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■ Willing to build partnerships with the business community to advance the outcomes of RPS 205.
■ Engaged with the business community.
The Voice is online rockfordchamber.comat September 2022 | Volume 35 | No. 9 Join the Chamber on Social Media THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY AEROSPACEINGENIUMSTARS:FORSHOOTINGTHE PAGE 7 PLUG ELECTRICINTO PAGE 11 the of the rockford business community
■ Seeks feedback from the business community when appropriate.
NOWREGISTERFOR THE 2022 ACADEMY EXPO
Wonder-full
Rockford Promise seeks mentors from different professions for its Rockford newCollegeIllinoisRockfordPublicScholars—graduatesPromiseofRockfordSchoolsattendingUniversity,NorthernUniversityorRockValleyonfullscholarship.Thementoringmodel,Mentoring Circles, groups five to 10 students by academic interest. Each group is assigned one or two co-lead mentor volunteers who meet with them three times a month. One-onone mentoring opportunities are also are available. Contact Alondra Torres, 779-770-5274 or torres@rockfordpromise.org.alondra.
powerful. He was a millionaire at 21 but lost everything by the time he was 22. He still marvels at how he got tricked into making such bad financial decisions.
■ Prioritizes workforce development when making decisions.
How stories can help change the world SUB-DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS APRIL 4, 2023
ROCKFORD PROMISE SEEKS MENTORS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ROCKFORD CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 | 5:00 - 8p Tebala Event Center | 7910 Newburg Rd. For more information, see page 29
The Greater Rockford Growth Partnership (GRGP), the umbrella organization for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, is focused on big picture issues that enhance the business community through strategic alignments and work. Currently, the areas of interest are divided among three councils –business policy, branding and imaging, andAstalent.part of the work of the Business Policy Council, the GRGP is interested in the upcoming Rockford Public Schools, District 205 School Board elections. With all sub-district board positions up for election in April, 2023, it’s imperative that business-friendly, workforcefocused individuals with strong ties to the business community and a love for Rockford consider candidacy. As one of the largest employers in the region, as well as the largest pipeline of talent for our future workforce, RPS 205 has a serious impact on the business community—now and in the future.
■ Effective communicator. ■ Proactive collaborator.
As such, the Business Policy Council of GRGP wants to encourage candidates from the business community with the following attributes:
PRESENTING SPONSOR
By Andrew Wright, Rockford Chamber of Commerce Harris III (“the third”) has been crossing the globe sharing his magic for 30 years, helping people look at the world differently through stories filled with“Magicwonder.teaches us that seeing shouldn’t always be believing, but it also reveals that believing is seeing,” Harris explained. “I’m interested in working in the language of belief. A story is the operating system of the brain. We think in stories, we tell stories to define ourselves. We do this all day, and even after we fall asleep. We wake up in the morning carrying a catalog of stories, and they form the narratives we have about“Whatourselves.”I’vecome to realize over time is that we can’t experience a shift in narrative (continued on page 3) courtesy of harrisiii.com
Consider running for RPS 205 School Board
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■ Understands complex issues. e.g. how improving school outcomes will attract new residents and new businesses to the area.
without experiencing a positive awe state — what we call wonder,” he said. Businesses are taking notice of his message. Harris has performed for companies such as IBM and Apple. He also has delivered a TEDx talk and authored a book — The Wonder Switch. “I was on tour in Southeast Asia, in countries like India and Sri Lanka, and at one of my performances, an audience member asked me about a table I use in my act. This person asked me if I had borrowed my table from a leader in his village, who had claimed to have the power to commune with spirits,” Harris recounted. “People in his village saw the same tricks I performed and believed he had real Harrispower.”hashad his own experiences with people who use magic to deceive others and make themselves feel
ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT OPENS ALPINE HILLS ADVENTURE PARK MULTI-USE TRAILS
On Aug. 6, the Rockford Park District opened phase one of the Alpine Hills Adventure Park Trails. The roughly 1.2 miles of natural surface with three trail loops (The Rock, Freestyle Skills Loop and Magic Carpet) was designed for beginner users to hike, bike, run or walk. The trails are open daily from daybreak to 10 p.m. Users should note that bike traffic travels in a clockwise direction, and foot traffic movesThecounterclockwise.IllinoisDepartment of Natural Resources provided $68,600 to help cover the $105,000 in construction costs.
Local businesses are invited to showcase their careers to high school freshmen to help them make an informed decision on their College and Career Academy selection for their sophomore year at Rockford Public Schools. Participate as an industry expert or hospitality ambassador at the annual Academy Expo on Oct. 19, 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., at the Indoor Sports Center, MercyHealth Sportscore 2, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Visit volunteer/academy-expo.www.rps205.com/community/
Unlocking
The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages member submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication date. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 350 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. 350, Rockford, Illinois 61101. Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill.
CAITLIN PresidentRockfordPUSATERIChamber2 September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
But in the world of children, it turns out that there is ample time to wonder. In fact, that’s really all there is on the day’s agenda—play, wonder, imagine, learn. As a mom to two young kids, I see wonder play out right before my eyes by the hour.
Sometimes my answers are hurried, because it’s going to rain, and I don’t know where everyone is going all the time. But sometimes my answers play into their imagination. Sometimes we create stories about the person in the car next to us on their next big adventure. Sometimes I ask questions back—Why do you think the clouds are dark?—and wait to see where their little brains are headed. Sometimes I just laugh at their laughter. But more often than not, I find myself in awe of their ability to wonder and how stifled my ability seems to be.
Some of it is far more direct, like my daughter asking me why the clouds look dark or where that guy is going.
Some of the wonder is nuanced, like my son laughing every time the dog walks in front of his stroller on a walk. (Why is that funny?! I have no idea).
My 15-month-old son is currently in the “try to open absolutely anything with a handle” phase. Our dishwasher is currently covered in painters tape trying to keep the darn thing closed as an answer to his antics. Our cabinets are locked, usually for good reason. But every now and then, my son finds one that I forgot to relock. His short little self will stand there, gleeful that he found a magical opening cabinet, and open it and close it for several minutes. He smiles as he shuts it and pulls again to open it. Inside are hidden treasures—shinny cans of chicken noodle door that opens a world of wonder
soup, boxes mac & cheese and packages of Jello—that he delights in scattering around the kitchen. I have spent time watching him explore, filled with admiration for his developing problem-solving skills and jealous of his love of the world. Everything is new. Everything is shiny. Everything is filled with wonder. When was the last time I marveled at a shiny can of chicken noodle soup? Or really enjoyed shaking a box of mac & cheese? Sure, these things are trivial. But the basic premise is that the world is fascinating. Why did the soup people decide to use this word instead of that? Who came up with the pop-top lid? How much R&D went into that decision? A simple can of soup really can tell a myriad of stories if you take time to think about them.And that’s the kicker. Wonder doesn’t demand much. It doesn’t demand a lot of resources or special skills. It doesn’t even demand solidarity or exclusivity. It plays well with others and sits in the background while you multi-task. Its only ask is a little bit of whitespace and a little bit of time. It will bring the rest. I am excited to learn about the possibilities of awaking wonder at our annual dinner at Tebala Event Center on September 15. Our keynote speaker, illusionist Harris III will dazzle the audience with some fun, and inspire you to jump into the possibilities of wonder in leadership.Ihopeyou are able to join us for the evening. But even if you can’t, I encourage you to think about the world of possibilities and wonder the next time you find a cabinet door magically, or even mistakenly, unlocked.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 350, Rockford, IL 61101. Let your Voice be heard
APERSPECTIVEPRESIDENT’Scabinet
Wonder is a beautiful gift. The ability to imagine something that doesn’t exist or to take something that does and expand on it in imaginative ways is a practice the world leaves little time for these days. With a constant “go-go-go” schedule, the concept of sitting back and really just spending time in wonder is a whitespace that simply doesn’t exist in our checkbox, planner society.
The Rockford Public Schools Board of Education is an elected board of seven community volunteers who serve as the governing body for RPS 205.The Rockford School Board is responsible for establishing governing policies to meet the unique needs of the district and community while acting within the framework of Illinois and federal laws.School board members each serve a two-year or four-year term. For more rps205.com/board-of-education.information,
To become a school board candidate, one must: ■ File a Statement of Economic Interests with the county clerk and obtain a receipt. ese forms are available from the county clerk. ■ Obtain and complete a nominating petition signed by at least 50 registered voters or 10% of the voters, whichever is less; and a Statement of Candidacy. Nominating petition forms and Statements of Candidacy are available from the county clerk or county board of electionesecommissioners.completeddocuments and the county clerk’s receipt for the Statement of Economic Interests must be led with the county clerk no earlier than 113 days before the election and no later than 106 days before the election during normal o ce hours. Key dates As of printing of this publication, exact deadlines were not available. Interested candidates can nd the latest information on the Illinois State Board of Elections website at elections.il.gov.
v THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 3
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“It’s easy to get tricked by others, and even easier to trick ourselves,” Harris explained. “It’s easy to choose to settle for something because we can be convinced that something is real, when in reality it’s a counterfeit. I like helping people not fall for the counterfeits.” But while stories can deceive, they can also enlighten. “Storytellers are the architects of culture. Businesses leaders, entrepreneurs and nonpro t leaders are the contractors of that culture. e best leaders are storytellers,” Harris said. And Harris takes this belief to heart. He frequently refers to the Albert Einstein quote, “ e most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are “Nobodyclosed.”can lead a company, a community or a culture with their eyes closed,” Harris said. Harris III will be the keynote speaker at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on ursday, September 15 at the Tebala Event Center. His topic will be “Wonder: e Transformative Power of Wonder in Leadership.” Chamber members can buy tickets online by visiting rockfordchamber.com.
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ANNUAL DINNER SCHOOL BOARD
As one of the largest employers in the region as well as the largest pipeline of talent for our future workforce, the work of RPS 205 has serious impact on the business community.
■ First day to begin obtaining petition signatures: September Date ■ Last day to turn in petitions to county clerks: November Date ■ 2023 School Board election: April 4, 2023 e Rockford Chamber of Commerce will also share information as it becomes available through our e-newsletters and on our Facebook page. For more information about being a school board member and how the election process works, go to the Illinois Association of School Boards website at www.iasb.com, click on Membership & Divisions, School Board Elections. v
At the age of 25, Harris was named by Catalyst as one of America’s “most influential young leaders.” His expertise at crafting transformative learning experiences has since drawn the attention of creative leaders and executives at global brands like Apple, Disney, Nike — even NASA.
Fortunately, with our own wonderful, firsthand Make-A-Wish experience, we had a solid role model. Soon we had the core of a powerful mission statement, which over the years, has evolved into, BRING JOY throughout the nation to young adults (18-24), and their loved ones, fighting cancer.
The start of another 10 years
Nik’sKeepingCOLUMNISTwishalive
The nine years that followed were a challenge to grow Nik’s Wish as an allvolunteer charity that would stand the test of time. Nik’s discovery of this WishAge-Gap was overwhelmingly real, as we were soon flooded with wish requests from eligible, young adult cancer patients. The demand far outstripped our fundraising capabilities, and we were on the edge of folding. Fortunately, faith, love, and (we believe) Nik’s spirit, intervened, as my husband Tom asked In 2020, COVID canceled most of the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation’s in-person fundraisers. They turned that setback into Nik’s Wish Lamp. the CEO of his company for a $10,000 donation. The CEO responded, “How about $100,000? Just make sure the money gets to those kids.” Through the years, we’ve seen many such miracles of generosity from those who can relate to our mission. The Rockford and Stateline areas have been especially supportive of Nik’s Wish, for which we are truly grateful. Since our founding in 2012, we have delivered nearly 300 wishes in 40 states. Now, at the start of our next 10 years, we’re growing our outreach and support capabilities by consulting with an advisor, hiring a public relations firm, and tapping into the college demographic of young, vibrant volunteers who can directly relate to their peers fighting cancer. We’re also seeking to hire a development director to take Nik’s Wish to the next level of national fundraising. Whenever Nik’s Wish becomes too hard for me, I always remember that fighting cancer is much, much harder. Believe in your mission and carry on. Kelli Ritschel Boehle is founder & executive director of The Nikolas Ritschel ThFoundation.eviewsexpressed are those of Boehle and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
4 September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
A wish gives the young adult cancer patient relief, hope and something to tightly hold on to during their grueling ordeal of seemingly endless cancer treatments. Nate was the first to get a wish, followed by Stephanie, William, Amanda and Jake in our first year as a 501(c)(3) charity. Of these first five, William is the only one to survive his cancer battle.
