Be sure the shoe is wide enough,” he said. “The side-to-side fit of the shoe should be snug, not tight. You don’t want them too tight, and you don’t want them too loose.”

That’s probably the same advice his father gave to his customers. Edgar Akerman worked up until the day he died. At 88, Akerman still had a passion for the shoe business, said his son.

“The customer always came first to my dad,” Gary said. “They’re important to us, too. I think he would be proud.”

AKERMAN SHOES Owner: Gary Akerman 1613 North Alpine Road Rockford, Illinois 815-397-9706 www.androckhardware.com

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

11

Regional, National Indicators THE ECONOMY Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 1.9% in March, to a seasonally adjusted level of 85 (2007 = 100). Updated April 27, 2011 Monthly Index Jan 11

Mar 11

Chicago Mfg. Index

82.3

83.4

85.0

CFMMI-Auto

73.8

76.7

80.3

CFMMI-Steel

76.4

77.3

79.0

CFMMI-Machinery

80.5

81.1

82.4

CFMMI-Resource

92.0

91.3

92.1

National Index

90.5

91.0

91.7

Resource center for development of minority business professionals

By Gwyn Gulley

% Change

Feb 11

Multicultural Business Council kicks off website

Mar 10 - Mar 11

12.5 20.3 19.7 17.1 3.4 7.1

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

On April 26, 2011, the Multicultural Business Council launched its newly created Online Resource Center. The website is located at www.rockfordMBC .com and was created by XL Academics.

It will serve as a networking focal point for minority-owned businesses and minority business professionals.

Advertising space is available.

The overall purpose of the resource center is to promote minority-owned businesses in the Rockford region, encourage professional development and share business and career opportunities.

It also will serve as a central resource for

a calendar of events of interest to the minority business and nonprofit community. Use of the resource center is exclusive to Chamber members.

The Multicultural Business Council would like to thank the major sponsors of the website: Winnebago County, Hamilton Sundstrand, Northwestern Illinois Building Trades and Rockford Park District. For more information on the Multicultural Business Council or information on advertising space, please contact Valerie Tippitt at the Rockford Chamber, 815-316-4336.

Gwyn Gulley is chair of the Rockford Chamber Multicultural Business Council.

Unemployment Rates—Region, State, Nation Mar 2011

Feb 2011

Mar 10

Rockford

13.3

13.6

17.2

Chicago

8.7

9.0

11.1

Illinois

9.4

9.4

11.4

United States

9.2

9.5

10.2

Change/Mo.

0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Change/Yr.

3.9 2.4 2.3 1.0

Source: U.S. Department of Employment Security, April 21, 2011

Population Clocks

U.S. Indicators April, 2011 Consumer Price Index 0.4 percent Unemployment Rate 9.0 percent Payroll Employment 244,000 Average Hourly Earnings $0.03 Producer Price Index 0.8 percent Employment Cost Index 0.6 percent (first quarter, 2011) Productivity 1.6 percent (first quarter, 2011) U.S. Import Price Index 2.2 percent U.S. Export Price Index 1.1 percent Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

May 14, 2011

U.S. 311,351,346 World 6,918,368,200 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

FIVE MOST POPULOUS ILLINOIS CITIES The five most populous incorporated places in Illinois, according to 2010 Census counts are Chicago, 2,695,598 Aurora, 197,899 Rockford, 152,871 Joliet, 147,433 Naperville, 141,853 Chicago decreased by 6.9 percent since the 2000 Census. Aurora grew by 38.4 percent, Rockford grew by 1.8 percent, Joliet grew by 38.8 percent, and Naperville grew by 10.5 percent.

The largest county is Cook with a population of 5,194,675 – a decrease of 3.4 percent since 2000. The other counties in the top five are DuPage, with a population of 916,924 (increase of 1.4 percent); Lake, 703,462 (increase of 9.2 percent); Will, 677,560 (increase of 34.9 percent); and Kane, 515,269 (increase of 27.5 percent).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Membership Renewals Thank you to the members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber in April.

A Printed Memory ABC Catering Ltd., A Better Choice Catering ABC Crash 1 Collision Center Abreo Restaurant Act2 Strategists Advanced Heat Treating, Inc. Akerman Shoes Alpha Controls & Services Alpine Bank Angler’s Edge Fishing & Marine Associated Bank Astro-Physics, Inc. Becker Realtors Beefaroo, Inc. Benedictine University Blackhawk Propane Company, Inc. Building Systems, Inc. Byron Civic Theatre Cain & Company Careers, Etc. Cellusuede Products, Inc. CMM & Associates Community Collaboration Inc. Coyle-Varland Insurance Agency Inc. CRASH1 Off Perryville Crown Machine, Inc. Dasco Pro, Inc. Eclipse, Inc. Enders Flowers Freed Plumbing, Inc. Gauerke Electric Company Grace Funeral & Cremation Services Gypsum Supply Company Hampton Properties (Leasing Office) Heritage Credit Union Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Holcomb State Bank HoneyBaked Ham Hyzer, Hyzer & Jacobs InnovaMed Ipsen, Inc. JMK Nippon Restaurant John Morrissey Accountants, Inc. Joseph A. Bank Joseph Behr & Sons, Inc. Kaney Aerospace Kennametal/Metcut Klaas Financial, inc., Klaas Financial Asset Advisors, LLC, Registered Investment Advisor, A Registered

Investment Advisory Firm L/J Fabricators, Inc. Lobdell & Hall, Inc. Magnuson Industries, Inc. McGreevy Williams Meg’s Daily Grind Mid-City Office Products Modernspace Studio/TechlineRockford Mutual Management Services, Inc. National Business & Industrial Centre, Inc. Northern Illinois Optical Company Northwest Community Center Ongena Dental Orthopedic & Sports Therapy Institute - Byron Our Children’s Homestead Pepper Creek/Fourth Street Greenhouse Pepsi-Cola of Rockford Pinnacle Cleaning Corp Policeman’s Benevolent & Protective Association Unit 6 Rockford Rock River Tower Apartments Rock Valley Packaging, Inc. Rockford Orthopedic Associates Rockford Process Control, Inc. Rockford Register Star Rockford Sanitary Systems, Inc. Rockford Supportive Living SCORE Counselor’s to America’s Small Business Service Machine Company, Inc. Singley Construction Sjostrom & Sons, Inc. Sound, Inc. Spring Ridge Senior Housing StatelineBusiness (Greater Beloit Publishing Co.) The Cuppini Group The Furst Group Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, LLC TruGreen US Bank Van Sickle & McLaughlin, CPAs Vern E. Lundberg, Inc. Visions Lighting and Accessories Wipfli LLP Youngberg Industries, Inc.

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

12 FOCUS ON SUMMER IN THE CITY

Family Fun…All Summer Long SKI BRONCS SHOWS

LOCKWOOD PARK CHILDREN’S FARM

Wednesdays & Fridays • 7 p.m.

Shorewood Park 235 Evelyn Ave., Loves Park www.skibroncs.com Since 1967, the club of amateur show ski performers offers family-oriented, wholesome entertainment with shows from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Concessions available.

Saturdays • Noon to 5 p.m.

5201 Safford Road, Rockford 815-987-8809 Across the covered bridge in Lockwood Park (south side) is the Children’s Farm with sheep, goats, pigs and other farm animals.

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC SERIES

ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT MUSIC IN THE PARK Tuesdays & Thursdays, June 7 to Aug. 11 • 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden Sinnissippi Park Music Shell 1401 N. Second St., Rockford Woodsong concerts return in 2011 for the 16th year at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

815-987-8800; www.rockfordparkdistrict .org/musicshell (concert list/rain relocations) RESIDENTS ON THEIR FAVORITE HANGOUTS Music in the Park at Rockford’s “Ravinia” is a favorite summer tradition.

Area residents talk about their favorite summer decks and hangouts Bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnics for relaxing days and evening with their family and friends. and take in beautiful summer evenings “My favorite is the patio at “I really just have one favorite under the stars with a variety of new DiTullio’s because I can walk summer spot, and that’s Rock Cut. musical acts and returning favorites. The there, the staff is personable It’s the place I go to when I just series kicks off on June 7 with Rockford’s and gelato tastes great on a want to be outdoors enjoying the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps hot day.” beautiful weather. My favorite thing — 2008 World Champions. to do out there is to go canoeing – Michael Hopkins, IGNITE lead co-chair; Oblique Ideas out on the lake (which really IMAGINATION STATION consists of paddling out to the Wednesdays, June 15 to Aug. 10 • 1:30 p.m. of the lake and just drifting middle “Our family especially enjoys Sinnissippi Park Music Shell for hours), but I also like to hike Garrett’s, since the kids can work 1401 N. Second St., Rockford through the trails. I haven’t been up an appetite by hitting range www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/musicshell camping there since I was a kid, balls. It never ceases to amaze (performance list/cancellation notices) me how quickly a small child can but I plan to try that out this Daytime, wholesome fun for families. summer. It’s a place to either relax pound through a large bucket of The series kicks off on June 15 with or be active, depending on how golf balls ... and how much fun comic ventriloquist James Wedgwood. you’re feeling that day, and can they have doing it!”

