September Voice 2014

FIELD FOUR YEARS FASTEST GROWING

SURVEY SAYS! SPECIAL INSERT CENTER SECTION OF THIS ISSUE

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The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

LOCATION CHANGE FOR EDUCATION OUTLOOK LUNCHEON

September 2014 | Volume 27 | No. 9

Rockford Chamber’s

Advocacy Center It’s easier to get involved and stay connected

By Barbara Connors The Rockford Chamber has launched its new Advocacy Center at rockfordchamberadvocacycenter.com, with information to put the voice of members in front of elected officials and other leaders. “We wanted to be able to step up our advocacy of business priorities, by providing a quick, easy way for members to connect with their elected leaders in reinforcing priority public policy positions,” said Einar K. Forsman, president & CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

The site will help support the chamber’s Government Affairs Council and its public policy initiatives by gathering input from members on the governmental actions that are important to them.

Features of the site include: ■ Twitter feeds from @ RockfordAdvocacy on priority topics.

■ RSS news feeds on policy and political issues in the Rockford and Illinois regions.

■ A search function identifying elected representatives based on location, with biographical and contact information to connect directly with them. Included are dates for upcoming elections, voter registration, and more.

■ An Action Center where members

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Rockford Chamber

BUSINESS EXPO September 18

can weigh in on key legislative items to be voted upon.

■ A section to track federal and state bills.

“As the ‘Leading Advocate for Business Growth,’ this site puts the chamber and the entire business community in a better position to track legislation in real time and offer rapid feedback to our elected leaders at the state, local and national levels,” Forsman said. The chamber will focus on growing the site’s network of followers and engaged members.

See the last page of the Special Survey Insert in this issue of The Voice. theVoice

The Voice wins national communications competition

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

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

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce won an Award of Excellence in the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) 2014 Awards for Communications Excellence (ACE) competition for The Voice at ACCE’s Centennial Convention in Cincinnati, Aug. 12 to 15.

“We truly value the communication we have with our members and have made it a priority to provide frequent, detailed information to the Rockford business community,” said Einar Forsman, president & CEO of the Rockford Chamber. “The Voice plays a key role in those efforts, which allows for members to share events, successes and industry knowledge, as well as provides an effective tool to communicate the Chamber’s public policy positions.”

The annual ACE competition recognizes outstanding communications efforts by chambers of commerce across the country. This year’s competition drew 163 entries in four categories: advertising and marketing, campaigns, electronic and publications.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s annual Education Outlook Luncheon will take place Sept. 4, 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford. Dr. Ehren Jarrett, superintendent of Rockford Public Schools, will expand on seven board priorities, including the Readiness Rocks initiative.

Rockford Chamber staff accept the national ACE Award for The Voice in Cincinnati.

Entries were divided into two classes based on budget size, and were judged by industry professionals.

The Rockford Chamber’s The Voice newspaper publication is the Chamber’s tool to communicate with its members on issues of importance, as well as to promote the business community in the Rockford region. It is considered one of the highest valued services by the Rockford Chamber to its members.

Celebrating its 30th year, the ACE program continues to be the vehicle for the chamber community to highlight outstanding initiatives by honoring best practices in chamber communications.

Established in 1914, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (www. acce.org) is the only national association serving the professional development needs of chamber professionals throughout the United States and Canada. theVoice

Sponsored by For more info, see page 30

WalletHub LISTS MOST, LEAST RECOVERED CITIES Since 2008, 13 municipalities have filed for bankruptcy.

With Detroit’s bankruptcy trial approaching, and many other cities still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, personal finance social network WalletHub identified 2014’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities.

It compared the 150 largest U.S. cities using 18 key metrics — from the inflow of college-educated workers and number of new businesses to unemployment rates and home price appreciation.

Rockford was not mentioned in the list, but Chicago ranked 94th out of 150 cities.

Most Recession-Recovered Cities: Laredo, Texas (1), Irving, Texas (2), Fayetteville, N.C. (3), Denver, Colo. (4), Dallas, Texas (5), Corpus Christi, Texas (6), Minneapolis, Minn. (7), Lubbock, Texas (8), Garland, Texas (9), Raleigh, N.C. (10).

Least Recession-Recovered Cities: Riverside, Calif. (141), Tempe, Ariz. (142), Glendale, Ariz. (143), Tucson, Ariz. (144), Cape Coral, Fla. (145), Detroit, Mich. (146), Modesto, Calif. (147), Newark, N.J. (148), Stockton, Calif.

(149), San Bernardino, Calif. (150).

Mobile, Ala.—largest increase in unemployment rate, at 4%.

Toledo, Ohio —largest decrease, at 1%. Cape Coral, Fla.—largest increase in its poverty rate, at 8%.

El Paso, Texas—largest decrease, at 5%.

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President’s Message VIEWPOINT

Business community policy priorities remain high on the radar Survey says a lot about what our business leaders are thinking As you will see in our special pullout section this month, our members have many concerns about growing their business in a challenging environment in the State of Illinois, as well as frustration with the wheel of progress in the legislative halls in addressing critical issues. Are the wheels just flat or have they completely fallen off the car? Many would say based on our public policy survey that it is the latter.

The recession a few years ago impacted business and government pretty significantly and continues to linger for some in business, and seems to be in a holding pattern in the halls of government. While businesses have fought their way through challenges, it seems all we see in government is legislators fighting with each other.

Unfortunately, the voter’s frustration does not show up at the polls, as voter turnout continues to be at levels far lower than it should

be. Regardless of your own political beliefs, a strong voter turnout would go a long way in sounding an alarm to our legislators that changes and solutions are required immediately.

What is our business community thinking?

So what is on the minds of our businesses? Some are the more recurring concerns that unfortunately have not been addressed as well as a business person would like. Issues like Worker’s Compensation reform, Unemployment Insurance, healthcare uncertainty, over-regulation, and, of course, taxes and other costs to business that are burdensome.

What’s new to the slate of concerns?

Most are what I would summarize as the government getting its house in order: sound budgeting and fiscal practice; pension reform; debt reduction; poor and untimely service from the regulating bodies; and income

taxes/progressive income taxes. It is clear that the business community is very frustrated with business as usual in State politics and what appears to be an annual rite of “kicking the can” down the road. Our legislators need to realize that economic recovery in the government sector has a very long tail and building up more debt while waiting for a stronger recovery is simply bad policy.

A concern locally from our survey is that the outlook for the local economy in our members’ eyes is grim. While we certainly see the unemployment rate in slow but steady decline, most members have shared with me that their business is not at a level where they would have hoped by now. This is brought out in the survey, where 49 percent of respondents would describe the economic outlook only as “fair.”

Some of the suggestions for an improved economy include improvements in education, fair and

Einar K. Forsman Rockford Chamber of Commerce

uniform incentives, lower taxes, less burdensome state regulatory bureaus, and more programs to support local businesses.

As indicated in the special insert, all of this information will assist the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, its Government Affairs Council and Board of Directors in outlining its broader vision for public policy and legislative agenda.

Help us help you Many thanks to the businesses, large, medium and small who responded to the survey as well as the business CEOs, Owners, Partners, and Managers who completed the survey.

Please be sure to review the special insert and share your thoughts with me. My email is eforsman@ rockfordchamber.com.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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September 2014

Rockford joins six other U.S. cities as AAR aircraft repair site New hangar at RFD should generate 500 jobs

The Greater Rockford Airport Authority (GRAA) reached an agreement with AAR, the largest nationwide and third-largest global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider, to build a new hangar facility on Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) grounds.

“This is a monumental economic and workforce development opportunity for RFD and the Rockford region,” said Mike Dunn, RFD executive director, during the announcement on Aug. 18.

The agreement was made in partnership with Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Winnebago County Chairman Scott Christensen and City of Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey. Governor Quinn announced a $15 million state investment through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) from Build Illinois bond funds to build the new maintenance facility, as a part of his goal to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward. The DCEO also will provide a $600,000 investment towards training costs for the new employees.

“Today’s announcement means Rockford’s economy is taking off,” Governor Quinn said. “We welcome AAR to Rockford and are pleased to be a partner with them in creating hundreds of jobs that will be in demand for many years to come.”

“I’m proud to have played a role in the negotiations that took place over the course of the past two years between AAR, a first-class Illinois employer, and GRAA, an airport authority determined to take full advantage of its own untapped potential,” said Sen. Durbin. “With this exciting agreement and the new pipeline of aviation

mechanics from Rock Valley College, the local landscape has changed.

Rockford has solidified its role as an aerospace giant and businesses across the nation should take notice. Today’s announcement of a new state-of-theart facility that will soon employ 500 people in good paying jobs is only the beginning. The future is bright at RFD.” Final agreements between the partners currently are being developed and construction is expected to begin within the year. The hangar will be located in the mid-field area of the airport and is slated to open in spring, 2016.

A Win for the Region Rockford ultimately was selected due to the region’s centralized location, cost-effectiveness, availability of specialized technical talent and RFD development amenability. The region’s supply chain, which supports all aspects of the aerospace cluster including manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, repair and overhaul services, warehousing and distribution, also was a strong factor.

“Based on the strong financial performance and growth projections of U.S. carriers, AAR anticipates healthy demand for maintenance of nextgeneration aircraft in North America,” said David Storch, chairman and CEO of AAR. “To meet this future demand and position our company for growth, we are designing a world-class hangar to complement our existing network of 6 MRO facilities in the U.S. AAR’s investment in Rockford would not be possible without the economic incentives provided by the state of Illinois, which we are proud to call home, and Senator Durbin’s ongoing support of Illinois companies and the aerospace sector.”

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce ­ elcomes and encourages submissions for The w 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.

Other Regional Wins The agreement follows a series of aerospace wins for the region, including the current construction of a second campus for Woodward and the recent ground-breaking of the 40,000 sq.-ft. Rock Valley College Aviation Maintenance Technology Program (AMT) facility. Graduates of the AMT program will join the ranks of the more than 6,500 regional workers currently employed in aerospace companies like AAR, as airline or general aviation engine and/or airframe mechanics.

AAR, headquartered in Wood Dale, Ill., is a global aerospace and defense contractor that employs more than 6,000 people in 17 countries.

Its services include inventory management and parts distribution;

The 200,000 sq.-ft. MRO facility at RFD is expected to operate 24 hours a day and service next-generation, wide-body aircraft, which will allow for scheduled and unscheduled service, modification and overhaul and all other support services for military and commercial aircraft. aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, and expeditionary airlift.

AAR’s products include cargo systems and containers, mobility systems and shelters, advanced aerostructures, and command and control systems. Visit www.aarcorp.com.

ROCKFORD JOINS AAR’S SIX OTHER MRO LOCATIONS: Duluth, Minn.

Oklahoma City, Okla.

Miami, Fla. Lake Charles, La. Indianapolis, Ind. Hot Springs, Ark.

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Member Profile PROFILE

Field has grown to 120 team members and provides a stimulating work culture.

Field: One of fastest growing U.S. Companies

By Paul Anthony Arco In 1988, Jim Derry was working for a Minnesota-based computer company when he got a call from his brother Bill.

Dick Field, founder of Field Fastener and long time friend of Bill, was selling the company he started in 1976. The brothers jumped at the chance to own their own company. Bill continued to work at a Rockford fastener manufacturer, and Jim returned to Rockford to join Field.

At the time the company was located in a former meat packing plant on South Main Street, a physical plant unsuitable for a distribution facility.

“It was initially an investment for Bill, and an opportunity for me to get back to the Rockford area,” Jim said. “If it didn’t work out, we could always do something else. But it turned out to be the best business decision we ever made.” Two years later, Bill left his corporate position and joined the daily operations at Field.

Today, Field is a global distributor that provides fastener and hardware components to more than 900 customers that build a variety of products – thermostats, gas valves, football helmets, fire extinguishers, garbage trucks, backyard swing sets and more. Field’s clients span across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia and Europe. Local customers include Honeywell, Eclipse, W.A. Whitney, and many others.

There were, however, challenges in the beginning. When the Derrys assumed control, the company lacked computer systems, business processes and overall sales capacities. The Derrys went to work, implementing systems and procedures, and sales quickly rose to more than $1 million annually. “We developed a commitment to take care of the customer,” said Jim. “We also realized how important culture is to the success of our business. Everyone in our company has similar core values, a shared mission and vision for the future.”

A more recent hurdle was the recession that impacted so many companies and industries. Field, like others, had to make workforce reductions, but came out of

the downturn a stronger company. “We protected most of the team and were able to make money every quarter,” said Jim. “We’re a more efficient and better-run company today because we survived.”

Field has grown to 120 team members, including the management team, engineers, account managers, technicians and outside sales. Inc. Magazine named Field as one of the fastest growing private companies in the country for the fourth straight year. “The team at Field is what separates us from our competitors,” Jim said. “They’re dedicated to doing whatever it takes to be successful.”

In July, Field merged with HRS Logistics, a global distributor and importer of fasteners and specialty items based in Tyler, Texas, with offices in Monterrey and Monclova, Mexico. The merger expands the products, services and geographical footprint Field can offer its customers. “This move gives us access to markets where we didn’t have a presence before,” Jim said.

Field is also known for its generosity.

The company is a longtime supporter of the United Way of Rock River Valley and proud of its seven years of 100 percent participation in the local campaign.

Several members are also participating in the Transform Rockford initiative.

“We’re blessed as a company and we have an obligation to be good community citizens,” said Jim. Field officials hope to reach $100 million in revenue by 2017, a lofty goal but one that is attainable for a company that has seen 20 percent annual growth for the past 24 years. “The potential to grow our business is limitless,” said Jim. “Never in our wildest dreams did we envision a company of this size and scope. It’s been a great ride.”

FIELD Chairman: Bill Derry President: Jim Derry 9883 N. Alpine Rd. Machesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-9002 www.fieldfastener.com

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First phase of Reclaiming First construction begins Ill. Governor Pat Quinn joined local government, business, civic and labor leaders in August in kicking off the first phase of construction for the region’s Reclaiming First initiative -- expansion of Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park.

Governor Quinn announced a $2.5 million investment of Parks and Recreational Facility Construction funds to expand the Indoor Sports Center at the Sportscore Two complex. The Rockford Park District also received a Tourism Attraction Development Grant of almost $650,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism to help pay for replacing natural turf with an artificial turf field at Wedgbury Stadium at Sportscore Two, which is part of Phase 1 of the Reclaiming First project -- estimated to cost more than $30 million.

“The multi-facility, multi-year project will stimulate our regional economy and provide world-class recreational facilities to our citizens,” said Rockford Park District Executive Director Tim Dimke.

The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners approved a professional services contract with

Sink Combs Dethlefs for Wedgbury Stadium improvements on June 10. The City of Rockford will oversee design and construction of the downtown indoor sports complex. Construction is expected to be complete by Fall, 2014.

Wedgbury Stadium at Sportscore Two seats 2,000 spectators, and has hosted IHSA State High School Soccer Finals, pro football games, National Rugby Finals, college rugby championships, professional soccer games with international teams from Mexico, and USSL W. League Soccer Men’s and Women’s Finals. The stadium is named in honor of Donald “Doc” Wedgbury’s father, Russell.

Phase One of Construction Modernization of Sportscore Two begins with upgrades to Wedgbury Stadium, in order to help attract more international and national competitions and tournaments.

The new state-of-the-art facility will allow the Rockford Park District to seek a FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) certificate. FIFA standards for sports turf systems are designed to ensure that a consistent world-class standard of surface is available internationally.

Wedgbury Stadium Project Highlights ■■ New synthetic turf field for a more reliable playing surface that is less affected by weather. The turf does not have an extended recovery time for playability after rain, and it attains playability earlier in the spring and remains playable later into the fall.