Building a sustainable organization from a son’s wish
Early in 2012, my son, Nik, asked me to help his friend Nate get a wish. Both Nik and Nate were battling cancer.
KELLI RITSCHEL BOEHLE The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation GUEST
Diagnosed at 17, Nik got a life-changing wish through Make-A-Wish. Diagnosed just after he turned 18, Nate was not eligible for Make-A-Wish type programs. The night before he died unexpectedly (on March 9), Nik planted a seed in my brain with this song lyric, “…to change the world, start with one step.” Little did I know that this seed would grow into the creation of The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation.Atthestart, we were surrounded by family and friends who knew Nik and wanted to show their strong, loving support. I spent many hours determining the mission and developing fundraising ideas, which channeled a great deal of my grief into delivering on Nik’s last wish.
The antidote: Recruit the person for skills and life experience, not just race. And do your homework before making your pitch — learn about the value the board candidate brings to the role. If you’re serious about getting the bestqualified person as well as diversity, very often, one person can help you achieve both goals. You just have to be intentional about it.
Jim Taylor, the former vice president of leadership initiatives and education at BoardSource and now chief equity officer at the Urban Institute, writes of his experience being recruited by a White board member to join a board that wanted to become more diverse. When Taylor asked the White recruiter what value he thought Taylor could bring to the board, the man couldn’t answer. Taylor’s conclusion: “I was being recruited because — and seemingly only because — I was Black, and my board membership would support the organization’s board diversity goals.”
GUEST COLUMNIST
This ought to be part of the standard onboarding process for everyone. According to Taylor, a buddy gives a new board member someone “to contact with questions and/or ideas that they may initially feel more comfortable sharing one-on-one” than in a meeting with the full board. Listen We claim we want our boards to reflect the community, but diversity only matters if diverse voices are listened to. For diversity to matter, it’s essential that people of different colors, sexual orientations and abilities know that their ideas matter. So, listen carefully. And follow up with questions that encourage diverse board members to elaborate — good follow-up questions convey respect Watch your language
All organizations develop their own language—the mix of jargon, acronyms and technical terms that makes it easy for insiders to communicate quickly with one another. But insider-speak is by nature exclusionary. And that’s a problem for nonprofit boards. Brad Roos, president of Sustain Rockford and a longtime nonprofit executive, recalls the reaction of veteran directors when a board added community members. “The board went ‘all business,’” he said. “The conversation didn’t track with those (new) folks.” It was a case of experienced board members going to where they were at ease. “When people are uncomfortable, they go to their happy place,” he said. The moral of the story: Ask yourself whether your language is accessible to all. Better yet, commit to speaking in plain English. Make sure social events are inclusive Taylor encourages boards to make social events welcoming to people of color and to rethink them if they’re not. These tips are common sense, not rocket science. But they provide some simple ways you can make sure that all members feel at home on your board. That’s what belonging feels like, after all. Mark Baldwin coordinates the team of consultants in the professional services group at the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence. For questions, email Thnicne.niu@gmail.com.eviewsexpressedare those of Baldwin and do not necessarily reflect those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 5
MARK BALDWIN NICNE Your board is diverse. Great. But do board members feel they belong?
Assign a board buddy
It’s a given that nonprofit boards should reflect the diversity of the community they serve in all its hues, and for good Peoplereason.whohave been marginalized — whether because of color, sexual orientation, disability or some other characteristic — bring life experiences that the white middle-class professionals who constitute the vast majority of board members simply can’t fathom. But there’s a distinction between a board that’s diverse and one where all members feel in their bones that they belong. Too often, once the diversity box is checked, the new board member is left to sink or swim with little nurturing from board colleagues, becoming a casualty of tokenism. It doesn’t have to be that way, however.Hereare some tips to help your board cultivate a culture of belonging.
Recruit the whole person
Fairer prices start with improved transparency Rising healthcare costs place additional pressure on employers (and the wages they provide), especially during a pandemic. The wide difference in prices presents a potential savings opportunity for employers. Still, they must demand transparency from providers. The Alliance is pleased to work with great brokers, consultants and advisors to use that transparency of information to shape self-funded benefit plans for employers and change healthcare. And comparing prices to Medicare rates provides a great starting point for fairer prices. (That’s why more than 90 percent of its contracts use Reference-based Contracting by The Alliance®.)
Melina Kambitsi, Ph.D., is Sr. Vice President, Business Development & Strategic Marketing at The Alliance.
Rockford Public Schools has been a strong partner in reducing Rockford’s tax rate. In 2012, the Rockford School Board and administration agreed to give back 58 cents from the levy following a tax referendum, which meant losing out on $16 million in annual tax revenue, from $170M to $154M. That same tax cycle, the board and administration agreed to keep the levy flat, instead of collecting increases for inflation or credits.
The RPS 205 School Board and administration, with the City of Rockford, have committed to hold the line and keep the tax levy flat or nearly flat for the better part of a decade. RPS 205 has saved taxpayers a projected $378 million over the last decade in uncollected property taxes. In turn, the district’s tax rate has dropped significantly, and the district’s tax now falls in the bottom half of local school districts. The Boone Winnebago Regional Office of Education announced the 2021 tax rates in July for regional districts. RPS 205’s rate is 6.26, which means $6.26 per $100 of equalized assessed value is the amount due to the district. We anticipate a rate below 6.00 for the 2022-23 tax cycle. The district’s rate is down from 7.93 as recently as the 2015 levy year. A competitive rate Making these choices wasn’t easy for our administration or school board. We’ve had to find other solutions for funding that don’t rely on taxpayers. For example, state legislators pushed hard to change the school funding model to focus on equity, called evidence-based funding. That move has helped districts across the state, including Rockford, improve the quality of education without relying so heavily on taxpayers. Voters also approved a bond sale referendum to fund major capital improvements, including building two schools, additions and significant upgrades and improvements to schools across the district.Each year, ahead of the annual tax levy vote, School Board Vice President Tim Rollins makes a statement about choices.“Inour region, people can make a choice about where to live,” Rollins said in a 2017 school district news release. “It’s in the district’s best interest to collaborate with Rockford’s other taxing bodies to make Rockford regionally competitive when it comes to that choice of where to own a home.” That sentiment still holds true. If the school board and administration didn’t make that choice in 2012 – and choose to continue to hold the line for taxpayers – the district’s tax rate would sit around 8.21, easily the highest rate locally by more than a dollar and a quarter. We all want Rockford to be a community where people choose to live, work, learn and play. Rockford’s tax rate is competitive, in part because of the Rockford School Board, Rockford City Council and their respective leadership teams. Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.
Employer-sponsored health plans cover roughly half of all Americans, account for $480 billion in hospital costs, and their cost has outpaced wages and inflation for more than a decade. Employers have a fiduciary responsibility to monitor their healthcare spending, but how can they fulfill those obligations without knowing prices?
6 September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
2. Facility fees are higher than professional fees nationally. Facility fees are payments that go to hospitals, while professional fees go to the physicians performing the service. Although facility fees are markedly higher nationwide, Wisconsin ranks as the second highest state for professional fees at 375 percent of Medicare.
GUEST COLUMNIST
The views expressed are those of Dr. Jarrett and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
KAMBITSI,MELINA PH.D. The Alliance
That’s why when it comes to hospital price transparency, just a 10% reduction in hospital market share could purportedly lower prices by $25 billion annually.
5. Non-private patients do not explain high prices. Based on RAND’s research, uncompensated care — Medicare, Medicaid, charity care and uninsured patients – does not explain hospital pricing. That being said, there is a correlation between hospital market share and hospital prices; hospitals with more market share charge higher prices.
DR. EHREN RPSSuperintendentJARRETT205
4. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) are typically priced lower than hospitals. ASC prices (adjusted for Medicare) are consistently 40 to 50 percentage points lower than what hospitals charge commercial payers for the same services. Among the top five most common procedures nationally, employers pay roughly 210% of Medicare at ASCs and 260% for those same procedures at hospitals. But there’s also a wide variation of relative prices between ASCs at the state level. Many are priced at 100 – 200 % of Medicare, but Wisconsin ranks fourth highest at nearly 300 % of Medicare.
The views expressed are those of Dr. Kambitsi and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
1. There’s a wide variation in hospital prices across states. The relative price for inpatient and outpatient procedures varies widely between states, with Illinois paying 253% of Medicare and Wisconsin paying 307% – the fourth highest of all states. And prices can vary significantly for different payers at the same hospital for the same service. For example, RAND analyzed hip replacements at one hospital and found commercially paid prices jumped from less than $15,000 (the Medicare price) to more than $85,000.
Five takeaways Wide variation in hospital prices present potential savings
Rising health care costs place additional pressure on employers (and the wages they provide), especially during a pandemic.
Holding the line for homeownerstaxpayers, Multiple streams of funding for Rockford Public Schools
3. States with all-payers claims databases (APCD) have lower prices. It makes sense that better hospital price transparency produces more competition, because it enables patients to “shop.” The Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO) has an APCD. Despite analyzing claims data from nearly 5 million citizens, WHIO’s effectiveness is limited for two reasons: ■ It’s not publicly funded like many other APCDs. ■ The data WHIO receives is made on a voluntary basis and, until very recently, hospital systems were not incentivized to share their data.
Customized solutions When prime aerospace companies like Lockheed Martin create a new product, it often contracts with smaller companies like Ingenium to do the design and manufacture of parts and systems. The process, Carter says, is intense and can take anywhere from a few months to more than two years.
“Rockford is an important resource for the aerospace community,” he said.
Ingenium Aerospace
“Chicago has a lot of people but not as many aerospace professionals as you might think. When you look at what’s available here in Rockford, it just makes sense to have our company in a location filled with talented people.”
At the time, Kopala was vice president for an aerospace company in the Chicago suburbs. He was turning 40, and the company was about to be sold. He knew the time was right to make a career move. “I came up with a business model, which was creating high-end motion controls, actuators, utility systems and customized flight controls for low- to mid-volume production, which required light weight and high reliability that my background played to,” he said. “I knew Rockford was the right place to grow my idea.”That was the genesis of Ingenium Aerospace, a global leader in developing motion control systems for the aerospace, defense and space markets.
Darrin Kopala, vice president/ general manager Steve Carter, president/CFO 5389 International Dr. www.ingeniumaerospace.com815-525-2000
The Ingenium staff currently includes 40 professionals with decades of experience in the aerospace field, ranging from aeronautical, electrical and mechanical engineering to purchasing, quality and assembly, and test positions. Given the nature of Ingenium’s work in defense, much of it classified, information technology and cybersecurity positions are also vital. “These are higher end, good paying jobs,” Carter said. “Many of our team members have been involved in the design and certification of hundreds of unique modules, motors, sensors, and linear and rotary motion control components and systems.”