Special appearance by the Radio Disney even be a little romantic, especially – Michael S. Roh, M.D., Road Crew and a number of kidif you’re out there while the sun is Adult and Pediatric Spinal Surgery friendly magicians, theater groups and setting. There isn’t much not to comedians. love about Rock Cut.” “My favorite patio is

FRIDAY NIGHT FLIX Park opens at 7 p.m. Movies start when the sun goes down.

Davis Park, 211 N. Main St. June 3: Top Gun June 10: Back to the Future June 17: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) June 24: Shrek 2 Movies are free and so is the popcorn.

Munchies and drinks available for purchase. Rain location is the MetroCentre nearby, unless another event is booked in the arena.

– Mika Doyle, IGNITE member; Practice Velocity

Cliffbreakers. I could spend the afternoon with good friends, good drinks and good food watching the boats go by on the Rock River. At night if it starts to get cool, Cliffbreakers has a great fire pit! Even on a rainy day, the view from the dining room can’t be beat.”

“Hope and Anchor and Granite City are the two that jump to mind.

They both have awesome patios, great beer and the service is always fantastic. Just a fun and relaxing atmosphere both places.”

– Caitlin Ludwig, IGNITE director

– Nick Frohmader, IGNITE member; Etnyre

Have we missed your favorite hang out spot?

Let us know your “go-to” place for a great summer day or evening at editor@rockfordchamber.com.

Shows are from 7:30 to 11 p.m.

Davis Park, 211 N. Main St. June 4: Lickety Split June 11: Cylinder Six June 18: Green Light Nights (music moved to Main Street) June 25: Lee DeWyze (charge for tickets: $20 lawn/$30 reserved seating)

FIRST FRIDAYS – ART, MUSIC, FOOD, SHOPPING IN DOWNTOWN ROCKFORD First Fridays in June, July, August 5 p.m. to midnight Downtown Rockford www.firstfridaysrockford.com (participating venues, events) Downtown art galleries, shops, music and theater venues work together to stay open late on “First Fridays” for evenings of great new art, music and goods.

MUSIC ON THE MALL Select Friday nights, May to September • 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Edgebook 1639 N. Alpine Road, Rockford Experience live music at its best. Local musicians perform outside Mary’s Market café. Bring a date, your own chair and friends for the summer evening.

STARLIGHT THEATRE Rock Valley College 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford 815-921-2160; www.rvcstarlight.com June 1 to 4, July 6 to 10: The Phantom of the Opera June 8 to 11, July 13 to 17: After Dark June 15 to 18, July 20 to 24: The Drowsy Chaperone June 22 to 25, July 27 to 31: Hairspray Starlight Theatre at Rock Valley College kicks off its summer season with four musical productions in June and July.

More on page 13

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

FOCUS ON SUMMER IN THE CITY 13 6799 Guilford Road 815-397-9112; www.midwayvillage.com Experience a turn-of-the-century Chautauqua with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows, Dr. Balthasar’s Miracle Medicine shows, a chat with Mark Twain, ragtime music, tours of Victorian-era gardens, SpanishAmerican/Philippine War soldiers’ encampment, antique high-wheel bicycles demonstrations, horse drawn wagon rides, Prairie Mill Lace Makers hands-on workshops, and more.

WOODSONG CONCERTS Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden 2715 S. Main St., Rockford 815-965-8146; www.klehm.org June 12: ABBA Salute July 10: Ann Stewart & the Banjo Buddies Dixieland Show Band August 14: Saturday June Band Bring a blanket and picnic dinner and enjoy Woodsong concerts held outdoors on the lawn of the Fountain Garden. Free guest shuttle service to and from the parking lot. Rain location is on site. No concerts are cancelled because of weather.

JUNE FEATURED EVENTS ROCKFORD AIRFEST 2011”HONORING HEROS” June 4 to 5 • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Performances start 11 a.m.

Chicago Rockford International Airport 60 Airport Dr., Rockford 815-969-4000; www.flyrfd.com More than 50 military, civilian and warbird aircraft for public viewing on the ground and 15 military and civilian performers, including the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Other performances include the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet and the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team, Rich’s Incredible Pyro, Bill Stein Airshows, The Firebirds, Sean D. Tucker, Dave Dacy Airshows, Matt Chapnman Airshows, Lucas Oil Airshow, The Horsemen and Aerostars Aerobatic Team.

Photo by Midway Village Museum

Visitors to Midway Village Museum’s 1900 America Celebration, a Chautauqua, June 11 and 12, can experience Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World show.

GARDEN FAIR June 3 to 5 • Fri: noon to 8 p.m.; Sat: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden 2715 S. Main St., Rockford 815-965-8146; www.klehm.org Shop more than 80 vendors at the area’s largest outdoor living marketplace for seasonal plants, shrubs, trees, tools, garden art and more. Tickets good for admission all three days.

Main Library, Lot C 215 N. Wyman St., Rockford Hear ye! Hear ye! Lords and ladies are invited! Families are invited to register for the Rockford Public Library’s Summer Reading Club and stay to play! Activities include a bouncy tent, dancing to a D.J., and a climbing wall for young adults. The first 1,000 kids to sign up for the club get free tshirts! The summer reading club runs from June 4 to Aug. 5.

A MIDSUMMER KNIGHT’S READ, KICK-OFF PARTY SUMMER READING CLUB 2011

1900 AMERICA CHAUTAUQUA

June 4 • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. • All Ages Rockford Public Library

June 11 to 12 • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Midway Village Museum

ANNUAL CAR, TRUCK AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW June 12 • Noon to 2 p.m.

Rockford First 5950 Springcreek Road 815-877-8000; rockfordfirst.com/carshow Free admission, live entertainment and games for the kids. Judging for Car & Truck Classes: antique cars & trucks, 60s original/restored, 70s-80s original /restored, 90s and up original/restored, modified any year, street rods, imports and special interest (race cars, etc.); Monster Trucks/Cars Motorcycle Classes: antique, Japanese, Euro’s & custom metrics, American & Harley Davidson, and choppers & customs.

More on page 14

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

14 FOCUS ON SUMMER IN THE CITY

Summer fun in the City

JULY FEATURED EVENTS

cont from page 13

KABOOM!

6TH ANNUAL “BEST IN PARADISE” CHEESEBURGERS AND MARGARITAS

July 1 and 4 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Discovery Center Museum 711 N. Main St., Rockford 815-963-6769; www.discoverycentermuseum.org Spud guns, rockets, sparkles and flags!

Strut your stars and stripes as science and art join hands for this two-day celebration of all things patriotic. Create your own light and sound creations, experiment with explosions, launch mini rockets and more. On July 4, leave your car parked at Discovery Center and take the short walk downtown to the parade and fireworks.

June 18 • 3 to 10 p.m.

Lombardi Club 209 Olive St., Rockford 815-312-0281; www.thebestinparadise.com Fins Up! Jimmy Buffet-themed benefit for Northern Illinois Food Bank features two contests … the “Best Cheeseburger in Paradise” and the “Best Margarita in Paradise.” Any team up to four can enter with prizes determined by a panel of judges. Free samples of cheeseburgers and margaritas.

MIDSOMMAR CELEBRATION June 18 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Haight Village by Erlander Home Museum 404 S. 3rd St., Rockford 815-966-1218; www.swedishhistorical.org Free admission.

Celebrate Scandinavia’s Midsommar Fest with food, music, dancing, Maypole, entertainment, vendors, children’s activities, Kubb and more.

AFTERNOON WITH THE AMERICAN PICKERS July 9 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine) Midway Village Museum 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford 815-397-9112; www.midwayvillage.com The nationally recognized History Channel hosts of the American Pickers, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, entertain audiences during a non-televised public appearance. Two one-hour shows are part of the festivities. Professional antique appraisals, be your own picker, antique and flea market booths, stained glass and chimney pots by Funderburg, blacksmith, carpentry demos and antique tool displays, car show, affordable food, music, 50/50 raffle, architectural and garden antique talks. No pets and camping allowed on the grounds.

