July Voice 2012

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

COMed training center

Kelley Williamson

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Jobs Creation Tax Credit Program Has Expanded PEOs Now Eligible

July 2012 | Volume 25 | No. 7

The Chamber honors

Women in business

By Paul Anthony Arco Kathy Weber, managing director at BMO Harris Bank, remembers the time when she had to hide attending her child’s school function by blocking out an appointment in her work calendar.

Not these days.

“It’s all about budgeting time management,” said Weber, who spoke as part of a panel during the annual Rockford Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Expo and Luncheon. “Women (can work hard) and not have to feel guilty about spending quality time with family.”

That was one of the take away messages heard by more than 400 business

Photos by Brian Thomas Photography

L to R: Business Leader of Tomorrow, RoseAnn Taphorn, North American Tool; Business Owner of the Year, Patti Thayer, Thayer Lighting, Inc.; and, Manager of the Year, Paula Carynski, OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. community members at the annual Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Expo and Luncheon, June 21, at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort.

The luncheon featured a panel of successful local women executives, including Weber; LoRayne Logan, owner of workplace staffing; Lori Gummow, executive director, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful; and Rebecca Epperson,

president and owner, PR Etc. The group shared their achievements — as well as challenges — on the way to becoming thriving leaders in the business world.

The worst advice someone gave Epperson was don’t take the risk of becoming a business owner. “You have to dream, try and move,” she said. “If it doesn’t work, at least you tried.” more on page 3

Rockford College celebrates reconnection to East State Street

The $2,500 Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit has expanded. Beginning July 1, 2012, small businesses that employ 50 or fewer full-time employees as well as not-forprofits and Professional Employer Organizations are eligible to receive the credit. Jobs must be created between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2016 and filled by a 2010 “Put Illinois to Work” worker trainee. Position must pay no less than $10 an hour or equivalent with a minimum $18,200, and must be sustained for at least one year (not necessarily by the same individual). Withholding tax goes to Illinois. The tax credit certificate will be issued one year from the hire date.

Business owners can go online and register for their tax credits, provide substantiating data, and print out their credit certificates.

Visit JobsTaxCredit.illinois.gov.

Email JobstaxCreditProgram@ illinois.gov or call 800-252-2923.

Mark your calendar!

Chamber Founder’s Day Celebration July 11, 2012 Midway Village Museum For more info, see page 27

Fun Business Facts n 7-11 sells 10,000 pots of coffee an hour, every hour, every day. n Twenty percent of tuxedo rentals take place in May. n “Bimbo” is a brand of soft drink manufactured and marketed by Coca-Cola, Inc. n When Scott Paper Company first started manufacturing toilet paper, it did not put its name on the product because of embarrassment.

Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com n online registration n keynote speaker video clips n event photos n list of Chamber events Questions? 815-987-8100

Join the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group www.linkedin.com/e/gis/2544

John Whitehead (former college trustee and grandson of Blanch Walker Burpee who originally secured land for the campus in 1927), incoming Board of Trustee Chair Charles Colman, Sunil Puri, class of ’82, and President Robert L. Head join on June 14 to celebrate the Puri gift of land and several other notable achievements.

Alumnus and trustee Sunil Puri, founder and president of First Rockford Group, presented the deed to just over five acres of commercial land valued at $1 million to Rockford College. The college also purchased a parcel of land directly to the west of the 5100 building -once again connecting the main campus

with East State Street after 23 years.

Rockford College President Robert L. Head, Ph.D., joined Puri and several members of the Rockford College Board of Trustees on June 14 to formally acknowledge the land donation and to announce several other milestones and achievements. n

n Warner Chappel Music owns the copyright to the song “Happy Birthday.” It makes more than $1 million in royalties every year from the commercial use of the song. n The first product that the toy company Mattel came out with was picture frames. n The first product that Sony came out with was the rice cooker. n Oil tycoon, John D. Rockefeller, was the world’s first billionaire.

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Chamber and Chicago FBI partner to offer Citizen’s Academy to business leaders “This was a fascinating experience and that we have a much more specific understanding of the FBI’s role, in particular for the business community.”

In conjunction with the Chicago Division of FBI and its Rockford Resident Agency, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce hosted an FBI Citizen’s Academy Class. This was the first class of its kind held in the Rockford area.

This was a four week program held in April with the purpose of establishing and developing relationships between the FBI and the public it serves. Among other presentations, Special Agents from various units shared with the Rockford class how their high profile investigations came together and were eventually tried in federal court.

The FBI Chicago Citizens’ Academy was established in the Chicago Division in 2003 as part of the Community Outreach Program. The purpose of the Academy is to establish and foster relationships and understanding between FBI representatives and the community within the Chicago FBI Office’s

jurisdiction. The success and local impact of this Academy has been tremendous.

The Citizens’ Academy is a stimulating program that gives media executives, business, religious, civic, and community leaders a chance to get an inside look at the FBI and to meet the dedicated men and women of the FBI. During the Academy, students participate in firearms demonstrations and gain insight into the structure and operation of an FBI Field Office; obtain an overview of the legal basis for the FBI’s jurisdiction and issues relating to congressional oversight; and learn about the services the FBI provides to local and state law enforcement agencies.

The Rockford Academy included 24 business leaders who were invited to participate in the academy and receive their certificate of completion. Einar Forsman, Chamber President and CEO was an academy participant. “I think I can speak for all of our initial academy class in saying that this was a fascinating experience and that we have a much more specific understanding of the FBI’s role, in particular for the business community.”

It is anticipated that the Citizen’s Academy will be offered in Rockford for the next several years.

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July 2012

Kristan McNames, named Susan Johnson and Teresa Maloney of Kids Spot, Inc., as this year’s participants in the ATHENA PowerLink mentoring program.

Women in Business Continued from front page “We’re all high achievers,” said Gummow. “We gravitate to other highenergy people.”

All four women are inaugural members of the 2011 People You Should Know recognition program. “They’re all successful, and they feel strongly about Rockford,” said Einar Forsman, president and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “I think it’s important for younger professionals or people new to business to have people to connect with, who are successful in their careers.”

Women Leaders Honored with Annual Awards The expo and luncheon also recognized local women-owned/managed businesses and leaders who are making a difference in Rockford. Three business leaders were honored during the luncheon for their professional and personal contributions.

Patti Thayer, owner of Thayer Lighting, won the Business Owner of the Year award. She received the award for her outstanding professional achievements, personal and community involvement and leadership. “I was so humbled and so honored to think about the people who nominated me,” said an emotional Thayer. “Their lives are hectic and busy; that they would take time to nominate me was overwhelming. I’m very honored.”

Thayer has owned her business since 2007 and has seen growth in both sales and number of employees. Thayer Lighting is regarded as a local leader when it comes to energy conservation.

“I’ve worked with Patti on many different projects,” said Barb Berman, a community volunteer. “She does exactly what she says she’s going to do, and she works hard to make sure it’s done right.

Rockford is lucky to have her.”

Paula Carynski, vice president for patient care services and Chief Nursing Officer at OSF Saint Anthony Medical

Center, received the Manager of the Year award. Carynski oversees several departments, 1,200 employees and a budget of $160 million. In 2002 and 2009, she was instrumental in OSF earning Magnet status, a national program that recognizes healthcare organizations for outstanding nursing systems. Carynski serves on the Rosecrance board of directors and was the former president of the Janet Wattles Center executive board.

“To be acknowledged by the Chamber of Commerce is phenomenal,” she said. “Women are gaining steam in this community; there are more entrepreneurs and many others taking on leadership positions. It’s refreshing to see.”

RoseAnn Taphorn, a sales and marketing assistant at North American Tool, was recognized as Women Business Leader of Tomorrow. Taphorn is responsible for overseeing her company’s sales reporting, convention show planning and social media program, which she helped developed. She’s also a member of the Young Executives Foundation of the Industrial Supply Association and Women of Today’s Manufacturing. “I’m shocked,” Taphorn told the audience. “I was here last year and was inspired by the women who were recognized.”

Susan Johnson and Teresa Maloney of Kids Spot, Inc., were named as this year’s participants in the ATHENA PowerLink mentoring program, a national program that pairs each participant with a panel of business experts to help grow their company.

This was the 17th year the Chamber has hosted the expo and luncheon. There were more than 50 booths promoting everything from banking to healthcare. “This is a very popular event with our members because of the variety of businesses that take part each year,” Forsman said.

The Women’s Center of Rockford Health System, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center and First National Bank and Trust Company were sponsors of this year’s event. The awards sponsor was Humana. n

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce ­ elcomes and encourages submissions w for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding ­publication. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101

For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100.

The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 1086-0630, is published monthly by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, Illinois 61101.

Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.

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ComEd’s new training center in Rockford is scheduled for completion this December.

ComEd breaks ground on state-of-the-art Rockford facility Site will bring jobs to Rockford, train next generation of utility workers ComEd, An Exelon Company, broke ground in May on a new facility for use as a training center, as part of its broader, $2.6 billion effort to renew the region’s electricity infrastructure. The investment comes as a result of the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA) that the Illinois legislature enacted last fall, which authorized ComEd to invest in modernizing Illinois’ electric grid.

“In our push to modernize the electric grid, we will need our employees to have the right tools and training,” said Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd president & CEO, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction site at ComEd’s Rockford headquarters on Energy Avenue. “The Rockford center will provide them with those resources while furthering ComEd’s commitment to safety, innovation and operational excellence.”

The facility, scheduled for completion in December, 2012, will be an education and training center for ComEd’s workforce and will feature 34,000 square feet of classroom and indoor training space, an 85,000-squarefoot outside training yard, a 100-seat auditorium, and customer education area. It also will include computer kiosks, break areas, indoor climbing areas, splicing bays for underground cable and manhole training areas.

“Not only will this facility enable us to train the next generation of utility workers, it will provide good jobs and opportunities for the people of this community,” Pramaggiore said.

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“By choosing Rockford, ComEd will bring construction jobs here while guaranteeing our city will be at the forefront of the utility’s modernization efforts.” Also

ComEd president & CEO Anne Pramaggiore discusses the Rockford facility that will train employees in the new Smart Grid technology. present were State Representative Charles Jefferson, IBEW Local Chapter 15 Vice President Terry McGoldrick and Northwestern Illinois Building Trades Council President Brad Long.

Customers Will See Shorter Power Outages Employees trained at the Rockford facility, and the one being built in Chicago, will support and implement ComEd’s grid modernization efforts. ComEd is investing $2.6 billion to strengthen the existing power grid and adding new, digital Smart Grid and smart meter technology that will transform the delivery of electricity to homes and businesses. By year end, ComEd will have replaced or refurbished more than 450 miles of underground residential distribution (URD) cable and replace or reinforced approximately 2,500 wood poles to enhance performance and reduce service interruptions throughout the northern Illinois region.

The company also will install about 450 distribution automation (DA) devices, which automatically detect and reroute power around potential problems on the system, significantly reducing the duration of interruptions. The technology will minimize the number of customers affected by an outage by isolating the problem area and making automatic, realtime adjustments to the electric grid.

“We are committed to building a stronger, more dependable power grid – one with fewer and shorter outages,” Pramaggiore said. “A critical component is improving and expanding training in all areas as we build our workforce of the future and prepare the next generation of utility workers to maintain a more modern grid.”

The new training center will bring construction jobs to the Rockford region.

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PROFILE

Member Company Profile

By Paul Anthony Arco John Griffin was practically born into the fuel business.

His grandfather, Walter Williamson and a business partner, Nate Kelley, founded Kelley Williamson Company in 1926. Today, Griffin is president of the Rockford-based company, one of the largest operators of fuel stations and convenience stores in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, with 500 employees.

Griffin joined his grandfather’s business 45 years ago when he was just 12. He also worked at the Wagon Wheel Resort, another of his grandfather’s businesses. “My grandfather believed in work, work, work,” he said.

Over the years, Griffin rose through the ranks. He started by moving boxes in the warehouse to pumping gas, making deliveries, selling car batteries and managing fuel stations. He became vice president before being named president in 1990. “I knew when I was very young that I wanted to be in the oil business,” he said. “This is what I’m passionate about.”

Distinction as Oldest Distributor Kelley Williamson services hundreds of car dealerships, commercial fleets, aviation industry, industrial and agricultural markets, and is Exxon Mobil’s oldest distributor in the country.

In September, Kelley Williamson will open its 48th fuel station – a 4,000 square-foot facility, located on Alpine Road across from Rock River Ford. “I never dreamed it would get this big,” Griffin said. “I never wanted to be the biggest. But I wanted to be the best at what we do.”

The industry has seen drastic changes in the past several years, In the 1970s, Kelley Williamson’s business model moved from service station to auto repair to self service. But the biggest shift came in the 1990s, when the model moved from wholesale to retail. Convenience stores became as important to the business as selling gasoline and carwashes.

John Griffin

As a long-time supporter of the community, Kelley Williamson Company has been a member of the Rockford Chamber since 1929.

Kelley Williamson Company Fueled By Success “It was evolution,” Griffin said. “Cars were more difficult to work on, and in our case, we weren’t mechanics anyway.