By Paul Anthony Arco
Darrin Kopala saw an opportunity and ran with it. Making notes on paper napkin, Kopala came up with an idea to start his own aerospace company 16 years ago in the Rockford area.
“Customers often come to us with a blank sheet of paper and say, ‘Here’s what we need your product to do,’” he said. “It’s usually going on a vehicle in a specific location for a specific function. We don’t do catalog or off the shelf items.”
“We had some nice early wins, which were actual contract-type work that was beneficial to our business,” said Kopala. “Our first contract was primary flight controls for a captive carry vehicle and a commercial space vehicle.”
AN ENGINEERING PLAYGROUND IN ROCKFORD
INGENIUM AEROSPACE
“Say it’s an aircraft manufacturer, and they need a widget to fit a particular size,” added Kopala. “We design and engineer the product; we procure the parts we need to build the product, and we build and test the product. Some of our products don’t have much aftermarket work, while others have 20 to 30 years of serviceKopalaexpectation.”commuted from the Chicago suburbs for 13 years before moving to the area and closer to his company.
Steve Carter and Darrin Kopala own Ingenium Aerospace, a global leader in developing motion control systems for the aerospace, defense and space markets.
MEMBER PROFILE
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 7
For Kopala and Carter, working in the aerospace industry is both challenging and rewarding. “After doing this for 40 years, the projects we get are still unique, and I learn something from every one of them,” Kopala said. “It’s an engineering playground.”
Steve Carter joined Kopala in 2010 after retiring as chief financial officer at Woodward and doing consulting work. The Rockford native started as an investor before becoming Kopala’s partner. “Our visions were similar, and I understood Darrin’s business plan,” said Carter. “We were on the same page.” Kopala started out working in a small Rockford office, where he built his business’s infrastructure, put his systems in place and picked up fringe work to help pay the bills.
The company manufactures aircraft parts and equipment such as motion control systems and rotating components, actuators and more. The company also provides services such as damper and durability testing, primary flight control, custom module design, and rugged pedal and brake assembly.
Ingenium moved to its current location on International Drive in 2012.
profile
Barbara Connors is editor of The VOICE.
Thayer sells and installs electric vehicle chargers across the U.S. and currently services 38 auto dealerships, including The Anderson Group, which added electric vehicle chargers to its facilities for customers. Thayer also is working to provide custom charging solutions at homes and businesses. Thayer has seen local municipalities that have ordered their charging station installations, and local businesses that have added more charging stations to support the coming growth. “Keep in mind, you don’t need an electric vehicle for electric vehicle chargers to be a source of revenue for your business,” Meyers said. “Stations can place your business on the network maps to attract new traffic to your business. It can support your operations with lower fuel, and maintenance and repair costs for employees and fleet vehicles. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution for a business in installing its own charging stations. Government incentives are everchanging as well as the technologies of electric vehicles and the chargers that power them.”
“With automakers pledging their full portfolio of vehicles to be 100% production by 2030, we know that many workplaces and businesses will need to be EV friendly to attract and retain their current and future customers and employees,” said Chuck Meyers, electric vehicle charging specialist at Thayer Energy Solutions. “Buick and Ford have come out with bold statements concerning the future of all-electric cars and their companies. Buick has announced that by the year 2030, it will produce only electric cars. Ford announced by 2026, it will have its next generation electric auto on the market, at a cost of $25,000 or less (without government assistance).”
“With automakers pledging their full portfolio of vehicles to be 100 percent production by 2030, we know that many workplaces and businesses will need to be EV friendly to attract and retain their current and future customers and employees.”
8 SPECIAL SECTION Renewable Energy/Sustainable Communities September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
Benchmarks out there for big changes in the way we transport and travel
The thought is that, for many employees, the workplace is the most convenient location to charge vehicles for significant periods of time, second only to the home. This provides an opportunity for area employers.Turnersaid she’s seen a growing number of businesses in the region showing interest in placing electric vehicle charging stations at their facilities, both for employees and the general public. Some already have installed them, while others are coordinating with their local governments on getting them installed.Before taking the plunge, a business needs to consider the benefits and drawbacks in switching to electric fleets and installing charging infrastructure.
The Illinois EPA is tasked with establishing rebate and grant programs for electric vehicles and charging stations and overseeing the phase-out of fossil fuel-fired electrical generation units
The second-annual Drive Electric Week, July 25 to 29, combined virtual and in-person events through the City of Belvidere, Veteran’s Memorial Hall and City Market, on the latest in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure happening in the region.
By Barbara Connors
Rebate applications due for individuals purchasing electric vehicles Illinois residents will see one of the deadlines for rebate applications coming up on Sept. 30, 2022, for those who purchase an all-electric passenger vehicle from a dealer licensed in Illinois on or after July 1, 2022. A $4,000 rebate is available for the purchase of an all-electric vehicle and a $1,500 rebate for the purchase of an allelectricRebatesmotorcycle.willcontinue as long as funds are available, and the amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the vehicle. The purchaser must retain ownership of the vehicle for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately after the vehicle purchase date. Rented or leased vehicles do not qualify. Only one rebate is available to a qualified purchaser in any 10year period. Documentation requirements include a copy of purchase invoice, proof of purchase, vehicle registration and IRS W-9 or W-8Thereforms.will be other opportunities for rebates in the future. Information can be found at www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/ ceja. Where do organizations fit in? Region 1 Planning Council, as a part of its Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan, is helping to establish a network of public charging stations in the area. The special purpose, regional government agency providing collaborative planning across northern Illinois also is integrating electric vehicle supply equipment into public policies and planning efforts, and coordinating the efforts to make northern IllinoisIncentivesEV-ready.and guidance are underway for businesses and municipalities converting their fleets to electric vehicles and installing electric vehicle chargers at theirR1facilities.hasentered into a cooperative purchasing program with Blink Charging Co. to make EV charging technology available and more cost-effective to local municipalities and government agencies in six counties in northern Illinois. Contracts for EV charging equipment and services can be entered for up to a 10-year term, and the initial plan is for up to 700 charging stations to be installed.
Creating an infrastructure for the move to electric vehicles
Getting on the map Naturally, owners of fully electric and hybrid electric vehicles need ample locations and time to charge their vehicles.
Long term, Turner said the business could see savings in maintenance and fuel costs in having an electric fleet. It also could offer free workplace charging to employees as a recruitment and retention incentive.
According to Sydney Turner, director of regional planning at R1, within the last two years, there has been a 130% growth rate in the number of fully electric vehicles registered in the region. As of July 2022, there are 649 registered in Boone, Winnebago and Ogle counties. The growth in the number of hybrid electric vehicle registrations has not been as significant, but the number of them still is larger, at 6,603 hybrid electric vehicles registered in July.
“As more electric vehicle models are introduced to the market, the cost per vehicles is anticipated to decrease,” Turner said.She suggested the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center as a good place to find incentives to help with the upfront costs of installing electric vehicle charging stations. Visit afdc.energy. gov/fuels/electricity.html.TheIllinoisEPAalsois working to offer funding to public and private organizations and companies to install and maintain Level 2 or Level 3 charging stations. Up to 80% of the cost of the installation of charging stations may be funded.
The public is invited to comment until Oct. 3, 2022, on the charging infrastructure grant rule, 35 Ill. Adm. Code 285. Published in the 2022 Illinois Register, Volume 46, Issue 34, it will establish the Charging Infrastructure Grant Program, as required by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Visit the Illinois Register for details.
Next electricgenerationauto
Being placed on a charging station map could attract new, local customers, as well as visiting customers passing through the region.Short term, the initial cost for the electric vehicles is higher than its internal combustion engine counterparts.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act on Sept. 15, 2021, with the goal to phase out carbon emissions from the energy and transportation sectors. Long term, the law makes it the policy of the State of Illinois to move toward 100% clean energy by 2050.
Benchmark goals include: ■ 40% renewable energy by 2030. ■ One million electric vehicles in Illinois by 2030. ■ 50% renewable energy by 2040.
Meyers added that some of the major fleet companies, such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon and Wal-Mart, are already converting to electric fleet vehicles.
— Chuck Meyers, Thayer Energy Solutions
The Rockford Mass Transit District announced in August that it received a Federal Transit Administration grant of $6.3 million, which will enable it to purchase six new battery electric and hybrid buses to replace its 2009 diesel buses. On average, these buses have accumulated more than 454,000 miles per vehicle and exceeded their useful life. RMTD’s first fleet of five hybrid electric buses were introduced in January, 2020; reducing fuel consumption by 25 percent and emissions by 90 percent. Noise pollution also has been reduced through something called geo-fencing technology, which can be programmed to put the buses in full-electric mode when entering noise-sensitive areas, such as downtown or narrow neighborhood roadways. Barbara Connors, The VOICE
Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara and Jason Anderson, economic development director for the City of Rochelle, will be keynote speakers at theAttendeesluncheon.will get a guided downtown walking tour featuring statefunded infrastructure projects and a tour of the Chicago Rockford International Airport’s cargo facilities.
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 SPECIAL SECTION Sustainable Communities 9
Visit http://r1planning.org/idotfp for more information and registration.
Rockford Mass Transit District receives $6.3 million in federal funding Replacing fleet of diesel buses with battery electric and hybrid buses
Attend, learn, get involved
Region 1 Planning Council announced that Rockford will be the host city for the 2022 IDOT Fall Planning Conference, Sept. 21-23, at the Embassy Suites Riverfront Conference Center downtown. The theme, “Charge Ahead and REC it! How Resiliency, Equity, and Climate Change Will Influence Transportation Planning.”
Rockford chosen as host city for IDOT Planning Conference
The event is expected to draw more than 300 attendees from across the state and will explore topics related to transportation, economic development and land use planning, including innovations in freight, public transit, complete streets and project delivery.
Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman (left, with RMTD Executive Director Michael Stubbe) visits the Rockford Mass Transit District’s East Side Transfer Center on Aug. 18 to learn about RMTD’s new hybrid electric vehicles and the district’s commitment to a zero emission fleet.
Meet employee needs by charging their vehicles
This story was excerpted from the U.S. Census Bureau website. Mayumi Brewster is a survey statistician in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Management Division.
By adding chargers to roughly 10% of the parking spaces at retail, restaurant, and other B2C business locations, you can attract customers you might not otherwise see and bring in more profit. Charging takes 30 minutes to an hour, with 36 minutes being the average. Emerging research shows that when customers have access to shopping, meals, or entertainment while their car is charging, they spend time and money on those opportunities. For example, Kohl’s found that EV drivers spent at a rate of $1 per minute while they were onsite and spent more time in the store than other customers. Best of all, EV manufacturers offer apps to their customers that direct them to charging stations, sending them right to your location. To learn more about how EV chargers can power you to greater profitability, visit RechargeRockford.com.
■ Level 2—These are typically wallmounted stations that use 240-volt AC power, and, as a result, “push” power into the vehicle’s battery far more quickly than a Level 1. It’s a good balance between the need for fast charging and overnight charging.
Patti Thayer is president of Thayer Energy Solutions. The views expressed are those of Thayer and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
■ Sales at bookstores dropped from $8.9 billion in 2019 to $6.2 billion in 2020. ■ Sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores slipped from $269.5 billion in 2019 to $201.4 billion in 2020, as the need for new clothes and accessories for the workplace or social outings waned. Retail evolution
E-commerce boom
EV equipment and infrastructure EV charging falls into three distinct levels. At each level, more power is delivered more quickly, and more robust equipment is required.
Meet business tenant needs by employeechargingand/ or fleet vehicles
■ Level 3—DC fast chargers or fastcharging “gas pumps” are the kind most often seen by the public and vaguely resemble a gas pump. They’re the best option for long-distance travel because they convert 240-volt AC power to DC and charge a vehicle 4-10 times faster than a Level 2 charger. The cost is higher than a Level 2 charger, but because they charge batteries more quickly fewer of them are needed for a given fleet size.