OLD SETTLERS DAYS 2011 July 14 to 17 Thu: 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.; Fri: 5:30 to 11 p.m.; Sat: 12:30 to 11 p.m.; Sun: 1:30 to 10 p.m.

Settlers Park E. Hawick St., Rockton 815-624-4211; www.oldsettlersdays.com Buttons for admission; concerts are extra Parade at noon on Sat., fireworks at 9:30 p.m., on Sun., music, carnival rides, Trading Post, food booth, fireworks and more. Concerts include Anthony Billups, Luke Bryan, Jamie Campbell Band, Randy Houser, Hope Despite, Cylinder 6, Candlebox, Zackery Lane, Penny Mae Dixon Band, The JaneDear Girls.

More on page 15

Friday, June 3 | 12 – 8pm Saturday, June 4 | 9am – 5pm Sunday, June 5 | 9am – 3pm Shop from over 75 vendors at the area’s largest outdoor living marketplace. Buy this season’s plants, shrubs, trees, tools, garden art and more, all in one convenient location. Tickets are good for admission all 3 days so you can come back for more! $5 in advance, $7at the door, under 16 free

Go to our website for the latest information klehm.org

IGNITE

Young Professionals

An employee benefit that can raise productivity It’s back by popular demand: summer!!

With the warmer temperatures, it seems everything moves a bit slower. People are a bit more relaxed, drives to work are a bit easier and overall stress seems a bit lower; however, days inside offices seem longer and weekends seem shorter. As we sit inside staring at computer screen with beach scenes on our desktop, the call to be outdoors and soaking up the sun makes us feel like kids looking in a candy store window.

So what’s the answer? Besides calling in sick every Friday to ensure a long weekend, I mean.

Caitlin Ludwig IGNITE

and, therefore, end time for the day or perhaps you can go so far as to allow employees a “no-time” rule – when your work is done, you go home.

Maximize Productivity Consider this: On what days do you get the most done personally? Is it the day when you have all the time in the world or is it the day that you have a tight schedule and a million things to do? I’m guessing for 99 percent of you, it’s the latter. We usually work more productively when we have a smaller time frame to complete the task.

A flexible work schedule allows an

On what days do you get the most done personally?

Is it the day when you have all the time in the world or is it the day that you have a tight schedule and a million things to do?

The answer lies in the hands of our employers. Yes – managers, CEOs and presidents, I’m talking to you. You hold the key to your employees’ happiness all year round, but especially during these summer months. “Who me?” you CEOs, managers and presidents say. “Yes you!” “Couldn’t be!” “Then who?” Okay, maybe the HR department has something to do with this solution as well.

Work/Life Balance The answer lies in a little perk called “flexible work schedule.” Granted, this may not be appropriate for all lines of work, but for the general business world, a flexible work schedule can be an easy perk to offer employees to increase productivity, employee retention and overall happiness. It also is a huge attraction tool for members of Generation X and Y. These young professionals see that their employers value not only their want and need for life/work balance (notice life was first in that phrase), but also trusts that they are professional adults who are able to manage their tasks and time in an effective manner.

After all, shouldn’t the days of waiting around at the office until 5 rolls around “just because” be gone?

So what all does a flexible work schedule entail? Flexible work schedules vary to fit the needs of your individual office environment.

Consider granting the option of telecommuting once a week, or even twice a month, to the option of four 10hour days with Fridays off! Perhaps flexible work schedule at your office means the option to choose your start

employee to get more done in a smaller period of time and consequently is rewarded by a better life/work balance.

The company is happy with the employee’s work, the employee is happy with her working environment.

The budget is happy because there is less employee turnover and potentially lowered insurance costs (after all: happy employees with more time can go to the doctor, hit the gym or take part in other enjoyable stress-relieving activities – all leading to healthier employees!). I’d call that a win-win-win.

Take It for a Spin If you’re leery to implement a flexible work schedule at your company, perhaps you should try this summer as a trial run.

Give a new flexible work schedule a three-month trial period. Survey your employees to find out which option of flexible work schedule (telecommuting, compressed work week or the “no-time” rule) they prefer, and then let them know you will be evaluating the program at summer’s end.

Work with your employees and your HR department to find a way to increase life/work balance through flexible work schedules. After all, as your employees sit and daydream about the beach scene on their computer screen, are they really getting much done?

Perhaps if they had a compressed work week, they would do less dreaming and more living, all while increasing their productivity at work. Now that’s a cool summer, no matter your generation.

Caitlin Ludwig is director of IGNITE. Learn more at igniterockford.com.

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

Summer fun in the City

Extension master gardeners, Midway Village Museum education staff and other area garden experts.

cont from page 14

GREEK FEST 2011 July 23 to 24 Sat: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church 108 N. Fifth St., Rockford 608-290-5906; www.gogreekfest.com A free community festival in downtown Rockford with authentic Greek food and taverna with live music, Grecian folk dancers, a marketplace, pastries, kids’ activities and church tours.

Raffle tickets throughout the weekend with a drawing Sunday night. A portion of proceeds benefit the Rock River Valley Pantry and Evelyn Alexander Educational Scholarship.

HERITAGE GARDEN DAYS July 30 to 31 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Midway Village Museum 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford 815-397-9112; www.midwayvillage.com Different heritage gardens and prairies in full bloom. Two days of tours, presentations, recipes, crafts and plant sales, and make-and-take garden crafts.

Learn how grandmother made rhubarb wine and get tips on starting your own heirloom garden or prairie. Activities led by local University of Illinois

AUGUST FEATURED EVENTS FESTA ITALIANA 2011 August 5 to 7 Fri: 5 to 11 p.m.; Sat: noon to 11 p.m.; Sun: noon to 8:30 p.m.

Boylan High School 4000 St. Francis Dr., Rockford 815-636-2902; www.griaa.com Celebrate the second-largest festival in Rockford, where everyone who passes through the gates is an “Honorary Italian.” Celebrate Rockford’s Italian heritage with three fun-filled days of authentic music and folk dancing, carnival rides and booths, kids’ activities, and great Italian food.

POLISH FEST August 21 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

(Polish-English Catholic Mass beforehand) St. Stanislaus Parish 201 Buckbee St., Rockford 815-965-3913; www.saint-stanislaus.com St. Stanislaus parish celebrates its free 29th annual Polish Fest with entertainment by Julida Boys (West Point, Wis.), dance performances by the PoloniaPolish Folk Song & Dance Ensemble, bingo, raffles, culture exhibit, children’s

FOCUS ON SUMMER IN THE CITY 15 games and rides. Polish sausage and sauerkraut dinner, potato pancakes, sandwiches, homemade pierogi and other specialty foods as well as Polish and American beer, wine, pop and ice cream.

WEEKLY LOCAL MARKETS WEDNESDAYS EDGEBROOK FARMERS MARKET 1639 N. Alpine Road, Rockford May 4 to Oct. 26 • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

815-226-0212, www.edgebrookshops.com Dozens of local farmers offer vegetables, fruits, flowers and plants.

Local musicians perform occasionally.

FRIDAYS COLONIAL VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET Newburg & Alpine Roads, Rockford May to October • 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

815-398-3350

MIDTOWN FARMERS MARKET Parking lot on Second Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets in Rockford’s Midtown District May 27 to Oct. 14 • 3 to 7 p.m.

Locally-grown foods and specialty crops market. Features fresh flowers, honey and crafts such as home-made soaps, beeswax candles, jewelry and recycled/reclaimed bags.

ROCKFORD CITY MARKET/FARMERS MARKET Water Street, north of East State Street, in downtown Rockford June 3 to Oct. 21 • 3 to 7 p.m.

815-964-4388, www.rockfordcitymarket.com More than 25 vendors every Friday sell natural products, including vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, cheeses, flowers, herbs, baked goods, wine, healthy snacks and art. Beer garden with live music on the terrace overlooking the market, featuring Jodi Beach, Acoustic Roots, The Backroads Trio, After 5 Jazz Trio and more.

Cooking demonstrations, planting and flower care, worm composting, kids’ activities and a close-up look at the world of insects. Then stay downtown for the free outdoor movie at Davis Park.

SATURDAYS NORTH END COMMONS FARMERS MARKET 1416 North Main St., Rockford May to October 815-978-3071 www.northendcommons.com Features fresh produce (including organic), baked goods, pies from “The Pie Lady,” perennials, farm fresh eggs, honey, herbs and garden accessories.

Within walking distance in Rockford’s historic north end are art galleries, gift and antique shopping and a variety of restaurants.

