June Voice 2024

of the greater rockford business community

A healthier, more vibrant Rockford

How healthcare evolution shapes our community

By Caitlin Pusateri, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce

The Rockford region has long been a testament to resilience and innovation. Over the years, our community has witnessed significant transformations, particularly in the healthcare sector. This evolution not only enhances the quality of care available to residents, but it bolsters the local economy through job creation and charitable initiatives.

In this month’s issue of The Voice, we highlight the advancements, compassion and community spirit of our local healthcare organizations, specifically, the three major health systems—UW

Health, Mercyhealth, and OSF Saint Anthony.

In the Rockford region, the presence of three major health systems ensures access to quality healthcare services and serves as a cornerstone of economic development. Through job creation, talent attraction, growing support industries, and promotion of community well-being, UW Health, Mercyhealth, and OSF Saint Anthony contribute to the city’s economic vitality and resilience. By recognizing the interconnectedness of healthcare and economic development, Rockford can continue to leverage its healthcare assets to build a prosperous and sustainable future for all.

THE YEAR OF PEACH FUZZ

The Rockford Garden Club encourages residents to decorate their pots, hanging baskets and gardens with peach-colored flowers in honor of “Peach Fuzz,” Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year. Pantone chose this shade of peachyorange for its warm, welcoming glow, and gardeners and homeowners are embracing it.

In conjunction with the RAVCB, the Rockford Garden Club will plant the Downtown Rockford ‘Four Corner’ plots with the theme color. They also plan to place peach-themed pots outside the Rockford Peaches baseball park.

Exemplary care and innovation

The healthcare landscape in the Rockford region has changed significantly in recent years, with mergers taking place, facility upgrades across all health systems and new technology that has pushed the boundaries of medicine and saved lives.

After the acquisition of SwedishAmerican Health System by UW Health, the Rockford community continues to benefit from state-of-theart healthcare and services. UW Health remains steadfast in its commitment to integration and community involvement, (continued on page 9)

GUEST COLUMNIST Strategic advocacy

The role of government affairs in supporting local businesses

In today’s economic environment, local businesses can find navigating the legislative landscape challenging. Often referred to as lobbying or government affairs, strategic advocacy can bridge the gap between local enterprises and legislative bodies, ensuring that the interests of small and mid-sized businesses are well represented.

A tool for economic development

Government affairs is often misunderstood as merely a conduit for large corporate interests. However, at its core, lobbying is about advocacy,

information gathering and partnership. For local businesses in Illinois, engaging in lobbying activities can be a powerful tool to drive economic development. By actively participating in the legislative process, businesses can advocate for policies that directly benefit them, such as tax incentives, infrastructure improvements and regulatory changes.

One significant area where lobbying has proven effective is in securing state grants and funding for local projects. For example, through strategic advocacy efforts, several Illinois towns successfully obtained state funds to improve local

(continued on page 4)

Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens will participate by adding peach-colored plants to their 100+ hanging pots this summer.

Plant some “Peach Fuzz” in your neighborhood this summer and watch Rockford bloom.

CITY MARKET VOLUNTEERS

NEEDED

Rock River Development Partnership hosts the Rockford City Market every Friday, May 17-Sept. 27 in downtown Rockford. They’re looking for volunteers to act as Gate Greeters for the market. Individual and group volunteers are welcome and may sign up for one date or multiple markets. Group volunteers will also be given a free booth space to promote their organization during the market. This is the perfect opportunity for nonprofits, clubs, schools and sports groups to serve the community while promoting their organization and/or next event.

For more information on volunteering, please contact amy.ekberg@rrdp.org or call 815-315-1332.

SAVE THE DATE

2024 Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Thursday, September 19 5-8 p.m.

Tebala Event Center 7910 Newburg Rd Rockford, IL 61108 Register online at rockfordchamber.com presented by:

DR. LITESA WALLACE, founder of LITE Strategies LLC

GRCC launches new membership model

Member benefit packages range from $500 to $50,000

By Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) launched a new tiered funding model designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, offering packages that range from a $500 Foundational membership to a $50,000 Chairman’s Club membership. This innovative approach ensures every business, regardless of its size or budget, can find value in the chamber’s offerings.

New members can select package pricing that best meets their needs, while renewing members will be placed into tiers that most closely reflect their current pricing.

Membership benefits overview

Marketing and advertising opportunities: Members at all levels gain access to exclusive marketing and advertising channels. The GRCC provides members with opportunities to promote their businesses through the chamber’s website, The Voice newsletter, eblasts, and social media platforms. Higher-tier members receive premium advertising placements and enhanced

visibility in chamber publications and events.

Access to member lists: Silver Members and can access the chamber’s extensive member directory address book at a discount, facilitating connections and collaborations within the local business community. This access is invaluable for B2B networking and exploring potential partnerships.

Networking opportunities: The chamber organizes a variety of networking events throughout the year, including luncheons, business expos, workshops and more. These events are tailored to help members connect with potential clients, partners and industry peers. Premium members receive VIP access as appropriate for their staff as well as opportunities to participate.

Events: Members are invited to participate in numerous GRCC events designed to foster community engagement and business growth. These include educational workshops, leadership seminars and sector-specific forums. Top-tier members often have the opportunity to sponsor and speak at

these events, enhancing their visibility and influence.

Business retention and expansion support: The GRCC offers dedicated support for business retention and expansion. This includes site visits, consultations, business development resources and advocacy efforts to ensure a favorable business climate. Highertier members receive personalized support plans and priority assistance in navigating regulatory and economic challenges.

When you become a member of the GRCC, you find support in a team committed to growing the Rockford community and its businesses. We can

help connect you with new customers, vendors and partners. Our staff is willing to help your company achieve new goals by offering our skillset, platform and network. We’re there to advocate for you in front of city, regional and state political leaders.

When you become a member of the GRCC, you have a voice. We’d be thrilled to sit down and talk with you about this new age of opportunity and prosperity. For more information on becoming a member, visit rockfordchamber.com/ membership

GUEST COLUMNIST From citizen to candidate

Seminar helps potential candidates master the run for office

Ready to make a difference in your community? Discover how to make the transition from concerned citizen to confident candidate at You Should Run for Office, Tuesday, June 11, 5-7 p.m. This free, nonpartisan political campaign training, sponsored by the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) and Illinois REALTORS®, offers strategies and insights from seasoned experts on how to launch a successful campaign and become the leader your community needs.

Deciding to run for office is a significant moment that combines personal conviction and professional consideration. The emotional turmoil experienced before making this decision can be intense as you navigate doubts, uncertainties and the weight of responsibility. It all starts with your why. Why do I want to run?

I ran for a trustee position in the Village of Poplar Grove because I am

passionate about expanding parks and recreation opportunities. I noticed that this important matter was not being discussed by the board, and I wanted to be the voice advocating for it. Thankfully, I had the support of knowledgeable individuals who guided me through the process to a successful election. However, I understand how challenging it can be when you lack an inner circle to provide that crucial support and guidance.

When you reach that decisive point, just as I did, and commit to taking the plunge, you must not let bureaucratic hurdles and administrative formalities obstruct your path to making meaningful change.

Running for office may seem intimidating, but it’s simply a matter of mastering a few key details, and you’re on your way. It’s not all about winning. It is about getting involved. If you’re passionate about seeing your values reflected in public policy, rest assured

that there are resources and a wealth of support available to guide you through the process. It’s essential to take action and make your voice heard.

Whether you’re a newcomer or already hold public office and want to sharpen your skills and enhance your outreach, this free, nonpartisan, twohour training will provide practical materials focused on fundamentals like how to get on the ballot, create a budget, run a campaign, market yourself to voters and fundraising.

Perhaps you’re not quite ready to take the leap into running a full-fledged campaign, but you’re eager to contribute to your community. Remember, there are numerous opportunities beyond elected office where you can make a meaningful impact. Many local government bodies, such as planning commissions, historic preservation committees and community relations boards, offer appointed positions. If you’re interested in serving in

any capacity, reach out to your city, township or county. There are plenty of open roles waiting for individuals who are passionate about community advancement. Use your voice, expertise and inquisitive spirit to make a valuable contribution to community progress. If you’re ready to take the first step toward running for office or simply want to learn more about the process, we invite you to join us for You Should Run for Office, Tuesday, June 11, from 5-7 p.m. at the NorthWest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS®, 1161 Tebala Blvd. in Rock ford.

To register for this free training, visit rockfordchamber.com/event-calendar. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and start your journey toward making a difference in your community.

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

NEELEY ERICKSON, government affairs director, Illinois REALTORS®

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transportation infrastructure, directly benefiting the businesses that rely on these systems for customer access and supply chain operations.

Reducing regulatory burdens

Regulations play a crucial role in maintaining fairness and safety in the marketplace. However, overly stringent regulations can inhibit innovation and impose undue financial burdens on small businesses. Government affairs professionals can articulate these challenges to policymakers, working to adjust or remove outdated or overly restrictive regulations. They do this by presenting data and real-world examples of how certain laws affect local businesses. Lobbyists often help streamline regulations that are out of sync with modern business practices.