■■ New lighting system – NCAA professional level ■■ New pathways and restroom building ■■ Upgrades to bleachers and press box ■■ Modernization of Sportscore Two. Adding six turf and multi-purpose lighted fields, along with installation of turf and new lighting in the Wedgbury soccer stadium.

■■ Expanding Indoor Sports Center.

Retrofit the existing structure from one to two indoor soccer fields. Expand the building to include three new indoor soccer fields, creating a total of five fields at one location.

For more information of Reclaiming First, a community-wide comprehensive plan to enhance and enlarge the sports facilities in the Rockford area to reclaim the region’s dominance in sports tourism, visit www.reclaimingfirst.org.

Facebook Event

co-hosted by Rep. Adam Kinzinger and Rockford Chamber Through a special partnership with local business organizations, experts from Facebook’s Small Business Team shared best practices and strategies for how to grow, manage and understand small business identity on Facebook, Monday, August 11, at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Rockford.

A panel of small business owners shared their success stories and answered questions from the audience of more than 500 who packed the room to learn about using the Facebook social network to reach more of their customers and market their business.

Since Facebook launched the Small Business Boost program, tens of thousands of small business owners have learned how to connect with some of Facebook’s 1.3 billion users.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce and Illinois State Representative, Adam Kinzinger welcomed the guests to this event.

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RREDD offers grantwriting help for area businesses, nonprofits Keep informed with free newsletter

By Jimsi Kuborn, RAEDC The Rockford Region Economic Development District (RREDD) is a partnership of area economic development and government agencies that can assist local businesses and organizations with economic development planning, research and grant writing needs.

RREDD was formed in 2010, and is funded by Winnebago County government, Boone County government, the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and Growth Dimensions for Belvidere-Boone County. RREDD’s primary roles include overseeing the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, applying for and administering federal grants and assisting RREDD’s partners with their economic development needs.

Additionally, RREDD can provide assistance to the region’s businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. For example, RREDD is able to compile and

analyze local and regional demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources, as well as business, employment and consumer data from various databases. As an organization focused on regional collaboration, RREDD also can provide you with information and connections to other groups in the area who can help you with specific needs and questions.

More Grantwriting Help RREDD is expanding its grantwriting and administration services for businesses, nonprofits and government agencies in Boone and Winnebago counties. RREDD has already displayed its grant ability in assisting with the application for and implementation of several regional economic development grants. RREDD has more recently worked on grant applications for local businesses and nonprofits. RREDD has access to a database of federal, state and private funding sources, and can

link your business or organization with opportunities, as well as assisting with the application and implementation stages.

RREDD has developed a free newsletter for interested parties listing some available funding opportunities, as well as training resources for your organization. If you would like to be included on our newsletter mailing list, please let us know.

RREDD can be reached by contacting Executive Director Dana Hoefle, 815-969-

4253 or dhoefle@myedd.org, or visit www. myedd.org.

The RREDD can help you attain your organizational goals and provides personalized services to suit your individual needs. Call today to find out how RREDD can help you access the funding you need to succeed.

Jimsi Kuborn is director of investor relations at the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

Andre Lizano has experienced rapid advancement at Fastenal thanks to his TechWorks FastTrack CNC machine operator training.

TechWorks training leads to success

By Sherry Pritz, EIGERlab Andre Lizano was born in Costa Rica, moved to the United States when he was 10, and graduated from Harlem High School. Instead of taking the college path, he elected to start working.

Even though he has an aptitude for working on cars or anything mechanical, he was working as a debt collector prior to completing the TechWorks FastTrack CNC machine operator training.

“It was just a job that paid the bills, but I wanted more,” Lizano said. He was discussing the college option with a member of his church — Ron Gustafson — who shared information on TechWorks FastTrack training, and offered to provide him with a tour of EIGERlab.

During the tour, he discovered that in six weeks he could learn a viable skill and receive multiple certifications, which would potentially allow him to secure a position with an advanced manufacturing company. He kept his full-time position while completing the course, but set his sights on training for a career with wide-ranging options versus just being employed.

Andre felt the class was a comprehensive introduction to the

manufacturing field and, immediately after graduation, was fortunate to land a position with Fastenal. “It’s been an ideal opportunity. In less than a year, I started working on CNC machines, moved to the water jet machine, and I’m now the lead machinist for the water jet area, which is currently growing exponentially.”

Fastenal believes in TechWorks’ FastTrack training programs. Fastenal’s management have supported the CNC training program by providing a CNC lathe, which results in students being trained on state-of-the-art equipment. Fastenal also believes in Andre Lizano. In addition to his rapid advancement, they’ve also discussed additional training, potentially leading to management. “Fastenal offers endless opportunities for growth, in addition to a plethora of locations throughout the United States. I love the fact that I’ll eventually be able to transfer to a location in the south, which more closely replicates the Costa Rican climate where I was born.”

Sherry Pritz is marketing coordinator/business development at EIGERlab/Rock Valley College.

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From generation-to-generation Envisioning the business through a new set of eyes It started for me when my dad asked me to program the VCR as a teenager.

For the first time, I could see that my knowledge set, experience at electronics, and willingness to test ideas was greater than his. Now that I’m a dad, I realize it may have been that he was just too tired to get behind the TV to make all the connections and wanted to give me a sense of accomplishment. Depending on which eyes you see a situation from can provide a very different set of outcomes.

For today’s family businesses, which may be dealing with three, or even four, generations in a workplace, the different sets of eyes with varying business attitudes, values, work ethics and views of the company’s potential can become

a difficult and disastrous liability if not addressed. Facilitated discussions about company culture, roles, strategic and succession plans, and family dynamics, with an awareness of the key attributes of each generation, is a starting point.

Leaders that provide opportunities for younger family members to achieve the sense of accomplishment, purpose and challenge that they need to feel a part of the family organization are most likely to set their companies up for a legacy of growth and success in later transitions.

Millennials: Using New Approaches Millennials, now moving into their 20s and 30s, are gaining influence in family business decisions. IMEC is currently

THREE REASONS smaller manufacturers should innovate Before we share the three reasons, let’s define innovation and give a couple statistics from the Next Generation of Manufacturing Study. The study’s definition of innovation: develop, make and market new products and services that meet customers’ needs at a pace faster than the competition.

According to the 2011 study, 57 percent of small- to midsized manufacturers rated the importance of innovation as highly important for their success over the next five years. Of those same manufacturers, only 12 percent felt they were world-class (where they needed to be) when it comes to innovation. Clearly, manufacturers know they need to innovate, but many of them seem unsure of the best way to do it.

The marketplace is changing at an increasing rate. We heard a good example of this from a representative from Caterpillar. Ten to 15 years ago, cost and quality was the key driver in Caterpillar’s assessment of the performance of a supplier. Those are still critical to be sure. But going forward, a supplier’s ability to collaborate on new product designs, support rapid new product introduction schedules, and continuously improve processes to meet worldwide demand will separate the strategic suppliers, from the commodity players.

THREE REASONS TO INNOVATE

2. Manufacturers won’t survive without it. Like it or not, the evidence is clear for this as well. Manufacturers who do not become continuous innovative organizations do not have a chance to survive in the near future’s marketplace.

1. Manufacturers won’t grow without it. The evidence is clear.

3. Smaller manufacturers can get ahead of the competition

working with several companies, where parents are increasingly turning over key business roles to their kids. Utilizing a natural tendency to acquire knowledge and collaborate through technology, the millennial generation is expanding the reach of regional companies into global companies as they challenge the operational styles to evolve to meet the new marketplace demands.

In one recent example, a 70-year old company still had the grandparents working in the office while their grandkids were seeking information on how to create new workflows for the projects they were now getting from national accounts. What once had been a local, then regional company within

by innovating now. Rather than waiting until it becomes necessary, take advantage of marketplace opportunities and gain a leg up on the competition.

IMEC aims to provide ways to help Illinois manufacturers innovate with a personalized plan to meet companies’ needs.

We all recognize that this is not easy and “one size may not fit all.” Its resources in helping manufacturers look for fresh ways to innovate include programs to guide a company step by step through the development of a new product to finding innovative ways to save on costs and become more “green.”

IMEC currently is in the process of fully developing its way for systematically helping its manufacturers become what it terms, “Continuous Growth (Innovative) Organizations.” Call 888-806-4632 or info@imec.org.

a 100-mile radius, now is achieving national recognition for its quality, Rob Newbold IMEC innovation and customized designs. The start-up business problems that grandpa had to solve were important and critical to the company. Yet, they understood that they were not equipped to address the speed and agility issues that the company must solve now to have a successful future. For these activities, they have turned to those who think and act with much different eyes to get the outcomes that will drive this company for the next 70 years.

Is there a comparison between connecting the VCR with running a company? Maybe not, but the idea of utilizing youth to experiment, take risks, evaluate new strategies and create connections with customers, partners and suppliers is far too important for leaders to ignore today. You see, I realized that my dad gave me a challenge that he didn’t want to take on, he knew I had a desire to learn, and I would derive greater satisfaction from it than he ever could. When you put these higher challenges into the equation, allowing young people to learn from failures and grow on their own, good things happen.

The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) specializes in assisting family- and closely held businesses in addressing the challenges and opportunities of transitioning a company to its next generation. For more information, or to begin your company journey, please contact IMEC at 888-806-4632 or info@imec.org.

Rob Newbold is a regional manager for IMEC.

Manufacturing News is sponsored by IMEC

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Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Choosing a wise corporate philanthropy approach Partnering with a nonprofit organization As a business leader, you care about your employees and the neighborhoods where they live. This concern is a good reason to consider giving back to our community in the form of corporate philanthropy.

Financial support, volunteering your time for a community service project, and advocating for those who are less fortunate are all great ways to show your support of the community.

No matter how you choose to give, any type of corporate philanthropy program helps your bottom line. According to several studies of consumer practices, a company that is dedicated to serving nonprofits in its community reaps many benefits. In fact, the company receives as many benefits from its philanthropy as the people who live in the area.

The biggest benefit…is that nonprofit agencies help make our community more livable, healthier and more economically stable.

Partnering with a charity can help raise brand awareness for your company, making it a strategic business move as well as a philanthropic investment. Giving as a business also builds employee morale and creates a feeling of being a team — meaning corporate philanthropy can be used as a way to build comradery among staff members.

The biggest benefit of supporting organizations in our community, though, is that nonprofit agencies help make our community more livable, healthier, and more economically stable. All across our community, these groups work to promote health, improve education and stabilize income for all people.

Focus Your Giving on Your Passion With so many organizations doing work locally, knowing how to find an effective charity can be a difficult task. Your first step should be to look within. What are the issues that are most important to you, your business and your employees? Focus on your collective passions. If you’re having trouble identifying any issues, educate yourself on the needs within our community by volunteering. United Way’s volunteer center, www.wevolunteer.org, is a great resource to help you get started.

Not only will you learn firsthand which organizations need your support, you will make valuable contacts with people who can make sure your money is being put to good use.

Once you’ve chosen an issue you want to support, do some research on the organizations that are active in it.

Dan Pallotta, an expert in nonprofit sector innovation and a pioneering social entrepreneur, suggests starting with a broad search and narrow it down to three. Then, ask each organization to provide program data and financial reports. Check with the IRS and the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed.

Pallotta also recommends inquiring about the scale of the nonprofit’s dreams, how they measure their progress, and what resources they need to make them come true. After all, successful businesses are interested in a sound return on investment.

In terms of corporate philanthropy, look for

United Way recruiting volunteer readers, mentors The United Way of Rock River Valley seeks volunteers for its I READ mentoring program, which matches adults with kindergarten students. New volunteers will support the more than 80 incoming kindergarten students. Encourage employers to allow their staff to mentor a child before or during work. The time spent with an at-risk child is a great investment in the future of our community.

Adults spend 20 minutes a week with the students during the school year helping them count, recognize letters and eventually read. Help kindergarten students learn to read, so they can eventually “read to learn” by 4th grade. Too often children fall behind in reading during their early years and never seem to catch up.

Volunteer reading mentors don’t

need a background in education, just a passion to share a love of reading and as little as 20 minutes per week when school is in session.

Your gift of time can drastically change and improve a child’s life.

During the 2013-2014 school year, 371 students from 15 elementary schools in the Rockford and Harlem School Districts were tutored by 256 volunteers.

Students received more than 7,500 hours in tutoring time from I READ volunteers. Volunteers also distributed 1,500 take home books to their students for the summer.

Investing in our children is a true investment in the future of our community. Apply for the coming school year by contacting Tonya Thayer Meyer, 815-986-4806, tonya@unitedwayrrv.org or visit www.wevolunteer.org.

organizations that are actually solving problems.

Linda Sandquist United Way of Rock River Valley

United Way Does Due Diligence United Way of Rock River Valley, for instance, evaluates programs against several criteria such as community need and impact, program outcomes and effectiveness, efficient resource management and collaboration, and how well they align with our mission and community goals. Feel free to contact us for details or help getting to know local nonprofit executives.

How much you should give is a uniquely personal question. Charities, of course, welcome donations of all sizes, but the most effective gifts are regular commitments. Rather than giving a large sum, a regular contribution allows organizations to budget more effectively for long-term projects.

The decision to give is a noble one, but it doesn’t always translate into effective outcomes. Due diligence is the cornerstone of wise giving, writes author Robert Lupton in “Toxic Charity.”

Whether your gift is one of time or money, it should be used to build up people and create lasting impact on our community.

Linda Sandquist is vice president of United Way of Rock River Valley, with more than 17 years of nonprofit experience in the community.

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

LEARN MORE

Educate yourself on the needs within our community by visiting United Way of Rock River Valley’s volunteer center, wevolunteer.org.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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September 2014

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

The Ziock Building: A path to citizenship for some Hopefully, the Ziock building will become an EB-5 success story, for Rockford and for the investors who view it not only as a business endeavor, but also as a path to citizenship.

Most of us are aware of the City Council’s approval earlier this year of a $52 million deal to redevelop the circa-1913 Ziock Building into a 150bed hotel and conference center. We are all hoping for a revitalized downtown Rockford. Few of us, however, likely know much about one of the ways in which this project is being financed. As an immigration attorney, I found this aspect of the deal very intriguing.

In 1990, Congress created the EB-5 program, also known as the “Immigrant Investor Program,” as a new way to stimulate the U.S. economy.

The program is one of the many paths a foreign national can follow to become a permanent resident and, eventually, a U.S. citizen. “EB-5” is short for “Employment-Based Immigration: Fifth Preference.”

Under the EB-5 program, an immigrant investor must make a minimum qualifying capital investment of $1 million in a new commercial enterprise. If the investment is in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), the minimum investment is reduced to $500,000. A TEA is either a rural area or an area experiencing unemployment of at least 150 percent of the national average unemployment rate.

In order for an immigrant investor to qualify under the program, the immigrant’s investment must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers within two years.

When the EB-5 program originally was created, those jobs had to be within the commercial enterprise in which the investor invested. Now, through investments in “Regional Centers,” the 10 full-time jobs can be created either directly or indirectly by the commercial enterprise. Indirect jobs are jobs outside of the commercial enterprise that are created as a result of the commercial enterprise. An example of an investment in a Regional Center “indirectly” creating jobs is an investment in the construction of a

Stephanie A. Grattan Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C.

hotel, which will indirectly lead to the creation of hotel jobs.

EB-5 Extended into 2015 Originally started as a pilot program, the program allowing immigrants to invest in Regional Centers was recently extended through September, 2015.

A “Regional Center” is defined as “any economic unit, public or private, which is involved with the promotion of economic growth, including increased export sales, improved regional productivity, job creation and increased domestic capital investment.” There are currently 20 approved Regional Centers in Illinois and 747 in the United States.