16 FOCUS ON AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICES

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Summer fuel economy tips Ways to obtain peak efficiency

By Jim Heim Summer is almost here, and with it summer vacation travel plans. Many of us will be traveling by car, which will be significantly more expensive this year due to high gas prices. Yet there are many things we can do to make sure we are getting the most miles per gallon from our cars, pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.

You’ve heard all the typical stuff about using cruise control and avoiding quick starts and stops, but there are a lot of things you can do to your vehicle to ensure it is operating at peak efficiency.

Ways to Ultimately Save $$$ One of the simplest things is to make sure that your tire air pressure is set to the top end of the manufacturer recommended setting. You can find the recommended

pressure on a sticker affixed to the door jamb of the driver’s door or in your owner’s manual.

Most people ignore some very important routine maintenance that has a very large impact on fuel economy. A tune up including new spark plugs, ignition wires, fuel filter and air filter can improve your fuel economy by as much as 25 percent. A plugged air filter alone can cost you 2 to 3 miles per gallon every time you drive your car.

Add a fuel injector cleaning for further improvement. Fuel injector nozzles get clogged over time from carbon and fuel deposits. A clean fuel injector produces a very fine mist of fuel which explodes inside the combustion chamber, producing the best fuel economy. A clogged nozzle produces drops of fuel instead of a fine mist. These drops burn instead of

exploding, which significantly reduces fuel economy.

One oft-overlooked item is transmission fluid. Your transmission works entirely on fluid pressure. As you build up speed, fluid pressure increases until a tiny valve moves inside the transmission, causing it shift from first gear to second gear. Keep accelerating and another valve shifts the transmission into third gear, then fourth, fifth and even sixth gear on modern transmissions.

Dirty, degraded transmission fluid can cause these small valves to stick, slightly delaying shift points.

This means that the engine revs just a little bit higher each time the transmission shifts, costing you gas mileage every time.

Additionally, dirty fluid can prevent the valves from fully shifting. When this happens, not enough fluid pressure is applied to the “clutch pack.” This is a set of clutches that transmits power from the engine to the wheels. If a valve sticks, the clutches can “slip,” completely destroying your $4,000 transmission in a matter of

just a few minutes.

That pesky check engine light? That signals a fuel control sensor or device has malfunctioned (there are about 30). When this happens, the fuel management system goes into default mode, dumping in a preprogrammed amount of fuel to keep the engine running. The sensors comprise a feedback loop, whereby the computer determines the exact right amount of fuel to feed the engine at any given time under any given operating conditions. In default mode, your fuel economy may be up to 30 percent worse.

Jim Heim holds degrees in industrial and electrical engineering and spent 15 years in automotive engineering, three years in high pressure hydraulics, and five years in aerospace before buying and reopening Tuffy Auto Service Center, 6574 E. Riverside Blvd., with his wife.

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

Rockford AirFest 2011 to feature record number of static aircraft Rockford AirFest 2011 will feature more than 50 military, civilian and warbird aircraft available for public viewing on the ground. The event on June 4 and 5 at Chicago Rockford International Airport, 60 Airport Dr., Rockford, with the theme “Honoring Heroes,” also will feature 15 military and civilian performers, headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and a special

performance by the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.

AirFest is one of only 32 events in the country to be given Tier One status by the U.S. Navy this year, giving it a boost in attracting performers and static aircraft. Showgrounds are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. For information and ticket prices, visit www.FlyRFD.com/Airfest.

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June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Why your businessto-business website needs to go social If your business currently does not have a Web presence, you already are years behind the technology curve.

Studies show most people who are looking for information on your business will look to the Internet more than any other medium. And yes, this includes traditional phone books! In 2010, companies spent $25.3 billion on online marketing. That’s billion with a “b” — an 11 percent increase.

More Than an Online Brochure Once you have established your Internet presence with a nice-looking website, what’s next? Allowing your website to remain stagnant on the Internet for months or even years without meaningful interaction is not doing your business any favors, much less your customers or vendors. Not to mention, it’s a waste of time and money. Internet users expect interaction with the websites they visit, and with the increasing popularity of social media, they demand a two-way conversation with the companies they visit online.

There are many simple ways to make your website function less as an electronic brochure and more like a Web application. Video streaming sites like YouTube and Vimeo offer an easy and free way to embed training videos or your business’s TV commercial on your company website. Facebook provides several code snippets to integrate a “Like” button or live comments feed into your website with even the smallest bit of HTML knowledge. And for a small fee, there are countless services available to offer enhancements like live chat, knowledge sharing and event contests.

Types of Social Media Integration Social media is here to stay and offers many ways to engage your customers and vendors on your website. Social media allows a two-way conversation with your business and your target audience. There are many social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube, and countless others — all of which connect nicely to your website or company blog. It will take some research, planning and a little savvy to determine which platforms will be appropriate for your business.

Tips for Social Media Integration 1. Make it easy for visitors to connect with you. Put your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube buttons prominently on your website.

2. Make it easy for people to share your content with others.

Heather Kelley Argyle Marketing Company

3. Allow people to share your content with others using RSS feeds.

4. Don’t broadcast the same message across all media channels. This is overkill.

5. Don’t self-promote. Provide valuable information.

6. Save time by writing several brief posts in advance, and then use a tool like HootSuite

(www.hootsuite.com)

to

schedule them.

How Often Should I Update My Website?

As often as possible! No one wants to browse information on your website only to find outdated information on former employees, past events, discontinued products, or worse — broken links. A company blog is a great way to keep your customers updated on the latest company news, press releases and opinion articles.

Plus, search engines like these types of frequently updated interactions. As a result they likely will place you closer to the top of search results with common keywords in your industry.

Looking for a Web Vendor When looking for a vendor to develop your website, it is very important to thoroughly research the company. After all, your web and social media presence is out there for the world to see. Depending on the scope of the project, this can be a large investment for your company.

How does the vendor’s website function? Is it up to date with the latest technology and social media function?

What is the experience of the person(s) working on your project? The presence of social media has made marketing of businesses more cost effective and engaging than any other media in our lifetime. It also can be a time-consuming task, but does not have to be done all at once. If you commit to a timeframe for implementation and engage one media at a time, eventually you will be viewed as the social media guru in your industry!

Heather Kelley is owner and marketing strategist of Argyle Marketing Company and serves as president of the Harlem School Board.

She can be reached at heather@argylemarketing .com. Visit www.argylemarketing.com.

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

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

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Issues to Watch LEGISLATIVE News from the Illinois Chamber, State of Illinois BILLS UNDER CONSIDERATION

A CLOSER LOOK

DEMOCRATS UNVEIL NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS According to reports by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, chatter around the Capitol in midMay focused on the new redistricting maps. For the first time in modern redistricting, one party will have control of the legislative portion of the process.

The Democrats have the ability to draw a map to their maximum advantage. On May 19, the Senate Democrats unveiled their proposed maps and districts. Census data revealed that while most downstate counties lost population as expected, the biggest surprise was the extent of population loss in many Cook County districts. The loss of African American population in particular complicated the map drawing process. The Federal Voting Rights Act dictates maximum

TAXES

HEALTHCARE

SB 21 Cigarette Tax Increase Ill. Chamber Position: Oppose Status: 3rd Reading

HB224 Health Carrier External Review Ill. Chamber Position: Oppose Status: Passed House, Senate 3rd Reading

SB 43 Tax Disclosure Act Ill. Chamber Position: Support Status: Passed Both Houses SB1633 Enterprise Zone Extension Ill. Chamber Position: Support Status: Passed Senate, House Revenue & Finance Committee

LABOR SB1349 Workers’ Compensation Reform Ill. Chamber Position: Support, Chamber initiative Status: Failed on 3rd Reading representation for minority voters.

Growth was greatest in Kendall, Will, Kane and McHenry Counties.

To access the map proposals, timeline and more, visit www.ilsenateredistricting.com.

HB1552 EEOC’s Determination Adoption by Dept. of Human Rights Ill. Chamber Position: Support, Chamber initiative Status: Passed Both Houses

HB1530 Mental Health Parity Ill. Chamber Position: Oppose Status: Passed House, Senate 2nd Reading HB1577 Health Benefits Exchange Act Ill. Chamber Position: Support Status: Passed House, Senate Insurance Committee

ENVIRONMENT HB1703/SB2169 Regulatory Modernization-Pipelines, Chamber initiative Ill. Chamber Position: Support Status: Passed Both Houses/Passed Senate, House Executive Committee Source: Illinois Chamber of Commerce

For the most recent legislative actions, visit www.ilga.gov.