River’s Edge Historic Tax Credit case study

The River’s Edge Historic Tax Credit serves as an exemplary case of how effective lobbying can lead to transformative changes for local economies. This initiative, aimed at revitalizing historic areas in cities along rivers in Illinois, had a significant impact in Rockford, particularly in the redevelopment of its downtown area.

Projects like the redevelopment of the Prairie Street Brewhouse and the construction of the Embassy Suites hotel, now located in the former AmRock building, utilized this credit. These projects not only preserved historic architecture but also stimulated local economic growth by attracting tourists and supporting local businesses.

Community leaders such as former Mayor Morrisey, state senators Syverson and Stadelman, former state representatives Jefferson and Wallace, collaborated with local stakeholders, including business owners and government affairs professionals, to advocate for the extension and expansion of the Rivers Edge Historic Tax Credit. Their concerted efforts highlighted the potential economic and social benefits

of redeveloping downtown Rockford. As a result, the state government extended these crucial tax credits, directly facilitating further investments and enhancements in the area.

Building relationships with government

Beyond direct lobbying for specific issues, regular engagement with legislators helps build long-term relationships that can be crucial for future advocacy. These relationships ensure that business leaders have a seat at the table when relevant policies are discussed and that their concerns are considered in early stages of the legislative process.

Being proactive

Government affairs serves as a vital tool for local businesses to influence public policy in ways that support their growth and operational goals. In Illinois, being proactive in government affairs is not just beneficial but necessary. By understanding and participating in strategic advocacy, local businesses can ensure that their voices are heard. As we continue to advocate for policies that foster a favorable business environment, we reinforce the importance of a collaborative approach between government and business, ultimately contributing to a robust local economy.

Dr. Litesa Wallace is a former Illinois State Representative and founder of LITE Strategies LLC. She has a proven track record of supporting local businesses through strategic legislation and robust community partnerships. She is a government affairs expert with over a decade of experience, leveraging a deep understanding of policy and community engagement to foster economic growth and empowerment.

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

Save the Date: October 17, 2024

Embassy Suites by Hilton™ Rockford Riverfront & Rockford Conference Center

Championing aerospace and serving as powerful catalyst for change, fostering partnerships and nurturing ground breaking ideas, MAC 2024 is a gather place for Midwest innovators in the aerospace industry.

More details to follow!

Rockford’s Renaissance

A trio of triumphs signals progress and promise

Like many Rockford natives, I’m often frustrated with our collective inability to resolve several long-term problems associate with educational attainment and tax burden. That’s why I was so excited to see three different pieces of news that served as powerful validation that we are making significant progress.

In early February, Stanford University released an important study that reviewed reading growth from 2019 to 2023 in grades three through eight. For Rockford Public Schools, students gained over a half-year growth or .52 over what was expected during a global pandemic. The RPS 205 School Board’s commitment to offer immediate, in-person learning options helped students outperform in the top 25% of large districts in Illinois from 2019-2023.

While we still have significant work to do to improve literacy in our community, it was extremely encouraging to see RPS demonstrating improved outcomes in the middle of a pandemic.

The next piece of great news came from the testimony of Northern Illinois University (NIU) President Lisa Freeman to the Illinois Senate regarding the Rockford Promise Program, which is funded by the city of Rockford with support from NIU and RPS. In her testimony, Freeman highlighted the power of the Rockford Promise to positively impact educational attainment in our community:

The power of our holistic approach is exemplified in the outcomes of the NIU Rockford Promise program. Over the past three years, we have welcomed more than 300 graduates from Rockford Public Schools to NIU—tuition- and fee-free; approximately 70% are first generation and 60% are students of color. To aid in their success, Rockford Promise students engage in mentoring groups and attend monthly student success sessions covering

topics such as time management, study skills and campus resources. NIU’s Rockford Promise Scholars’ grades have trended upward each completed semester, with their cumulative grade point average increasing from 3.04 in fall 2022 to 3.26 in fall 2023. And, impressively, at 85%, the first-year retention rate for Rockford Promise Scholars is significantly higher than the average for all new freshmen. Rockford Promise highlights what is possible when institutions have adequate funding to achieve equitable access and success for historically underserved student populations.

Building on the positive news from Standford and the NIU testimony, I was thrilled to see the April 24 Wall Street Journal article, “Rockford Is Now America’s Top Housing Market After an Improbable Turnaround.” In addition to the many reasons cited in the article for the improvement in the Rockford housing market, I thought about the nearly 35% reduction in the property tax rate from 2014 to 2024. While not directly mentioned in the article, the school district and other taxing bodies’ decision to hold rates flat for over ten years has certainly contributed to the improved property values.

The recent series of national and statewide stories highlighting improvements in Rockford Public Schools gives me a renewed sense of hope and optimism about the future of our region. I am grateful for the leadership of the Rockford Board of Education, the City of Rockford, NIU and countless other partners that continue to change the narrative about our community.

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

EHREN JARRETT superintendent, RPS 205

GUEST COLUMNIST Business Fraud

Common scams and prevention tips

By Barbara Nesler, BSA and fraud officer, First Mid Bank & Trust

Research has shown a typical business will lose an average of 5% of its annual income to fraud scams. Here are some of the most common business fraud scams:

• Third-party payroll scam

• Business email compromise (BEC)

• Counterfeit checks and mail theft

Third-party payroll scam

Large and small companies face scams from all fronts, including payroll fraud. The goal is to move employees’ payroll direct deposits to a bank account controlled by the scammer. With information found on social media about a person’s employment, scammers use social engineering methods to appear to be an employee requesting a payroll direct deposit change.

Here’s an example of how easily this type of fraud can be accomplished: Joe Smith, an executive at ABC Medical Supplies, uses his LinkedIn profile for networking purposes. His list of LinkedIn connections includes one of the Human Resources employees at ABC Medical Supplies. A scammer uses this information and successfully infiltrates the HR representative’s email using social engineering. Then, the scammer sends an email to the HR rep appearing to be from Joe Smith requesting to change the bank account to which his payroll direct deposit is being made. The HR rep sees that the email came from what seems to be Joe Smith’s company email address and makes the change. Joe’s next payroll direct deposit gets paid to the scammer’s account and is drained immediately.

Prevention tips:

• For smaller businesses, consider mandating that change requests be made in person. Document the request on paper, signed by the employee and the HR representative.

• For larger businesses, consider using a payroll management system that requires an employee to log in with unique credentials and layers of security like multifactor authentication.

Learn more about payroll fraud at www.firstmid.com/fraud-educationpayroll-fraud

Business email compromise (BEC)

BEC is an email phishing scam that typically targets people who pay bills in businesses, government and nonprofit organizations. According to the FBI, BEC results in more losses than any other type of fraud in the U.S. The scammer poses as a vendor or other trusted source who emails an accountant or accounts payable clerk, asking them to wire money or send personal information, often for a believable reason. If money is sent, it goes into an account controlled by the scammer.

Prevention tips:

• Educate your employees to recognize phishing emails.

• Put specific procedures in place for verifying the request for money or sensitive information.

• Get authorization from a person and

not an email. If you cannot speak to that person, don’t send the money. Learn more about business email compromise at www.firstmid.com/ fraud-education-business-emailcompromise

Counterfeit checks and mail theft

Experts estimate that check fraud will reach $24 billion this year. There has been an increase in attacks on letter carriers and mail fraud incidents, with 305 mail carriers robbed in the first half of 2023. Fraudsters also target mailboxes, stealing letters directly from residents’ homes or blue USPS collection boxes. The rise in crime heightens the risk that mailed checks could be stolen. Thieves use chemicals to erase recipient names and dollar amounts from check. This is also known as check washing. Once the payment is blank, they can fill in new information, including the amount. Business checks are the main target for this activity due to the large dollar amounts that can be stolen.

Prevention tips:

• Do not put your mail in the box out front and raise the flag.

• When mailing checks, drop them in the indoor mailbox of your local post office.

• Use online check payment products such as “Payee Positive Pay” from local financial institutions.

Learn more about check fraud at www.firstmid.com/fraud-educationcheck-fraud

Business fraud is a serious issue with significant consequences. It’s important for companies of all sizes to establish detection systems and utilize fraud prevention tools against opportunistic criminals.

To report business fraud, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), FBI or your local police department. You should also notify your financial institution.

Resources: Federal Trade Commission, Internet Crime Complaint Center, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, International Association of Financial Crime Investigators.