■ Level 1—The wall socket charger connects the vehicle to a standard 120 volt three-prong wall outlet. It is a much slower charger and is not recommended in most cases unless a hybrid auto is involved.
E-commerce sales surged during the pandemic Is this consumer behavior here to stay?
vehicleneedsMeetingCOLUMNISTworkplacewithelectricchargers
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption grows, businesses that set out to serve this market will be poised to profit. One way to seize this advantage is to meet the needs of workers by offering charging stations, whether these workers are your employees or those of businesses you lease property to.
10 SPECIAL SECTION Renewable Energy/Sustainable Communities September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com PATTI SolutionsThayerTHAYEREnergy GUEST
Most EV owners charge their cars overnight at home. But providing a small number of charging stations at your work` sites (10% of your parking spaces at most) will allow convenient workday charging. This can be a lower-cost benefit for your employees, especially if you can take advantage of government incentives. It provides convenience for the employee and a PR and goodwill benefit to you.
How industriessome fared
If you lease commercial property, your tenants will want their employees to benefit from onsite charging as well. Set your commercial property apart by installing chargers that appeal to these decision makers. As EVs spread through the workforce, you will already be ahead of the curve in helping tenants provide charging to their workers. Onsite charging is a crucial advantage for any company with an EV fleet and is likely to become a standard feature for commercial locations that have space for electric vehicles. Having EV charging stations available may be the difference between signing or losing tenants in both the short and long term.
While retail e-commerce grew, sales in some industries declined from 2019 to 2020 as pandemic-related lockdowns kept people at home, working, shopping and even studying online.
Here’s how some U.S. retail sectors fared in this virtual world:
■ Sales at gasoline stations fell from $513.5 billion in 2019 to $428.1 billion in 2020, as commuting became unnecessary for many and travel slowed down.
In the face of changes partly caused by the pandemic, retailers are finding new ways to capitalize on the convenience economy of online shopping and at-home delivery.
In the face of changes partly caused by the pandemic, retailers are finding new ways to capitalize on the convenience economy of online shopping and athomeSomedelivery.brick-and-mortar stores have tried to enhance the shopping experience to give consumers a reason to leave their online comfort zone and return to in-store shopping. For example, some retailers have held in-store parties decked out with DJs, refreshments and door prizes. Others now accept in-store returns of online purchases to lure customers to their stores.
Meet customer needs at business to customer (B2C) locations
By Mayumi Brewster Has the pandemic changed the way you shop? Do you now routinely have your groceries delivered or opt for curbsideYou’repickup?not alone. Consumer behaviors have changed in many ways since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. More people began working from home and avoiding indoor venues, including shopping malls and restaurants. Because of these consumer behavior changes, e-commerce continues to grow, and many brands are pivoting their business strategies to remain competitive.
The Census Bureau’s Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS) first collected data on e-commerce in 1998, when online sales were just $5.0 billion and online retail was just emerging as an irreversible force. More than 20 years later, e-commerce sales top $800 billion. According to the most recent 2020 ARTS release, e-commerce sales increased by $244.2 billion or 43% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, rising from $571.2 billion in 2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020.
“Travelers can make small changes to avoid pinch-points in traffic flow or discover advantages in taking other methods of travel,” said Michael Dunn Jr., executive director of R1. “This can To participate in the program and be eligible for rewards, people may sign up phone-rewards.www.metropia.com/smartat
Personal transportation that reduces carbon emissions
■ Two free 30-minute rides per day for healthcare workers and emergency personnel. Users qualify by emailing a copy of a medical identification card, name and phone number to together@ bird.co.Anyone with a Bird account can report or provide feedback on vehiclerelated issues such as poorly parked or damaged vehicles by tapping the yield sign on the bottom left of the in-app Bird map. When a report is submitted, someone is assigned to correct the issue.
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 11
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)will also use the information, in a concept called behavioral economics, to better understand how human behavior, incentives and rapidly evolving technologies can drive positive change in everydayFeatureslives.of the GoEzy app include special offers for participants to make changes to their travel, such as leaving a little earlier for a trip than normal, carpooling or biking to work, or trying out a convenient Rockford Mass Transit District route to school.
Founded in September 2017 by Travis VanderZanden, a former executive at Lyft and Uber, Bird’s electric-powered scooters are activated through a free mobile phone app.
The Village of Machesney Park is among more than 350 cities worldwide offering Bird e-scooters as an ecofriendly shared transportation option.
Visit www.bird.co for more information.
Earn rewards through September for improving your commute
Source: www.metropia.com both reduce the cost of transportation and reduce the stress of getting to your destination.”“Thosewho participate as a part of the FHWA Smartphone study will have the chance to earn rewards for every trip they take using the GoEzy app, now through the end of September (up to a $5 gift card each week),” said Gabrielle Torina, communications specialist with R1.
Bird e-scooters now available in Machesney Park.
Machesney Park partners with Bird e-scooters
Discounted pricing ■ Community pricing. Bird offers a 50% discount to low-income riders, Pell grant recipients, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans and senior citizens. Users qualify by downloading the Bird app, creating an account and emailing proof of eligibility to access@bird.co.
GoEzy app:
Avoid traffic, spend less time behind the wheel Region 1 Planning Council announced that Metropia’s free multi-modal navigation app, GoEzy, has launched in the Rockford region to support the Federal Highway Administration’s Smartphone Travel Incentive Study. The travel data from those who participate in the app will help leaders in the Rockford region gain insights into post-COVID travel patterns and preferences, which could help shape transportation policy in the future.
■ Start using the GoEzy app for navigation when traveling around town. ■ Within two weeks, the app will start presenting you with personalized suggestions (and possibly rewards) for upcoming trips.
The August issue of The Voice had an incorrect spelling of the company name, Integrative Healing Center, LLC. Our apologies to Dr. Elisha Robinson for this misspelling.
The interview is less structured than a hiring interview and more of a conversation. However, these conversations may be ineffective if your team doesn't have a sense of security in talking freely. If there's an unspoken fear of retaliation or nervousness about speaking up, you won't get the open feedback you need. This culture also requires your managers to be vulnerable and open to constructive criticism. Often, stay interviews will yield a mix of things you're doing right and areas where the workplace needs improvement. Remember to make it a conversation; don’t simply ask your employees for a list of things to improve. What should I ask in a stay interview? Focus on the employee's daily work and how valued they feel their contributions are. You can ask how they feel about the organization in general, but steer clear of asking for status updates about current projects. You're looking for a general sense of their satisfaction. A few questions to get the conversation started can include:
12 September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com CARMEN KELLERMAN IGNITE
erratum
■ If you were the department head, what would you do differently?
Finding out what would make an employee leave the company will shed light on what you need to do to make them stay. As a manager, it's your job to bring your stay interview feedback to those above you, especially if you aren't in a position to make significant changes to a salary package or working conditions.Don'tbe surprised if employees initiate stay interviews with you. Unless they're living under a rock, many workers know that they're in high demand and have a lot more power than they've had in a long time. Be aware and receptive if you sense someone is initiating a stay conversation. Acting on stay interview feedback End a stay interview on a strong note, thanking your employee for their time and summarizing what they've said in your own words. Ask if you're correct in your understanding, and tell them what your next steps will be with the information.Thestayinterview is a great way to make your employees feel valued and heard. As a business owner, appreciating the work contributions of your top talent (managers included) goes a long way towards retaining them. If you've conducted a stay interview in your organization and have a good story to share, we'd love to hear more. Reach out to Andrew Wright, awright@ rockfordchamber.com, to share your experience — good or bad — with stay interviews.
■ How do you feel about the impact of your work? ■ What would you like to do more of in your role? And less of?
The Great Resignation is spurring a rash of hiring bonuses, better perks and aggressive recruitment. You've probably heard of or are engaging in focused talent retention, but have you tried the "stayThinterview?"eopposite of an exit interview, a stay interview is a semi-formal conversation with your top talent about why they stay with your company. Some companies already have something similar in place as part of their annual review process.
■ What would prompt you to quit?
■ Do you see a future for yourself here? What does it look like?
Finding out what would make an employee leave the company will shed light on what you need to do to make them stay.
Join IGNITE for camaraderie and exciting events.
Interview your employees so they stay
December Meet a Nonprofit – TBD. Have a suggestion for an IGNITE fall event? Let us know on Facebook.
November After 5 – Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m., Greenfire Restaurant, Bar & Bakery. Join IGNITE at Greenfire Restaurant Bar & Bakery for delicious food, drinks and socializing with young professionals. Stop in any time between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. November Meet a Nonprofit – TBD.
I found myself enjoying summer a bit more than normal. I’m not a huge fan of the heat, thunderstorms and bugs that summer brings with it. However, this year, I found it easier to push past all of those things, and I had a summer worth loving. I got to know new people at our summer events, like the After 5s at the Olympic Tavern and PrairieFire Golf & Grill. I also enjoyed time on the lake, took a trip to Tennessee, attended a few local baseball games, and much more. That said, I’m still team fall. I’m ready for the cooler weather, the beautiful colors and all of the fall things—apple orchards, pumpkin patches, hoodies, bonfires and Halloween. I didn’t achieve my goal of visiting all the local forest preserves this summer, but I’m excited to do it in the fall. The cooler weather and fall colors will make for a great experience. I also want to visit Anderson Gardens in the fall. I’ve been in the spring, summer and winter, so it just feels necessary to complete the seasons.I’malso excited for the IGNITE events we have coming up. At IGNITE, fall brings us even more After 5s and Meet a Nonprofit events.
December After 5/Holiday Party –Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club. Make plans now to attend IGNITE’s holiday party at Forest Hills Country Club. More info to come.
■ What makes you happy to come to work?
IGNITE: ‘never-endingArePROFESSIONALSYOUNGyouteamsummer’ or team ‘can’t wait for fall?’
September After 5 – Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m., location TBD. September Meet a Nonprofit –Sept. 22, 5:30 p.m., 1325 N. Johnston Ave., Rockford, featuring Northwest Community Center (NWCC). These events allow IGNITE members to learn more about nonprofits in our area and engage with them. NWCC looks forward to celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023. Each year, it and its partner organizations serve 15,000 youth and adults through a variety of recreational and educational programs. The center occupies 25,000 square feet across two buildings on its eight-acre campus.
October After 5 – Oct. 19 , 5:30 p.m., Hidden Creek Estates. Join IGNITE at Hidden Creek and get to know other local young professionals while trying some delicious wines. Stop in any time between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. October Meet a Nonprofit – TBD.
Carmen Kellerman is event & program coordinator for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and IGNITE.
It's a fairly straightforward approach, wherein managers seek to understand more about each individual's goals, how they're feeling in their current position and what the company can do to help them grow professionally over the next Here'syear.how to effectively conduct stay interviews with your top talent. It's not a conversationformal
JOHN VisitorsConventionRockfordGROHArea&Bureau
The swing from print advertising to digital advertising has disrupted the way consumers shop as well as the way marketers promote. We’ve left behind mass communication and replaced it with targeted messaging, that ensures content and platforms are aimed specifically at the individuals with whom we want to connect. We no longer “place” ads, we “deliver” them. We deliver them to the inboxes, web browsers and apps of the individuals we’re targeting.
John Groh is president/CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The views expressed are those of Groh and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM Destination ILLINOIS, USA How did that ad show up in my browser?
