June Voice 2021 by Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce

the June 2021 | Volume 34 | No. 6

INSURING A BRIGHT FUTURE

RETURNING TO THE WORKPLACE

PAGE 5

PAGE 6

of the rockford business community

Beautiful day

for golfing and fellowship

CITY SUPPORT FOR A NEW CULINARY PROGRAM FOR YOUTH

ROCKFORD CHAMBER’S GOLF OUTING OPENS A SUMMER OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES 144 golfers enjoyed the beautiful weather and fun times with friends and clients at the Rockford Chamber golf outing on Monday, May 24 at The Mauh-Nah-TeeSee Club. The foursome of Jay Graham, Adam Tobias, Jim Bowman and Marcus Smith took first place in the event with a score of 55.

Other Winners

(beverage), OSF Healthcare (mulligan),

■ 2nd foursome (57) Tom Graceffa, Gary Kieper, Jeff Beto, Jason Wombacher

SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health

(gift),

Milwaukee

Mitchell

International Airport and Holiday Inn Express-Janesville (greens), Baker Tilly

■ 3rd foursome (60) Dana Kiley, Brian Theide, Chad Nelson, Jeff DiBenedetto

US, LLP (sand trap) and Nothing Bundt

■ Closest to the pin #7 Amanda Sookraj

Photography

■ Closest to the pin #11 Dana Kiley

Cookies by Design, and American

■ Longest Drive #3 Tami Mullranin

Cakes (dessert). Thank you to Mindy Joy (event

photographer),

Precision Supply.

The 14 hole sponsors were all set to

■ Longest Drive #10 Adam Tobias

“par-tee” with their decorated tee boxes.

■ Longest Putt #18 Noel Sterett

Congratulations to Curran Contracting

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors:

for winning best decorated tee box.

sponsoring the event, Savant Wealth

For more photos, visit the Rockford Chamber Facebook page. v

Management (lunch), Rockford University

More Golf outing photos on page 12

MercyCare Health Plans (presenting) for

GRGP elects board, sets priorities After more than two years of research and planning, the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership (GRGP) kicked off its first board meeting on May 25 by adopting values and setting key focus areas for the year including talent development, community branding and public policy. The GRGP is the “umbrella” organization under which the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and the Rockford Chamber of Commerce now operate with an aligned goal of making Rockford the number one midsized market in the nation for a strong workforce, innovative companies, business start-ups, leadership development and effective collaboration between business and the public sector.

“Ultimately, the GRGP is the unified voice of business in our region,” said GRGP CEO Einar Forsman. “We need to move the needle on important metrics, and we can do that most effectively by working toward the same goals.” The RAEDC and Chamber are unified, but not merged. Each retains its own board with the GRGP board overseeing high-level goals, efficient use of resources and measuring progress. “We all want the same thing – to be better, bolder and more effective,” said GRGP Board Chairman Jeff Hultman. “The key to accomplishing that is to unify organizations, align our goals and achieve them together.” v

GREATER ROCKFORD GROWTH PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS v THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY

Join the Chamber on Social Media

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

Einar Forsman/CEO Greater Rockford Growth Partnership Jeﬀ Hultman/Chair Illinois Bank & Trust Terry Voskuil/Chair-Elect Woodward Michele Petrie/Treasurer Wintrust Commercial Banking & Mortgage Pam Maher/Secretary KMK Media Group, Inc. Brent Bernardi Alpha Controls & Services, LLC Mike Broski Entré Computer Solutions Paula Carynski OSF Healthcare Saint Anthony Medical Center

Bridgett Coleman Coleman CPA & Consulting, Inc. Earl Dotson, Jr. Rockford Public School District 205 Mike Dunn, Jr. Region 1 Planning Council Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway Crosby Stark Real Estate Eric Cunningham Collins Aerospace Justin Franklin Kadon Precision Machining Dietmar Goellner Advanced Machine & Engineering Co./ Hennig, Inc.

John Phelps Rockford Local Development Corporation Dan Ross Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Jimmy Rozinsky Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc. Dan Saavedra Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects Pat Shaw RSM US LLP Frank Wehrstein Dickerson & Nieman Realtors

The City of Rockford Planning and Development Committee approved an agreement with the Awaken 815 Foundation to support the Awaken 815 Culinary Program — a free eight-week job hospitality industry apprenticeship for youth, ages 16 to 24, in partnership with the College of DuPage’s Culinary program. The foundation will redevelop the vacant commercial building at 3415 E. State St., thanks in part to a $300,000 loan from the City of Rockford. The city will offer partial loan forgiveness of $100,000 upon completion of construction as well as completion of the program by 100 students.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ROCKFORD CHAMBER

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW RECEPTION

MONDAY, JUNE 24, 3:00 PM SPONSORED BY

For more information, see page 19

RMTD RESUMES FULL SERVICE, SEATS LIMITED The Rockford Mass Transit District has returned to its regular, pre-COVID-19, route system, including front door boarding for passengers and fare collection. Rockford Paratransit also will resume collecting fares. Passengers will be encouraged to exit using the rear doors. Transfers will be extended to 90 minutes instead of 60 minutes. Passengers should obtain their transfer as they board the bus via the front doors and continue to exit using the rear doors. Ridership will now be limited to 24 seated passengers per vehicle until further notice. RMTD will continue to run the shuttle buses in the event capacity is reached, and passengers still need service. Passengers will be encouraged to socially distance whenever possible. Face masks will still be required based on the Federal Mask Mandate issued by the Executive Oﬃce until Sept. 13. Passengers not wearing masks will not be allowed to ride. Enhanced cleaning measures will continue during the mid-day hour, and the buses cleaned nightly with disinfectant and systematic fogging. For more details, including times and schedules, visit rmtd.org.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE

DAN ROSS Rockford Chamber Board Chairman

Don’t forget the culture

For those of you that know me, I am a big fan of making plans … longterm plans and short-term plans, and everything in between. I truly believe that every organization must invest the time, energy, and effort to define where they want to go, identify the steps necessary to get there and develop accountabilities to ensure the goals are met. Plans appeal to the overdeveloped analytical side of my brain that likes to be able to measure things and feel like I am making progress, but the longer I work within a variety of organizations, I have found that there is one thing that can make or break even the most masterfully crafted plan: culture. I am showing my age a bit by quoting Peter Drucker, but Drucker was famously quoted as saying “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” In the simplest terms, Drucker is arguing that the success and failure of a plan is truly determined by the culture embodied by those implementing the plan. I believe that one of the primary accountabilities of any leader within an organization is

defining and defending the culture of that organization. Before I talk about having a strong culture, I think it is helpful to try and define what culture is or is not. In a February 2020 blog post written by The Alternative Board, they offer up the following: “Culture isn’t about comfy chairs and happy hours at the office. Rather, it’s more about the ways your employees act in critical situations, how they manage pressure and respond to various challenges, and how they treat partners and customers, and each other.” An alternative, but similar definition is offered up by the Society for Human Resource Management, where they say that “…culture consists of shared beliefs and values established by leaders and then communicated and reinforced through various methods, ultimately shaping employee perceptions, behaviors and understandings. Organizational culture sets the context for everything an enterprise does.” Every organization has a culture, but how do we know if we have a healthy

culture? Unfortunately, and in direct contrast to the analytical side of my brain I referred to earlier, there is not a definitive set of measure that will answer this question, but there are tools that can help. All you have to do is type “measuring corporate culture” into Google, and you will be ﬂooded with a variety of surveys, questionnaires and other tools that attempt to help you understand the culture of your organization. That being said, these tools all focus around one basic concept: engaging with and, more importantly, listening to people within your organization. This can be easier in a smaller organization like mine, where I can spend time with each team member, although, if you cannot do this yourself, then make sure that this practice is happening throughout your management team. I believe a commonly held mission, vision and set of values sets the tone for the entire organization. If each team member does not espouse these items, it is nearly impossible to have the type of culture you would want. As a refresher, the mission of a company answers the basic question of “what good for whom.” It is imperative that each team member understands why they are doing what they do. Vision statements can be both internally and externally

focused, but either way it should speak directly to what an organization is trying to accomplish. Absent a direction, it is awfully hard to get somewhere. I would argue that the most critical factor of the three items described above in defining corporate culture are an organization’s values. These speak to the heart of how you are going to do what you do, and can include things such as working ethically, respecting others, having fun and practicing diversity. If each team member lives the values of an organization, you are well on your way to having a great culture.

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages member submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication date. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101 For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100. The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 1086-0630, is published monthly by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, Illinois 61101. Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

DOZENS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS COLLABORATE

Comprehensive summer program aims to address learning loss Based on data that student learning loss experienced this past year can range anywhere from six months to 1.5 years, and is often greater for low-income students, Rockford Public Schools, the Rockford Park District, Alignment Rockford and City of Rockford are working with more than 30 community partners to redesign summer programs for Rockford-area private, public and parochial students – PreK to 12th grade. The comprehensive summer program, Live, Learn, Play, merges the educational curriculum with the recreational curriculum in an effort to prepare youth for college, careers and life after school through summer activities, camps and retreats. RPS 205-certified teachers and staff will meet with students where they are -- at community centers, Rockford Park District camps and events. Conversely, members of community organizations will go into RPS 205 schools to connect with and support students.

RPS 205-certified teachers and staﬀ will meet with students where they are — at community centers, Rockford Park District camps and events. Rockford Public Schools Seats are available for 3,000 RPS 205 students to participate for free. Programs start June 21. Last year, 2,600 students participated in virtual summer programs. Visit rps205.com. Examples include: ■ Two summer camps on technology skills, physical education/fitness and fun, plus social-emotional learning for K to 8th grade students. ■ Weeklong, interest-based retreats for K to 8th grade students.

■ Early childhood programming for up to 240 students.

programs, free for 5- to 12-year-olds

■ Eighth grade reFRESH program, a bridge program with math, reading and an advisory class on study skills or high school readiness for current eighth graders entering high school at Auburn, East, Guilford and Jefferson. Students may earn one credit.

Beattie, Elliot, Sawyer and Lewis

■ Current high school students can participate in one of several credit recovery programs.

School for middle school students.

Rockford Park District

No Other Future Like Yours.

■ Learning labs for all Washington Park Community Center youth and teen camp participants in reading, science and math. ■ Enrichment opportunities at select Time 2 Play Neighborhood Playground

to attend at Keye Mallquist, Wantz, Lemon. ■ Camp No Other Future Like Yours at Cherry Valley Elementary School, Constance Lane and Lewis Lemon for K to 7th grade and Auburn High

■ One-week retreat experiences at Atwood Center before and after Camp

Additional

Live,

opportunities

may

Visit

Learn, be

Play added.