The EB-5 program is gaining in popularity. It is widely viewed as an alternative source of financing in the wake of the recession and banks’ tighter lending practices. According to government statistics, the number of EB-5 visas issued has increased from less than 1,000 in 2007 to more than 8,000 in 2013. The program reportedly brings $1.8 billion into the U.S. economy annually. The vast majority of EB-5 investors are from China.

An EB-5 Success Story The Ziock building redevelopment project is not the first hotel project to use EB-5 funding. According to Fortune magazine, Jay Peak, a Vermont ski resort, was funded by EB-5 investors, as was NYLO Dallas, a boutique hotel constructed in a former cotton factory.

The Rockford Register Star reports that Gorman & Co., the developer of the Ziock project, also used EB-5 financing when redeveloping the Pabst brewery in Milwaukee into a 90-room hotel, The Brewhouse Inn & Suites.

At a minimum, the EB-5 program represents a way in which business leaders can navigate our increasingly complex globalized world and find a new source of financing and business partnership. Hopefully, the Ziock building will become an EB-5 success story, for Rockford and for the investors who view it not only as a business endeavor, but also as a path to citizenship.

Stephanie A. Grattan is an associate attorney at Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C., where she practices immigration law. Contact her at 815962-7071 or sgrattan@holmstromlaw.com.

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

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September 2014

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

IGNITE

Young Professionals

So many career choices, so little time Academy Expo is just around the corner!

Can you believe it? It feels like just yesterday the schools were getting out for summer break. Blink and it is already September. The Rockford area schools are back in full swing, which means it is almost time for the 2014 Academy Expo.

This year, the Academy Expo takes place on Sept. 16 at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Hosted by Alignment Rockford’s Career Awareness Team, this event educates more than 2,700 9th grade students from the Rockford and Belvidere school systems on a variety of career paths.

According to Bridget French, Alignment Rockford’s executive director, “Alignment Rockford envisions all students graduating from high school with marketable employment skills and enrolling in post-secondary education.

The Academy Expo helps students forge a relevant link between student curriculum and future careers. This year, 99 companies will demonstrate 123 different careers to RPS205 and Belvidere School District freshman students.”

Rather than just hear lectures about all of the possible career opportunities, the students will spend the day interacting with professionals and educators to gather information about their perspective career choices.

Each booth will offer different insight and an opportunity for students to ask questions, so that they can make an educated decision about their field of study. There will be experts available from the following fields:

Heather Bradshaw-Arne IGNITE

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics ■ Business, Arts, Modern World Languages and Information Technology (BAMIT) Business Management & Administration; Finance; Marketing; Arts, A/V Technology & Communications ■ Human and Public Services (HPS) Education & Training; Government & Public Administration; Human Services; Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security

Your Help is Needed Volunteer participation is vital for an event of this magnitude. From hospitality ambassadors to the load-in crew to the industry experts providing advice to the students, it takes a tremendous effort to execute an event of this magnitude.

French stated, “We are thankful for the opportunity that is being provided to students through the expo. This would not be possible without the collaboration of the schools and their staff, our Alignment Rockford Career Awareness Team, the staff at the BMO Harris Bank Center, and all of our sponsors.”

There still is time to get involved with this fantastic event. Load-in assistance still is needed on Sept. 15 from 3 to 7 p.m., at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

If you or your organization would like to help with the load-in and set-up process, please contact Jessica Koltz at Jessica. koltz@rasmussen.edu.

■ Health Sciences (HS) ■ Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial and Trades Technology (EMITT) Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Architecture & Construction Trades; Manufacturing Technology;

Heather Bradshaw-Arne, J.D., MSNDR, is an associate professor, business and justice studies, Rasmussen College, Rockford campus, and a member of IGNITE. Visit www. igniterockford.com.

Location, uniqueness help GreenFire attract visitors

Restaurants help drive area’s tourism Many restaurants enjoy an increase in business when visitors come to the Rockford area. Picture hundreds of young soccer players and their parents, coaches and friends descending on restaurants before and after their tournaments, ready to eat!

Visitors spend $330 million annually at Rockford hotels, restaurants and other businesses, like GreenFire, owned

by Philippe Forcioli.

In my series highlighting local businesspeople who are Chamber members and understanding the economic impact of tourism, here’s Forcioli’s views on the visitor industry.

Location, Location, Location “We are so close to I-90 and to Sportscore One and Two, we get a lot of sports business,” Forcioli said. “We cater to that clientele. For example, during the soccer tournament season, we play the soccer channels on all our TVs and our sign outside says ‘Welcome, Soccer Teams.’”

“One of the best ways of getting more business is through Yelp and Trip Advisor on the Internet. The ratings we get from those guests really help.

I get a weekly report of how many people looked at our website, asked for directions, made reservations, etc.

Yelp alone sends us more than 100 leads a week,” he said. GreenFire also advertises in the sports programs of the Sportscores and Carlson Ice Arena.

About 20 to 30 percent of GreenFire’s business is from out-of-town visitors.

“We attribute that to our location, that we feature organic and natural foods, plus the online ratings from Yelp and Trip Advisor,” he shared. “I think people like that we have an open kitchen so you can see the chefs and our woodburning oven. We are proud that we do not have microwaves or deep fryers.”

Importance of Visitor Industry Forcioli’s two children, Laurent and Sophie, played soccer at Sportscore when they were younger, so he has always known that the visitor industry was important. He saw all the visiting sports teams.

“Also, when I went to cooking school, one of my classes was about the tourism industry. Without tourism, we would not do as well. GreenFire is not just a restaurant for people who live in the Rockford area. Anyone who comes here for business or tourism can also enjoy us,” he said.

He continued, “So many business

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Philippe Forcioli, owner of GreenFire, caters to sports tournament and business visitors, as well as local customers. Photo by Kim Linden people come to the Rockford region from all over the world because of our aerospace business, our healthcare organizations and other industries.

For example, when UTC, Ingersoll or Taylor Freezer come to GreenFire, it’s not unusual to have 10 to 12 countries represented at the table. I appreciate it, and it makes me proud that these companies trust us to represent Rockford to their customers,” he said.

“And, when the new Downtown Sports Center opens, Rockford will do even better, and make more money from the sports visitors!” Forcioli predicted.

Around the World to Rockford Forcioli was born in Marseille, grew up in Montpellier and started working in a pastry shop at age 14. Two years later he attended a cooking school in Montpellier. He then worked as a chef on two international cruise ships, the Orient Express train, The Lodge at Vail in Vail, Colo., and Harry Cipriani in New York City, before coming to Rockford in 1991 to open Café Patou.

In 2006 Forcioli became the executive chef at Cliffbreakers, before opening GreenFire in 2012.

GreenFire provides employment for about 50 people.

In 2012, the Rockford Region’s visitor industry supported 2,700 jobs that generated $72 million in payroll.

GreenFire and other restaurants are important partners in our visitor industry.

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

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

11

September 2014

Leading with technology, youth

By Jennifer Symonds

VISION INTRO We are a Top 25 Community where our people are engaged, inspired and are leading successful and fulfilling lives.

VISION STATEMENT Our community is recognized as one of the very best regions to live in the U.S. Our residents are thriving and enjoying a superior quality of life. We have transformed out community by embracing our diversity, fostering a crime-free culture, and delivering an excellent education to all our children.

We have an agile and robust economy built on the renaissance of North American manufacturing, logistics, agribusiness and our adjacency to urban centers, such as Chicago. Our infrastructure is robust, our workforce is sought after, and our vibrant neighborhoods and cultural and recreational amenities draw people to locate in our region.

IMPACT STATEMENTS SAFETY All people are safe and feel safe regardless of address.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES Residents live healthy lifestyles and make informed choices. They have access to excellent, comprehensive services for health, wellness, and recreation

EDUCATION Our pre-K through 12 schools and students are the pride of our community, are nationallyrecognized for quality, and are highly valued by our citizens and employers.

Our education and training programs are dynamic and provide accessible paths to fulfilling careers for our children and adults.

ECONOMY & JOBS The region has skilled and soughtafter workforce—enabling all families to improve their standard of living. Our people are employed and per capita income is above the national average.

As a hub of ideas and innovation, we have grown and attracted worldclass industries and employers.

We are recognized for leadership in advanced manufacturing, logistics and agribusiness.

PLANNING We take a purposeful, transparent, and results-oriented approach to planning for growth and renovation.

FUNDING & ALIGNMENT Our local governments and notfor-profits are impactful, properly supported and aligned with the community vision.

QUALITY Our commitment to quality drives all community activities—delivering superior infrastructure, services and attractions.

PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Our transportation and communication systems are robust and accessible. They efficiently connect people to opportunities and amenities within and beyond our region.

FAMILIES & NEIGHBORHOODS Strong, engaged families are the foundation of vibrant neighborhoods.

LEADERSHIP & YOUTH Our leaders are visionary, effective, respected, and supported. They engage our youth and actively develop next-generation leaders.

ARTS & RECREATION Diverse forms of creative expression and recreation flourish and lead to self-fulfillment and national acclaim.

UNITY, PRIDE, CULTURE Our community is unified, celebrates its achievements and diversity, takes pride in individual and collective achievement and lives its shared values.

If you are interested in being a part of a Transformation Team, then please visit www. transformrockford.org and sign up under the Contact Us tab.

One of the volunteers vital to the Transform Rockford cause is Rock Valley College Professor and Rockford local Chuck Konkol. Konkol is the person responsible for overseeing the creation of the Transform Rockford website and social media sites, maintaining the sites, and sending out monthly reminders to volunteers via email. He also manages the daily updates for the Transform Rockford media sites, including Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.

As a Professor at RVC since 2000, Konkol is able Chuck Konkol to allow his students to assist him in maintaining these webpages, creating not only more volunteers for the community, but providing his students invaluable experience in web design and social media management.

Under his supervision, Konkol’s students created the Transform Rockford website and the social media presence of the organization. Konkol attributes three of his past students getting jobs in the web design industry to the experience and exposure he was able to give them during his classes and by having them work as interns on websites such as the Transform Rockford page. Konkol gives his students hands-on experience in creating campaigns, content, and articles for the pages that he maintains.

Not only does Konkol teach web design, mobile app development, digital photography, and network security at RVC, but he also created http://myrvc.org, which allows RVC students the opportunity to find and meet with local employers and locate internships.

As a volunteer-propelled organization, Transform Rockford heavily depends upon people from the community to assist in making sure that the organization runs smoothly. This also extends to the people who work hard behind the scenes to ensure that people inquiring about the group have an easy time at finding information.

If you have special skills that you think can benefit Transform Rockford, please contact http://transformrockford.org/opinion/ for details about how you can get started.

TRANSFORMATION IN ACTION Thank you to the Greater Rockford Airport Authority regarding the recent agreement with the largest nationwide and third-largest global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider, AAR, to build a new hangar facility on Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) grounds.

The great addition is expected to employ up to 500 people and expand RFD’s current service offerings and infrastructure.

What a great example of transformational change!

SHARED VALUES

We as community members of the Rock River Valley, desire to achieve our vision for transformational change and will uphold the following shared values as the foundation for a civil and cultivating environment: Inclusion: Cultivate and support an environment that fully engages our community’s differences and diversity to ensure that individuals and organizations are heard, valued and supported.

Caring: Show concern for the welfare of each person and foster a community culture that thinks and acts as one interactive and interdependent region.

Respect: Embrace the knowledge and experiences of others by being attentive, listening well, and celebrate diversity as a strength and source of shared learning.

Transparency: Foster an open process for maximum participant input and access to all information to enhance understanding and community ownership.

Trustworthiness: Strive for integrity and reliable communication. Become committed to the highest levels of honesty and truthfulness.

Unity: Place the greater good of all parts of our region and its transformation ahead of self or organizational interests.

Ideation: Balance our brainstorming and decision-making process with all points of view and measurable information.

Responsibility: Pursue excellence and accountability of self and others by not shifting blame or taking improper credit. Participate to the fullest of our ability.

Interconnectedness: Won’t compromise any jurisdiction’s or organization’s identity or decision authority, but rather look to partner and integrate shared values, goals and philosophies.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

September 2014

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Customers with disabilities love to shop and spend money as much as anyone else. Taking advantage of the potential for your company and realizing what accommodations can be made to optimize your consumers’ spending is important. The suggestions below are simple and could be implemented immediately.

Here are six simple disability friendly tips to implement into your business at almost no cost to you! Who doesn’t want to be more accessible and accommodating?

1. Make aisles, walkways and entrances wide enough and clutter-free. Not just for individuals who use a wheelchair, but more convenient for elderly individuals and families with strollers.

2. Offer Help.

As an employee, you would ask a customer for help, right? Don’t get caught up on if you are being rude or not. An individual with disabilities wants good customer service too!

3. Accommodate different forms of communication.

Not everyone communicates the same way. Some people need more time to process the information, or they might even use a communication device. Be patient. Teach your employees to wait and listen to their customers.

4. Ask the customer, not the companion. Never pre-

13

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Is your business disability friendly?

Be patient. Teach your employees to wait and listen to their customers.

LIVING WELL: Focus On Healthcare & Wellness Services

Quality of health care in the Rockford Region Chase Cain Goldie B. Floberg Center

judge your customer’s ability.

As an employee, you might be tempted to ask the companion who is with your customer for his or her input. It is important to remember the customer is the one who is spending!

5. Install tactile buttons at checkouts. These buttons are not that expensive and offer a higher level of understanding for your customers with visual impairments. After installing tactile buttons, it is also important to train your employees on how to use them. If used correctly, tactile buttons can increase customers’ independence and make them feel empowered.

6. Work for the customer, not the environment. We have all been in a checkout line where an individual can’t reach the counter or needs to ask his or her companion for assistance. As an employee, don’t get stuck behind your register or countertop. Walk around to the individual and accept their form of payment or order. This may take more time, but the increase in customer service potentially could help retain consumers.

Chase Cain is development director at Goldie B. Floberg Center.

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

High level of services already provided here We are lucky to live in an age and country with a health care system staffed by specialists with advanced training to diagnose and treat complex illnesses. With this depth of expertise, we are often referred to specialists from many different health systems and often out-of-state.

Although that used to be standard, our own health care network has grown right here in Rockford, providing quality care without the drive. Rockford area’s health care community has expanded immensely over the last several decades. The network of unique specialists, who are trained at prestigious institutions from all around the country, has provided Rockford with quality health care and expertise usually reserved for university centers.

The variety of care the Rockford area has to offer has increased dramatically. In 2012, the OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for Cancer Care became one of only seven Illinois hospitals to be recognized by the quality oncology practice initiative certification program. Rockford Health System is home to the highest level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and ranked nationally for orthopedic and spinal surgery. SwedishAmerican Health System is home to the Heart Hospital, the region’s only hospital devoted to hearts. Additionally, SwedishAmerican is a Top 100 Hospital.

These are just a few of the many accolades these facilities have earned.

In addition to growth, the quality of care in our region has expanded through developing partnerships with top tier medical institutions such as Mayo Clinic Care Network and UWHealth. These associations help give patients access to the best possible resources, both inside and outside, of Rockford. Other outreach efforts, such as the Rockford Health Council, encourage healthy lifestyles and promote a stronger community.

We have three health care systems all providing their own expertise to the patients, a unique network of independent specialists, and we are even training physicians right in our region. The University of Illinois College

Dr. Fred A. Sweet

of Medicine at Rockford Spine Center Rockford, a 20-acre medical teaching facility, is recognized as one of the country’s best medical schools. Its diverse student body of 1,351 students hail from a wide variety of cultural and economic backgrounds.

This diversity adds to the rich educational experience that is the College of Medicine.

Great Place to Achieve Health Goals So what does this quality of care mean?