RACVB’s Made for Rockford talent attraction campaign
One of those resources is a new talent at RACVB. Jacqui Corsi joined us on Aug. 1 as vice president of marketing. Jacqui is a true Made for Rockford success story, who chose to relocate to Rockford from near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Her experience in marketing, communications, fund development and nonprofit leadership are well aligned with the talents for our leadership team and staff, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Rockford.
The Greater Rockford Growth Partnership welcomes Melissa Adams
In June, Melissa Adams joined the Greater Rockford Growth Partnership (GRGP) as the executive assistant to theAdams,CEO. originally from Ironwood, Michigan, came to Rockford in 2000 to work for Millwork Masters, a division of JELD-Wen, as a shipping manager, after being a fleet manager for the parent company in Oregon state. In 2014, she joined Swedish-American Hospital as an administrative assistant maintaining the schedules of conference rooms and food Adamsservices.willhelp CEO Einar Forsman serve the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council focus on their mission while handling the behind-the-scenes necessities of eachInorganization.hersparetime, Adams plays defense with the Rockford Hotwings hockey team and joins her husband Nick on outings with the Screw City 815 Jeep club. Adams is very proud of her 2018 Wrangler GLU and you can spot her in the bright “punk’n metallic” Jeep in parades and events around Rockford.“TheScrew City 815 Jeep club has done wonderful things for local charities. In the past year, we raised money for Rockford Rescue Mission, Noah’s Ark, the Rock and Roll Institute, and GiGi’s Playhouse, among other great charities.” Adams is especially proud of her daughter, Caelyn (16), a junior at Auburn High School, a member of the gifted program and the Auburn swimAdamsteam.and her family also enjoy spending time with their two rescue dogs, Ahsoka and Kenobi.
That’s why, when you’re searching an app for brownie recipes, you’re served up an ad for cocoa powder; or when you’re browsing website for a new car, you see ads for car transport services; or when you’re an engineer who loves mountain biking and lives in Milwaukee, you receive a Made for Rockford ad.
Remember when the Sunday newspaper was our primary source for where to shop and what was on sale? While kids fought over who first got to read the comics pages, parents flipped through the inserted circulars and editorial sections scanning ads for sales. And then, the family would pile in the car to drive to the shopping center. If that doesn’t sound familiar, then you are likely a digital native, born into the age of technology and fully immersed in a world with computers, the internet and mobile devices.
Made for Rockford is the talent attraction campaign developed and managed by Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB) in partnership with the City of Rockford and Woodward Charitable Trust. Our goal is to attract new residents to our area by generating positive stories in the national media, heightening the region’s presence on social media and on the web (check out MadeForRockford.com), and targeting potential residents through digital advertising.Ourresearch revealed that professionals in engineering, medicine and education in upper Midwest cities would respond to Rockford’s affordable cost of living, dynamic downtown, proximity to airports, community diversity and outdoor recreation. These are the folks we targeted in our digital advertising campaign February through May 2022. In this first phase of the Made for Rockford campaign, we set out to learn which media and messages worked best in garnering the attention of our target audience. What we learned Delivering display banner ads to members of our target audience based on their use of specific apps and web browsing activities generated the highest click through rates to MadeForRockford. com. On these platforms, our messages about affordable living performed about the same as our messages on outdoor recreation. In total, programmatically delivering display banners created nearly six million impressions and nearly ten thousand click throughs to the website. We also tested native advertising (those paid ads that match the form and function of the media in which they appear, i.e., fit natively and seamlessly on the content page) delivered to this same audience. And while we created fewer impression (just over 450 thousand), we had a higher click through rate of .27 percent. The best performing message in our native ad was an affordability proposition, “If you’re a chef without a chef’s kitchen, you are Made for Rockford.”Ourcampaign also included digital ads delivered on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, with our outdoor recreation message significantly generating the highest responses. With all these ads taking prospects to MadeForRockford.com, we are able to track performance of the site. For the duration of the ad campaign, the site received more than 12,500 pageviews, and more than 11,000 of these were unique. These visitors spent an average of 2:31 minutes on the site. In phase two of the campaign, we use the campaign results (there’s a lot more data behind these highlights) to further refine our efforts to increase impressions, click throughs, time on the website and leads. Our goal is to partner closely with employers to leverage their recruitment efforts with the Made for Rockford advertising strategy and resources.
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 13
Wendy has nearly 20 years of experience in finance with different casino and companies,hospitalityaswellasexperiencewithtertiaryeducationandcommunity organizations.“Asamember of RAEDC’s board of directors, I will be able to utilize my career experience to forge connections between educational institutions and regional businesses, ensuring we have the skilled workforce needed for jobs that are good today, tomorrow and the future,” she said.
The Manufacturing Regional Roundtable returns in person on Sept. 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the NIU Rockford Conference Center. Registration is $20 for this lunch and learn event. The manufacturing industry represents one of the key economic pillars of the Illinois economy. Illinois manufacturers feed the world, make life-saving products, power our homes and businesses, build our infrastructure, transport people and products around the globe, and provide for our nation’s defense.Join our partners, IMA and IMEC, and fellow manufacturers as we discuss the just-completed Economic Analysis of the Manufacturing Sector in Illinois. IMA President & CEO Mark Denzler will reveal what the data tells us for the Rockford Region and Winnebago County.
Wendy Kasche, vice president of finance at Hard Rock Casino Rockford, and Dan Giovannetti, president & CEO at Bergstrom Corporation joined The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) board of directors. The appointments were approved at the Aug. 11 board meeting. Dan and Wendy will each serve three-year terms and bring considerable experience to the board.
■ To develop and maintain a passenger rail system that provides the traveling public with a safe, attractive, energy-efficient, cost-effective, sustainable and reliable personal transportation alternative that promotes mobility and enhances quality of life.
Connect With Us
To read the complete report visit RockfordIL.com/news.
We love sharing your good news and celebrating the successes of your organization. Connect with us on social media, and help us spread the word about your good news, upcoming events and employees.
Illinois Rails Needs Assessment final report now available
Creating connections
The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) specializes in fostering connections among local companies and helping businesses connect with vital resources.
14 September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com economic development GREATER ROCKFORD GROWTH PARTNERSHIPCOUNCIL
roundtableRegionalMATTERS:MANUFACTURING
RAEDC continuously works with partners to ensure the Rockford region has the skilled workforce needed for current and future job markets. By partnering with RAEDC, companies can help shape the training and skills development programs that will allow businesses in the region to grow and flourish. The region with the best workforce development and lifelong learning opportunities is the region that will attract and retain businesses. By developing connections, RAEDC is making this region a great place for businesses, employees and residents. To learn more about RAEDC’s resources and services, contact Therese Thill, RAEDC president, at TThill@RockfordIL.com, or Alex Keedi, RAEDC business development manager, at AKeedi@ RockfordIL.com.
Wendy Kashche, Hard CasinoRockRockford Dan CorporationBergstromGiovannetti,
■ To foster an economically competitive and sustainable freight rail system that moves goods safely, efficiently and expeditiously across and within the State of Illinois.
One of the best ways to create and grow a business is to develop and maintain connections.
RAEDC welcomes new board members
There are different ways RAEDC provides assistance to companies.
■ Details about the manufacturing occupations projected to be in the highest demand, and their impact on workforce training ■ Average wages across all manufacturing jobs in the county ■ Top three area manufacturing subsectors ■ And more! Then it’s your chance to share your thoughts, questions and new ideas about what is working in this industry and your company, while getting to better know your peers over lunch. Learn more about this event at RockfordIL.com/events Illinois is the single largest hub of the North American rail system, and rail transportation plays a critical role in supporting the state economy. The Illinois Rail Needs Assessment (ILRNA) study, released in July, assesses the current conditions of the Illinois rail network and identifies issues that may impact the quality of rail services now and in the future.
backgroundDan’s in finance, enrichcompanymanufacturingwithinandimprovementcontinuousoperationsaglobalwilltheboard’s understanding of regional, national and international markets. “I’m looking forward to using my background to assist RAEDC in identifying issues, creating plans and implementing solutions that will support the economic development of our region,” he said.
Through business retention visits, they analyze a company’s current location, expansion plans, new services and product plans, and identify potential tax credits.
Why economic development matters
Events such as the Midwest Aerospace Conference offer matchmaking sessions to connect peer-to-peer or supplier-to-prime companies. This is a great way for qualified, smaller companies to develop relationships with larger organizations.
■ A look at state trends and the local impact ■ Total economic impact on the state ■ A look at the Rockford Region, and Winnebago County specifically ■ The employment multiplier and what does that mean for future expansions?
The ILRNA is a component of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) long-range transportation planning process and forms the basis for the next update to the Illinois State Rail Plan in 2022. It enables IDOT to develop and implement the targeted long-range policies, goals, strategies and investments needed to meet the state’s Passenger Rail and Freight Rail visions articulated in the 2012 Illinois State Rail Plan and reaffirmed in 2017:
Inflation concerns soar among small business owners
■ 50 percent of small business owners say they are working more hours now than they were a year ago. Just 30% said the same the last time this question was asked in 2017.
■ Raising the prices of products or services is how most small businesses say they are coping with inflation (69%), followed by taking out a loan (46%) and decreasing staff (35%).
Many remain optimistic for future MetLife and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released results from their Small Business Index Q2 2022, which found inflation to be the dominating challenge for small business owners. The quarterly index surveys 750 small business owners and decision makers online to take the temperature of the sector, see where small business owners are confident and where they are experiencing challenges. It found that 88% of small business owners are concerned about the impact of inflation on their businesses. Nearly half (49%) are very concerned, compared to 44% last quarter, and rising from 31% in Q4 2021.
■ 53 percent of small business retailers say inflation is a top challenge, significantly above other sectors, and up 21 points compared to last quarter. ■ Hiring woes remain. Over half (55%) of small businesses express concern over filling empty roles, and 54% are concerned about retaining employees.
Inflation has heated up, leading the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to help cool off the economy. And rising interest rates typically raise bond yields — the total annual income that investors get from their “coupon” (interest) payments. Rising yields can cause a drop in the value of your existing bonds, because investors will want to buy the newly issued bonds that offer higher yields than yours. And yet, despite this possible drop in their value, the bonds you own can still help you make progress toward your financial goals. Consider these benefits of bond ownership:
■ Reinvestment opportunities –Rising interest rates and higher yields may reduce the value of your current bonds, but this same development may also offer you some favorable reinvestment opportunities. If you own bonds of varying durations — short-, intermediate- and long-term — you should regularly have some bonds maturing, allowing you to reinvest the proceeds of your expiring shortterm bonds into new ones issued at potentially higher interest rates. By doing so, you can potentially provide yourself with more income. Also, by owning a mix of bonds, you’ll still have the longer-term ones working for you, and these bonds typically (but not always) pay a higher interest rate than the shorter-term ones. It's not pleasant to see the current value of your bonds drop. But if you’re not selling them before they mature, and you take advantage of the opportunities afforded by higher yields, you’ll find that owning bonds can still be a valuable part of your investment strategy. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones. Member SIPC. Before investing in bonds, you should understand the risks involved, including credit risk and market risk. Bond investments are also subject to interest-rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of bonds can decrease, and the investor can lose principal value if the investment is sold prior to maturity. The views expressed are those of Edward Jones and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
The benefits of bond ownership
“At the same time, there is confidence among small business owners that customer demand will remain strong, and this quarter’s index shows they want to hire and plan on meeting that demand in the coming months,” said Tom Sullivan, vice president of small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.Twointhree small business owners said their business is in good health, a five-point increase from last quarter and on par with pre-pandemic Q1 2020. Two-thirds (66 %) said they expect revenue to increase over the next year, and 43% plan to hire more staff -- the highest number recorded in the past two years.Meanwhile, there has not been any improvement in how small businesses view the overall economy. About half (49%) say the U.S. economy is poor, consistent with the last few quarters. Less than one in three (30%) say the overall U.S. economy is good. Slightly more (37%) rate their local economy as good.When asked to rank their top challenges, 44% of small businesses cite inflation (up from 33% last quarter), with supply chain issues (28%) and revenue (22%) remaining steady. The number of small businesses choosing rising interest rates as a top challenge (15%) doubled compared to last quarter. Three-quarters (74%) say they are concerned about the impact of rising interest rates on their business.