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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Member in the News IN THE NEWS

1. Brandon Houghton

2. Jodi Kanarish Richards

3. Sergio Delgado

4. Lewis Tucker

5. Tiffany Staman

6. James D. Borchardt

7. Christopher J. Gass

8. Jennifer L. Naeger

9. Mindy F. Rice

10. Mary Pohl

11. Todd Schnack

12. Patricia (Trish) Black

13. Jeri Wysong

14. Brad Whitlock

15. Navid Bahmanyar

16. Marilyn Cade

17. Danielle Chermack

18. Jeffrey Fahrenwald

19. Sherry Zenk

20. Creig Day

21. Tracy Peifer

22. Anthony Sorkin, M.D.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors elected the following officers to serve one-year terms beginning May, 2011: Linda Heckert, chairman; Patrick OKeefe, vice chairman; LaVonne Brown, secretary, and Solomon Foley, treasurer. Darrell Snorek, LaMonica Beverages, Inc., joined the board for a three-year term beginning May, 2011.

Attorney Mike Schultz, Reno & Zahm LLP, was elected president of the Boone County Bar Association.

Rockford Board of Education added members to three community-based committees: Doug Burton and Christina Ostergard, accountability committee; Richard Walsh, budget/finance committee, and Rev. Matthew JohnsonDoyle and Venita Hervey, community input committee.

Kylie Crull, account executive at PR Etc., was selected to serve on the River District Association’s board of directors.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Dennis Benning, officer of Woodward, Inc., and president of Airframe Systems, announced his intention to retire on June 1, 2011.

KMK Media Group, Inc., hired Brandon Houghton (1) as a Web developer, raising the total employee count to nine.

Sergio Delgado (3) to plant manager, Rippel Division, and Lewis Tucker (4) to plant manager, Barnes Division.

Tiffany Staman (5) was hired as associate director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford, a part of Rockford Rescue Mission.

Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., added four experienced attorneys: James D. Borchardt (6) and Christopher J. Gass (7), intellectual property practice; Jennifer L. Naeger (8), litigation practice, and Mindy F. Rice (9), banking and finance practice.

William Megan, executive vice president-finance and chief financial officer, TDS Telecommunications Corp., was named to lead its fast-growing Hosted and Managed Services operation, which includes TEAM Companies and VISI Incorporated data service centers.

Mary Pohl (10) was promoted to vice president at Harris Private Bank, Rockford.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Jodi Kanarish Richards (2) joined the Spectrum Insurance commercial lines team as marketing administrator.

Lisa Frost, owner of Lisa Frost Studio in Rockford, received Northern Illinois University’s Outstanding Alumni Award for the College of Visual and Performing Arts for 2011.

James R. Mounier earned the title senior vice president – investments at The Mounier & Larson Group at Merrill Lynch.

Barnes International promoted

Todd Schnack (11), chief information officer for Rockford Orthopedic Associates, Ltd., passed examination and qualified for Certified Professional in

Healthcare Information and Management Systems.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford honored Atisak Sapying, M.D., assistant professor of clinical family medicine, with the Distinguished Teaching Award, and Michael Glasser, Ph.D., associate dean for the National Center for Rural Health Professions and research associate professor of medical sociology, with the Distinguished Service Award at its convocation ceremony on May 1.

Patricia (Trish) Black (12) received the Womanspace 15thannual Womanspirit Founders’ Award at its Spring Luncheon fundraiser in April.

Janyce Fadden, president of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, received an award from the Hamilton Sundstrand Rockford Leadership Club for serving as the keynote speaker at its annual dinner.

Two local figure skaters earned medals at the 2011 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in Salt Lake City in April. Jeri Wysong (13), Rockford Park District Learn to Skate Program instructor, and partner Michael Schlautman, earned a third place medal in the pre-gold dance event. Brad Whitlock (14), Rockford Skating Club member, and partner Susan Schwaegler, earned a second place medal in the pre-bronze dance event.

Keith Country Day School senior Navid Bahmanyar (15) was one of

only 7,800 distinguished high school seniors to be named a National Merit Scholar in the United States.

The Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center awarded Marilyn Cade (16) with the 2011 Starr of Excellence Award. She is an accomplished pianist who frequently performs in Mendelssohn concerts and the Music On Main series.

The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau inducted three into its Tourism Hall of Fame: Jim Keeling, Sunil Puri and Peter Provenzano. Provenzano was honored for his leadership in launching Rockford City Market in 2010. Puri and Keeling were recognized for the creation and development of Sportscore Two, Perryville Path and the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza.

The Janesville Zonta Club, Blackhawk Technical College, UW-Rock County, UW-Oshkosh and St. Mary’s Hospital awarded the first Soar Ahead BSN student, Danielle Chermack (17), with a $500 scholarship for her final semester in the associate’s degree in nursing program.

Two Rockford College faculty received 2011 Excellence in Teaching Awards: Jeffrey Fahrenwald (18), associate professor of economics, business and accounting, and director of the master’s in business program, and Sherry Zenk (19), Rockford College Learning Center instructor.

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

Member in the News

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June 2011 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the following members who celebrate their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber in June, 2011.

Volunteer attorney Brian Hart, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., was selected to receive the 20102011 John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award in the outstanding Individual Attorney category.

Jeffrey Wang, Auburn High School senior, earned a trip to the White House Science Fair as one of 20 students chosen to attend the USA Biology Olympiad National Finals.

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) announced at Burpee Museum of Natural History the winners of the 2011 Illinois 16th Congressional District High School Art Competition reception. Michelle Zheng, junior at Keith Country Day School, won first place with her ink drawing, “Eye of the Tiger.”

Second place winner was Lindsay Kurkiewicz, Huntley High School.

Third place was Seonghui Park, senior at Christian Life High School.

The Alpine Kiwanis Club of Rockford named Creig Day (20), executive director of Rockford Sharefest and director of strategic initiatives and development from Heartland Community Church, as the winner of the 2011 Touch of Life Award.

OSF Lifeline Ambulance staff members Maggie Carlson, manager; Kevin Monahan, coordinator of revenue cycle, and Vicki Wigtion, business service clerk, completed National Academy of Ambulance Coding certification for ambulance billing personnel involved in the ambulance claim process.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Trekk Cross-Media CEO Laura Terry presented, “Social Media in a Multi-Channel World,” at the TouchPoint Alliance 2011 Customer Intimacy Summit, “Capturing the Hearts of Customers: The Future of Marketing,” in May at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago.

Warren Zeigle and Shirley Geiser, Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc., attended “An Ethics Class for the Multi Lines Insurance Professionals” presented by Pekin Insurance Company. Tracy Peifer (21) received a certificate for completing a Pekin Insurance Introduction of Life and Health Conference.

Anthony Sorkin, M.D. (22), Rockford Orthopedic Associates, Ltd., co-authored an article detailing the development of freehand surgical fixation of long bone fractures while on a medical mission to treat victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake, and published in the March, 2011, edition of the electronic peer-review journal, Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.

Christine Sherrard, a Farmers Insurance Agency agent in Rockford, completed the Career Agents Course at the University of Farmers.

Physical therapists David Black and Michael “Woody” Wood, Orthopedic Rehab Specialists, presented “Common Shoulder and Knee Pathologies” to the University of Minnesota Physical Therapy Program as guest lecturers.

Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Karen Tilly Company: Rockford MELD Position: Director of Development & Public Relations How long have you been an Ambassador?

Many years What do you like most about being an Ambassador? I like the networking and public relations opportunities for businesses and nonprofits. I like being a part of the Chamber in general and being involved in large events such as Business After Hours, which MELD has sponsored for the past nine years, the Manufacturing Dinner and Expo, and the Annual Dinner.

Coming up in June: Focus on

Women in Business For information on advertising,

call 815- 987-8100

65-YEAR MEMBER

15-YEAR MEMBER

35-YEAR MEMBERS

10-YEAR MEMBERS

Winnebago County Farm Bureau Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Thermo Fisher Scientific

25-YEAR MEMBER RAMP

20-YEAR MEMBERS

Bourn & Koch, Inc. Field Fastener Supply Co. Holcomb State Bank Rockford Tech-Systems, Inc. United Way of Rock River Valley

Blackhawk Bank

Cool-Heat Supply, Inc. Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center Intouch Home Care Services of LSSI Rockford Structures Construction Company Stockholm Inn

5-YEAR MEMBERS

The Brian Boyer Group Rockford Mutual Insurance Company Window World of Rockford

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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BUSINESS BRIEFS Business Briefs

Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association.

Independence Village celebrated Mother’s Day with a Senior Mother/Daughter Fashion Show and Coffee on May 1, featuring 10 residents.