AlignmentRockford.com/

LiveLearnPlay

contact

Anisha

Grimmett, 779-774-4389 or admin@ alignmentrockford.com.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

IGNITE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

CIRA BENNETT IGNITE ROCKFORD

Your great neighborhood needs you What assets make your area so special?

There are many different areas where someone can donate their time, money and resources. Places like food banks, animal shelters, senior living, social justice and equity activism, environmental causes and more. But what about volunteering right outside your own backdoor? What about getting involved in your neighborhood? Research shows that one-third of Americans have never met their neighbors and yet studies also show that people who know their neighbors and are engaged in their neighborhoods, are more likely to report a higher rate of health and well-being. Strengthening neighborhood ties and getting involved has numerous benefits, such as getting access to information and resources, making your neighborhood safer, receiving help and support, expanding your social circle, and more. But, we don’t always think about our neighborhoods needing us, or even us needing our neighborhoods. And it does not have to take a lot of time and resources.

■ Joining or starting a neighborhood association

and property owners to get involved. Investing where we live should be a major priority. When you invest in your neighborhood, you are making a direct contribution where you call home, where you eat, and where you spend time with family and friends. This has a trickle effect, not just on your neighborhood, but other neighborhoods, and your community, as well. If you are looking for an organization that works with neighborhoods, the Transform Rockford Great Neighborhoods program is a great place to start.

■ Attending or hosting block parties

Grass-Roots Action

■ Organizing or participating in neighborhood activities like clean up

Great Neighborhoods is a grass-roots program available to help residents transform their neighborhoods into what they want. The program is available to help neighborhoods think about what they want to accomplish, discover their assets that can help them and leverage those assets into successful projects. Together, we co-create action plans with our neighborhoods, help

Research shows that one-third of Americans have never met their neighbors. Volunteering in your neighborhood does not have to take a lot of time and resources. Simple ways you can contribute to your neighborhood include:

■ Helping a neighbor in need ■ Greeting neighbors as they walk by ■ Having a neighborhood yard sale ■ Hosting a book or food drive Now more than ever, neighborhoods need more of their residents, renters

connect all the dots, and utilize networks and resources to move projects forward. A few examples of the things Great Neighborhoods has done includes hosting seven neighborhood leadership summits, helping the Keith Creek neighborhood get a neighborhood sign and assisting the Edgewater neighborhood in creating their own marketing video. Connect and get involved with Great Neighborhoods to impact the neighborhoods around you by emailing cira@transformrockford.org. You also can link to the Facebook and Instagram accounts. Remember, the best thing in life is enjoyed by others. Cira Bennett is program director for Great Neighborhoods, part of Transform Rockford, and a member of IGNITE Rockford. The views expressed are those of Bennett’s and do not necessarily include those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

proﬁle

MEMBER PROFILE

CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES IN THE COMMUNITY

Spectrum Insurance Agency By Paul Anthony Arco Jimmy Rozinsky is passionate about the insurance business. He’s worked for insurance companies, wholesalers and PPO networks. “Not a lot of people go into insurance sales on purpose,” said the Chicago native. “Usually if something else doesn’t work, they end up here. I got my start in this business. I’ve always wanted to help others and insurance checked all those boxes.” And now he’s running the show as the new owner of Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc. An independent agency, Spectrum offers services including life insurance, home and auto, commercial lines, employee benefits and cyber insurance coverage for small businesses. Spectrum opened for business in 1982 as Lee, Rowe, Hansen & Associates, Inc., named for the three principals at the time: William R. Lee, Delano M. Rowe and M. Scott Hansen. The agency was located on North Main Street in Rockford, until moving to its current location on East State Street. In 2006, Spectrum opened a second location in Durand. In March of this year, Rozinsky acquired the business from longtime president and

CEO Bruce Graham, who ran the business for the past 30 years. Rozinsky has been with Spectrum for 15 years and in that time has worked to develop the agency’s brand and has become the face of the business. “I’ve done my best to immerse myself into this community because I love this area, the people and what it has to offer,” he said. “I want people to think of me as a good guy who’s genuinely interested in helping other people. I want to honor Bruce’s legacy. This is his baby, and he built a great reputation in the community.” Rozinsky says when he joined the agency the company revenue stream was 85 percent property and casualty, and now health insurance is responsible for more than 50 percent of the revenue. According to Rozinsky, Spectrum has doubled its book of business in the past decade. The backbone of Spectrum Insurance, Rozinsky says, is its staff. The team includes 15 employees, many of whom have spent the bulk of their career at the agency. “The nice thing about our world is everyone specializes,” said Rozinsky. “From a service standpoint, our industry is female driven, but everyone who works here is empathetic and wants to be caretakers. We have a

great, family-focused culture filled with talented people.” Spectrum Insurance has managed to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic without any major issues. In fact, they’ve added three staff members in the past year. “For the most part we didn’t grow or step back,” Rozinsky said. “The insurance business isn’t pandemic proof, but everyone does need insurance. The only problem we had was we couldn’t knock on doors. We’ve had to rely on Zoom and phone calls.” Spectrum Insurance is a big supporter of the local community. Rozinsky sits on the board of the Rock River Valley Tooling and Machine Association and will be the chair of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council next year. Other charities Spectrum backs include Remedies Renewing Lives and Midwest Council for Children with Disabilities. “We love this community and we’re eager to give back,” Rozinsky said.

Jimmy Rozinsky takes the helm as the new owner of Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc., a business in the Rockford area for nearly 40 years.

Spectrum Insurance is gearing up to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2022. After the challenge of the past year, the mood promises to be festive. “We’ve been a part of this community for 40 years, and we want that to continue,” Rozinsky said. “We’re all pulling together, and our agency is heavily invested in that success.”

SPECTRUM INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. Jimmy Rozinsky, owner 815-229-4040 5301 E. State St., Suite 201 www.spectrumagency.com

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

R O C K F O R D

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

Small Business Enterprise Legal considerations when returning to the workplace SAMUEL J. CASTREE, JR. Staﬀ Management, Inc.

Navigating the nuanced issues related to employee safety

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers have required or allowed employees to work remotely. As businesses have transitioned, or continue to transition, back to in-person office work, there are a number of legal issues to consider.

accommodation process if employees object to COVID-19 vaccination due to a disability. Likewise, employees may object to vaccination on religious grounds. This objection would also trigger a reasonable accommodation analysis.

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?

Safety Issues

Illinois opened vaccinations to residents 16 years and older on April 12. Can or should an employer require employees to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus? Such a requirement raises issues under state and federal civil rights laws; however, the short answer is yes, an employer can require employee vaccinations (with big exceptions of course). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued COVID vaccination guidance. A key issue raised by the guidance is the employer obligation to accommodate persons with disabilities. Employers will need to engage in the interactive reasonable

OSHA has been active in protecting workers from the COVID-19 virus. Most recently, on Jan. 29, 2021, it issued Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace. OSHA has also published a pamphlet, Guidance on Returning to Work at https://www.osha. gov/sites/default/files/publications/ OSHA4045.pdf. On March 12, 2021, it published an Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease. Among other priorities, OSHA will conduct inspections of “COVID-19-related fatalities, multiple hospitalizations and other unprogrammed activities alleging potential employee exposures

… continue to follow good hygiene, housekeeping, social distancing, mask wearing and similar eﬀorts upon return to work. While we may see the light at the end tunnel, we are not at the end of the tunnel just yet. to COVID-19-related hazards.” What are the implications for employers? In short, continue to follow good hygiene, housekeeping, social distancing, mask wearing and similar efforts upon return to work. While we may see the light at the end tunnel, we are not at the end of the tunnel just yet.

More Leave Options? My employees just came back to the office. Do they have a right to paid leave again? Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Emergency Family and Medical Leave (EFMLA) rights expired on Dec. 31, 2020; however, employers may voluntarily offer these leaves through Sept. 30, 2021, and continue to take payroll tax credits to pay for the leave. Effective April 1, if an employer elects to offer EPSL, eligible employees receive a new two week leave allotment. Qualifying reasons expand to include when an employee: seeks or awaits test results or a medical diagnosis of COVID-19 after an exposure, or at the request of the employer; receives a

COVID-19 vaccine shot; or recovers from any vaccination-related injury, illness or condition. Originally, EFMLA-qualifying events only included school or daycare closure due to COVID-19. Qualifying events have been expanded to include any reason that would also qualify for EPSL. Unlike EPSL, however, eligible employees are not entitled to a new 12 weeks of EFMLA, only any remaining unused balance of those 12 weeks. These and other return-to-work issues are nuanced and more complicated than can be addressed in a brief article. Seek legal counsel to address your particular circumstances. Samuel J. Castree, Jr., is senior vice president & general counsel at Staff Management, Inc. He appears as a guest speaker in the SBDC virtual classroom. The views expressed are those of Castree’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

Award selections made to expand mental health services in Winnebago County Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board in May made award selections for its grant program year, 2021-2022. More than $8.8 million will go towards priority areas in mental health treatment, case management, crisis response services and family and community support. Target populations include infant and early childhood mental health, severe emotional disturbances in children, serious mental illness in adults, and substance abuse disorder in all ages. Full funding, totaling $6,202,864, is contingent upon the execution of funding agreements and work plans: ■ Children’s Home & Aid: Winnebago County doula program ■ Children’s Home & Aid: Early prevention in the community ■ Crusader Community Health: Behavioral health service expansion ■ Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois: Expansion of therapists, additional training and oﬃce space ■ Remedies Renewing Lives: Domestic Violence Program Therapy & Advocacy Project ■ Remedies Renewing Lives: Provide mental health/case management services for substance abuse clients ■ Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling: Outreach therapist ■ Rosecrance, Inc.: Access to Care

■ Stepping Stones of Rockford, Inc.: Counseling center ■ Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office: Enhanced Winnebago County jail behavioral health program ■ Youth Services Network, Inc.: Youth trauma clinic Partial funding of the following proposals, totaling $2,592,359, is contingent upon the execution of funding agreements, work plans and updated budgets: ■ City of Rockford: Mental Health Co-Responder Program ■ Regional Access & Mobilization Project: Independent Living Services and Training ■ Shelter Care Ministries: Jubilee member care coordination ■ University of Illinois College of Medicine: The CARE Program – Compassionate Appreciation for Recovery for Everyone “We feel confident that the programs that are being funded are those that best fit with the priorities and target populations outlined in our three-year strategic plan that was informed by research and community input,” said Board President Mary Ann Abate. In June, after funding agreements and work plans have been finalized, a description of each program will be read, with an opportunity for board members to answer questions. Visit r1planning. org/wccmhb.