Nearly seven in 10 small businesses have raised prices to cope with inflation.
■ Diversification – As you’ve probably heard, diversification is a key to successful investing. If you only owned one type of asset, such as growth stocks, and the stock market went into a decline, as has happened this year, your portfolio likely would have taken a big hit — even bigger than the one you may have experienced. But bond prices don’t always move in the same direction as stocks, so the presence of bonds in your portfolio — along with other investments, such as government securities and certificates of deposit — can help reduce the impact of volatility on your holdings. (Keep in mind that diversification alone can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses in a declining market.)
Visit www.uschamber.com/sbindex.
The stock market has attracted a lot of attention lately – and for good reason, as we’ve seen considerable volatility almost from the beginning of the year. But if you own bonds, or bondbased mutual funds, you might have some concerns. However, it’s important to understand why bonds should continue to be a part of your portfolio. To begin with, let’s look at what’s happened with bond prices recently.
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 15
■ Small business owners see more competition and red tape. When comparing current conditions to six months ago, small businesses report higher levels of competition (39% vs. 30% last quarter), and say they are spending more time on licensing, compliance or other government requirements (37% vs. 29% last quarter).
GUEST bondsShouldCOLUMNISTyouownwhen interest rates rise?
Inflation has heated up, leading the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to help cool off the economy.
■ Income – No matter what happens to the value of your bonds, they will continue to provide you with income, in the form of interest payments, until they mature, provided the issuer doesn’t default, and defaults are unlikely with investment-grade bonds (those rated BBB or higher). Your interest payments will remain the same throughout the life of your bond, which can help you plan for your cash flow and spending.
“At the same time, there is confidence among small business owners that customer demand will remain strong …"
■ Four in 10 small business owners say they are still offering employees a hybrid work environment. Of those, 54% plan to continue to offer it indefinitely.
ERNA EdwardCOLBORNJones
Additional findings
■ Do not trust your caller ID, as scammers can spoof legitimate numbers. If you receive a phone call, check with the real agency by going to the agency’s website directly.
Simple things you can do to improve your security
5. Keep your computers and mobile devices patched and updated. Most provide an option to check and install updates automatically. Enabling that option can be a good idea if you don’t want to check for updates regularly.
16 SPECIAL SECTION Digital Marketing/Security September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
Be on the lookout for social engineering attempts such as phishing emails or phone scams related to telework. Social engineering is when someone tries to trick you into doing something or giving away personal information. Scammers and criminals use major events to come up with new schemes, and with so many teleworking, attackers will try to take advantage of this changing environment. If you get emails from unknown accounts with strange file attachments or people call claiming to be technical staff asking for your passwords, don’t hesitate to ask questions and verify things by phone or other means before proceeding.
1. Find out if your organization has rules or policies for telework, and if so, make sure you read them and comply with them. For example, it may be OK for you to use your own computer for reading company email but not for accessing sensitive customer data.
Source: security-basicscybersecurity-insights/telework-www.nist.gov/blogs/
A new Better Business Bureau® study update released in June shows scammers are pretending to be the Social Security Administration, IRS, Medicare or some other government agency; threatening arrest if you don’t give up your bank account information to pay a fee right away. They also might say you are eligible for a government grant, but require a fee to obtain it. BBB Scam Tracker data showed victims of government grant scams lost more money in 2021 than in the previous year.
By Jeff Greene, NIST Your employer has directed you to telework and you are feeling overwhelmed. With many changes happening at once, telework security could be an afterthought or completely overlooked. This could put you and your organization at increased risk from attackers, who are always looking for opportunities to take advantage of disruption generally and weak security practices specifically. But it’s more than your organization at risk. If your telework device is compromised, anything else connected to your home network could be at risk too. These tips are relevant whether you’re using your organizations’ laptop or smartphone, or your own personal desktop or tablet.
3. If your organization has a VPN (virtual private network), use that on your telework device for stronger protection (your organization’s telework rules or policies will likely tell you if you do). If not, consider using your own VPN. You can find numerous providers online.
4. If you’re using your own computer or mobile device (something not issued by your organization) for telework, make sure you’ve enabled basic security features. Simply enabling the PIN, fingerprint or facial ID feature will prevent people from getting on your device should you walk away from it. Any PIN or password you use should be hard to guess.
Scammers use threats and fake grants New study reveals spike in scammers governmentimpersonatingagencies
How do I know if I’m being scammed? Scammers may spoof a legitimate government agency phone number to call a potential victim and threaten arrest if the consumer fails to comply with their requests. They typically ask for payment in gift cards to rectify the problem. Social Security Administration impersonators warn the targeted individual that their identity has been stolen and ask them to verify their social security number and other personal information. Ironically, the individual may then actually become a victim of identity theft. Fake Internal Revenue Service callers threaten arrest unless back taxes are paid. In government grant fraud, scammers contact the consumer using an acquaintance’s hacked social media account. The consumer is told about a lucrative grant program that only costs a small fee to receive. Once the first payment is sent, the scammer continues to add various fees. The consumer never receives the grant and loses whatever money and personal information they sent to the scammers.Whilegift cards are still the method of payment of choice for scammers, more are beginning to turn to cryptocurrency.
The median loss in government grant scams rose from $800 to $1,000, making it one of the more expensive scams reported to Scam Tracker in 2021, according to BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust’s 2021 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report.
cyber resiliency
The ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse conditions, stresses, attacks, or compromises on systems that use or are enabled by cyber resources.
Social Security scams most reported, most expensive No agency is more popular than the Social Security Administration when it comes to government impostor scams; more than two-thirds according to BBB Scam Tracker in 2021. Almost all government impostor scams use a law enforcement angle, with some directly impersonating law enforcement agencies. In these cases, they have a fairly high success rate. Federal Trade Commission statistics show that more than one in five people who reported a law enforcement impostor scam lost money, with a median loss of $3,000 last year. With the federal government issuing billions of dollars in relief funding during the pandemic, scammers took full advantage by making up various grant programs.Thebiggest hurdle for those trying to prosecute these scammers is that most of the perpetrators are overseas.
BBB tips ■ Government agencies like the Social Security Administration, IRS or FBI do not call people with threats or promises of money.
Telework security basics
■ Do not click on links inside a text message or email purporting to be from a government agency. ■ Social Security numbers are never “suspended.” The Social Security Administration will never threaten to arrest you because of an identity theft problem. ■ Never provide your bank account or other personal information to anyone who calls you claiming to be associated with the IRS. The IRS generally makes its first contact with people by regular mail – not by phone – about taxes.
Jeff Greene is director of the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
2. Protect your computer communications from eavesdropping. If you use wifi (wireless networking) at home, make sure your network is set up securely. Specifically, look to see if it is using “WPA2” or “WPA3” security, and make sure your password is hard to guess. If you’re unsure how to do this, look for a how-to video or checklist online by doing a search for your wifi router brand and model.
6. If you’re seeing unusual or suspicious activity on any device you’re using to telework (computer, mobile device, or home network) ask for help—better safe than sorry. Contact your organization’s help desk or security operations center to report the activity.
■ Never pay with a gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. No government agency will take those forms of payment.
https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/cyber_resiliency
■ Don’t pay for a “free” government grant. Instead, go to Grants.gov for lists of official grants. This article was excerpted from the Better Business Bureau website. Visit BBB.org for more information.
Basic tips to improve your telework security
Definition(s):
Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois hired Kelly Finch (11) as its new clinical director.
Mercyhealth welcomed Shahid Mohammad (24), D.O., family medicine physician, to Mercyhealth Roscoe.
Kent Shantz, CEO, Rockford Mutual Insurance Company, was named one of the Top 20 Most Dynamic Business Leaders of 2022 by The Corporate magazine. Debra Beyer (26), claims representative, celebrated five years in August.
Eric Brown, education & advocacy coordinator, RAMP, received a Region 5 Advocacy Award at the 2022 National Council on Independent Living Conference.
RECOGNITIONS,EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITYAWARDS
OrthoIllinois rheumatologist,welcomed Zhe Liang, M.D. (6), andurgent care physician, Manoj Sreedharan, M.D. (7), to its medical team. Fehr Graham promoted Randy Beck (8) to associate engineering technician, Bob Frey (9) to senior engineering technician and Chris DeSilva (10) to branch manager in the Aurora, Ill., office.
Klaas Financial promoted Kyle Kite (3) to chief financial officer.
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomed Chenaire Barmore as community engagement coordinator, Rachel Larson as sales & servicing manager and Keturah Edwards as creative services manager.
Rockford Urological Associates’ hired Dr. Matthew Houlihan (4) as a general urologist with a focus on male reproductive medicine and men’s sexual health.
APPOINTMENTS
OSF HealthCare welcomed Natalie DiLeonardo, M.D. (13), to the OSF Medical Group – Primary Care location in Roscoe. Beth Johnson (14), FPQP® joined the Rock Cut Investment Group of RBC Wealth Management as branch service manager – client associate. Wipfli LLP promoted Jessica Macklin (15) to partner in its State and Local Tax Practice.
Illinois Bank & Trust promoted Sarilyn Neiber (23) to senior vice president, commercial banker.
in the newsMEMBERS IN THE NEWS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members. 18 September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
Sharde Calloway (22) was hired as a junior accountant at Rockford Mutual Insurance Company.
First National Bank and Trust hired Jennelle Olson (12) as retail market manager for the Walworth County location.
Rosecrance promoted Thomas Wright, M.D. (5), to chief of clinical excellence and president of medical affairs.
1. Dr.ZhanWeihai 2. Nitsy Utley3. Kyle Kite4. Dr.HoulihanMatthew 5. Dr.WrightThomas 6. Dr. Zhe Liang7. Dr. SreedharanManoj 8. Randy Beck 9. Bob Frey10. Chris DeSilva11. Kelly Finch12.OlsonJennelle 13. Dr. DiLeonardoNatalie 14. Beth Johnson15.MacklinJessica 16.DoughertyTabatha 17. Christopher F. Buckley 18.R.ChristopherWalton 19. Natasha P. Woodlock 20. Dave Todd 21.TiscarenoQuentin 22.CallowaySharde 23. Sarilyn Neiber24. Dr. MohammadShahid 25.SavitskiDanae 26. Debra Beyer27. Dr. TrenhaileScott
Troy Hadie, maintenance foreman, received Rockford Housing Authority’s June Director’s Spotlight Award.
Career Education Associates of North Central Illinois (CEANCI) hired Tabatha Dougherty (16) as system director of IL EFE System #150. Heinzeroth Marketing Group hired Theresa Carlson as account executive. Engineering Enterprises, Inc. (EEI) promoted Christopher F. Buckley (17), PE, BCEE, to senior project manager/environmental technical director, Christopher R. Walton (18), PE, to project manager, and Natasha P. Woodlock (19), PE, to senior project engineer I. Dave Todd (20) joined the municipal/ construction group as a senior project technician II and Quentin Tiscareno (21) the transportation group as a project engineer.
BOARD
Sherry Pitney, CEO, Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries, celebrated 40 years of service and received the Marilyn Farmer Women in Leadership Award from Citygate Network.
Danae Savitski (25) has joined V2 Marketing & Management as an administrative support coordinator for association and marketing clients.