Kiwanis Club of Rockford awarded a $20,000 grant to the Discovery Center Museum for a new projection system to upgrade its planetarium shows, including a real-time virtual space flight through the solar system and the far universe.

The FertiSorb Company, Hebron (Ill.), hired Argyle Marketing to produce an interactive website and custom Facebook fanpage for FertiSorb, its release on demand plant nutrient.

Customer Chain Consulting hired Argyle to design a registration brochure for its Quick Response Manufacturing seminar series.

Guardian Disability Advocacy, a firm on behalf of clients seeking social security disability benefits, hired Argyle to complete a postcard design and custom photography for an upcoming campaign.

Volunteers Deb Evans and Evelyn Prothero collect printers at Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful’s Spring Metals & Electronics Drive in May.

American Red Cross hosts CPR, first aid and babysitter’s training in June in Belvidere and Rockford.

Visit www.rockriver.redcross.org to register.

Rockford-based information technology company Ticomix, Inc., acquired the SMA Report Toolkit (SMART) for HEAT from SMA Management Systems, Inc., based in White Plains, N.Y., and hired most of its core employees.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2011 with a Customer Appreciation Day at each of its retail stores, offering customers refreshments, coupons and raffles.

SwedishAmerican Health System received accreditation for three years from the Joint Commission as a result of its demonstrated compliance with The Joint Commission’s nationally recognized health care standards.

The Employers’ Coalition on Health (ECOH) in Rockford was one of six U.S. organizations to receive a community planning grant from the United Health Foundation and the National Business Coalition on Health, which will enable ECOH through the Get Moving Coalition of the Greater Rockford YMCA - to convene a community summit towards improving the health of the Rockford community.

Shelter Care Ministries, an outreach ministry of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, awarded Southern Imperial Industries, Logli Supermarket (State Street location) and Emmanuel Women’s Guild with the Annual Heart Award at its 2011 Spring Luncheon for their donations.

More than 1,000 Nicor Gas employees, family members and friends participated in the 15th annual Volunteer Day on May 21, serving 23 philanthropic projects in 20 communities throughout northern Illinois, from outdoor landscape beautification to sorting donations at local food pantries.

In honor of the Marketplace Monroe maurices’ one-year anniversary, customers voted for Green Haven Family Advocates to receive a $500 gift from the store.

Volunteers Melissa Schraiber and Matthew Dykstra, IGNITE young professionals, clean up an area near the river during the Great American Cleanup on April 30.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that Sportscore One will serve as the home base for sporting goods retail giant Cabela’s King Kat Fishing Tournament on June 25, with anglers fishing in the Rock River.

The tournament will draw nearly 700 anglers and fans from around the Midwest, fill 450 hotel room nights and generate an estimated $80,000 for local businesses.

layout work for the United Way of Rock River Valley’s strategic planning summary brochure on future goals and strategy, and a new corporate website and an email marketing campaign for Miller Buettner & Parrott, Inc. KMK completed development of an advertising campaign for Riverside Community Bank, promoting the bank’s relationship with Road Ranger.

Woodward, Inc., reported net sales for the second quarter of 2011 of $418.9 million, an increase of 20 percent from $349.4 million in the second quarter of last year.

Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc., opened its Neighborhood Tool Bank for 2011 at 907 S. Main St., with a variety gardening and lawn maintenance tools and supplies available for loan and operated by full-time AmeriCorps members.

Blackhawk Bank and its employees raised and donated more than $1,500 to the Beloit Meals on Wheels program. A group of 15 employees from the bank also volunteer on a monthly basis with Meals on Wheels to deliver food to elderly, ill and handicapped residents of the greater Beloit area.

Home Instead Senior Care received a Legacy Award for superior service and business performance at the International Home Instead Senior Care Convention in April in Omaha, Neb.

KMK Media Group, Inc., organized a press conference and distributed public relations materials for the Mill Foundation’s latest round of grant distributions given to local non-profit organizations in May. KMK completed graphic design and

The Rockford Park District Summer 2011 Golf Tournaments Guide is available online at www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/golf (click on Tournaments).

Rockford Park District is a finalist for the 2011 National Gold

Through its affiliation with UW Health, SwedishAmerican Health System now is part of the University of Wisconsin Telestroke Network, which offers quick assessment and response for stroke emergencies. Patients coming to the Emergency Department in Rockford and Belvidere now have immediate access to world class stroke neurologists at the UW Comprehensive Stroke Center in Madison, Wis. Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics is partnering with the American Cancer Society Winnebago County “Relay For Life.” For a $15 donation per person ($20 per family) until June 24, all chiropractic and orthopedic examinations, second opinion evaluations, treatments and X-rays will be provided at no charge. Call 815-398-4004 to schedule.

Shelter Care Ministries’ annual spring luncheon in May raised more than $ 22,000 to help fund its programs to end homelessness, educate children at risk, and advocate for persons with mental illness.

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful’s Spring Metals and Electronics Drive drew 992 area residents to Machesney Park Mall in May. Items gathered included 17 refrigerators, six freezers, 11 air conditioners, 14 propane tanks and 53 dehumidifiers. On May 14, 2,187 area residents dropped off clothing and other soft goods at the Spring Clothing Drive.

The Roscoe Area Chamber of Commerce announced that the 2012 RoRo Expo will take place on March 10 and 11.

More than 1,600 volunteers worked for three hours picking up

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

Business Briefs litter and debris on April 30 as part of the Great American Cleanup™, coordinated by Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, the City of Rockford and Winnebago County.

The Literacy Council’s eighthannual Literacy Half Marathon held on May 7 drew 142 runners and walkers.

Rockford IceHogs’ major fundraiser in 2010-11, the 12th annual Jersey Auction, raised $34,156. In 12 seasons, the annual event has generated more than $613,000 for local charities, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club of Rockford, Junior IceHogs and more.

The Barbara Olson Center of Hope was awarded a $32,000 grant by The Coleman Foundation to develop a professional program for direct care employees working in the social services sector to enhance their job positions, resources, skill sets and standing.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois completed another

successful tax season at its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites with more than $1.5 million dollars in refunds to community members. Fifty volunteers performed more than 1,600 hours of service to file 1,137 tax returns.

A month-long Community Baby Shower to benefit local families and expectant mothers in need, including patients at Crusader Community Health, was organized by WTVO-TV & WQRF Fox 39 in April. Baby items were collected at seven Hilander grocery stores, Feldco Windows, Siding & Doors, and Al Grace Appliance. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, McHenry, made a donation of 33,000 diapers, which were distributed by Rock River Valley Pantry.

The Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence will offer a Summer Shortz program, 8 to 9:30 a.m., on June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17 on the patio in front of the Colman Library at Rockford College. Visit www.rockford.edu/?NICNE.

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June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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Community Events EVENTS inflatable midway, guest appearances by Blaze the Blackhawk and Snappy the Turtle, and the Ed-venture climbing wall for adults. Includes BTC Nite at Snapper Stadium in Beloit. Contact BTCAA@blackhawk.edu.

The Rockford Park District and the Friends of Canine Corners Dog Parks invite the public (children 11 or older) and their dogs to the second-annual, free Canine Corners Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Searls Park, 4950 Safford Road. For more information on the open house event, contact Robert Rode at 815-969-4068.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

A mural by artist, Tom Heflin, will be unveiled on June 6 in celebration of SwedishAmerican Health System’s 100th anniversary.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 Rockford Public Library presents a Camp Fuller Display in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War from noon to 8 p.m., on Wednesdays in June in the local history room, 215 N. Wyman St. Call 815-965-7606.

Bridges of Unity presents a Chakra ConnectionSM support group with Beth Campisi from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Banyan Tree, 410 E. Grand Ave., in Beloit, Wis.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

stadium, 5620 Spring Creek Road in Rockford. Gates open at 7 a.m.; admission free until 10 a.m. Call 815-977-0171 or visit www.illinoisjetstc.com.

University, June 8 to 10, for rural high school students with an interest in health professions.

Contact vweide1@uic.edu or call 815-395-5854.

Chicago Rockford International Airport presents AirFest 2011 on June 4 and 5 with 14 military and civilian performers, including the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. For more information visit FlyRFD.com.

AAIM Employers’ Association Education Center presents FMLA in the Trenches: Practical Steps to Avoid FMLA Abuse, from 8:30 to 11 a.m., at NIU-Rockford, 8500 E. State St. Register at www.ea connect.com or 800-948-5700.

Natural Land Institute presents Wine at the Wetland with wines from Artale Wine Co., appetizers

by Abreo Restaurant and live music by the Fresh Hot Fritters from 3 to 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W. Rockton Road. Call 815-964-6666 or visit www.NaturalLand.org.

Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden and Harris Bank present the 18th annual Garden Fair, June 3 to 5, at 2715 S. Main St., in Rockford. Visit www.klehm.org or call 815-965-8146.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

IMEC presents a six-part series, Implementing Continuous Improvement Efforts, June 3 to July 24 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at NIU Rockford, 8500 E. State St. Register at www.imec.org – events, or email Roger Shrum at rshrum@imec.org.

The Ethnic Heritage Museum 21st Annual Music Festival takes place from noon to 4 p.m., at the Lithuania Club, 716 Indiana Ave., in Rockford. Features Father of Year Awards for six nationalities.

Lunch from noon to 3 p.m. Tickets at www.ethnicheritagemuseum.org or call 815-962-7402.

35th-annual Glitzy Garage Sale takes place at Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., June 3 to 5.

Sale hours are Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations accepted through June 1. Visit www.womanspace-rockford.org or call 815-877-0118.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 The second-annual Illinois Jets Youth Track & Field Invitational takes place at Guilford High School

MONDAY, JUNE 6

Northern Illinois SCORE presents Simple Steps to Starting Your Business, a series of five, threehour workshops. The June 8 session is free, and the remaining four are June 22, July 13, Aug. 3 and Aug. 17. Details and registration at http://bit.ly/eq8Z00.

For other SCORE events, visit www.NorthernIllinoisSCORE.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 The third-annual Edgebrook Arts & Crafts Exhibit – Think.Feel.Design takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring artwork, crafts, jewelry making, photography and live musical entertainment. Free admission. Visit edgebrookshops.com.

SwedishAmerican Health System hosts a Ribbon Cutting at 3:30 p.m., for the new Heritage Center. Includes the unveiling of a mural by nationally renowned, local artist, Tom Heflin, in honor of the hospital’s 100th anniversary, more than 85 historical artifacts and special medical exhibits.

Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, hosts its national award-winning, signature summer event, 1900 America Celebration, a Chautauqua, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday. Call 815-397-9112 or visit www.midwayvillage.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

Blackhawk Technical College announces its first Alumni Day from 2 to 6 p.m., on the Janesville Central campus with a prairie walk,

Rural Health Careers Camp takes place at Northern Illinois

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., presents ABBA Salute, at 6 p.m., in the Fountain Garden as part of its 2011 Woodsong concerts lineup.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and pack a picnic dinner.

Concerts rain or shine. Tickets at www.klehm.org or call 815-965-8146.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14 Blackhawk Technical College presents Tech Knowledge College for students to explore occupational careers on its Central Campus in Janesville, June 14 to 16. Contact 608-743-4463 or dboston@blackhawk.edu.

Savant Capital Management presents Planning for a Lifetime of Financial Success: A Blueprint for Smart Decisions at 6:15 p.m., at 7202 Argus Dr., in Rockford. Contact 815-227-0300 or email cswearingen@savant capital.com.

The Aldeen Men’s Golf Association holds its annual, free “Take Aim at Your Health” Wellness Night from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Rockford Park District’s Aldeen Golf Club and Practice Centre, 1902 Reid Farm Road. Call 815-282-GOLF. Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois presents a free, 12-hour course in financial management Good Dollars and Sense, Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 14 to 30, from 10 a.m. to noon and 6 to 8 p.m., at 315 N. Main St., in Rockford. A Spanish class will be available in July at ALERTA in Belvidere as well. Register at 815987-6203 or goodsense@goodwillni.org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College, 5050 E. State St., presents Perspectives on Leadership from Community Leaders featuring Einar Forsman,

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

25

Community Events EVENTS president and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., at the Colman Library. Call 815394-4384 or visit www.rockford.edu/?NICNE. Barbara Olson Center of Hope, 3206 N. Central Ave., presents Sensory Processing & the Effects on Learning & Behavior, a one- to three-day workshop on teens and adults with autism and other sensory dysfunctions, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 815-964-9275 to register or visit www.bolsoncenterofhope.org.

The 26th-annual Ryan Jury Memorial Golf Outing takes place with 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., shotgun starts at Aldeen Golf Club and an evening dinner at Giovanni’s at 6 p.m., entertainment by Tsunami Barbershop quartet, a silent auction, and MC Paul Logli. Call 815-966-2066.

MONDAY, JUNE 20 Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden hosts a Family Bus Trip to DuPage Children’s Museum and Morton Arboretum from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservation deadline is June 13. Bus departs from Klehm, 2715 S. Main St. To register call 815-965-8146 or visit www.klehm.org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 EIGERlab at Rock Valley College hosts the Stateline FastPitch Competition at Northern Illinois University-Rockford, 8500 E. State St. Open to the public at 5:30 p.m., for the final competition round and networking Call 815921-2054.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, 3470 N. Alpine Road, hosts its annual Ice Cream Social from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Proceeds go to the ministry of Fairhaven. Tickets at the door.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16 The Four Rivers Environmental Coalition and Rock Valley College present A River Gathering: There’s No Place Like Home, a four-day festival, June 16 to 19, celebrating the region’s greatest natural assets. For registration information, visit www.fourriver.org.

AAIM Employers’ Association Education Center presents Exploring Leadership for the Multi-Cultural Era, a leadership Webinar series, from 1 to 2 p.m.

Register at 800-948-5700 or www.eaconnect.com.

Northern Illinois SCORE hosts a Business Roundtable to discuss business challenges at 7:30 a.m., at the Winnebago County Planning Office, 404 Elm St. The group meets the third Thursday of the month. For details visit http://bit.ly/eSe70Q.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17 The Night of Love Reception, featuring the Men We Love Awards, takes place at 7 p.m., at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Visit www.themen welove.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 Rockford Public Library presents a Haunted Rockford Tour, 7 to 10 p.m., main library classroom A, 215 N. Wyman St. Visit local legendary sites and slightly scary, historic tales.

Registration required at 815-965-7606.

Walk on the Wild Side fundraiser, 5 p.m., at Summerfield Zoo, 3088 Flora Road, Belvidere. Enjoy a casual evening of food, wine tasting, animal presentations and entertainment to raise funds for a new habitat for the arctic and tundra wolves. Visit www.summerfieldfarmandzoo.com or call 815-547-4852.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center presents A Healing Journey - On Butterfly Wings, from 3 to 4 p.m., at Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St. Participants can purchase live Monarch butterflies for release for loved ones who have died. Music and refreshments. Contact 815-3980500 or lnovak@northern illinoishospice.org.

Ethnic Heritage Museum presents Abe Lincoln and Garibaldi – “How They Met in America” on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Weekly tours by calling the museum at 815-962-7402.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents Effective Donor Recognition Ideas with Lynne Vass, CFRE, senior vice president of development at Rosecrance Health Network, from noon to 1 p.m., in the café in the Grace Roper Lounge, 5050 E. State St. Register at least five days prior at 815-226-2833.

June 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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New Chamber Members MEMBERS PAUL ANTHONY ARCO A Unique Writing Firm that Delivers Concise, High-impact Copy (Brochures, Website Copy, Sales/Fundraising Material) 2621 Cline’s Ford Dr. Belvidere, IL 61008 Paul Anthony Arco 815-871-1545 www.paulanthonyarco.com

ARMOR COATED TECHNOLOGY CORP. A PVD Surface Treatment Company which Produces Five Different Hard Coatings 1190 Anvil Dr. Machesney Park, IL 61115 Josh Hewitt 815-316-3240 www.armorcoated.com

BOONE COUNTY VETERAN’S CLUB VFW POST 1461 Honoring the Dead by Helping the Living 1310 W. Lincoln Ave. Belvidere, IL 61008 Gregory W. Kelm 815-544-2014 www.vfw1461.com

CUTTING ROOM SALON AND SPA

EMPIRICAL TECH WORKS

Beauty Salons, Day Spas 421 S. Mulford Road Rockford, IL 61108 Kathy Talley 815-399-7657 www.cuttingroomrockford.com

Providing Services in Computer Installations, Video Conferencing, Training, Networking and Computer Rentals 309 Mulberry St. Rockford, IL 61101 Corey Hughes 815-316-8155 www.empiricaltechworks.net

DANFOSS POWER ELECTRONICS Manufacturing of Adjustable Frequency Drives for AC Motor Control 4401 N. Bell School Road Loves Park, IL 61111 Kim Kuborn 815-639-8600 www.danfoss.com

ELIOT MANAGEMENT GROUP EMG Provides Credit Card Processing Services and Credit Card Processing Equipment Sales and Installation 10600 Higgins Road, Ste. 700 Rosemont, IL 60018 Barbara Kierl 847-827-2800 www.e-mg.com