Gasoline has always been a competitive business. We needed to do something for revenue, so we started selling pop, Twinkies and cigarettes.”

Griffin hired a consultant who helped the company take convenience to another level. After touring one particular market, the consultant showed Griffin ways the company could improve product placement, by adding items such as holiday candy, for example, and by eliminating duplication of other items. “He completely changed our mindset,” Griffin said. “I was so excited that we were about to change the way we do business.”

These days, Kelley’s Market sells much more than cigarettes and candy.

Its product lines include ATMs, bakery, beer, wine and liquor, dairy and grocery, soft drinks, household goods, snacks and much more. The convenience stores carry several of the top brand cereals, popular pet foods and Dean’s Foods products.

“Our business philosophy is to provide convenience for customers who need dog food, eggs, milk or other staple items on their way home,” Griffin said.

“Would you rather pull into a Kelley’s Market, grab two items and run out, or would you rather wade through a large store and a long line at a large store for a couple of items?”

Supporting Rockford Area In addition to its business success, Kelley Williamson is a generous supporter of the local community. Among its many charities are Rosecrance, the Rockford Pro-Am, American Cancer

Society and the University of Wisconsin athletics. Each year, Kelley Williamson teams up with ExxonMobil to help area schools through an educational alliance grant for math and science programs.

“The community has been good to the people who work for this company,” Griffin said. “I believe it’s important to give back to the community. That was established early on, thanks to my grandfather and my mother. It’s something we will always do.”

Kelley Williamson Company John Griffin, president 1132 Harrison Ave. Rockford, IL 61104 815-397-9410 www.kw-oil.com

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Lidköping-Rockford Industrial Partnership Agreement presented in Washington, D.C.

By Linnea Bengtsson, City of Lidköping In 2006, the City of Rockford signed an Industrial Partnership Agreement with the City of Lidköping, Sweden.

The agreement’s goal is to increase job growth and community wealth for both cities through international collaboration.

Thanks to this partnership, in 2008 I had the fortune to serve as an international business development trainee for eight months at the RAEDC. In 2011, Lidköping’s Mayor Kjell Hedvall appointed me to the firstever full-time position as international business developer. I alternate my time between Rockford and Lidköping. My office is on the second floor at Rockford City Hall, and my role is to strengthen existing partnerships and develop key new ones focused on education, economic and community development.

Lidköping, Rockford Partnerships I assist companies and organizations in Lidköping and Rockford to explore partnerships to grow businesses and add jobs in both communities.

For example, De la Gardie School in Lidköping and Rockford’s East High School have partnered to build three homes in the SwedishAmerican Hospital area over the last several years, funded

by SwedishAmerican Foundation.

Several professional exchanges have occurred, or are being planned, such as with firefighters and educators.

On May 25, I had the privilege to travel to Washington, D.C., to present a report on the Lidköping-Rockford partnership. I met with Sweden’s Ambassador to the United States Jonas Hafström, Minister Counselor Magnus Rydén, and Environmental Technology Officer Eva Hunnius Ohlin at the House

Shown are: Minister Counselor Magnus Rydén, Ambassador Jonas Hafström, International Business Developer Linnea Bengtsson and Environmental Technology Officer Eva Hunnius Ohlin. of Sweden in Washington, D.C. I also met with SwedishAmerican Chamber of Commerce President Therese Lindé.

The City of Lidköping is a sponsor in the SwedishAmerican Chamber of Commerce.

Ambassador Hafström and Minister Counselor Rydén visited Rockford in 2010 during the International Bioenergy Days. The meeting was fruitful and resulted in good ideas on developing the

partnership and increasing awareness.

Some of the items discussed were the International Bioenergy Days conference in Mankato, Oct. 7 to 10, and how we can help Swedish house producers to link with the LidköpingRockford Student Construction project in Rockford for increased exports.

Linnea Bengtsson is international business developer for the City of Lidköping, Sweden.

Contact Linnea.bengtsson@lidkoping.se

GRAA approves Foreign Trade Zone management agreement with RAEDC

By Carrie Zethmayr, RAEDC In an ongoing effort toward intergovernmental and interagency cooperation to build efficiency, the Greater Rockford Airport Authority approved an agreement with the Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) to oversee the management of the Foreign Trade Zone #176 (FTZ) at the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD).

The FTZ is a federally regulated program that allows customs duties on imported cargo to be reduced, deferred or eliminated. These savings help businesses increase their cash flow and better manage their supply chain and inventory control. These benefits then promote exports from those businesses, creating local jobs and advancing international trade in the region. The agreement with RAEDC fulfills the responsibilities of the FTZ administrator position at RFD, which was vacant due to a staff retirement.

“This agreement is an efficient and ideal fit for the airport and the regional businesses that can benefit from the FTZ program,” said RFD Director Mike Dunn. “The RAEDC’s in-depth expertise of the FTZ program, the regional business environment and international trade will make this a seamless transition. RFD is one of the largest economic generators in the region, and it makes sense to partner

and collaborate with the RAEDC to ensure the FTZ is being utilized and promoted to its full potential.”

Attracting International Businesses to Region The agreement with the RAEDC includes the handling, management, administration and marketing of the FTZ program at RFD. The organization will make monthly reports to the GRAA, and submit mandatory annual reports to the U.S. ForeignTrade Zones Board. GRAA will remain the grantee of the FTZ #176.

“The FTZ program is a great opportunity for our region and its businesses to maximize their assets which could lead to additional quality jobs. It also can assist in attracting new international businesses to the region,” said RAEDC President Janyce Fadden.

“RAEDC has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with RFD, and we’re excited to grow this relationship.”

In addition to overseeing the current program, the RAEDC will work to grow the utilization of the FTZ by identifying additional businesses in the region that could benefit from its

services. The RAEDC will proactively meet with companies that could benefit from the FTZ, and assist them in applying for approval and activating and implementing the program.

For more information on Foreign Trade Zone #176 and how your company can realize its cash flow and savings benefits, contact Carrie Zethmayr at 815-969-4263 or czethmayr@rockfordil.com.

Carrie Zethmayr is manager of international trade at the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

Hiring looking up for first two quarters of 2012

By Matthew Simpson, RAEDC Every quarter, ManpowerGroup— a workforce solutions company headquartered in Milwaukee — surveys employers in 13 industry sectors to gauge hiring confidence.

It uses survey results to derive a metric called the Net Employment Outlook, by subtracting the percentage of employers anticipating a decrease in hiring activity from those expecting an increase. For third quarter, 2012, the Net Employment Outlook is +11 percent, slightly up from +10 percent in second quarter, 2012, and +8 percent in the same period last year.

For the first time since 2008, the

survey has shown two consecutive quarters of positive outlooks in all industries across all four regions surveyed. “In our on-demand world, seeing long-term changes can be difficult, but it is important to keep in mind that employer confidence has been on an upward trajectory for three years,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup president of the Americas.

that employment needs are increasing slowly. Companies in the region are finding themselves in need of more employees than in past years. After cutting expenses and shrinking payrolls to weather the recession, companies are starting to add jobs, albeit very slowly.

The VOC data and employment outlook survey are encouraging economic indicators on a local and national level.

To view a copy of the ManpowerRockford Hiring Group’s Quarterly Employment Increases Indicated Outlook Survey, visit manpowergroup.

A similar theme is found in our Voice com/research.cfm. of the Customer (VOC) retention survey data as well. In conversations with Matthew Simpson is business development employers in the region, I have found specialist at the RAEDC.

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New food safety regulations re-shaping expectations of food manufacturers, packagers

By Amy Fitzgerald, IMEC Food processors, suppliers and packagers across the nation should be aware; operations could be greatly affected by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). These two initiatives represent the most radical change to the food supply chain in the last 80 years. A company’s failure to meet them could cost significant revenues, and in worse cases, result in a shutdown.

More than 90,000 food suppliers in the United States will be affected by FSMA. Even the smallest companies throughout the supply chain will not be able to avoid the regulations. Acting under FSMA, the FDA already has shut down a number of plants under a “guilty until proven innocent” approach.

Larger food companies have achieved their GFSI certification in one of the standards (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, IFS, etc.). Companies within these supply chains may have been asked to become certified as well. Not becoming GFSI certified could result in lost business.

Until recently, the process of becoming certified was difficult for smaller companies. But experts across the state are providing food manufacturers and packagers with an opportunity to educate themselves on the changes and learn how to address the present issues.

Charting the Path to Compliance Alchemy Systems, the global leader in food and workplace safety training for production workers, and the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC) have partnered to educate companies on the recent changes pertaining to the regulations. Half-day workshops in July will help companies cut through the mysteries of FSMA and GFSI and chart a path for compliance.

Workshops will run July 9 in Chicago, July 10 in Joliet and July 11 in BloomingtonNormal, before ending on July 12 in Mount Vernon. Companies will discover: ■■ The impact FSMA is likely to have on operations in the next 18 months.

■■ Which companies are most at risk.

■■ If current recordkeeping will satisfy the FDA inspector and the GFSI auditor.

■■ The differences between GFSI certifications and which are best for a business.

■■ How GFSI is addressing smaller companies with limited compliance resources.

■■ The importance of having a published and practiced food safety plan.

■■ Whether current employee training meets FDA and GFSI guidelines.

■■ How other Illinois companies achieved GFSI certification and what they are doing to prepare for FSMA. As part of the program, large food producers from across the state will speak on how the regulatory changes have impacted their businesses and how they have adapted, internally and throughout their supply chains. Quality assurance managers, operators and production, compliance officers, and continuous improvement or human resources are strongly encouraged to attend, as these requirements affect nearly all aspects of an operation.

Still not sure if this program is right for a particular organization? Consider: ■■ Does your company have a documented and practiced food safety plan? If so, does it meet FSMA and GFSI requirements?

■■ Are production, process and training records easily producible for an FDA or GFSI inspector?

■■ Does every line employee know how to answer questions from an auditor or inspector?

■■ Do you know that GFSI and some of its certifications have a special three-year ramp-up for smaller companies to make it easier to achieve certification?

■■ Are there any customers asking to become certified under SQF, BRC, etc.?

■■ Is your company “on the front line” for the first wave of FSMA inspections?

All good things to consider, but the reality is, if a producer, packager or supplier is unsure about current regulations, this series of workshops is a prime opportunity to learn more! To register, visit www.imec. org/events.cfm or contact me at 309-6772977 or afitzgerald@imec.org.

Amy Fitzgerald is marketing manager at IMEC.

U.S. manufacturers unite to raise awareness of the industry The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) and NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, including IMEC, are launching Manufacturing Day, Oct. 5, 2012. The goal is to open as many manufacturing doors as possible to the community and to introduce manufacturers to business services delivered through the MEP program.

Studies, like that produced annually

by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, show that while almost 80 percent of Americans believe manufacturing is important to our economic prosperity, standard of living and national security, only 30 percent would encourage their children to select manufacturing as a career. With the skills gap getting more pronounced each year, it is difficult for manufacturers to find and hire qualified employees.

Manufacturing associations, led by FMA, have decided that what must be done is to remove the myths that exist about manufacturing and prove that it’s a viable long-term career choice for qualified candidates – including the workforce of tomorrow.

Manufacturers Host ‘Coming Out Party’ “Manufacturing Day will be the ‘coming out party’ for U.S. manufacturers all across the nation,” said Ed Youdell, president and CEO of FMA. “On October 5th, we celebrate the great work and innovation of the 12 million people who make the U.S. the world’s largest manufacturing economy.

We encourage manufacturers to open their doors to students, parents, press, and job seekers so they can see firsthand the safe, high-tech and innovative work environments that await the best and brightest who pursue careers in manufacturing.”

There also are gaps in knowledge within the manufacturing industry on how to improve processes, innovate and grow. Manufacturing Day can provide

Ed Youdell, FMA, encourages manufacturers to open their doors on Oct. 5. an opportunity for industry employers to learn about programs available through the NIST MEP centers.

Manufacturers Encouraged to Open Their Doors The Chamber’s Manufacturers Council is on board with this program.

“We encourage every manufacturer in Rockford to plan an open house for October 5th and visit other manufacturers in the area,” said Teresa Beach-Shelow, president of Superior Joining Technologies, Inc., and past chair of the Manufacturers Council. “It’s amazing how little we each may know about companies that are located in our own industrial park. This is a great reason to visit a neighboring company or two and learn more about what they do. Who knows? A potential new business partner might be located down the street!”

“We particularly hope that educators and parents will avail themselves of this unprecedented opportunity to visit local employers with children – particularly those in middle school and junior high -- to introduce them to career opportunities that exist for those who are prepared with appropriate science and math skills,” said Bob Trojan, president of Rockford Linear Actuation, Inc., and coordinator of educational programs for the Manufacturers Council.

To learn more about Manufacturing Day, visit mfgday.com or call 888-394-4362.

Manufacturing Update is sponsored by IMEC

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Rockford Career College celebrates 150 years September banquet to highlight graduates — past and present In celebration of its 150th year in 2012, Rockford Career College will host a banquet on Saturday, Sept.