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

DEEPSHIKHA SHUKLA,

GUEST COLUMNIST Forging partnerships

Rockford University hosts Annual Business Summit June 13

Accelerating technological advancements, shrinking global distances, rising median age and increased lifespans create an unprecedented need for a multigenerational, versatile workplace and differentiated support systems. Partnerships that span the entire breadth of the ecosystem are key to success in this brave new world of work. Fostering such partnerships, including partnerships with K-12 and post-secondary institutions, vocational training, professional education and the industry, ensures viability and growth in this increasingly competitive market, as I highlighted in my article “The Role of Higher Education in Mitigating the Skills Gap” in the April issue of The Voice Rockford University is continuing its tradition of facilitating these important conversations by hosting the 2024 Annual Business Summit on Thursday, June 13, 7:30 - 11 a.m. This year’s focus is on “Education and Industry,” with an emphasis on forging

partnerships. An invigorating agenda with featured panelists such as Dr. Ehren Jarrett, superintendent, Rockford Public Schools; Dr. Howard Spearman, president, Rock Valley College; Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, regional dean, UIC –College of Medicine, Rockford; Travis Andersen, president/CEO, UW Health; and Dr. Gina Caronna, executive director, The Workforce Connection; addresses the importance of collaboration in the Rockford region.

The audience will have the opportunity to participate in an extended discussion. The ultimate goal is the progress of our region. Intentional conversations such as these have the potential to leverage the strengths of the various stakeholders and identify partnership opportunities. Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara will provide some remarks.

Participants will also have the opportunity to break out into smaller groups led by subject matter experts

to engage in topics such as AI, data analytics, entrepreneurship, etc. Discover the transformative power of artificial intelligence in the workplace and business, focusing on Chat GPT. Learn about AI’s benefits and practical ways to integrate Chat GPT into your daily operations, making your business more efficient and productive. Harness the power of data analysis for key insights into your projects and build strategies based on those insights. Acquire knowledge about how to start or grow a business through guidance from successful area entrepreneurs.

This summit has something for everyone. As a business leader or employee, you can offer your perspective on how the world of education can prepare your future workforce and participate in education innovation. Learn how to retain current employees by providing growth opportunities and investing in their reskilling or upskilling. As an education participant, highlight the innovative ways in which K-12 and post-secondary education and vocational training providers are approaching workforce development. Learn about professional development opportunities

that current employees can utilize. Let’s brainstorm and share how we can come together and drive prosperity in our region.

Save your spot and join representatives from education and industry to learn and network. Registration for the Business Summit is free and breakfast is included. Optional lunch will be available for purchase at the close of the event to encourage informal networking and continued conversations. To register, vsit rockford.edu/business-summit or scan the barcode in the ad below.

Deepshikha Shukla was trained as a theoretical nuclear physicist and has served in higher education for 18 years. An educator with a passion for problemsolving and social justice, she serves as the AVP of Business Innovation and dean at RU. She was the 2022 RU Employee of the Year and received the 2023 Women in Business Excellence in Leadership award.

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

JOSEPH CHIARELLI, chairman, Winnebago County

GUEST COLUMNIST

Converting waste into energy

Sustainability initiatives in Winnebago County

Restaurant Relief Grant Program

Funds help mitigate financial impact of COVID-19 closures By Rockford Area Conventions & Visitors Bureau

In a collaborative effort to support the vibrant culinary landscape of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois State Representative Maurice West and the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB) announced the distribution of state-funded grants totaling $469,475.35 to 33 local businesses.

These funds help compensate restaurants for the financial losses caused by employee layoffs and unemployment claims as a result of the state-mandated COVID-19 closures.

our hardworking neighbors.”

Grant award amounts are based on the increased unemployment taxes a restaurant paid in 2022 and 2023 directly related to unemployment claims in Q1 2021. Awards ranged from $298 to $80,010.

Grant selection panel

In cooperation with our fellow partners in the Northern Illinois Council of Governments, we have collectively identified waste-to-energy (WtE) as a top priority for Winnebago County. As part of our Solid Waste Management Plan, we’re exploring technologies that convert waste to energy or waste to fuel as part of the solution to handling waste and supporting economic development.

We’re excited about the potential for Monarch Energy to build in Rockford, as the clean energy developer is considering a site south of the airport for its more than $1 billion investment. It would use carbon dioxide from nearby landfills as part of a process to create sustainable jet fuel for use at the Chicago Rockford Airport (RFD).

Sustainability efforts continue thanks to practices implemented by Four River Sanitation Authority. Daily, the plant processes 40,000 lbs. of waste, including industrial runoff, fats, oils, and household waste. Dirty or “brown” water is converted into water that meets and exceeds the clean water standards as defined by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, making it safe to discharge into the Rock River. A

valuable bi-product of the cleaning process is biogas, which is created during the digestion process and, in turn, becomes the energy that runs the plant. This accounts for two-thirds of the energy needs onsite, saving more than $1 million annually.

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and health, Air Liquide constructed the largest biomethane production unit in the world, right here in Rockford, Illinois. Located adjacent to the Winnebago Landfill, the plant captures gas produced when organic material and trash decompose and processes it into pipeline quality natural gas. The site is already up and running and will be fully operational this June.

The need for future waste reduction and diversion is vital, and I am proud of the sustainable approach we are taking to improve the quality of life for current and future residents of Winnebago County.

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

The impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns reverberated across various sectors, particularly affecting the restaurant industry. Amidst statemandated closures and restrictions, many establishments faced significant hurdles and forced layoffs, leading to surging unemployment insurance rates. Recognizing the critical need for support, Rep. West and RACVB took proactive measures to extend a lifeline to these vital community businesses.

“Our restaurants are part of the heart and soul of our communities, providing not just meals, but also employment opportunities and gathering spaces. The grants we’ve awarded are a testament to our unwavering dedication to preserving the fabric of Rockford’s culinary community,” Rep. West said.

John Groh, president/CEO of RACVB, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “As stewards of Rockford’s tourism and hospitality industry, it’s imperative for us to support our local restaurants during times of crisis. These grants offer a lifeline to establishments that have endured immense challenges, ensuring they can continue serving residents and visitors—and employing

Grant recipients

27 Aluna @ Octane

Abreo Restaurant

Alchemy at Aldeen/ Gio Events

Alpine View Restaurant

Culver’s of Winnebago

District Bar & Grill

Dusty Boots Saloon & Eatery

Famous Dave’s Rockford

Franchesco’s Ristorante

Golden Corral

Greenfire Restaurant & Bakery

Hoffman House

Hope & Anchor English Pub

J. W. Marc’s Fusion Café

Johnny Pamcakes

LimaMar Restaurant

Lucha Cantina

Administered by RACVB, the grants were awarded to eligible restaurants in Winnebago County through an application process and professional review panel. The panel reviewed applications and recommended award amounts, working to ensure fairness across the board to eligible applicants. Chosen based for their unemployment tax and staffing knowledge, panel members were Bridget Coleman, CPA, Coleman CPA & Accounting; Jennifer Furst, president, Furst Staffing; Carrie Hagerty, finance director, City of Rockford; Linda Heckert president/CEO, Northwest Bank and State Bank of Davis; John J. Morrissey, president/CEO, Staff Management; and John Schuster, retired CFO, Rosecrance Health Network.

Future grant awards

Another round of awards will be made after Q1 and Q2 of 2024 unemployment taxes are paid and quarterly payroll reports are completed. RACVB anticipates round two applications will open in early July, and additional awards will be made by early September. A third and final application round will open in January 2025 after Q3 and Q4 of 2024 are complete.

For additional information about the Restaurant Relief Grant Program, please visit GoRockford.com/Restaurant-Grant

Mulligan’s of Rockford

Murphy’s Pub & Grill

Onyx Bar & Grill

Oscar’s Pub & Grill

Prairie Street Brewhouse

Scanlan’s

Stockholm Inn

Stockyard Rock Burger Bar

Tad’s Bar & Grill

Tavern on Clark

Thai Hut Restaurant

The Filling Station

The Norwegian

The Olympic Tavern

The Pomodoro

Vintage @501/Taco Libre

(Bold denotes Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce members.)

ensuring residents receive seamless access to high-quality medical care.

Through collaborative efforts with local stakeholders and ongoing investment in facilities and resources, UW Health preserves and enhances the healthcare landscape in Rockford. Their dedication to serving the needs of the community underscores their role as a trusted partner in promoting health and well-being for all. Earlier this year, we saw a branding change, with the purple SwedishAmerican colors and signage replaced by the red, white and blue of UW Health.

Mercyhealth similarly contributes to the region’s healthcare excellence. With a focus on comprehensive and compassionate care, Mercyhealth offers numerous innovative programs and services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our community. Their dedication to continuous improvement and patient-centric care has solidified their reputation as a cornerstone of Rockford’s healthcare landscape.

The construction of the Javon Bae Mercyhealth Hospital stands as a historic milestone in the development of Rockford, marking the largest construction project in the city’s history. Spanning over 1.4 million square feet and boasting state-of-the-art medical facilities, the hospital represents a

significant investment in healthcare infrastructure and services for the Rockford community. Since the new hospital opened, new gas stations, hotels, restaurants and more reveal what one large development can do to spur new business in an area.

OSF Saint Anthony, another pillar of our healthcare community, has been instrumental in expanding access to critical medical services. Their commitment to advanced medical research and community outreach programs significantly improves health outcomes for countless individuals. OSF Saint Anthony’s holistic approach to healthcare ensures that patients receive not only medical treatment but also the support and resources needed for overall well-being.