Quantifying and improving the quality of health is increasingly important in American medicine. The use of quality measurement helps strengthen accountability and supports performance initiatives at numerous levels. One such tool is the Illinois Hospital Report Card, which rates all three of our local hospitals at 98 percent or higher, incorporating characteristics such as safety, in-patient services, patient satisfaction and service offerings.

It is said you are the company you keep.

When we set out to create a comprehensive spine care facility, we could have gone anywhere. We chose Rockford. We recognize the high level of health care services already provided here and the unique opportunity to become part of an excellent health care network. The community has welcomed us and allowed us to put our training to work, giving people their lives back.

There is much discussion lately about transforming Rockford, especially as it relates to the health of its citizens. I think we should be proud of the fact that there is not a better place to achieve health goals. Rockford residents have access to some of the nation’s best physicians and facilities that are ranked by leading organizations.

Dr. Fred Sweet is a fellowship-trained, nationally recognized spine surgeon with the Rockford Spine Center.

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

14

September 2014 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

LIVING WELL: Focus On Healthcare & Wellness Services

LEGISLATIVE

Health & Human Services Issues to Watch

New Laws for 2014 Here are some related to health and human services that have taken affect this year. For specific language of the laws, visit www.ilga.gov/ legislation/ilcs/ilcs.asp.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Prisoners and Medicaid HB 1046/PA 98-0139 Authorizes prisoners to apply for medical assistance at any time prior to their scheduled release (rather than 30 days). One reason for this is to assure that when prisoners are released and become eligible to receive Medicaid, the state qualifies for the maximum available federal match.

Dental Assistant Anesthetic Administration SB 1217/PA 98-0147 Allows dental assistants to monitor nitrous oxide and general anesthetic.

A dentist may supervise a maximum of four dental assistants at a time for the monitoring of nitrous oxide.

Advanced Practice Nursing HB 1052/PA 98-0192 Provides an advanced practice nurse shall not be prohibited from providing primary health care or treatment within the scope of his or her training and experience. This language provides more flexibility and access to advanced practice nurses’ services.

Physician Discipline Files HB 1327/PA 98-0210 Requires physician profiles maintained by the Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation must contain a description of any criminal convictions for felonies and Class A misdemeanors within the last 10 years, rather than the current five years.

Mental Health Records HB 1458/PA 98-0221 This measure would allow an individual to consent to the release of his or her own mental health records.

It would also clarify that the custodian of a mentally ill person can seek a court order to have the individual transported to a mental health facility. Current law only allows for transfer to a hospital.

Illinois ADA Update HB 1462/PA 98-0224 Brings Illinois’ accessibility requirements for the disabled in line with the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act. Health Care Worker Badge Requirement HB 2452/PA 98-0243 Requires all health care facility

Gov. Quinn Signs Bill to Expand Access to Medical Marijuana in Illinois New law allows people suffering from seizure disorders to access medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it. Allows minors to participate in the state’s medical marijuana program if they receive parental consent.

Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill into law in July that will expand access to the state’s medical marijuana program. SB 2636, sponsored

by Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago), expands the qualifying conditions of the program to include seizure disorders, such as epilepsy and those associated with brain injuries. SB 2636 also will allow the health department to develop rules so that minors may participate in the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program if they receive parental consent, in addition to recommendations from their physicians.

In January, the state passed HB 1/PA 98-0122, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, which authorized registered qualifying patient issued a registry identification card by the Department of Public Health to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis during a 14-day period. A patient may not possess more than 2.5 ounces at any one time.

The bill established distributing criteria for cultivation centers and requires them to be registered by the Department of Agriculture, which may approve up to 22 licensed marijuana growers, but no more than one per State Police District. workers who examine or treat a patient in Illinois to wear an ID badge with first name, licensure and staff position. Current law requires this only from health care facilities licensed in Illinois. New bill would cover all facilities.

Flu Shots HB 3191/PA 98-0271 Requires hospitals in the state to offer flu shots to all patients admitted from Sept. 1 to April 1 each year.

Epilepsy Deaths SB 1226/PA 98-0340 Requires all autopsies in the state to include an inquiry as to whether the death was the result of a seizure or epilepsy. Also creates a definition of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP.) AIDS/ARC/HIV School Reporting Repeal HB 61/PA-0353 Repeals language requiring the Illinois Department of Public Health or local health departments to report cases of AIDS, ARC or HIV to the school an infected child attends.

Infectious Medical Waste HB 702/PA 98-0366 Affects the handling of “potentially nfectious medical waste” (PIMW), to grant an exemption for “sharps” (for example needles or blood testing pins) that are packaged before being disposed of, so that they are non-potentially infectious. Currently, sharps are excluded from the definition of the term “potentially infectious

medical waste” (PIMW) if their infectious potential is eliminated through treatment and they are rendered unrecognizable by that treatment. Once PIMW has been treated and the sharps have been packaged properly, they can be placed in a landfill.

Funds from Facility Closures HB 1683/PA-0403 Whenever a state-operated mental health or developmental disability facility is closed, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is required, at the direction of the Governor, to transfer funds from the closed facility to the appropriate line item for the new venue of care, provided the new venue is a DHS- funded provider.

Childhood Cancer Research HB 3003/PA-0464 Creates the Childhood Cancer Research Advisory Board to review grant applications and make recommendations to the Illinois Department of Public Health in the awarding of grants for childhood cancer research. Prohibits members of the board from being paid or receiving reimbursement for expenses.

Cancer Disability HB 1809/PA-0405 Expands the definition of disabled within the vehicle code to include persons whose ability to walk is severely limited due to cancer.

HFPB Jurisdiction Exemption HB 2423/PA 98-0414 Exempts doctors working under a

contract with a facility from the jurisdiction of the Health Facilities Planning Board (HFPB). Requires that the HFPB must adopt rules changing its category of services.

Trafficking Tattoo Removal Reimbursement HB 2640/PA 98-0435 Provides that victims of human trafficking may be reimbursed the cost of removing a tattoo that was applied in connection with the commission of human trafficking.

Out of State Transfers HB 2760/PA 98-0448 Would allow an out-of-state physician to oversee and direct home care services for patients living in Illinois while a patient is transitioned to an in-state doctor. Would allow 90 days for the transition.

New Americans HB 3047/PA 98-0467 Creates the Governor’s Office of New Americans, aimed at helping immigrants assimilate into society.

Breast Cancer Reconstructive Surgery Info HB 3175/PA-0479 Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish a program to inform breast cancer patients, especially minorities and ethnicities, of availability and coverage of breast reconstruction, prosthetics, and other options available through surgery.

Breast Cancer Brochure SB 2314/PA-0502 Requires the Department of Public Health to publish information about the impact and concerns surrounding dense breast tissue in the breast cancer brochure the department currently publishes and distributes.

Human Service Provider Protection SB 1609/PA 98-0529 Makes it a Class 3 felony to make a threat to a human services provider involving bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement or restraint; as well as any threat that damage will occur to property. The threat must be linked to the duties of human service provider.

Applies to social workers, caseworkers or investigators that work under a contract or grant from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or the Department on Aging.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

LIVING WELL: Focus On Healthcare & Wellness Services

September 2014

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Understanding a living will, and other key estate planning documents Your living will, will and living trust all can play an important part in helping ensure your wishes are carried out during your life and after you are gone.

The living will, the will and the living trust – they sound similar, but each actually is a separate legal document with its own distinct purpose. All three of these documents can play a key role in your overall estate plan and can help you feel more secure about your family’s financial future.

The Living Will Despite its name, a living will is not part of your “regular” will. It is a separate document – sometimes called an advance directive – that deals strictly with medical issues. This document details your specific instructions regarding your medical care should you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious and unable to express your wishes yourself.

A living will can help relieve a great deal of stress for family members who would otherwise have to make important medical decisions (such as whether or not to keep you on life support or connected to a feeding tube) without knowing what you want.

Without clear and convincing evidence of your wishes, these measures may be continued indefinitely by a hospital because of fear of liability, a doctor’s moral beliefs or a disagreement within your family about the appropriate medical response to your situation.

Talk with your family, friends and physicians to make sure everyone understands your wishes, and then consult with an attorney to have the proper legal documents prepared and notarized.

The Will The will’s primary function is to administer your assets according to your wishes when you die. If you die without a will, all individually owned assets will pass to your heirs according to state laws. The court will divide your assets as it sees fit, not necessarily as you might have wished.

Many people assume having a will can help avoid probate. In fact, having only a will with no other estate planning

Chris Perry U.S. Bank

documents guarantees that your estate will go through probate, which can take months or years and be very costly.

The Living Trust You can avoid probate by holding some or all of your assets in a trust. The simplest of these is called a revocable living trust. It holds your assets for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries, including yourself. You appoint a trustee (who may be yourself) to manage those assets. If you appoint yourself as trustee, you’ll want to appoint a successor trustee to manage the assets if you become incapacitated and when you die.

Living trust can be funded with assets such as bank accounts, securities, certificates of deposit and mutual funds. Transferring other assets, such as tangible personal property, real property or business interests, can be more complicated and requires an attorney’s help. You must report all income your trust assets generate on your personal income tax return, but a living trust doesn’t create adverse tax consequences during your lifetime.

To cover assets that you didn’t transfer to the trust, such as items of sentimental value, create a pour-over will. This provides that any individually owned assets are “poured-over” to your trust at death. Unlike a will, assets held in trust don’t have to go through probate, so they can be distributed quickly, confidentially and with little expense.

Seek Professional Guidance Your living will, will and living trust all can play an important part in helping ensure your wishes are carried out during your lifetime and after you are gone. Attorneys will work with you and your other trusted advisors to get your affairs in order. Estate law is complicated, and you should consult an attorney to draw up all three legal documents. Once you have these instruments in place, it’s a good idea to get involved with a financial and estate planner and manager of your investment assets.

Chris Perry, MBA, CFP® is assistant vice president relationship manager, trust officer at U.S. Bank Private Client Group.

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

15

16

LIVING WELL: Focus On Healthcare & Wellness Services

What to Look for in a Fitness App Does it fit your skill level?

Is it personal? Everyone is different, no fitness app should take a onesize-fits-all approach to your health.

Does it have good reviews? Find out what others like/dislike about it.

Is it social? Having people to encourage you and keep you accountable is​key to reaching your goals.

Does it keep you interested?

Downloading the best app in the world won’t make a difference if you never actually use it.

Read more at http://health.usnews. com/health-news/health-wellness/ articles/2014/07/18/what-to-look-forin-a-fitness-app?int=a26f09.

September 2014 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Price transparency can work to control healthcare costs Empowering consumers with health care price and quality information can result in lower costs

By Sean Hackbarth, U.S. Chamber blogger A new study finds that by empowering consumers with price and quality information, the cost of healthcare can be reduced. The research was explained by Sarah Kliff of Vox Reseach: For the experiment, the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans used a very standard procedure, an MRI scan, where there’s little (if any) variation in quality from one provider to another.

In St. Louis and Atlanta, for example, patients would be told how much an MRI would cost at different providers. But in Chicago and Kansas City they wouldn’t get that information; they would go about setting up an MRI at their facility of choice, without any data on price.

In the cities where price data was available, there was no penalty for choosing the higher-priced option; consumers weren’t told they couldn’t go get scanned in the more expensive MRI machine.

But just providing the data proved to be powerful: in the course of two years, the average price per MRI fell by $95, according to data published in the journal Health Affairs. Prices at hospitals that didn’t post charges rose by $124.

The conclusion is, if the information is available, “prices do influence where

But just providing the data proved to be powerful: in the course of two years, the average price per MRI fell by $95 people seek their health care,” Kliff writes.

Unfortunately state efforts on greater health care price transparency have been disappointing. Earlier this year, Catalyst for Payment Reform and the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute released a Report Card on State Price Transparency Laws. Only five states got a passing grade.

Transparency has gained steam in the private sector. Dow and Boeing have developed tools to give their employees access to price and quality information on numerous medical procedures.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care Solutions Council report offers additional recommendations to inject more transparency into our health care system: ■■ Companies should work to develop and promote the use of consistent quality measures, which are outcomeoriented and reflective of patient experience, as part of their payment contracts with plans and providers.

He adds that the federal government should

avoid

mandating

cost

information disclosures that might not be relevant, or, more importantly, personalized.

■■ Medicare should provide summary data to facilitate the development of quality measures on providers and treatments.

■■ The federal government should provide

financial

support

for

initiatives that offer consistent quality information on health care providers.

■■ Employers, the federal government, and others should do more to increase awareness and availability of tools that help people obtain and use meaningful information about the cost of services.

■■ Identify and promote best practices in helping consumers choose among health plans.

The lesson here is that more transparency will lead to more wellinformed shoppers. As Brendan Buck at America’s Health Insurance Plans blog writes, “By giving consumers more information, they can make the choices that are right for them – which often means more money in their pockets.”

Sean Hackbarth writes a blog for the U.S. Chamber at @uschamber.com.

ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY RESULTS

RockfordChamberAdvocacyCenter.com THEVOICE

Special Insert 1

Chamber Members weigh in on public policy matters of importance to the business community

SPEAK UP, ROCKFORD! CHAMBER SURVEY Public Policy Survey Results

We are gratified to see that you support, and want to see, continued

Welcome to our special insert which highlights the results of our recently-concluded Public Policy Survey. One of the key aspects of any regional chamber of commerce is to have a public policy organization and agenda as part of its overall plan of work. Addressing key policy initiatives to protect the business climate, support economic development programs, and lower costs of doing business is a hallmark of an effective public policy plan.

Our Public Policy Survey was sent to our members earlier this year and the graphs and charts contained within this special insert represent the results. Please take the time to review and share this information with your peers. The Chamber and its Government Affairs Council will use this as a basis for building our policy and legislative agenda.

One of the rewarding results of the survey is being told the important role the Chamber should play with regard to public policy.

Einar Forsman, President & CEO Rockford Chamber of Commerce

involvement by the Chamber in: ➤ Protecting the Business Climate ➤ Vet Issues that are Important to Business ➤ Serve as an Advisor to Businesses on Key Public Policy Matters.

To further help us in our efforts to communicate directly with our legislators and other elected officials, we have introduced a new service for the Rockford Chamber: the Rockford Chamber Advocacy Center found at rockfordchamberadvocacycenter. org. This is a “one-stop shop” to stay abreast of important legislation and to speak as a local business directly to elected officials. The last page of this insert is dedicated to this service.

Please feel free to share your comments with me at eforsman@rockfordchamber.com.

PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY • Legislative/Government Priorities

62 %

53 %

56 %

19 %

20 %

28 %

2 9.5 %

37 %

37 %

37.5 %

39 %

Totals equal more than 100% as respondents could select multiple responses.

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➤ Terrible streets with no expressways have us cut-off from the rest of the world.

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➤ Constitutional protection of public sector pensions

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➤ The continued uncertainty about health care. It is time to move on from the Affordable Health Care Act and to work to bring health care costs down.

Inc

➤ OSHA, FDA, EPA regulations

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➤ Workers Compensation, business income taxes

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“Taxes and regulations are the main issues.”

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➤ Financial and health care ➤ Illinois State unfunded liabilities and runaway spending, causing businesses and workers to flee the state. This causes us the increased inability to find qualified employees.

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What laws or regulations do you feel most impede your business’ profitability?*

Un

42 %

These three issues are what you considered the most important:

Ga

40 %

Indicate the legislative issues important to your business:

What is your biggest concern about state government?* ➤ State government has too much control, taxes are ridiculous.

Quit spending money they don’t have! ➤ Lack of integrity, inefficiency and unwillingness to stop the debt virus ➤ The innate culture of corruption that permeates our state government ➤ Lack of concern and effort to retain and attract businesses ➤ They balance budgets on the most vulnerable population, those whose voice does not matter.