29 at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center in Rockford. This formal recognition will highlight graduates – past and present – and the significant role the college has played in the growth of the city’s business and industry.

Rockford Career College is proud of the fact that it ranks number five in the list of oldest business operations in Rockford and is the oldest college of its type in Illinois. The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities has placed Rockford Career College in the number seven spot in its list of the oldest continuous operating career schools in the United States.

An Historical Perspective

A.G. Spalding, class of 1866, founded baseball’s National League and Spalding Sporting Goods.

Rockford Career College is proud of the fact that it ranks number five in the list of oldest business operations in Rockford and is the oldest college of its type in Illinois.

pitching with Rockford’s Forest City Team. In 1869, he was employed as a Jeffrey Swanberg Rockford Career bookkeeper at the Rockford College Register newspaper. Following the formation in 1871 of baseball’s first professional league, the National Association, Spalding joined the Boston Red Sox. Not liking the way the game was played, he created the National League and performed as an extremely successful pitcher until retiring from baseball in 1887.

He went on to publish the first official rules guide for baseball, developed the first “official” baseball, and took a group of major league players on a world tour to promote baseball and his newly found business, Spalding Sporting Goods. The rest is history.

In 1862, 10 years after Rockford was chartered, and Shortly after Spalding retired one year after the start of the from baseball, his alma mater American Civil War, Rockford became a part of one of the most Business College (as it was successful chains of commercial known at the time), opened its doors to the community. schools and colleges in the United During that same year, President States — the Brown’s group of Abraham Lincoln presented the business colleges, founded by Emancipation Proclamation, G.W. Brown of Jacksonville, Ill. and Rockford was chosen as the Although Brown acquired the site of a temporary Civil War college in 1892, it was not called Training camp. One year later, Brown’s Business College until 1863, Lincoln gave the famous 1902. It remained a part of the Gettysburg Address.

Brown’s system until 1941, when Rockford Business College its name reverted to Rockford preceded the first issue of the Business College. At one time, Rockford Morning Star (1888), Brown had as many as 30 the paving of East State Street Edwin Brush, class of 1893, was the first magician (1889), and the first passenger schools throughout the Midwest. to perform at a national Chautauqua event and train to arrive in Rockford on the He passed away in 1917. one of the country’s most famous magicians.

Illinois Central Line (1889). All of this was before the city’s population reached 23,534, as Education Open to All reported in the 1890 census.

Well before the turn of the century, both men and

Contributions Span 150 Years Rockford Career College takes tremendous pride in recognizing the many contributions made to business and industry by students who have attended its classes.

Among the first was a young man named A.G. Spalding (class of 1866).

After completing his bookkeeping and commerce courses, Spalding was introduced to baseball and began

woman attended the college. The 1893-94 catalog lists the entire student body of 1893. At that time, the college, located in the new D.J. Stewart Building, 113 S. Main St., had 576 students -- 385 male (67 percent) and 187 female (33 percent). Students attended from surrounding Illinois and Wisconsin communities and states throughout the nation, including recent immigrants who came to enhance their career skills. more on page 9

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

July 2012

Rockford Career College 150 years Continued from page 8 One student, class of 1893, was Edwin Brush from Garden Prairie. After graduation with a degree in commerce, Brush founded a feed and grain store in Belvidere and later a haberdashery. Even though he was a successful businessman, his great love was for magic. In 1902 he left business and took a spot as the first magician to perform at a national Chautauqua event. He spent the remainder of his life in the world of magic and business, operating a magic shop in California. He died there in 1967 at 94.

Alumni Builds Rockford Industry A leading Chicago daily posted in 1910, “The Brown’s system is the greatest business school organization in the United States.” As Rockford’s business and industry grew during that time, so did the number of outstanding young men and woman who attended the college.

One such attendee was Swedish immigrant Hugo Olson. Olson arrived to Rockford from Sweden in 1893 at 15. He attended Rockford public schools and went on to Brown’s Rockford Business College, taking commerce courses. After working with an insurance company, he joined Rockford Tool Company and Rockford Milling Machine Company as a secretary and general manager. In 192627, he was appointed by the Sundstrand brothers to be the first president of their newly formed Sundstrand Machine Tool Company (currently known as Hamilton Sundstrand). Olson died in 1949.

Changes: Names, Locations, Programs Although the college has changed locations only a few times over the past 150 years, its reputation for offering a firstclass career education never has wavered.

During the first few decades, the college was located in the hub of the city with addresses on South Main (D.J. Stewart Building) and West State streets.

It remained the longest at 317 - 319 W. Jefferson St., from 1935 to 1986. The college relocated to 730 N. Church St., from 1987 to 2008. Currently it is located in a beautiful made-to-order campus in

the former Colonial Village Mall, 1130 S. Alpine Road.

Along with changes in location, came changes in name. The college has been Rockford Business College, Brown’s Rockford Business College, and for a brief time in the late 60s and very early 70s, Midstate College of Commerce. Today it appropriately is named Rockford Career College to reflect that the college prepares students for careers, not just in business or commerce, but also in a wide variety of career paths.

Curriculum Reflects Job Market When the college opened its doors in 1862, students primarily were trained in commerce and the secretarial sciences.

Practical penmanship was offered. As times changed, so did the curriculum. In the late 60s came fashion merchandising and travel consulting. Karn Mejhudon, inducted into the Career College Association’s Hall of Fame, studied travel consulting at Rockford Business College in the mid-70s.

Today the college offers information technology, veterinary technician, pharmacy technician, paralegal, massage therapy, along with business technology and medical technology programs. Its goal is the same today as it was in 1862, to place highly trained students into the workforce, ready to enter their career of choice.

Fast Forward Rockford Career College graduates not only fulfill the needs of the community’s private business and industrial sector, they also assume roles as public servants.

Past graduates have gone on to become alderman for the city, county clerk, chief deputy of the region’s Federal Bankruptcy Court, and service on the Winnebago County Board.

As the college reflects on its distinguished history and contributions to the community, it stands confident knowing that it can respond to the challenges that the future presents. The college, being almost as old as the city itself, eagerly anticipates providing the city with highly trained graduates who will continue to serve the needs of the community well into the next century. n Jeffrey Swanberg is director of college relations and historian at Rockford Career College. He is author of Rockford Business College – A School and Its City.

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theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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July 2012

Great events a mix of planning, customer service, volunteers It’s sports season again, and the Rockford Region long has been known as the Amateur Sports Capital of the Midwest. Year after year, tournament directors choose our region for their soccer, softball, tennis, BMX, and now Lacrosse tournaments.

It really does take a village to host “wow” sports events and earn repeat customers and business. We must have the full support of our partners and their complete commitment. That includes our venue managers, the Rockford Park District, tournament directors, hospitality industry, governmental bodies, media, volunteers and more.

Tournament directors look for exceptional customer service when determining return visits to sports destinations. Here’s how the RACVB engages our community, works with our partners and ensures outstanding experiences so tournaments return to Rockford.

Advanced, Detailed Planning The Puma Champions Cup Soccer Tournament returned to the Rockford region for the 10th year in 2012, bringing more than 525 teams from eight Midwestern states and two international teams from Canada and Mexico. The tournament generated an estimated $1.6 million in economic activity over two weekends. More than 15,000 people attended, making it the largest soccer tournament held in the Rockford area.

To ensure excellent service, RACVB started working with Puma Champions Cup organizer Frank Mateus several months before the tournament was held.

Mateus said, “Over the years we’ve benefited from the superb planning by the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Rockford Park District.

We’ve seen their quick reactions and solutions to spur-of-the moment issues, and been welcomed with open arms.

Additionally, the hotels and restaurants are very responsive and they know what it takes to welcome our attendees. It is this kind of ongoing dedication that makes us excited to bring Puma Cup back to Rockford year after year.”

With Mateus, RACVB created a plan that provided the best possible experience.

The bureau worked with two radio stations that held live remotes during the tournament, a balloon artist created balloon animals for kids, and the Rockford Park District provided activities for players and other attendees. Additionally, the bureau had an information table on site during the tournament to provide visitors with helpful tips about the area.

Extraordinary Customer Service

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Another example is the collaboration between the Rockford Women’s Bowling Association (RWBA) and the RACVB. RACVB worked with RWBA and the Illinois Women’s Bowling Association (IWBA) to bring the state tournament back to Rockford this year. The event brought almost 500 bowlers and fans to the Rockford region each week for 10 weeks from February to April. They spent about $1.5 million.

During this year’s opening ceremonies, RWBA President Laura Heller stated, “We had some tough competition in bringing this event back to the Rockford region.

When the RWBA last sponsored the IWBA state tournament in 2004, we experienced the excellent customer service provided

by RACVB and the Rockford region.

Everyone was determined to make our event a success. It’s this type of customer service that makes Rockford so popular with women’s bowling. Rockford knows how to show our bowlers to a good time and everyone enjoys coming to this area.”

Enthusiastic Volunteers The Rockford community has a long history of strong volunteerism and the visitor industry is a fortunate recipient of their time and talent. A strong corps of volunteers takes care of our visitor centers at the Chicago Rockford International Airport and the Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center. They also serve at welcome tables for many conferences and tournaments. Every Friday volunteers come to the RACVB office and fill welcome bags with brochures, coupons, maps and other information for sports tournaments.

Over the last few months, you’ve heard us talk about Reclaiming First and revitalizing and renovating some of our sports facilities. It is extremely important that we keep our facilities as modern and efficient as possible to meet the needs of our tournament directors and players. But we also know that customer service is a key component to repeat business, and at RACVB, we do all that we can to ensure that every visitor to Rockford has the best possible experience every single time they’re here.

For more information on Reclaiming First, visit www.reclaimingfirst.org.

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

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July 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

So you’re thinking about running for School Board? ... congratulations!

That’s the response I hope prospective school board candidates will receive when announcing they are running for Rockford Public School Board, but my guess is they still may occasionally be met with a quizzical look and often an utterance similar to, “Why would you want to do that?”

It’s true that serving as a Rockford School Board Member is not an easy task, and it’s often been difficult with changes in board members and leadership teams to get much traction on improving our schools. But what a difference a year can make. The Rockford Public School board has made more decisions, helped facilitate more positive change and made more progressive steps forward in educating our kids and collaborating with our community than many people probably thought possible just one year ago.

What’s Been Accomplished We have assembled an excellent leadership team, however, much of the credit for accomplishments during the past year should go to our school board, a group of seven men and women who are unpaid and often underappreciated for the countless hours they spend analyzing, discussing and making decisions on major issues for our school district. Here are a few topics addressed during the past year: ■■ Purchase and move into new administration building ■■ Collaborative effort to develop 10 year facilities plan to improve buildings ■■ Recruitment and hiring of highly skilled administrative team ■■ Develop Readiness Rocks initiatives to focus our educational efforts ■■ Expansion of Gifted and Montessori programs ■■ Negotiate new teachers’ contract ■■ Plan High School Academies ■■ Re-instatement of 7-period school day ■■ Expansion of preschool program Without our current school board members understanding the nuances and the importance of the above items, they may not have happened. That, in turn, would mean we would most likely be dealing with a downward spiral in enrollment and enthusiasm rather than just the opposite. The right mix of administrative leaders and board members has allowed us to understand and tackle tough issues during the past year, issues that are crucial to directing the Rockford Public School District, the largest employer in the region.

Elections Ahead In April, all seven school board positions are up for election. According to state law, after every ten-year census, the school district boundaries must

be redrawn with a goal of equaling distributing our city’s population within the districts without disenfranchising any particular subgroup. The School Board approved those new boundaries on May 22nd. www2.rps205.com/District/ Pages/DistrictMaps.aspx) The existing board members then drew numbers to determine which subdistricts would be up for re-election in 2015 and which wouldn’t be up again until 2017 so the terms would be staggered.

The qualifications needed to run for school board are to be over 18-years-old, a registered voter, have lived in Rockford for at least one year, and live in the subdistrict in which you are running. You also need to be dedicated to educating our kids, committed to making time in your schedule, and possess a passion for improving our community.

The steps we’ve taken in the past year are positioning RPS 205 on a straight line toward obtaining higher graduation rates, better test scores, sending more kids to college, better preparing them for careers and improving our community overall.

It’s an exciting time for our district and for anyone who wants to run for school board. We need a few good men and women to carry the torch. We need even more people to light it, to help support good candidates and show them you appreciate their willingness to serve our schools, our children and our community.

My Invitation To You… Interested in running for school board? I’d be happy to sit down and discuss what it entails. I would also be willing to coordinate a sit-down with previous board members so you can learn about the responsibilities and time commitment involved. I look forward to the year ahead!

Next Steps Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012: First day prospective candidates may circulate nominating petitions for signature.

Monday, Dec. 17, 2012: First day candidates may file nominating papers.

Monday, Dec. 24, 2012: Last day to file nominating petitions and receipt for Statement of Economic Interest.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013: Election Day I look forward to continuing to work with our school board members, our teachers and staff, our parents and students, and our community to lead the Rockford Public Schools forward!

