June Voice 2023

Mary McNamara Bernsten

of the rockford business community

Putting the success in SUCCESSION

Transition planning for business leadership

By Andrew Wright, Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Whether it’s the pomp and circumstance of the crowning of King Charles III or the political machinations of the Roy family in HBO’s popular show, “Succession,” one thing is certain: the idea of succession planning has taken center stage in history and pop culture.

But one doesn’t need to be a royal or a fictional media mogul to know the importance of having a succession plan. Business owners know that building a succession plan with qualified

professionals can help create a smooth transition, allowing both for a satisfying retirement for the original owner and the continuity of a successful business for the next generation of leadership.

It’s never too soon to start

Stacey Curry and David Boulay from the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center have helped many regional manufacturers build plans for company growth, leadership training, management transition and succession planning.

Curry, a leadership coach with IMEC, has years of experience working with companies going through a transition.

“At a time of transition, people are in a very vulnerable place. There’s always

anxiety when the original owner thinks of their company as ‘their baby.’ That anxiety can put ownership behind the curve when they finally begin to talk about succession planning,” she said.

Boulay, president of IMEC, adds that an important part of the time of transition comes from the vetting process of a potential successor to the business: “You’re simultaneously building a culture and working to ensure that the way of life at the organization has continuity. Owners will spend time to build a second level of the organization so that the culture sustains and carries the day. You’ll want to ensure that the subsequent buyer has common values and viewpoints on what the business can and should be.”

(continued on page 4)

Pusateri selected for U.S. Chamber fellowship

Business Leads Fellowship Program addresses critical education and workforce issues

Rockford Chamber of Commerce

President Caitlin Pusateri was selected to participate in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s premiere business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and trade associations to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.

“Our area is rife with opportunity for our business community to support and further the region’s educational goals,” Pusateri said. “A robust workforce starts with opportunities for kids, inside and outside the classroom, and support for parents in their work life and home life. I’m excited to contribute to the growing movement in our community to identify problems upstream and create longlasting solutions.”

Following a competitive application and selection process, Pusateri and 34 other state and local leaders were chosen to participate in the eighth class of this program. The six-month program, consisting of both in person and virtual meetings, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, postsecondary education and workforce development.

Upon completion of the program, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of over 250 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.

Visit businessleads.uschamberfoundation. org for more information on the Business Leads Fellowship Program.

BIG BUGS, BIG FUN

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden will host artist David Rogers’ Big Bugs: The Pollinators exhibit for a threemonth period from June 10th to September 10th, 2023. Consisting of 10 larger-than-life sculptures made of reclaimed forest wood and other natural materials that will astound visitors of all ages, artist David Rogers’ work has been shown throughout the entire United States since 1994. This will be the first time his work is showcased in the Northern Illinois region outside of the Chicago area.

David Rogers’ Big Bugs: The Pollinators is focused specifically on pollinator species and their critical role in supporting our shared natural ecosystem and food chain. These sculptures will be installed throughout Klehm’s 155-acres of grounds and gardens, and each will be located near paved, accessible paths where they can be viewed by guests of all ages and abilities. This one-of-a-kind exhibit is included with daily admission to Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden during the exhibit period.

INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Rockford Area Economic Development Council is hosting a live webinar for businesses interested in government contracting on July 12 at 8:00am. This workshop is great for businesses with no experience in this arena to those that need a refresher on what they should be doing. Discussions will include information on the free bid lead/bid matching system, how to register as a vendor (at all governmental levels- SAM, IPG, etc.), what is a capability statement and how is it used to market to the government and discover small business certifications that can help you succeed, and discuss subcontracting opportunities as well. Presented by the Illinois PTAC staff, Business Development Center at College of DuPage. Register for this free event at rockfordchamber.com.

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Advice from the street

I wonder… What if… Let’s try

CAITLIN PUSATERI president, Rockford Chamber of Commerce

My son is a big fan of Elmo and Sesame Street. If I’m honest, so am I. That little red dude has some great words of wisdom. I love how he talks about himself, about others, and the values he teaches. One of my favorite segments focuses on an approach to problem solving that has me intrigued. Whenever the friends find themselves faced with a challenge (and usually after some frustration at the original approach to solve the problem), they stop and refocus, asking themselves three poignant questions:

I wonder...

What if... Let’s try...

(There are hand movements that go with each, but lucky for you, dear reader, the medium of this piece spares you from my reenactment.)

The first time I heard the approach, I

thought it was pretty clever. The friends are focused to first identify the problem or visualize the solution. They then go into brainstorming mode. And finally, execution.

Those little Muppets know that repetition is the key to learning, so they repeat this segment throughout the show in different ways and through tons of different episodes. I’ve heard the approach so many times now (we’ve watched a lot of Elmo with some illness that has run through the house) that I can’t help but start to apply the approach to my own work.

“I wonder what we can do to improve the talent pipeline in our community?”

“What if we focused on a specific niche of the workforce, community wide?”

“Let’s try growing and clarifying the ways in which organizations in our region are family friendly to attract workers with children.”

Or

“I wonder if our members and community understand the value and importance of a robust Chamber of Commerce to the business community?”

“What if we developed a strategic plan that focused on member needs postCOVID and outlined opportunities for growth combined with tactics to measure and achieve success?”

“Let’s try to focus our efforts on a strategic plan that’s based in data and combined with story telling.”

Are either of these ideas 100% flushed out? Nope. But the process is there. It’s an organized start with an actionable next step. And, honestly, it was easy. Thinking this way allowed me to clear my thoughts a bit and focus in a little more. Sometimes, my brain is firing far too much. The world is loud, my kids are chaotic (in the BEST way), distractions are everywhere. This easy process slows all of that down and shuts down some noise. And it works. I’ve been trying it on my kids when they get frustrated, and it helps move them through a process as well.

Even better, this process really neutralizes emotions that may go into big issues. When trying to solve a complex

problem that’s super charged with emotion, backing up and having a process to work through that focuses specifically on actionable steps really helps. It moves me from a negative mode - The talent pipeline is such a huge problem in our community – we aren’t making the progress our businesses need – to a fact-based, action-oriented position. It removes my ego, helps calm down any extra feelings I may have about a particular issue, and just focus on the true problem.

As a community, we need to tackle big issues in a action-oriented way and leave egos at the door. We can’t truly solve a problem if we are constantly worried about power, influence or credit. We can’t listen when we focus on emotions or ego. We become defensive and suspicious when we feel threatened. Somehow, I Wonder, What If, Let’s Try cuts through all of that noise and laser focuses on the true problem and begins to solidify a solution. Sure, its tactics aimed at children – but could you imagine if adults modeled this way of thinking? Could you imagine if our children were raised to approach issues with this process? How much farther along would we as a community, region, world be?

What a wonderful, happy place the world would be.

Sesame Street might be my new favorite spot for leadership inspiration!

Partnerships key to success

TOM MCNAMARA, mayor, City of Rockford

In my recent State of the City address, I highlighted our efforts with community partners to improve neighborhoods and public safety. I believe that partnerships help magnify our efforts and leverage city resources. Here are just a few examples:

• We partnered with Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity and Rockford Housing Development Corporation to offer a home repair program to low- and moderate-income families. We know that for many Rockfordians, one of their largest investments is their home. We want to help those who struggle to make critical repairs to maintain the integrity, safety and quality of their homes. Last year, our funding for this program completed work on 21 homes, including 11 roofs, four tub-to-shower conversions, a handicapped accessible ramp and so much more. This program stops deterioration on these properties and keeps people in their homes, where they belong.

• We reimagined an unfinished subdivision near Auburn High School thanks to a partnership between the city, Region 1 Planning Council, Habitat for Humanity and Rockford Public Schools. Twenty-five tax delinquent vacant lots are now being converted into tax-paying, single family homes for working-class families. The homes – built in large part by Rockford Public Schools construction trade students – will create new, safe, affordable housing, which is a critical need in our community.

• We partnered with the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Rockford Area Arts Council to bring public art to many locations in our community. We now have 34 murals in our community with plans for nine more. And, we’re working on wrapping 55 traffic signal boxes across the community. Public art inspires, enhances values and creates a sense of place for our residents and visitors.

• We continued our partnership with Rockford Promise and Northern Illinois University (NIU). Under the Rockford Promise NIU Scholarship program, students who live in Rockford, attend Rockford Public Schools and earn a 3.0 GPA can attend NIU tuition free, including general fees. Now in its second year, more than 205 students are taking advantage of the program. Of these participants, 70% are students of color and 70% are first generation college students. This program benefits our students, increases our property values and strengthens our workforce.

• We partnered with LT Construction, a local minority-owned concrete construction contractor, to provide internships to young adults who represent at-risk and underserved populations in our community. The sidewalks they constructed helped connect people to schools, parks and

other multi-use paths, and it provided valuable mentorship, experience and workforce development skills to the interns.

• We partnered with community groups, including Comprehensive Community Solutions, 815 Alive, New Genres Art Space and Boys and Girls Club to support programs that provide youth with positive experiences and help reduce the number of young people entering the criminal justice system.