DR. EHREN JARRETT Superintendent RPS 205

Inspiration from one of Rockford’s own From Harvard to teaching science in middle school

Gerardo Castillo’s future was wide open. During his senior year at Jefferson High School in the Rockford Public Schools, he received the Gates Millennium scholarship to attend Harvard. In 2018, he graduated from Harvard with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. A lot of his friends were going to consulting or hedge fund jobs. He considered a career as a research scientist. But he kept coming back to the notion of helping others. In high school, his teacher Elisabeth Zorn said he pursued things like no other student she’s ever had. With an Ivy League degree and a world of opportunities ahead of him, he decided to pursue education. Today, Gerardo is teaching science at a school in Oklahoma City with a familiar name: Jefferson Middle School. He is in his third year of the program Teach for America, which places our country’s brightest college graduates in schools in underserved communities. I share this story not just because I am incredibly proud of Gerardo, which I am. I also share this story because I believe his passion, commitment and pursuit of earned opportunities illustrates the power of two programs that have come to fruition since Gerardo graduated from RPS 205. The first is the Rockford Promise, a location-based scholarship program. This year, the Promise offered 160 seniors in RPS 205 the chance to attend Rock Valley College, Rockford University or Northern Illinois University. Because of the Promise, students who earn a grade point average of at least 3.0 can earn their postsecondary degrees tuition-free. East High School alone has 60 Promise scholars, the largest class this year.

A Bright Future I can’t help but think Gerardo’s success predicts the success ahead for these bright

young people in our district. These are students who also have worked hard and also may want, like Gerardo, to give back to their communities and the next generation. The second program Gerardo’s example brings to mind is the Education Pathway. The pathway starts with courses in our high school academies and progresses to a Rockford University degree at a steeply discounted rate. Graduates return to teach in our district, where they can get their master’s degree in urban education at RU for free. This partnership with RU, a grow-ourown teachers program, is so important to the future of our community. We simply must go the extra mile to make a career in education an attractive and financially neutral proposition, especially for young people who reﬂect the diversity of our community. The Gates Foundation did it, Teach for America does it, and now I’m incredibly proud to say Rockford does it, too. As Gerardo Castillo shows us, when we take away the obstacle of tuition, amazing things can happen. Programs like the Promise and the Pathway are great investments in the future of our community. I am grateful to the Gates Foundation for providing Gerardo with the chance to change the world at a time when full-tuition scholarships were not commonplace. I am grateful to my community of Rockford for stepping up and doing it on our own, for the students of passion and promise who follow Gerardo. Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools. The views expressed are those of Dr. Jarrett’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

legislative LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has stated his goal of putting 750,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030. In support of this plan, motorists soon will see blue signs along seven corridors guiding them to the closest charging stations for electric vehicles. The Federal Highway Administration has designated 39, 55, 70, 74, 80, 90 and 94 in Illinois to be part of the 145,000 miles of interstate promoting alternative fuels and in coming weeks, blue “Alternative Fuels Corridor” signs will be installed along them. Later, these signs will appear on exit ramps and include information to nearby gas stations, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions. “The ﬁrst signs will show electric charging locations, but additional ones in the future will point out locations for compressed natural gas, liqueﬁed natural gas, hydrogen and propane fueling State of Illinois stations,” said Omer Osman, acting Illinois Transportation Secretary.

Illinois seeks public comment on electric Volkswagen settlement funding Goal to remove old diesel engines from service The State of Illinois proposes to revamp its VW Beneﬁciary Mitigation Plan and seeks public comments through the end of business day, June 21. The plan will direct $88.6 million towards replacing old diesel engines with all-electric school bus, public transit and infrastructure projects in order to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from mobile sources in areas of Illinois it considers disproportionately bearing the impacts of climate change. Winnebago County falls under Priority Area 3 for funding opportunities, along with Champaign, DeKalb, LaSalle, McLean, Peoria, Sangamon and Winnebago counties. Illinois EPA was designated as the lead agency to administer funds allocated to Illinois from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. It previously awarded more than $19 million in Volkswagen Settlement funds towards public transit projects in the Chicagoland area, and electric school bus projects in the Chicagoland and Metro East areas. The revised Beneﬁciary Mitigation Plan is available on the Illinois EPA website at: www2.illinois.gov/epa/ topics/air-quality/driving-a-cleanerillinois/vw-settlement/Pages/default. aspx. Send comments to EPA. VWSettlement@illinois.gov. Following the public comment period, Illinois EPA will submit the revised plan to the Volkswagen Settlement Trustee under the terms of the consent decree.

Transform Rockford accelerates region’s support for entrepreneurs PHOTO BY PAULFREDERIKSEN@UNSPLASH.COM

New EV charging station signs to appear soon along Illinois interstates

Above, Byron Nuclear plant. As much as twothirds of the electricity used to recharge electric vehicle’s batteries is produced by burning fossil fuels, the nation’s single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear-produced energy could produce as much as 40 percent, although the afterlife of the spent fuel lasts for 250,000 years. All told, the nuclear reactors in the U.S. produce more than 2,000 metric tons of radioactive waste a year, according to the DoE—and most of it ends up sitting on-site because there is nowhere else to store it.

Revised VW Beneficiary Mitigation Plan The plan proposes to allocate: ■ Up to 45 percent for all-electric public transit buses and public passenger/commuter locomotives ■ Up to 38 percent for all-electric school buses ■ Up to 15 percent for light-duty electric charging infrastructure ■ Up to two percent for Illinois IEPA administrative costs

Protections for some of the most common consumer loans The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation clariﬁed some of the new protections created by the new Predatory Loan Prevention Act; signed by Governor JB Pritzker on March 23. The act applies if consumers borrow money or make purchases on credit from certain types of lenders. The act prohibits loans with an annual percentage rate of more than 36 percent on covered loans made after March 23, 2021. Any covered loan made after that date with an APR higher than 36 percent is void and consumers do not have to repay it. The lender may not collect, attempt to collect, or receive any principal, fee, interest or charges related to the loan. PLPA covers payday loans, buyhere-pay-here agreements, pawn loans, motor vehicle retail installment contracts, installment loans, title loans, wage advance products, car loans, retail installment contracts and income share agreements. It does not apply to commercial loans or consumer loans made by banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions or insurance companies. Consumers should only work with lenders licensed by IDFPR or federally regulated. Visit www.idfpr.com/Banks/CBT/CBT.asp or www.idfpr.com/dﬁ.asp.

Make Rockford a hub for innovation Transform Rockford and volunteers from across northern Illinois are moving on a vision to make Rockford a destination for entrepreneurs and creators with percolating ideas, but who need direction to grow and develop them. The network of community resources aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs and is modeled after a concept that’s proven effective across the country called an “Innovation Ecosystem.” “Transform Rockford has worked hard over the past year to guide the community in forming this type of network to catch and support creators and innovators; giving them the launching pad they need to thrive and grow,” said Transform Rockford Program Manager Spitty Tata. Transform Rockford’s network of support contains several elements to nurture entrepreneurs: Innov8 & Cre8 Podcasts. An ongoing series of monthly podcasts featuring successful regional business people on how to start or expand a

business in the northern Illinois region. Visit launch815.com/resources. Launch815.com. An ever-growing online resource guide for businesses getting off the ground. Includes financial planning, marketing and more. The next step for the online platform is to track the progress and support needed by each entrepreneur. Makerspaces. These specialized workspaces are popping up all over the region; allowing creative people with common interests like computers, machining, technology, digital art and jewelry making to meet, socialize and collaborate. Transform Rockford is working to create a network of these spaces to reduce duplication of services and provide makers with easy access to the right makerspace. Transform Rockford projects there are approximately 5,000 creators and entrepreneurs in the Rockford region who could benefit from these resources, ultimately bringing jobs and economic vitality to the entire region.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

R O C K F O R D

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

economic development Celebrating economic development Recently we celebrated economic development week; recognizing that success requires partners, stakeholders and collaboration. Often as we interact with the public the topic of economic development seems complicated and overwhelming to those not familiar with the concept. In actuality, it is simply creating connections and relationships between people that are mutually beneficial. As experts in our respective fields, we have come together at the Rockford Area Economic Development Council to work together in the area of economic development to cultivate opportunities for sustainable growth and economic wellbeing for our region. “What motivates me is the ability to share my knowledge and experiences to help a business owner remove a “pinch

point,” navigate a public process or just be there to listen and help them make good decisions for the benefit of their company,” states Jerry Sagona, VP of business development at the RAEDC. “It is personally rewarding to contribute to the growth and well-being of people and their business activities in my own hometown.” It is about providing solutions to businesses already located here -- an additional bus stop near the business, tax credits or incentives that the business may not have known about or simply finding ways to connect to a workforce with a particular skill-set the employer needs. Stephanie Jones, VP of Sales shares, “I chose to work in economic development to

work on multifaceted challenges and be a part of a strategic community and regional solutions. Helping individual businesses grow and finding solutions to their challenges is a rewarding aspect of the daily job which has rippling effects that strengthen the employees and the region. Seeking out and cultivating new relationships and business opportunities for the region is exciting and rewarding and it humbles me to know that my work makes a difference for all of us who call Winnebago County and the northern Illinois region our home.” Economic developers work to increase our region’s primary jobs; jobs that are good for today, tomorrow and in the

future. These jobs have a large multiplier effect, which creates additional jobs to support the work of the primary jobs. When a region has good-paying jobs and a skilled workforce to fill those jobs, the area benefits as a whole. This includes additional education paths further supporting the 7:2:1 workforce ratio, a place where residents can afford to live, work, and play; a place where people who have lived here, at one point in their lives, may want to return. Thank you for your continued support, we can only do the daily work of economic development because of our investors, stakeholders and partners. To learn more about economic development, the staff of the RAEDC and the ways economic development affects you and our community directly, visit RockfordIL.com.

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 2021 AVAILABLE The Rockford Area Economic Development Council has released the 2021 version of the Quick Reference Guide. This annual publication featured information about Winnebago County and the Rockford Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Winnebago and Boone Counties. The RAEDC supplies the community data each year as a regional snapshot utilizing nationally recognized data sources. This publication includes information on population, largest employers and industries that are key to our region, such as advanced manufacturing and logistics/distribution. Other important data includes quality of place and statistical information about the people that call our region home to provide a well-rounded representation about the region. The 2021 version includes additional data points including select occupational salaries and data about

Leadership Seminar with RAEDC & IMEC June 21 - 25 and 28 - 29 8 - 10 a.m., daily July 12 - 16 and 19 - 20 1 - 3 p.m., daily

the ethnic and racial make-up of the region. This is in addition to the information traditionally found in the Quick Reference Guide. Information like this is used when people are relocating into the area as well as when the RAEDC responds to Requests for Information for real estate professionals, brokers and site selectors. This is especially important when we talk about our customized education to workforce pipelines, the support of the 7:2:1 workforce ratio, our skilled workforce and the cost of doing business in the region. All of these points demonstrate why we are Your Opportunity Region. Download the Quick Reference Guide at: RockfordIL. com/Quick ReferenceGuide.