“The high cost of public sector employees and pension liability.”

➤ We’re broke and the government fails constantly on balancing the budget.

Wisconsin turned it around – why can’t we? ➤ Being more focused on the Chicago-land region and ignoring the wants and needs of the rest of the state. ➤ The State Debt and payments extended or late state disbursement of funds to communities and other recipients. ➤ They appear to have decided that the only way to balance the budget is to break the backs of those that have earned a pension. ➤ Unwillingness to make tough decisions to restore fiscal health and competitiveness. ➤ Total inability to live within their means. The state is not controlling its spending and its outlandish pension promises.

*The respondent comments are only some of the comments received. The comments published reflect some common trends from the overall group of respondents.

Special Insert 2

ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY RESULTS

THEVOICE RockfordChamberAdvocacyCenter.com

PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY • Legislative/Government Priorities In terms of services provided by government, what do you believe are the highest priorities? Ranked on a scale of 1 - 6, 1 being the highest priority.

The respondents rated these six issues in order of importance. The ratings were averaged and totaled.

2

3

4

6 5 Rating 4.67 Rating 4.45 Rating 3.85 Rating 3.70 Rating 3.04 Rating 1.30 1

QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION

REDUCE CRIME & VIOLENCE

IMPROVE ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE

LOWER PROPERTY TAXES

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

IMPROVED TRAFFIC SAFETY

From a strict government affairs/public policy standpoint, what do you value from the role the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and its Government Affairs Council can play?

Ranked on a scale of 1 - 6, 1 being the highest priority.

1Rating 4.53

1. Protect the business climate

HE P R OTE C T T B U S IN E S S C LIM ATE

2. Vet issues that are important to business 3. Serve as an advisor to businesses on key public policy matters

2Rating 4.21 VET ISSU ES T TO IM PORTAN S S E BUSIN

3 Rating 3.71

6. Use ROCPAC, the Chamber’s political action committee, to get business-friendly people elected to office

4 Rating 3.24

IN FLU ENCE LICY PU BLIC PO N IO SS CU DIS

5

Rating 4.53

5. Educate businesses and voters on candidates running for office

SE RVE AS ADVISOR TO S BUSI N ESSE

EDUCATE ES BUSI NESS AN D VOTE RS

4. Influence public policy discussion in the region

6

USE ROCPAC

Rating 2.4 0

RockfordChamberAdvocacyCenter.com THEVOICE

ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY RESULTS

Special Insert 3

PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY • Revenue/Taxes A progressive income tax is being considered by the Illinois General Assembly whereby a higher income tax is applied, based on levels of income by an individual/ household, replacing the flat income tax currently in place for all Illinois residents.

Is this something you would support?

COMMENTS ➤ A progressive tax discourages investment and risk taking on the part of people & businesses.

“A progressive tax discourages investment and risk-taking…”

➤ There is no incentive to work hard and earn a decent living when the middle class individual continues to have no money to put back into the economy, and free handouts are provided to those who should be out working. Granted, there are those that need assistance and I’m all for that. But—they already get plenty of tax dollars. However, our government doesn’t do a good job spending and balancing those dollars properly.

Yes 29.55%

No 56.82%

➤ Yes, so long as all paid taxes—no exemptions.

No Opinion 13.64%

➤ Depending on how this tax is used — earmarked for education, ok. To pay state workers’ pensions, not ok. ➤ It depends on what it looks like. 3% is enough to pay for workers who make under $60K per year, a percent per each additional $20K seems fair, and to cap it at 6%.

Public interest groups are proposing that the minimum wage should be raised to more than $10 per hour (current rate is $8.25 per hour.)

Agree or disagree?

Disagree 62.77%

COMMENTS

Agree

26.28%

No Opinion 10.95%

➤ A high minimum wage screws up the existing rates for employees, costs more for businesses. ➤ You would not just be raising minimum wage. You would have to adjust other worker’s [pay] who are currently employed and increase their salary. Additionally, the higher the salary, the more payroll taxes an employer must pay—which can add-up for a small business.

“People, the market, decides the value of a specific job.”

➤ $10/hr is a good amount—not much more for minimum wage; $8.25 is so low it reduces the incentive to work at all. $20K/year is low enough to not take away the motivation to improve yourself, while it does help a FT worker live a bit more independently.

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➤ May need to close.

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➤ Increase entry level wages, but not significantly.

“Please let the free market determine wages.”

Ma

➤ Reduce scheduled hours.

27 %

➤ Impact what we pay for temporary labor; full-time labor already makes more than $10/hour.

33 %

50 %

COMMENTS

31 %

If the state increased the minimum wage above $10/hour, how would that impact your business?

Special Insert 4

ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY RESULTS

THEVOICE RockfordChamberAdvocacyCenter.com

PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY • Revenue/Taxes

No 78 %

The State of Illinois is facing serious financial issues, and is considering extending the temporary income tax increase imposed three years ago to become a permanent income tax.

Do you support this proposal?

Would you support the extension of the State income tax if it were dedicated exclusively to reducing the State’s debt?

Yes 22 %

No 57 %

Yes 43 %

There remains a proposed bill to expand gaming in Illinois, which would also provide a license for a casino to operate in Rockford.

ORD

Do you support a casino coming to Rockford?

COMMENTS ➤ They will only go out of the city to gamble. Might as well have the income. My question is: “How much is this going to cost to reform the addicts?” ➤ The House always wins. This would be a net negative long term. ➤ This would be a significant win for our region in many ways and we should do it while Quinn is still in office.

“More jobs, promote more tourism, keep money here.”

ROCKFORD

ROCKFORD

➤ Especially if it is land-based. No boat. ➤ This will raise Rockford’s costs of social, welfare & children support due to the destructive effects in the community. ➤ More jobs, promote more tourism, keep money here instead of going elsewhere (Re: Ho-Chunk, etc.)

Yes No 59.85 %

27.01 %

No Opinion 13.14 %

ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY RESULTS

RockfordChamberAdvocacyCenter.com THEVOICE

Special Insert 5

PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY • Public Education What do you believe should be the highest priorities for Rockford Public Schools (District 205)?

3.2 6 Rating

3.64 Rating

3.74 Rating

4.0 6 Rating

4.14 Rating

4.53 Rating

Rating

4.64

Ranked on a scale of 1 - 6, 1 being the highest priority.

s ent em rov Imp e re plin ctu r) sci tru rta / Di ras Mo Inf & ent s em ick er nag (Br are Ma yC ial dar ent anc con inm Fin -se tta ost e A g P lleg isin Co ate Ra g & lim gC inin nin Tra ear ure e L ult on rov ol C ati Imp cho duc S E s and ood of mie h on de hild ati ca ly C ent ss A Ear lem dine Imp ea ul r R ssf ree cce Ca te Su e & Ra leg out Col rop eD

duc

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If the public schools in Winnebago County sought voter approval to add a one-percent sales tax dedicated strictly for investing in school facilities, including the building of new schools to meet 21st century learning environments…

No 52 %

Yes 48 %

…is this something you would support?*

*This survey question was posed in late Spring of 2014 and has no relationship to the school referendum question regarding adding new school construction as an eligible expense under RPS 205 capital funding plan. That referendum will be coming before voters in November, 2014 and it is anticipated that the Rockford Chamber will publish its position on this in the next few months.

Special Insert 6

ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY RESULTS

THEVOICE RockfordChamberAdvocacyCenter.com

PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY • Economy/Jobs

Very Good

5%

p o rt a n t

t Im

15 %

t3

6%

ply p 1 5No% A t

No

an

% 35

So o rt m e w hat I m p

How important is the expanding of job and technical training for workers to your business?

Importan y r e V t

D oes

What is your outlook for the Rockford economy in 2014?

26%

Good

49 %

Fair

16%

Poor Very Poor

Do you agree with the following: “The Rockford region has a very business-friendly environment?”

4%

If you answered “no,” what ONE thing could be better? ➤ A community that welcomes change and is willing to change. ➤ Quality public education for families. ➤ City and State tax laws that are burdensome and should be revised to reflect the tough economy our region faces.

No 60 %

Yes 40 %

“Lower taxes.”

➤ If they are going to keep ALL of the regulations they have, then have someone in economic development that can help new businesses coming to town navigate these rules. Also, give all the departments an attitude adjustment. Their poor attitude towards assisting business SHOWS! ➤ Uniformity in incentives — it can’t be east-side oriented. ➤ Streets, streets, streets. ➤ Availability of talented and diverse workforce. ➤ Address bullying by existing business leaders. ➤ Reduce taxes ➤ Focus seems to be on bringing new business into the area. Seems like current businesses should also have some focused effort to stay in business.

RockfordChamberAdvocacyCenter.com THEVOICE

ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SURVEY RESULTS

Special Insert 7

SURVEY PARTICIPANTS • Demographics

What is the size of your business in terms of number of employees?

Number of Employees

34%

Less than Ten Less than 25 Less than 50 Less than 100

16% 13% 16%

100 or More

21%

What is your role with your organization?

Manager

35%

Owner

28% Partner

COO

6% CFO 3% President/CEO 22%

7%

With a click of a button…your voice can be heard!

Rockford Chamber launches new public advocacy website to advocate and promote the region’s public policy priorities

Reach out directly to elected officials as a local business and help reinforce priorities identified by the Rockford Chamber.

Track federal and state bills.

Voice your opinion with quick polls, and track how others in the region are answering key issues.

Search the site by location for biographical and contact information that connects you directly with your elected officials, as well as pertinent election dates. And, you can register to vote with this link.

Follow the Chamber’s policy updates and other tweets and articles of significance @RockfordAdvocacy

Get the latest regional news on topics important to local business, Rockford, and Illinois.

Get Involved and Stay Connected!

The Rockford Chamber has launched its new ADVOCACY

CENTER at

www.rockfordchamberadvocacycenter.org.

You’ll have information at your fingertips and easy ways to get your voice heard by elected officials and other leaders.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

September 2014

Healthcare Business Briefs BUSINESS

SwedishAmerican Health System donated 9,145 pounds of clothing and household items to Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois, becoming the largest corporate donor in the region.

Pictured left to right: Goodwill’s mascot G. Willikers, Dr. Bill Gorski, president and CEO, SwedishAmerican Health System; Sam Schmitz, president, Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois; Don Daniels, executive vice president and chief operating officer, SwedishAmerican, Brian Reck, director of corporate communications, strategic marketing and government relations, and SwedishAmerican’s mascot S.A.M. Rockford Memorial Development Foundation received a $30,000 donation from the Blazer Foundation for the Visiting Nurses Association’s telehealth monitoring program. The VNA purchased 20 additional monitors, making a total of 82 monitoring devices for telehealth nurses to observe high-risk congestive heart failure patients out of the hospital, while they remain at home. If vitals are out-of-range or there are other concerns, the patient’s cardiology staff is alerted. Since the pilot began, overall readmissions at Rockford Memorial Hospital have dropped from 25 percent to 15 percent. Readmission rates for those patients in the Heart and Vascular program have dropped to seven percent.

Comfort Keepers hosted its second blood drive on July 22 in partnership with the Rock River Valley Blood Center, collecting 10 units, enough to save the lives of 30 people. The organization hosts two blood drives each year.

Care Source, formerly the Rockford Area Pregnancy Care Centers, received a new ultrasound machine donated by the Knights of Columbus for its location at 4921 E. State St., Rockford (above Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedic.)

The donation is part of a national Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Project. The local St. Joseph the Worker Council of the Knights of Columbus raised more than $17,000, which was matched by the national council. $6,500 more was raised to send four nurses for ultrasound training in Colorado Springs, Colo.

For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) honored SwedishAmerican Hospital with a silver level of achievement for activities that promoted enrollment in state organ donor registries.

SwedishAmerican Hospital received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR ACTION Registry — GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award for 2014 — one of only 139 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

SwedishAmerican Medical Group held a celebration on Aug. 16 for the grand opening of its new Stateline clinic at 4282 E. Rockton Road. The 20,000-sq-ft. facility will offer family medicine, immediate care, OB/Gyn, physical therapy, orthopedics, pulmonology, cardiology, mammography, podiatry and MRI services.

LIVING WELL: Focus On Healthcare & Wellness Services

17

September 2014 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

LIVING WELL: Focus On Healthcare & Wellness Services

U.S. News & World Report 2014 Best Rated Diets

18

Employee Wellness Programs just make good cents Minutes of Exercise per Week 200

25

Percentage of Employees with High Blood Pressure

20

150

15

100 10

50 5

0

0

Baseline

Year One

Year Two

Baseline

Year One

Year Two

After three years with an employee wellness program, you can see the results (above charts).

Poor employee health behavior is the main driver of elevated health care costs. Employee-related costs such as health care costs, absenteeism and poor productivity are caused by unhealthy employee behaviors, elevated health risks and chronic diseases such as diabetes.

Employee wellness solutions work.

WellSteps program research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Population Health Management have proven that employees can change behavior utilizing wellness programs.

And, these changes are sustained for at least two years. These behavior changes translate in employer savings on health care because employees have fewer health risks and less chronic disease.

With a program like WellStep,

companies can expect to see over 50 percent of all employees engage in the first year. This is followed by a minimum of seven percent increase in healthy behaviors in year two.

Research reported in the journal Preventive Medicine showed that for every dollar spent on wellness programming, one employer saved $15.60 in reduced absenteeism. At the end of year three in the WellSteps program, participants had fewer medical expenditures than nonparticipants and the savings to companies total at least 150% of the cost to deliver the program.

The information presented here courtesy of WellSteps.com.

To learn more about employee wellness programs, check out the workshop on page 17.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

September 2014

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center broke ground on Aug. 20 on an $8.5 million expansion to its Center for Cancer Care, slated for completion by August, 2015.

Regional health center to get multi-million dollar expansion

Positioned to meet regional demand for oncology services OSF HealthCare and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center broke ground on Aug. 20 on an $8.5 million expansion to its Center for Cancer Care, located on the campus of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center. The 15,000 sq.-ft. expansion and 3,000 sq.-ft. renovation will address the growing demand for outpatient oncology services.

Completion is expected in August, 2015. The expanded and renovated space will more than double the amount of infusion spaces, increase the number of patient restrooms and include a retail pharmacy and wig boutique.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to design a more spacious facility that increases our capacity and

our patients’ comfort,” said Richard Nora, M.D., medical director for the Center for Cancer Care. “We were the first in the Rockford region to offer TrueBeam radiation therapy and stereotactic radiation therapy, and we are the only oncology team in the area to achieve QOPI certification.”

TrueBeam is the latest advancement in image-guided radiotherapy and has been offered to OSF Saint Anthony patients since August, 2012. QOPI is the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative certification from the American Society of Clinical Oncologists. It recognizes medical oncology and hematology oncology practices that are committed to delivering the highest level of cancer care.

LIVING WELL: Focus On Healthcare & Wellness Services

19

20

September 2014

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

The role of human services in transforming our community Join the discussion on Toxic Charity Nonprofit organizations are critical to the health of our community. They connect people to each other and to resources, play an essential role in the region’s safety net, improve the quality of life, engage people on civic issues and stimulate reform. Nonprofits provide a powerful return on investment by encouraging and engaging the most caring elements of our communities to work together toward positive outcomes. They respond to entrenched and emergent needs with compassion, creativity and tenacity, while bringing people together to work toward sustainable change. Nonprofits touch and enrich the lives of all of us. Not only do nonprofits provide services that help people, they are essential to the very fabric of our democracy and contribute greatly to our economy.

Despite a lack of research or evidence to prove these accusations, we owe it to ourselves and the people we serve to continuously challenge the way we deliver services to make sure that we are working with our service recipients, not doing for them.