I’m proud of the work we’ve done and the partnerships we’re created. I believe that when organizations come together for the betterment of our community, everyone wins.

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

succession

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Assuming that the next generation of a family business will automatically want to take over is a common mistake.

“Have you talked about whether this is what your son or daughter wants to do? Do they intend to take over, or were they planning to move on?” Curry said. “If they do want to continue the business, building an intentional planning and training program will give them space to explore whether or not they have true aspirations with the company.”

Many business owners think about succession planning but never move beyond that point.

“Thinking isn’t planning,” Curry said. “A lack of planning and execution is a frequent pitfall to a successful transition.”

pitfall,” said Reynolds. “Is your valuation accurate? Is an offer good enough for the owner to be set for retirement? Does the owner have a written business plan for employees to understand and execute if a health issue keeps the owner from their business for three months or more? Who runs the business while they’re gone so that there’s a business to come back to?”

Handling legal challenges

“Business exit strategies for owners come down to three outcomes – fail, get sold to new owners, or be passed on to family. The element of a fully realized succession plan is dependent on the complexity of the situation,” said Jim Keeling, attorney and partner with Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP.

What do you do when an injury, illness or sudden loss triggers a succession crisis? Jim Reynolds, senior vice president of business banking at Blackhawk Bank, helps owners navigate through a step-by-step planning process.

“Often when people don’t know where to start, they freeze and put it off,” Reynolds said. “We start with an assessment tool that asks questions covering areas from legal to tax evaluation and personal planning. Our clients answer questions that help us identify the owner’s objectives, quantify the business and personal resources, maximize and protect the business’ value, plan for the transfer of ownership to insiders or a third party, build a business continuity plan throughout the owner’s lifetime and at their passing, and align those goals with personal wealth and estate planning.”

Reynolds looks at the process like an interactive road map: “It’s better to know where you’re going and the roads to choose from to reroute in the event of construction and have a clear destination. Our assessment tools help our clients define their destination. If you don’t know where you want to go, it’s a lot harder to get there.”

It’s common for owners to struggle with communication as they plan for transition.

“Be intentional about communication with any internal transfer opportunity. False assumptions are the most frequent

Keeling and Marcia Mueller, also of Hinshaw, have 75 years of combined professional experience working with locally-owned businesses. They know the importance of using various instruments to protect the financial interests of business owners addressing multiple interests.

“We help with setting up employment agreements with employees who may want to take over the business, building a buy-sell agreement, even deciding between an incorporation or an LLC to begin the process. We work with partners and consultants like accountants, bankers, insurance agents, lenders and investors. Sometimes multiple financial advisors are involved. Every situation has a different team make-up, and owners work with us to decide who is playing the lead role,” Mueller said Understanding the legal ramifications of a sale or transfer helps put those financial instruments to work.

“Tax impact planning is often important for senior members of a family business when the senior members have other significant financial resources but want to protect as many after-tax resources as possible for the family as a whole,” Keeling said.

Some companies will use life insurance to protect the assets in the case of an unexpected loss of leadership as part of their transition plan.

“The older you are, the more expensive life insurance is. If a client is planning to use life insurance strategies, it’s better to plan while younger and healthier and rates are lower,” Mueller said.

If you don’t know where to go, it’s a lot harder to get there

Likewise, when employees consider buying out original owners, interest rates can be significant in structuring a successful purchase. A seller may have to opt for a lower sale price or settle for a different buyer.

“This can affect a debt finance buyout of a family member,” Mueller explained. “With rates continuing to rise, waiting for a loan approval can have a significant financial impact.”

Having a strong successor who’s able to take the business forward can have a positive financial impact for both the seller and the buyer.

“Businesses can fail or succeed through the new ownership,” Keeling said. “Succession planning changes the ownership in an evolutionary way.”

Plans can change

Kika Young, president of Forest City Gear, is a third-generation owner and leader of the company. Her father, Frederic Young, took over from his parents, Steler and Evelyn Young, in the 1960s. He grew the company from a small mom-and-pop shop and took it to the next level.

As Fred started considering his retirement, he eventually took on the role of CEO in 2005, while Kika’s mother, Wendy, served as president.

“Mom was 10 years younger than dad, so when she took the reins, we all felt that was a good decision. I was too young and I wasn’t ready yet,” Kika said. “Dad had the plan to earmark me for taking over the business, because I had shown the most interest among my sisters. Appy (Mikel) and Mindy (Young) were pursuing careers in the arts. Our parents did a great job encouraging us to do things we wanted to do, to explore things we wanted to try.”

Wendy remained president of the company until she was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. With Fred semi-retired and Wendy focused on her health, Kika – who had been working at the company in one way or another since she was 13 – stepped up as interim president. But Wendy was concerned about how elevating Kika to president of the company might affect the dynamic with her sisters.

“Mom didn’t want our relationships to be compromised because of a family business,” Kika said.

Wendy started looking at options to sell the company to a third party after her diagnosis.

“We received offers from a handful of companies, another manufacturing firm, a couple of private equity firms. It wasn’t what I wanted or what dad wanted either,” Kika said. “In the face of her illness, this was something mom could do to give her peace of mind that the family would be taken care of financially and the business wouldn’t compromise our family relationships.”

Wendy Young passed away sooner than the family anticipated. With the offers on the table, Kika and her family considered the possible outcomes— what the companies might do to Forest City Gear, whether they could make the company better or worse, how the company would continue to support the community they grew up in and loved.

“Appy said, ‘Can we just not sell it and let Kika run it?’ Fred and Mindy both agreed. They looked to me, and I said, ‘Of course,’” she said.

Kika recommends working with a team of professionals to help set up a transition plan.

“We looked at several options, and the advisory team helped us pick a path that made the most sense from a legal and tax liability perspective,” she said. “You need advisors to navigate those parts of tax law and trusts. The whole financial picture is incredibly complicated. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, if you’re not dealing with this from day to day and you try to do it yourself, you’re going to make missteps. You’re going to open yourself up to higher burdens or levels of risk.”

Despite overcoming her parents’ differing visions on how to handle the transition of the business, and her mother’s concerns on the affect it would have on the family, Kika is proud of the state of both the business and the family.

“The relationship I have with my sisters has been great, because we are operating with the same end goal. We understand the importance of communications, and our relationships have benefited from that,” Kika said.

Business is booming at Forest City Gear. Recently, they invested in new machines to help address a growing stream of new orders. They continue to make precision parts for manufacturing, military, space exploration and more. v

RYAN ADLEMAN vice president senior treasury management officer, Blackhawk Bank

GUEST COLUMNIST

Check fraud and check washing

How to protect your business from fraudsters

Check fraud is one of the highest fraud concerns for businesses. Check fraud and check washing (a type of check fraud) are steadily increasing, putting business owners’ bank accounts and money at risk.

Here is some insight into this type of fraud, as well as what steps you can take to protect your business against check fraud and check washing.

What is check fraud?

Check fraud is one of the oldest and most common ways that scammers attempt to steal money. Paper checks are easy targets for criminals. Since they’re passed hand-to-hand on their way to payment, they can easily be stolen, duplicated, altered or cashed illegally.

What is check washing fraud?

Another way check fraud happens is when a check is intercepted by a scammer, who then washes it. If your business account information is on the check, it gives the scammer an opportunity to alter

the amount and change the recipient. As of late, businesses are reporting an increase in check washing scams. How are checks washed? Fraudsters use chemicals to gently lift the pen marks or ink on the check and then change the amount of the check.

How are fraudsters getting the checks? Fraudsters target standalone mailboxes and business mailboxes looking for any outgoing or incoming checks. How to avoid check washing and check fraud

Here are some practical ways you can avoid becoming a victim of check fraud or check washing and protect your finances.

1. If you still use paper checks, store them in a secure location. Leaving your checkbook out in the open is never a good idea. Keep any blank checks, cancelled checks and bank statements locked up and stored in a secure spot. Consider using a safe or lockbox.

2. Stop using paper checks altogether. Many financial institutions offer alternative ways to issue payment instead of writing checks. A smart and efficient way to pay vendors and do payroll is through ACH. ACH stands for automated clearing house—a network that coordinates electronic payments and automated money transfers. It allows you to move money between financial institutions without using paper checks, wire transfers, credit cards or cash. ACH is secure, efficient and avoids the risks associated with paper checks.

3. Avoid standalone mailboxes. Scammers can target standalone USPS drop boxes, as well as your own personal mailbox. If you must mail a check, drop it off at a USPS location.

4. Many banks offer Positive Pay solutions for businesses, which is a way to ensure that checks are legitimate

before they get paid. This is a simple solution for businesses still using paper checks but want added security to ensure that money doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.

When it comes to protecting your business against fraudsters, it really is a team effort. Not only do business owners need to be aware of check fraud techniques and what to look out for, employees also need to be educated on best practices to help keep your business secure.

Additionally, as a business owner, it’s vital to find a bank that you know and trust to keep your money safe.