Dr. Robert Willis is interim superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

July 2012

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Minimize talent loss Strategies for retaining the best employees Local businesses, finally beginning to see signs of recovery, now are facing a new threat – loss of their most valued employees to a new job. Recent Conference Board data suggests that U.S. job satisfaction is at its lowest level in two decades, and that 22 percent of U.S. employees do not expect to be at their current jobs a year from now.

The threat of losing high-potential or mission-critical employees is an issue that companies need to actively address.

are critical to Tony Smith The Oliver Group future success.

Work the Data. Measure and analyze potential drivers of employee turnover both externally and internally. Externally, companies should look at job markets, functions and managers. Internally, managers should review data on employee personality, education, experience and promotion history.

“Embed” Your Employees.

The threat of losing high-potential or mission-critical employees is an issue that companies need to actively address.

Companies can reduce the risk of losing key employees to new market opportunities emerging with an economic rebound. Strategies such as paying close attention to certain factors, like employee personality, can help mitigate the issue. Employees who are more likely to leave can reliably be identified by combinations of factors.

The secret to success is to know what factors are most important and to have a process in place to monitor, mitigate and manage each of them in a way that creates a positive work environment.

Predicting Goodness of Fit

Motivation and morale are good, but companies looking to keep employees long-term need to focus on job embeddedness. Fit: How well does the person fit with their work, workplace and community? Links: What is the richness of their personal relationships with co-workers, and the degree to which others depend on them? Sacrifice: What would employees need to give up if they left?

Hire Right. Ensure that employees are a fit for the job and the company right from the start. Develop a process consistently to review what knowledge, skills and abilities are needed for the role, while ensuring that the candidate’s personality is a fit for these requirements and with their potential teammates.

Identify Growth Opportunities.

Survey findings consistently indicate that providing superior growth and development opportunities can reduce turnover. Incorporate training and development opportunities into the “total rewards package” that is offered.

Be sure to explore development at all levels and age groups.

As the economy turns around, companies looking to learn more about new ways to approach employee retention and how companies in their industry are managing this new challenge, can visit The Oliver Group at www.olivergroup. com. Included are case studies and expert video discussions. For ongoing insights into the role personality plays in organization culture, follow The Oliver Group on Twitter: @TheOliverGroup.

Companies in multiple industries are able to leverage behavioral assessments to retain top talent and create a highly successful environment.

Signature HealthCARE LLC, a company that operates 73 long-term care communities in seven states, has experienced great success through the integration of behavioral assessments into daily operations, according to David Kahn, regional vice president of human resources. Signature, which has more than 12,000 employees, uses the Predictive Index, a proprietary, scientifically validated behavioral assessment system.

“Using the Predictive Index has increased the probability of success in the hiring process by matching employee needs, job demands and organizational culture,” Kahn said.

“The Predictive Index has also been highly effective as a training tool for interpersonal communications, team building, process improvement and Tony Smith is an area director for The Oliver Group, a leadership consulting firm that employee engagement.” empowers leaders to optimize their people.

Five Best Practice Strategies Contact tsmith@olivergroup.com.

for Retaining Best Employees

The views expressed are those of Smith’s and do Target the Talent Pools. Be strategic not necessarily represent those of the Rockford and rational as you make employee Chamber of Commerce. investments. Look closely to determine which talent pools in the company truly

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July 2012 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Workplace environments that improve business outcomes Re-thinking the traditional office layout

By Tracy Brower, Ph.D., Herman Miller Technology has been a boon for knowledge workers, freeing them to work just about anywhere. In the process, it is causing organizations to re-evaluate the role of the physical workspace.

When employees can work anywhere, what makes them come to the office to work? The office needs to compete with the richness of all the other venues that employees can choose to get their work done. As a result, organizations are placing increasing pressure on the physical environment to become a destination and a magnet.

Demands on the Work Environment Organizations are demanding that the workplace foster culture, reflect brand, attract and retain employees, innovate, reduce cost, and ensure sustainability.

As a matter of fact, senior executives representing 1.2 million employees across the U.S. believe that work environments matter to business outcomes. Specifically, they say that profitability, growth, brand, stock prices, shareholder value, and employee engagement are all affected significantly by the work environment and the work-life supports provided to employees (Brower, 2012).

Collaboration Rules At the same time that technology is freeing us and work environments are pressured to perform, we find that collaboration increasingly is becoming important. As work becomes more complex, and knowledge workers become more specialized, it is unusual for one person to have all the expertise needed to solve complex problems. The paradox is

that because we can work anywhere, the places we choose to come together and accomplish our work matter not less, but more. For the typical organization, 85 to 90 percent of general ledger costs are wrapped up in employees’ salaries and benefits. Success lies in ensuring that our spaces are serving employees and creating great space for people to connect and accomplish their work. It also lies in balancing the needs for reducing costs and optimizing the real estate portfolio.

The Work Environment Responds In responding to the key trends – technology, mobility and collaboration – and the demands being placed on work environments, we find companies responding in innovative ways.

Shifting the Mix. One of the ways that companies are responding is to shift to a greater overall mix of collaborative spaces. Many companies are reducing the space allocated to individual offices but increasing the amount of collaborative space offered to employees. Collaborative spaces can be open or enclosed, they can be “drop-in” spaces or available through a reservation, and they can be casual or more formal in their design. Companies are encouraging employees to start thinking of the entire floor as their office, not just their individual workstations.

Offering Choice and Variety.

Companies also are offering greater choice and variety. Instead of assuming that the majority of work will be done in individual offices, companies increasingly are embracing a model where a variety of spaces are provided for all kinds of work.

Employees can move throughout the day to parts of their office that will best serve the work process they are seeking to

accomplish, whether it’s a heads-down or a collaborative task.

Offering Alternative Options. In addition to offering choice and variety in the space, many companies also are offering choices for employees to work in alternative locations or to work alternative hours. This is enabled by technology and by a culture that manages by performance outcomes.

Lighting the Way. Companies also are focusing on providing plenty of daylight and views. Often this involves taking private offices or enclosed conference rooms off the perimeter of the space and placing them toward the center of the floor so that more people have more access to daylight and views. In addition, companies frequently are reducing the height of panels and increasing the porosity of surfaces so that light can more easily penetrate to the core of the space.

Creating Buzz. Companies also are paying attention to density and designing places where more people will congregate, connect and collaborate. They are designing with the intention of creating a

space with energy and buzz.

Creating an Experience. Innovative companies also are seeking to create innovative experiences for both customers and employees. They realize that this often involves going beyond the physical work environment to policies, practices, organizational culture and hosting experiences.

Making Data-Based Decisions. As companies seek innovative responses, they increasingly are relying on data in order to make decisions. Data about how the work environment is performing, current utilization of individual and collaborative spaces, employee satisfaction, and employee productivity are examples that help companies design for the results they want to drive. It also helps them continuously to improve, so that the work environment can contribute to positive outcomes on an ongoing basis.

Ultimately, companies need work environments to help them achieve their business outcomes. They need to create great space for people and also optimize their real estate portfolio and manage costs. Innovative concepts – that make the workplace a magnet and a destination – help the workplace be accountable to both employees and to the organization.

Kurt Kieser with Herman Miller-certified dealer, Widmer Interiors, is available for more information or questions at 815-395-7266 or kkieser@widmerinteriors.com.

Tracy Brower, Ph.D. and MM, is director of performance environments for Herman Miller.

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

Reference: Brower, Tracy. Executive Viewpoints: Work-Life Supports = Organizational Results.

The CoreNet Leader. Volume 11, Issue 3. May/ June 2012.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

July 2012

The waiting room at OSF Rock Cut women’s center incorporates natural elements to affect physical and psychological well being. This nod to clients’ biological affinity to nature is termed biophilia.

Interior design balances technology with a connection to nature

By Barbara Connors Jacqueline Gommel, owner of Rockford-based Gommel Design, returned from NeoCon in June with this take-home message: “Technology is driving office design.” The annual design exhibition and conference at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago for architecture and design professionals focused on trends in commercial interiors that reflect the way we work.

According to Gommel and many others in the industry, technological advances are driving the way we work and behave, and we need to consider this when setting up our office environments. Rather than sitting in an office all day, many workers are mobile, and rather than working individually, many are working collaboratively. “It used to be that you went to the office because that’s where the technology was,” Gommel said. “If you weren’t ‘at work,’ you weren’t really working.”

Not so any more, and the reality of mobility and collaborative work now is reflected in office design and furniture trends, such as: ■■ Chairs, whiteboards and tables with casters that can be pulled together for impromptu meetings.

■■ Smaller workstations – 6 x 6-feet, rather than 8 x 8-feet -- for workers who spend the majority of their time on the road.

■■ “Hoteling” – calling ahead to reserve a workspace when a worker is going to be in the office, rather than establishing a “home base” office.

■■ Mobile files workers take to a workspace and return to a central location when finished.

■■ Modular tables and seating that is reconfigurable, and carpet tile that is easily replaceable.

Mixing Warmth with Knowledge Gommel’s interior design work with a number of area companies reflects other trends in office design, such as projecting warmth and bringing the outdoors in.

When WilliamsMcCarthy LLP moved to the fourth floor of the 120 W. State St., building in downtown Rockford, Gommel collaborated on the interior design. This included large-scale photography with images of the Rock River that reflected the

firm’s location, and earned it the Mayor’s Art Award.

The firm achieved a desired image of warmth to greet visitors in the entryway with a beautiful area rug, fireplace and four significant chairs. The law library, traditionally placed in the front to reflect knowledge, now was located further in back. Law resources, after all, largely were online. Conference areas also were positioned in front, and offices along the back. The firm recognized that in order to hire the best young lawyers, it had to keep up with technology and installed smart whiteboards to connect with personal devices.

Balancing Technology with Nature Gommel’s work with health care organizations has reflected the connectionto-nature trend, or “bringing the outdoors in.” “Studies have shown that healing comes quicker with a connection to nature and the outdoors,” she said. In general, many health care organizations have incorporated windows and patio areas to draw attention to the outdoors.

At Crusader Community Health’s Woman Center at 1100 Broadway in Rockford, Gommel warmed the interior with pots of flowers and vases, woodframed seating, and artwork with nature images. “It lifted the whole atmosphere,” she said. The center noted that clients seemed to show a greater respect for newly remodeled areas, and employees found the workspaces to be calmer and quieter.

At OSF Rock Cut Primary Care, 9951 Rock Cut Crossing in Loves Park, the interior design goal was to reflect the essence of nearby Rock Cut State Park.

Gommel photographed scenery from the park in spring and summer and pulled colors from the photography to plan the interior. Carpeting displayed a leaf pattern and a wooden mobile of sandhill cranes in flight graced the entrance as a graphic outdoors element.

The connection-to-nature concept is being incorporated in many industries, not just in health care organizations. “Design is counterbalancing technology saturation with the use of color, natural lighting and bringing the outdoors in,” Gommel said.

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About Go for the Green!

For Rockford business people, golf and golf playdays are part of businessrecreational activity for networking with clients and prospective customers.

Starting with the April issue, we have been featuring member golf courses as well as golf, playday, and networking tips from the local professionals.

For advertising opportunities in this section, contact Lynette Jacques at 815-316-4317.

July 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Forest Hills Country Club A course for pros and amateurs alike

By Paul Anthony Arco One of the best things ever to happen to Forest Hills Country Club was the arrival of the Rockford Pro-Am in 1996.

“It gave us an opportunity to show off our golf course,” said Butch Pegoraro, the club’s PGA professional. “It’s given us media exposure in the community.

We have tour pros who come here and tell us that we have the best greens they’ve played in a month. For us, it’s a sense of pride to host the Pro-Am.” This year, Forest Hills will host its 17th Pro-Am, the longest freestanding pro-am in the country. Twenty PGA TOUR professionals, including 14-time PGA winner Kenny Perry, will come to town July 16 to join local amateurs to raise money for several Rockford charities. “The greatest thing about the Pro-Am is to see how genuine most of the pros really are,” Pegoraro said.

Forest Hills Country Club has had two locations and three names since it was founded in 1920. The current clubhouse was built in 1925 and nine years later was incorporated as Forest Hills Country Club. Today, the club has 200 golf members and 100 social members. “Forest Hills is special because of the members, the employees and the golf course,” Pegoraro said. “You need all three to have a great facility.”

A Rockford native, Pegoraro became the first golfer in Boylan High School history to win a state title. He came to work at Forest Hills in 1981 and has spent nearly 32 years helping members learn the game of golf. In 2008 Pegoraro was inducted to the Rockford Golf Hall of Fame and, two years later, was named Illinois Golf Professional of the Year.

“I’ve dedicated my life to golf,” he said.

A Challenging Course Forest Hills offers a fun and challenging golf experience. The 6,816-yard course features five sets of tees, 120 acres of rough, six acres of natural prairie grasses, four ponds, 1,800 trees and a double row irrigation system. Forest Hills is a member of the Audubon International Society for golf courses. A variety of wildflowers can be found around the course as can Lucy, the club’s Border collie who’s in charge of geese control.