Professionals that devote their lives to this line of work care about others. We want to make a difference and improve the human condition. We believe that a community is only as strong as its weakest link. We commit to eliminating poverty and violence, eradicating disease, prejudice and injustice. We envision a safe, heathy and vibrant community. Yet, we have been accused of enabling the poor, giving “handouts” to undeserving people, and conversely drawing the poor to our community as a result of our exceptional services.

Despite a lack of research or evidence to prove these accusations, we owe it to ourselves and the people we serve to continuously challenge the way we deliver services to make sure that we are working with our service recipients, not doing for them. We must commit to meeting mission and in some cases, commit to running ourselves out of business. Imagine a community free of violence, poverty and racism -- a community where all residents thrive.

Pam Clark Reidenbach NICNE

Join the Discussion We have an opportunity to hear from a national best-selling author AND open dialogue on our current delivery system at an event scheduled for Sept.

23. NICNE and the United Way of Rock River Valley are partnering to bring Robert Lupton, author of Toxic Charity; Theirs Is the Kingdom; and Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life to Rockford. He will share his perspective on “redirecting traditional methods of charity into systems of genuine exchange” in a luncheon keynote address followed by a facilitated discussion with human service and faith-based leaders and all interested community members.

The dialogue will challenge us to consider what we can do to improve our local service delivery system and ensure we are doing all we can to transform our community and empower all our residents. We will look at “enlightened new technologies of compassion” that empower people based on shared responsibility, mutual support and accountability for all.

We invite everyone – business leaders, government officials, nonprofit representatives and the general public to join us for the Toxic Charity event.

When we join together in pursuit of a common goal, everyone benefits.

For more information, please call Karen Ream, NICNE at Rockford University, at 815-3944384.

Pam Clark Reidenbach is director of Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE).

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

NICNE and the United Way of Rock River Valley present a dialogue,

TOXIC CHARITY

Tuesday, Sept. 23 luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; community forum 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Giovanni’s Restaurant, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford Speaker Robert Lupton, author of Toxic Charity; Theirs Is the Kingdom; and Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life.

RSVP by Sept. 8 Contact Karen Ream, kream@ rockford.edu or 815-394-4384.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

21

September 2014

Rockford University PERSPECTIVE

It’s all about relationships

Make it a part of your business practice If someone were to ask you what makes your organization unique or distinctive in the marketplace, what would you say? Recently I posed that same question to several staff at Rockford University. I asked them to make a list of the things that made Rockford University unique or distinctive. They compiled a long list – maybe 20 or so attributes in a short period of time. Then, one by one, I started crossing things off the list and sharing which of our peer institutions has the same or a similar attribute. The list of actual distinctives got small quickly.

While I believe Rockford University has distinctive features that differentiate us in the marketplace, the point of asking this question is to emphasize the importance of what really makes an organization distinctive – its relationships. Ultimately, there are thousands of options for students pursuing higher education, as there are most likely many options for your potential customers.

What ultimately allows Rockford University to attract students are the relationships that we build with them throughout the recruitment process.

Some students connect with an admissions staff member or a coach while others connect with a faculty member in their discipline area. Regardless of who it is, if students don’t make a personal connection with someone, it is unlikely that they’ll come to Rockford University.

In short, building relationships is the key to our success. I propose this is also the same for your business. The relationships you create with customers are the key to long-term success.

Drawing from Existing Relationships A former supervisor, long-time mentor and friend, Dr. Don Schweingruber, was the first person I heard talk about the importance of relationships. Don was always discussing and living out the importance of relationship building.

One specific lesson I learned from Don was the importance of building positive relationships with new colleagues. He used this as a part of the resident advisor (RA) training. When training new RAs, Don stressed the importance of RAs getting to know their students on the floor early, so that the first interaction was positive. Then, if there was a rule infraction to discuss later on, there was an existing relationship from which to begin the conversation.

Another lesson I learned was from the Leadership Development Program that

Dr. Eric W. Fulcomer Rockford University

Don and a colleague created for student leaders. Rather than a traditional “nuts and bolts” training generally associated with such programs, this training focused on building relationships with other student leaders. The philosophy was that if you have good relationships with other student leaders, when issues or opportunities to collaborate arise, you can more effectively work together.

Whatever business we are in, relationship building is vital. That is, after all, one of the benefits of belonging to the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

When we attend Chamber events, we meet others in the community. It helps us put a face with a name and perhaps leads to a future business partnership. I know that in my own experience, when a need arises for a good or service, personally or professionally, I think first about people I have met who might be able to help me.

After all, why not work with someone you know?

Leadership Rockford A great example of relationship building within the chamber is the Leadership Rockford program. I am a graduate of this year’s program and found the experience invaluable. Not only did Leadership Rockford participants meet community leaders from just about every sector, we also developed relationships with one another. As someone relatively new to Rockford, this was a great way to meet lots of people quickly. Now I know dozens of current and aspiring community leaders. Between us, we have connections in just about every industry.

Because of the relationships we built with one another, we can pick up the phone or send an e-mail, and it will be answered.

I encourage you to think about ways to build relationships in your business, industry and the wider community.

For some, that might be participating in the Leadership Rockford program.

For others, it might mean attending a chamber Business After Hours event, an industry-related conference, or other community event. Whatever you do, make sure that relationship building – with potential customers, potential vendors and industry peers – is part of your business practice.

Dr. Eric W. Fulcomer is vice president for enrollment management at Rockford University.

The view expressed are those of Dr. Fulcomer’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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September 2014

Sculpture installed along Rockford Riverwalk Former home was CherryVale Mall

The Rockford Riverwalk, adjacent to Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., downtown Rockford, has its first sculpture. The yellow, steel piece was installed on Aug. 19, but many will recognize it from its former home at CherryVale Mall.

Untitled 1 was created in 1973 by Robert Engman and is one of many public art pieces from Rockford Art Museum’s permanent collection installed around Rockford.

For decades the sculpture was on view at the mall, which along with CBL and Associates Properties, Inc., gifted it to RAM. Dick Behr, board chair, Joseph Behr and Sons, donated the funds for its transportation, storage, refurbishment and installation – and personally oversaw its restoration to public view.

To view other pieces of public art

from RAM’s permanent collection, visit: The Big Chair by Jim Julin, RAM’s Armer Ahlstrand Sculpture Garden, 711 N. Main St. Inland Passage by Michael Dunbar, 711 N. Main St. World of Information by Josh Garber, 711 N. Main St. Twin Fin, Too by Bruce White, 711 N. Main St. Rockmen Guardians by Terese Agnew, Rock River Recreation Path Inlet Markers by Robert McCauley, Rock River Recreation Path Suspended Motion by Gene Horvath, Hwy. 251/Ethel Ave., near Nicholas Conservatory The Photographer by J. Seward Johnson, Jr., outside Nicholas Conservatory

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Looking towards Readiness 2020 New five-year plan to be unveiled When I taught high school English, one of my favorite novels was “Animal Farm.”

I especially liked to discuss the character Boxer the cart-horse. Boxer, as George Orwell created him, was a workhorse in the truest sense of the word. In the face of tremendous adversity, Boxer’s answer was always to work harder. The mindless adherence to hard work ended badly for Boxer. He ended up at the glue factory.

There’s a little bit of a Boxer in all of us and – to be honest – in even our best organizations. The Boxer lesson at RPS is to work hard, of course, but to be more focused in our work. It’s not enough to have 63 initiatives governing teaching and learning because 63 initiatives are too many, even for an organization as large and complex as ours. As privileged as we are to benefit from the dedication of more than 3,300 volunteers at RPS 205, it’s not enough. We owe them more. If Boxer taught us anything, he taught us about the importance of setting priorities.

I’ll Introduce Readiness 2020 When I address the chamber’s Education Outlook Luncheon later this month, I will detail our priorities and how they will help the district move forward.

For this column, I want to share with you a major piece of our refocus: a strategic visioning process that will lead to Readiness 2020, our new five-year plan. The plan team we have assembled includes teachers, community members, central office administrators, parents, students, labor bargaining unit leaders, principals and non-certified staff. The team will meet five times between September and January to review and revise the district’s shared mission, vision, values and goals. The team will identify key strategies, analyze opportunities and present a draft of a new strategic plan.

The goal will be to build a solid foundation for continuous improvement for the district; community feedback will inform the process throughout.

The process will be guided by these questions: ■■ Where do we want to be?

■■ Where are we now?

■■ How will we get to where we want to be?

■■ What are we learning?

We’ll also be guided by best practices. If there’s anything we know about why plans end up on the shelf – why they aren’t living and breathing and part of the lexicon – it’s that they fail to accomplish three things. They need to be short and concise, reflecting the big picture. They need to be collaborative and representative. They need to be evidence-based, with indicators, measures and targets.

What’s Been Accomplished As we retire Visualize 2015, we can be proud of the things we have accomplished.

We have expanded our school day to offer more art, music and electives for students. We have partnered with local organizations to redesign our high schools. We are proceeding apace with the largest voter-approved facilities revamp in Rockford’s history. And, after a School Board vote last month, we will improve our elementary school footprint, building two new schools and 13 additions.

Readiness 2020 will allow us to do even greater things.

There’s one intangible, though, even the most dialed-in process can’t provide: dedication. That was something poor old Boxer the horse had in spades, despite his other flaws. After being born and raised in Rockford, I know this community shares that kind of dedication.

We have the good people. We have the dedication. We just need good priorities and a solid process to drive us forward.

I’m excited to see it through.

Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.

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

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September 2014

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

La Voz Latina received a $10,000 grant by the Meryle A. Stockhus Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois to implement Choose Leadership, designed to build leadership qualities and skills in marginalized, at-risk youth. Visit www.lavozlatina-rkfd.org.

Brian Thomas Photography completed an aerial photography project celebrating Dickerson & Nieman Realtors’ 50th anniversary in business. More than 100 real estate agents were captured at Rockford’s Nicholas Conservatory using quad copter aerial photography technology.

Woodward, Inc., reported financial results with net sales for third quarter, 2014 of $524.3 million, an eight percent increase compared to $483.8 million in third quarter, 2013.

Midway Village Museum received a $45,331 grant by the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for a three-year programming plan for its Many Faces, One Community exhibit to generate on-going interest and a deeper understanding of the Rockford community and its diversity.

V2 Marketing Communications organized, promoted and facilitated an eight-day workshop and banquet event for Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, which drew more than 650 participants to the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg Hotel in Schaumburg.

Packaging Coordinators, Inc. (PCI) finalized its agreement to acquire Penn Pharmaceutical Services Limited (Penn Pharma), in Tredegar, Wales, United Kingdom, with regional offices in New Hope, Penn.,

and Tokyo, Japan. Penn Pharma offers both drug development and manufacturing services, including clinical and commercial dosage form manufacturing, as well as clinical packaging, labeling and global storage, distribution and return drug services. PCI will open a 97,000-sq.ft., state-of-the-art North American storage and distribution facility for investigational products this September.

The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with the Rockford Park District to welcome, July 25 to Aug. 2, the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) 2014 Women’s World Series and the Girls 12U Class A and Class B World Series. More than 1,100 thousand players, coaches and fans arrived for the tournaments, with an economic impact of $720,000 to area businesses.

The Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority (RAVE) announced that the BMO Harris Bank Center was selected for the 2014 Illinois Excellence Award by the United States Trade and Commerce Research Institute (USTCRI) in the Excellence in Sports and Recreation category.

Larson & Darby Group was awarded a manufacturing plant addition for Grob Systems, Inc., Bluffton, Ohio; its 15th project with the company in a 25-year relationship.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District opened a unique outdoor recreational facility, The Grove, at Severson Dells Forest Preserve, with space for creative expression and outdoor exploration constructed by local artists and sculptors. Based on the Nature Explore outdoor classroom model developed by the Arbor Day Foundation, children and families can climb, build, hide, perform and

make music using fallen logs, tree stumps for seating, vertical logs for forts, and slides embedded in the side of hills.

Rockford Rescue Mission received a $7,300 grant through the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois – Schneider Electric Buildings Fund and Howard D. Coleman Memorial Fund to upgrade medical and dental equipment at its Hope Clinic, with more than 2,500 patient appointments a year.

First Rockford Group announced three new businesses to the Machesney Crossing shopping center, corner of Route 173 and Highway 251: Noodles & Company, Kay Jewelers and Sleepy’s. The center can hold five tenants.

CherryVale Mall announced the opening of Simply Mac in The District of CherryVale, its life-style component outside the mall. Simply Mac is the first and only “Apple” store in Rockford. Three other specialty stores opened in the mall, Francesca’s, Soma Intimates and White House/Black Market.

Rockford Park District, in partnership with operator Daniel Jarrett, dedicated and opened the new West Rock Wake Park on Aug. 8, at Levings Lake, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave. The first cable park of its kind in the area, it offers an opportunity for people to water ski or wake board using skier’s rope and handle pulled by an electrically driven cable instead of a traditional motorboat.

Rockford Park District received the Illinois Office of Tourism Lincoln Award presented by the Illinois Office of Tourism as an asset promoting quality of life for residents and helping to spur a record 105.7 million visitors to Illinois in 2013.

Starting this fall, Rock Valley College will offer general education

courses at Belvidere North High School in late afternoon to early evening in composition I, beginning Spanish and reading for academic purposes. Plans are to expand offerings next January. Visit rockvalleycollege.edu/courses.

Customer comments are being added to individual company Business Reviews developed by the Better Business Bureau at www. bbb.org/chicago. Consumers can make comments about their interactions with any of the more than 100,000 businesses.

Natural Land Institute received two grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Preservation Fund of $2,000 to purchase an invasive species control brush mower and $1,808 to purchase prescribed fire equipment.

United Way of Rock River Valley hired V2 Marketing Communications to develop the theme, “Point of U,” and associated marketing elements for its 2014 campaign.

Blackhawk Bank opened its newest office at 200 W. Milwaukee St., Janesville, Wis.; a Loan Center dedicated to serving business owners with commercial loan services and home mortgage loans to individuals throughout northern Rock County.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District awarded three adventurers grand prizes in Get Outside! Program. Team Miskell won the Hurricane Santee 116 Kayak donated by Rocktown Adventures, Team Roegiest won the Family Camping Package donated by Blain’s Farm and Fleet, Loves Park, and Team McMahon won the Family Birding Package.

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Monday, September 1

Judson University hosts a Preview Day on its Elgin (Ill.) campus, 1151 N. State St. Students will tour the 90-acre campus, participate in a meetand-greet session with students and faculty members in their desired majors or departments, and more. Visit www.JudsonU.edu/ preview or call 847-625-2500.

Friday, September 5

Rockford Greek Fest takes place, Sept. 5 to 7, at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 108 N. 5th St., Rockford. Includes a Greek marketplace, Greek wine and dancers and a free concert with Men of Our Times, 7 to 10 p.m., on Friday. Rockford YMCA presents a free kid’s bouncy house, rock-climbing wall and mustache painting station. “Drive thru” dinners, noon to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Visit www. gogreekfest.com.

Midway Village Museum presents Midway Hits the Fairway at Aldeen Golf Club, 1902 Reid Farm Road, Rockford. Registration,

September 2014

Community Events COMMUNITY

11:30 a.m.; followed by lunch and 12:30 p.m., shotgun start. Hors d’oeuvres and awards to follow.

Call 815-397-9112 or visit www. midwayvillage.com.

Wednesday, September 10

Rockford MELD hosts its firstannual MELD on the Rock-Dinner on the Dock of the Rock, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Prairie Street Brew House, 200 Prairie St., Rockford.

Music by Men of Our Times, 50/50 cash raffle and chance to win a “Rock and Setting,” donated by Mincemoyer Jewelry. For tickets visit www.rockfordmeld.org or call 815-633-6353, ext. 10.