Upcoming Events

Aug. 2 - 6 and 9 - 10 8 - 10 a.m., daily

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

The RAEDC and IMEC host a leadership summit as part of the EDA Cares Grant obtained in October of 2020. If you are interested in obtaining additional information, contact Anna Garrison at AGarrison@ RockfordIL.com.

RAEDC & Stateline Advanced Manufacturing Network Panel & Roundtable Discussion June 9, 8:30 - 11 a.m.

The panel discussion includes a conversation between Noah Goellner from Hennig Inc., Todd Wells from Bourn & Koch and Dean Harms from IMEC and will be facilitated by Stephanie Jones, VP of sales at the RAEDC. The roundtable discussion will be facilitated by Jim Reynolds from Blackhawk Bank. This event is sponsored by Blackhawk Bank and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

MAC2021 Gear Up For a Great Experience Oct. 5

Innovation and technology are the heart and soul of aerospace. MAC2021 is continuing to strengthen supply chains, create connections and share relevant information key to the aerospace industry. This event is sponsored by Prime Sponsors: Collins Aerospace, GE Aviation, and Woodward, Inc.; Premier Sponsors: Anchor Harvey; and Supporting Sponsors: Clinkenbeard, LTL Co., Superior Joining Technologies, Inc. For more information about how to participate visit MidwestAerospaceConference.com or email Anna Garrison at AGarrison@RockfordIL.com

Manufacturing Week Facility Tours October

CEANCI is registering companies interested in hosting high school students in October. For additional information and to participate contact Bethany Meade at b.mead@ceanci.org or 815-921-8471.

To register or get additional information about any of the upcoming events listed visit RockfordIL.com/events.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

 Destination

Free COVID-19 testing now at UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford

ILLINOIS, USA

ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM

JOHN GROH Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sports Tourism: Marketing. Sourcing. Securing. Servicing.

In March of this year, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, alongside several community partners, began a safe return to sports tourism when we hosted the region’s first-ever Division 1 basketball tournament, the Women’s National Invitation Tournament or WNIT. Hosting this tournament resulted in more than 800 hotel room nights, more than 60 million people consumer impressions through regional and national media stories and approximately $400,000 in estimated economic impact for our region’s businesses. Using the WNIT as an example, let’s take a closer look at just what it takes for the RACVB to lead the return to tourism in sports.

Marketing Attracting potential business begins with marketing and telling the story of our region. Before we can spark interest from a prospective tournament organizer, the RACVB team must first promote the community and local venues, along with the visitor experience. We do this through intentional ad placement and story pitches, both regionally and nationally, that best highlight the unique features and assets of our region.

Sourcing RACVB has been in contact with the WNIT tournament owner/organizer, Triple Crown Sports, for more than 10 years at national conferences and tradeshows. Tradeshows are a great way for our staff to build relationships and share the many assets of our community. In late January 2021, Triple Crown representatives contacted RACVB staff to invite us to submit a proposal for the 2021 WNIT Tournament, set to take place only two months later. Our sales & service team, led by Lindsay Arellano, vice president of sales & service, immediately stepped into action. We worked with vital partners and collaborators at the Rockford Park District to pitch the UW Health Sports Factory as the tournament location and the BMO Harris Bank Center to utilize its Fred VanVleet-branded basketball court to ensure the game court was the correct size for the tournament.

of our community and showcasing the facility we would use, in this case the UW Health Sports Factory. The proposal also outlined our capacity to provide public relations and marketing support, as well as to commit financial support to offset the tournament planner’s costs. Funding, if not paid directly from the RACVB, is secured through sponsorship support, such as with Winnebago County’s financial commitment for the WNIT Tournament. These are all tools within the RACVB’s toolbox to position our region as a top competitor for sports tourism. It is what we must do to support our attractions, venues and partners and ensure we have an attractive bid that will stand out among other

sports-focused

communities.

Winning the bid to be a site for the WNIT regional tournament was made even sweeter by being in the company of three other top-tier sports cities – Memphis, Charlotte and Fort Worth.

Servicing Once we secure the tournament, the RACVB team ensures the tournament staff has everything they need to be successful. We navigate with our facility partners what is needed to support their dedication to the operation of the tournament. These needs are unique to each event and can range from planning and producing an opening ceremony, coordinating lodging and meals and delivering welcome baskets to coaches or other VIPs, to being onsite as needed to support the operations. The WNIT was the first largescale event during the pandemic. For this reason, servicing also included working alongside the Rockford Park District team, tournament planners and other partners to develop a plan for COVID-19 testing to ensure the in-person

experience

followed

all

Winnebago County, state and federal safety guidelines. We are proud that no cases were confirmed as a result of this event. John Groh is president/CEO of Rockford

Securing

Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For this tournament, like many others, the sales team had to submit a proposal highlighting the overall assets

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

Free COVID-19 saliva testing, provided by SHIELD Illinois, now is available at the UIC Health Sciences CampusRockford, 1601 Parkview Ave. Scheduled appointments are recommended. Times are Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The covidSHIELD test is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that quickly detects the virus that causes COVID-19 – including in people who aren’t exhibiting symptoms. Negative PCR tests may be required for some travel and, under the region’s Phase 4 Bridge, to attend certain events with limited capacity. Testing will take place in tents in the South Parking Lot of the campus.

Participants provide a saliva sample. Results are typically available within 24 hours. ■ Individuals being tested should not eat, drink, use tobacco, brush their teeth or use mouthwash 60 minutes prior to submitting a sample. ■ There is no minimum age requirement to participate in SHIELD testing. ■ All visitors must wear a mask as they enter and leave the testing site. Register at shieldilportal.pointnclick. com/login_login.aspx, click “sign up for an account” and entering agency code: df5brbrj. Test results come directly to the online SHIELD Illinois portal.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

GOLF!

Continued from front page

The foursome of Jay Graham, Adam Tobias, Jim Bowman and Marcus Smith took ﬁrst place in the event.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

GUEST COLUMNIST

Selling? Gauge your readiness DANIEL A. HUNTLEY WilliamsMcCarthy LLP

Understanding the moving landscape of transactional concepts

Exiting a business, whether the sale is to a family member or to a third party, is a tough decision to make. Upon reaching the decision, exiting owners are often eager to complete the process as quickly as possible. In many cases, making the decision is just the beginning of the process. Consider the following to gauge your readiness to sell your business.

Transaction Clarity Aside from deciding to sell, unpack what that actually means. Are you selling just the business operation or is there also real estate involved? Are there affiliated businesses that costshare? Many sellers embark on the objective of selling the ‘business’ without considering their strategy for all of their related assets. Real estate is a prime example. Some businesses can operate anywhere and can be the easier sale, but in such cases, the commercial building that the seller owns may be more difficult to dispose of, especially depending on location and the rent that the seller is proposing to charge to the business’s buyer. Sorting out any ancillary issues will smooth the sale of the business itself.

Know Your Business For a seller, a business transaction typically means getting as much money for as little risk as possible. For a buyer, a business transaction means understanding how the business makes money and what risks and liabilities are packaged with that money-making opportunity. As a seller, do you know what contracts are out there and what your business’s liability is as far as price, quantity and length of the contract? Can a contract be transferred without consent? Many sellers, particularly experienced ones who have ‘graduated’ from the trenches, don’t have a firm grasp on the contractual specifics that the business currently operates under – they just

assume it’s taken care of. Not unlike a car purchase, a buyer of a business will want to look under the hood, check the mileage and kick the tires. Sellers can be a step ahead if they have familiarized themselves with the condition of their business beyond what the bottom line will show.

Patience Isn’t Just A Virtue Business transaction documents can be complex creatures and conducting due diligence on a business takes time. Plan ahead to ensure you have left yourself ample time to exit the business on your desired timeline or a little earlier. A transaction will not be completed in a day.

Educate Yourself The transactional world, whether it be a business or real estate sale, can be a confusing one filled with technical jargon, shorthand and uncommon concepts that don’t often arise in everyday situations. The phrase ‘fake it until you make it’ should not apply here. Before you put out the for-sale sign, do your research and meet with your professionals – accountants, attorneys, and advisors – to understand the moving concepts in transactions and how they interrelate. This prevents your business sale from becoming a crash course on transactional concepts. Selling your business is a process as much as making the decision to sell is a state of mind. Putting in the time to be ready to sell will pay dividends, whether in dollars or stress levels. Keep calm and happy selling! Daniel A. Huntley is a partner in the transactional group at WilliamsMcCarthy LLP; concentrating in business and real estate transactions and trusts and estates. He can be reached at dhuntley@wilmac.com. The views expressed are those of Huntley’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Selling your business is a process as much as making the decision to sell is a state of mind.

SPECIAL SECTION The Future of Wealth Management

June 2021

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

GUEST COLUMNISTS

TIMOTHY M. SULLIVAN Hinshaw & Culbertson

SHERRY L. HARLAN Hinshaw & Culbertson

The SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund began accepting applications on May 3, 2021. The fund was established as part of the recent $1.9 trillion stimulus legislation. $28.6 billion dollars will be awarded to a wide variety of businesses that sell food and drink to the public, including restaurants, brew pubs, bars and food trucks. These funds should provide some relief to an industry sector that has been devastated by COVID-19 and the related lockdowns. Hopefully, it will also provide relief to those who have seen their favorite restaurants or watering holes close or operate at minimum capacity. The sum set aside for the revitalization fund is dwarfed in comparison to the PPP loan program, which has provided more than $700 billion in loans since its inception. Many of these businesses had closed due to the lockdowns or conducted minimal operations, for example, by offering carry-out and delivery only services. Because of PPP program requirements, the PPP

Help is on the way for the beleaguered restaurant industry

Substantial demand for funding. Will it be enough?

program did not offer hope to a number of restaurant-related businesses. Demand for fund awards will be substantial, as more than 41,000 participants signed up on the SBA’s fund website within one hour of it going live. It is hoped that additional funding will be provided once the initial funds run out.