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

GUEST

Reaching the summit isn’t the end of the journey

Planning for life after retirement

29,031 feet. That’s the height of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain.

Some people make it their life’s mission to summit Everest. As of January 2023, more than 6,300 brave individuals have successfully climbed to the top of this historic peak. The climbers who take on Mount Everest are some of the most skilled, knowledgeable and qualified climbers in the world. They practice and prepare for years before a climb.

Here’s a sad reality about attempting to climb Everest: According to leading resources on Mount Everest mountaineering, more than 250 deaths have occurred during climbing expeditions. The part you may not know is only 15% of those deaths occur during the climb up the mountain.

The vast majority prepare vigilantly to ascend Mount Everest but fail to focus on the impending journey down the treacherous peak. During the 1996 climbing season alone, 15 climbers lost their lives and eight of those were on the same day. How many of those deaths could have been prevented if getting down the mountain was as important as reaching the summit?

In April, we were lucky enough to host an event with famous mountaineer Ed Viesturs. Ed is one of only a few individuals in the world to summit all 14 of the world’s tallest peaks (8,000+ meters). And if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, he did it without the use of supplemental oxygen.

Ed knows a thing or two about risk, and he is quoted as saying, “Getting to

the summit is optional; getting down is mandatory.”

When climbing Mount Everest, the summit is merely a halfway point. When you reach it, you’ve accomplished something amazing, but you’re also fatigued, cold and at maximum risk.

This holds true for investing as well. No matter where you are on your journey, you need to have the right tools and resources. You need to analyze your goals, how you plan to reach them, and the risks you may encounter along the way. If you’re nearing retirement, this may feel like a career summit of sorts.

Clearly, retirement is not the end of the journey. You must safely navigate the rest of your journey, which can be very different from the first half. Investment planning requires analyzing these things with a trusted professional and coming up with a course of action for the whole journey. Make sure you have a plan to reach the summit and descend safely as well.

Investment and insurance products: not FDIC insured/no bank guarantee/ may lose value.

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered brokerdealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

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

ERICH VARGAZ, CFP® senior senior VPinvestment officer, Wells Fargo Advisors

GUEST COLUMNIST 401(k) door opens for small-business owners

What you need to know about the SECURE 2.0 Act

Have you wanted to offer a retirement plan to your employees but been stymied by the costs involved? If so, you may be interested to learn about new legislation that can help open the door to the same type of plan enjoyed by employees of large companies.

At the end of 2022, President Biden signed into law the SECURE 2.0 Act, which, among many other provisions, provides tax credits for business owners who want to open a 401(k) plan. The tax credit was introduced in the original SECURE Act in 2019, but it’s been significantly increased in the updated laws.

If you have 50 or fewer employees, you can now claim a startup credit covering 100% of the costs associated with opening and administering a 401(k) plan, up to $5,000 for each of the first three years of your plan.

To qualify for this credit, your business must have least one employee — besides yourself, if you’re the owner —

who earns less than $150,000 a year. And you’re eligible for the credit even if you join a multiple employer plan (MEP), which, as you may know, is designed to encourage smaller businesses to share the administrative duties involved in offering tax-advantaged retirement plans.

SECURE 2.0 also introduces an employer contribution credit, which may entitle your business to a tax credit based on employee matching or profit-sharing contributions. This credit is capped at $1,000 per employee and phases out gradually over five years. It’s also subject to further reductions for businesses with 51 to 100 employees.

Another SECURE 2.0 provision deals with Roth matching and nonelective contributions. Effective this year, employees with 401(k) plans, along with those covered by 403(b) plans for nonprofit groups and 457(b) plans for government employees, can choose to have matching or non-elective

contributions made as Roth (after-tax) contributions.

Before this change, employers had to make these matching and non-elective contributions on a pre-tax basis. Of course, you’ll need to communicatee to your employees that Roth matching or non-elective contributions count as taxable income. The advantage is that your employees can ultimately withdraw the Roth contributions and earnings tax free, provided they meet certain conditions.

Looking ahead, SECURE 2.0 contains other options to make it easier for business owners to offer retirement plans. Starting in 2024, if you don’t already provide a retirement plan, you can offer a “starter” 401(k) or “safe harbor” 403(b) plan to employees who meet age and service requirements. These plans have lower contribution limits than a typical 401(k) or 403(b), and you can’t make matching or nonelective contributions. Consequently, a starter plan may be quite attractive to businesses with few employees.

Beginning in 2025, 401(k) and 403(b) plans will be required to automatically enroll eligible participants, although employees can choose to opt out.

Exceptions will be made for businesses with 10 or fewer employees and for businesses less than three years old.

The ability to offer a retirement plan is a great asset for business owners who want to attract and keep good employees. And the SECURE 2.0 Act may make it easier for you to achieve this goal.

For more information, please contact Jen Reisinger, AAMS™, CRPS™, financial advisor, Edward Jones, at 815-397-5157 or email at jen.reisinger@edwardjones. com.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Jen Reisinger, AAMS™, CRPS™, Edward Jones financial advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC.

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

JEN REISINGER financial advisor, Edward Jones

GUEST COLUMNIST Midland States Bank launches Community Impact Investment Statement

Midland States Bank announced the Rockford-area launch of its corporate Community Impact Investment Statement (CIIS).

Midland’s CIIS focuses on six key pillars: traditional and nontraditional education, workforce development, financial empowerment, housing, small business development, and health and wellness.

“Our local partnerships are a great example of how collaboration that aligns with the specific needs of a community can be mutually beneficial,” said Martesha Brown, Midland States Bank director of community economic development. “Rather than assuming what our communities need, we engage in conversations with numerous community groups to guide and bring insight to the best ways to meet our shared goals through our regional Community Impact plan. In Rockford, these groups included Think Big, 815

MAAG and Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity.”

Midland’s CIIS calls for lending, investments, philanthropy, products, services, program development, and community engagement to help expand financial services to traditionally underserved groups. Midland’s proactive, multi-year lending goals are $57 million in investments and $260 million in community economic development loans.

“Midland strives to support diverse economies through financial empowerment, community involvement and banking services,” said Jeffrey S. Mefford, Midland States Bank president.

“We believe it is through community collaboration and execution that this is most successfully accomplished.”

More information about Midland’s CIIS can be found at www.midlandsb. com/community.

ANNA STRONG marketing manager, Midland States Bank

Kids Around the World profile profileMEMBER PROFILE

In 1994, Jim Rosene, Denny Johnson and other volunteers from Rockford built a playground for kids in Brovary, Ukraine, Rockford’s sister city and a suburb of Kiev.

That’s how the mission of Kids Around the World (KATW) began – the act of creating a place where kids can be kids, no matter where they grow up.

Now, almost 30 years later, Rosene is president emeritus of Kids Around the World and, with the help of countless volunteers and staff, the organization has constructed over 1000 playgrounds in more than 80 countries.

“Bringing hope to kids is what we do as an organization,” said Brian Wahl, regional director of mission advancement at Kids Around the World.

Tim Clauson, playgrounds director at the organization said, “We bring hope to the whole community, as well.”

Kids Around the World works with more than 100 park districts and school districts to recycle used play equipment as it is replaced with new equipment. Most of the used equipment is still functional, but may need a little refurbishment before being passed along to a new home.

Repairing and refurbishing the used playground equipment gives community volunteers and KATW staff the opportunity to learn skills like welding and fabricating. They also get experience packing the whimsical but mammoth structures into containers and coordinating shipment and installation throughout the world.

These reclaimed playgrounds, along with brand-new playgrounds purchased by donors and sponsors, are paired with international communities in need. Teams from KATW travel to install the playgrounds, working with volunteers and other local craftspeople. For many kids, this is the first playground they’ve ever encountered.

The mission doesn’t end with playground equipment. In 2008, KATW added their “One Meal” program. Volunteers assemble rice-based meals containing lentils, vegetables and vitamins that are sealed and ready to be made. They distribute these healthy meals to the kids they serve and the residents of the city.

Since the start of the program, over 60 million meals have been prepared and

GUEST COLUMNIST RU Evolving

PATRICIA A. LYNOTT PH.D. interim president, Rockford University

Sound familiar? Absolutely! Did you hear these phrases before the outbreak of a global pandemic in March 2020?

Absolutely not!

If you are like me, it’s sometimes difficult to keep up. “Should we meet in person or by ZOOM?” “Can I work at home or am I required to be in the office?” “Is it ok to make every day a casual Friday?” Things have changed.

I want to let you know that things are changing at RU, Rockford’s only local four-year university. While our institution rests on 176 years of tradition and a foundation in the liberal arts, we are not resting on our laurels.

WE ARE EVOLVING

Recently, we added five new majors: cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, healthcare administration, and supply chain management. These majors respond to the critical needs

of our world today. These majors are offered on our park-like campus, with small class sizes, and one-on-one attention from our faculty and staff.