“Our course is rather tight, and has wonderful bent fairways, and quick,

The 18th hole at Rockford Country Club fast greens,” Pegoraro said. “It’s a second-shot golf course. You have to hit your approach shot in the right place. Controlling your golf ball is important. You’re better off being 20 feet short of the hole than being 10 feet past the hole.”

The signature hole is No. 15 -- a breathtaking, 362-yard par four. “It’s not the hardest hole,” Pegoraro said.

“There’s a lake on the right side of the green. The longer hitters hit whatever club is going to keep them safe. For shorter hitters, they want to aim left for the layup shot, so the water doesn’t come into play. That’s what’s great about any golf course. One day you might hit it to the 150-yard marker and have a downhill lie, and the next day hit it 30 yards further and have an uphill lie.”

The club hosts several play days for members, including the Forest

Hills Invitational and Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day events.

Forest Hills also holds nine fundraising events that benefit local nonprofit organizations. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to keep golf fresh for our members,” said John Harezlak, chairman of the club’s golf

Improve your game with fitted clubs “Make sure to get your clubs fitted.

Many golfers think they aren’t good enough to have their clubs fitted. The truth is you might not get better if you don’t have the right fit.

Club fitting can impact four factors: shaft length, shaft flex, lie angle and loft.

Shaft length effects distance, accuracy and swing plane. The shaft flex is the indication of how much swing force is Butch Pegoraro, necessary to make the shaft perform PGA professional properly. The lie angle of a club is the angle formed by the sole of the club and the shaft. This angle effects the position of the club head at address and at impact. The loft of a golf club is the angle formed by the face of the club and the shaft. The loft effects the trajectory the ball will travel after impact and the distance the ball will carry.

Having the right equipment allows for proper motion. You’re fighting yourself if you don’t have the right equipment. Find a PGA professional who is a club fitter; not all are. You’re going to spend a thousand dollars on a set of clubs, so take the time to interview them. Make sure you get fitted outdoors, where you can see ball flight. It should take no more than one hour. Getting your clubs fitted doesn’t mean you’re going to play better golf. But it does mean having the same swing with the same club which should produce the same shot.”

committee. “We try to make the golf experience friendlier for everyone.

We’ve increased our play among members.”

Encouraging Children to Play Each year, Forest Hills averages nearly 70 participants in its junior program, children from ages 5 to 14, who learn the game of golf through lessons and time spent on the course. In addition, two years ago, Pegoraro started a junior merit program, which allows up to 30 Rockford high school golfers play at Forest Hills for the entire golf season for $250 apiece. To be considered, golfers must fill out an application, produce letters of recommendation and have a GPA above 2.5.

“It gives these young golfers a chance to play a course they’ve never played, that can help improve their skills on their way to the next level,” Pegoraro said. “Chipping, pitching and putting to our greens compared to other area courses is a totally different game. It’s been a good experience. We’ve enjoy having them here.”

Forest Hills Country Club 5135 Forest Hills Road Rockford, IL 61114 815-877-5733 www.fhcc1921.com

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

July 2012

Community partnerships essential for high school academies to succeed Partnerships with Rockford Chamber of Commerce member organizations will be essential for academies to be successful because they can deliver real world relevance to the academy curriculum.

Effectively engaged community partners will enable students to connect what they are learning in school with what they will do in college and throughout careers.

On May 22 the Rockford Public Schools Board of Education approved a plan to transform its traditional high schools into wall-to-wall academies. Academies have demonstrated the ability to improve “labor market preparation and successful schoolto-work transitions without compromising academic goals and preparation for college.” (MDRC, 2009) The purpose of the Board’s initiative is to improve college and career readiness for all students.

Academies are characterized by: 1. Smaller learning communities for a more personalized school environment 2. College- and career-preparatory curriculum for all students 3. Partnerships with community organizations In order to build a strong network of community partnerships, the following four College and Career Readiness Councils will be created to develop and support high school academies: ■■ Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial & Trades Technology • Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources • Architecture & Construction • Manufacturing • Transportation, Distribution & Logistics ■■ Health Sciences

■■ Business, Arts, Marketing & Information Technology • Arts, A/V Technology & Communications • Business Management & Administration • Finance • Hospitality & Tourism • Information Technology • Marketing ■■ Human & Public Services • Education & Training • Government & Public Administration • Human Services • Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security One important role of the College and Career Readiness Councils will be to ensure that academy teaching and learning are relevant to students and are aligned with industry standards and practices.

Alignment Rockford and Rockford Public Schools invite community organizations to learn more about participating in the Councils by sending a representative to a one hour information meeting at the Rockford Public Schools office, 501 7th Street in the third floor board room, on either: Thursday, July 19 at 12 noon, or Friday, July 20 at 7:30 a.m.

For more information about the College and Career Readiness Councils and to RSVP for one of these meetings, please visit www.alignmentrockford.com and click on the “ITP” tab.

Connecting education to employment and enterprise requires a coordinated system of community support. The College and Career Readiness Councils will forge that link. Please plan to attend!

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July 2012

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Your leadership legacy The success and value of a leader ultimately are judged after the fact.

There are many leaders who, at one point in time, were viewed as successful, only to have history judge the sum total of their work in a very different way.

Our current President Barack Obama and our former President George W. Bush both had very high ratings at one time and not so much today. Who knows what we will think of them in five, 10 or 20 more years?

I believe leaders need to think about the legacy they build each and every day. Too many times, leaders make short-run decisions about how to run their organizations, their lives and their communities in ways they would not want to be remembered. They believe they’ll have time later to “fix it.”

Unfortunately, if they keep putting off doing the right things right, soon it will be too late to “fix it.”

Decisions for the Long Term Leaders need to judge their decisions and actions over the long term. Not so that they are remembered in a certain way, but that they are planting the right seeds for tomorrow.

The decisions we make and the actions we take today have long-term consequences on our family, friends, organizations and communities. If we as leaders are short sighted, we may create a legacy for all that is less than favorable. Leaders of the school district, park district, city and county, for example, struggle with decisions regularly that will impact us all. It takes courage to make decisions that could have short-term costs, but long-term potential. Leaders need to have the courage to see their possible legacies, and the legacies of their organizations, and make the best decisions for the long run.

Steven Covey said, “Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits.

Sow a thought, reap an action; Jeff Fahrenwald sow an action, Rockford College reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” Leaders sometimes think what they are doing in the short run doesn’t really matter, but it does! Leaders develop habits that become a part of their destiny.

Leading With the End in Mind I have a friend, Jann Freed, who writes, researches and teaches extensively on leadership. In her graduate level leadership class, she has her students write their own eulogies.

She finds this to be an excellent way for people, fairly early in their leadership careers to think about how they want to be remembered and what they want to stand for when their lives are done.

Is it more important to be remembered as a seasoned politician, a tough business person or a fair and equitable leader? How important is it to be a good parent, a trusted friend, a visionary, someone unafraid to take a risk? Leaders can’t do all of these things, but they can live their lives making decisions that create the type of legacy they would want repeated in their eulogy. They can become the type of leader we would all aspire to be.

So what would you want said about you and your leadership in your eulogy?

Think about it. It is very important to this community, your organization and others you lead.

Jeff Fahrenwald is director of the MBA program and an associate professor of business at Rockford College. He teaches courses on leadership and management.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Charitable gift policies Not all gifts are good – just ask the Trojans!

While many chamber members do not work for a non-profit entity, they often do serve as board members, and should advocate for the use of a gift acceptance policy by the entity on whose board(s) they serve. It is implicit in a non-profit’s nature that it is seeking gifts to support its mission. But each non-profit must look at each gift and ask whether it is a “Trojan horse” that could harm its very existence.

The proper mechanism for scrutinizing each gift is a formal gift acceptance policy. The undisciplined or uneducated acceptance of a gift can have a negative impact on the future function and viability of a recipient non-profit.

An example of a problem gift to a non-profit is a piece of real estate with significant maintenance or upkeep costs, but which cannot easily be sold (in these days and times this might even be a residence), or which has unknown environmental contamination problems with clean-up costs for which the nonprofit becomes responsible, simply by virtue of ownership.

A gift acceptance policy provides the framework for uniformity and discipline in a non-profit’s decision-making process with respect to gifts. It ensures that the non-profit management team and the governing body are of one mind. It also can counteract the effect employee turnover might have on the non-profit’s institutional memory. A gift acceptance policy can assist a non-profit in preserving relationships with the person making the gift (the “donor”) when a gift must be rejected or is unacceptable on the initial terms in which the gift is offered, by making it clear to the donor that the decision is not arbitrary or one only applicable to this donor or this gift.

A Gift Acceptance Policy Should: ■■ Be tailored to the non-profit’s specific mission and financial situation.

■■ Include identifiable, consistent distinctions between acceptable and unacceptable gifts.

■■ Use an analytical process; to avoid subjective, uninformed decisions that cost the non-profit time, money and sour donor relations.

■■ Specify when the use of legal counsel is appropriate to assist either the non-profit in its review of the acceptance of a gift or the person making the gift in order to ensure the best tax consequence of the gift to the donor.

■■ Address valuation and marketability issues where the gift being contemplated is not a publicly traded security or cash.

■■ Provide the criteria for whether the item received will be held or sold.

Unrestricted Gifts Most Beneficial Generally gift acceptance policies

specify a preference for Marcia L. Mueller unrestricted Hinshaw & gifts.

These Culbertson/NICNE are the most beneficial to the non-profit since they can be used in addressing the entity’s greatest needs, now or in the future. Restricted gifts, especially small restricted gifts, often can become an administrative and accounting nightmare for the non-profit.

Often restricted gifts may be set out in the Last Will and Testament of a donor.

The gift acceptance policy can ensure that the non-profit is disciplined with respect to these and other restricted gifts, which could end up not truly providing a benefit to the organization due to the cost of administering the gift in compliance with the specified restrictions.

Considerations to be addressed in the gift acceptance policy with respect to restricted gifts normally would include (a) who is entitled to enforce restrictions on donor’s behalf, (b) the time period in which restriction will last, (c) when a separate agreement is required to govern the gift between the non-profit and the donor, and (d) encouraging donors to provide that the purposes of gifts be described as broadly as possible since the circumstances of non-profit entities change due to changes in society.

Working With Split-Interest Gifts In some instances donors seek to create split-interest gifts, where the donor or some other person receives life income from the property that is to be gifted, or income for a term of years. These types of gifts include charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, and gifts of a remainder interest in personal residence or farm. In addition to the issues related to the type of asset used to make such a gift (e.g. whether to accept non-cash assets, and if so, whether to hold or sell such assets), these types of gifts also must comply with a variety of tax rules in order for the donor to receive applicable charitable tax deductions. A non-profit has to determine with respect to these types of gifts whether it has the ability to properly administer a split-interest gift or must seek outside assistance, and incur any costs associated with such assistance.

Its gift acceptance policy should address these issues as well.

Marcia L. Mueller is a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, and a presenter on various legal topics at NICNE events, most recently at Legally Speaking.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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July 2012

Members Caught on Digital ON DIGITAL

Congressmen Don Manzullo (IL-16) and Bobby Schilling (IL-17) hosted Congressman Randy Forbes of Virginia, chairman of the house subcommittee on readiness for the armed services committee, in Rockford.

Lincolnshire Place held a ribbon cutting on May 22 at 6617 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope held a ribbon cutting on May 31 to celebrate the grand opening of its new Community Therapy Clinic, 3206 N. Central Ave., for teens and adults with autism, sensory issues or developmental disabilities. More than 30 guests and many Chamber Ambassadors attended.

the groundUP s.s.i. (gUs, inc) held a ribbon cutting on June 1 at 6330 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park.

Rock Valley Compounding Pharmacy held a ribbon cutting on May 23 at 811 S. Perryville Road, Ste. 109, Rockford.

The District Bar & Grill held a ribbon cutting on June 1 at 205 W. State St., Rockford.

Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Chris Sherrard Company: Farmers Insurance Position: Agent, business owner How long have you been an Ambassador?

Less than 12 months

Stumpy’s Pub and Maciano’s Pizza held a ribbon cutting on May 30 at 5801 Columbia Pkwy., with refreshments and tours.

What do you like most about being an Ambassador? Being an Ambassador allows me to build business relationships with other Ambassadors as well as with new and existing Chamber members. I enjoy meeting new business owners and their employees.

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July 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

the News IN Members THEin NEWS

1. Lisa Entrikin

2. Frank Bonelli, M.D.

3. Kathleen Forbes, M.D.

4. Stephanie Shrum

5. Glenn Greil

6. Christine Roach

7. Dr. William Clark Crothers

8. Susan Winterhalter

9. Danielle Klock

10. Mindi Spires

11. James Slobard, M.D.

12. Maryanne Miller, M.D.

13. William “Bill” Lenters

14. Patrick J. Fitzgerald

15. Beck Norwood

16. Donald Martin, Ph.D.

Board Appointments

the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Lisa Entrikin (1), director of operations for the Rock River Valley Blood Center, was named to the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals board.

SwedishAmerican Hospital elected Frank Bonelli, M.D. (2), as president of its medical staff for a two-year term.