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois gave Mary Jo Hare, Leaf River, and Lesley Tennessen, Lake in the Hills, Hall of Fame Awards for lifetime commitment to the Girl Scout movement.
GENERAL NEWS Surgeon Scott Trenhaile, M.D. (27), arthroscopic surgeon, OrthoIllinois, authored a study, “Arthroscopic Superior Capsula Reconstruction Using Hamstring Allograft,” to be published in an upcoming edition of the Arthroscopy: Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery.
Are you Memberawith 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. 350 Rockford, IL 61101 Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication
Coyle-Kiley Insurance Agency hired Nitsy Utley (2) as claims representative and personal lines assistant.
NEW RETIREMENTSPROMOTIONS,HIRES, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford welcomed Weihai Zhan (1), Ph.D., M.S., as director of student research.
Maryjo Pirages Reynolds,Allen Galluzzo Hevrin Leake, LLC, joined the Byron Bank board. Dietmar Goellner, Hennig Inc., and Tim Schipper, Hard Rock Casino Rockford, joined The Parks Chamber board.
Barbara Olson Center of Hope closed Super Shredders, as it was taking financial resources and staff away from the daily programs. Paper Recovery Services Corp. is providing a seamless transition in shredding services, including paper and cardboard pickup for businesses.
V2 Marketing & Management recently organized, promoted and facilitated the annual Summer Dance Workshop for the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) in Schaumburg, IL. This in-person event featured five different workshops with 450 dance teachers and students in attendance over the seven days. Highlights of the week included the Annual Awards Banquet, Gala Performance and Student Competition.
The City of Loves Park held its 75th Birthday Bash on July 30 at Loves Parks Festival Grounds located behind City Hall. Rockford Park District held a celebration on July 30 for the remodeled Keeling Trailhead Park Playground (formerly known as Saturn Park Playground) where the Perryville Path intersects with the Midway Village Museum Loop. In May 2020, the park district closed and removed the playground due to its deteriorating condition. It reopened in April 2022 and renamed Keeling Trailhead Park in recognition of Jim Keeling.
TheFranaGroup announced that Black River Health Services received $489,026 by the Health Resources and Services Administration for a two-year planning grant through the Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program to establish, along with its partners, a sixmember/person family medicine residency program in Pender County, North Carolina.
business
BUSINESS BRIEFS Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau held a meet-andgreet celebration with artist Christopher Newman in July to welcome back his “High Flight” sculpture. It can be seen at the College Avenue and Seminary Street traffic circle.
Rockford Park District athletes from the Rockford F.I.R.E. Track and Field program (run by the Youth Sports team) competed in the 56th Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games in Greensboro, North Carolina. Rosecrance opened a new outpatient location at 1631 S. Galena Ave., Freeport, which will offer clinic- and community-based behavioral health treatment services for youth, young adults, adults and their families.
The board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.19 per share for the quarter, payable on Aug. 29, 2022, for stockholders of record as of Aug. 15, 2022. Burpee Museum of Natural History opened a new exhibit, “Of This Place: Native Nations in the Rockford Region,” running through January 2023. It includes stories, art, videos, selected artifacts and text of the people of the Sac and Fox, Potawatomi and Ojibwe Nations.
WATT Global Media hosted the 2022 Chicken Marketing Summit in July at the Château Élan in Braselton, Georgia. According to new research presented there, 87 percent are buying more or the same amount of fresh chicken now compared to six months ago.
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced more than $83 million in road and bridge projects for the Rockford region over the next six years. Projects this year include the Montague Road Bridge rehabilitation, Rock River pavement patching, Kent Creek Bridge reconstruction, and Fairview Avenue to Rockford College Drive improvements.
YWCA Northwestern Illinois announced three free adult literacy and professional development courses offered through the YWCA Literacy Council beginning Sept. 12: general enhancements to reading/ writing/math/computer skills and preparatory for the GED test, ESL classes to improve English language skills for non-native speakers, and information technology careers
WATT Global Media announced that the Petfood Forum 2023, hosted by Petfood Industry, is scheduled for May 1-3, 2023, at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center received a one-year term of accreditation in cardiac electrophysiology by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.
For the sixth year, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get with The Guidelines® - Stroke quality achievement award for using the most appropriate treatment with nationally recognized, researchbased guidelines that save lives and reduce disability. Rockford Symphony Orchestra created the Community Musician Corps. Corps volunteers will help support school music programs by playing/singing in a concert, playing/ singing for a special rehearsal or playing in the “pit” for a school’s musical theater production.
Current literacy council staff now are YWCA employees. Plans are to increase the ESL classes throughout a six-county service area, including at businesses wanting to provide this skill to their own workforce. The organization received $25,000 in state funding through the Rebuild Illinois capital spending program for renovations to The Literacy Council offices at 928 N. Main St., near downtown Rockford.
CORRECTION TO THE AUGUST VOICE Chartwell Agency completed the Paw Print video series for Keith Country Day School to help the school illustrate its focus, expectations and relationships it has with families, students and teachers.
City First Church’s Love Week took place from Aug. 2-6. Volunteers spent thousands of hours giving back to the community through partnerships with Christian Life Schools, Shelter Ministries of Rockford, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries, The Pregnancy Care Center, Rock House Kids and Beloit Meals on Wheels.
Digital Hive Mind completed development of a virtual tour for Forest City Gear at fcgvirtualtour. com, with 360-degree views of more than 30 featured locations, highlighting the company’s gear manufacturing capabilities and state-of-the-art equipment. Per Mar Security Services acquired Dream Systems’ security division, further expanding its customer base in northern Wisconsin.
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 19 Crusader Community Health and two other clients of theFranaGroup (APlus Family Healthcare, Brownsville, Indiana, and LifeSpringHealth Systems, Jeffersonville, Indiana) received a SBSS Award of $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve and strengthen access to school-based health services in their communities.
The YWCA Northwestern Illinois acquired The Literacy Council.
The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners, on Aug. 9, presented crime mitigation recommendations including modified park hours, additional officers, surveillance cameras and license plate readers, electronic gates at select park entrances, and updated park signage and lighting. Gates have already been installed at some parks, and Rockford Park District police have cleared the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens campus parking lots, using barricades to prevent large group from gatherings after hours.
As part of their growth strategy and their mission to provide expanded association management services, V2 Marketing & Management will host an official open house for their new office space on Friday, September 30, 2022, 3:00pm at 6845 Weaver Road, Ste 300 in Rockford.
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau launched the Rockford Peaches Fan Trail and the GoRockfordPeaches.com website, with information on where they played home games and places around Rockford the team frequented.
Woodward, Inc., reported financial results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2022, including net sales of $614 million, compared to $557 million, an increase of 10 percent.
musician-corps.rockfordsymphony.com/community-Visit
Moreclasses.than $5 million in state funding was earmarked towards projects in Rockford’s downtown. GT Partners LLC, a subsidiary of Rockford-based Joseph James Partners, will use a $3 million Main Street award towards a $15 million restoration of the longvacant Times Theater, built in 1938. Plans are to host live performances and films for audiences of 600 to 900, filling a mid-size gap between the Coronado Performing Arts Center and the Nordlof Center stages, also on Main Street. More than $2 million is slated for a comprehensive upgrade of Madison Street from the Rockford City Market pavilion to Prairie Street Brewing Co., including resurfacing, underground water system updates, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and streetside beautification.
Chick-fil-A was recognized as the first winner of the Chicken Marketer of the Year for “#thelittlethings” at WATT Global Media’s 2022 Chicken Marketing. The advertising spots focused on little things team members did that made a big difference in serving customers and local communities.
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau’s latest media placement on the Matador Network site yielded 1,336,511 unique visitors per month. It originated from a journalist visit to Rockford planned by RACVB in early June, “Rockford, Illinois, Is an Outdoor Haven Perfect for a Weekend Escape from Chicago.”
City First Church sponsored 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies for local children through a Backpack Drive, July 17 - Aug. 21. Four clients of theFranaGroup received $65,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funding: A Plus Family Healthcare, Brownsville, Ky.; Black River Health Services, Burgaw, N.C.; Center for Family Health and Education, Panorama City, Calif., and Packard Health, Ann Arbor, Mich. Funds were given to help eliminate inequities in COVID-19 care and outcomes within communities of color and other underserved Thepopulations.
Guler Appliance hosts a ribbon cutting on Aug. 5 at 4435 E. State St., Rockford. IceHogs hosts a ribbon cutting on July 29 at 401 E. State St., Rockford.
Ceremonial ribbon donated by ServPro of Rockford
20 August 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
aMBaSSaDOR SPOTLIGHT
MEMBER PICS
Rockford Mutual Insurance Company separated employees into four groups, with the group raising the most selecting a nonprofit organization to donate the overall funds. Associates raised more than $400 for Carpenter’s Place
Pat Casazza, Rockford Chamber Ambassador and Alpine Kiwanis member, enjoys Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days 2022. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit agencies and provide high school seniors with scholarships.
Riverside Walmart hosts a grand opening on July 29 at 3902 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford.
InterActive Safety Solutions hosts a ribbon cutting, Aug. 23 at 577 Grable St., Rockford.
LawnCare by Walter hosts a ribbon cutting on Aug. 17 at 1515 S. Meridian Road, Rockford.
Rockford Auto Glass hosts a ribbon cutting on Aug. 12 at 5401 E. State St., Rockford.
on digital
IGNITE SOLUTIONSCHANGELLC
30-YEAR MEMBERS Roofing Supply Dale Carnegie Training of Greater Illinois, Inc. MEMBERS Cremation Society of Illinois Tree Care Enterprises Inc. 20-YEAR MEMBERS Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. Graphics, LLC 15-YEAR MEMBER Body Specialists Inc. 10-YEAR MEMBERS Healthcare Plus Security First Title Company ServiceMaster Restoration by DSI 5-YEAR MEMBERS Event Floral Mr. Goodwater, Inc. Rockford Board of Election WATTCommissionersGlobalMedia
25-YEAR
Thank you to our members celebrating their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce
ROCKFORD INSULATION
Above and Beyond Associates Aircraft Gear Corporation - Rockford Aircraft Gear CorporationLoves Park Angler Motors Inc. ARCO Machinery Movers LLC Bill Doran Company Cicero, France & Alexander, P.C. Comprehensive Community CORASolutionsPhysical TherapyAlpine Road CORA Physical Therapy - Belvidere CORA Physical Therapy - Byron CORA Physical TherapyPoplar
Mr.MosaicMorganMindyMidwestJohnnyHoweHonestHinshawGreenleeGinestraWatsonGetzForeverForestFirstEventCompany,EstwingGroveManufacturingInc.FloralNorthernCreditUnionCityGearCo.Green,Inc.FireEquipmentCompanyCo.&CulbertsonLLPPestControlInc.Freightways,Inc.PamcakesMailworks,Inc.JoyPhotographyBuildingMaintenanceInc.inRockfordGoodwater,Inc.