FIT ME WELLNESS A State of the Art Wellness Experience that Combines Fitness, Nutritional Counseling, Group Fitness, Team Competitions, Easy-to-Use Health Management Techniques 973 Featherstone Road Rockford, IL 61107 Greg Georgis 815-904-6000 www.fitmewellness.com

4EVERCLEAN Distributor of Environmentally Safe Cleaning Products for Residential and Commercial Use 1190 Anvil Dr. Machesney Park, IL 61115 John Jacobson 815-636-7200 www.4everclean.com

HARLEM COMMUNITY CENTER Strengthening Communities Through Recreational, Social and Educational Programs for Children and Families 900 Roosevelt Road Machesney Park, IL 61115 Shannon Scheffel 815-885-4862 www.harlemcommunity.org

JACK’S CIGAR & HOOKAH LOUNGE Offering a Wide Variety of Cigars, the Biggest Selection in the Stateline area. Also One-of-a-Kind Cigar and Hookah Lounge 10129 N. 2nd St. Machesney Park, IL 61115 Sandeep Palakkal 815-282-5225

LAKESHORE TITLE AGENCY Title Insurance and Escrow Closing 4053 N. Perryville Road Loves Park, IL 61111 David A. Fowle 815-654-0300 www.LSTITLE.com

LIBERTY TAX SERVICE Personal & Business Tax Returns, Tax Advice 6915 E. State St., 61108 Satyen Chavda 815-977-4935 www.libertytax.com/6039/16345

LSP INDUSTRIES, INC. Manufacturing of Lubrication Equipment and Lubricants 2511 20th St., 61104 Ray Lamantia 815-226-8090 www.lspind.com

NEW LEAF REMODELING Remodeling in Kitchens, Bath, Basements, Additions, Maintenance, Repairs and Exteriors 7319 Rolling Hills Lane Machesney Park, IL 61115 Melinda Macias 815-904-6006 www.newleafremodeling.com

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY Insurance 4662 Turner St., Ste. 1, 61107 Bob Lampkin 815-397-0244 www.newyorklife.com

ROCK RIVER VALLEY PANTRY Our Mission is to Fight Hunger

by Providing Food to Those in Urgent Need 1080 Short Elm St. Rockford, IL 61102 Kim Adams-Bakke 815-965-2466 www.rrvp.org

DEBBIE SEARS, LIFE COACH & SPEAKER Assisting in the Growth of Women Through Inspiration, Encouragement, Purpose and Renewing of the Hearts Desire Debbie Sears 815-988-0022 www.debbiesears.com

SISTERS HOME HEALTH SERVICE Sister Home Health Services Provides Health Care Services to our Clients Specializing in Case Management, Health Screening and Consultative Services 117 S. 3rd St., 61104 Katie Blake 815-961-2170

TBC NET, INC. A Value-Added Reseller of Proven Technolgoies and an IT Consulting Firm P.O. Box 826 DeKalb, IL 60115 Cohen Barnes 815-899-4600 www.tbc.net

VITO’S RISTORANTE, INC. Full Service Restaurant 1620 N. Bell School Road, 61107 Vito Olszewski 815-312-5080

rockfordchamber.com theVoice June 2011

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events Wednesday, June 1 Ribbon Cutting, Complete Nutrition, 645 Highgrove Place, 9 to 10 a.m.

Advantage Club – Originals, alternate locations. Contact Karla Fernet, Healthy Balance Reflexology, Kfernet555@hotmail.com.

Tuesday, June 7

Wednesday, June 22

Business Women’s Council, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, featuring Andrea Gibbs, Act2 Strategists, who will present on Strategic Planning. Sponsored

by AAIM Employers’ Association.

Ribbon Cutting, Rockford Detective Agency, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 521 Loves Park Dr.

Wednesday, June 8 Breakfast Buzz-Successful Business Series: How They Got There! 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, 3301 N. Mulford Road.

Pam Maher, president, KMK Media Group, Inc., shares insight, knowledge and experiences from running her successful business.

Sponsored by McGladrey.

Ribbon Cutting, Evian Rain Salon & Spa, 4001 N. Perryville Road, Unit B, 10 to 11 a.m.

Thursday, June 9 Ribbon Cutting, Womanspace: The Anjali Pavilion, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., 10 to 11 a.m. Ceremony and building dedication (news conference) at 10:15 a.m., with Rockford Mayor Lawrence Morrissey, Sunil Puri, Rockford Chamber President Einar Forsman and more! Enter from the north via Riverside or Pepper to Applewood to avoid construction on Spring Brook.

Thursday, June 23 10 am to 1 pm Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort 700 W. Riverside Blvd.

Rockford, Illinois

Women in Business Expo and Lunch Join us for an informational event! Featured speaker Amy Millman, co-founder, president and board member of Springboard 2000 Enterprises, Inc., will speak on advancing the growth of women-owned businesses to maximum potential.

The national non-profit organization accelerates women’s access to the equity markets.

Presenting sponsor is Rockford Health System. Gold sponsor is OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center.

Tuesday, June 28

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Advertisers Index ADVERTISERS Alpine Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Paul Anthony Arco . . . . . . . . . . .16 Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Broadmoor Agency, Inc. . . . . . . . . . .9 Brian Thomas Photography, Inc. . . . 3 Colorwave Graphics . . . . . . . . . .21 First Northern Credit Union . . . . . .8 Foltz Transmission . . . . . . . . . . .16 Healthy Balance Reflexology Clinic . . . . . . . . . . .16 Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden / Garden Fair 14 Leading Lawyers Network . . . . .17 Lydia Urban Academy . . . . . . . . . .8 McGladrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Northwest Bank . . . . . . . . . .13, 23 Red Mango . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Riverside Community Bank . . . . .16 Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . .18, 25, 26 Rockford College Art On The Lawn . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Rockford Health System . . . .18, 19 Rockford Park District . . . . . . . . .15 Rock Valley College / BPI . . . . . . .7 Sikich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 SwedishAmerican Health System . .5 Summerfield Zoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 United Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Van Galder Bus A Coach USA Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Coming up in June: Focus on

Women in Business For information on advertising,

call 815- 987-8100

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100

Direct Line

Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4304 Heidi Garner, Executive Assistant to the President . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4312 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology . . . . . . .815-316-4338

Advantage Club – Superstars, Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact Anthony Mencarini, PIP Printing, Anthony@pipprinting.com.

Lynette Jacques, Advertising and Sponsorship Executive . . . .815-316-4317

Friday, June 10

Wednesday, June 29

Joy Moriarty, V.P. Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4316

Rockford Chamber Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St. State Rep. Dave Winters will discuss the State Budget.

For information on joining the Government Affairs Council, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312.

Advantage Club – Originals, alternate locations. Contact Karla Fernet, Healthy Balance Reflexology, Kfernet555 @hotmail.com.

Ribbon Cutting, Red Mango, 6876 Spring Creek Road, #118, 10 to 11 a.m.

Tuesday, June 14 Advantage Club – Superstars, Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact Anthony Mencarini, PIP Printing, Anthony@pipprinting.com.

Wednesday, June 15 Advantage Power Network Club, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whitehead commercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Vee Jevremovic, Manager of Education Programs and Events . .815-316-4337 Cyndie Landis, Financial Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4300 Caitlin Ludwig, Director of Ignite! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4335 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4302 Diane Navickis, Membership Development Manager . . . . . . . .815-316-4315 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4320 Valerie Tippitt, Membership Development Manager . . . . . . . . .815-316-4336

Advantage Power Network Club, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whitehead commercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Wednesday, July 13 7:30 to 9:00 am Rock Valley College Woodward Technology Center 3301 N. Mulford Road Rockford, Illinois

Tuesday, July 26

JULY, 2011

Breakfast Buzz

Wednesday, July 27

Tuesday, July 12 Advantage Club – Superstars, Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact Anthony Mencarini, PIP Printing, Anthony@pipprinting.com.

Wednesday, July 13 Advantage Power Network Club, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whitehead commercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Leadership: What Does it Take?

Representatives from 40 Leaders Under 40, Leadership Rockford and former CAP alumni discuss leadership and what it takes to be successful.

Sponsored by McGladrey.

Advantage Club – Originals, alternate locations. Contact Karla Fernet, Healthy Balance Reflexology, Kfernet555@hotmail.com.

Advantage Club – Superstars, Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact Anthony Mencarini, PIP Printing, Anthony@pipprinting.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, alternate locations. Contact Karla Fernet, Healthy Balance Reflexology, Kfernet555@hotmail.com.

Advantage Power Network Club, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whitehead commercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.