WE ARE AFFORDABLE

We recently unveiled our Horizon Grant. In partnership with federal and state funding, we offer eligible students the opportunity to pursue a four-year education for a tuition cost of $5,000 per year. If you do not qualify for this grant, we have others including the Rockford Promise Scholarship and financial aid gifts totaling $11 million each year.

WE ARE LOCAL

We know many families NOW prefer their children remain closer to home. Our students have the luxury of living at home and keeping a job while they study at RU. The ability to complete a college degree in four years without

to get started volunteering with our organization,” Wahl said.

On Sept. 23 and 24, Kids Around the World will host a meal-packing event at the UW Health Sports Factory. Their goal is to have 3000 volunteers, each working a two-hour shift, to pack one million meals.

shipped

to

the communities that Kids Around the World serves.

“We have groups who come here to pack food all the time. It’s a great way

You can see local playgrounds provided by Kids Around the World at Sinnissippi Park, Cherry Valley School, Constance Lane Elementary, Summerdale School and the North East Branch of the YMCA.

Visit www.kidsaroundtheworld.com to learn how to donate or volunteer.

paying for room and board means less college debt, which is something we all can appreciate.

Yes, we are evolving. But we need you – our local business leaders to tell us how we can evolve to meet your needs. I cordially invite you to join us at our inaugural business summit on Thursday, June 29 from 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. Together, with our partners, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, we will hear from local industry leaders about the evolving needs for a vibrant workforce in our area. There will be time for Q&A and breakouts so you can network with other folks in your field.

It is my distinct pleasure to be at the helm of Rockford University at this time. In 1847 Rockford Female Seminary was founded on the banks of the Rock River in downtown Rockford.

Our name was changed to Rockford College in 1881. We welcomed men to the college in 1959 and moved to our current East State Street location in the early 1960s. Ten years ago we became Rockford University to better reflect the comprehensive educational opportunities we offer. We have degree completion programs, master’s programs, and online study to accommodate busy lifestyles.

What we don’t have is you. I echo my invitation above – attend our inaugural business summit on June 29. For information and to confirm your attendance contact Arowe@rockford. edu. Won’t you join us and be part of our evolution?

The views expressed here are those of Patricia A. Lynott and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

“You’re on mute.” “The Great Resignation.” “Telemedicine.” “Where’s my package?”

EMILY KLONICKI executive director, Alignment Rockford

GUEST

COLUMNIST

Early childhood development

A strategic investment for Rockford’s business community

The Rockford business community knows the power of strategic investments—always on the lookout for opportunities that promise significant returns. One often overlooked avenue lies in early childhood development. The investment in our youngest generation not only upholds a vital social responsibility but also lays the foundation for future economic growth and community prosperity.

Children who enter kindergarten on track in their development are more likely to thrive academically, graduate high school, attain higher levels of education, and land stable, well-paying jobs. This trajectory fosters a future workforce that is skilled, competitive and capable of stimulating consumer spending, thereby fortifying our local economy.

Unfortunately, during the most critical time of development from birth to age five, there is little institutionalized support for parents and caregivers of young children. These “first teachers” of our future generation work in your businesses. They juggle work demands and the rising cost of living, and have few options for quality early childhood education and care.

Imagine a community where these parents and care givers were supported, uplifted and given a great toolset. Imagine a community in which they had the time and peace of mind to talk and play with their children—the single most important activity for building young brains.

Actualizing this vision requires a comprehensive, community-wide approach. In Rockford, Alignment Rockford spearheads the Ready to Learn collaboration, a collective force of more than 60 agencies and organizations implementing a strategy known as Community Parent Support Saturation. This approach creates a nurturing environment for every child in Rockford by harnessing the collective strength of our community.

A key piece of this strategy is the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a tool that sets community-based goals around early childhood development and assesses the outcomes of our collective efforts. The EDI, which measures a child’s readiness for school across five crucial domains, helps us understand the unique needs of our community’s youngest members. It’s a model that has seen success in other regions, such as British Columbia, where the EDI has been instrumental in identifying areas of

CRE8IV: Transformation Art

JOHN GROH Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Breau

need and guiding strategies to improve early childhood experiences.

The business sector plays a pivotal role in driving this change. Here are a few ways your business can engage:

1. Donate to the Ready to Learn movement: Your financial support can help implement the Early Development Instrument (EDI) and integrate Community Parent Support Saturation in Rockford, directly enhancing the readiness and wellness of our youngest citizens. (alignmentrockford.org/ourwork/early-childhood)

2. Advocate for early childhood investment: Use your voice to lobby for increased local and state government support for early childhood initiatives, thereby influencing policy changes that can have far-reaching impacts. Early childhood should be a leading policy initiative, not a sidebar. (www. advanceillinois.org/policy-areas/ early-childhood-education-care)

3. Integrate family friendly workplace standards: Implementing practices laid out in the National Work + Family Standards (familyfriendlyworkplaces. com/standards), such as hybrid work models, flexible family leave time, parental leave and childcare benefits, can create a supportive and healthy environment for employees with young children. This not only enhances their well-being and productivity but also contributes to the broader goal of supporting early childhood development.

Supporting early childhood development goes beyond fulfilling a social responsibility—it’s a strategic investment in Rockford’s future prosperity. The business community, with its capacity for influence and change, is an indispensable partner in this mission. By investing in our children today, we are sowing seeds for a vibrant, resilient and economically robust Rockford of tomorrow.

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

Art that strengthens communities and enhances Rockford

As you’ve traveled around our cities and throughout Winnebago County, you’ve likely spied one of the many murals and sculptures – more than 80 –that enhance our region, providing joy for residents and visitors alike. Keep your eyes peeled for even more art installations coming in 2023. And to make it easier for the art audience to locate and appreciate these works, we are introducing a selfguided public arts trail.

Once completed this summer, RACVB’s “CRE8IV: Transformation Art” murals will be in seven of the 14 wards in the City of Rockford. Additional murals are showcased in Rockton, Roscoe, Loves Park and Pecatonica. CRE8IV (pronounced creative with a play on the region’s primary area code) is a community-building, arts-infused program launched in 2019 as part of RACVB’s placemaking and public art efforts. But we can’t do it alone. CRE8IV is possible thanks to the incredible partners and sponsors, including the Painters District Council No. 30, Local 607, who prepare the mural walls for the artists. (Please visit gorockford.com/ cre8iv for a complete list of sponsors.)

Our new self-guided arts trail is designed to help residents and visitors more fully experience the creative placemaking efforts in the Rockford region. The trail will include CRE8IV art projects, along with the iconic murals and sculptures added by our partners.

In addition, RACVB is collaborating on an effort led by the Rockford Area Arts Council and the City of Rockford to commission and install mini-murals on 50 signal boxes (often referred to as utility boxes) along city streets in each of the city’s 14 wards.

RACVB’s work in beautification and creative placemaking has been a hallmark of our destination development efforts since 2014, and we’re truly proud of how the initiative has blossomed (pun intended).

Development of our public spaces into creative experiences helps residents and

visitors not only “see” our communities differently, but it also allows them to “feel” their surroundings. Perhaps you were on a walk and took notice of an area – maybe there was a bench, great landscaping or a sculpture – and felt a connection. Maybe you thought, “That looks like a great place to reflect, read a book or have coffee with a friend.” Or maybe you were on a drive and felt an urge to stop and take a selfie because the background would be amazing on Instagram.

According to Americans for the Arts, creative placemaking is generally understood as the use of arts and culture by diverse partners to strategically shape the physical and social character of a place to spur economic development, promote enduring social change, provide a sense of safety and improve the physical environment.

For example, a mural, busker or sculpture can shape a place, converting an under-utilized area into something more useful, safe and vibrant. Placemaking can turn a vacant parking lot into a soccer field or transform an overgrown lot into a place for lending libraries, chess games or live music.

Creative placemaking projects attract people, which, in turn, encourages gatherings and builds communities. Eventually, these more appealing spaces attract new businesses, housing options and other amenities – development blossoms.

Call it creative kismet (or good strategy) – public art and placemaking are good for the community and for our destination. As we look to grow our region as a great place to live and visit, RACVB will continue to expand creative placemaking throughout Winnebago County. In the days ahead, be sure to follow GoRockford on Facebook and Instagram for a first look at the new CRE8IV murals and mini-murals as they are created and installed.

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

2023 GOLF WINNERS

Longest Putt: Nico Reza

Closest to Pin-Women: Lesly Couper

Closest to Pin-Men: Curtis Cook

Longest Drive-Men: Tom Dace

Longest Drive-Women: Kris Machajewski

Greens Sponsors:

Best Decorated Tee Box: Hughes Resources

1st: Garret Thresher, Kent Kohlbacher, Bill Redig, Scott Danielson; score of 57

2nd: John Rose, Dana Kiley, Andy Honkamp, Ray Montelongo; score of 60

3rd: Mike Roche, Pete Cimino, Jordan Rice, Zach Rice; score of 61

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO GOLFED!