Thursday, September 11

Rockford Public Library presents Finding Grants for a Non-Profit Organization, 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the main library, second floor computer room, 215 N. Wyman St. Registration required at 815-9657606.

Friday, September 12

Klaas Financial and MembersAlliance Credit Union present the second-annual Klaas

Financial Golf Outing Charity Event for Rockford Rescue Mission.

Shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., at Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Call 815-877-8440.

Saturday, September 13

Rockford Public Library hosts its third-annual Community Emergency Preparedness Day, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St. Learn how to protect yourself, your family and home in case of a disaster, make a family emergency plan and receive a starter emergency kit while supplies last. Registration NOT required. Call 815-965-7606.

First National Bank and Trust Co., 500 N. Elida St., Winnebago, Ill., hosts a free Electronic Recycling Drive in partnership with Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois, 9 a.m. to noon.

For a list of acceptable items, visit www.goodwillni.org/donate.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden celebrates its 25th anniversary with Twilight in the Garden, 5 to 10 p.m., 2715 S. Main St., Rockford. Register at klehm.org or 815-965-8146.

Rockford Park District’s Atwood Center in Seth B. Atwood Park invites people to join the Environmental Recreation and Education staff, 9 to 11 a.m., to help with some maintenance and a brief lesson on the area to be worked on. Visit www. rockfordparkdistrict.org/atwood or call 815-987-8800.

Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics presents its 21st annual Better Health 4 Life event at 4921 E. State St. Physicians will donate health services free of charge for a freewill offering to CareSource (formerly the Rockford Area Pregnancy Care Center) for one day only. Schedule an appointment in advance at 815398-4004.

Carz R Us hosts a Customer Appreciation Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 10208 Smythe Ave., Machesney Park (southwest corner of Rte. 173 & Rte. 251). Everyone is welcome.

Monday, September 15

Grace Funeral & Cremation Services celebrates National Pet Memorial Day with Memorial Gathering of your pet’s unique and special life, 6 p.m., at Grace Funeral & Cremation Services, 1340 S. Alpine Road, Colonial

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Village. Refreshments will be served. RVSP at 815-395-0559; seating is limited.

Wednesday, September 17

Northern Public Radio and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra host an Open House, 3 to 6 p.m., for a new collaborative space at Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Visit www. northernpublicradio.org, www. rockfordsymphony.com or www. riverfrontmuseumpark.org.

Saturday, September 20

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents opening night, Celebrating International Peace Day, featuring violinist Bella Hristova, 7:30 p.m. Call the box office at 815-965-0049 or visit www.rockfordsymphony.com.

Rockford Park District’s Atwood Center presents a Night Hike, 7 to 9 p.m., at Seth B. Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Road, Rockford. Visit www. rockfordparkdistrict.org/atwood for details.

Rockford Public Library presents Fresh and Local: Local Meats, 2 to 4 p.m., east branch, Friends Community Room, 6685 E. State St. Experience how fresh and local choices help your wallet and health. Registration required at 815-965-7606.

Thursday, September 25

Rosie’s Birthday Club presents its fifth-annual Have Your Cake and Eat it Too fundraiser, 5 to 8 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Rockford. Live cake decorating and cake auction with a dozen local celebrities, teamed with professional bakers.

Reserve at www. rosiesbirthdayclub.org or call Vicki Benson, 815-543-7770.

Friday, September 26

La Voz Latina hosts its Annual Recognition Banquet, 5 to 9 p.m., at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Honors local Hispanics for educational and professional achievements. Social hour with an authentic scaleddown mercado, dinner, awards presentation, silent auction and raffle, and dancing and live music with Grupo Escape. Visit www. lavozlatina-rkfd.org.

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September 2014

the News IN Members THEin NEWS

1. Dawna Menke

2. Stacy Wallace

3. Alisha Barnett

4. Amber Hammack

5. Dr. Mubashir Ahmed

6. Dr. Gaurav Shah

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

The Literacy Council voted the following board officers for 201415: Paul Hartzog, Taylor Co., president; Mike Paterson, Midwest Family Broadcasting, vice president; Brian Hintzsche, McGladrey, treasurer, and Kristin Smith, UTAS, secretary.

Stacy Wallace (2), marketing manager, LDR Cleaning & Restoration, was elected to serve on the Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross board.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Dickerson & Nieman Realtors hired Andrew “Drew” Brauer, Alpine Bank, was promoted to AVP-Application Supports.

Alisha Barnett (3) joined Stateline Youth For Christ as full-time campus life director, organizing Campus Life Clubs with area middle and high schools.

Kantorei-The Singing Boys of Rockford appointed John Patrick Rakes to music director, at the start of the 2014-2015 season; replacing Joel Ross, who retired after 26 years.

Amber Hammack (4) joined Spectrum Insurance Agency as an office administrator.

Shelter Care Ministries, which supports adults through an employment readiness program, welcomed Baldemar Gallegos as its new Jubilee Center site coordinator.

Rock Valley College hired Andy Dolan as external relations officer.

SwedishAmerican Medical Group welcomed Mubashir Ahmed, M.D. (5), FACP, FHM and Gaurav Shah, D.O (6)., FACP, FHM, to Midwest Heart Specialists/AMG at SwedishAmerican, and Jeffrey Shuhaiber, M.D. (7), to SAMG/ Cardiothoracic Surgery.

8. Nerino J. Petro, Jr.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS

Dawna Menke (1), FACHE, SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere administrator, became a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Matt Weber, Williams-Manny Insurance Group, joined the Goldie B. Floberg Center board.

7. Dr. Jeffrey Shuhaiber

9. Andrew A. Macklin

13. Dr. Abraham Sayon

10. Thomas E. Kress

14. Carol Perenchio

11. Jorge A. Herrera

15. Kristin Turek

12. Shane Kelliher

16. Margo Stedman

Rockford Symphony Orchestra hired Linc Smelser as Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) conductor.

Saint Anthony College of Nursing hired Carol Perenchio (14), DNP, FNP-BC, as its new doctorate of nursing practice coordinator.

Attorney Nerino J. Petro, Jr. (8), joined the law firm of Holmstrom & Kennedy, P.C., as its new chief information officer.

Comfort Keepers of Northwest Illinois hired Kristin Turek (15) as client care coordinator.

Larson & Darby Group hired Andrew A. Macklin (9), AIA, as a project architect.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra hired Margo Stedman (16) as education and community engagement director.

Associated Bank hired Thomas E. Kress (10) as president of the Rockford community market. Jorge A. Herrera (11) joined the leadership team, reporting to Kress, as commercial banking team leader.

Shane Kelliher (12), a registered land surveyor, joined McMAHON’s Environment & Infrastructure group as an engineering technician.

SwedishAmerican Health System welcomed general surgeon, Abraham Sayon, M.D. (13), the first surgeon in a new partnership between UW Health Surgery and SwedishAmerican.

Black Diamond Plumbing and Mechanical, Inc., (formerly Axberg Heating) hired Beth Wagner as its new marketing coordinator.

19. Kyle Kite

20. Dave Kauchak

Stephanie Jury joined Anderson Environmental & Engineering, Co., as an industrial hygienist.

First Rockford Group hired Susan Contrady (17) as an administrative assistant for the property management department.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District hired Kimberly O’Malley (18) as volunteer coordinator.

Becky Norwood, business agent, Williams-Manny Insurance Group, completed the annual continuing education requirement for the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors from the National Alliance program.

The Rosecrance Foundation awarded the first John J. McDonough Philanthropic Leadership Award to its namesake, John J. McDonough (21), for his long-term efforts for the organization. Two other members of the foundation’s Chicago board were recognized: Susan Smith, formerly Hyatt Hotels Corporation, for helping create the “Cooking Up Hope,” Naperville fundraiser, and David Beto, Ford Tool Inc., Rockford, Rosecrance Foundation Rockford board, who helped establish the Chicago board.

Jen Moore (22) was chosen Comfort Keeper of the Month for July.

Carpenter’s Place founding board president, Lou Setter, received the Theodore W. Anderson Award at the Covenant Denomination’s June 26 annual meeting as the only layperson ever elected president of the Covenant Denomination.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Maria Juhre (23), Spectrum Insurance Agency, completed a Pekin Insurance “Introduction to Commercial Lines” class at an educational conference in July and received 12 credits towards her continuing education requirements.

Klaas Financial Asset Advisors, LLC hired Kyle Kite (19) as an investment advisor representative.

Shelter Insurance recently hired Dave Kauchak (20) as a licensed agent.

21. John McDonough

22. Jen Moore

17. Susan Contrady

23. Maria Juhre

18. Kinberly O’Malley

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September 2014

MEMBERSHIP 101 Membership: 101

We are happy to annouce a new initiative— we are supporting our Restaurant Members in

MEMBERS

New Chamber Members AD VICE MARKETING

Advertising Agency Specializing in Social Media Marketing - Marketing, Social Media, SEO, SEM, Medic Planning, Media Buying, Website Design 2611 Francis St. Belvidere, IL 61008 Lisa Chatfield 815-222-5686 www.ad-vicemarketing.com

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Each week we will feature a member restaurant with a special offer. This month: JASON’S DELI 575 S. Perryville Rd. (815) 397-8606

Sept. 1 – 7 Jason’s Deli 575 S. Perryville Rd. Rockford, IL jasonsdeli.com

FREE

PRESENT THIS COUPON FOR

Soft Serve Ice Cream with Purchase

Offer expires September 7, 2014 Sept. 8 – 14 Red Mango 6876 Spring Creek Rd. Rockford, IL 1093 W. Lane Rd. Machesney Park 7176 Harrison Ave. CherryVale Mall

RED MANGO 6876 Spring Creek Rd. • 1093 W. Lane Rd. 7176 Harrison Ave.

$1OFF

PRESENT THIS COUPON FOR

$5 Purchase

Offer good Sept. 8 – 14, 2014

redmangousa.com

EGG HARBOR CAFE 1641 N. Alpine Rd. (815) 977-4319

Sept. 15 – 21 Egg Harbor Café 1603 N. Alpine Rd. Rockford, IL eggharborcafe.com

Sept. 22 – 30 GreenFire 6795 E. Riverside Blvd.

Rockford, IL greenfiremarket.com

FREE

PRESENT THIS COUPON FOR

Cinnamon Roll with Purchase

Offer good Sept. 15 – 21, 2014

GREENFIRE 6795 E. Riverside Blvd. (815) 316-3473 PRESENT THIS COUPON: Buy one entree Half-price entree must be of equal or lesser value. at regular price, Valid Sunday through Friday. Not valid on Saturday. Valid for breakfast, lunch & dinner menus. Must present this coupon. get a second one Not valid with any other offers. Two coupons per party, max.

No separate checks, 1 coupon valid for 2 guests. at half-price. No gift certificates, not valid on holidays, wine dinners, bar special dine-in only. Offer expires 9-30-14.

Offer good through Sept. 30, 2014

Here’s your opportunity to support your Restaurant Members!

To be featured, please contact Diane Navickis at 815-316-4315 or dnavickis@rockfordchamber.com.

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Affordable, Local for Wellness and Health Testing Lab. Provide Employer, Drug Screen, DOT Screening, DNA Testing, Allergy Testing 6254 E. Riverside Blvd.

Loves Park, IL 61111 Falguni Bhalavat 815-397-8370 www.anylabtestnow.com/rockford_IL

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY SIGNATURE-DREAM HOMES

BY SUSAN

Taking a Different Approach to Real Estate, One that is Built on Personal Touches, Win-Win Deals and Positive Results 7177 Crimson Ridge Dr., 61107 Susan Vierck 815-391-4801 www.dreamhomesbysusan.com

KNIT ONE PURL TWO

Yarn Store with Supplies for Knitting and Crocheting. Open Knitting Everday.

6409 E. Riverside Blvd., 61114 Connie Garry 815-904-6030 www.knitonepurltworockford.com

LOU BACHRODT USED CAR CENTER

THE ARC OF WINNEBAGO, 5695 E. State St., 61108 BOONE AND OGLE COUNTIES George Schaffner The World’s Largest Community Based Organization of and for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 1222 E. State St., 61104 Amy Newell 815-965-3455 www.arcwbo.org

AUTO CLINIC OF ROCKFORD INC.

Automotive Repair - All Makes and Models; Computer Programming, General Maintenance; Carborators; Electrical, Fuel Injection 4109 E. State St., 61108 Jennifer Stauffer 815-398-4010 www.autoclinicofrockford.com

BLUE SKY INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. VALERIE TIPPITT

Insurance Sales 4615 E. State St., Ste. 20, 61108 Valerie Tippitt 815-227-1717 www.blueskyquote.com

DICKERSON & NIEMAN JEFF ROHL

815-226-9151 www.bachrodt.com

MARY’S MARKET

A Rockford Original - Made from Scratch Bakery and Caterer 4431 E. State St., 61108 Stephanie Koch 815-397-7291 www.marysmarket.com

OPTIMUM REHABILITATION CENTER – ID#30720 Providing Optimum Health for Opitimum Living Through Physical Therapy and Chiropractic 1860 S. Bell School Road Cherry Valley, IL 61016 Nolly Petalber 815-580-8270

RED MANGO CHERRYVALE MALL

Famous Healthy Frozen Yogurt and Smoothies 7176 Harrison Ave., 61112 Paul Hornick 815-332-1406 www.redmangousa.com

TERRA BELLA FLORAL BOUTIQUE AND Serving Residential Buyers and Sellers PHOTOGRAPHY Regionally for Over Nine Years 6277 E. Riverside Blvd., 61114 Jeff Rohl 815-621-1590 www.jeffrohl.com

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Floral Boutique and Photography 915 S. Alpine Road, Ste. 103, 61108 Bethany Pederson 815-315-8650 www.terrabellarockford.com

WENDY’S OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGERS (K & K Non-Medical In Home Care - Home Instead Mission is to Assist our Clients FOODS INC.) to Remain in Their Homes 929 S. Alpine Road, Ste. 202, 61108 Deb Wehmhoefer 815-229-8810 www.homeinstead.com/471

INNOVATECH IT SERVICE SOLUTIONS LLC

Full Service IT Consulting Agency with Extensive Experience in Hardware, Network Design and Implementation, and Software Development 730 N. Church St., 61103 Miguel Granados 815-484-9940 www.innovatechweb.com

6390 E. State St., 61108 Ken Wales 815-229-7992 www.wendys.com

WENDY’S OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGERS (K & K FOODS INC.) 1110 E. State St., 61104 Ken Wales 815-962-1101 www.wendys.com

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September 2014

Members Caught on Digital ON DIGITAL

Ceremonial ribbon donated by SERVPRO of Rockford.

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Amazing Graze e d R esta u

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Alchemy, 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford Der Rathskeller, 1132 Auburn St., Rockford Lucha Cantina 1641 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford Restoration Café, 625 W. State St., Rockford

Goldie B. Floberg Center held a ribbon cutting and open house on July 29 at 58 W. Rockton Road, Rockton.

Megan Benzel, executive director, Morning Star Village, and Vonnie Smiley, resident, celebrate the assisted living center’s five-year anniversary with laughter, food and music by Bill Stevens on Aug. 2. The party drew residents, employees and families to 1160 N. Mulford Road, Rockford.

For your opportunity to be featured in our Amazing Graze Initiative, please contact Diane Navickis at 815-316-4315 or email Diane at dnavickis@rockfordchamber.com.

September 2014 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the members who celebrate their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber in September, 2014.