Charitable giving and community support

Beyond providing exceptional medical care, these health systems demonstrate an admirable commitment to community support. UW Health, Mercyhealth and OSF Saint Anthony have each launched various initiatives to address the social determinants of health, ensuring that even the most vulnerable members of our community receive the care they need.

Through generous donations, scholarships and health education (continued

programs, these institutions empower countless individuals and families. Their contributions extend beyond the walls of their facilities, fostering a sense of unity and support that strengthens the fabric of our community.

Economic growth and job creation

The expansion of healthcare in Rockford is a significant driver of economic growth. The presence of UW Health, Mercyhealth and OSF Saint Anthony creates a multitude of job opportunities, ranging from medical professionals and administrative staff to researchers and support personnel. These institutions are among the largest employers in the region, providing stable and rewarding careers to thousands of residents.

The influx of healthcare professionals and the continuous development of medical facilities stimulates local businesses and services, contributing to the overall economic vitality of Rockford. As these health systems grow and evolve, they attract further investments and partnerships, paving the way for sustained economic development.

A healthy outlook for Rockford

The evolution and expansion of healthcare in Rockford is promising and

inspiring. Thanks to the exemplary care, charitable giving and job opportunities provided by UW Health, Mercyhealth, and OSF Saint Anthony, our community is healthier, stronger and more connected than ever before. As we look to the future, we can be confident that these institutions will continue to lead the way, ensuring the Rockford region remains a place where exceptional healthcare and vibrant community life go hand in hand.

The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce is proud to support and celebrate these remarkable health systems. Together, we are building a brighter, healthier future for all. v

GUEST COLUMNIST

Common myths about self-funding

It could be a game-changer for your business

When employers self-fund or selfinsure their health plan, they pay for their employees’ and covered family members’ healthcare expenses instead of paying a premium to a commercial insurer. This means taking on the responsibility, as well as the risks and rewards, of paying the medical and prescription drug claims of plan participants. Self-funding can be a better alternative to the traditional fully insured approach, driving greater transparency, control and cost savings.

Let’s debunk four prevalent selffunding myths and explore why it might be the right fit for your organization.

My organization is too small to self-fund

The belief that self-funding is exclusively for large organizations is a persistent misconception. The reality is that the size of the company doesn’t dictate eligibility for self-funding. An organization only needs enough employees to be able to aggregate claims data for confidentiality. Unions, TaftHartley Insurance Trusts, municipalities, school districts, and other types and sizes of organizations have successfully self-funded with The Alliance.

Self-funded plans are complicated and labor intensive

Another common myth about selffunding is the belief that it’s complex to start and labor-intensive to maintain. While it’s true that managing a selffunded plan requires attention to detail, with the right partners and solutions, the process can be streamlined.

Benefit partners provide services which allow employers to effectively facilitate their benefit programs. A few examples of benefit partners include brokers, third-party administrators, pharmacy benefit managers, networks, independent primary care, care navigation providers and stop-loss insurance carriers.

There are many vendors in the market. To maximize the effectiveness of your plan, it’s important to choose innovative and supportive partners to help create and administer the best benefit program for your employees and their families.

The Alliance acts as a partner for self-funded employers who want more control over their healthcare costs. Using our Smarter Networks and sophisticated

GUEST COLUMNIST

The potential costs of long-term care

Are you and your loved ones financially prepared?

We all hope to remain healthy and independent throughout our lives – but life can be unpredictable. If you were ever to need some type of long-term care, would you be financially prepared?

Long-term care encompasses everything from the services of a home health aide to a stay in an assisted living facility to a long residence in a nursing home. You may never need any of these kinds of care, but the odds aren’t necessarily in your favor. Someone turning age 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and support in their remaining years, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And all types of long-term care can involve considerable financial expense. The median annual cost for a home

data mining and analysis, we provide transparent, creative approaches to network and benefit plan design to unlock savings.

Self-funding is expensive

One of the most significant barriers to entry for small companies considering self-funding is the misconception that it poses significant financial risks or that self-funded plans require large amounts of cash on hand.

Self-funding can provide cost-saving opportunities over traditional fully insured plans. Through strategies like steering and tiering, and partnership with stop-loss insurance vendors, companies can control costs and minimize financial exposure. Employers who used their data to guide employees saved more than 20% per member per month over employers that did not.

The Alliance helps our employer members design steering and tiering strategies that save their businesses money while often improving the value of care.

Employees will be confused about how to use the plan

A common concern among employers considering self-funding is the fear that employees will be confused about how to use their new benefits plan. For employees, accessing care through a self-funded plan is nearly identical to accessing care through a traditionally insured plan. Effective, consistent communication and education can address these concerns and empower employees to make informed decisions about their healthcare. For example,

got two main choices—you could selfinsure or you could transfer the risk by purchasing some type of long-term care insurance.

employers can communicate about how to choose providers who offer high-quality care at low prices and how to choose the correct site of care for different healthcare needs.

The Alliance offers comprehensive educational resources that employers can share with their workforce to clarify responsibilities and maximize the value of their benefits plan. By fostering transparency and providing support, companies can ensure a smooth transition to self-funding.

The power of self-funding

Self-funding can be a game-changer for organizations looking to offer competitive benefits while managing their healthcare spending. This method is not only for large corporations with extensive resources. Small businesses can also reap the benefits of self-funding by leveraging the right strategies and partnerships, opening the door to greater flexibility, control and financial stability. If you’d like to learn more about selffunding, please contact me at mroche@ the-alliance.org.

Mike Roche joined The Alliance as member services manager in 2015. He works with Alliance employers on health benefit strategies, share data-based information to help members manage their health care spend and serves as a voice of member employers.

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

health aide’s services is more than $60,000 per year, and it’s more than $100,000 per year for a private room in a nursing home, according to Genworth, an insurance company. Contrary to many people’s expectations, Medicare usually pays very little of these costs.

Of course, some people expect their family will be able to take care of their long-term care needs. But this may not be a viable strategy. For one thing, your family members simply may not have the skills needed to give you the type of care you may require. Also, by the time you might need help, your grown children or other family members might not live in your area.

So, you may need to protect yourself and your loved ones from the potential costs of long-term care. Basically, you’ve

If you have considerable financial resources, you might find self-insuring to be attractive, rather than choosing insurance and paying policy premiums. You may wish to keep an emergency savings or investment account that’s earmarked exclusively for long-term care to help avoid relying on your other retirement accounts. But self-insuring has two main drawbacks. First, because longterm care can be costly, you might need to plan for a significant amount. And second, it will be quite hard to predict exactly how much money you’ll need, because so many variables are involved – your age when you start needing care, interest rates or inflation, the cost of care in your area, the type of care you’ll require, the length of time you’ll need care, and so on.

As an alternative to self-insuring, you could purchase long-term care insurance, which can provide benefits for home health care, adult day care and assisted living and nursing home facilities. However, you will need to consider the issues attached to long-term care insurance. For one thing, it can be expensive, though the younger you are when you buy your policy, the

more affordable it may be. Also, long-term care policies typically require you to wait a certain amount of time before benefits are paid. But policies vary greatly in what they offer, so if you are thinking of buying this insurance, you’ll want to review options and compare benefits and costs.

Being aware of the potential need for long-term care, its cost and the ways of paying for it will enable you to make the appropriate decisions for your financial situation, your needs and your loved ones.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C. California Insurance License OC24309

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

MIKE ROCHE director of business development, The Alliance

ERNA COLBORN, ABFP™, AAMS™, CRPS™, financial advisor, Edward Jones

GUEST COLUMNIST

Dealing with headaches

A comprehensive approach to headache relief

Dealing with headaches? You’re not alone. From a minor inconvenience to a condition that disrupts daily life, headaches come in various forms.

What is a headache?

A headache is defined as pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, face or neck. There are several types of headaches, including tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches and sinus headaches. Each type has distinct characteristics and may be triggered by various factors such as stress, poor posture, dehydration, lack of sleep, or certain foods.

Signs and symptoms of headaches

Headaches can manifest through pain (throbbing, stabbing, dull, sharp, etc.), sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can vary depending on the type of headache. It is important to pay attention to these signs as they can provide valuable insights into the underlying cause of the headache.

Key strategies to stop headaches

When you’re experiencing headaches, it’s not always necessary to rely on medication for relief. There are several nonpharmacological strategies that can help alleviate headaches, such as:

• Rest and Relaxation – Taking a break in a quiet, dark room and practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation can help reduce headache symptoms.

• Hydration – Drinking water throughout the day may help alleviate headaches caused by dehydration.

• Cold or warm compress – Applying a cold compress to the forehead or neck, or a warm compress to tense muscles, can help relieve headache pain.

• Massage therapy – Gentle massage of the head, neck and shoulders can help relax tense muscles and alleviate headache discomfort.

• Aromatherapy – Certain essential oils like lavender or peppermint, when used in aromatherapy, may provide relief from headaches.

GUEST COLUMNIST

Shaping a healthier future for Rockford’s workforce

SwedishAmerican Health Foundation’s invitation to business leaders

The health and well-being of our workforce often gets overlooked. But as leaders in the business community, we have a responsibility to prioritize both economic growth and the health of our workforce.