Northern Illinois Hospice Northwestern Mutual NyClo Screw Machine Products Pearson Plumbing & Heating Co. Prairie Street Brewing Co. Rock River Service Company Rock River Valley Tooling & Machining Association Rockford Art Deli Rockford Heat Treaters, Inc. Rockford Local Development RockfordCorporationLutheran School Rockford Symphony Orchestra Servpro of Rockford Smeja Homestead Foundation Stateline Real Estate LLC/Stateline Rental StatelinePropertiesYouthfor Christ Stockholm Inn The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties
THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 21
MIDWEST TITLE SERVICES Title company. 6278 E. Riverside Blvd. Loves Park, IL 61111 Ashley http://www.mtstitle.com815-283-3300Zilch
Colorwave
METRO, Cont. 3701 E. State St., 61104, 3709888-863-8768AuburnSt., 61101, 1009779-774-4352Broadway, 61104, 3611815-708-8185N.MainSt., 61103, www.metrobyt-mobile.comTom815-977-4149Schillinger
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Northern Illinois UNION Savings BANK Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers (K & K Foods Inc.) - Riverside Blvd Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers (K & K Foods Inc.) - East State Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers (K & K Foods Inc.) - State Street WilliamDowntownCharles Construction Winnebago Emerging Small Business Assistance
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Auto
AAR AIRCRAFT SERVICES Delivering industry-leading aviation services to commercial and government customers in over 100 countries. 6150 Cessna Dr., 61109 Theresa www.aarcorp.com779-513-4000Wiegert
SEPTEMBER MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
ADJUSTING 101 A public adjusting company helping property owners and property managers maximize their weather-related claims. 587 N. Edgewood Ave. Wood Dale, IL 60191 Michael www.adjusting101.com877-494-6795Cholewinski
FLEET FEET ROCKFORD Our mission is to help you find the right “FIT” in every facet of your active lifestyle. 1653 N. Alpine Road, 61107 Dan 779-423-1435Lakin www.fleetfeetrockford.com
A consulting firm that takes holistic approaches to increase diversity, equity and inclusion to support goals at any stage. Rebecca www.ignitechangesolutions.com815-315-3766Francis
METRO BY T-MOBILE With Metro by T Mobile your hard-earned money goes further. All Metro plans include 5G with the power of the T Mobile nationwide network. 1010 E. State St., 61104, 3192779-423-192811thSt., 61109, 779-774-3371
TONY FUNERALSGASPARINI Funeral & cremation services. 6825 Weaver Road, 61114 Tony www.tonygasparinifunerals.com815-378-1019Gasparini
Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in July 2022
American
NIKOLAS FOUNDATIONRITSCHEL Charity supporting young adults fighting cancer. Kelli Ritschel nikolasritschelfoundation.org815-262-8825Boehle
PROS Providing expert insulation services in Rockford, Illinois, and the surrounding area. 401 W. State St, 61101 Michael www.rockfordinsulationpros.com815-306-4306Callahan
NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
Judson University hosts its annual Homecoming and Family Weekend celebration, Sept. 22 to 24, at 1151 N. State St., Elgin. JUHomecoming2022.andwww.judsonu.edu/homecomingVisitregisteratbit.ly/
Emmy-winning journalist, comedian, host and creator of the “Manitowoc Minute,” Charlie Berens, performs live as a part of his “Midwest Survival Guide” tour, 8 p.m., at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com, the box office or 815-968-5222.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 Comedian Chris D’Elia performs, 7 p.m., at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at Ticketmaster. com, the box office or 815-9685222.
Rockford Park District presents Glow in the Garden, 6-9 p.m., Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. Second St. Purchase
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Geronimo Hospitality Group presents DEVIATE, an interactive art exhibition-meets-party and live music, 6 - 11 p.m., at the Ironworks Campus in downtown Beloit. Tickets at www.deviatebeloit.com Led Zeppelin cover band, Get The Led Out, brings A Celebration of the Mighty Zep to the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, at 8 p.m. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com, the box office or 815-968-5222.
Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Rockford Park District hosts Saturday Fun on the Farm at Lockwood Park, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., through Oct. 29 at 5201 Safford Road. Includes wagon rides through scenic meadows and woods and free Children’s Farm Barn visits. Visit lockwoodpark. com/rides.
Northern Illinois University Art Museum hosts a Get-On-The-Bus
Trip to Stanley Museum of Art, Iowa City, Iowa. Departs at 9 a.m.; 8 p.m., estimated return. Register by Sept. 23 at 815-753-1936 or artmuseum@niu.edu, or visit niu. edu/artmuseum.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
SEPTEMBER 2022
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
First National Bank and Trust hosts a free Coin Appraisal Event, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at 500 N. Elida St., Winnebago, Ill.
floating lanterns to release into Eclipse Lagoon, run a glowing 5K along the Rock River and other activities. Free 200-meter kids’ fun run at 7 p.m. Outdoor grounds are free. Visit 8858.com/activitiesnicholasconservatory.orcall815-987-
2022 Lifescape Senior Expo 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Rock Valley College Physical Education Center, 301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford. Guest speaker, three-time NBA champion Bill Wennington, begins at 12:30. Also features local exhibitors and health screenings.
Heritage Museum Park presents Music at the Museum featuring Jodi Beach Duo, 1-4 p.m., in the gazebo at 1129 S. Main St., Rockford. Bring a lawn chair. Guided tours through the Ethnic Heritage Museum and GrahamGinestra House, 2-4 p.m.
First National Bank and Trust hosts a free Shred Day with Paper Recovery Services Corp., 9 a.m.-o noon, at 1795 Madison Road, Beloit, Wis. Visit www. bankatfirstnational.com.
Emmy award-winning ultimate Beatles tribute, The Fab Four, performs 8 p.m., at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford.Tickets at Ticketmaster.com, the box office or 815-968-5222.
Rockford Public Schools hosts the 2022 Academy Expo, 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m., Indoor Sports Center, MercyHealth Sportscore 2, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Local professionals will showcase their careers with hands-on activities to help RPS 205 freshmen make an informed decision about their College and Career Academy selection for their sophomore school year. Visit academy-expo.rps205.com/community/volunteer/www.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
22 September 2022 THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com
The Family Medicine Residency Program at Mercyhealth Alpine, 7702 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, will have extra residents available for School and Sports Physicals, 2:40 - 4:40 p.m.,Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 29; Oct. 14. Schedule at 815-9713310.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Region 1 Planning Council is hosts the 2022 IDOT Fall Planning Conference, Sept. 21-23, Embassy Suites Riverfront Conference Center, 416 S. Main St., Rockford. Topics include transportation, economic development and land use planning. Speakers include Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara, Jason Anderson, economic development director for the City of Rochelle, and R1 staff. Includes a guided downtown walking tour featuring state-funded infrastructure projects and a tour of the Chicago Rockford International Airport’s cargo facilities. Visit r1planning.org/idotfp.
First National Bank and Trust hosts a free Shred Day with Paper Recovery Services Corp., 9 a.m.noon, at 300 E. Main St., Rockton. Visit www.bankatfirstnational.com.
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Gordon Lightfoot performs, 7 p.m., at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com, the box office or 815-968-5222
OCTOBER 2022
For visitInformation,EventUp-to-daterockfordchamber.com
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
community COMMUNITY EVENTS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
Community Priority Series: Mayor’s Business Address, 10 a.m., Facebook Livestream. Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara will highlight successes from the past year, look at areas of continued growth and discuss what the business community can expect from the City of Rockford and its mayor in 2023 and beyond. Sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, Comcast Business and Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute.
Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30-9 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Sponsored by AT&T.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m., at Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Sponsored by Associated Bank.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30-9 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Sponsored by AT&T.
OCTOBER 2022
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Rockford Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, 5-8 p.m., Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Road, Rockford. Keynote by Harris III on “Wonder: The Transformative Power of Wonder in Leadership.” Food catered by Greenfire. Sponsored by OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Woodward, Associated Bank, Comcast Business and RSM US LLP.
IGNITE After 5-Hidden Creek Estates, 13276 White School Road, Roscoe. Stop in anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Topic is “Financial Planning Begins at Your Age.” Sponsored by Associated Bank.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
NOVEMBER 2022
Community Priority Series: Conversation with Chairman Chiarelli, 10 a.m. A livestream conversation with Winnebago County Chairman Joe Chiarelli.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11 Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford. Rebecca Francis of Ignite Change Solutions, presents “Inspiring Allys. The Secret Sauce to Gender Equality.” Sponsored by Associated Bank.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Pow(H)er Conference, 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Hoffman House & Holiday Inn, 7550 E. State St., Rockford. A conference for all who support, believe in and champion the advancement of women. Choose workshops from four tracks: Balance, Advancement, Legacy and Ally. Sponsored by OSF Healthcare, Northwest Bank of Rockford, Thayer Lighting, Inc., and Edward JonesErna Colborn, AAMS®, CRPS®, Financial Advisor.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 IGNITE Meets a Nonprofit featuring Northwest Community Center, 5:30-7 p.m., 1325 N. Johnston Ave., Rockford. IGNITE members can engage with local nonprofits, work on personal development and volunteer through these events. Contact Carmen ckellerman@rockfordchamber.com.at
Community Priority Series: Mayor’s Business Address, 10 a.m., Facebook Livestream Features Superintendent Dr. Ehren Jarrett in his ninth year leading the Rockford Public Schools. Sponsored by Comcast Business and Van Matre. IGNITE After 5-GreenFire Restaurant, Bar & Bakery, 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. Stop in anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 2022
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
CHaMBER CHAMBER EVENTS ADVERTISERS INDEX THE VOICE • rockfordchamber.com September 2022 23 Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100 ........................................... Direct Line Caitlin Pusateri, President 815-316-4337 Melissa Adams, Executive Assistant 815-316-4312 Jeff Bailey, Membership Development Executive 815-316-4336 Susan Contrady, Account Executive 815-316-4317 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology 815-316-4338 Carmen Kellerman, Events Manager 815-316-4302 Kristin Muehlfelder, Member Relations................................................815-316-4315 Doug Rand, Accounting Manager/Controller 815-316-4316 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator 815-316-4320 Andrew Wright, Director of Strategic Initiatives 815-987-8100 Edward Caceres, Director, Small Business Development Center 815-987-8100 VOICE the Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Comcast Business . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) . . . . 4 Mercyhealth 5 Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . 22 OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7, 17 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Thayer Energy Solutions . . . . . . . 9 Trajectory Energy Partners . . . . . 11 The Manufacturing Issue HealthcareTransformationsInnovations/ For information on advertising, call 815 987-8100 OCTOBER VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS The Rockford Chamber is always on the look out for educational speakers for our events! Want to share all you know about a particular topic? Reach out to discuss potential speaking opportunities at an upcoming event! Send your idea to rockfordchamber.com.ckellerman@ CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS COMMITTEEEXECUTIVE Chair of the Board Dan FoundationCommunityRoss of Northern Illinois Vice JFSJohnTreasurerDonViceStarckHomeServicesBerkshireJeanChairCrosbyHathawayCrosbyRealEstateChairDanielsSchusterServices DIRECTORS LaVonne Brown Savant SamuelManagementWealthJ.Castree Staff Management, LeslyInc. ConstructionStenstromDougworkplaceCouperCurry Group Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency Carol Friesen OSF CrematoryFuneralHonquestTimCollinsIraRockfordEricMedicalSaintHealthCareAnthonyCenterFulcomer,Ph.D.UniversityGrimmettAerospaceHonquestFamilyHomewith Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw Culbertson& LLP Carly IllinoisKarlofUniv.MD,AlexSupply,AmericanTeresaCommunityBank,RockfordBrentConstructionSchmelingPeterRSMDeniseIllinoisYWCAMachajewskiKrisBeverages,LaMonicaLaMonicaInc.L.KieperNorthwesternSasseUSLLPSchmelingCo.ScottCommunityAWintrustBankSharpPrecisionInc.Stagnaro-Green,MHPE,MHAofIllinoisCollegeMedicineRockfordSwansonBank&Trust Christina Valdez CMM & Associates Dustin andMidwestRobertMeiborg,VockInc.YoungPackagingContainer DIRECTORSEX-OFFICIO Caitlin DevelopmentEconomicRockfordThereseVisitorsConventionRockfordJohnofRockfordPresidentPusateriChamberCommerceGrohArea&BureauThillAreaCouncil Be expertiseVoicetheof
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