25-YEAR MEMBER

5-YEAR MEMBERS

Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International

Culver’s Restaurant the groundUP s.s.i. (gUs, inc) IGNITE Maciano’s Pizza – Columbia Parkway Universal Restoration Services

15-YEAR MEMBER United Association of Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Local Union 23

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September 2014

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Regional, National Indicators THE ECONOMY

Back to School

U.S. Indicators July 2014 Consumer Price Index



Unemployment Rate Payroll Employment Average Hourly Earnings Producer Price Index Employment Cost Index Productivity U.S. Import Price Index U.S. Export Price Index

These U.S. Census Bureau statistics highlight facts associated with the return to school.

0.1 percent 6.2 percent

      

78 million

209,000 $0.01 0.1 percent 0.7 percent (second quarter, 2014) 2.5 percent (second quarter, 2014) 0.2 percent 0.4 percent

Number of children and adults enrolled in school throughout the country in October 2012.

From nursery school to college, they comprised

26.4 percent of the entire population age 3 and older.

12 million

Number of school-age children

(5 to 17) who spoke a language other than English at home in 2012; 8.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

million of these children

spoke Spanish at home.

COLLEGES

Unemployment Rates

14% Percentage of college students

Region / State / Nation

35 and older October, 2012.

Mar 14

April 14

May 14

June 14

Rockford

10.9

9.2

8.9

8.9

Chicago

8.1

7.4

7.2

7.1

Illinois

8.4

7.9

7.5

7.1

United States

6.7

6.3

6.1

6.1

Source: U.S. Department of Employment Security

Population Clock As of August 19, 2014

U.S. 318,694,964 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

World 7,186,578,575

41% Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds

FIELD OF DEGREE

enrolled in college in 2012.

Percentages of age 25 & older who held a bachelor’s degree in 2012: 20.5% business 13.5% education 9.1% science and engineering-related 7.8% engineering 7.7% social sciences 6.2% biological, agricultural and environmental sciences 5.0% liberal arts and history 4.7% psychology 4.4% literature and languages 4.2% computers, mathematics and statistics 4.1% visual and performing arts 3.7% communications 3.3% physical and related sciences

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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September 2014

The Better Business Bureau issues an alert on loan scams Cash-strapped individuals particularly at risk Despite an improving economy, thousands of individuals still find themselves cash-strapped. Armed with that knowledge, scammers continue to rip-off the consumers who can least afford it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received reports from a steady number of individuals who were the targets of or have fallen victim to loan scams. Today, scammers are using the Internet, phone and mail to reach their victims.

Chicago resident Stephen Hildebrand applied for an online loan. From the one application, he received three responses that promised guaranteed loans of $5,000. To receive the cash from a company, calling itself Eloan.com, he paid an upfront fee of $550. He then paid $423.80 for a loan from GE Capital Bank.

“I got a third call stating I could get a loan from $2,000 to $7,000, but I did not continue a full conversation with them,” Hildebrand said. “All the calls came on the same day and they used the same verbiage, word for word.”

“Advance-fee loan scams are not new; they flourish when times are tough and people are struggling to get by,”

said Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford office of the Better Business Bureau. “In most cases, desperation is a factor for people grasping for a financial lifeline. It only worsens the situation when they fall victim to one of these scams.”

Using all means available, scammers will sometimes pretend to represent an existing business.

In one scheme, the scammer sent loan applications in the name of a payday lender located on Cicero Avenue in Chicago. There was no need to visit the office, since the application could be completed online.

All that was needed to be approved for the “instant” personal loan was the advance payment of $230, which would prove that the applicant could afford to make the payments on the $5,000 loan.

The application required that the individual applying for the loan purchase a GreenDot Moneypak card, have the advanced payment loaded onto the card, and then provide the PIN number to the scammer.

Individuals who run these loan scams can be relentless. “I received

15 to 20 calls claiming I’d been approved for a loan from American Financial Services that I never applied for,” said Andy Cordell, Rockford.

Angry about the repeated calls to his home phone, Cordell said, “I did the same thing back to them. I called and left 20 to 30 messages. No one ever picked up to answer until I called using my cell phone. That’s when I got the name of the business.”

Red Flags of a Loan Scam According to Dennis Horton, “Loan scams are big business. Reports state that in recent years, victims across the country have lost an estimated quarter million dollars to these scams.”

BBB advises cash-strapped individuals to look for these red flags indicating a loan scam: ■■ A lender who isn’t interested in your credit history. A lender who uses terms such as “Bad Credit? No problem” or “Get money fast” and “No-hassle-loan guaranteed.”

■■ Advanced fees and fees that are not disclosed clearly and prominently.

Any upfront fee that the lender wants to collect before granting the loan is a cue to walk away.

■■ A loan offered by phone. It is illegal for companies doing business by phone in the United States to promise a loan and ask you to pay for it before they deliver.

■■ A lender who uses a copy-cat or wanna-be name. Scammers provide company names that sound like wellknown businesses and create websites that look professional; some may even produce forged paperwork.

■■ A lender who is not registered in your state. Lenders and loan brokers are required to register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

■■ A lender who asks you to wire money or pay an individual. Don’t make a payment for a loan directly to an individual or wire money to another country.

For more information, visit bbb.org.

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September 2014

Membership Renewals Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in July, 2014.

Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter Auto Body Specialist Inc. Axberg Heating Company, Inc. Baymont Inn & Suites Bisconti Computers Inc. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Burke Consulting Group C & H Design Center Corporate Services, Inc Crimson Pointe Culver’s Restaurant Dale Carnegie Training Dry Otter Basement Water Proofing/Concrete Raising Englewood Electric Supply Ferrellgas First National Bank and Trust Co.- Rockton First National Bank and Trust Co. - Roscoe First Northern Credit Union First Rockford Group Focus Financial Advisors, Inc. Forest City Gear Co. Gene’s Place GFI Metal Treating Inc. Gleason Cutting Tools Corporation Gordon Flesch Company, Inc. Greenlee Textron Heritage Woods of Rockford Historic Auto Attractions Honest Pest Control Inc. Horizons Inc. HR Capital Management Consultants Ideal Welding Systems, L.P. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) - Rock River Valley Section (RRVS) J & M Plating, Inc. J. Carlson Growers, Inc. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden KP Counseling, Ltd. Law Office of Jim Black & Associates Lonnie’s Stonecrafters, Inc. Lucha Cantina, Inc.

MFG, LLC

MFG, LLC - Mary-Stuart Carruthers MFG, LLC - Steven J. Elslberg MFG, LLC - Chris Zion

Mid-States Screw Corp.

Midway Village Museum

Montessori Private Academy

Morgan Building Maintenance Inc. Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois Vein Clinic Northwestern Mutual

NyClo Screw Machine Products Paul Davis Restoration (JRD Construction)

Reno & Zahm LLP

Rj Link International, Inc.

Rock River Valley Tooling & Machining Association

Rockford Association for Minority Management

Rockford Electric Equipment Company

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events SEPTEMBER, 2014

Tuesday, September 16

Wednesday, September 3

Ribbon Cutting, Anderson Environmental & Engineering Co., 201 N. 6th St., Rockford, 4 to 6 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting, Harlem Community Center, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., 9350 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park.

Thursday, September 4 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Main Ballroom 299 S. Bell School Rd., Rockford

Education Outlook LUNCHEON

Rockford Local Development Corporation

Rockford Lutheran School

Rockford Reachout Jail Ministry Rockford Symphony Orchestra Rogers Brothers Galvanizing Roto-Rooter

Security Finance

Servpro of Rockford

Sinnissippi Apartments Inc.

Spectrum Insurance Agency, Inc. State Farm Insurance & Financial Services

Stateline Realty/Stateline Rental Properties

Stillman BancCorp N.A. Stockholm Inn

The UPS Store

Thomason Machine Works

Universal Restoration Services

Westminster Presbyterian Church William Charles, Ltd. Wired Café

Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Mary Ann Gaunt Company: Shelter Insurance Position: Agency Marketing Director How long have you been an Ambassador?

8 years What do you like most about being an Ambassador? I am very proud to be a Chamber Ambassador. It is exciting to let new companies or families know the positive aspects we have here in Rockford. The Chamber focuses on strengthening our business climate, which is constantly changing. They provide opportunities to learn about new businesses and existing ones through special events to help promote the Chamber. I enjoy the enthusiasm the Ambassadors share. Shelter Insurance strongly supports the many events I attend for the Chamber, because they believe in giving back to the community.

Wednesday, September 17 Open House & Ribbon Cutting, Northern Public Radio and Rockford Symphony Orchestra, 3 to 6 p.m., Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., second floor, Rockford.

Ribbon Cutting, First Community Credit Union, 10 to 11 a.m., 6079 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford.

Dr. Ehren Jarrett, superintendent of Rockford Public Schools, will share the district’s strategies to support system investment, student performance, and workforce growth and development.

Thursday, September 18 1 – 5:00 pm BMO Harris Bank Center 300 Elm St., Rockford

Sponsored by BMO Harris Bank (presenting), SwedishAmerican Health System (gold), Larson & Darby Group, Olsson Roofing Co., Inc. and Rock River Valley Blood Center (bronze).

Rockford Chamber

Rockford ETTCO

Rockford Litho Center

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Tuesday, September 9 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, September 10 7:30 – 9:00 am Rock Valley College Woodward Tech Center, Rooms 117-121 3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford

Breakfast

BUZZ

Bill Huges, owner, Northwest Quarterly, will present, “It’s all about the mindset.”

Sponsored by McGladrey.

Wednesday, September 10 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, Rockford.

Contact Teri Watts, United Commercial Realty, Teriw1214@ gmail.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Rachel Thomann, Furst Pros, 815997-1417, rachel.thomann@furstpros. com.

Thursday, September 11 September Ambassador Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Womanspace, Inc., 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford.

Friday, September 12 Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Join in a discussion with the two candidates for Winnebago County Sheriff, Bob Springer (Democrat) and Gary Caruana (Republican). To join, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312.

Business Expo This premiere business expo draws more than 1,000 business people to meet exhibitors, establish new business relationships and foster existing ones. RMTD will offer shuttle service.

Restaurants are invited to be a part of Restaurant Row. New This Year: Attendance prizes for early arrivals, exhibitor/attendee “selfie” contest, awards for best booth/exhibitors, and a new mobile app for tracking exhibitors and expo updates.

Sponsored by TDS (presenting), SwedishAmerican Health System (gold), Olsson Roofing Co., Inc. (bronze).

Monday, September 22 IGNITE Golf Outing, 1 p.m., The Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club, 5151 Guilford Road, Rockford. Join after the outing for complimentary appetizers and cash bar. IGNITE Cup points awarded.

Tuesday, September 23 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, September 24 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, Rockford.

Contact Teri Watts, United Commercial Realty, Teriw1214@ gmail.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Rachel Thomann, Furst Pros, 815997-1417, rachel.thomann@ furstpros.com.

Ribbon Cutting, Crusader Community Health Auburn Campus, a school-based health center, 1002 Pierpont Ave., Rockford, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 25 Ribbon Cutting, Bisconti Computers Inc., 3065 N. Perryville Road, Ste. 117, Rockford, 9 to 10 a.m.

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September 2014

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events OCTOBER, 2014

Thursday, October 16

Tuesday, October 7

Business After Hours, hosted by Comcast, 5 to 7 p.m., Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

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

Robb Zbierski Seminar, Memory Training Workshop, 8 a.m. to noon, Hoffman House, 7550 E. State St., Rockford. Freedom Personal Development’s memory-training workshop. Experience a 300 percent increase in your memory recall, remember a list of 50 unrelated items, develop the ability to deliver presentations without notes, meet 20 new people and remember their names in one hour.

Wednesday, October 8 7:30 – 9:00 am Rock Valley College Woodward Tech Center, Rooms 117-121 3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford

Breakfast

BUZZ

Michael Paterson, Mid-West Family Broadcasting, will present, “Boosting sales for your organization.”

Friday, October 17 IGNITE Cup After Party, 7 p.m. to midnight, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Spring Creek Road, Rockford.

Celebration and announcement of the IGNITE Cup winner! Each IGNITE Cup team will represent a different theme (70s, jungle, pirates, etc.) Teams must submit their theme to ignitecup@igniterockford.com by Sept. 1. Other guests are encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costumes! Appetizers, cash bar, music DJ’d by Luxe Productions and dancing.

Sponsored by Blackhawk Bank (presenting); Comcast Business, Rockford University, 1st Family Home Healthcare, Inc., UTC Aerospace Systems, and Wipfli LLP (supporting), and FotoPirates (photo booth).

Thursday, October 23 5:30 pm Prairie Street Brewhouse 200 Prairie St., Rockford

People You Should Know

Sponsored by McGladrey.

Friday, October 10 Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. To join, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312.

Tuesday, October 14 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, October 15 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, Rockford.

Contact Teri Watts, United Commercial Realty, Teriw1214@ gmail.com.

Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Rachel Thomann, Furst Pros, 815-997-1417, rachel.thomann@ furstpros.com.

RECEPTION Join us as we welcome the 2014 inductees!

Sponsored by OSF Healthcare (presenting), SwedishAmerican Health System (hospitality) and The Alliance (business).

Tuesday, October 28 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Contact Thomas Conwell, MSI Reverse, tconwell@msiloans.biz.

Wednesday, October 29 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s, Rockford.

Contact Teri Watts, United Commercial Realty, Teriw1214@ gmail.com.

Wednesday, October 29 Advantage Club – Originals, 11:45 a.m., various locations. Contact Rachel Thomann, Furst Pros, 815-997-1417, rachel.thomann@ furstpros.com.

Do you have news to share?

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

Advertisers Index ADVERTISERS

Alpine Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Rockford Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Broadmoor Agency, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29

Entré Computer Solutions . . . . . . . . . 22

Rosecrance Health Network . . . . . . . . 18

Brian Thomas Photography . . . . . . . . 21 Comcast Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 First National Bank and Trust Co. . . . . 9

Fridh Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 IMEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Intouch Home Care Services of LSSI . 18 McGladrey LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Morrissey Family Businesses . . . 20 OSF Healthcare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Orthopedic and Sports Therapy Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Riverside Community Bank . . . . . . . . 10 Rockford Area Economic Development Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Rockford Health System . . . . . . . . . 5, 16 Siena on Brendenwood . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Sikich LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 SwedishAmerican Health System . . . 12 The Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Thayer Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford . . . . . . . . 17, 19 Van Galder Bus Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Van Matre HealthSouth . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Wipfli LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

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, Vice President, Member Investment ................... 815-316-4317 Vee Jevremovic, Manager of Education Programs and Events ......... 815-316-4337 Joy Moriarty, Vice President, Finance ....................................... 815-316-4316 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events ............................................. 815-316-4302 Diane Navickis, Member Relations Manager............................... 815-316-4315 Mary Ann Suprenant, Membership Development Manager ............. 815-316-4336 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator ........................ 815-316-4320

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS

Chairman of the Board Richard Walsh SwedishAmerican Health System Chairman Elect Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc. Vice Chair Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Treasurer Larry Bridgeland Mid-City Office Products Immediate Past Chairman Mike Broski Entré Computer Solutions

Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Jan Bowman TLC Construction Paul Callighan ComEd, An Exelon Company Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc. Dr. Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Darlene Furst Furst Staffing Jeff Hultman Riverside Community Bank

Paul McCann Stanley Steemer Pat Morrow Alpine Bank Amy Ott Chicago Rockford International Airport Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale Michele Petrie BMO Harris Bank Laura Pigatti Williamson Rockford Park District Timothy Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy

Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Henry Seybold Rockford Health System

Michael Mastroianni Rock Valley College

Pat Shaw McGladrey LLP

Somchan Thatsanaphon K-I Machine Tool & Production Inc. Tim White UTC Aerospace Systems Jennifer Wood CPA

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Michael Nicholas Rockford Area Economic Development Council Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

October 2014 Special Sections: Attorneys & Financial Planners to Serve You Insurance For information on advertising, call 815 987-8100