SwedishAmerican Health Foundation (SAHF) invites business leaders to join us in shaping a healthier future for our region.

With a new name and renewed sense of purpose, SAHF is doubling down on its commitment to local impact.

In the past, SAHF generously donated funds to external community organizations and projects. Although, UW Health continues to partner with local community organizations to support services that address community needs, we’re proud to announce that all funds raised by SAHF exclusively support internal UW Health

• Healthy lifestyle habits –Maintaining good posture, getting regular exercise, managing stress, and ensuring adequate sleep can all contribute to preventing and reducing headache occurrences.

• Avoid triggers – These can include foods, scents, caffeine, and even changes in your routine. Common food triggers include additives such as MSG (in its many forms), foods with simple carbohydrates like sugar, and alcohol.

If nonpharmacological (medication) methods don’t provide sufficient relief or if headaches are severe or persistent, consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and appropriate treatment options, which may include medications. Always follow the guidance of a specialist when considering medication for headaches.

When to seek medical care for headaches

It’s advisable to seek medical care for headaches under the following circumstances:

• Severe or sudden onset – If you experience a sudden, severe headache that differs from your usual headaches, seek medical attention promptly.

• Frequent or persistent headaches –If you have frequent headaches that do not respond to over-the-counter medications or last for an extended period, consult a specialist.

• Headaches with neurological

goes beyond the workplace. It extends to every family facing a medical crisis, every individual in need of lifesaving treatment and every community member seeking access to quality care close to home.

Your support enables us to offer leading-edge technologies and state-ofthe-art facilities so that when the need arises, we are here to provide you with quality, safe, remarkable care.

symptoms – If you have headaches accompanied by symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, numbness, visual disturbances, or difficulty speaking, see a specialist immediately.

• Worsening symptoms – If your headaches worsen in intensity or becomes more frequent over time, it’s important to consult a doctor for proper evaluation and management.

• Headaches after injury – If you experience a headache following a head injury or trauma, seek medical care to rule out any serious complications.

• First-time severe headache – If you have never experienced severe headaches before and suddenly develop one, seek medical advice for proper assessment.

• Underlying health conditions – If you have pre-existing health conditions like high blood pressure, a history of stroke, or other medical concerns, consult a specialist for guidance on managing headaches.

Ryan Vaughn, MD, is an otolaryngologist at Exhale Sinus, TMJ, Headache & Sleep, with a specialization in ENT (ear, nose and throat) and a board certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

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

newborns by providing a sleep sack to every baby born at UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital, reducing infant deaths and providing peace of mind to parents.

services and facilities in northern Illinois. This ensures that every donation directly benefits our local patients and communities.

But why does this matter to you as business leaders? Because it directly impacts the health and well-being of your employees.

According to the CDC, U.S. employers lose about $225.8 billion annually in productivity when their employees or their employees’ families have health problems. When employees are healthier, it results in reduced sick time, increased productivity and a stronger workforce overall.

By investing in local health care initiatives, you’re not just supporting the well-being of your employees; you’re also investing in the resilience and prosperity of our entire community.

But the impact of your donations

Here are just a few recent examples of how your contributions have empowered us to enhance health care in northern Illinois:

• Our Mobile Health Unit brings free care to people in low-income areas, offering services like acute care, prevention programs, health education and referrals to community resources.

• Our Patient Care Assistance program helps uninsured or underinsured individuals manage their health care at home by providing medication, medical equipment and transportation assistance.

• The Margaret M. Rudolph Endowment Fund supports breast cancer patients, providing vital assistance to those fighting a courageous battle.

• Through the Safe Sleep initiative, we promote safer sleep for

By supporting SAHF, you directly contribute to bridging the gap between available resources and the growing needs of health care. Ultimately, supporting SAHF not only enhances health care delivery but also ensures that we can continue to provide the highest standard of care to our local communities.

As we transition to SwedishAmerican Health Foundation and renew our focus on local impact, we invite you to join us in building a stronger, healthier, more vibrant community. Whether through a recurring personal gift, an annual corporate donation, a corporate challenge, matching gifts, peer-to-peer fundraising or hosting a fundraising event, you have the power to transform lives. Every dollar donated stays local and makes a tangible difference.

Learn more and donate today at swedishamericanhealthfoundation.org.

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

DR. RYAN VAUGHN Exhale Sinus, TMJ, Headache & Sleep

BARB AABY, executive director, SwedishAmerican Health Foundation

Thank You to All of Our Outstanding Sponsors!

Sponsor: Water Sponsor:

Cart Sponsor: Putting Green Sponsor:

Greens Sponsors:

Beverage Sponsor: Connection Sponsor:

Sponsor: Event Photographer:

Sponsors:

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Mulligan

Sandtrap

Dessert

Tee-Box

GUEST COLUMNIST Planning a successful exhibition

How to save time and money on your next trade show

Proper planning and logistics can make your next trade show more cost-effective, better organized and less stressful. Here are important factors to consider when preparing for an exhibition:

Transportation costs and timing

Size – Heavy, oversized items can hit your transportation budget hard. Are there items or machines you can rent on site?

Weight – The lighter you can go without compromising your booth design, the better. Consider booths made with aluminum frames, popup designs, fabric coverings and compact

GUEST COLUMNIST

LED lighting systems. These features can dramatically reduce the weight of your booth and make it easier to assemble.

Combine shipments – If you have literature, furniture or props for your booth, shipping everything at once with the booth consignment will save you money and stress.

Use technology – Rather than shipping heavy boxes of printed brochures, consider sending them electronically after the show or preloaded your material on promotional USB drives.

Drayage – Ensure your booth and show kit is packed according to guidelines and your carrier adheres to

Rock River Anything That Floats Race

Celebrate tradition and community Sunday, August, 17

By Jay Graham, RRATFR Volunteer Committee member

On July 4, 1976, a treasured tradition was launched on the Rock River in Rockford, Illinois.

The tradition was actually born the winter before at a chance meeting between a local disk jockey and a British businessman at the Sweden House bar on East State Street. That night over cocktails, the pair created a promotional idea for the disc jockey’s radio station to spice up the city’s coming Bicentennial Fourth of July celebration. With Bicentennial spirit in the air, the Rock River Anything That Floats Race (RRATFR) was imagined.

Initially, the event was a friendly competition between just one “Yank” raft and one “Brit” raft, encapsulating a playful Revolutionary War theme. The inaugural RRATFR was an instant success, drawing thousands of community members to the riverbanks to celebrate our nation’s independence in unconventional style.

As the race grew in popularity, it evolved from its original two-raft showdown to a broader community event that featured rafts designed and built by dozens of local businesses, service clubs, nonprofits and teams of friends. RRATFR became a flotilla of fun and a decades-long annual tradition. Over the years, tens of thousands have spectated, with some races in the early years attracting crowds estimated at

the drayage contractors time slots.

By sea – When sending large amounts of freight overseas, sea freight is the cheapest option but the slowest. For large fragile items, it can also be the safest way to move them.

Avoid last-minute shipping – This is when costs can get out of control and take on a life of their own if you are not careful.

Use an advance warehouse –Coupled with shipping early, this helps avoid unexpected handling costs at setup, as your carriers are better able to hit the delivery windows and avoid outof-hours charges or delays.

Booth design and setup

Modular booth designs – Get the flexibility to increase or reduce the size of your booth as needed and extend its life cycle. Keep in mind that complex or unusual booth designs may take longer to erect and can incur additional costs.

Rent a booth – Specialist companies, such as EBISS Inc., have a wide range of modular booths available for rent, giving you a custom both each time without a large investment. New graphics can be

created quickly and cost-effectively when needed.

Multi-use items – To keep your booth clear of clutter and reduce your freight costs, consider multipurpose furniture, like a bench or reception counter that doubles as a storage unit.

Label everything – This saves setup time and helps you keep track of your booth supplies and furniture.

Trust the experts

Build a relationship with the event organizers – Respond in a timely manner to their queries and supply all your company information promptly. You’ll want them on your side in the unlikely event something goes awry.

Consult your logistics provider –They are experts and can offer advice on methods of transport, pitfalls to avoid, and how to complete import/export paperwork.

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

80,000 along the Rock River.

Fast forward to 2024, and the excitement continues with the revitalized RRATFR. The event was restarted by a committee of local business, government and nonprofit volunteers representing the Rockford Park District, Prairie Street Brewing Co., CMM Associates, GrahamSpencer Brand + Content Solutions, Midwest Family Broadcasting, Woodward Inc., Alter Metal, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful and the Loves Park Ski Broncs.

In the races of old, most rafts were sponsored by local businesses and built and raced by the firms’ employees. In recent years, businesses have continued to step up and build some of the most creative rafts. The volunteer RRATFR committee members enjoy seeing that tradition continue.

“We’d love for every company in town to sponsor and build a raft. And every high school and college,” said Reed Sjostrom of Prairie Street Brewing Co. “It’s an amazing, fulfilling team-building exercise, and once you’re in, you’re in. We have a lot of repeat competitors.”