Help for Covid-19 Revenue Loss For the first 21 days of the program, the SBA will focus on providing grants to eligible small businesses that are owned and controlled by women, veterans and socially disadvantaged individuals. To meet these criteria, at least 51 percent of the equity of the business must be owned by individuals who belong to one or more of these groups and day-to-day operations must be managed by one or more of these individuals. Although priority will be given to individuals who meet these requirements, the SBA has urged all interested applicants to file their applications as

soon as possible. It has stated that it will address the non-priority applications at the end of the 21-day period. Approximately $10 billion has been set aside for smaller businesses, with $5 billion earmarked for businesses with gross receipts of less than $500,000, $4 billion for businesses with gross receipts of between $500,000 and $1.5 million, and $500 million for businesses with gross receipts of less than $50,000. Awards will be given based upon COVID-19-related revenue loss; calculated for businesses that operated in 2019 by subtracting the 2019 gross receipts of a business from its 2020 gross receipts. There are separate tests for businesses that did not operate in all of 2019. Unlike the PPP program where participants were required to spend the loan funds within either eight or 24 weeks of receipt, fund recipients will have until March 31, 2023, to use the funds for eligible purposes. If a business cannot use all of the award, it must return the unused portion to the government.

Fund awards can be used to pay a number of expenses not permitted under the PPP program, including principal payments on mortgages, credit card payments where the credit card was used to pay permitted expenses and past due eligible expenses after Feb. 11, 2020. Fund awards will not be treated as taxable income, and deductions will not be denied for eligible expenses which were paid with fund proceeds. However, this exclusion may not apply to state and local taxes. Visit Hinshaw’s COVID-19 Resource Center, www.hinshawlaw.com, for a detailed discussion of the fund program. Timothy M. Sullivan and Sherry L. Harlan are partners at Hinshaw & Culbertson. The views expressed are those of Sullivan’s and Harlan’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

ROCKFORD REACTS In an effort to alleviate the impact the Stay at Home order had on restaurants, bars and the hotel and tourism industry, the City of Rockford deferred collection of the Food and Beverage Tax and the Hotel-Motel Tax. Here are other ways Rockford helped restaurants reopen for outdoor dining: ■ Dedicating Public Works and Community and Economic Development Department staff to facilitate an expedite the approval process for all outdoor seating. ■ Waiving permit fees associated with establishment of outdoor seating areas for restaurants on public and private property. ■ Allowing temporary outdoor seating areas in private parking lots, sidewalks, public lots and alley’s (subject to safety standards). ■ Suspending the liquor license approval process for existing restaurant license holders to expand or create outdoor seating areas. For more updates and information important to the Rockford area, visit https://rockfordil.gov/preparing-for-covid-19/.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

SPECIAL SECTION The Future of Wealth Management

GUEST COLUMNIST

To see the future — look to the past KEITH J. AKRE Stillman Bank

Old fashioned ideas like customer service will hold more value in the world of tomorrow

For the past 20 years, the financial services industry has been in a race to digitize their services. Good customer service was the table stakes – technology was the differentiator. The biggest firms fought over these questions: Who has the most efficient operating platform? Who has the slickest online client interface? Need a loan in 60 seconds? Here is an app that uses artificial intelligence to approve you on the spot. But a funny thing happened on the way to Tomorrow Land. The customer service that was considered table stakes has slipped. Knowing your client has become a box to check on a compliance form. There is a chat-bot willing to help you place a trade, but it can’t tell you if that trade is a good idea or not. Where is the concerned party asking you, “Are you sure you want to do this?” Especially after the year we had, clients appreciate having a familiar voice on the phone; and, as we finally open back up, a familiar face to go see. Simple

things like getting phone calls returned and having follow-up meetings, used to be the standard. Today, in many industries, it feels rare.

Whom to Trust Great customer service is really about building trust. It is a simple proposition. If someone trusts you enough to ask your company to advise and manage the wealth they spent a lifetime building, then you have an obligation to continually earn that trust. And trust is not earned by saying “go to the website” or “call our automated line and choose option 4.” To illustrate this point there is a great line from the book, Lessons of History, by Will and Ariel Durant. “The basic lesson of history is that man is essentially what he has been all through history, and he changes his habits, but he does not change his instincts.” Our habits have indeed changed. We check our account balances on our phones, transfer money electronically and communicate via text and email. Our instincts have not. When Pierpont

Morgan was asked in court how important character was on his decisions to lend money, he famously replied, “A man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom.” Clients should feel the same way about entrusting their money to a wealth manager. Today and going into the future, technology is now the table stakes. You have to have a smooth interface, great security and efficient operations. Customer service is now the differentiator. Does the company I am working with care about me? Do they know me well enough to provide sound financial advice? Do I trust them to manage my investments wisely? This shift back to basics is playing out across the wealth management industry. So called robo-advisors (online computer investment programs) are rushing to hire real-life people to help answer calls. They recognize how important the human element is to client relationships. But which is easier? Is it easier for a

relationship-driven company to adopt technology or a technology company to develop a soul? I’m betting on the former. So have an unscheduled coffee with a client to ask them how life is going. Answer your phone! Don’t hide behind support staff or make a client have to click through an automated menu. Relentlessly push to provide the best service you can and prioritize that for every professional in your organization. Earn your client’s trust by being there for them. It may seem old-fashioned, but as the saying goes “Everything old becomes new again.” Keith J. Akre, CFP®, CFA, is vice president and trust ofﬁcer at Stillman Bank Trust and Wealth Management. The views expressed are those of Akre’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

SPECIAL SECTION The Future of Wealth Management

June 2021

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

Lessons learned:

Improving financial literacy going forward The importance of being smart about finances has become even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, amid high levels of unemployment and restrictions on businesses. WalletHub analyzed financialeducation programs and consumer habits in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia along 17 key metrics. Illinois ranked 20th. Below are some financial literacy tips from its contributing experts.

Benjamin Scafidi Professor of Economics; director, Education Economics Center – Kennesaw State University Important tips for managing personal finances during the COVID-19 pandemic? If you received a windfall from the federal stimulus checks and/or are saving on commuting, eating out and vacation costs, buy your family a modest treat -and then save the rest! If the COVID-19 economic crisis did not impact your income very much, save for the future. You do not know how the next economic crisis will affect you. If you suffered economically during the financial crisis, do your best to limit your spending.

Dileep Rao, Ph.D. Author: Finance Secrets of BillionDollar Entrepreneurs; clinical professor of entrepreneurship, College of Business – Florida International University What should policymakers do to improve financial literacy? My experience in working with entrepreneurs, students, and lately with seniors, is that most are afraid of numbers – due I think to the American pre-K educational system. This seems to carry forward to the rest of their lives. Policymakers should teach parents how to make numbers fun for their pre-K children. And for parents who cannot do it, there should be online shows that help them have fun with numbers. The problem is more difficult for adults who are not motivated to learn about finance. Since we are giving a lot of tax breaks and incentives, why not tie the incentives to financial literacy? Then make it easy to learn online. Enlist volunteers, especially retirees who are financially smart, and have them work with individuals online. The Internet is a great educator. Use it. Some entrepreneurs have bought the hype from our business schools and venture capitalists that entrepreneurs need venture capital to build big ventures. The reality is that 94 percent of America’s unicorn entrepreneurs succeeded because they were masters of financial strategies both in developing their business strategies and their financing strategies. Important tips for managing personal finances during the COVID-19 pandemic?

■ Find the best opportunities to make more money. ■ Find the financial discipline to save more money. ■ Find the best strategies to invest more money. ■ Have the right balance between saving and spending. ■ Make sure our politicians do not pander to our generation and leave the tax bill to our children. ■ And buy American. Stop shipping our wealth to other countries to make them richer and America poorer. ■ Show the average American the link between their buying goods from China or Japan and the reduction in their standard of living.

Jennifer Bethel Faculty Director, Babson Financial Literacy Project, professor of finance – Babson College, and Robin Kahn, program director for the Babson Financial Literacy Project Important tips for managing personal finances during the COVID-19 pandemic? Consider consolidating households, reaching out to food banks and local social service organizations, and sharing meal prep to lower costs. In some cases, service providers may be willing to lower fees. Other people have continued to work through the pandemic and have seen their expenses fall. Maybe they renegotiated their rent payments or saw commuting, entertainment and other expenses fall. Lower expenses for these people could mean saving opportunities. Many have taken these savings and begun building an emergency savings fund. A great target is to save at least three to six months of living expenses. Others have paid off credit cards or increased their savings for retirement. Saving 15 percent of your income for retirement helps ensure comfortable years later in life. If your employer offers an employer-sponsored retirement plan, it is important to save enough to meet its savings match. If you are not saving for retirement through an employer-sponsored plan, be sure to max out your IRA contributions.

John Colletti Business Professor, North Central College Important tips for managing personal finances during the COVID-19 pandemic? Maintaining a liquid, safety net of funds to utilize when unforeseen circumstances arise is imperative when possible. Avoid using debt to fund non-capital events to avoid the credit negative results of missing payments when systemic events unfold. Source: John S Kiernan, managing editor, April 7, 2021, Wallethub.com

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

PAUL NOLLEY Project First Rate

GUEST COLUMNIST

Encouraging women to join union trades

Women leaders help others maximize potential

Rewarding careers and competitive wages to be made

It’s no secret that the construction industry is a male-dominated field, where women make up just about 10 percent of the workforce nationally. This includes executive and office roles as well as those employed in the skilled trades. But this trend can and should change. A career in the skilled trades offers a pathway to middle-class prosperity for any person who chooses it. In fact, when it comes to pay equity, we can see that the gender pay gap is almost non-existent in construction careers. Current estimates have women in our field earning 99 percent of what men earn, compared to the national average of 81 percent. So, for women entering the industry, the data clearly demonstrates a level of equality in wages that does not yet exist in the broader workforce. Registered apprenticeship programs in the construction industry offer workers a meaningful path to a fulfilling career, where they earn excellent wages and benefits, allowing one to securely raise a family and, eventually, retire with dignity. But we still have to make progress in inspiring the next generation of tradeswomen. There are a few common beliefs about construction that we must combat aggressively. First, we must ensure that women know they have what it takes to succeed in the field, just like anyone else. Next, we must push back against the narrative that construction is “men’s work.” Just run a quick Google or YouTube search for “women in the trades,” and you’ll find tons of stories of veteran tradeswomen who have built successful careers in every type of trade, ranging from the most physically demanding to the less so. Also, we must be deliberate in our approach to vocational education in schools so that all students understand the benefits and earning potential they can secure through a career in the skilled trades.

Reaching Out One of the most effective approaches

We must push back against the narrative that construction is “men’s work.”