He also is chairman of the hospital’s medical imaging department. Other officers named were: John Shiro, M.D., 1st vice-president; Mark Cormier, M.D., 2nd vice-president; Warren Lowry, M.D., secretary/ treasurer, and Sara Fleming, M.D., immediate past president.

The Boone & Winnebago Counties Workforce Investment Board elected the following officers: Paul Callighan, chair (second term); Karen Brown, vice-chair; Amy Ott, secretarytreasurer, and Mark Stefanic, directorat-large.

New Hires, Promotions, Retirements Kathleen Forbes, M.D. (3), MSMM, CPE was named Chief Medical Officer and Chief Clinical Officer for OSF Healthcare System, Peoria.

Stephanie Shrum (4) joined Crimson Pointe Assisted Living as director of life enrichment.

Glenn Greil (5) joined Associated Bank as assistant vice president, bank at work business development officer.

Northwest Bank hired Christina Roach (6) as a customer service representative, Loves Park office.

Judson University named Dr. William Clark Crothers (7) as interim president starting July 1.

Former Rockford RiverHawks left-handed pitcher Taylor Sinclair was promoted by the Arizona Diamondbacks from Double-A Mobile to Triple-A Reno of the Pacific Coast League. The RiverHawks released catcher Elvin Millan, Jr., and pitcher Kevin Patterson, traded infielder Luis Parache to Evansville, and signed catcher Michael Thomas.

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center announced the winners of the 2012 High School Starr of Excellence Award: Andrew Hudson, Daniel Walls, Alex J. Smith, Paul Steffan, Martin Willette and Christina Sawyer.

Of GENERAL INTEREST

Cindy Schrader, marketing director for Heritage Credit Union, traveled to Belarus in June to share her expertise as a member of the Global Women’s Leadership Network.

RiverHawks signed rookie pitcher Eric Rohe and added left-handed pitcher, Andrew Armstrong.

PR Etc., hired Susan Winterhalter (8) as first impressions officer overseeing office administration, and Danielle Klock (9) as summer intern for 2012.

Northwest Bank hired Mindi Spires (10) as a teller at the East State Street office.

Golden Apple Foundation appointed Kristina Reuber as executive director.

Jody Schumacher was promoted to branch manager of the R.K. Dixon Company, Rockford office.

James Slobard, M.D. (11), internal medicine and geriatric medicine, joined Rockford Health Physicians – Roscoe. Maryanne Miller, M.D. (12), internal medicine/adults, joined the medical staff at Rockford Memorial Hospital.

Employee/Community Recognitions, Awards William “Bill” Lenters (13), Rosecrance chaplain, received the Michael Q. Ford Journalism Award by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers for his longrunning series of recovery-focused columns, “Bread for the Journey.”

Dr. Michael Roh, Dr. Christopher Sliva and Dr. Fred Sweet, Rockford Spine Center, were featured among the nation’s leading spine surgeons in the May 28, 2012 issue of Newsweek.

SwedishAmerican Health System honored Elsie Smith for 56 years of service and Jane Hitter for 31,000 hours. Nearly 225 volunteers total were honored at a special dinner in June.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center gave individual achievement awards to employees in its OSF Lifeline and emergency departments: Angel Cardona, EMT-paramedic; Bill Radovich, pilot; Bill Henn, wheelchair van operator, and Val Kohn, RN. Patrick J. Fitzgerald (14), CFSP, Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd., was designated a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, Inc. Becky Norwood, (15) business insurance specialist at WilliamsManny Insurance Agency, was designated as a Certified Insurance Counselor.

Rockford College professor of modern and classical languages, Donald Martin, Ph.D. (16), received the 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award.

University of Illinois Extension presented a 4-H International Program Scholarship check to Cassandra Baird. Baird will visit Australia as part of a nine-member national 4-H cultural exchange delegation this summer.

Rosecrance Health Network clinician Lynn Cadmus (17) was named the 2012 Social Worker of the Year by

Mike Rosek (18), president/CEO of Rock Valley Credit Union, and Lori Perkins (19), legislative forum representative for the Rockford Area Chapter of Credit Unions, joined credit union representatives in Springfield for the Illinois Credit Union League’s Legislative Day. Kris Kieper, CEO of YWCA of Rockford, was chosen to participate in the University of Illinois’ inaugural class of Edgar Fellows, a four-day executive leadership training program, led by Governor Jim Edgar, public leaders, researchers and scholars.

Cindy S. Pederson (20), Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc., attended the William T. Hold seminar by the Illinois Insurance Department.

Ryan T. Pitman, alumnus; Jason T. Fong, graduate student; Penny Billman, interim director of the masters in medical biotechnology program and research assistant professor, department of family and community medicine, and Neelu Puri, assistant professor, department of biomedical sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, wrote “Knockdown of the Fat Mass and Obesity Gene Disrupts Cellular Energy Balance in a Cell-Type Specific Manner,” published in PLoS ONE in June.

Gary Ainsworth, president of Service Security Technologies, Inc., and Suzanne Ainsworth, vice president of sales and marketing, attended the Financial Security & Products Association conference in Nashville.

Rockford College professors Mary Weaks-Baxter, Ph.D. (21), English; Catherine Forslund, Ph.D. (22), history; and Christine Bruun, Ph.D. (23), emerita psychology, coauthored

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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July 2012

the News IN Members THEin NEWS

17. Lynn Cadmus

18. Mike Rosek

19. Lori Perkins

20. Cindy S. Pederson

21. Mary WeaksBaxter, PhdD.

22. Catherine Forslund, Ph.D.

23. Christine Bruun, Ph.D.

24. Tony Skwor, Ph.D.

the book, We are a College at War: Women Working for Victory in World War II -- a discussion subject at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield this September.

Assistant professor of biology, Troy Skwor, Ph.D. (24), will conduct a research project with two Rockford College students on Aeromonas, a type of bacterium that can cause a wide variety of infections in humans. He also will be traveling to

Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, as a visiting professor.

Robert A. Wright, certified public accountant and partner with McGladrey LLP, offered health care organizations with guidance on the latest version of the industry’s accounting ‘bible,’ the AICPA Healthcare Audit and Accounting Guide, at ANI 2012: The Healthcare Finance Conference in Las Vegas in June.

Officials from SwedishAmerican, UW Health, the City of Rockford, Winnebago County, and a cancer survivor participate in a groundbreaking ceremony on June 4 for the SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center.

Full range of cancer services at one free-standing center New project will employ hundreds

By Barbara Connors SwedishAmerican Health System broke ground on June 4 for its Regional Cancer Center, expected to open the end of 2013 on a 30-acre site near I-90 and the Riverside Boulevard exit. The cancer center is part of an affiliation agreement between SwedishAmerican and UW Health and its nationally recognized University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.

Through the outpatient cancer center, patients will have access at one location to the latest clinical trials from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Services will include medical oncology, chemotherapy and infusion; advanced radiation therapy; and medical imaging, as well as a full complement of holistic and support services.

Building of the new cancer center will create about 300 construction jobs. Project partners include Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects, Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, and Ringland Johnson Construction.

By its fourth year of operation, the center is projected to include the equivalent of 104 full-time jobs, including healthcare providers and support staff.

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July 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Community Events COMMUNITY Tuesday, July 3 Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents the ComEd Independence Day Spectacular at 8 p.m., at the Bengt Sjostrom (Starlight) Theatre at Rock Valley College. All-American Picnic at 6 p.m. Call RVC box office at 815-921-2160 for tickets.

Wednesday, July 4 Rockford MELD presents the 20th annual MELD July 4th Classic Run and Walk with the Flat and Fast Alan Hutchcroft Memorial 8K Run at 7 a.m., 2 Mile Run at 7:10 a.m., and Mile Fun Walk at 8 a.m. Begins and ends on North Madison Street in front of the Trolley Station. To register visit www. rockfordmeld.org or call 815-633-6353, ext. 10.

Discovery Center Museum presents Kaboom! from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Leave your car and take the short walk downtown to the parade and fireworks.

Call 815-963-6769 or visit www. discoverycentermuseum.org.

Thursday, July 5 Rock River Valley Blood Center presents the Drevdahl Auto Body Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 953 4th St., Beloit, Wis. Donors receive lunch from Jerry’s Café and a chance to win tickets to Noah’s Ark, Magic Waters, Beloit Snappers, Milwaukee Brewers and more. Call 815-965-8751 or visit www.rrvbc.org.

What’s Your Favorite Rockford Hangout in the Summer?

Weigh in at LinkedIn.com, Rockford Chamber of Commerce group.

“Abreo or Social - downtown Rockford - love them both! Another fun thing to do on Friday evening is go to Edgebrook. Mary’s Market has music every Friday evening in summer months. Sit outside and eat dinner from Mary’s Market and listen to music. You may need to bring a chair though because the existing chairs fill up quickly.” -- Mary McDade, WineShop at Home “Woodsong outdoor concerts at Klehm Arboretum. One each in June, July and August. Invite friends, take a picnic dinner, a bottle of wine, and enjoy! Check it out at klehm.org.” -- Jan Bowman, TLC Construction “The Sinnissippi Band Shell. Walking the bike path along the river.

Octane Interlounge! Sorry, I couldn’t pick just one!” -- Kathy Copeland, iro custom cosmetics “Thursday night, Dinner on the Rock at the Prairie Street Brewhouse is a great way to spend an evening with friends and enjoy the view.”

-- Susan McVinnie, US Bank

Friday, July 6 Discovery Center Museum presents See a Juggler, Be a Juggler, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch professional juggler Jason Kollum. Learn juggling skills in a kids’ workshop. Call 815-9636769 to register.

Rockford Public Library presents Healthy Living with Chronic Illness, a program developed by Stanford School of Medicine for adults (July 6,

13, 20, 27), from 1 to 3:30 p.m., at the Montague branch, 1238 S. Winnebago St. Registration NOT required. Call 815965-7606.

Saturday, July 7 Rock House Kids, 1325 7th St., presents An Evening with Jim Whitaker with food, open house and facility tours from 4 to 6 p.m. Musical performance at 7 p.m. Free will offering.

Call 815-962-5067.

Sunday, July 8 Byron Forest Preserve District presents a free Summer ConcertCoon Creek String Band at 7 p.m., at Heritage Farm Museum. Call 815-2348535, ext. 200.

Wednesday, July 18 Rockford Public Library presents Create Your Website with WIX, 6 to 8 p.m., main library second floor computer room, 215 N. Wyman St. Registration required at 815-965-7606.

Thursday, July 19 Rockford Park District Foundation presents Sip & Sail cruise on the Forest City Queen along the Rock River. Departs at 6 p.m., from Riverview Ice House dock, 324 N. Madison St., downtown Rockford. Social hour with light food at 5 p.m.; boat docks at 7:30 p.m. Reservations at 815-987-1632 are required by June 11.

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center presents a Jazz at Emerson Concert: Dan Pincus and Jim McElhaney, 5:30 p.m., Emerson House, 420 N. Main St., Rockford. Wine, light refreshments, meet the artists after the concert.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Seating limited.

Call 815-964-9713 or visit www. mendelssohnpac.org.

Friday, July 20 Alpine Kiwanis Club of Rockford presents The World’s Largest Kiwanis Brat Days, July 20, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and July 21, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Edgebrook Center, Logli on East State Street and Logli at North Alpine and Harlem Road. Features local, live entertainment and drive-thru service at both Logli locations. Orders larger than 25, call 815-243-6909 by 5 p.m., on July 19. Visit www.alpinekiwanis-il.com.

Saturday, July 21

Savant Capital Management, 7202 Argus Dr., presents Back to the Basics: Investments for Beginners at 6:15 p.m. Call 815-227-0300.

Rockford Rescue Mission hosts a Dinner Concert with Chris Eldridge and Stacy and Ryan Blackburn at 715 W. State St. Also features the RRM board/staff worship band. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concerts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets at www.rockfordrescuemission.org or 815-965-5332.

Wednesday, July 11

Wednesday, July 25

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents Perspectives on Leadership from Women Leaders with Rosemary Collins, judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court, 8 to 9:30 a.m., Colman Library patio. Register by June 6 to 815-394-4384.

DeVry University hosts a free Career Fair from 1 to 4 p.m., at Elgin Center, 2250 Point Blvd., Ste., Elgin, Ill. Get acquainted with job candidates, share career guidance, meet faculty, staff, other professionals. To register contact Tom Gergits at tgergits@devry.edu or 847-649-3945.

Tuesday, July 10

Thursday, July 12

Byron Forest Preserve District hosts

Rockford Public Library presents “Feed Your Brain: Devour a Book!” film festival from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Main Library auditorium, 215 N. Wyman St. (July 12, 19, 26).

Free popcorn. July 12 film is No Reservations (PG). July 19 film is Julie & Julia (PG13). July 26 film is Chocolat (PG13). Registration NOT required.

Call 815-965-7606 for information.

a Lake Erie Walleye Trip, July 25 to 27, for all ages. Meet at Jarrett Center.

Register by July 9 at 815-234-8535.