Presented by:

Putting Green Sponsor:

Sand Trap Sponsors:

Cart Sponsor:

Water Sponsor:

Beverage Sponsor:

Tee-Box Sponsors:

Mulligan Sponsor:

Dessert Sponsor:

Event Photographer:

economic development

Going beyond job creation

The symbiotic benefits of economic development

At the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC), we’re about more than one-time job creation projects and one-off programs. We’re dedicated to expanding the goals and vision of economic development in the Rockford region to support lasting outcomes for our businesses, residents and communities.

As we’ve written about in previous articles for The VOICE, RAEDC is focused on four major priorities outlined in our 2023-2026 strategic plan: organizational development, product/property development, business retention and expansion, and marketing and business attraction.

We’re working to foster business and public engagement, collaborate with partners across sectors, and track performance that’s often difficult to measure. We engage community leaders and find common ground, so we can make lasting impacts that transform our communities.

So much of our mission requires educating people on how economic development is about more than creating jobs; there are cyclical and symbiotic benefits to communities. For example, job providers purchase the goods and services they need to operate, and their employees purchase the goods and services they need to live. When money changes hands in the local economy, it creates overall prosperity enjoyed by all.

Strategic plans and investment in economic development help recruit businesses to the region, retain and attract talented people, and provide quality jobs and great places to work. As a result, more dollars go directly into the pockets of employers and workers, improving their wellbeing. As people earn higher incomes and spend more money, the standard of living rises for the overall community.

Where your dollars go has a direct

GUEST COLUMNIST

It’s market season!

Celebrate summer at the 14th season of the Rockford City Market

impact on where you live, work and play. This is why illustrating the many benefits of economic development is so critical to what we do at RAEDC.

Economic development fosters the entrepreneurial spirit that lives in our creative and ambitious communities. By providing access to ideas, expert advice and collaboration, our economy stays innovative and diverse.

RAEDC is funded through investments from private sector companies, public sector municipalities, labor and trade unions, business organizations, quasi-governmental organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit agencies, and a federal grant from the Department of Defense.

Thanks to our investors – Partners in Performance who pool resources to sustain the work of RAEDC – we can continue to nurture the symbiotic relationship described above.

We invite your business to join our Partners in Performance investment campaign to take on a more active role in growing our economy in the Rockford region. Everyone benefits from having a stronger, more sustainable economy. Annual investments range from $2,500 per year up to $300,000 per year.

We understand that businesses face difficult decisions about where and how to invest their limited funds. But by making decisions that are good for both your business and the community, you are helping build a strong future for our region.

Learn more about how you can get involved at rockfordil.com.

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

The 2023 season of the Rockford City Market is underway, and we couldn’t be more excited. There’s always something special about seeing the community gather at the Rockford City Market pavilion and surrounding streets to support local entrepreneurs and enjoy time together in the heart of downtown – all with a local beer in hand.

As the vendor manager of the Rockford City Market, I might be biased, but I would argue that the Market is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat on a Friday night. With 16 food trucks and eight food tents to choose from, there’s likely something handcrafted for everyone in your party to enjoy. Whether it’s a snack before your dinner plans, a curated meal on site from a variety of vendors or a sweet treat on your way to late-night cocktails downtown, there’s always something wonderful to experience, and we love seeing people gather at the Market to enjoy it in community with each other.

What’s unique about dining at the Market is that you’re not only able to try a variety of cuisines in one place, but you’re able to experience a variety of passions. All our food vendors put in tremendous effort to bring patrons menu items that they are passionate about – it’s their grandmother’s recipe, or it’s the food that inspired them to cook as a child, or it’s the later-in life hobby that turned into a dream career. When you’re eating from a food vendor, you’re supporting a food entrepreneur’s dream. And when we’re collectively supporting our food entrepreneur’s dreams, we’re celebrating and supporting our Rockford community. It’s a form of local investment with a huge, delicious payout.

This summer, our 14th season (it’s hard to believe how quickly time flies), we’re eager to continue seeing the Market thrive as it helps incubate small businesses. We’re all about connection and incubation. We love doing anything we can, as a team and a small non-profit organization, to bring people together to support local entrepreneurs. Getting to see the community gather over good food, good music and great beer while doing that is just a joyful plus. Not to mention seeing people get excited about all of the local produce and handmade art on site as well.

This year, to help us further pursue that enjoyment of gathering together, we’ve sectioned off an area of our indoor

Rockford City Market building for patrons to exclusively rent for private gatherings such as birthday parties, class reunions or corporate events – all in the Rockford City Market footprint. We can hardly wait to see the space utilized for all sorts of functions in conjunction with the Market each week as it gets rented out.

Aside from celebrating and supporting our vendors, we’ve loved being able to partner with other local organizations. This is our third season partnering with the Rockford Park District. Every Friday they’re outside with us engaging the community in fun, free activities for kids and kids at heart. We’re also partnering once again with the Rockford Public Library Bus and the Rock Valley College Tech Bus. Both vehicles will be on site at various dates throughout the season to get the community excited about learning, literacy and STEM programming.

So why gather at the Market? It’s the perfect place to kick off your weekend with a block-party style community gathering that’s rooted in celebrating Rockford and our local entrepreneurs. When you’re gathering at the Market –attending by yourself, in a small group or hosting a party in our new Gather at the Market space – you’re helping bring people together to interact with entrepreneurs and small businesses, hopefully aiding in their journey of incubation. By investing our resources in our local entrepreneurs, we’re rooting for Rockford and for our community to succeed. Being able to enjoy amazing menu items and handcrafted beer while doing so? That is the cherry on top.

Gather at the Market with us this summer. If you’re interested in gathering in our reserved area, please contact Amy, our event specialist, at Amy.Ekberg@ rrdp.org.

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

ROCKFORD

THERESE THILL president, RAEDC

BECCA BARTELS director of market engagement, Rockford City Market

GUEST COLUMNIST

MARY MCNAMARA BERNSTEN executive director, Rockford Area Arts Council

GUEST COLUMNIST

Rockford Region Cultural Plan update

Building a vision for Rockford’s arts and culture

This month, the Rockford Area Arts Council (RAAC), with regional partners and Lord Cultural Resources, launched a year-long process to create the Rockford Region Cultural Plan for all who live, work, visit and play in the Rockford region. The RAAC established a project advisory committee made up of Rockford community leaders who will collaborate with community ambassadors to ensure deep engagement throughout Rockford.

The Rockford Region Cultural Plan will feature an overall vision for Rockford’s arts and culture, including neighborhood asset mapping, a public art strategy, and an access strategy for increased engagement in arts and culture events, programs and initiatives. The plan will help lay the foundation to develop priorities that support arts and culture in Rockford, while creating a sense of community among all who participate.

The impetus for creating a cultural plan for Rockford is driven by compelling data on the benefits of arts and culture, as demonstrated by Americans for the Arts Social Impact Explorer (ww2. americansforthearts.org/explorer).

Cultural plans help foster a stronger arts and culture sector, and better connect arts and culture to other sectors and needs, including education, community development, health, wellness and workforce development.

Cultural plans can improve communities in the following ways:

• Accessibility: Underserved, marginalized and BIPOC populations are uniquely served through increased access to arts and culture opportunities.

• Youth development: Youth are dramatically impacted by their involvement in the arts. Communities with youth who participate in the arts experience a 5.4% reduction in juvenile crime. Youth involved in arts and culture are:

o 5X less likely to drop out

o 2X more likely to graduate college

o 78% more likely to vote

• Culture: Art is a distinguishing part of Rockford’s public history and a reflection of our rich and diverse cultures. A cultural plan recognizes, celebrates, and elevates our rich diversity.

• Workforce development: The arts create well-rounded workers who drive innovation, foster participation. and excel at communicating. Additionally, a cultural plan provides critical insights to support the recruitment and retention of a skilled workforce and professionals.

• Serving the underserved: Access to arts and culture particularly empower the underserved – seniors, rural populations, BIPOC, women and children. The arts create vibrancy by providing physical and mental stimulation, entertainment and avenues for social interaction, civic engagement and personal connection.

• Economic development: Art = $. Art is an economic driver. For every $1 produced in Winnebago County’s creative sector, an additional $.58 is created in eight other industries including real estate, hotel/motel, food/ beverage, construction, healthcare, retail/wholesale, education, and local and state governments.

Current funding partners for the Rockford Region Cultural Plan include:

• Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

• Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Rockford Area Arts Council

• City of Rockford, Mayor McNamara

Additional community partners include:

• Winnebago County Chair Joseph Chiarelli

• Transform Rockford

• Region 1 Planning Council

• Rockford Park District

• Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence

• Local legislators: Senator Stadelman, Representative Vella, Senator Syverson and Representative West

The list of partners continues to grow. If you or someone you know would like to support the development of this important plan, please contact Mary McNamara Bernsten, at mary@ artsforeveryone.com.

ABOUT ROCKFORD AREA ARTS COUNCIL

The Rockford Area Arts Council supports, promotes and develops access to the arts for everyone. The Arts Council is the collective voice of individual artists and regional arts and culture organizations. We believe in the transformative power of the arts and their ability to set the tone for a region’s creative and cultural infrastructure. As the Rockford Region Cultural Plan facilitator, our mission is to ensure that all voices are heard and all faces are represented in the development of this important regional guide.