SPECIAL SECTION Women In Leadership

June 2021

to these strategies is having tradeswomen speak directly about their experiences. In a recent panel discussion hosted by the Rockford Housing Authority, Dixie Perko, an accomplished tradeswoman from IBEW Local #364, reﬂected on the skills that helped her be successful in her career. “The biggest thing is self-discipline … knowing what I can do by myself, and when I need to ask for help.” When asked about her motivation to build a career in an industry that is still majority-male, Perko stated succinctly, “It’s because of my little girl at home… She is the one that is going to learn how to be a strong, independent woman from me before anybody else.” This testimony speaks to several core values of the industry that make it an excellent career for women to consider. These include teamwork, self-motivation, discipline and independence. Our local tradespeople are the most skilled, productive and safe workforce one can find in the industry, and this comes from their commitment to doing the job right the first time. They also understand that, in construction, it’s a group effort, whether that’s members of the same trade getting their work accomplished or multiple trades working together to complete the project on time and on budget. And this hard work, skill and commitment come with wages and benefits that allow these workers to have an excellent quality of life for themselves and their families while providing financial independence and a path to a dignified and enjoyable retirement. To learn more about careers in the trades, including registered apprenticeship programs, visit FindYourTrade.org. Paul Nolley is executive director of Project First Rate. The views expressed are those of Nolley’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

CARLENE CARDOSI Rosecrance Inc.

Transforming an organization; transforming the community

The women leaders at Rosecrance have made it possible for other women to do great things, and their impact will be felt for decades to come When I think about my career at Rosecrance, I am grateful for a workplace that empowers women to rise through the ranks and become steady hands leading the organization from one venture to the next. I had the privilege of starting as an intern, and with guidance and wisdom from women who saw my potential, I rose into counseling positions, then into the leadership ranks. Each step of the journey introduced me to incredible female colleagues and leaders who inspired me to set my goals high, and then as I achieved that next goal, I have been able to mentor others who wanted to follow my path. Like many others who have worked at Rosecrance, I owe much of my success to our longest-serving employee, Judi Jobe. She started her career as an addictions counselor for youth 40 years ago and now is helping set the organization’s vision as chief administrative officer. As a leader, she has tirelessly looked for ways to expand services for those who needed help. When substance use became a concern in our region, she spearheaded a shift from adolescent welfare to substance use treatment services. The Rosecrance Harrison Campus is a lasting testament to Judi’s vision. By the 1990s, it was clear we needed much different spaces for our continuum of care that included family counseling, aftercare, detoxification and Project SAFE. Judi led the project to transform a new facility, and that beautiful campus is still a serene setting where adults find healing every day. A strategic leader, Judi uses her lifetime of experience to find opportunities for growth. In recent years, that has led to Rosecrance expansion into central Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Within the company, her background has been a foundation for her commitment to professional development activities, in many ways, allowing her to shepherd an entire workforce at once.

Building Key Relationships Another woman who has shaped Rosecrance is Chief Marketing Officer Janis Waddell, who was first hired and mentored by Judi more than 30 years ago as an adolescent counselor at the former Rosecrance facility on Alpine Road.

Janis spent her first decade working in direct care settings and developed a reputation for an ability to communicate complexities of care with youth, their parents and community connections. Thanks to relationships already established, she ultimately moved into a senior leadership role where she sets the vision for key relationships with insurance companies, schools, medical professionals and other valued referral sources.

Starting Triage Center Rosecrance also is fortunate to have the experience of Joan Lodge, administrator of adult community mental health. No stranger to the stateline’s community health services, she began her career with the former Janet Wattles Center 29 years ago and joined Rosecrance through a 2011 organizational merger. A passionate advocate for clients, Joan was responsible for starting and quickly expanding JWC’s satellite clinic in Belvidere. After the merger, she took charge of emergency services and was instrumental in starting a triage center that is now housed at Rosecrance Mulberry Center, along with other crisis services. Joan has been at the helm of community-based services for the past six years. Each of these women is a passionate, goal-oriented achiever who desires the absolute best for clients, co-workers and the community. Though each has an impressive resume of accomplishments to applaud, their biggest investment has been in colleagues. They are intentional about developing staff and encouraging individuals to maximize their potential as humans and professionals. The women leaders at Rosecrance have made it possible for other women to do great things, and their impact will be felt for decades to come. Rosecrance — and the world — are better because of their work. Thank you, Judi, Janis, Joan, and so many of my other female colleagues for inspiring women like me to achieve our dreams. Carlene Cardosi is regional president at Rosecrance Inc. The views expressed are those Cardosi’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

in the news MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

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

1. Scott C. Sullivan

2. Julio Capeles

3. Michael Iasparro

4. Tina Rittner

5. Martesha Brown

6. Tyler Smith

7. Rebecca Gocken

8. Joshua Roberson

9. Dr. Amber Naqvi

10. Brenten Witherby

11. Josh Houghton

12. Ruth Adams

13. Kelsey Hartz

14. Dr. Kathleen Kelly

15. Bonnie Gilmore

16. Lana M. Engen

BOARD APPOINTMENTS Womanspace elected a new board. Oﬃcers serving through December, 2021 include: Pat Bonavia, president; Kristin Kofoed, secretary, and Connie Wenger, treasurer. Members include Hon. Rosemary Collins (ret.), Tina Hallberg, Marsha Hosfeld, Ruth Ora Jackson, Cristi Hopp Kniess, Nancy O’Neill, Mary Ann Presman, Mollie Singh, Dr. Shiraz Tata and Mary Tuite. Scott C. Sullivan (1), partner, WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, was elected to serve a six-year term as a trustee of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois beginning June 19. Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois welcomed Julio Capeles (2), McHenry County College; Michael Iasparro (3), Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, and Tina Rittner (4), FIELD, to its board. The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners swore in Martesha Brown (5) and Tyler Smith (6) as commissioners elected at large. They join Commissioners Jack Armstrong, Ian Linnabary and Scott Olson.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Rebecca Gocken (7) stepped into the role of 4-H and youth program coordinator at University of Illinois Extension – Winnebago County. Robert (“Bob”) F. Weber, Jr., Woodward, Inc., announced his intention to retire in January 2022. He will retire from his role as chief financial officer and officer of Woodward effective Sept. 30, 2021, and serve as special advisor to Thomas A. Gendron, chairman and chief executive officer, for an interim period. Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea retired on April 30. Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten left to take a chief position in Colorado. The Fire and Police Commission appointed Robert Vertiz to interim fire chief and Randy Berke to interim police chief.

to Geri Fox, M.D. (18), MHPE, FAACAP, chair of the department of psychiatry and director of psychiatry undergraduate medical education.

17. Sue Roland

18. Dr. Geri Fox

Entré Computer Solutions hired Joshua Roberson (8) for Enhanced Product installation including Virtualization (VMWare/Hyper-V), SANs and Microsoft Servers. Center for Sight & Hearing hired Dr. Amber Naqvi (9), doctor of optometry, to head the Vision Clinic. Brenten Witherby (10), senior vice president business banking, and Josh Houghton (11), vice president business banking, joined the Blackhawk Bank Business Banking Team at the Roscoe Banking Center. Carolyn Morris is the new executive director of RAMP. Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley appointed the following as assistant state’s attorneys: Michael Murphy, misdemeanor unit; Anne Stevens, problem solving court, and Sherry Zack, civil bureau. He welcomed many 7-11 law students and interns to assist in court preparation, legal research projects, victim contacts and administrative tasks. First National Bank and Trust promoted Ruth Adams (12) to assistant controller and oﬃcer and Kelsey Hartz (13) to senior credit analyst, reporting specialist and oﬃcer.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS Forest City Gear celebrated the 15-year anniversary of Matt Brick, gear hobbing set-up technician. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford presented its 2021 Distinguished Service Award to Kathleen Kelly, M.D. (14), assistant dean for graduate medical education,

19. Jefferson Snedegar

20. Dennis Roop

and clinical assistant professor in the department of medicine and medical specialties. Judson University gave honorary doctorate degrees to Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and Dr. Jeannette Hseih, provost emerita and dean emerita at Trinity International University. Students Nicolette Dobson, biology and chemistry, received the Student Service Award and Christopher Veltkamp, biochemistry, the President’s Scholar Award-Traditional Undergraduate. Bonnie Gilmore (15), recovery coach, Rosecrance, was named a Peer Specialist of the Year by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Kerry Schaible, ﬁnancial advisor, Northwestern Mutual, completed his long term care refresher course by the Illinois Department of Insurance towards marketing long term care partnerships and long term care traditional insurance policies. Lana M. Engen (16), CFP®, private wealth advisor, Aspire Financial Group, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, qualiﬁed for the company’s Circle of Success annual recognition program. Sue Roland (17), administrative assistant, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center, was presented with a 2020 Rescue Christmas award by The Salvation Army for her volunteer efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford presented its 2021 Distinguished Teaching Award

Rockford Christian Schools students placed at the Big Northern Conference Art Competition in May: Helena Vuong, Best of Show 2D (senior); Brielle Owens (senior); Olivia Battista (senior); Davis Hood (senior); Elena Granzeier (junior); Adam Santana (junior), and Jada Harvey (junior). Twenty students placed in the Association for Christian Schools International art competition, with Helena Vuong named Best of Show. Samuel Caiola (7th grade) received an honorable mention in the National Scholastic Art and Writing competition, and Kelsi Roth (8th grade) drew a portrait of a refugee child from the Afghanistan for the Memory Project. YMCA of Rock River Valley presented its YMCA Antonio Little Teen Leadership Award to Jeﬀerson Snedegar (19) and YMCA Community Leader Award to Dennis Roop (20). Dr. Sonya Ephraim, urogynecologist, Mercyhealth, and six other researchers had their paper, “Outcomes of a single trigone-only vs. 20 trigone-sparing injections of OnabotulinumtoxinA for refractory overactive bladder (OAB),” published in International Urology and Nephrology on using Botox to treat an overactive bladder. Daisy Garcia (21), First National Bank and Trust, earned the National Check Professionals certiﬁcation..