The revitalized event is not merely a nostalgic reenactment of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s races; it’s a reinvention for new generations to enjoy.

Entry fee is $100, with all proceeds benefiting local initiatives such as the

Rockford Fourth of July celebration, the Ski Broncs, projects of the Rockford Park District and Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful.

The race day experience is enhanced by multiple viewing points along the river, especially along the east bank from the Auburn Street Bridge south to the Prairie Street Brewing Company. New to recent races is a family fun eventwithin-the-event: Release the Quackin’. Contestants launch rubber ducks at a floating mid-river target to win valuable prizes and raise additional money for charity.

The 1.65-mile course concludes spectacularly at the Prairie Street Brewing Company. Raceday festivities

will conclude with a vibrant postrace presentation of awards on Prairie Street’s docks as winners sign the beerbarrel trophies and fans celebrate their Real, Original Rockford ingenuity and community spirit.

We invite all Rockford business people to join us on race day Sunday, Aug. 17, whether on rafts of your own invention or along the shore cheering on others. The committee is also seeking sponsors eager to support key community events and benefit from the attendant publicity and good spirit.

For registration, sponsorship and spectator information, please visit RRATFR.com. It’s time to get your business’s ship together.

WAYNE FORSTER owner/CEO, EBISS Inc.

GUEST COLUMNIST Is your team aligned?

Attributes of high performing teams

Do any of these statements sound familiar?

“Our team is not aligned and they don’t always work well together.”

“I’d like to exit my business soon but the business is too dependent on me.”

“We don’t have a clear vision of where we’re going.”

“Our culture is broken and I don’t know how to fix it.”

These are just a few of the typical statements you hear from organizations that haven’t done a good job of instituting a solid strategic planning process that provides alignment within the strategic leadership team. All too often companies will operate year after year with an ambiguous vision and strategy that results in leadership teams that are going in different directions.

Alignment is key

Organizational leadership teams can have interesting dynamics. At a high level, it may appear the team is working well

together and things are fine. But when you step back and examine year over year results, you see flat sales, disengaged employees, stifled innovation, poor cash flow and dissatisfied customers. If you survey the leaders individually and compare results, you quickly see that the functional teams are not aligned.

Often, we see organizations that aren’t performing well have a silo mentality, i.e., they’re focused internally on their own department. So one of the first steps to creating alignment is getting the leadership team to complete a few simple exercises that allow them to see clearly that they are not on the same page. Then have them come together as a team to agree on the future direction of the company.

Team attributes

According to Google’s Team Aristotle, there are five attributes of high performing teams:

1. Psychological Safety: Team members

feel safe to take risks and be vulnerable with each other.

2. Dependability: Team members get things done on time and meet a high bar of excellence.

3. Structure & Clarity: Team members have clear roles, plans and goals.

4. Meaning: Work is personally important to team members.

5. Impact: Team members think their work matters and creates change.

One way to ensure teams perform at a high level and provide psychological safety is for everyone on the strategic leadership team to understand each other’s personality profiles. It’s good practice to have team members complete personality assessments and share the results with each other. This helps to deepen communication and heighten understanding of each individual leadership style and personality.

One particular assessment that works well is a DiSC profile. It’s designed to help you identify your style and explore the priorities that drive you, discover similarities and differences among the DiSC styles, and find better ways of communicating using DiSC styles.

What does DiSC stand for?

DiSC breaks personalities down into four categories:

D is for Dominance. That is the person that is laser focused on getting things done. Don’t bother me with the details, just make it happen (Start shooting; why are we waiting?).

I is for Influence. That is the person that would much rather talk about it before doing it. They are the connectors that are filled with enthusiasm and encouragement. (Let’s have a chat; we can shoot later).

S is for Steadiness. These are the people who are patient, predictable, reliable and steady. The calm voice in the room. However, they don’t like to be pushed. (I’ll shoot when I’m good and ready).

C is for Compliance. These are the people that are dependent, neat, conservative and calculating. (Wait, let’s verify that we’ll hit the bullseye exactly in the center).

Having teams understand themselves, each other and how they approach things,

helps foster better team cooperation.

Driving results

Once the team understands each other, now you can work together to set the course of the organization. A good process consists of five steps:

1. Create a vision: What will our organization ideally look like in three to five years?

2. Use diagnostic tools to understand where you are now: Identify gaps and opportunities.

3. Set the strategies you’ll use to get there: Chart the roadmap to achieve your vision.

4. Have an executable plan in place: Adopt a proven process to get things done and hold each other accountable.

5. Optimize the process: Continually improve the organization’s performance.

Don’t go it alone

Many organizations are tempted to conduct this process on their own. The danger in this is creating a bias within the internal teams that results in lower participation and poor results. Participants may be afraid to share openly, and the key decision maker may inadvertently steer conversations in a direction that will result in less-thanideal alignment.

A better option is to find a certified facilitator that can drive the process to ensure all participants are included and input is unbiased. This will foster more trust and better results.

Mark Tichgelaar is owner of The Alternative Board of Rockford and is certified as a business coach, board facilitator and in StratPro. He has an engineering degree, an MBA and a master’s in project management. He has been leading businesses for over 20 years and has executive education in strategic planning and leadership from Kelley School of Business, Yale School of Management and the Center for Creative Research.

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

MARK TICHGELAAR The Alternative Board of Rockford

on digital MEMBER PICS

Angus Young celebrated a new Rockford location with a Ribbon Cutting on January 25, 2024.

815 Dental Studio celebrated their new office at 1574 S Bell School Road with a Ribbon Cutting on March 6, 2024.

MembersAlliance Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of their new Roscoe branch at 5110 Rockrose Court with a Ribbon Cutting on March 14, 2024.

Amez Enterprises celebrated their new business with a Ribbon Cutting at the GRCC Office on March 28, 2024.

ValPak held a Ribbon Cutting at the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Office on January 31, 2024.

Crandall Stats and Sensors, Inc. celebrated their 10th anniversary with a Ribbon Cutting on March 14, 2024.

Boot Barn celebrated the grand opening of their new location at 6280 E State Street in Rockford with a Ribbon Cutting on March 21, 2024.

Half Baked Bar, located at 908 W Riverside Blvd in Rockford, hosted a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate their grand opening on April 4, 2024.

on digital MEMBER PICS

Pow(H)er is a conference for all who suppor t, believe in and champion the advancement of women 11/7/2024

Green Meadows Estates hosted a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate their grand opening on April 13, 2024.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens celebrated the completion of a periodappropriate renovation at their historic location at 411 Kent Street in Rockford with a Ribbon Cutting on April 23, 2024.

SwedishAmerican Health Foundation celebrated their new name, brand and vision on May 16, 2024, with a Ribbon Cutting Open House.

Sheila’s Daiquiri Lounge, located at 308 W State Street in downtown Rockford, hosted a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate their grand opening on April 19, 2024.

CoyleKiley Insurance Agency, Inc celebrated the opening of their Byron location with a Ribbon Cutting in conjunction with the Byron Chamber of Commerce on May 16, 2024.

in the newsMEMBERS IN THE NEWS

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois announced the appointment of Stacy Lidvall and Angela Schmidt to its board of directors.

The Rock Valley College Board of Trustees announced the election of new officers to lead the board for the upcoming year. At a reorganization meeting on April 23, the Board voted to appoint Bob Trojan as chair, Gloria Cudia as vice chair, and Richard Kennedy as secretary.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS, DEATHS

Noah Goellner (1), the eldest son and the third generation of the Goellner family business, became president of Advanced Machine & Engineering as of January 1, 2024.

Midway Village Museum welcomed Cira Richardson (2) as fund development manager.

Engineering Enterprises, Inc. (EEI), a leading civil engineering and land surveying firm celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, announced the return of Grant Johnson (3) as senior project engineer.

RAMP hired McKenzie Hubbard (4) as marketing assistant and Emily Reckamp (5) as Project SEARCH employment specialist at Mercyhealth.

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company (RMIC) announced the following promotions:

Kate Rosenwinkel (6) to assistant vice president – Underwriting, Nichole Dickerson to Commercial Lines manager, Amanda Kent (7) to Personal Lines manager, Deb Beyer (8) to senior claims representative

and Jesse Suttner (9) to senior claims representative. RMIC hired Dana Stewart (10) as Farm underwriter and Terry Blake (11) as field claims representative. Gerard DuMelle (12) celebrated 10 years and Clover Smith (13) celebrated 55 years with the organization.

Hughes Resources welcomed Jovonna Dunson LaGrone (14) as operations manager.

Winnebago County promoted Chris Dornbush (15) to chief operations officer, Jennifer Stacy (16) to administrator of Winnebago County Animal Services, and Ashley Spohr (17) to director of community development.

AAR MRO Services in Rockford prommoted Joe Sayles (18) to VP of operations.

Forest City Gear, an industryleading manufacturer of fine- and

medium-pitch custom gears, hired Jay Hampton (19) as quoting engineer.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Rock Valley College professor Dr. Mathew Oakes (20) was awarded a $60,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant for “Chronicles of Change: Archiving Stories of Desegregation in Rockford Public Schools, 19892002,”a two-year oral history, archival and instructional project on the legal and community history of desegregation and education in Rockford.