Join us for in-person, public engagement, July 10, 6- 8 p.m., Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St, home to the Discovery Center, Rockford Art Museum, and Rockford Dance Company. To RSVP for this event and to take the survey, please scan the QR code.

GUEST COLUMNIST

Uncovering the brain to body connection

What you need to know about upper cervical misalignment

When you hear the term “upper cervical,” what comes to mind? Perhaps a woman’s reproductive system. Perhaps the neck region of the spine. Perhaps it just doesn’t sound applicable to you, so you move on to the next thought. But before you do that, let’s pause for a moment to talk about the upper cervical area as it relates to the spine. Understanding the health of your upper cervical spine is key to understanding healthy function in your body.

Everyone has an upper cervical region of the spine. This is the junction between your head and neck, and the top bone of your spine called C1 (first cervical vertebrae) which is approximately at the level of your ear lobes. Most people think this area is related to issues like headaches and neck pain, and this is correct. However, what we don’t realize is that there are many nerve centers affected by this area of the spine. These nerves control basic, everyday functions such as our sleep, mood, heart rate, posture and body balance, immune system, digestion, and our face, including our senses and sinuses.

Ironically, one of the most overlooked causes of back pain is the upper cervical misalignment. A shift at the top of the spine can create, in essence, a domino effect displacing the lower segments of the spine into a wrong position. The result can be muscle tightness and strain in the surrounding tissues, spinal curvature (scoliosis), and even lumbar disc issues.

People of all ages spend ample time and money on localized treatments to address back pain that often radiates into the buttocks and legs. However, temporary relief of reoccurring pain becomes frustrating when the underlying cause is not addressed. It’s not until the top of the spine is returned to a normal position that the lower spine is stabilized and long-term relief is maintained.

The upper cervical misalignment is more common than you may think. Some individuals have distinct events that injure the top of the spine such as a car accident, significant fall or concussion. But for many people, the misalignment occurrs during everyday life. Many people experience their first misalignment in childhood when a fall on the playground or a wrong twist while playing sports created the initial weakness at the top of the spine. Symptoms often don’t occur immediately or at least are initially transient. However, as time goes on and other injuries follow, breakdown

occurs in the body and symptoms become more severe and lasting.

The upper cervical misalignment has a profound effect on the body. Some of the most common external signs include one leg shorter than the other, one hip lower than the other, one shoulder lower than the other, and the head may even tilt to the right or left. There is frequently more muscle contraction on one side of the spine than the other, causing chronic tight muscles in the neck, back, pelvis or legs. With over 10,000 different ways the top of the spine can misalign, individuals may present with different symptoms and a variety of postural distortions. Studying each person as an individual is essential to understanding how the upper cervical misalignment affects their body and how it will heal once the misalignment is corrected.

Dr. Hannah Orem is one of 30 doctors worldwide board certified by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. This is her 10th year at Upper Cervical Care Center – Rockford.

This year Upper Cervical Care Center – Rockford celebrates 20 years of serving patients throughout the stateline area. Its mission is to increase the body’s healing potential by correcting the upper cervical misalignment. The anniversary party is open to the public on June 22 from 4-7 p.m. To learn more about the celebration or about upper cervical care, contact the office at 815-398-4500 or visit them at 4350 Morsay Drive, Rockford.

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

DR. HANNAH OREM Upper Cervical Care Center – Rockford

GUEST COLUMNIST

Making the most of technology

Four tips to increase small business productivity

Small business owners are no strangers to dealing with challenges, especially challenges stemming from the pandemic. Though customers have become more open to embracing digital experiences, a hybrid workforce, with employees working onsite and at home, and recent labor shortages have brought new complications. In addressing these challenges, small businesses can find plenty of opportunities for growth. An essential component to this growth is technology, which can increase productivity, improve processes and better serve customers.

“In today’s digital world, small businesses can’t operate without technology,” said Jeff Cobb, Regional Vice President of Comcast Business. “To survive and thrive, small businesses need to understand which technologies will best serve them and their customers and work with a service provider to ensure their technology investments meet their needs.”

Comcast Business has compiled the following guidance to help small business owners make the most of their technology solutions.

Use Automation

Automation is not just a tool for enterprises – small businesses can benefit from it, too. By automating manual tasks, small business owners can save time and put more focus on activities that will add value to the business.

For example, small businesses can automate email responses to ensure fast and seamless communication, plus a better experience for customers, all while reducing time spent. This includes sending customer feedback surveys after a purchase or encounter.

Automatic appointment reminders, self-serve scheduling and cancellation functionality also help cut down on time-intensive manual work and can help prevent gaps in scheduling.

Go Mobile

Business can be done anywhere these days, not just in an office or at a desk. That means a business-grade mobile network is essential to keep up with the rapid pace of business operations, wherever they might be located.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for finding the best mobile solutions, so small businesses should assess their work environments to determine the type of plan they need. Consider how often employees are on WiFi versus relying on cellular data, as well as how much data is involved in day-to-day business activities. 5G coverage is good to consider, as it can support employees as they receive documents, presentations, images and more when they’re in the field.

Stay Connected

With the increase of employees working outside of the business – at least some of the time – small businesses more than ever need to support connections for employees spread across multiple locations. A holistic approach to connectivity is key for a reliable connection and critical to supporting a distributed workforce.

For on-premise businesses, it’s critical to have access to a solution that’s fast, smart and allows for separate networks for front- and back-of-house operations. That way, employees and customers alike can stay reliably connected, whether it’s through a tablet in the hands of a

restaurant server, an associate taking inventory or a guest connecting to WiFi.

Small businesses also should consider a cloud-based unified communications and collaboration system. Using these systems, employees can stay connected from anywhere with just one business number for both desktop phones and mobile devices. Additionally, features like auto attendant – a virtual receptionist – can help ensure that calls are answered at any time.

Despite the rise in mobile business communications, landlines are still important to include when considering connectivity upgrades. Using a VoIP system with landlines can simplify call transfers and routing, as well as offer automated attendants, among other features.

Implement a Cybersecurity Strategy

Small businesses today face the same cybersecurity risks that enterprise-level companies do – but often, they don’t have the resources that a full-sized security team can provide. That’s why it’s essential for small business owners to implement a cybersecurity strategy that helps keep operations productive and secure.

Technology plays a big role in cybersecurity for businesses. Powerful tools that help block threats like malware, ransomware, phishing and botnet attacks can help protect businesses. Measures, including firewalls, passwords and endpoint protection are also effective ways to protect businesses. In addition, small businesses should backup their systems regularly to help prevent a total loss of information if a breach occurs.

Business owners should also train employees regularly on how cyber breaches can occur to help build awareness around real-world threats. Employees are often targets of cyber scams. Building cybersecurity knowledge among employees is one of the best and easiest cybersecurity defenses small businesses have in their arsenal.

To stay productive and ready for what’s next, it’s important that small businesses rely on a mix of technology tools. Comcast Business offers a range of solutions to help small businesses achieve their goals, backed by reliable connectivity.

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

business

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Mercyhealth’s REACT flight crew held a commemorative dinner to celebrate 35 years of service to the community. REACT, based in Rockford, provides advanced helicopter transport medicine for the most critically ill and injured patients across northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa. It has served the area since 1987.

DEVIATE is looking for artists who stimulate the senses and push the limits of creativity, including but not limited to musicians, dancers, sculptors, photographers and live painters.

DEVIATE will be held Saturday, Sept. 16, 6-11 p.m. at the Ironworks Campus in downtown Beloit.

DEVIATE is currently accepting applications for artists and musicians interested in being part of the event, which showcases contemporary art and artists in an energetic, industrial environment. There is no entry fee for artists to be included, and they will take home 100% of the commission they make at the event. Apply online at www. deviatebeloit.com to be included.

Northern Illinois Hospice is offering aromatherapy as a new complementary therapy to help ease symptoms in patients. Aromatherapy uses essential oils to target specific clinical symptoms, promote comfort and enhance well-being.

Alpine Kiwanis Club awarded $3000 scholarships to 10 local high school seniors:

Alexander Crowell - Auburn

• Ava Mastroianni - Winnebago

• Mary Meyers - Harlem

• Keagan White - Belvidere North

• Alexandra Blair - Belvidere North

• Alisa Moore - Durand

• Tamsy Leverton - Dakota

• Kara Driscoll - Harlem

• Delaney Porter - Hononegah

• Sonya McClain - Belvidere North

The $30,000 in scholarships given this year is made possible thru the Alpine Kiwanis Club Scholarship Fund. The funds were raised in part from the 2022 Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days.

Judson University celebrated 182 graduates during the 89th commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 6. Former David C. Cook CEO Cris Doornbos gave the keynote address to graduates.

Golden Apple Foundation held its 2023 Excellence in Education banquet presented by Bergstrom and Collins Aerospace on April 28 at the Tebala Event Center. This celebration recognized the top 20 teacher finalists and six Golden Apple recipients for 2023.