OF GENERAL INTEREST Alumni Shawn Ryan (’84) and his wife Cathy announced the Ryan Family Scholarships, ﬁve full-tuition scholarships for new students entering seventh through 11th grade in the 2021-22 school year at Keith Country Day School. Rob Morrison (22), chief strategy and innovation oﬃcer, Savant Wealth Management, was a panelist

Continued on page 19

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

Disrupting racial inequality through co-navigating systems Creating a culture of success and belonging The Workforce Connection has advanced as the lead applicant into the next phase of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Equity 2030 grant, after the foundation’s review of more than 7,000 applications. Racial Equity 2030 will award $90 million to organizations to “close the racial equity gap so all children, families and communities can be more confident, healthier and secure in their trust of the systems and institutions that serve them.” The Workforce Connection, in partnership

with the City of Rockford, County of Winnebago, Transform Rockford, Region 1 Planning Council and Rockford Public Schools, developed a concept project to address racial equity in Rockford. Generational poverty, housing segregation, and disparities in education have now created three generations of entrenched poverty in the Rockford region, particularly among Black and Brown populations. The project assigns navigators to participating families and individuals to offer tools to achieve

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

21. Daisy Garcia

22. Rob Morrison

Continued from page 18 on May 6 for RIA Insights Panels: Live Webinar Series on how client experience can be a true differentiator in business. Local businessman, Jimmy Rozinsky (23), acquired sole ownership of Spectrum Insurance Agency, part of a perpetuation plan in place for years between Rozinsky and former President & CEO Bruce A. Graham. Heather Kelley (24), Illinois Small Business Development Center at Rockford Chamber, was a guest panelist for Greater Freeport Alliance’s Lunch and Learn event, “SEO and SEM for Your Business.” Sarah Flashing, Flashing Creative, presented on search engine optimization basics. Heather Kelley and Nicole Haas, Greater Freeport

23. Jimmy Rozinksy

24. Heather Kelley

Alliance, presented on search engine marketing. Kevin Hogan, president and CEO, Pierce Distribution, sponsored a team of 13 boys and girls for a season of Roy Gayle Baseball Park; providing catcher’s gear, batting helmets, baseballs, an equipment bag, playbook and Pierce-branded hats and jerseys. Rockford Symphony Orchestra announces ﬁnalists for the new music director, chosen from among 200plus applicants: Yaniv Attar, Andrew Crust, Eric Garcia, Tania Miller, Radu Paponiu, Yaniv Segal, Scott Terrell, Vlad Vizireanu and Alistair Willis. See their bios at www. rockfordsymphony.com.

a successful life in a culture where they feel they belong. Specifically, the project aims to close the achievement gap, increase household income and establish racial healing. Each participating family works with the same family navigator, who builds a trusting relationship and serves as their “go-to person.” The selection of finalists and awardees will be announced by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation later this summer.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

business

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Mercyhealth partners with West Middle School to create a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) + SEL (Safety, Enjoyment, Learning) Community Garden. The garden, originally at the parking lot at Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton, was relocated to the school to provide hands-on learning for students. Produce is donated to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd food bank. First National Bank and Trust opened its new loan production oﬃce at 101 E. Milwaukee St., Ste. 203, Janesville, Wis., with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on April 28.

adding 220 employees, including custodial staff, ﬁve managers, an administrative assistant, pool mechanics and maintenance technicians.

Digital Hive Mind received four ADDY awards from the American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois: Forest City Gear’s “No Limits” ad campaign (silver) and “Not Making the Cut” ad campaign (bronze), United Way of Rock River Valley’s 100-year anniversary ﬁlm (silver) and National Tube Supply’s branding (bronze).

Rockford Lutheran School junior and senior high school students collected more than two tons of gently used items for Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois for their April Mission of the Month and voted to donate the money received to the Family Peace Center. Soft goods collected and not appropriate for Goodwill resale were gathered by the Eco Club to donate to Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful.

The Woodward, Inc., board declared a cash dividend of $0.1625 per share for the quarter, payable on June 1, 2021, to stockholders of record as of May 18, 2021. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Rockford Housing Authority with a $2.3 million Jobs Plus Grant to help public housing residents secure employment and higher-paying jobs. Winnebago County 4-H, part of University of Illinois Extension, held its ﬁrst in-person 4-H contest on April 21 at Toni’s of Winnebago Event Center. Seven area youth presented speeches. There’s more than 70 new 4-H members in Winnebago County this year. Rock House Kids received a $500 Our Journey Micro-Grant, raised through the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rockford Area Arts Council and Rockford Art Deli. KMK Media Group designed marketing materials for the Rock River Valley Pantry’s new golf playday, “Chip In for Hunger,” and developed a new website for Swebco at www.swebco.com. RAMP received $3,000 from the DeKalb County Community Foundation to assist people with disabilities to use its Independent Living Services, virtually, safely in-person or in a hybrid manner. Starting July 1, GSF - USA will be doing the cleaning and maintenance for Rockford Public School and

Rockford Park District pools will open this summer, with Sand Park Pool being the ﬁrst, on June 12, thanks to state grant funds of $260,000 secured by Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman for needed repairs. Rockford Park District, YMCA of Rock River Valley and OSF HealthCare are partnering to offer swim lessons at Alpine Pool and Harkins Aquatic Center and Sand Park Pool. Barbara Olson Center of Hope received a $5,600 grant from the Oliver-Hoffmann Foundation and a $10,000 grant from the Helen Brach Foundation towards interactive display systems that staff can use to present learning, not only visually, but virtually for those who cannot physically attend the center due to restrictions. Rockford Symphony Orchestra launched a fundraising campaign to honor retiring Music Director Steve Larsen’s legacy and ensure a future for the RSO. Phase two of the fundraising campaign began by engaging the corporate community towards the overall goal of $500,000. Visit www.rockfordsymphony.com/ larsen-legacy-brochure. Judson University celebrated 191 graduates during its 85th commencement ceremonies on May 8. The Annual Community Prayer Breakfast on May 10 with the theme of “restoration” brought together nearly 180 to Herrick Chapel and the

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

NIU STEAM and Summer in the Arts offers summer camps for elementary through high school students online, as well as On Track Speech and Language Summer Camp for children ages 3 to 8 with mild to moderate speech or language delays. Visit niu.edu/summercamps.

Jarrod Hennis, owner, Rockford Art Deli, accepts the YMCA Outstanding Business Impact Award for its Here For Good Rockford campaign, which raised $100,000 for 400 businesses. The company also raised money for Severson Dells Nature Center as a part of its involvement in the 1% for the planet campaign. income of $8.6 million and improved dividends per share to $2.50. The loan portfolio grew by $46 million and deposits increased by $240 million over 2019. Wealth management revenue grew nearly 3 percent over the previous year.

Rockford Christian Schools volunteers work to make Bell School and Guilford Roads a little cleaner as a part of the Great American Clean Up weekend. Reed Room in Lindner Tower on the Elgin campus. Boylan Catholic High School will host athletic camps this summer for area students, ages 3 through 12th grade, in basketball, dance, football, soccer, strength and conditioning, tennis and volleyball. Camps will be instructed by Boylan coaches and assisted by current Boylan athletes. RAMP recognized Anderson Japanese Gardens as a disability community partner for its commitment through the “Walkways for Everyone” initiative to upgrade uneven gravel paths and washed-out areas with concrete walkways. University of Illinois Extension has available kitchen scrap gardening kits for youth of all ages. Register at 815-986-4357 or go.illinois.edu/jsw by June 9 for kits to pick-up on June 16, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boylan Catholic High School will hold in-person learning ﬁve days a week for the 2021-22 school year. Students returned to full-time inperson learning on April 12 after previously alternating between remote and in-person learning each day. On May 13, the annual meeting of shareholders of Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Company, was held in Beloit with a reported net

Rockford Park District announced that construction has begun on Atwood Trails Phase II at 7074 Rydberg Road, New Milford. Phase II construction, totaling $167,000, was primarily funded by Clyde and Marjorie Anderson, in memory of Marjorie, with additional donors providing the remaining funding. In the works are approximately eight miles of multi-use natural surface trails along the Kishwaukee River, including speciﬁc use trails such as a hiking only or downhill mountain biking only. Keller Williams Realty Signature partnered with the Rockford Park District for the Annual Keller Williams Red Day. More than 80 volunteers spent a day with park district maintenance employees to beautify nine local parks with landscaping, cleaning exterior areas, spreading wood chips on playgrounds, and painting, including the Sinnissippi Park Band Shell. The free Rockford Park District Summer Sports 2021 Program Guide is available at www.rockfordparkdistrict. org/guides. Registration is now open for programs for all ages. Rockford Public Library is challenging everyone to read 500 minutes each month for June, July and August. It’s launched the Summer Reading Challenge, “Reading Colors Your World,” June 1 to Aug. 31. Register at www. RockfordPublicLibrary.org or on the Rockford Public Library app. Rockford Mutual Insurance Company ranked #11 for the second consecutive year in the 2021 Best Places to Work in Illinois small business category, which consisted of 35 qualifying companies.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

on digital

MEMBER PICS

June 2021

aMBaSSaDOR DOR SPOTLIGHT Michele Beeman, Collins Aerospace

Wintrust celebrates the ofﬁcial ground breaking on April 30 of its full service branch at 1825 N. Perryville Road in Rockford.

I work as the General Manager, ISR & Space Solutions, Mission Systems at Collins Aerospace, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp., is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. At Collins Aerospace, we work side-by-side with our customers to tackle the toughest challenges in aerospace and defense. We’re combining boundless imagination with a broad portfolio and an unmatched dedication to customers — all to make the skies and spaces we touch smarter, safer and more amazing than ever. We are redeﬁning aerospace. The Rockford area has a large selection of activities, parks, restaurants and attractions for all ages; there is always something to do! Outside of work, my focus is my family. My children are very busy this spring season with soccer, tennis, gymnastics and youth theatre (The Studio), and I love every minute of it. My advice, especially for young professionals is: Make the time. We are all very busy, but setting the time aside for connecting with Rockford Chamber of Commerce members and members of the Rockford community is worth it.

Are you a Member with News to Share? Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE, Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication

Winnebago County CASA, holds a ribbon cutting on May 6 for its new space.

Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, holds a ribbon cutting on May 8 for its new entrance sign on South Main Street in Rockford.

Medicare 411 held a ribbon cutting May 19 for it’s ofﬁce expansion at 5192 Harrison Lower Level, Rockford, IL.