Joe Dively (21), chairman and CEO, First Mid Bancshares, Inc. (First Mid), was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree from Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in recognition of his service to EIU and other local and state community organizations.

Dr. Hannah Orem of Spine and Body Renewal was an instructor on spinal biomechanics at the Spring National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association Conference.

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

1. Noah Goellner

18. Ashley Spohr

10. Jesse Suttner

3. Grant Johnson

20. Jay Hampton

12. Terry Blake

5. Emily Reckamp

22. Joe Dively

14. Clover Smith

8. Amanda Kent

16. Chris Dornbush

2. Cira Richardson

19. Joe Sayles

11. Dana Stewart

McKenzie Hubbard

21. Dr. Mathew Oakes

13. Gerard DuMelle

6. Kate Rosenwinkel

15. Jovonna Dunson LaGrone

9. Deb Beyer

17. Jennifer Stacy

business BUSINESS BRIEFS

Rock Valley College, in partnership with McHenry County College and Highland Community College, received a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant supports community colleges in bolstering access to workforce training and skill development in high-demand manufacturing fields.

In April, LDR Cleaning and Restoration (LDR) brought food from Napoli to Carpenter’s Place, serving nearly 70 grateful guests. LDR has chosen Carpenter’s Place as its primary charity for 2024.

Hennig Power Protection, a leading manufacturer of custombuilt generator enclosures, received a Supplier Award from Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The recognition came during the 2024 Supplier Symposium, held in Lindau, Germany on Lake Constance.

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Stateline Area received $250,000 in Illinois Economic Empowerment Centers funding to build a diverse business ecosystem in the Rockford area. Goodwill will use the grant to provide training in all aspects of business development and small business management to individuals, entrepreneurs and other nonprofits from historically disinvested communities.

Per Mar Security Services, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients based in Davenport, Iowa, received the prestigious “Five Diamond Certification” from The Monitoring

Association. Per Mar also ranked #16 on Security Dealer Magazine’s (SDM) prestigious SDM 100 list for 2024.

Rock Valley College, the Rock Valley College Foundation received a $14,630 grant for the Raising Aspirations through an Inclusive Student Experience (RAISE) program. Awarded through the Ralph A. and Mildred Johnson Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, the grant supports curriculum upgrades for students with intellectual disabilities.

The Natural Land Institute’s Legacy Tree Program’s May Tree of the Month was Illinois’ largest tree—The Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) of Bald Hill Prairie Preserve, 5502 N. Silver Creek Rd. in Mt. Morris.

Discovery Center joins museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to active U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2024 program began on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024, and will end on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/ BlueStarMuseums.

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company (RMIC) was named as one of the 2024 Best Places to Work in Illinois and the 1st-Best Place to Work for Women. The statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Illinois. Engineering Enterprises, Inc. (EEI), a leading provider of civil engineering and land surveying services, is celebrating its 50th

anniversary. For the past five decades, EEI has been at the forefront of the industry, delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service to clients throughout the region.

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced an allocation of $150,346,316 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Capital Fund Program. This federal initiative aims to bolster housing infrastructure and support communities in their efforts to provide safe and modern housing options for residents in need. The Rockford Housing Authority (RHA) was granted $6,141,433 to embark on critical renovation and modernization projects within the Rockford community. These funds will enable the RHA to enhance the quality of public housing facilities, ensuring they meet contemporary standards of safety, comfort and sustainability.

more than $1 million to local government coffers and placing hundreds of neglected properties into the hands of private owners.

The April 2024 sales auction featured 280 registered bidders and more than 1,300 placed bids –both historic highs for the trustee sale.

The Rockford Housing Authority was awarded a grant of $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor for its YouthBuild program. This grant will enable RHA to continue its mission of empowering local youth and fostering community development.

Alpine Kiwanis Club awarded $3,000 scholarships to 10 local high school students for postsecondary education or training. The scholarships were funded in part by the 2023 Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days.

Region 1 Planning Council (R1), serving as the agent for trustee programs in Winnebago and Boone Counties, closed a record-setting online auction of tax-delinquent parcels, returning

Fehr Graham, a leading Midwest engineering and environmental firm, again secured a spot on the Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firms list, ranking #474. The firm ranked #494 in 2022 and #471 in 2023.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope received a $10,000 grant from the Helen Brach Foundation to purchase a patient lift and update the participant restrooms, providing direct support for participants with physical and developmental disabilities.

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

Hennig Power Protection

Rock Valley College

AAR MRO

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company (RMIC)

business BUSINESS BRIEFS

ComEd invested $15,000 in the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce at a check presentation earlier this year.

Digital Hive Mind, a Rockfordbased advertising and creative agency, was contracted by Moser Energy Systems to create an animated product video illustrating the capabilities of

the REV Station, Moser’s mobile microgrid and EV charging solution.

AAR MRO - Rockford hosted a local Girl Scout troop at their facility to help spark girls’ interest in aviation. Touring the facility, they saw commercial aircraft repairs and heard from members of Ascend, AAR’s female-focused

community COMMUNITY EVENTS

JUNE

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Rockford Public Library Summer Reading Club (SRC) Kick-off, 10 a.m. – noon, Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. The free family event includes a magic show with Zack Percell (10:30-11:30 a.m.), family crafting, free books and vendors. And there will be information on how to register for RPL’s SRC this year. Kona Ice will be available for purchase, and the first 800 children will get a free t-shirt.

Fairy Tale Tea Party, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Tinker Swiss Cottage. Tinker Swiss Cottage will welcome princesses from Characters 2 Life for this special Victorian Tea Party. The three-course lunch will be followed by a first-floor tour of the Tinker Swiss Cottage. Tickets to the event are limited and reservations are required.

Garden Fair Weekend, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford. Join Klehm the first weekend in June to experience a wide variety of plants, flowers, garden décor, art, educational information booths and more. Listen to live music performances in the Fountain Garden while enjoying a meal from local food truck vendors.

Water Pollution Reduction Plantings, hosted by Region 1 Planning Council (R1), 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Ken Rock Park, 2930 Bildahl Street, Rockford. Help reduce local water pollution by volunteering to plant native vegetation at watershed sites in Park-Er Woods and Ken Rock Park this summer. Know an RPS 205 high school student? This event will help meet their community service requirements. Volunteers are asked to bring soil knives or trowels, a pair of gloves, and dress in weather-appropriate clothing that can get dirty. To sign up for a two-hour volunteer shift, go to r1planning.org, navigate to the June calendar and click on the event date of your choice.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

Garden Fair Weekend, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St, Rockford. Join Klehm the first weekend in June to experience a wide variety of plants, flowers, garden décor, art, educational information booths and more. Listen to live music performances in the Fountain Garden while enjoying a meal from local food truck vendors.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

Water Pollution Reduction Plantings, hosted by Region 1 Planning Council (R1), 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Ken Rock Park, 2930 Bildahl Street, Rockford. Help reduce local water pollution by volunteering to plant native vegetation at watershed sites in Park-Er Woods and Ken Rock Park this summer. Know an RPS 205 high school student? This event will help meet their community service requirements. Volunteers are asked to bring soil knives or trowels, a pair of gloves, and dress in weather-appropriate clothing that can get dirty. To sign up for a two-hour volunteer shift, go to r1planning.org, navigate to the June calendar and click on the event date of your choice.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

Water Pollution Reduction Plantings, hosted by Region 1 Planning Council (R1), 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Ken Rock Park, 2930 Bildahl Street, Rockford. Help reduce local water pollution by volunteering to plant native vegetation at watershed sites in Park-Er Woods and Ken Rock Park this summer. Know an RPS 205 high school student? This event will help meet their community service requirements. Volunteers are asked to bring soil knives or trowels, a pair of gloves, and dress in weather-appropriate clothing that can get dirty. To sign up for a two-hour volunteer shift, go to r1planning.org, navigate to the June calendar and click on the event date of your choice.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Music on the Mall at Edgebrook, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Edgebrook, 1639 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford. The season kicks off with free concerts every Friday through August. Bring your lawn chairs and appetites as Lucha Cantina and Cork, Keg & Spirits will have food and drinks on site. Band line-up can be found at edgebrookshops. com

Greater

Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

ERG, about exciting careers in aviation. To wrap up the day, the Ascend team hosted a pizza party where each Girl Scout received a special Rockford MRO swag bag.

SupplyCore, a supply chain integrator and small business federal defense contractor, was awarded a three-year contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle

Competitive Initiative for the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. This contract, awarded by the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio, is part of an open season period to increase the number of JLTVCI Prime Vendors and will coincide with the original contract.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

ARTSY Arts & Crafts Exhibit, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Edgebrook, 1639 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford. Enjoy indoor and outdoor artisan markets throughout the mall, offering home décor, jewelry, vintage furniture, wood items, stained glass, kettle corn and much more. Find a great gift for Father’s Day.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

Investing In Rockford Area Real Estate, 5 – 7 p.m., Riverview Inn & Suites, 700 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. Presented by Amez Enterprises, this event showcases the opportunities available and celebrates the successes within our community. It is designed to educate, inspire, and facilitate connections for individuals already involved in or interested in participating in the real estate growth of our area. Find more information at amezenterprises.com/irare

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Glow Golf, 9 – 10 p.m., Aldeen Practice Centre, 902 Reid Farm Rd, Rockford. All ages are welcome to test their skills while the putting, chipping and range areas are all aglow. The $20 per person entry fee includes glow mini-putt, glow chipping corn hole, long drive glow competition and more. Preregistration is required by 7 p.m. at least one day prior at golfrockford.org/events

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Atwood Abuzz, 1 – 3 p.m., Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Rd., Rockford. Join Atwood staff for bee-themed activities in the park and at the Atwood Center during the wildflower season.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

RAMP’s Annual Bad Pants Open, 2 p.m., Timer Pointe Golf Club, 5750 Woodstock Road, Poplar Grove. Sign up for the golf outing through RAMP by registering online at give.classy.org/badpants

Juneteenth1865, 1 – 9 p.m., Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. 2nd Street, Rockford. Produced by Tommy Meeks, the 34th Juneteenth Celebration is the longestrunning Juneteenth Celebration in Illinois. Juneteenth, also known as Liberation Day, is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of African Americans enslaved in the U.S. Find more information at rockfordparkdistrict.org/juneteenth

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau’s 25th Annual Farm Breakfast, 6:30 – 11 a.m., Boone County Fair Grounds, 8847 IL 76, Belvidere. Activities include horse-drawn wagon rides (weather permitting), barnyard animals, children’s games, 50/50 raffle, tractor displays, music by The Matthew Wundrow Band, and more. $10 per adult; $5 ages 6-10; 5 and under free. Cash only. For more information visit www. winnebagoboonefarmbureau.org/foundation-events.html

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

Glow Golf, 9 – 10 p.m., Aldeen Practice Centre, 902 Reid Farm Rd, Rockford. All ages are welcome to test their skills while the putting, chipping, and range areas are all aglow. The $20 per person entry fee includes glow mini-putt, glow chipping corn hole, long drive glow competition and more. Preregistration is required by 7 p.m. at least one day prior at golfrockford.org/events

IceHogs Annual Garage Sale, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Rockford IceHogs Team Store at BMO Center (enter at Chestnut and Church Street doors), 300 Elm St., Rockford. This end-of-year tradition gives fans the opportunity to buy discounted IceHogs and Chicago Blackhawks apparel, collectibles, and autographed items, including sticks and locker nameplates. All sales are credit card only.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

Youth Bicycle Rodeo, 10 a.m. – noon, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Building 4, 500 W. 1st St., Pecatonica. Open to youth ages 5-18 years old, participants will learn bicycle safety. Hot dog and chip lunch provided. Preregistration required at go.illinois.edu/bicyclerodeo

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

Rockford Chamber members appear bolded.

Abreo Restaurant

Allen Galluzzo Hevrin Leake, LLC

Allstate - J Ellis Agency

Alpha Controls & Services LLC

Anpec Industries

Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope

Behr Iron & Metal, An Alter Company

Blackhawk Propane Company, Inc.

BMO Bank NA

Cain & Company

Crystal Precision Drilling, Inc.

Eickman’s Processing Company

Employee Benefit Association of

Northern Illinois

Forest City Consulting

Forest City Counseling

FurstStaffing

Gio Events

Gio Events/Alchemy at Aldeen

Giordano’s

Hoffman House

HolmstromKennedyPC

HR Green Inc.

Interstate Graphics

La Quinta Inn & Suites Rockford

Market Dimensions, Inc.

MegaFab

RENEWALS

Mercyhealth

Midwest Scale Company, Inc.

New Leaf Remodeling

NorthWest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS®

O & L Machine Co. Inc.

Paper Recovery Services Corp.

Rock Valley College Foundation

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Rockford Career College

Rockford Casino “A Hard Rock Opening Act”

Rockford City Market

Rockford Mass Transit District

Rockford Mass Transit District/ Paratransit

Service Machine Company, Inc.

State Farm Insurance - Andrew Blevins Agency

Staybridge Suites

The Signature Image LLC

UI Health Mile Square Health Center L.P. Johnson Rockford

Viking Chemical Company

Woodward (Loves Park Campus)

Woodward (Rock Cut Campus)

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

815 JUNK REMOVAL AND HAULING

Junk removal services, furniture hauling, light demolition, junk trailor rental, brush removal. We buy junk cars.

John Cantu (815) 708-1029 www.815junkremoval.com

CONSULTING BY DEMAND

A sales and marketing consultant specializing in ROI, branding and change management. Ross Blumenthal (815) 540-1757 www.consultingbydemand.com

FISERV

The largest credit card processor in the world, and the owner of the top point-of-sale system SMB in Clover. Kevin Kirkpatrick (224) 290-7783 www.clover.com

GEENEX

Bringing the benefits of solar to your local community since 2012. 525 S Meridian St Ste 2B Indianapolis IN 46225

Anne-Marie Williams (980) 237-7926 www.geenexsolar.com

SHEILA’S DAIQUIRI LOUNGE

A touch of New Orleans in Rockford. 308 W State St Ste 110, 61101

Sheilia Black (815) 670-3385

75 YEAR MEMBERS

Northern Illinois Optical Co. Inc.

40 YEAR MEMBERS

American Red Cross, Northwest Illinois Chapter Staff Management, Inc.

15 YEAR MEMBERS Fairfield by Marriott/Rockford

10 YEAR MEMBERS

American Financial - Aspire Financial Group American Financial - Luminairie Financial Group First Community Credit Union Goldie Floberg Holiday Inn Express - Rochelle Ignition Studio, Inc. Staff On Site Midwest Inc.

5 YEAR MEMBERS

Ebiss USA Serola Biomechanics, Inc. Sunbelt Rentals

The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages member submissions for The VOICE of the Greater Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 10th of the month preceding publication date. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to:

Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101

For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815987-8100. The VOICE of the Greater Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 1086-0630, is published monthly by the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 350, Rockford, Illinois 61101. Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Greater Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.

CHaMBER CHAMBER EVENTS ADVERTISERS INDEX

JUNE 2024

TUESDAY, JUNE 11

Business Over Lunch, 11:30 a.m., Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford. Presented by Thayer Energy Solutions. Brian Kaskie from the University of Iowa will speak on the Age-Inclusive Management Strategies: Highlighting the Experienced Employee.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11

You Should Run for Office, 5 p.m., Northwest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS, 1161 Tebala Blvd, Rockford. Northwest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS is the event partner, and Gideon Blustein will present. Topics include: Why run, campaign planning/budget, getting on the ballot, fundraising, getting your message out, and more.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

People You Should Know Reception, 4 p.m., The Standard Rooftop, 214 E State St, Rockford. Presented by workplace

TUESDAY, JUNE 25

Leadership Rockford Alumni Social, 4 p.m., Hard Rock Casino, 610 N. Bell School Rd, Rockford. Presented by Hard Rock Casino

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

The Update, 9 a.m., University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave, Rockford. Presenting Sponsor – UW Health. Premiere Small Business Sponsor – Thayer Energy Solutions

JULY 2024

TUESDAY, JULY 23

Chamber Power Hour- A Networking Social, 4 p.m., Rockford Country Club, 2500 Oxford St, Rockford. Join the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce for an evening of networking.

THURSDAY, JULY 25

The Update, 9 a.m., University of Illinois College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Ave, Rockford. Presenting Sponsor – UW Health. Premiere Small Business Sponsor – Thayer Energy Solutions

AUGUST 2024

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13

Business Over Lunch, 11:30 a.m., Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford. Presented by Thayer Energy Solutions Amez Enterprises will speak on workforce development.

GREATER ROCKFORD CHAMBER BOARD OF

UW Health Northern Illinois Region

Armando Cardenas Affordable Insurance & Tax

Paula Carynski

OSF Healthcare

Anthony Medical Center

EX-OFFICIO

Switzer, Long, Balsley & Van Evera, LLP

Michael Gronewold Fehr Graham

Troy Haggestad

WilliamsMcCarthy LLP

Dr. Sheila Hill

Think Big Corporation

Jeff Hultman Foresight Financial

Caitlin Pusateri

Celebrate with Us on June 20 @ The Standard, 214 E State St presented by:

Annie Baddoo, Ed.D

Kristen Paul

Ernie Fuhr

Maryjo F. Pirages Reynolds

Brian Finn

Lafakeria S. Vaughn

Jason Holcomb

Mitchell King, MD

Emily N. Hartzog

Mark Bonne

Jorge A. Herrera

Shauna L. Gustafson

Brent Scott

Kylee D. Miller, Esq.

Hannah Long

Megan Brechon

Carrie Hagerty

Lisa A. Davis, MD

John A. Pakiela, DO, FACEP, CMTE

Nicole Bennett MSW, LCSW