Rockford City Hall is hosting the opening reception of Rockford Famous on Friday, May 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m. The group exhibition showcases self-portraits by prominent Rockford artists, portraying not only their image but how they see themselves within the landscape of the city. Works will be on display in the lobby of City Hall through June 16.

Forest City Gear expanded its capacity for the grinding of high precision internal and external gears with the addition of two Kellenberger K100 cylindrical grinders. These machines support the growing capabilities Forest City Gear offers customers with complex OD (outside diameter) and ID (inside diameter) grinding requirements. The first machine is a Universal capacity, with ID capability utilizing 1000mm capacity between centers for longer shafts or deep ID requirements. The Universal machine also has nonround grinding capability, making it ideal for grinding hexagonal and square gears as well with micron accuracy. The second machine, 600mm between centers, is focused on cylindrical OD grinding. Both machines are fully equipped with auto part sizing equipment, active and passive flagging and roll dressing capability.

Dr. Philip Schalow and Dr. Hannah Orem of Upper Cervical Care Center – Rockford attended the Spring NUCCA Conference in Newport Beach, California, April 27-29. Dr. Schalow presented his research paper Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Upper Cervical Chiropractic: A Preliminary Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study. Dr. Orem was an assistant instructor for beginner and advanced adjusting classes.

LDR Cleaning & Restoration was recognized by the Salvation Army of Rockford/Winnebago County for food donations given during the Feed the Need food drive in 2022. The award was given to Heather and David Roach, owners of LDR, for outstanding assistance to the Salvation Army during November and December of 2022. LDR has participated in the Feed the Need food drive with The Bull radio station for the past four years. Chartwell Agency recently designed a logo to help the Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity celebrate and commemorate its 35th year building homes, neighborhoods and lives in the community.

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center was named to the biannual Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for the spring of 2023 by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization for patient safety.

The Rockford Park District Foundation is raising funds for a new Indoor Equine Center at Lockwood Park. This will be a lifechanging facility serving the needs of youth and teens living with mental health issues, developmental disabilities, trauma, domestic abuse, substance abuse and other needs. The Rockford Park District Foundation hopes to raise at least $10 million to build and sustain the Indoor Equine Center. To date, half of the funding goal has been raised. A recent private fundraising event raised $350,000 in less than half an hour. The Blazer Foundation recently donated $500,000 to go toward operational support needed for the Indoor Equine Center.

Forest City Gear hosted a tour for attendees of the Helios Gear School in May. The school, run by Helios Gear Products, is designed for entry-level professionals in gear manufacturing, from engineers to operators to quality control personnel. The Forest City Gear tour has been a staple of the school for more than 30 years for students to learn about gear cutting, shaping and inspection.

Chartwell Agency received four international Hermes Creative Awards in marketing and public relations, adding to the firm’s already impressive list of recognitions. Hermes Creative Awards is one of the oldest and largest creative competitions in the world which honors the messengers and creators who are bringing ideas to life through traditional and digital platforms. This year, with more than 6,000 entries, Chartwell Agency was recognized by Hermes in the platinum, gold, and honorable mention categories. The firm received the following awards: Meridian Trust “The Real Deal” commercial (platinum); Alignment Rockford website redesign (gold); Crusader Community Health 50th Anniversary Invitation & Highland Community College President’s Report (honorable mentions).

Region 1 Planning Council is seeking public comment on the draft FY 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program for the Rockford region. A 30-day comment period is afforded to the public to review and provide feedback on the draft. Public comments on the plan will be accepted from Tuesday, May 23, 2023, until 9 a.m. Thursday, June 22, 2023.

Comments may be submitted by email, telephone or in writing to:

Melisa Ribikawskis, associate planner 127 N. Wyman St., Suite 100, Rockford, IL 61101 Phone: 815-319-4187 | Email: mribikawskis@r1planning.org

Sun Country Airlines announced a major expansion of its winter flight schedule from MKE (Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport) to warm weather destinations. Highlights from the airline’s winter 2023/2024 Milwaukee schedule include:

Expanded international service from Milwaukee to Cancun, Mexico, beginning December 16, 2023.

Near-daily nonstop service from Milwaukee to Fort Myers, Florida. Multiple flights per week to both Orlando, Florida and Phoenix, Arizona.

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced at least 960 lead municipal water lines will be replaced with $4 million in Illinois Environmental Protection Agency funding. The award is Rockford’s fifth from IEPA State Revolving Fund, which provides principal forgiveness loans that don’t have to be repaid. Rockford has received $16 million to replace lead service lines since 2019, with $4 million being the program’s maximum award amount.

Rockford Urological, in partnership with Zero – The End of Prostate Cancer, will host a prostate cancer run/walk in Rockford on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 9 a.m. The familyfriendly event is open to patients, survivors, caregivers, family, friends and those honoring loved ones and supporting prostate cancer awareness in the Rockford region. Participants can register for the 5K run/walk or the one mile walk online. If participants would like to join the run/walk virtually, they can do so by downloading the RunGo App. The event will include a Survivor & Caregiver Ceremony, kid activities, including a special Kids Superhero Dash for Dad. Food and drinks will also be available. It’s free to register.

Natural Land Institute (NLI) received a $6,900 grant for Family Nature Adventures. The grant was awarded by the Dr. Courtney J. and Margaret Hutchins Hamlin Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program.

First National Bank and Trust (FNBT) will host a series of free coin appraisal events. Ron Beckstrom of Golden Rule Coins will be on-site to tell bank visitors what their old and valuable currency is worth and make offers to purchase some of the appraised currency. This free service, open to all community members, will be available 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the following dates:

Wednesday, June 28

FNBT branch located at 1625 10th St, Monroe, WI 53566

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

business BUSINESS

Friday, Aug. 25

FNBT branch located at 2600 Cranston Rd, Beloit, WI 53511

Friday, Oct. 20

FNBT branch located at 105 State Road 67, Walworth, WI 53184

Friday, Nov. 3

FNBT branch located at 300 East Main St, Rockton, IL 61072

Wednesday, Nov. 29

FNBT branch located at 1795 Madison Rd, Beloit, WI 53511

First National Bank and Trust also will host six free shred days in 2023. Paper Recovery will be on hand to ensure secure destruction of paper documents containing personal information. This free service, open to all community members, will be available 9 a.m.-noon on the following dates:

Saturday, June 10

FNBT branch located at 105 State Rd 67, Walworth, WI 53184

Saturday, June 24

FNBT branch located at 1795 Madison Rd, Beloit, WI 53511

BRIEFS

Saturday, July 8

FNBT branch located at 2636 S US Highway 51, Janesville, WI 53546

Saturday, July 22

FNBT branch located at 500 N. Elida St, Winnebago, IL 61088

Saturday, July 29

FNBT branch located at 2600 Cranston Rd, Beloit, WI 53511

Saturday, Aug. 12

FNBT branch located at 5360 Bridge St, Roscoe, IL 61073

The Founders Commission (Plus Seven Company), a new nonprofit designed to celebrate the accomplishments of noted Rockford-area natives, will launch its Diamond Series of events on June 15 inside Emery Air’s north hangar at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. The program will include a keynote speech by Michael Andrews, Auburn High School graduate and current Top Gun instructor in the U.S. Navy.

OSF Saint Anthony College of Nursing held its commencement on May 12. The college awarded 33

Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) degrees, five Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees, and 13 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees.

Libraries in Rockford, Loves Park, Cherry Valley and Belvidere received $379,097 in state funds to purchase books and new technology, hire staff and offer digital access to patrons through Public Library Per Capita Grants made through the Illinois Secretary of State. Based on population served, Rockford Public Library will get $219,000 that will allow patrons to choose from an expanded and updated collection of reading materials.

YWCA Northwestern Illinois opened registration for its next cohort of students for its front-end web development class within its YW Tech Lab program starting June 20. The class provides participants with 400+ hours of hands-on training in front-end web development (design, HTML, CSS, Javascript) and soft skills including problem solving, resume writing, interview practice and project management. Participants

in the news

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Frank Nicolosi, MD, JD (1), of Mercyhealth was elected vicespeaker of the Illinois State Medical Society during its recent annual meeting. Dr. Nicolosi is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Urgent Care Medicine. He treats patients at Mercyhealth Perryville.

John Holevas (2), a partner with WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, was appointed to serve on the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council by ISBA President-Elect Shawn Kasserman. Holevas also was appointed to the ISBA Federal Civil Practice Section Council and to the Character and Fitness Committee of the Board of Admissions to the Illinois State Bar by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder-White.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS

Jason Recob (3) is the new president of Curran Contracting, a leading northern Illinois heavy highway contractor and infrastructure solutions company.

First National Bank and Trust announced that Keith McCormick

also can earn a Google IT Support Professional Certificate, CompTIA A+, including Network, Security, and Server certificates.

Per Mar Security Services was ranked 15th on the 2023 SDM Top 100 List.