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

June 2021

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in April 2021 815 Beltway Holdings, LLC AC Johnston Alpha Controls & Services LLC Ameriprise Financial - Aspire Financial Group Ameriprise Financial - Luminaire Financial Group Associated Bank Belter Machinery Co., Inc. Blackhawk Propane Company, Inc. Blount International C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. Cain & Company Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics P.C. Chiro One Wellness Center of Rockford Comfort Keepers Cookies by Design CoyleKiley Insurance Agency Inc. Crown Machine, Inc. DeMuth Steel Products, Inc DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services Dixon Automatic Tool, Inc. Fiberglass Innovations LLC FIELD Forever Green, Inc. ForeverLawn Chicago Guyer & Enichen - Attorneys at Law Horizons Inc. HR Green Inc. Huntington Learning Center Integra Business Systems, Inc. IP Communications, Inc. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Kelso-Burnett Co. Kent Feeds, Inc. Kidney Care Center Kitchens by Diane Larson & Darby Group Lyford Oaks Condominium Association Magnuson, Inc. Meg’s Daily Grind Mercyhealth Midland States Bank Modern Advanced Manufacturing, LLC

National Business & Industrial Centre, Inc. Necchi-New Home Sewing Center II Nicor Gas Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association OrthoIllinois - Roxbury OrthoIllinois - Riverside OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center Overhead Door Company of Rockford Paper Recovery Services Corp. Pryor Health Quartz Ring Container Technologies Rock House Kids Rock River Tower Apartments LLC Rock River Valley Blood Center 6th Street Rock River Valley Blood Center Perryville Road Rock River Valley Pantry Rockford Country Club Rockford Public Schools, District #205 Rockford Regional Health Council Rockford Separators, Inc. Rockford Tech-Systems, Inc. Rosecrance Health Network Serola Biomechanics, Inc. Service Machine Company, Inc. Specialty Screw Corporation Stillman Bank Sunbelt Rentals Taco John’s - South Alpine The Pregnancy Care Center The Workforce Connection Thryv Tilted 10/Tilt Studio United Way of Rock River Valley Wells Fargo Advisors, Zachary J. Buchanan, CFP®, Financial Advisor, Buchanan Investment Group Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Women of Today’s Manufacturing (WOTM) Woodward (Loves Park Campus) Woodward (Rock Cut Campus)

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

75-YEAR MEMBER

Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau

20-YEAR MEMBERS

Thermo Fisher Scientiﬁc

Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center Rockford Structures Construction Company Stockholm Inn

35-YEAR MEMBER

15-YEAR MEMBERS

45-YEAR MEMBER

RAMP

30-YEAR MEMBERS Bourn & Koch, Inc. FIELD Rockford Tech-Systems, Inc. United Way of Rock River Valley

25-YEAR MEMBER Blackhawk Bank

The Brian Boyer Group - State Farm Rockford Mutual Insurance Company

10-YEAR MEMBERS Rockford Network of Professional Women The Salvation Army

5-YEAR MEMBER

Huntington Learning Center

community

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WEBINARS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

FRIDAY, JUNE 4 University of Illinois Extension offers a Babysitting Clinic, 9 a.m. to noon, at Prince of Peace Church in Rockton for ages 11 and up who have completed the ﬁfth grade. Preregister at go.illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

SATURDAY, JUNE 5

L to R: Girl Scouts Audrey P. and Tatum K. go Over the Edge 4 Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois as top fundraisers. This year’s event is June 5.

June 2021 TUESDAY, JUNE 1 Camp Vertical Extreme, June 1 to Aug. 6 at Rockford Christian Schools 1401 N. Bell School Road. Visit www.rockfordchristian.org/ editoruploads/ﬁles/CampVE/ CampVE21.pdf

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021 Rockford Midtown Market kicks off today and runs Thursdays through Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the RPS205 administration parking lot, 501 7th St., Rockford. Visit rockfordmidtownmarket.com.

Rockford Park District hosts Saturday Fun on the Farm, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Oct. 30 at Lockwood Park, 5201 Safford Road. Visit www.lockwoodpark.com or 815-987-8809. Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois presents Over the Edge 4 Girl Scouts, an urban rappelling adventure down the eight-story SupplyCore building in downtown Rockford. Visit www.girlscoutsni.org.

SUNDAY, JUNE 6 Rockford Park District hosts Golf Sunday Fun Days every Sunday after 3 p.m., through Oct. 31 at Ingersoll and Sinnissippi golf courses. Visit www.golfrockford.org or call 815987-8800

Continued on page 23

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS BUCKBEE WEED CO. Cultivator, processor and seller of premium hmp and hemp-derived products. 6755 Weaver Road, Ste. J, 61114 Erik Carlson 815-797-9050 www.buckbeeweed.com

DATAPOINT INCORPORATED Data Center, Co-Location Services, Virtual Private Server Hosting, Disaster Recovery Services 4901 Colt Road, 61109 Timothy Goodwin 877-328-2768 www.datapoint-us.com

MORNING WOOD TREE SERVICE INC. Tree Removal Service, Lawn Care, Stump Grinding 3210 Williams Ave., 61101 Anita Serrano 815-979-6737 www.morningwoodtree.com

ONE BODY COLLABORATIVES Mobilizing, coordinating and further developing faith and community resources to rebuild lives and transform our community. 200 Y Blvd., 61107

Mary Cacioppi 815-282-4384 www.OneBodyCollaboratives.org

ROCKFORD RENTALS Rental Services of Wedding, Party Equipment, Costumes, Audio-Visual 1921 Broadway, 61104 Larry LaGrange 815-397-6084 www.rfdrentals.com

S & J SEAL COATING & SNOW PLOWING INC. Sealcoating Residential and Commercial Lots. Snow Plowing Residential and Commercial. 3210 Williams Ave., 61101 Anita Serrano 815-742-0791 www.sjsealcoat.com

STORMING CRAB ROCKFORD IL LLC A Cajun Flavor From Louisiana 6779 E. State St., 61108 Ken Lin 815-977-5050 www.stormingcrabs.com

THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com

community

ADVERTISERS INDEX

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WEBINARS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

(Continued from page 22)

TUESDAY, JUNE 8 Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois offers Free Income Tax Preparation and Filing throughout the summer to help people recover stimulus payments and ﬁle past year tax returns. Available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting June 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Rockford Mission Services Center, 850 N. Church St. Visit www.goodwillni.org/ good-taxes or call 815-987-6200. Also visit www.myfreetaxes.com for free electronic ﬁling.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 Northern Illinois Hospice hosts a Community Education Event to help local caregivers struggling with mental health issues due to the pandemic. Features part-time physician, Lauren Ives, M.D., 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at 4751 Harrison Ave., Rockford, and on Zoom. Register at northernillinoishospice.org or call 815-398-0500.

THURSDAY, JUNE 10 RAMP hosts Sip & Sample, 5 to 8 p.m., at Embassy Suites, 416 S. Main St., Rockford. Live music with Mr. Ed, annual silent auction via smartphone and samplings of wine, beer, spirits and food from local vendors. Visit rampcil.org/ wineandbeertasting.

SATURDAY, JUNE 12 Edgebrook presents Artsy, Arts & Crafts Exhibit, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring 60 to 70 unique, handmade vendors.

TUESDAY, JUNE 15 University of Illinois Extension’s Northern Illinois 4-H Summer Day Camp takes place June 15, 16 and 17, at Rock River Christian Camp, Polo. Open to boys and girls, ages 8 to 14; 4-H membership not required. Register at go.illinois. edu/4HSummerCamp.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 University of Illinois Extension presents What to Expect at Farmers Markets, a Zoom webinar with presenter, Mary Liz Wright, at noon. Register in advance at go. illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

MONDAY, JUNE 21 Rockford Area Arts Council hosts summer programs for young people, New Ways, SPARK! and SPARK! in the Park, June 21 to Aug. 5. Dates and times vary. Visit artsforeveryone. com/summer-programs for details. Rockford Park District hosts Nature Quest one-week summer day camp sessions, June 21 to Aug. 23, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for ages 5 to 12 at Alpine Hills Adventure Park, 4402 Larson

June 2021

Ave. Register at atwoodpark.org/ programs (click Nature Quest registration link).

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 United Way of Rock River Valley hosts a Campaign Celebration, Retirement Party for Paul Logli, music and food at 4 p.m., at Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Entertainment by Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos and DJ Freedom Bennett. Tickets at unitedwayrrv.org, 815-968-5400 or at the door.

Ameriprise FinancialLuminaire Financial Group . . . . . . . . .16 Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Cushman & Wakeﬁeld. . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Cyrs Wealth Advisors, LLC . . . . . . . . . .14 Edward Jones – Erna Colborn . . . . . . .14 FNBO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) . . . . . . . . 6

VOICE

JULY 2021 THURSDAY, JULY 1 The Parks Chamber presents Long Play Music Fest, July 1 to 4, at Rivets Stadium, 4503 Interstate Blvd, Loves Park. Features two stages, more than 20 bands, ﬁreworks, carnival and local food vendors and artisans. Gin Blossoms, Hairbangers Ball and Blooze Brothers on July 2; Jeff Tweedy, Too Hype Crew and Catﬁght on July 3, and Cheap Trick with opening band 7th Heaven on July 4. Visit StarEvents.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 17 LADIWORKZ presents A Conversation With Industry Professionals About the Radio, Music & Film Industry, a multimedia event. Virtual, 11 a.m. to noon, or in-person, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 730 N. Church St., Rockford. Participants include entertainment agent/producer Dr. Syleecia Thompson, actor Rolando Boyce, actor Vincent M. Ward, radio super producer Lisa “E,” recording group manager Leon Benford and theater director/producer/actor Tim Rhoze. Seating limited. Contact Brandi at 815-742-4754 or info@ladiworkz1. com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21 University of Illinois Extension presents Preserve Like a Pro, a Zoom webinar with presenter, Kristin Bogdonas, at noon. Register in advance at go.illinois.edu/jsw or 815-986-4357.

Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13, 19, 21, 24 Schmeling Construction Co.. . . . . . . . .11 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Thayer Lighting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Union Savings Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wipﬂi LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

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

CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS Kimberly Blascoe Wipﬂi LLP

Chair of the Board Dan Ross Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

LaVonne Brown Savant Wealth Management

Vice Chair Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate Vice Chair Don Daniels SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health Treasurer Amy Ott Boylan Catholic High School

Samuel J. Castree Staff Management, Inc. Lesly Couper workplace Doug Curry Stenstrom Construction Group Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D. Rockford University Ira Grimmett Collins Aerospace Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

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

Carly LaMonica LaMonica Beverages, Robert Young Inc. Midwest Packaging and Container Kris L. Kieper Machajewski EX-OFFICIO YWCA Northwestern DIRECTORS Illinois Einar K. Forsman Mike Paterson President & CEO, Mid-West Family Rockford Chamber Broadcasting of Commerce Joel A. Prah John Groh Mercyhealth Rockford Area Denise Sasse Convention & RSM US LLP Visitors Bureau John Schuster Rosecrance Health Network Teresa Sharp American Precision Supply, Inc.

JULY VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS Are you a Member with News to Share? Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication

Construction & Real Estate (Infrastructure & Investment)

The Future of Health (Factors That Aﬀect Health in Years to Come) For information on advertising, call 815

987-8100

June Voice 2021

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