Saturday, July 14

Friday, July 27

Rockford Park District presents Home on the Prairie, Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Road, 9 to 11 a.m. Free. Visit www. rockfordparkdistrict.org or call 815987-8800.

Discovery Center Museum presents Diggin’ Dinos from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Touch real dinosaur bones, assemble a skeleton, talk to a paleontologist. Call 815-963-6769 or visit www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

Thursday, July 26 Party On The Rock-Brews, Bronze, & Beach Bum Band Benefit for 9/11 Memorial from 5 to 10 p.m., at the Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford. Call 815-969-1999.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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July 2012

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS Rockford Area Museum opened its exhibit Into the Light: Illinois Glass, celebrating through Oct. 21 the work of eight contemporary artists who have strongly influenced the development of studio glass in the Prairie State.

The Rock River Water Reclamation District received an award as Treatment Plant of the Year in Springfield from the Illinois Association of Water Pollution Control Operators and the IEPA. The district handles 32 million gallons of wastewater each day in Winnebago County.

Womanspace opened a new exhibit, Symmetry Chaos, featuring local artists and to run through July 26.

PS Designs & More, Inc., designed promotional materials for the Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois’ annual Jazz on the Rock fundraising event.

Rockford Spine Center was included on the Top 208 Spine Surgeons and Specialists to Know in 2012 by Becker’s annual Orthopedic, Spine & Pain Management Review.

Advertising agencies Velasco and Associates and Argyle Marketing have announced a merger. With more than 20 years experience, the owners of both of the original firms, Kathy Velasco, Heather Kelley and Chris Kelley will serve as principals of the new firm that now employs seven and serves more than 30 clients in the Rockford and Chicagoland area. The new entity, to be known as V2 Marketing Communications, includes a new office space expansion and is located in the historic YMCA building at 220 E. State St. theFranaGroup, a national healthcare consulting firm, announced a $378,550 award from the Affordable Care Act to help renovate VNA Health Care’s school-based clinic in Aurora East High School. theFranaGroup has secured more than $253 million in direct grant funding for clients in the past 12 years and $633 million in enhanced reimbursement for care to uninsured and low income patients.

KMK Media Group, Inc., completed a website at www.andersonengenv. com for Anderson Environmental & Engineering Co., with information on the firm’s environmental services: permitting, soil and groundwater investigation, asbestos inspection and Phase I environmental assessments.

KMK completed a website for the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office at www.mchenrysheriff.org.

Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford has a new outdoor terrace, through a donation by Rick and Lana Engen.

For the fifth time in six years, Rockford Memorial Hospital was a recipient of the 2012 HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™ with patient safety ratings in the top five percent of hospitals in the United States.

Sikich LLP was one of only 50 companies named as the 2012 Best Places to Work in Illinois for business process and operations excellence, community service,

Children learn about proper nutrition, grooming, health care and compassion for animals at the Tot Spot Vet Clinic in July at Discovery Center Museum. workplace environment and employee engagement practices.

practices for working with this population.

The Rockford Park District and Rockford Park District Foundation kicked off fundraising for the David F. Johnson Accessible Fishing Pier Project, a permanent accessible fishing pier along the Rock River, south of the Auburn Street bridge.

The YMCA of Rock River Valley launched new youth fitness services, including a full line of fitness equipment tailored specifically to kids and a studio devoted to youth fitness with spin bikes and a computercontrolled cardio-boxing trainer.

The Rockford Park District’s City of Gardens is the recipient of a grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois to beautify a strategic entry point at Sixth and Jefferson streets.

YWCA of Rockford released a fifth public service announcement, encouraging dialogue around racism and diversity and viewable on Youtube (It’s Racism).

PR Etc., was hired to promote this year’s Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau annual breakfast meeting in May at Giovanni’s. The firm oversaw the ribbon cutting activities for the new GFS Marketplace store in Boynton Beach, Fla. Rockford Memorial Hospital unveiled its new first floor adult critical care unit, an 11-bed unit that has undergone a complete redesign over the past six months.

Rockford Park District celebrated in June the dedication of a new playground, Standfield Beach, at Levings Park. The park is the site of the Live at Levings summer entertainment series, the Black Family Reunion, and Levings Lakers fishing and conservation club for youth.

Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries received a perfect score in an audit by the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, part of the Illinois Department of Human Services, which licenses facilities as certified recovery homes.

Rockford Memorial Development Foundation awarded the Rockford Park District with four automated external defibrillator units and staff training sessions. Currently, there are 52 AEDs at park district facilities and program sites, in compliance with state requirements.

An additional 100 at-risk families will receive home visiting services in the next year thanks to a new Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting grant of almost $600,000, announced by the Strong Foundation Partners and the Winnebago County Health Department. WCHD will be the coordinated intake provider and four home visiting agencies will increase their workforce to evaluate families and provide assistance in childhood health care, development, early education, parenting skills, child abuse prevention, and nutrition education or assistance: the City of Rockford Human Services, La Voz Latina, Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago – Rockford Region, and Rockford Public Schools.

Lifescape Community Services’ announced that funding for the Illinois Cares Rx program has been eliminated due to state budget revisions. Beginning July 1, 2012, seniors who qualified for the program no longer will receive help with prescription drugs or their Medicare Part D plan premium. Call Lifescape’s SeniorAssist department at 815-9631609 for details.

The Rockford Park District held a special dedication ceremony for the Roland and Gladys Olson Swedish Heritage Park, 7901 Harlem Road, Loves Park, which includes Swedish influences and the park district’s third dog park.

June 2012 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the members who celebrate their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber in July, 2012.

Rockford Rescue Mission’s website was judged best among missions with budgets over $2.5 million in the 2012 Media Innovation Competition at the Association of Gospel Rescue Mission’s annual conference in May.

85-Year Member

15-Year MemberS

The Valspar Corporation

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

The Illinois Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Justice opened a center in June at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford to provide technical assistance, resources and training to improve justice system responses to individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders. The center also will compile and disseminate information about evidence-based

Illinois Department of Employment Security

40-Year Member Northwest Bank of Rockford

35-Year Member

25-Year Member Midway Village Museum

20-Year Member Value Plus Auto Rental and Leasing

10-Year Members D.Q. Grill & Chill H & R Block Historic Auto Attractions LLL Society Rock River Valley Tooling & Machining Association

5-Year Members The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Illinois Chapter The Terrace Senior Apartments

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July 2012

Member Category of the Month MEMBERSHIP The following is a listing of Rockford Chamber members highlighted in a specific industry.

Manufacturers–part TWO

Metal Finishing

Manufacturers

Armor Coated Technology Corp.

Chem Processing, Inc. Metallic Bonds, Ltd. Rockford Metal Polishing Co.

Accu Cut Inc Androck Hardware Corporation Astro-Physics, Inc. Atlas Components B.U.W.W. Coverings, Inc. Barron Metal Finishing, LLC Bergstrom Inc. Cadbury Cincinnati Tool Steel Company DMTG Ingersoll Production Systems Danfoss Power Electronics Diversified Machining, Inc. Eclipse, Inc. Fiberglass Innovations LLC Gleason Cutting Tools Corporation Gunite Corporation Haldex Hydraulics Corporation Ingenium Aerospace Ingersoll Machine Tools Ipsen, Inc. J.L. Clark, A CLARCOR Company Kebby Industries, Inc. Kryder Wood Products LSP Industries, Inc. Leading Edge Hydraulics Metronor Mrs. Fisher’s, Inc. North American Tool Corporation PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company Phelps Industries, Inc. Ring Container Technologies Rockford Linear Actuation, Inc. Rockford Manufacturing Group Schafer Gear Works Rockford, LLC Schneider Electric Sems and Specials Inc. Spider Company Inc. Upton Products Woods Equipment Company Woodward

Manufacturing, Consultants IMEC

Manufacturing, Support Service Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International

Metal Fabricators/Metal Fabricators-Aluminum, Stainless, Carbon Steel L/J Fabricators, Inc. LM Sheet Metal & Service, Inc. Rockford Process Control, Inc. Rockford Sanitary Systems, Inc. Triangle Metals, Inc. Youngberg Industries, Inc.

Metal Stamping/ Tool & Die Action Tool & Manufacturing Inc. Rockford Toolcraft, Inc.

Oils, Industrial/ Lubricating Manufacturer & Distributors Premium Oil Company

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

New Chamber Members MEMBERS ANCO Steel Rockford Market Steel Distributor and Service Center 55 S. Main St. Naperville, IL 60540 DeWitt Cole 630-264-6020 www.ancosteel.com

District Bar & Grill Urban Sports Lounge, Bar & Grill with an Upscale Feel, More Than 80 Menu Items and Vegetarian Options

Mastercraft Exteriors of Illinois, Inc. Roofing & Siding Contractors 330 E. Main St., Ste. 600 Rockton, IL 61072 Katie Roman 815-624-6875 www.mastercraftext.com/

Necchi-New Home Sewing Center, Inc. Offering Products in Brother and Janome Sewing Machines.

205 W. State St., 61107

Servicing All Makes and Models

OSHA, Safety Consultants

Betsy Lopez

of Home Sewing Machine Along

Ege WorkSmart Solutions, PC

815-977-4524

with Providing Classes

Paints, Manufacturers

www.districtdowntown.com

5301 E. State St., Ste. 110, 61108

Sherwin-Williams - Rockford Powder Plant & DSC Testor Corporation Valspar Corporation, The

Fiberglass Innovations LLC

Plating

Handles, Fiberglass Pultruded

Chem Processing, Inc. J & M Plating, Inc. Northern Illinois Metal Finishing

Scrap Metal Processor, Foundry Distributors

815-962-9338

Scrap Metal Processor, Traders Behr Iron & Metal Powmet, Inc.

815-394-0775 www.kellyssewingctr.com

Fiberglass Reinforcement Tool Profiles

Voss Metals Company, Inc.

Kelly Lundquist

2219 Kishwaukee St., 61104 Robert B. Reitsch, Jr. www.fiberglassinnovations.com

Photobooth Rockford Photo Booths Add Fun to Any Event. Make Your Event Truly Memorable 5178 Oak Hill Road, 61109 Mike Smith

Greener Acres LLC

815-871-0898

Offering Electricity and Gas, and

www.photoboothrockford.com

Telecommunications Services for Business and the Residential

Red Mango

Market

Famous Healthy Frozen Yogurt

11302 N. Vogel Road

and Smoothies

Milton, WI 53563

1093 W. Lane Road

Steel Distributors

Kathy Vogel

Machesney Park, IL 61115

ANCO Steel

608-290-7344

Paul Hornick

Steel Erectors

www.kathyvogel.acndirect.com

815-885-8574

Screw Machine Products NyClo Screw Machine Products

Professional Steel Services, Inc.

Tools Kennametal TAPCO USA, Inc.

Welding L/J Fabricators, Inc. Superior Joining Technologies, Inc.

Welding Supplies Airgas North Central

Wire Harnesses, Cable Assemblies

Insphere Insurance Solutions Offering Affordable and Customized Insurance Solutions for Individuals 5983 Creekside Lane, 61114 Gregory Day 815-520-5971 www.insphereis.com

Lone Star Steakhouse

www.redmangousa.com

Rock House Kids Providing a Safe Place for at Risk Children in a Warm and Nuturing Environment 1327 7th St., 61104 Dola Gregory 815-962-5067 www.rockhousekids.org

Unlimited Services

Steak House Restaurant, Hand

Zinc Die Casting

Cut Steaks; Alamo Room-50

Rockford Map Publishers, Inc

Universal Die Cast

Person Capacity Meeting Room

Maps

Listings for our loyalty categories are generated directly from the Business Directory based on the category designated by the member.

6690 E. State St., 61108

P.O. Box 6126, 61125

Jesse Slupzanek

Suzanne Young

815-226-1122

815-708-6324

www.lonestarsteakhouse.com

www.rockfordmap.com

Lonnie’s Stonecrafters, Inc.

Rosie’s Birthday Club

Granite and Quartz Countertop Fabricators Along with Vanity Tops, Fireplaces, Tables, Outdoor

Nonprofit Organization of Volunteers Who Believe All Children Should be Honored on

BBQ Tops, and Many Other Uses

Their Special Day

2529 Laude Dr., 61109

2912 Rural St., 61107

Rick George

Victoria A. Benson

815-316-6565

815-543-7770

www.lonniesstonecrafters.com

www.rosiesbirthdayclub.org

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

July 2012

Government Affairs LEGISLATIVE

Immigration update: New deferred action for certain individuals On June 15, the Obama Administration announced that younger immigrants who are present in the United States without authorization may be eligible for “Deferred Action” and work authorization. The policy will grant qualified individuals the opportunity to avoid deportation and legally to work.

This new development brings hope to some undocumented immigrants and their families. It is not, however, a permanent fix and does not grant permanent legal status to anyone.