Digital Hive Mind was selected by Bombshell Productions to co-create an experiential activation for the unveiling of the new PUMA x F1 licensee partnership. The exclusive VIP celebration was produced by 424 Productions and hosted at Swan Restaurant ahead of the Formula 1 2023 Miami Grand Prix weekend.

Rockford Area Flag Retirement Flag retirement at the Rockford Program Center for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, 7194 Vandiver Road (behind Kegel HarleyDavidson), June 17th from 8:00am until completed.

(4) was promoted to vice president, commercial banking officer.

Forest City Gear hired Kevin Rogers (5) as quoting engineer.

Digital Hive Mind welcomed Taylor Hohn (6) as communications specialist.

RAMP welcomed Abby Finley (7), development associate, and Kimberlee Roush (8), Winnebago County manager.

Ipsen USA hired David Choate (9) as director of field service.

KMK Media promoted Ethan Hall (10) to web/multimedia developer.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Chris French (11), PGA pro and golf program manager at Aldeen Golf Club, made his debut at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

First National Bank and Trust announced that Angie Baskin (12) recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking (GSB) Digital Banking School.School.

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for

Chamber members.

1. Frank Nicolosi, MD, JD

2. John Holevas

3. Jason Recob 4. Keith McCormick

5. Kevin Rogers 6. Taylor Hohn 7. Abby Finley 8. Kimberlee Roush

9. David Choate 10. Ethan Hall 11. Chris French 12. Angie Baskin

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

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

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

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

ANGUS-YOUNG

SECURE STAFFING

13 WREX

Akerman Shoes

Allstate - J Ellis Agency

Ameriprise Financial - Aspire Financial Group

Ameriprise Financial

- Luminaire Financial Group

Astro-Physics, Inc.

Belter Machinery Co., Inc.

Blackhawk Propane Company, Inc.

Cain & Company

Cookies by Design

Crown Machine, Inc.

Curran Contracting

Curran Contracting - Royer Asphalt Paving, Inc.

DeMuth Steel Products, Inc

Eickman’s Processing Company

Employee Benefit Association of Northern Illinois

FNIC - Trusted insurance advisors

Forever Green, Inc.

Freed Plumbing, Inc.

FurstStaffing

G & O Landscaping Inc.

Goldie Floberg

Gruno’s Diamonds

Guler Appliance Company

Hanson Professional Services Inc.

Huntington Learning Center

Interstate Graphics

Kent Feeds, Inc.

M2 Landscaping LLC

Magnuson, Inc.

MegaFab

Meg’s Daily Grind

MercyCare Health Plans

Meridian

Midland States Bank

Mosaic in Rockford

Northern Illinois Building

Contractors Association

Northern Illinois Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association

Northern Illinois Optical Co Inc

OrthoIllinois

OrthoIllinois - Riverside

Pepsi-Cola of Rockford - Roxbury

Phantom Regiment

Prairie State Legal Services Inc.

Pro Legal Care LLC

Progressive West Rockford CDC*

Residence Inn by Marriott/Rockford

Rock River Energy Services, Inc.

Rockford Career College

Rockford Casino

“A Hard Rock Opening Act”

Rockford Country Club

Rockford Public Library

Rockford Public Schools, District #205

Rockford Radiology Associates

Rockford Regional Health Council

Rockford University

Rustoleum Corporation (Testor)

Sam’s Club, A Division of Wal-Mart Stores

Schnuck Markets Inc. - State

Schnuck Markets Inc. - Charles

Schnuck Markets Inc. - 11th Street

Serola Biomechanics, Inc.

Service Machine Company, Inc.

Specialty Screw Corporation

Stillman Bank

Stratus Networks

Sundog

Tad More Tailoring

Talecris Plasma Resources

The Carriage Homes of Park Hills VI

The Pregnancy Care Center

The Standard

Viking Chemical Company

Vixen Productions

Weldstar Co.

Wells Fargo Advisors, Zachary J.

Buchanan, CFP®, First Vice President-Investment Officer, Buchanan Investment Group

Winnebago County

-River Bluff Nursing Home

Woodward (Loves Park Campus)

Woodward (Rock Cut Campus)

Angus-Young is a full-service firm offering architectural, landscape architecture, engineering and interior design solutions. 555 S River St, Janesville WI 53548

Rockford location opens Fall 2023: 416 E State St Ste 200, 61104 Steven Genin - (608) 756-2326 www.angusyoung.com

KIDS AROUND

THE WORLD, INC.

Sharing God’s transforming hope through food, play and story, so that future generations can lead hope-filled, Christ-centered lives. 5245 28th Ave, 61109 Brian Wahl - (815) 229-8731 www.kidsaroundtheworld.com

RIVERSIDE ASSEMBY OF GOD

Ministry includes service, outreach and food pantry.

4242 W Riverside Blvd, 61101

Pastors Cathie and James Hightshoe - (815) 962-5913 www.riversiderockford.com

Striving to help companies staff more efficiently and retain their employees.

14477 De La Tour Dr South Beloit, IL 61080

Olivia Ivan HR Manager - (815) 977-7433 www.securestaffing.net

THE CANNA CAFE

Cannabis dispensary. 6830 Spring Creek Rd, 61114 Laura Renner - (815) 977-3354 thecannacafe815.com

THE HAVEN NETWORK

Perinatal hospice and bereavement Center supporting families enduring the death of their baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, early infant death or terminal diagnosis.

124 N Water St Ste 201, 61107 Stephanie Grimm - (815) 9621512 www.thehavennetwork.org

JUNE 2023 ANNIVERSARIES

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

40 YEAR MEMBERS

LM Sheet Metal & Service, Inc.

35 YEAR MEMBERS

Per Mar Security

30 YEAR MEMBERS

United States Postal Service

25 YEAR MEMBERS

LDR Cleaning & Restoration, Inc.

LawnCare by Walter, Inc.

20 YEAR MEMBERS Court Street United Methodist

15 YEAR MEMBERS

CORA Physical Therapy

- Alpine Road

CORA Physical Therapy

- Belvidere

CORA Physical Therapy

- Byron

CORA Physical Therapy

- Poplar Grove

Maciano’s Pizza

(Perryville Pizza, LLC)

Maciano’s Pizza

- Columbia Parkway

10 YEAR MEMBERS

Friends of the Coronado

5 YEAR MEMBERS

Angler Motors Inc.

Express Employment

Professionals

FNIC - Trusted insurance advisors

IP Communications, Inc.

McDonald’s - Bear Family

Restaurants - Auburn Street

McDonald’s - Bear Family

Restaurants - Kishwaukee St

McDonald’s - Bear Family

Restaurants - Northridge

McDonald’s - Bear Family

Restaurants - W Riverside Blvd

Mindy Joy Photography

CHaMBER CHAMBER EVENTS

JUNE 2023

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

The Update, 9 a.m., University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave.

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

Business and Baseball with the Rockford Rivets, 6 p.m., Rivets Stadium, 4503 Interstate Blvd, Loves Park. Join our friends at the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce for this joint Chamber Night out at the ballgame.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

Government Affairs Council, 7:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford. Keynote speaker: Emily Klonicki, Alignment Rockford. Presented by AT&T.

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

Business Over Lunch: The Missing Link in Leadership, 11:30 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Presented by Thayer Energy Solutions. Keynote speaker: Jan Selander, Forest City Consulting.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

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

JULY 2023

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12

Intro to Government Contracting, 8 a.m., live webinar (link sent to registrants). Event partner: Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

THURSDAY, JULY 20

Business and Baseball with the SkyCarp, 6 p.m., Gateway Professional Baseball, LLC - Beloit Sky Carp, 217 Shirland Ave, Beloit.

AUGUST 2023

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8

Business Over Lunch: Leadership Coaching, 11:30 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Presented by Thayer Energy Solutions. Keynote speaker: Stacey Curry, IMEC.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11

Government Affairs Council, 7:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford. Presented by AT&T. Keynote speaker: Brad Cole, Illinois Municipal League.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17

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

SEPTEMBER 2023

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Government Affairs Council, 7:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St, Rockford. Presented by AT&T. Keynote speaker: Congressman Darin LaHood.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Annual Dinner, 5 p.m., Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Rd. Presented by OSF Healthcare. Keynote speaker: Kyle Scheele.

Northwestern Illinois

Dawna Menke

OSF HealthCare

Denise Sasse RSM US LLP

Peter Schmeling Schmeling

Construction Co

Brent Scott Rockford Community Bank

Teri Sharp

American Precision Supply, Inc.

Ryan Snider Rockford Ice Hogs

Alex Stagnaro-Green, MD, MHPE, MHA

University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Karl Swanson Illinois Bank & Trust

Christina Valdez

CMM & Associates

Dustin Vock Meiborg, Inc.

Robert Young Midwest Packaging and Container

EX-OFFICIO

DIRECTORS

Caitlin Pusateri, President Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Therese Thill Rockford Area

Economic Development Council

John Groh

Rockford Area

Convention & Visitors Bureau