To qualify, an individual must: ■■ have arrived in the United States when they were under the age of 16; ■■ have continuously resided in the United States for at least five years prior to June 15, 2012, and have been present in the United States on June 15, 2012; ■■ currently be in school, have graduated from high school, have a GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces; ■■ not have been convicted of a felony offense, a “significant misdemeanor offense,” three or more non-significant misdemeanors, or otherwise pose

a threat to national security Penny Lechtenberg Hinshaw & or public safety; Culbertson LLP and ■■ have been under 31 years old on June 15, 2012.

The deferred action offer will be available to those in proceedings, those with final removal orders, as well as to those who affirmatively apply. The Administration is not yet accepting applications for this action. By midAugust, the Administration expects to issue guidance and information about how eligible individuals can request deferred action and work authorization.

People should take no steps to apply until after the process has been announced by the federal government.

Visit www.aila.org/dream for more resources on this announcement.

Penny Lechtenberg is a member of the Rockford Chamber board and a partner in the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. She concentrates her practice of law in Labor & Employment (management defense) and Immigration. Contact Attorney Lechtenberg at 815-490-4916, plechtenberg@ hinshawlaw.com.

Don’t Miss these Upcoming Government Affairs Events!

Friday, Aug. 10, 7:30 a.m.

Stockholm Inn Addressing Critical Mental Health Issues in the Rockford Region The anticipated closure of Singer Mental Health Center due to the state’s dire financial situation, as stated by the governor, presents an opportunity to provide more effective

and cost-efficient care for individuals experiencing psychiatric crisis.

Local providers are poised to create a system of care that could be a model for the state. Phil Eaton, CEO of Rosecrance and Ann Gantzer, VP of Patient Care Services will present on the topic.

Friday, Sept. 14, 7:30 a.m.

Stockholm Inn Reclaiming First!

Recently, other communities have replicated Rockford’s success in the amateur sports market by building new, bigger sports facilities. They have offered our customers reasons to consider their communities as viable, and in some cases, better alternatives to what we offer. To address these issues, the Rockford Park District and the Rockford

Area Convention & Visitors Bureau have partnered to develop a new vision for amateur sports success in the Rockford Region. Our report, Reclaiming First, outlines a bold new vision for Retaining, Regaining and Growing our sports tourism industry, while providing new recreational and sports opportunities for local citizens. Tim Dimke, Park District Executive Director, and John Groh, RACVB CEO, will present the proposed Reclaiming First! Project.

Submit your news!

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce ­welcomes and encourages submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community.

Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding ­publication. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101

25

26

July 2012

THE ECONOMY

Membership Renewals

Regional, National Indicators

A Printed Memory

May, 2012 Consumer Price Index

Thank you to the members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber in June 2012.

12th Street Business Center

U.S. Indicators q 0.3 percent

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Northwestern Illinois Contractors Association

Adams Letter Services, Inc./ Magnum Creative

Ongena Dental

AFLAC - Andy Krauss

Phones Plus, Inc.

Alpine Bank

PIP Printing/Mencarini Enterprises

Per Mar Security

Unemployment Rate 8.2 percent

ARCO Machinery Movers/MRS Industries Inc.

Payroll Employment

 69,000

Assured Staffing

Average Hourly Earnings

 $0.02

ATRONA Test Labs, Inc.

Production Tool and Supply Company Professional Steel Services, Inc.

Producer Price Index

q 1.0 percent

Aunt Mary’s Restaurant BMO Harris Bank Center

Provena Cor Mariae Center

Employment Cost Index

 0.4 percent (first quarter, 2012)

Bourn & Koch, Inc.

R. J. Bowers Distributors, Inc.

Productivity

q 0.9 percent (first quarter, 2012)

Brian Thomas Photography, Inc.

RAMP

U.S. Import Price Index

q 1.0 percent

Bridge Ministries

Red Mango

q 0.4 percent

Building Systems, Inc.

Reno & Zahm LLP

U.S. Export Price Index

Careers, Etc.

Ring Container Technologies

Carpenter’s Local 792

River Valley Kitchens & Baths, Inc.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates—Region, State, Nation

Change/Mo. Change/Yr.

Chem Processing, Inc. Cincinnati Tool Steel Company ComEd, An Exelon Company

Prairie State Legal Services Inc.

Rock River Valley Blood Center 6th Street

Comfort Keepers

Rock River Valley Blood Center Perryville Road

Court Street United Methodist

Rock Valley Culligan

Crescent Electric Supply Company

Rockford Ambulatory Surgery Center

Crown Machine, Inc.

Rockford Area Pregnancy Care Centers

April 2012

Mar 2012

April 2011

Rockford

10.7

11.6

12.1

q 0.9

q 1.4

Chicago

9.0

9.0

9.5

0.0

q 0.5

Illinois

8.6

9.0

9.2

q 0.4

q 0.6

DeMuth Steel Products, Inc

United States

7.7

8.4

8.7

q 0.7

q 1.0

Discovery Center Museum of Rockford

Rockford Consulting & Brokerage

Earth Works, Inc.

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company

Eickman’s Processing Company

Rockford Tech-Systems, Inc.

Midwest Manufacturing Output Increased in April

Englewood Electric Supply

Sandray Precision Grinding, Inc.

Fairfield Inn & Suites

Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. Rural Street

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 2.4 percent in April, to a seasonally adjusted level of 94.2 (2007 = 100). The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) increased 0.6 percent in April. Regional output rose 12.0 percent in April from a year earlier, and national output increased 5.8 percent.

Forever Green, Inc.

Source: U.S. Department of Employment Security

Monthly Index

Ferrellgas Fleet Lift Truck Service

% Change

Feb 12 Mar 12 April 12

April 11 - April 12

Furst Staffing GinestraWatson Co.

Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. 11th Street

Grace Funeral & Cremation Services

Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. South Alpine Road

Gruno’s Diamonds

Schnucks/Logli Supermarkets State Street

Gunite Corporation Heinzeroth Marketing Group

92.2

92.0

94.2

 12.0

CFMMI-Auto

93.0

92.6

99.6

 28.2

Home Instead Senior Care

CFMMI-Steel

90.8

90.4

91.1

 10.7

HR Green Inc.

CFMMI-Machinery

91.6

92.2

92.8

 11.5

CFMMI-Resource

91.0

90.3

90.2

 1.4

National Index

945.6

95.1

95.7

 5.8

Population Clocks As of June 17, 2012: U.S.

313,760,097 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Hulsebus Rockford Chiropractic Ingersoll Machine Tools Kaney Aerospace Krup Electric Company

987-8100

Shelter Care Staff Management, Inc.

Swanson’s Discount Vacuum, Inc.

Lifescape Community Services/ Community Kitchen, Inc.

The Brian Boyer Group

Materials Engineering Inc. McMAHON

Mrs. Fisher’s, Inc.

For information on advertising, call 815-

SCORE Counselor’s to America’s Small Business

Lifehouse Properties-The Atrium, Assisted Living Community

MP Heating & Cooling Inc.

Education & Training Services, Regional Expo Exhibitor Services / Green Expo

Schnucks/Logli Supermarkets Charles Street

Stephenson Veterinary Hospital, Ltd.

Mosaic

August 2012 Special Section

Schnucks/Logli Supermarkets Rockton Avenue

L/J Fabricators, Inc.

Mary’s Market Cafe & Bakery NP

World 7,020,490,754

Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. Barnes Boulevard

Golf Shack

Chicago Mfg. Index

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Updated May 29, 2012

Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. Mulford Road

Nexus Office Systems, Inc. North American Tool Corporation Northern Illinois Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association Northwest Bank of Rockford

TGI Friday’s Thrifty Boutique Resale Shoppe Ticomix, Inc. United States Postal Service United Way of Rock River Valley Universal Die Cast Universal Feeder, Inc. Vito’s Ristorante, Inc. Whitehead Inc., Realtors Teri Watts, Commercial & Industrial Broker Whitehead Inc., Realtors® Womanspace, Inc.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

27

July 2012

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events JuLY, 2012 Tuesday, July 10 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Sam’s Ristorante, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd. Contact Denise Galluzzo-Wimmer, Alliance Insurance Agency, denise@flandersinsurance. com.

Wednesday, July 11 4:00 - 7:00 pm Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Rd., Rockford

Chamber Founder’s Day Celebration Join us to celebrate our 102nd birthday, thank our long-term members and honor the newest Business Hall of Fame inductees.

Sponsors: Windstream (presenting) Founder Co-Hosts: AT&T; Barnes International, Inc.; BMO Harris Bank; ComEd, An Exelon Company; Holmstrom & Kennedy, PC; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Rockford College; Rockford Register Star; Schmeling Construction Co. Legacy Sponsors: Cumulus Broadcasting; Dixon Automatic Tool; Kelley Williamson Company; Lindstrom Travel; Northern IL Building Contractors Association; OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center; Williams-Manny, Inc.; 13 WREX

Wednesday, July 11 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Stacy Wallace, LDR Construction Services, Inc., 815-874-7066 or swallace@ldr4service.com.

Tuesday, July 17 Chamber 101 with Speed Networking, 4 to 5:15 p.m., Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, 839 N. Perryville Road, lower level.

Sponsored by MembersAlliance Credit Union.

Wednesday, July 18 Breakfast Buzz, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. RVC-WTC “Maximizing Your Trade Show Success in Gaining Business.” Sponsored by McGladrey

Tuesday, July 24 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Sam’s Ristorante, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd. Contact Denise Galluzzo-Wimmer, Alliance Insurance Agency, denise@flandersinsurance. com.

Advertisers Index ADVERTISERS The Alliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Riverhawks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Alpine Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Riverside Community Bank . . . . . . . . . . 5

Ribbon Cutting, Upstream Investment Partners, 423 Financial Court, 3 to 5 p.m., Rockford.

Brian Thomas Photography, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Rockford Bank & Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Broadmoor Agency, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 21,25, 27

AUGUST, 2012 Tuesday, August 7

Comcast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Rockford College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 5

Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Sponsored by AAIM EA.

DeVry University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Thursday, July 26

Friday, August 10 Rockford Chamber Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. For more information how to join, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312

Dale Carnegie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 First National Bank and Trust Company.3 IMEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 McGladrey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 25 Modern Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Necchi-New Home Sewing Center . . . 14

Rockford Health Physicians. . . . . . . . . . 9 Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects. . . . . 14 Sikich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Thayer Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 United Way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Upstream Investment Partners. . . . . . . . 3

Pearson Pest Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Van Galder Bus A Coach USA Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

PR Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Whitehead Realtors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Tuesday, August 14 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Sam’s Ristorante, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd. Contact Denise Galluzzo-Wimmer, Alliance Insurance Agency, denise@flandersinsurance. com.

Wednesday, August 15 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Stacy Wallace, LDR Construction Services, Inc., 815-874-7066 or swallace@ ldr4service.com.

Thursday, August 16 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Giovanni’s 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford

Mayor’s Business Luncheon Join us for a city update relevant to the business community with Mayor Lawrence Morrissey, City of Rockford.

Sponsors: BMO Harris Bank (presenting) Humana (gold) AT&T (bronze)

Tuesday, August 28 Advantage Club – Superstars, Noon to 1 p.m., Sam’s Ristorante, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd. Contact Denise Galluzzo-Wimmer, Alliance Insurance Agency, denise@flandersinsurance.com.

Wednesday, July 25

Wednesday, August 29

Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Stacy Wallace, LDR Construction Services, Inc., 815-874-7066 or swallace@ldr4service.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Stacy Wallace, LDR Construction Services, Inc., 815-874-7066 or swallace@ ldr4service.com.

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100.............................................. Direct Line Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO.......................................... 815-316-4304 Heidi M. Garner, Executive Assistant to the President.................... 815-316-4312 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology................... 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Advertising and Sponsorship Executive............... 815-316-4317 Vee Jevremovic, Manager of Education Programs and Events.. ........ 815-316-4337 Jazzminne Keyes, Ignite Director............................................. 815-316-4335 Cyndie Landis, Financial Assistant.. .......................................... 815-316-4300 Joy Moriarty, V.P. Finance.. ..................................................... 815-316-4316 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events.. ............................................ 815-316-4302 Diane Navickis, Membership Development Manager..................... 815-316-4315 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator......................... 815-316-4320

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers Executive Committee Chairman of the Board Mike Broski Entré Computer Solutions Chairman Elect Richard Walsh SwedishAmerican Health System Vice Chair Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc. Treasurer Larry Bridgeland Mid-City Office Products Immediate Past Chairman Pam Maher KMK Media Group

Directors Romero Bennett Blue Sky Insurance Agency, Inc.

Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Ryan Brauns Rockford Consulting & Brokerage Paul Callighan ComEd, An Exelon Company Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc. J Chapman Maverick Media of Rockford LLC Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Darlene Furst Furst Staffing Penelope Lechtenberg Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Michael Mastroianni Rock Valley College

Paul McCann Stanley Steemer Pat Morrow Alpine Bank Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale Peter Ricker Rockford Register Star Timothy Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy Daniel Saavedra Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects Henry Seybold Rockford Health System

Tim White Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Jennifer Wood Sikich LLP Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

Ex-Officio Directors Janyce Fadden Rockford Area Economic Development Council

Pat Shaw McGladrey

Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Somchan Thatsanaphon K-I Machine Tool & Production Inc.

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau