November Voice 2012

the voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

tWEntY PEoPlE You SHould KnoW

roCKFord Mutual InSuranCE 116 YEarS oF SErvICE

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CHaMBEr urgES a ‘YES’ votE on SCHool rEFErEnduM

November 2012 | Volume 25 | No. 11

Twenty People You Should Know Honorees celebrated at event

By Paul Anthony Arco The People You Should Know recognition is quickly gaining steam in the Rockford community.

More than 250 people turned out for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s second annual People You Should Know celebration, held Oct. 24, at Prairie Street Brewhouse.

The 20 recipients represented various industries including banking, nonprofit, higher education, law and healthcare.

The honorees were chosen for their civic, economic and cultural contributions to the Rockford area. A selection committee chose this year’s class after reviewing more than 60 nominations.

Photos by Brian Thomas Photography

Dr. Robert Head, President of Rockford College, strides to the stage to receive his award as being one of the twenty People You Should Know, 2012.

“What a wonderful gathering of community leaders that reflects all that’s positive in Rockford,” said recipient Phil Eaton, president and CEO of the Rosecrance Health Network. “It’s fantastic to enjoy the success and the hard work being done by so many folks who impact the greatness of this community. Last year’s group really set the bar high. There will be significant motivation by this year’s group to try and meet that challenge and carry that torch like they have.”

“It was an exceptional event. Being in a setting like this really helped elevate that excitement,” said Einar Forsman,

president and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. “Our honorees take this very seriously, and sometimes I take for granted just how important it is to those individuals. It’s their peers recognizing them as leaders. It’s rare air.”

“Last year was a first, so people didn’t know what to expect. People know about it now and are looking forward it each year. The group of judges wanted people representing a multitude of industries. It was a good mix.”

Bob Guirl, director of business development at UTC Aerospace Systems, more on page 11

n online registration n keynote speaker video clips n event photos n list of Chamber events questions? 815-987-8100

Join the Chamber’s linkedIn group www.linkedin.com/e/gis/2544

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Healthcare Industry Update Nov. 15 • Giovanni’s For more info, see page 26

roCKFord ParK dIStrICt naMEd BESt In tHE unItEd StatES

Laurent House listed on National Register of Historic Places

visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com

On Nov. 6, area residents will have a chance to take an important vote affecting area schools. The Rockford Chamber encourages individuals to vote “yes” on the proposed $139 million bond referendum to support the Rockford Public School’s 10-year facility plan. Money will be invested on safety and energy efficiency issues and on upgrading facilities into modern learning spaces to improve the educational environment and student performance.

The plan was built on keeping tax levy rates steady, with no net increase in taxes from passage of the referendum. Rockford School Board already voted to keep its promise from five years ago not to continue a 58 cent operating levy (Kids’ Win Campaign). This brings about an overall net decrease in tax rate from the district.

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Council, Public Education Council and Board of Directors reviewed the school district’s investment plans and tax rate analysis and voted wholeheartedly to recommend voting YES on the bond referendum. For more information visit www. betterschoolsbrighterfuture.com.

Foundation continues its progress towards opening home to the public

A date is targeted to open the Laurent Home as a museum on June 8, 2013: Frank Lloyd Wright’s 146th birthday.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s only home designed specifically for an individual with a disability soon will become a Rockford attraction. The Laurent House Foundation announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior named the Laurent House to the National Register of Historic Places.

Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the 1949 Kenneth and Phyllis Laurent House to meet the needs of Kenneth Laurent, a World War II veteran who used a wheelchair. Wright considered the home to be one of his 35 most important works, out of more than 1,000 designs. The Laurents lived in the home

until earlier this year, when the Laurent House Foundation acquired it and the FLW furnishings in February, 2012.

The Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council unanimously recommended the property for listing on the National Register in July. “This underscores the home’s significance as a unique and important piece of our nation’s history and heritage,” said Jerry Heinzeroth, Laurent House Foundation board president. “Wright lovingly called the home his ‘little gem’. We are humbled that the Department of Interior sees that it is fitting and proper to preserve this gem for future generations.” n

The Rockford Park District has been named the best park district in the country among similarly sized communities. In October, the park district accepted the 2012 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation from the National Recreation and Park Association. The award honors excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. The park district celebrated locally with a public, evening event on Oct. 23 at Webbs Norman Center in downtown Rockford.

In May, the park district submitted a video entry as a finalist on its various recreation programs, partnerships, and people; produced by area videographer Pablo Korona. View it at www.rockfordparkdistrict.org.

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November 2012

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President’s Message VIEWPOINT

Top CEOs urge President, Congress to take action to avoid fiscal cliff

Ben Bernanke has warned that the fiscal cliff would push the U.S. economy back into recession On October 18, the Financial Services Forum sent a letter to President Barack Obama and members of Congress urging them to work together and reach a bipartisan agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, as well as to take concrete steps to address the nation’s debt situation and restore the long-term fiscal footing of the United States. The letter was signed by 15 Fortune 500 Company CEO’s including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Allstate Insurance and Prudential Financial.

The Financial Services Forum is a non-partisan financial and economic policy organization comprising the CEOs of 20 of the largest and most diversified financial services institutions doing business in the United States.

The purpose of the Forum is to pursue policies that encourage savings

The Financial Services Forum further urged Congress to enact legislation that truly restores the nation’s long-term financial soundness. and investment, promote an open and competitive global marketplace, and ensure the opportunity of people everywhere to participate fully and productively in the 21st-century global economy.

The letter urges the administration and congress to work together to reach a bipartisan agreement to avoid the approaching “fiscal cliff”, and take concrete steps to restore the United States’ long-term fiscal footing. In their letter they say that the consequences of inaction—for stability in global financial markets, for economic growth, for millions of Americans still without work, and for the financial

circumstances of American businesses and households—would be very grave.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has warned that the fiscal cliff would push the U.S. economy back into recession and reduce job creation in 2013 by 1.25 million fewer jobs. In the letter the Forum further cites that the Congressional Budget Office has said that the economy is already being held back by the mere anticipation of the fiscal cliff and the uncertainty surrounding it, as many businesses are putting off investment and hiring decisions.

From the letter it states, “At a time when economic growth is less than 2

Einar K. Forsman Rockford Chamber of Commerce

percent, and with nearly 25 million Americans either out of work or underemployed, the still fragile U.S. economy cannot sustain—and the American people do not deserve— the impact of more gridlock in Washington. We urge you to negotiate a bipartisan agreement as quickly as possible to prevent us from going over the fiscal cliff so that we can avoid the damage to the economy and the markets that inaction will cause.”

In its letter, the Financial Services Forum further urged Congress to enact legislation that truly restores the nation’s long-term financial soundness.

To read the full letter go to financialservices forum.org.

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November 2012

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Observing the small business code of ethics Three principles for the gray areas Since humans are capable of abstract thought and sophisticated language, our behavior often blurs the lines between black and white into what is known as “the gray area.” Consequently, the desire for order motivated the establishment of ethical standards to encourage acceptable personal behavior, contracts to encourage legal behavior, and courts to sort things out when a final authority is required.

When it comes to ethical behavior, professionals have lots of help.

Attorneys, CPAs, doctors, architects, investment professionals, etc., have established and published very specific ethical and professional standards, plus monitoring organizations complete with sanctioning authority. Indeed, part of their education and certification requires knowledge of that profession’s ethical standards and practices.

But when small business owners find themselves in the gray area with a customer or other business relationship, there is no sanctioning entity we can call on for guidance. We’re on our own; because The Universal Code of Small Business Professional Conduct and Ethics doesn’t exist.

Doing the Right Thing Having now been in the marketplace in six different decades, I’m pleased to report that the moral compass, sense of fair play, and inclination to deal in good faith on Main Street is exemplary.

Small business owners consistently demonstrate that life is much simpler – and more rewarding – when they just do the right thing. No doubt they regularly turn to ancient codes for behavioral guidance, including the Golden Rule and the 8th and 9th Commandments.

In addition to these, allow me to recommend three other principles, which come in handy when you find

Jim Blasingame Small Business Advocate Show

yourself in the gray area, perched on the horns of an ethical dilemma. One is from an ancient philosopher, one from a 20th century Nobel Laureate, and one from a 21st century ethics thought leader.

On Transparency: “The way to live with honor is to be in reality what you appear to be.” Socrates, 5th century B.C. On Integrity: “Integrity has no need of rules,” Albert Camus, from “The Myth of Sisyphus” (1942).

On Ethics: “Ethics is devotion to the unenforceable,” Len Marrella, author of “In Search of Ethics” (2005).

Here are all three delivered in one sentence: “John, I noticed one of the terms you wanted was left out when we signed the final contract. Even though the contract is in force, I did agree to that point. So let’s put it back in and resign the contract.”

Write this on a rock … Devotion to the unenforceable, thy name is small business.

Jim Blasingame is creator and host of the Small Business Advocate Show. Copyright 2012, author retains ownership. All Rights Reserved jimb@jbsba.com, SmallBusiness Advocate.com.

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

Mark Your Calendar!

Hear Jim Blasingame live as the keynote speaker for the Rockford Chamber’s upcoming Annual Meeting. Mark your calendars for Thursday, Jan. 24 at Giovanni’s.

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

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

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

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

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November 2012

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Q3 Small Business Survey Results 50

Number of businesses that are uncertain of their future continues to grow.

49%

45%

40

41% 40%

40%

38%

30 June 11

Oct. 11

Jan. 12

Prolonged uncertainty about the economy is impacting small businesses’ ability to create jobs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s new quarterly small business survey conducted online

by Harris Interactive. Only 16% of small business owners reported that they plan to add employees this year, and the majority does not expect to hire in 2013.

Small businesses cite the looming fiscal cliff, burdensome regulations, and the health care law as top concerns when considering their business’ future.

Leading into the election, the small business community also is energized to affect change, with 92% saying they are very motivated to vote, and 97% outlining support for candidates who support free enterprise.

Among the key findings of the Chamber’s Third Quarter Small Business Survey:

Prolonged Uncertainty is Impacting Hiring ■ Uncertainty is at its highest level since last year; 49% of small businesses are not sure if their business’ best days are ahead or behind them.

■ 84% say they are pessimistic about their future operations in light of recent unemployment numbers and low workforce participation.

■ Only 17% of small businesses surveyed expect to add staff in 2013, reflecting a steady downward trend over the course of the year.

March 12

July 12

Oct. 12

Impending “Fiscal Cliff” Adding to Economic Fears There was an increase in intensity among those who are concerned about the fiscal cliff. 72% say they are very concerned, which is significantly higher than the 65% reported last quarter.

62% believe that the expiration of 2001 and 2003 tax rates and other business provisions, coupled with sequestration cuts, will have a significant negative impact on their business’ growth, up from 59% in the previous quarter. In total, 89% believe these tax increases will negatively impact their operations.

Leadership in Washington Affects the Small Business Outlook ■ 76% of small businesses say the health care bill makes it harder to hire more employees.

■ 79% of small businesses surveyed feel that the Administration is not doing enough to keep energy prices low, and 76% say that higher energy prices threaten their business.

Business Community Highly Motivated to Vote in November Small business owners are motivated to vote in this election: 97% are motivated and 92% say they are very motivated.

There is still overwhelming support among small businesses for candidates who support free enterprise, with 97% citing it as a factor in how they vote.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

November 2012

New Chamber board members slated The Rockford Chamber’s nominating committee, headed by board member Pam Maher, presented a slate of nominees for the Chamber Board of Directors at its Oct. 23 meeting. In announcing the slate of candidates, President & CEO Einar Forsman noted that there were many qualified candidates for each position on the board. “We’re confident those members nominated will represent the Rockford area business community with distinction.”

The board members recommended to be nominated for a three-year term to begin Jan. 1, 2013 are:

■ Mike Mastroianni, Rock Valley College, 3rd Term ■ Patti Thayer, Thayer Lighting, Inc., 3rd Term ■ Tim Rollins, WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, 3rd Term

■ Jeff Hultman, Riverside Community Bank

Pam Maher, KMK Media Group, will complete nine years of service on the board on Dec. 31, 2012, the maximum permitted under the current Chamber bylaws.

The board will vote on the nominating committee’s recommendations at its Nov. 27 meeting. For more information about the board nomination process, contact Einar Forsman at 815-316-4304.

■ Michele Janke, BMO Harris Bank

Chamber Elects Board Officers

■ Amy Ott, Chicago Rockford International Airport For additional three-year terms, the following individuals are recommended for reappointment under our bylaws:

The following were voted on at the September board meeting to be elected as officers for the coming two-year term, to begin Jan. 1, 2013 and to expire Dec. 31, 2014:

■ Joe Castrogiovanni, Giovanni’s, Inc., 2nd Term

■ Treasurer: Larry Bridgeland, Mid City Office Products

■ J Chapman, Maverick Media of Rockford LLC, 2nd Term

■ Vice Chairman: Patti Thayer, Thayer Lighting

■ Henry Seybold, Rockford Health System, 2nd Term

■ Vice Chairman: Rick Zumwalt, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

■ Larry Bridgeland, Mid City Office Products, 3rd Term

RFD ranked a top airport for economic impact in Illinois

Airport’s benefits extend far beyond runways Chicago Rockford International Airport ranked as having the third highest total economic outputs for commercial airports in the state, behind Chicago O’Hare and Midway. The Illinois Aviation Economic Impact Study, conducted by the Illinois Department of Transportation, examined the economic impacts of 116 public-use Illinois airports. According to the report, RFD annually generates nearly $1 billion in economic impact, and its activities supported 5,384 jobs with a total payroll of more than $224 million. Those individuals generated $994 million more for the local economy.

RFD’s economic impact can be traced to visitor spending at local restaurants, hotels and other businesses. The report takes into account direct, indirect and induced economic benefits, including air cargo, passengers, car rentals and hotel occupancy. It also looks at qualitative benefits of an airport, such as its impact on safety, quality of life for area residents, and support of the U.S. military.

“This statewide aviation economic impact study highlights the positive boost airports have on their local communities, in their region, and to the State of Illinois. Airports create jobs, and jobs lead to opportunity,” said Dr. Susan Shea, director of IDOT’s Division of Aeronautics. She said Illinois airports contribute $40.9 billion and more than 337,000 jobs to the state’s economy.

“One of our major roles at the airport is to serve as a regional economic generator, and this study shows we are achieving this mission,” said RFD Director Mike Dunn. “It provides solid numerical values on the airport’s significant impact and benefit to the community.”

More details on the economic impact study are available at www. illinoisairportsmeanbusiness.com.

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Gen Y Terrance Hall joins RAEDC The newest member of the RAEDC staff is Terrance Hall, business development specialist. Hall will focus on business retention and expansion efforts, particularly the Voice of the Customer client visits and the objectives set by the RAEDC’s Business Retention & Expansion Solutions Team.

Hall said the RAEDC’s goal is to conduct 125 VOC interviews in 2012.

“It’s very interesting to talk to business owners and executives because these are such historic times, as we come out of a deep recession. Getting their perspectives on what our is doing right and what we could be doing better will be very helpful to the Rockford area.”

Urban & Regional Planning Background Hall graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor of arts in urban and regional planning in 2011. He has completed advanced course work in economic development planning and environmental planning. Prior to joining the RAEDC, he was a research associate for Rockford Region Vital Signs (RRVS).

RRVS is a consortium-led regional plan for sustainable development and operates under the direction of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Rockford Region Economic

Development District. The plan is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.

A Chicago native, Hall says he likes living in Rockford. “I see lots of positive energy here. People tell me that is a recent development that has manifested itself in some pretty cool things, like the City Market, Friday Night Flix and more.”

Hall continued, “Downtown developments tend to draw a lot of youth. From a workforce perspective, employers will be looking for more 25- to 40-year-olds, as the 50 to 60-year-old bracket retires. The work that the region is doing to create a more vibrant downtown will really help us attract the younger age group. I like what I see, partnerships and collaborations that harness positive energy and momentum.

I think a good place to focus would be to create a vibrant downtown that will help connect everybody of all age groups.”

Hall replaces Matthew Simpson, who is pursuing an advanced degree at Northern Illinois University. He can be contacted at thall@rockfordil.com or 815-969-4258.

Chairman Christiansen, Mayor Morrissey and Mayor Hedvall (Lidköping, Sweden) receive gifts from Eisenhower Middle School students at the “Coffee Talk with Mayor Morrissey and Chairman Christiansen” on Oct. 4. Also pictured is Dave Morgan of TechWorks (far right), with students from the “Surgeons of Steel” program (Pathways for Technical Careers Academy), which prepares them for careers in manufacturing.

Business leaders interact with students from the FIRST Lego League at Eisenhower Middle School on Oct. 4 at the “Coffee Talk with Mayor Morrissey & Chairman Christiansen.” The First Lego League is a robotics program designed to get students excited about science and technology.

TechWorks today: Backed by the region Community assists with workforce training goals

By Sherry Pritz, EIGERlab Two years ago EIGERlab, assisted by local manufactures, chose to revamp TechWorks’ CNC machine operator training program. Taking it to the next level, TechWorks added the missing elements local manufacturers requested, including ACT WorkKeys Assessments, Job Readiness training and drug testing. The results have been impressive.

By the end of 2012, the number of graduates projected to complete the program is 135. Of that total, a high percentage of graduates has received job offers and is working in our region.

Even though there still is a deficit of trained machinists, TechWorks is making a positive impact on the regions’ needs by training people at a machine operator level -- a positive start on the road to becoming a skilled machinist.

Donations from the Community Winnebago County leaders, local manufactures and companies that manufacture the machinery affiliated with this industry are fully aware of the workforce needs in our region and have stepped up to the plate to donate funds and machinery to assist with TechWorks’ workforce training goals.

Recently Fastenal, DMG/Mori Seiki and Winnebago County have donated new machines, Sandvik Coromant has donated cutting tools, and Winnebago

Instructor Gordy Blaisdell shares information with a student.

County has assisted with a training loan fund. This is a group effort to solve the shortfall of skilled machines as the baby boomer generation retires. director

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this effort forward. Our region has growing needs through expansions and retirements for CNC machine operators and machinists, and this program was designed to immediately address some of those needs.”

TechWorks partners with Rock Valley College and strongly suggests that

the

TechWorks

graduates

broaden their skills through additional education related to CNC machining, including programming and set-up at RVC. Many companies in the region compliment the TechWorks machine operator training program by also hiring TechWorks trainers to assist with onsite custom training more quickly to bring their incumbent employees up-tospeed on their products and machinery.

Sherry Pritz is marketing coordinator at EIGERlab, Rock Valley College.

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November 2012

New technology, system selection process Lifting Rockford manufacturers’ confidence, efficiency

By Amy Fitzgerald, IMEC With its customers demanding products and information faster and faster, and its business growth dependent on better tools, Rockford-based Caldwell Group faced a challenge: the company’s manufacturing information system hadn’t been updated in more than a decade — and choosing the right replacement from the dozens of options on the market presented a daunting task for the 95-employee manufacturer of lifting equipment. Enter IMEC. According to Caldwell Group President Doug Stitt, the company had purchased a system in the late 1990s, but stopped implementation only partially through the conversion from a previous model. “It probably wasn’t the best fit for us,” he said. “Since then, we’ve been running multiple systems concurrently, and we’ve managed to be successful in spite of that. Still, we recognized that we needed to put a more effective system in place to help us grow.”

Caldwell Group had worked with the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC) on several projects in the past, including 5S training and process mapping, so Stitt reached out to his IMEC contacts for help. To avoid laying a new information system on top of potentially ineffective work processes,

IMEC recommended the company combine the system selection project with some internal process improvement work.

Working Through Implementation Process The two organizations began with a thorough review of Caldwell Group’s existing manufacturing information system and its capabilities and weaknesses, as well as a “wants and needs” assessment of each functional area within the company. Then, the various departments collaborated to create a current state map, documenting each step in Caldwell Group’s work process. What happened next, according to Stitt, made a huge difference in the project.

“IMEC suggested we conduct the system demos before we embarked on future state mapping,” he said. “That enabled us to understand exactly what was out there in terms of functionality and tools, so we could plan where we wanted to go based on that knowledge.”

IMEC narrowed down the list of potential systems to a manageable number and brought in several vendors for highlevel walkthroughs to help the company envision what a new system could do. With this background, the Caldwell Group team developed future state process maps incorporating some of the key capabilities they observed — like e-commerce and

Shown is Caldwell Group’s four-point bulk container lifting beam with a radio-controlled RigRelease® on each end. configuration tools, scheduling capabilities and inventory management — and used them to communicate final functionality requirements. Then, the vendors returned to perform more detailed, function-specific demonstrations, and Caldwell Group made a final selection. Implementation is currently underway with a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2013.

Although it’s too soon to document results, Stitt reports that his team is very happy with the selected vendor and the support they’re receiving during the implementation process — and he anticipates future major benefits.

“The return is going to be huge in terms of how we manage information.

We’ll have a better ability to service our customers from both a physical as well as an electronic standpoint,” Stitt said. “It

will make us much more efficient, and that efficiency will translate into more ontime deliveries for our customers.”

While he knows only time will tell if Caldwell Group selected the right manufacturing information system, Stitt says the company couldn’t be more confident in its choice. “We’ve been through a bad decision in the past — the wrong system and poor implementation — and I can tell you from experience that it’s much more costly than investing the additional time and money to bring in a resource like IMEC,” he said. “Using IMEC’s expertise and network, we feel like we did everything possible to make the best decision for our company.”

Amy Fitzgerald is marketing coordinator at IMEC.

Manufacturing Briefs B/E Aerospace, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and the world’s leading distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables, held a grand opening in September for its new 38,000-square-foot Ecosystems assembly facility in Rockford, which will house the administrative, research and production operations for a product line that includes waste and water systems, and components such as vacuum toilets, waste tanks and vacuum

generators for the commercial aircraft and business jet markets.

An announcement was made that the 2013 Go Global conference, Optimize Your Global Supply Chain, will be May 1. Visit www.goglobal-itc.com.

Eclipse Inc., announced the opening of a new demonstration laboratory at its corporate headquarters in Rockford. The facility hosts customers and training participants from around

the globe, who come to see the latest equipment test fire and learn ways to improve their heat processing.

Now under the third generation of family ownership, Eclipse, Inc., manufactures products and systems for industrial heating and drying applications, including a wide variety of gas and oil burners, recuperators and heat exchangers, complete combustion systems, and accessories for combustion systems.

Forest City Gear Co., held a groundbreaking ceremony in October for a new 8,500-squarefoot building across from its main headquarters at 11715 Main St., in Roscoe. Roscoe Works will allow the company to expand its blankcutting business and provide new jobs. “We’re at capacity now, and we’re only meeting 40 percent of our needs,” said Fred Young, CEO. “Expansion of this new business will allow us to decrease our lead time on projects, cut vendor costs and control the quality of our product.”

Manufacturing Update is sponsored by IMEC.

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21st century learning environment has begun What can 2,000 people do together?

They can transform a 20th century school into a 21st century learning environment, showcasing what could happen across the Rockford Public School District if the Nov. 6th bond referendum passes. The Rockford School Board appreciates the Rockford Chamber Board of Directors’ unanimous support of the bond referendum. Our kids are preparing themselves for the 21st century world, but doing it in classrooms built for 20th century education.

Our 20th Century Schools … a Century Behind Deferred maintenance now is at a critical level. Maintenance personnel are preoccupied responding to trouble calls instead of designing and implementing long-range preventative maintenance programs.

■■ Most schools do not have sufficient capacity to handle electrical and wiring needs of new technology.

■■ Heating systems in many buildings are unreliable, and more than half the buildings are not air-conditioned.

■■ A majority of older schools rely on operable windows for ventilation, and many do not function properly or lack screens to keep out bugs and birds.

■■ Buildings need paint, carpet, windows, electrical work, plumbing, heating/cooling and general repair.

While needs have continued to grow, the operating budget has steadily decreased. Our schools now have serious maintenance needs that become more costly each year.

What Are 21st Century Schools?

The district’s 10-year facilities plan lays out necessary improvements, maintenance and renovation to turn our schools into 21st century learning environments equipped to help students compete globally. They feature: ■■ Smart boards ■■ iPads ■■ Wireless connectivity ■■ Improved science labs ■■ Libraries as media centers ■■ Increased accessibility (ADA) ■■ Functional community spaces ■■ Small-group breakout areas ■■ Infrastructure to support technology ■■ Spaces designed for new resources ■■ Improved energy efficiency ■■ Reduced operating costs

The McIntosh Model Over the summer, 2,000 dedicated Rockford Sharefest volunteers worked thousands of hours to renovate a 50-yearold school into a modern learning facility that not only is benefitting the

students’ education, but improving the atmosphere for the teachers and staff, as well, and creating a 21st century learning environment.

According to McIntosh Principal Al Gagliano, the transformation impacted almost the entire school and its learning environment. Internet and wireless connections now are available in every classroom. Smart boards have been placed in nearly every classroom. The renovated library showcases new carpeting, new bookshelves, new lighting, 15 additional computers, a new smart board and new tables and chairs.

The transformation of McIntosh goes well beyond the library, however.

Classrooms were structurally overhauled as well. “The Open Pod classroom area was completely renovated,” Gagliano said.

“Permanent walls have been constructed, allowing the classrooms to be separated.

There are fewer distractions now. It is not just about updating lights and adding smart boards; it is taking a look at the entire space and asking how we can make this more functional for the student, the teacher and families.”

McIntosh’s renovation is just the first step in what is hoped will be a districtwide movement to bring all Rockford schools into a 21st century learning environment, and the $139 million dollar bond referendum on the Nov. 6th ballot will allow the district to do that.

No Tax Increase from Referendum The $139 million dollars in new bonds won’t result in an increase to your property tax rate. We will repay the bond debt without increasing the tax rate, because the new bonds will replace older, retiring bond debt. That means taxpayers will see no change in their tax bill due to this referendum. Our school board unanimously approved putting this referendum on the ballot, because they believe passing it is absolutely crucial to the school district’s future.

Rocking the Future Creating “21st Century Learning Environments” is one of the district’s five “Readiness Rocks” initiatives, focused on creating a school district that is first-class in achievement and pride. Our school board believes passing the November referendum is a critical step in providing students and staff with the schools and infrastructure they need to develop both outstanding students and productive citizens in our community.

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

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

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I love Rockford I love Rockford. And not because I work at the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and it’s my job to say that.

I really do love the Rockford Region.

This past summer I traveled throughout the Midwest promoting our community. I was in big cities, smaller cities, rural communities and out-of-theway locations. Nowhere else could I find a community with as many great amenities as we have here in the Rockford region.

From restaurants, museums, golf courses, gardens, cultural events, beautiful parks, bike paths, walking paths, a state park and even a river – not one community had it all EXCEPT Rockford, Illinois.

Enjoy Downtown and the Arts I love that we have a city market every Friday from summer until mid-fall, where I can listen to music, meet friends, buy fresh produce, eat dinner and sample delicious pastries and desserts. I can come downtown to Davis Park and watch movies with my family for free! Winter brings the BMO Harris Winter Wonderland, the only ice rink of its kind in the world. Yes … right here in Rockford.

Rockford Art Deli opened recently with a new art gallery, Collect, on the second floor of the same building. Mendelssohn purchased the First Presbyterian Church, expanding our Cultural Arts Corridor.

Community and professional theater thrives in our community with plenty of venues to showcase our local talent, from Starlight Theatre, Pec Playhouse, Coronado Performing Arts Center and Maddox Theatre.

I love that we have creative entrepreneurs shaping our downtown scene and that the Rockford Area Arts Council is committed to making arts accessible to everyone. I love that Fatally Unique is from Rockford.

Visit our Museums, Monuments I love the Historic Auto Attraction Museum — this museum is home to the Mayberry RFD police car, the station wagon from the movie Vacation, a piece of cake from John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday and wax figurines of world leaders – and so much more.

At the Burpee Museum of Natural History I can see Jane, a fully restored 21-foot dinosaur skeleton. I also can experience one of the COOLEST exhibits ever – Rick’s Picks: A Lifelong Affair With Guitars & Music. It’s all here in Rockford.

Did you know Forbes Magazine ranked Discovery Center Museum as one of the top children’s museums in the country?

Or that Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum is haunted and “Ghost Hunters” from the Syfy network popped in to investigate?

Midway Village Museum tells a story of our early settlers with over 100,000 artifacts dating back to the 1830s. The Ethnic Heritage Museum is committed

to keeping our immigrant story alive with rooms devoted to our various immigrants.

Monica A. Krysztopa Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

From Music to Food I love that we have a symphony – the third largest in the state – and a dance company. There is live music almost every night of the week all over the region including Charlotte’s Web, Kryptonite and Franchesco’s. Plus, the Coronado Performing Arts Center and BMO Harris Bank Center bring top-notch, nationally recognized performances to our region.

I can meet friends for coffee at Restoration Café, Katie’s Cup, Mary’s Market or any of the other nearly 200 original, locally owned restaurants in this region. I love that great chefs live and work in our community.

Head Outdoors I can golf at some of the finest golf courses in the United States; kayak or canoe on the river; bowl at one of the many exceptional bowling centers; take out some aggression at a batting cage at Volcano Falls; or stroll one of our seven Great Gardens. I can snowshoe or cross country ski, run through trails at Rock Cut State Park and ride my bike on the Perryville or Sinnissippi paths.

Our parks are well maintained and a showcase for our region. When I travel, people tell me that they have been to Rockford for a soccer/baseball/softball tournament and our parks and people are so nice. I love that kids have a free, safe place to stay during the day in the summer thanks to our park district.

The Speedway, known as “MidAmerica’s finest racetrack,” is celebrating its 65th year of operation. I love their trailer races, bus races, monster trucks and more. Some of the events have even been shown on Speed Channel’s “On the Edge” series. Want to take an adventure? Rent a motorcycle at Kegels Harley Davidson – the oldest Harley-Davidson dealership still in the same family.

Culturally Diversified I also love that Rockford is a culturally diverse community. Ethnic festivals and fairs abound from early summer to late fall.

We celebrate cultural diversity, from Festa Italia, Polish Fest, Black Family Reunion to Greek Fest; Oktoberfest, Cinco de Mayo, Irish Fest, Midsommer to the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

But most of all, I love that this list did not even put a dent in all the things there are to do. Don’t believe me? Check out the calendar at www.gorockford.com.

Monica A. Krysztopa is executive vice president of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

November 2012

Twenty People You Should Know Continued from front page

was one of this year’s honorees. “It’s humbling,” he said. “It drives you to help widen the circle, to grow the leadership in town and to grow future candidates for this type of recognition.

It’s important to stay engaged, do more, and become part of the community.

Rockford has some great attributes. To me, this recognition is another piece of the fabric that weaves this community together. We’re all in different industries and businesses, and if we can pull those pieces together, it’s just going to further strengthen that fabric.”

After being recognized in 2011, the inaugural class spent the past year getting together, exchanging ideas and working on various ways to impact the community. Now that camaraderie has become an expectation for the People You Should Know recipients.

“Our goal is to have this be an everexpanded network of leaders. We want them to become more familiar with each other and their peers,” Forsman said.

“Last year’s group took it upon themselves to get together, take tours of each other’s businesses, and host small receptions.

These are all people who get things done.

They believe in paying it forward. They want to do more than accept a plaque, and we expect that from them.”

In some cases, the People You Should Know celebration gave honorees a first chance at meeting one another. “I’m excited about getting to know this group, which is what it’s all about,” said Christie Stenstrom Jarrett, director of human resources and marketing for Stenstrom Companies. I think if the group can get together and focus on one thing, whether it’s with the city, the schools or another organization, that will do us well. It’s all about working together. It’s a true honor, but at the same time, it’s about giving back to the community. We’re up for anything.”

FOCUS ON PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

11

The 2012 People You Should Know poses with Einar Forsman, president of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

And it’s a win-win for their respective will distribute their special magazine, businesses. Three years ago, Saul entitled One, to members that profiles Arteaga opened SWITS, Ltd., an each recipient. The magazine’s cover organization that provides interpreting was unveiled at the event. It’s not too and translation services of all languages early to start thinking about nominating to local hospitals, community agency, other community leaders for next year’s courts and private sectors. “This is a event. “We still have many outstanding motivation to continue what I’m doing, individuals to honor,” Forsman said.

The reception was presented by which is providing good service and giving back to the community,” he said. Reno & Zahm LLP and supported

by The Alliance and V2 Marketing “This means a lot to our organization.”

In the upcoming weeks, the chamber Communications. n

2012 Twenty People You Should Know Starting here, and on the following two pages, are brief bios of the 2012 recipients.

For more in-depth coverage, turn to the new issue of One publication.

Saul Arteaga, Director, Southern Wisconsin Interpreting and Translation Services (SWITS) Arteaga is living out his dream. At the age of 19, he left his native country, Peru, and came to the United States. In 2002, he started SWITS, a company that provides spoken and sign language and interpreting and written translations. In addition to his work, Arteaga has served on many interpreting panels and supports the Beloit Film Festival.

Paula Carynski, Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Carynski has a big job. She’s vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer at OSF, overseeing nursing operations, surgical and ambulatory care services, the Center for Cancer Care, radiology, pharmacy, laboratory and rehabilitative services. She’s responsible for more than 1,200 employees and a $160 million budget. She also is involved in the community, serving such organizations as Rosecrance, the Rockford Health Council and Junior Achievement.

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November 2012 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

FOCUS ON PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

2012 Twenty People You Should Know Dr. Robert Head, President, Rockford College Since joining Rockford College in 2008, Dr. Head has worked to create local partnerships with District 205, UTC Aerospace, GE Aerospace and many others. He serves on the boards of several local organizations including Keith Country Day School, Golden Apple Foundation, and Higher Education Alliance of the Rock River Valley. He is the cochair of the Better Schools, Brighter Future Committee in support of the upcoming District 205 bond referendum.

Ian Linnabary, Partner, Reno & Zahm LLP Linnabary believes that an active community is a happy community.

A partner with Reno & Zahm, he serves on the Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners and is helping with the Reclaiming First Initiative which is working to build a downtown sports arena. He also serves as treasurer of the Better Schools, Brighter Future referendum campaign.

Jody Schumacher, Branch Manager, RK Dixon Office Supplies Over

the

past

30

Guirl developed a passion for aerospace during grade school, when his science teacher assigned the class a science project. The Rockford native has followed his dream and his father’s career: he’s spent his entire career as an engineer at UTC Aerospace (formerly Sundstrand). The legacy might continue: his son is studying airplane mechanics in college.

Dr. John Koehler, President, Physicians Immediate Care In the 1980s, Dr. Koehler, a Pittsburgh native, came to Rockford to work as an emergency room physician. When he discovered there were no local urgent care centers here, he started one. Today, Physicians Immediate Care is the 12th largest care clinic operator in the country. Dr. Koehler is also the volunteer medical director for the Rockford Rescue Mission and is planning to open a small hospital in rural India next year.

Bill LaFever, President, Bill Doran Company years,

Schumacher has built a successful career in an industry that was once dominated by men. She has received numerous industry awards, including the Proctor and Gamble Woman of the Year Award. Schumacher serves on many boards such as Rosecrance Health Network, Boylan High School, Provena Cor Mariae Center and St. Rita’s Church.

Bob Guirl, Director, Business Development UTC Aerospace

LaFever has picked up where his grandfather, the late Bill Doran, left off. LaFever gave up a job in Chicago to come home and lead his grandfather’s floral distribution company. Bill Doran Company sources fresh flowers from more than 20 countries and sells to retail florists and grocery stores in 20 states. LaFever also is the board president of the Wholesale Florist & Florist and Florist Supplier Association.

Jeff Layng, President – Business Banking, JP Morgan Chase Layng is a Rockford native who came back home three years ago.

In his job with Chase, Layng covers plenty of territory, from McHenry to the Quad Cities.

He serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. When he’s not busy working, Layng enjoys jazz music.

Sarah Wolf, Executive Director, Discovery Center Museum In 1985, Wolf became the first and only executive director of the Discovery Center Museum, which is known as one of the top children’s museum in the country. The Discovery Center has received numerous awards and guests have come from all 50 states and around the world to visit. Wolf also has been instrumental in leading two capital campaigns for the center.

Mark Hunter, Coordinator, Black Male Health Program, Winnebago County Health Department After college, Hunter returned home to Rockford to help care for his ailing father.

Now, as the leader of a black male health program for the Health Department, Hunter is making an impact on other men. He takes groups of volunteers into the community, teaching residents about the importance of education and screening programs.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

November 2012

FOCUS ON PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

13

2012 Twenty People You Should Know Dan Cataldi, Executive Director, EIGERlab Cataldi could be retired by now, but he’s having too much fun helping entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams. Cataldi is the executive director of EIGERlab, which partners with Rock Valley College and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council to offer low-rent space, training and assistance to people hoping to start their own business.

Christie Stenstrom Jarrett, Director of Human Resources and Marketing, Stenstrom Companies, Ltd. Jarrett keeps busy with her family’s company, but she’s never too busy to help the community she loves.

She’s especially partial to educational organizations – she has served on the board of the Golden Apple Foundation; a charter member of the operating committee of Alignment Rockford and was a member of the Rockford Area Economic Development Leadership Council.

Scott Sullivan, Partner, Williams McCarthy LLP Sullivan is good at what he does. Very good. In 2011, Sullivan was inducted into the Fellow of the Litigation Council of America, a trial lawyer society whose members make up less than half of one percent of all lawyers. Sullivan’s passion for Rockford is evident in his volunteer work: he’s been involved with the Friends of the Coronado Theatre, Rockford Symphony Orchestra and the Rockford Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Tim Knauf, Division President, Williams Manny Inc. A Rockford native, Knauf, along with several partners, started Midwest Life and Health Group in Rockford. These days, he’s partner at Williams-Manny and serves as president of the Employee Benefits Division. During his free time, Knauf enjoys spending time with his wife and their five children, many of whom participate in sports-related activities.

Dr. Bill Gorski, President and CEO, SwedishAmerican Health System In 2001, Gorski became president and CEO of SwedishAmerican Health System.

In addition to his leadership duties, Gorski is the United Way campaign chair; served as a member of Alignment Rockford organization; the Executive Committee of the Rockford Economic Development Council and chaired the Leadership Council’s “Emerging Opportunities” program. He is co-chair of the Better Schools, Brighter Future Committee.

Amy Brewer, Vice President Commercial, Riverside Community Bank Early in life, Brewer learned the importance of giving back from her father, a Rockford police officer, and she hasn’t stopped since. She has taught budgeting skills to students in Junior Achievement, helped secure an apartment building for women recovering from substance addiction and criminal history, and even took part in a fundraising dance competition to raise funds for Family Counseling Services.

Lisa Miles, Business Development Manager, The Barbara Olson Center of Hope Miles is the business development manager for the Barbara Olson Center of Hope, a non-profit human services agency, which provides day training services and employment opportunities for teens and adults with developmental disabilities. She oversees the organization’s Super Shredders document destruction business, which bring in additional income for the agency and employment for the participants who attend the center.

Peter Provenzano, President and CEO, SupplyCore, Inc. Provenzano is president of SupplyCore Inc., a logistics and governmental contracting company headquartered in Rockford. A Rockford native, he graduated from Boylan High School.

While he’s had numerous opportunities to relocate his company, Provenzano remains true to his hometown.

He’s been instrumental in the revitalization of Rockford’s downtown, including starting the City Market.

Phil Eaton, President and CEO, Rosecrance Health Network In 1971, Eaton joined Rosecrance as a social worker. Today, he is the president and CEO of the organization that provides behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults and families through inpatient and outpatient programs.

Eaton’s passion for helping others started as a teenager through his church’s youth group, where he volunteered to help the homeless in downtown Chicago.

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November 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Has marketing slipped to the times of Henry Ford?

Marketing should be the place for dialogue Rarely does a topic elicit greater frustration than marketing. Talking with people in the downtown core of Rockford a couple of Saturdays ago, I asked what they thought “marketing” was all about. The responses varied from telephone solicitors to email scams. Those who engage in sales pitches under the guise of marketing reinforce the image that marketing is focused on our product/service/concept and not on the customer.

Today we are in an era of e-marketing, m-marketing; reflecting the merging and emerging technologies, resulting in tremendous changes unanticipated as little as 10 years ago. Marketers today are increasing use the technology that is constrained only by the limitations of the human body and the number of digits in bank accounts. The marketer can reach out and touch many people. But does this mean we should?

While technology has increased availability of the consumer, it also is becoming so pervasive that people are no longer even noticing marketing communication. Do you remember the last television commercial you saw last night before you turned off the TV? Do you remember the last advertisement you saw on the web yesterday? Sure, search engines work hard to find your preferences, but

do you establish your preferences with the block setting on your email, nullifying the potential response to unsolicited emails advertising? Do you eliminate the unsolicited emails by the hundreds, without them even appearing in your in-box?

For every new way of contact, there is a new way to block. For every block, there are programs that assist in circumventing them. Is this marketing? Or is this simply a guise to get you to buy. Is this how marketing wants to be remembered?

Are We Oversaturated?

Intelligent marketers recognize the proliferation of advertising and look to make communication stand out. You now can see advertising in airports, on and in buses, on videos you purchase, on mobile billboards, in your email, on the beach, under and on blimps and hot air balloons, on and in parking garages, on the back of receipts, on trash can receptacles, and almost everywhere you turn. But do you notice it? Does it stand out? Has marketing itself reduced the value of marketing?

In essence, no. Marketing is so much more than just the advertisements you see or hear. Marketing should be the home of a dialogue between consumers or stakeholders and the company.

Marketing is the natural point of consumer-focused communication and research about the company, product, service and concepts that will move the company and the population forward.

This communication should include the consumers’ perspectives and ideas: It should be a dialogue. One of the values advocated in the American Marketing Associations Statement of Ethics is that of transparency – where the marketer has open dialogue with all constituencies.

While there is no ethic concerning the amount of advertising, there is common sense that leads one to think marketing perhaps needs to have a dialogue instead of a one-way conversation.

But while today’s technology allows for and enhances communication – with the use of corporate blogs and the use of other social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, is it really a dialogue? The popularity of social media has resulted in corporations contemplating automated responses to cut down on the expense of talking to the customers or out-sourcing responses to customers (reported by HubSpot 2012 to be growing from 14 percent of social media sites in 2010 to 32 percent in 2012). One has to wonder if the growth in this form of communication

signifies a growing desire to talk to Dr. Ina-Ann Freeman Rockford College companies, while the companies are finding ways not to talk to customers. Does this remind you of the company that is striving to gain your business, but has you use your dial pad on the telephone to hear pre-recorded messages that do not respond to your concerns?

Has marketing started to slip back to the times of Henry Ford when you could have any color you want, as long as it is black? Marketing proclaims respect as a fundamental value. Are we respecting our public, or ignoring them? Can we blame our customers for their response to being ignored? It is time marketers started to look at what we are creating. It is time for business owners to create a true dialogue with their customers.

Dr. Ina-Ann Freeman is an associate professor of marketing at Rockford College. She has works with businesses independently to develop their marketing strategies.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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November 2012

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Rockford College program helps non-profits Students learn by serving

Last academic year, students from Rockford College worked with Circle of Change, a local veterans program, to develop a newsletter that coordinated with the agency’s other printed and electronic media. Executive Director Lou Matjasko said the students helped his program not only accomplish current goals, but also look to future ones, including the use of social media. The students all were enrolled in Rockford College MBA classes, which included a Community-Based Learning (CBL) component. Our hope at Rockford College is that more and more local nonprofit agencies will have similar successes with students through the CBL program.

Established in the early 1990s, the CBL program at Rockford College links students with area non-profits to complete both small and large projects.

CBL actually is a teaching method that helps students build skills in problem solving and emphasizes the importance of thinking beyond the classroom setting to make connections with the community beyond the college campus. With the aim of reaching out to the Rockford community to help non-profit agencies

With the aim of reaching out to the Rockford community to help non-profit agencies achieve their goals, our CBL program supports our core mission as a college that lives up to our motto, “Think. Act. Change Your World.” achieve their goals, our CBL program supports our core mission as a college that lives up to our motto, “Think. Act. Change Your World.”

Learning through Community Service CBL actually is a nationwide movement, known as service learning.

The federal agency Corporation for National and Community Service defines CBL as “a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.” As Jane Addams’ college, we stand behind those goals and recognize and try to cultivate within our student body a sincere desire to be thoughtful, engaged citizens of the world.

The list of projects our students can undertake for non-profits is as endless as the imaginations of area agencies. In the past, students have helped design and plan new programs, develop marketing plans, create websites, and complete customer surveys, but agencies should look at this list as only examples of the possibilities.

As coordinator of the CBL program at the college, I would like to encourage you as a Chamber member to think about the ways that the non-profits you support could gain from this valuable resource.

Both the organizations and the students benefit tremendously.

The process is simple. If you or someone you know is part of a non-profit organization that would like to be a part of this program, contact me at mweaksbaxter@rockford.edu or 815-226-4079.

I would welcome having the chance to

brainstorm with you about the Mary Weaks-Baxter possibilities of Rockford College/ NICNE creating a CBL project for your non-profit. Our goal is to match nonprofit needs with the learning objectives of a particular Rockford College course, and we will work with your agency so that you have a clear understanding of those learning objectives. Much of our support for reaching non-profit agencies in the community comes through our connections with the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence and Director Pam Clark Reidenbach.

The Rockford College spring semester starts in January. I hope you will consider learning more about our CBL program and how it can help the non-profits of our community.

Mary Weaks-Baxter is the Hazel E. Koch professor of English and coordinator of the Community-Based Learning program at Rockford College.

The views expressed are those of Weaks-Baxter, and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

16 Rockford Mutual Insurance Company takes pride in putting lives back together since its inception in 1896. This definitely was the case in 2011, when Illinois residents experienced a record number of natural disasters, and customers turned to the company to help pick up the pieces.

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company, in fact, paid out more than $505 million in claims in the past 20 years – and to highlight that fact has developed a new brand with a new tagline: “Putting Lives Back Together.”

“This money paid as claims payments is essential to help spur economic growth in our communities through the purchase of new assets and the rebuilding and repairing of structures,” said Joseph DeChatelets, president and CEO for the insurance company.

A big part in developing the company’s new brand has been in expressing itself as much more than an insurance company selling products. “We wanted our image and brand to reflect what we do on a daily basis,” DeChatelets said.

“We help people in their greatest time of need put their lives back together. Our new look encompasses our rich history and affirms our commitment to the region in the future.”

Thriving for More than a Century The company takes pride in surviving -- and thriving through two depressions and seven recessions in its 116-year history in the Rockford area. “Ever since I began my career as an independent agent in 1985, people have predicted

November 2012

PROFILE Member Profile

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

company has chosen to operate strictly through

the

independent

agency

system, as independent agents know their customers, recommend coverage based on their circumstances, and offer a variety of products and services to meet their clients’ needs.

“Our company also is unique in that we partner with and reinsure a number of Farm/Town Mutual insurance companies that provide valuable insurance protection for their customers in their local communities and surrounding areas,” DeChatelets said.

Building Trust for the Future Rockford Mutual Insurance Company holds an open house and ribbon cutting at 527 Colman Center Dr., on Oct. 16. The company launched its new brand and image. The company has grown to 1,900 independent agents in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana and 76 employees in Rockford, and in the past 20 years has paid out more than $505 million in claims.

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company’s century-plus history

A new image and celebration for

the demise of the independent agency system,” DeChatelets said. “Much to their surprise, I believe the independent agency system is alive and well, because people need experts to advise them and experts to help them through the claims process, when bad things happen.”

The insurance industry has changed dramatically since the company first organized as Rockford Farmers’ District Mutual Tornado Insurance Company.

Back then, farmers needed protection

from violent windstorms and tornadoes.

Farmers were sinking their savings into their operations to meet the demands of a growing national population. Any losses could bankrupt them, so forming an insurance mutual offered the protection they needed.

Today, Rockford Mutual Insurance Company still serves farmers, but also writes automobile, homeowners and commercial policies. It has continued to grow and expand its presence in the Midwest. What started as 50 policy holders 116 years ago, now is 70,000 policy holders, 76 employees in Rockford, and 1,900 independent agents across Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.

“We are thankful for the relationships we have built throughout our history,” DeChatelets said. Building relationships is critical throughout the entire organization – from claims, to underwriting, to billing, to reinsurance.

Relationships are the reason the

Corporate

headquarters

for

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company is at 527 Colman Center Dr., since 1988. Its visibility from I-90 serves as a welcoming access point to the community. To match its new brand and image, the exterior of the building has been spruced up with the company’s new color palate, in shades of red and brown. “We realize the importance of a good first impression -- not only for our company, but for the community,” DeChatelets said. The logo also has been redesigned to better reflect the company’s mission -- putting lives back together on a daily basis, and a new website will be launched.

“We know trust is a huge factor in selecting an insurance provider,” DeChatelets

said.

“We

want

our

customers to sleep well at night knowing that we’re in it for the long haul. We have been here for our customers for more than 100 years, and we want to continue to be their trusted source of protection for many years to come.”

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company 527 Colman Center Dr. 815-229-1500 www.rockfordmutual.com

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November 2012

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Unemployment likely to stay around 7.8% for six months

By Regis Barnichon, Barcelona Graduate School of Economics The significant decline in the unemployment rate in today’s report has taken most analysts by surprise, and there now is great uncertainty about the correct interpretation of the latest numbers. This may be because tentative interpretations have, so far, only been based on a static analysis. Using a dynamic analysis of the labor market and a careful study of the labor market flows underlying the unemployment rate, I find that the outlook is somewhat mixed: Although the unemployment rate declined dramatically, this is mostly due to an unexpectedly strong, but likely transitory, increase in workers job finding rate, and an unexpectedly strong, but equally transitory, decrease in workers job separation (mostly layoffs) rate.

The starting point is understanding that the U.S. labor market is dynamic: Millions of people move between employment, unemployment, and out of the labor force every month.

However, the current level of 7.8% is sustainable, and there should be no increase in unemployment going forward. In fact, I now project the unemployment rate to be constant at 7.8% over the next six months. (See Figure 1) The starting point is understanding that the U.S. labor market is dynamic: Millions of people move between employment, unemployment, and out of the labor force every month.

The rate at which people are entering unemployment (say, by losing their jobs) or leaving unemployment (by finding jobs or leaving the labor force) tells us a great deal about the current state of the labor market and its likely future developments.

Our model’s forecast essentially summarizes this information in a rigorous way. To my knowledge, our approach is the only available tool for summarizing this informative and under-analyzed part of the monthly employment report. Moreover, our paper showed that this model has consistently yielded more accurate unemployment predictions in the nearterm than either professional forecasters or other econometric models.

The unemployment rate in October was 7.8 percent -- a 0.3 percentage points decline from September. Digging into the underlying flows, (shown in figures 2 to 4-thick lines) unemployed individuals found jobs at a higher rate than in the previous month, and at a much higher rate than anticipated by the model last

month (previous forecasts are displayed as thin lines). The rate at which workers lose jobs and enter unemployment also displayed a large unexpected drop.

Consequently, the large unexpected drop in unemployment owes to very strong hiring and few layoffs. (See Figures 2, 3, and 4) The “steady-state” unemployment rate, the rate of unemployment implied by the underlying labor force flows (the blue line in figure 5) stands at 7.8% in September and is projected to remain at that level until the end of the year.

Our research shows that the actual unemployment rate converges toward this steady state. At the current level of 7.8%, the unemployment rate already is at its steady-state value. Thus, I anticipate the unemployment rate to stay roughly constant over the coming months.

More precisely, the model propagates forward its best estimate for how the flows

The labor force participation rate is projected to rise over the next six months, driven by the slowly increasing job finding rate. between employment, unemployment and out-of-the labor force will evolve over time, and constructs the implications for the unemployment rate. The model interprets today’s report very cautiously: As shown in figures 2 and 3, the model considers the higher job finding rate and the lower job separation rate to be transitory blips, with the labor market reversing most of the September gains over the next month and bringing back the job finding rate on a more modest growth path, in line with the recent feeble recovery.

Comparing to last month forecast, the unemployment rate starts from a lower level but now is predicted to decline at a much slower rate. This happens because the large unemployment decline in September brought the unemployment rate closer to its steady-state value. As a result, the unemployment rate has no room to go down further. In other words, we traded a lower unemployment level now against a slower decline tomorrow.

The labor force participation rate is projected to rise over the next six months, driven by the slowly increasing job finding rate. Employed workers are less likely to leave the labor force than unemployed workers. Thus, by raising the number of employed workers relative to the number of unemployed workers, an increase in the job finding rate increases the labor force participation rate. (See Figure 5 and Table 1) This article appears at the Brookings web site, www.brookings.edu/Blogs/Oct. 5.

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

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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November 2012

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

The inbound marketing revolution Listening, rather than preaching, to potential buyers

Business marketing is undergoing a revolution. B2B marketers face challenges due to the sweeping changes in the way that they connect with their prospective customers.

More and more of the things buyers used to do offline, like researching products and getting news, they now do online. A recent survey by Interconnected World shows 44 percent of online shoppers begin by using a search engine. The Internet fundamentally has changed the way people find, discover, share, shop and connect.

The Marketplace is Shifting Consider the way we consume TV shows and movies. Digital video recorders and video on-demand services allow viewers to block out, or fastforward through commercial breaks.

Popular TV series can be downloaded from iTunes and watched whenever and wherever the viewer chooses, on their computer or phone. Newspaper readership is declining and their advertising revenues are collapsing as readers consume news content online from content providers around the world. More than two thirds of the U.S. population blocks telemarketing calls by adding their number to the federal “do-not-call” list. These changes challenge marketers to find new ways to communicate with buyers by attracting their attention, rather than interrupting them.

Today’s buyers are self-educating online. They search websites to conduct research on the products and services that interest them. They know their options, discuss with peers and read case studies and product reviews.

Buyers are continually grazing on information, building their knowledge

Inbound marketing is about matching your communications to the stages of the buyer’s cycle and not your own sales cycle. As a result, inbound marketing is a lot more cost effective than traditional, outbound marketing for generating qualified sales leads. base and forming their preferences until they’re at a point where they’re ready to purchase.

The result is the sales function is becoming disenfranchised and is being pushed further down in the buying cycle. Sales people are losing their ability to influence the purchaser.

Nurture Leads to Close the Lead Gap Marketers must step up to close the gap. Traditional marketing techniques such as broadcast advertising and direct mail, communicate at the top of the sales funnel. This is fine for building awareness of a company’s product or service, but does little to nurture longterm relationships with prospects, who are searching for information on a product as they move through the buying cycle.

Effective B2B marketers use inbound marketing methods not only to generate leads, but also to nurture leads down the sales funnel until buyers acknowledge that they are ready to engage with sales.

The Shift to Inbound Marketing These trends have significant implications for B2B marketers.

There’s mounting pressure to shift from outbound to inbound marketing, attracting buyers, instead of interrupting them. Listening to them, rather than preaching at them. Pulling rather than pushing.

In this inbound world, interest is initiated by the user rather than generated by the businesses. In the inbound world, buyers want to consume valuable, useful, and typically online content rather than press releases, print ads and TV commercials. Inbound marketing is all about building communities of common interests and not passive websites.

Finally, inbound marketing is about matching your communications to the stages of the buyer’s cycle and not your own sales cycle. As a result, inbound marketing is a lot more cost effective than traditional, outbound marketing for generating qualified sales leads.

The Inbound Marketing Process The case for inbound marketing is clear, but what does it really look like? In order to build a comprehensive inbound marketing engine that develops real

Want to Hear More?

Join Kathy Velasco and Heather Kelley, V2 Marketing Communications, for more on Inbound Marketing.

Attend the Rockford Chamber Business Women’s Council, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road.

Register at www. rockfordchamber.com, Events/ Programs.

Chris Kelley V2 Marketing Communications

leads for your sales team, you need six things.

Content. If you’re going to attract people to your site and keep them engaged and interested you must create remarkable, engaging content.

SEO Strategy. If it’s not on the first page of Google, it doesn’t exist. In order to get found by your buyers and engage with your target community, you must have a well thought out on-page and offpage SEO strategy.

Blogging. Companies that blog generate nearly two thirds more leads than those that do not.

Social Media Engagement. Social media can be effective to create exposure for your business online, engage in a meaningful way with prospects, and generate leads.

Lead Nurturing. Of course, once you’ve been found you must follow up with your visitors and nurture them, gently fanning the flames of their interest.

Analysis. Finally, you can’t improve what you can’t measure. One of the biggest benefits of inbound marketing is that we’re able to monitor the success of each campaign element and continuously prove and improve the ROI of one tactic over another.

Using the techniques we’ve outlined, you can compete for the hearts and minds of your target audience and be poised to succeed in the inbound marketing revolution.

Chris Kelley is marketing strategist and account executive at V2 Marketing Communications.

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

20

November 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

the News IN Members THEin NEWS

1. John McNamara

2. Jeffrey Powell

3. Dan Pecora

4. Craig Doty

5. Kent Kohlbacher

6. Nicholas Hendon

7. Shanaya Pearson

8. Michaela Hargrove

9. Jenna Dooley

10. Kellie Miller

11. John Quinn

12. Janine Browning

13. Joe Militello

14. Rebecca Strong

15. Martha Byrnes

16. Chris Soutar

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

Board aPPoIntMEntS

The Boone and Winnebago Counties Workforce Investment Board welcomed new members: Beverly Long, Rockford Health System; Amanda Smith, Rock Valley College; Gary Evans, Castle Bank; Frank Rotello, Alpha Controls; Shelly Cassaro, Rockford Housing Authority; Jon Skorburg, Nexstar Broadcasting, and Dr. Lori Fanello, Regional Office of Education.

The Employee Benefits Association

of Northern Illinois announced its 2012-2013 board: Tricia Rotolo, First Benefits Group, president; Anne Brannon, The Pension Specialists, Ltd., vice president; Amy Bailey, July Business Services, treasurer; Deb Crozier, Winnebago County, secretary; Kelly Davit, The Alliance, marketing chair; Shelley Wagner, Accument Global Technologies, administrative chair; Molly Brauns, Rockford Brokerage and Consulting, membership chair, and Peggy Fuller, Northern Illinois Health Plan, past president.

John McNamara (1), Rockford College senior development officer

and former mayor of Rockford, was elected to chair the U.S. Department of Education Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance for one year.

elected president of Stateline Youth Athletics, and appointed to the Rockton Chamber of Commerce board.

Jeffrey Powell (2), attorney at Reno & Zahm LLP, joined the Rockford Area Arts Council board for a threeyear term.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce hired Andrew Kobischka as its new membership development manager.

Dan Pecora (3), chief operating officer for Cimco Resources in Rockford, joined the Riverside Community Bank board; overseeing activities of the $358 million dollar financial institution with four locations in northern Illinois.

Ryan Rydell, owner of RyCOM, was

nEW HIrES, ProMotIonS, rEtIrEMEntS

Rock Valley College hired Craig Doty (4) as the new head coach for men’s basketball.

Northwest Bank hired Kent Kohlbacher (5) as senior vice president, senior relationship manager; Nicholas Hendon (6), Rockton

Regional, National Indicators THE ECONOMY U.S. Indicators

Midwest Manufacturing Output Decreased in August

September, 2012 Consumer Price Index

p 0.6 percent

Unemployment Rate

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) decreased 1.2 percent in August, to a seasonally adjusted level of 94.1 (2007 = 100). The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) decreased 0.7 percent in August. Regional output rose 10.1 percent in August from a year earlier, and national output increased 4.0 percent.

7.8 percent

Payroll Employment

p 114,000

Average Hourly Earnings

q $0.07

Producer Price Index

p 1.1 percent

Employment Cost Index

p 0.5 percent (second quarter, 2012)

Productivity

p 2.2 percent (second quarter, 2012)

U.S. Import Price Index

p 1.1 percent

U.S. Export Price Index

p 0.8 percent

Monthly Index

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates—Region, State, Nation Aug 2012

July 2012

Aug 2011

Rockford

11.7

11.9

13.8

q 0.2

q 2.1

Chicago

8.8

9.2

10.5

q 0.4

q 1.7

Illinois

8.9

9.3

10.3

q 0.4

q 1.4

United States

8.2

8.6

9.1

q 0.4

q 0.9

Source: U.S. Department of Employment Security

% Change

Jun 12

Jul 12

Aug 12

Aug 11 - Aug 12

Chicago Mfg. Index

93.9

95.3

94.1

p

10.1

CFMMI-Auto

96.5

101.7

97.7

p

21.7

CFMMI-Steel

91.6

92.0

91.5

p

8.6

CFMMI-Machinery

95.4

93.8

93.9

p

9.4

CFMMI-Resource

89.6

90.0

90.1

p

2.1

National Index

95.7

96.1

95.3

p

4.0

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Updated Sept. 27, 2012

Change/Mo. Change/Yr.

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

314,597,308 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

World

7,046,327,105

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

21

November 2012

Members in the News IN THE NEWS

17. Ben Bersten

18. Tracy Richter

19. Tracy Beard

20. Brian Conroy

21. Jerry Korabik

22. Scott Laue

23. Brent Lindell

24. Ellen Poppen

25. Scott Kaiser

26. Jakob Loescher

27. Grant Moore

28. Cathy Burhenn

29. Susan Leoni

30. Jill Pearson

31. Matt Reynolds

32.Pam Maher

33. Troy Skwor, Ph.D. Avenue office, and Shanaya Pearson (7), Loves Park office, as customer service representatives; and Michaela Hargrove (8) as floating teller at all four banking locations.

Center named Kellie Miller (10) as admissions director; John Quinn (11), CFRE, as development director; Janine Browning (12), RN, as case manager, and Joe Militello (13), M.Div., M.A., as spiritual counselor. Rebecca Strong (14), RN, BSN, CHPN, will move to nurse liaison.

Martha Byrnes (15) is the new community relations coordinator for Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful.

Chris Soutar (16) joined the sales team at C.H. Robinson.

Attorneys Bryan Heidemann and Ryan Straw joined Reno & Zahm LLP as associates.

Northern Public Radio hired news reporter Jenna Dooley (9) as Morning Edition producer, assisting host Dan Goodwill Industries of Northern Klefstad with news writing, audio Illinois hired Ben Bernsten (17) as editing, and overall content planning, director of retail and general counsel. as well as occasional hosting/anchoring Employee/Community duties.

Ron Butler, deputy director of operations and an employee with the Rockford Park District for the past 37 years, announced his retirement on Jan. 18, 2013.

Rock Valley College head men’s basketball coach Craig Doty hired Steve Goers, former Boylan Catholic High School head coach, 1980 to 2011, to serve as assistant coach for the men’s basketball program this season.

The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau hired Joanne Nold as its accounting and grants manager.

Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief

Recognitions, Awards

Tracy Richter (18), Riverside Community Bank vice president and private banking manager, completed her first year in the Graduate School of Banking at the University of WisconsinMadison.

Dave Boettcher, president, celebrated 30 years with Ballard Companies, Inc. Savant Capital Management announced that six long-term employees purchased ownership interests and are members of the company: Tracy Beard (19), Brian Conroy (20), Jerry Korabik (21), Scott Laue (22), Brent Lindell (23) and Ellen

Poppen (24). Savant recently combined Institute, Inc., Council #5236. with The Monitor Group, a Washington, Cathy Burhenn (28) celebrated 20 D.C., firm, and now manages more than years, and Susan Leoni (29) and Jill $2.8 billion in assets.

Pearson (30) celebrated 30 years of The League of United Latin American employment with Rockford Mutual Citizens Council #5236 awarded Insurance Company. five Latino students with $5,000 scholarships towards their tuition Of GENERAL INTEREST with Judson University: Mary Lu Matt Reynolds (31), vice president and Bartolón, Agustín Martínez, Andrea banking center manager at Blackhawk Carolina Martínez, Andrea Carolina Bank, attended the 68th annual session Martínez, and Leticia Joy Pérez. of the Graduate School of Banking at Three Savant Capital Management the University of Wisconsin-Madison in financial advisors earned the August.

Accredited Investment Fiduciary® Pam Maher (32), CEO, KMK Media (AIF®) designation from the Center ™ Group, Inc., was a panelist on the for Fiduciary Studies : Scott Kaiser importance of networking for local (25), Jakob Loescher (26) and Grant Moore (27). businesses at a Rockford Network meeting at the Forest Hills Country Club.

Rockford Christian Schools’ Middle School Boys Cross Country team finished third in the IESA class 1A State Meet on Oct. 12 with four earning all-state honors: Madison Franseen, Noah Wells, Josiah Vogel and Andy Volk.

Lindsay Arellano, senior sports sales manager at the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, earned the Certified Sports Events Executive (CSEE) designation by the National Association of Sports Commissioners.

Christine Starzynski, professor at Judson University, was honored as Person of the Year by the League of United Latin American Citizens

Assistant Professor of Biology Troy Skwor, Ph.D. (33), published findings on his research in an article, “Inhibitory effects of 405 nm irradiation on Chlamydia trachomatis growth and characterization of the ensuing inflammatory response in HeLa cells,” in the August issue of BioMed Central Microbiology.

Jeffrey Powell, attorney at Reno & Zahm LLP, presented “Background Checks: How Employers May Unwittingly Be Breaking the Law,” at the Employment Law, Occupational Safety, and Your Business seminar hosted by Workplace Staffing and Reno & Zahm.

22

November 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS

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

The da Vinci Robotic Surgery Program completed its 1,000th case at Rockford Health System.

Urological Surgeon Michael Fumo, M.D., leads the program with six urological and gynecological surgeons. Four more will undergo training. Dr. Fumo is the second busiest da Vinci surgeon in Illinois.

The hospital also launched an ENT program to help patients with head and neck cancers, as well as sleep apnea.

SwedishAmerican Health System introduced a new Expressive Arts Therapies program for patients to provide non-verbal means to express emotions. Led by Expressive Arts Therapist Deb Schwarze, LCPC, the program currently focuses on outpatient chemotherapy patients at the 9th Street center and ACT locations.

The National Center for Rural Health Professions at the University of Illinois Rockford received grant money to improve the shortage of Latino physicians and other health care professionals in rural Illinois counties, which have seen substantial increases in Hispanic populations. The center created a video on its programs to increase the healthcare workforce, particularly in rural primary care in Illinois. Visit www.ncrhp.uic.edu/ under Rural Health Professions education.

RyCOM completed client work or contracts, including Web sites for First Benefits Group, the Booker Washington Center BookerFest festival, and Philip Sharp, author of “Not in the Wind, Earthquake or Fire.”

It is graphic designer for Bath + Body Fusion’s new branding initiative and is completing an eCommerce site for Ekstrom-Carlson, a Rockfordbased tooling company. It completed a video production project for the Rockford Area Economic Development District, and a new brand identity for Nevaeh’s Wing Therapeutic Massage.

Al Grace Appliance launched cooking classes focused on glutenfree baking, healthy and delicious comfort food, and fun and healthy lunches for kids.

Wipfli LLP closed its offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Washington on Sept. 27, and associates donated their time.

In Rockford, they volunteered at Midway Village Museum, Carpenter’s Place and Natural Land Institute.

Judson University was named a Military Friendly School® for 2013, according to G.I. Jobs magazine.

Factors included financial benefits, schedule flexibility, veteran support, degrees offered and accreditation levels.

The arrival of the 2012 European Ryder Cup Team in September at Chicago Rockford International Airport made international headlines.

European captain Jose Maria Olazabal commented on the team’s experience at the afternoon press conference at Medinah Country Club, site of the 2012 matches.

The Rockford Park District contracted with Sodexo America, LLC, to operate its new Food Services Department, providing food and beverage services at 10 facilities starting Jan. 1 next year.

The Raptor Youth Soccer League partnered with Rockford Public Schools to develop the RPS Elementary League, with 14 soccer teams representing nine schools for fourth and fifth graders.

PR Etc., was retained by the Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN) to conduct public relations and media relations activities on a local, regional, national and international level. RAAN promotes the region as a world leader in the aerospace industry to attract more businesses and create more jobs.

SwedishAmerican Foundation and Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd., co-sponsored Walk to Remember, a memorial event in honor of children lost through stillbirth, early infant death, early childhood death, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy in October.

Rockford Park District’s Indoor Sports Center invites volleyball players ages 18 and older to join open gym sessions on Fridays, 8 to 11 p.m., through Dec. 14. Visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/ sportscorecomplexes or call 815885-1185.

Rockford Orthopedic Associates unveiled plans for the expansion and build-out of its newest clinic at Riverside Boulevard and Mulford Road.

Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries received a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago for upgrades, including repairs to the roof and plumbing, replacements to HVAC units, bathroom fixtures and floor coverings. The mission served nearly 157,000 meals to homeless residents -- a seven percent increase.

As many as 20 percent of women in the Crisis Center have lost their homes, and 21 percent of men said they couldn’t find affordable housing.

Rock Valley Credit Union presented the Harlem School District with a check for $580 to help with school supplies from $10 donated with every personal loan booked.

Rockford City Market received recognition in Chicago & Beyond as number seven on its list of top 10 things to do near Chicago this fall.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center earned the U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services Silver Medal of Honor for saving lives through organ and tissue donation. Criteria included achieving an organ donation conversion rate of at least 75 percent, at least 3.75 organs transplanted per donor, and recovering transplantable organs in at least 10 percent of cases involving donation after circulatory death.

The Rock Valley College Foundation awarded 154 students with 66 scholarships for the 2012/13 academic year, exceeding $136,000.

Victory Media, serving military personnel transitioning into civilian life, named Rock Valley College to its Military Friendly Schools® list for 2013. It ranked in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools for providing military students with a supportive environment.

The Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center received a $5,000 grant from the Donald V. and Britta A. Peterson Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for a collaborative program for “Aaron Copland’s America” in March, 2013, to include the Rockford Dance Company, the Rockford Writers’ Guild, and area students.

Riverside Community Bank launched its Pink Ribbon Campaign in October to fight breast cancer with pink lights at night at every location.

It launched its Pink Ribbon debit card in spring, with a portion of fees benefitting Crusader Community Health Women’s Center, for clinical breast exams and preventative care at an affordable cost.

Woodward, Inc., board of directors announced in September its approval of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on Dec. 3, 2012 for stockholders of record as of Nov. 19.

Rockford City Market attendance was up 45 percent with 55,040 participants by the beginning of October, compared to the same time in 2011.

Community members in October helped paint and assemble new rails, decks and ramps at the Rockford Park District’s fourth skate park at Churchill Park Skate Park, 2002 7th Ave., in cooperation with Keith Creek Neighborhood Association, and Redeemer Lutheran Church.

SwedishAmerican Health System received the 2012 Beautification Award in the not-for-profit category by the Rockford Area Gardeners of America for the Heart Hospital’s outdoor Healing Garden.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., was named the #1 3PL by readers of Inbound Logistics for the second year in a row. Fortune magazine named the company for the third straight year a “World’s Most Admired Company.” In July, Anheuser-Busch named C.H. Robinson its 2011 Non-

Asset Based Carrier of the Year.

Rockford Data Management was hired by Frantz Manufacturing to build custom software, included custom dynamic catalog PDFs, product configurators and a competitor matchup.

Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore relocated to a new, remodeled storefront in North Towne Mall -- two doors east in the space formerly occupied by Super Dollar.

PS Designs & More, Inc., designed and developed a website for Peterson Cleaning, Inc., with employment opportunities and an online application form at www. petersoncleaning.com.

The CIS at Rock Valley College developed a website where local employers can post full-time, parttime or internship jobs for CIS students at myrvc.org. Students can submit their resume and job interests, which employers receive by email.

Fans now can access Rockford IceHogs’ mobile site at m.icehogs. com. Maverick Media of Rockford LLC also is providing a web stream so fans can listen to all 76 IceHogs games at icehogs.com or ntafmlive. com from their computer or phone.

KMK Media Group, Inc., was hired by Rockford Orthopedic Associates for public relations including its new clinic at Mulford and Riverside. Completion is expected next spring. KMK was hired by Raynor Garage Doors, Dixon (Ill.) to develop a custom iPad application to help dealers find product information and garage door options.

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center acquired First Presbyterian Church, 406 N. Main St., in Rockford, for an expansion of its performance and rehearsal space, and educational programming in visual arts and dance.

The Rockford IceHogs adopted West Middle School for the 2012-13 season, as a part of its adopt-a-school program. IceHogs players, coaches and staff will make appearances, and provide each student with a “Hockey 101” workbook to teach students history, geography, math and science based on hockey.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois teamed with SwedishAmerican Health System employees in October to collect clothing and other gently used household items to sell, funding Goodwill’s mission of creating opportunities for individuals with barriers in the community.

The SuperClubs Rockford Champions Cup took place for the eighth year at Sportscore Two in Loves Park in October; drawing more than 150 men’s and women’s soccer teams from Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

23

November 2012

Business Briefs About 6,700 players, coaches and fans filled 2,340 hotel room nights, and generated an estimated $420,000 for area businesses.

The Rockford Park District won the 2012 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation from the National Recreation and Park Association as “best” park district in the nation among similarly sized communities. It won a “Best of the Best” award for its Public Art Walking Tour, which began in May, at the Illinois Association of Park Districts awards gala in September.

Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Bea Ricotta Company: Register Star Media/ Rockford Register Star

The Rockford RiverHawks Professional Baseball Club will open its Frontier League 2013 season of 96 games with a home game on May 17 next year against the Frontier Greys.

For season tickets call 815-885-2255 or visit rockfordriverhawks.com.

Siena on Brendenwood, a Rockford retirement community, received a MOMBA award for one of the best marketing achievements by senior living communities worldwide at the Leading Age National Conference in Denver for its “An Evening with Clutch Cargo” event and fundraiser.

Position: Special Event Coordinator/ Administrative Assistant to the Publisher How long have you been an Ambassador?

Gosh, I don’t remember. I think I’ve been a Chamber Ambassador for almost 12 years.

What do you like most about being an Ambassador? I love Rockford. Honestly. I do. I can’t think of a better way to support Rockford than through the Chamber of Commerce.

I can support businesses and people. I guess my favorite part is meeting people and making those personal connections. I meet people from all walks of life. It’s fun. It’s educational.

Member Category of the Month MEMBERSHIP

The following is a listing of Rockford Chamber members highlighted in a specific industry.

Banquets Electrical Workers Union/Local 364 IBEW Pavilion at Orchard Ridge Farms

Banquets, Convention Facilities Best Western Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center, Home of CoCo Key Water Resort Byron Forest Preserve/PrairieView Golf Club/Stone Quarry Recreation Park Giovanni’s, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn Midway Village Museum Prairie Street Brewhouse Rockford Woman’s Club/ Rockford Theatre

Bars, Grills, Pubs Pig Minds Brewing Co. Inc. Stumpy’s Pub

Caterers ABC Catering Ltd., A Better Choice Catering Alexza Incorporation Best Events Catering

Coffee Shop, Gourmet Megs Daily Grind Restoration Cafe Wired Cafe’

Coffee Wholesale JavaMania Coffee Roastery

Coffee, Gourmet Horizons Inc.

Popcorn Parlor, Inc.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Hilton Garden Inn Holiday Inn Express Holiday Inn of Rockford Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Red Roof Inn Residence Inn by Marriott/ Rockford Staybridge Suites Travlur Motel

Grocery Stores

Night Life

Event and Meeting Planning Best Events Catering Eventus

Food Wholesaler Gordon Food Service/GFS Marketplace

Food, Gourmet

Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. 2206 Barnes Blvd.

Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. 1715 Rural St. Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. 2601 N. Mulford Road Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. 2514 S. Alpine Road Schnucks/Hilander Foods, Inc. 3134 11th St. Schnucks/Logli Supermarket 6410 E. State St. Schnucks/Logli Supermarkets 3150 N. Rockton Ave. Schnucks/Logli Supermarkets 2642 Charles St. Valli Produce of Rockford, Inc. Woodmans Food Market, Inc.

Hotels, Motels Alpine Inn Baymont Inn & Suites Best Western Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center, Home of CoCo Key Water Resort Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort Comfort Inn of Rockford Courtyard by Marriott/Rockford Days Inn Rockford DeSoto House Hotel

Kryptonite

Meats, Wholesale & Retail Eickman’s Processing Company

Retail Merchandising Sams Club, A Division of Wal-Mart Stores

Restaurants Abreo Restaurant Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar - 6845 E. State St. Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar - 1675 E. Riverside Blvd.

Aunt Mary’s Restaurant Beefaroo, Inc. Buffalo Wild Wings Chilis Grill & Bar Ciao Bella Ristorante Cronies Grill Culver’s Restaurant District Bar & Grill Egg Harbor Cafe Franchesco’s Ristorante Giordanos Giovanni’s, Inc. Granite City Food & Brewery GreenFire

Hoffman House Hooters of Rockford Jersey Mike’s - 1513 West Lane Road, Unit C Jersey Mike’s - 6284 E. State St. Johnny Pamcakes Kochi Japan Lone Star Steakhouse Maciano’s Pizza Columbia Parkway Maciano’s Pizza (Perryville Pizza, LLC) Mary’s Market Cafe & Bakery NP MashUp Restaurant Old Chicago Restaurant Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Olympic Tavern, Inc. Panino’s Restaurant (Main Street) Panino’s Restaurant (State Street) Pizza Hut - Eleventh Street Pizza Hut - North Main Pizza Hut - South Alpine Pizza Hut (Rockford Pizza Inc.) Red Mango - 6876 Spring Creek Road, Ste. 118 Red Mango - 1093 W. Lane Road Sam’s Ristorante Soderberg’s Restaurant TGI Friday’s Taco Johns Texas Roadhouse Thunder Bay Grille Vito’s Ristorante, Inc. Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers (K & K Foods Inc.)

Restaurants, Ethnic JMK Nippon Restaurant Der Rathskeller Shogun Japanese Restaurant Stockholm Inn

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

Member-to-member Loyalty Card

Cut out and write your company name on the card.

Give it to the member you are doing business with to show your support of member-to-member business.

24

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

Thursday, November 1

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents Treasury: Finance for Nonprofit Leaders on Thursdays, Nov. 1, 8, 15, and 29, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., as a part of its Leadership Certificate Program, at the 5100 building on E. State St., room 120. Visit www. rockford.edu/?NICNE. Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, invites the public to view The Bold and the Buddha-ful art exhibit, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Nov. 8. Freewill offering. Visit www.womanspacerockford.org, www.facebook.com/ Womanspace or 815-877-0118.

Natural Land Institute presents its Seasons on the Land Art Show and Benefit, a two-day juried event at Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., on Nov. 1, 5 to 9 p.m., and Nov. 2, 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets at www. naturalland.org or 320 S. Third St., Rockford. Call 815-964-6666 or email info@naturalland.org.

Friday, November 2 The third-annual YWCA Wine, Women & Purses takes place from 6 to 9 p.m., at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club. Includes an Artale Wine Co. wine tasting, hors d’oeuvre and dessert pairings; gift, boutique, and handbag shopping; silent auction, and music by Starlight Radio. Reservations at www. ywca.org or contact lpagles@ywcarockford.org, 815-968-9681, ext. 308.

Saturday, November 3

Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents its Black Magic Ball Speakeasy at the Prairie Street Brewhouse. Features the Bootlegger Lounge, 1920s-inspired meal, music by the RSO and dancing with the Big Band. Reservations at 815-965-0049.

Sunday, November 4

Discovery Center Museum presents Smashing Pumpkins, 1 to 4 p.m., inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

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

Ethnic Heritage Museum, 1129 S. Main St., Rockford, hosts a Day of the Dead procession, 2 to 4 p.m., from the altar in Tinker Swiss Cottage barn, to the Ethnic Heritage Museum altar and ceremony. Visit www. ethnicheritagemuseum.org or call 815962-7402.

Tuesday, November 6

Entré Computer Solutions presents TechX: Entré Technology Expo, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Clock Tower Resort, 7801 E. State Street, Rockford.

Breakfast keynote, luncheon keynote, and breakouts with industry experts on physical security, digital signage, and business continuity & disaster recovery.

Register at www.entretechx.com, email

November 2012

Community Events COMMUNITY

seminars@entrerock.com or call 815399-5664.

Rockford Park District invites adult softball players age 50+ for Drop-In Softball Games on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park, through next March 26. Visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org or call 815-987-8800.

Thursday, November 8

The Rock Valley College Composition and Literature Department hosts a free lecture and book signing with Daniel Wallace, author of Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, 7 p.m., Student Center atrium, 3301 N. Mulford Road.

Call 815-921-3323.

Friday, November 9

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents SoundBites, noon at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club, 5151 Guilford Road. Discussion with Music Director Steven Larsen on the concert featuring Rachel Barton Pine, violin. Reservations recommended at 815-965-0049. Visit www. rockfordsymphony.com.

Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries presents its fundraiser Sleep/Walk: Sleep a Night in My Box and Walk a Mile in My Shoes, Nov. 9 and 10 at Rockford College. Participants supply their own cardboard box to sleep in as well as blankets and a pillow.

Registration on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.; walk at 7 p.m. Outdoor movie and snacks provided and breakfast the next morning. Visit www.rockfordrescue mission.org or call 815-316-4165.

AAF Northern Illinois presents If You’re Not Content Marketing, You’re Not Marketing. 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Katie’s Cup. For more information call 815-397-6052 or visit www.niadfed.org.

SwedishAmerican Health System’s Puttin’ On The Glitz fashion show/ luncheon to benefit the new Regional Cancer Center on N. Bell School Rd. will take place at Giovanni’s, 11:30 a.m.

Music by Groove Hotel and holiday fashions modeled by local celebrities, hospital professionals and individuals touched by cancer. The annual Betty Henry Award will be presented for extraordinary contributions to the cancer center. Call 815-966-2066.

Saturday, November 10

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center presents the Charlotte’s Web concert, Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., 415 N. Church St., Rockford.

For tickets visit www.mendelssohnpac. org or call 815-964-9713.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra, 314 N. Main St., presents East Meets West with violinist Rachel Barton Pine.

Tickets at www.rockfordsymphony. com, 815-965-0049, or the box office.

Rockford Park District presents Reach for the Stars, 7 to 9 p.m., at Seth B. Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Road. Stargazing and facts, myths and legends about the heavens. Visit www.

rockfordparkdistrict.org/atwood or call 815-987-8800.

Sunday, November 11

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center presents Russian-born violinist, David Lisker, 2 p.m., at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St., Rockford. Lisker studied with violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman. For tickets visit www.mendelssohnpac.org or call 815964-9713.

Tuesday, November 13

Rockford Public Library presents How Will We Pay for College? 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at East Branch Friends of RPL Community Room, 6685 E. State St. Registration required. Call 815-9657606.

Savant Capital Management, 7202 Argus Dr., Rockford, presents Back to the Basics: Investments for Beginners. Call 815-227-0300.

Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, presents Set Sail on the Mayflower, an hour-long class for ages 2 to 6, Nov. 13 to 17. Visit www.DiscoveryCenterMuseum.org or call 815-963-6769.

SwedishAmerican Center for Women presents Girls Night Out, 5 to 7:30 p.m., in the Renaissance Pavilion.

Women receive a mammogram, chair massage, beauty treatment, refreshments and trunk shows. Book an appointment at 815-391-7676.

Wednesday, November 14

YWCA of Rockford presents a free Beginning Genealogy Class, 6 to 8 p.m., at the YWCA of Rockford, 4990 E. State St., in the Puri Family computer lab. Contact Bev to register at 815-3166121, bgiloy@ywca-rockford.org.

The Rockford Area Economic Development Council presents Raising Capital, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Panelists include Timothy Coleman, City Capital Advisors; Patrick Shaw, McGladrey, and Timothy Sullivan, Hinshaw & Culbertson.

Complimentary continental breakfast.

Register at raisingcapitalseminar. eventbrite.com.

Thursday, November 15

The Visiting Nurses Association presents its annual Comedy, The Best Medicine, 6 p.m., at The Sullivan Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford. Live improvisational comedy (adults only) performed by Chicago troupe Laugh Out Loud Comedy. Tickets at www. rockfordhealthsystem.org/VNAcomedy. aspx or 815-971-4141.

Friday, November 16

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center presents the Avalon String Quartet concert, Mozart, Garrup and Brahms, 7 p.m., at 415 N. Church St., Rockford.

For tickets visit www.mendelssohnpac. org or call 815-964-9713.

Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St., presents John Linker playing the sanctuary

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organ at 6:30 p.m. Freewill donation.

Call 815-962-6061.

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College hosts a Nonprofit Dialogue, 8:30 to 10 a.m., Grace Roper Lounge, first floor Burpee Center, 5050 E. State St. College President Dr. Robert L. Head will facilitate. Respond by Nov. 14 to kream@rockford.edu or 815-394-4384.

Saturday, November 17

Ethnic Heritage Museum, 1129 S. Main St., Rockford, presents a Christmas Holiday Traditions Open House, noon to 4 p.m., Nov. 17 and 18. Each gallery will be decorated with an ethnic holiday theme. Call 815-9627402 or visitethnicheritagemuseum.org.

Remedies Renewing Lives presents Remedies 7th Annual Ball, 6 to 11 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford. Reception, dinner, guest speaker Judge Rosemary Collins, Clutch Cargo Band, and live and silent auctions. Eric Wilson emcees. Reserve at jjohnson@remediesrenewinglives. org or 815-966-1285, or visit www. remediesrenewinglives.org.

Friday, November 23

Discovery Center Museum presents Weird Science, Nov. 23 and 24, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

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

Sunday, November 25

Discovery Center Museum hosts a Gingerbread House class, 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Registration required at 815-963-6769 by Nov. 19.

Visit www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

Monday, November 26

Rockford Public Library presents Hire Me! a four-week series, Mondays, Nov. 26 to Dec. 17, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Rockton Centre branch, 3112 N. Rockton Ave. Must be proficient with Internet and have an email address.

Registration not required. 815-965-7606.

Wednesday, November 28

Rockford Public Library presents Resume in a Day, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the main library second floor computer room, 215 N. Wyman St. Registration not required. 815-965-7606 for questions.

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents Leadership Café, How Do You Market Your Impact and Results vs. Your Programs and Services? noon to 1 p.m., in the Burpee Center, Rockford College, 5050 E. State St. RSVP five days prior at 815-394-4384 or email kream@rockford.edu.

Rockford Area Economic Development Council presents its 2012 Annual Meeting & Dinner, 5 p.m., with networking, dinner and program, at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Keynote speaker is Janyce Fadden, RAEDC president.

Call Teri Johnson at 815-969-4261.

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Aspen Counseling and Consulting, LLC The Area’s Innovative Leader in the Treatment of Mood Disorders 1021 N. Mulford Road, Ste. 1, 61111 Stephen W. Smith, MS, LCPC, CRADC, SAP – 815-985-3690 www.aspenbh.com

BelRock Asphalt Paving Inc. Specializing in all Your Asphalt Needs, Both Residential and Commercial 130 S. State St., Ste. 205 Belvidere, IL 61008 Kelly Farina 815-547-5061 www.belrockinc.com

Comfort Keepers® #323 Non-Medical In Home Care Company. Serving areas of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin P.O. Box 740 Roscoe, IL 61073 Nola Parris 815-623-6602 www.comfortkeepers.com/ office-323

GreenFire Organic Natural Food, Bar, Juice Bar, Coffee Bar, Marketplace 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., 61114 Forcioli Philippe Forcioli 815-637-7000 www.facebook.com/greenfire.il

Honquest Family Funeral Home With Crematory Full Service, Family-Owned and -Operated Funeral Home for Over 17 Years 4311 N. Mulford Road, 61111 Lorinda Gordon 815-636-5100 www.honquestfh.com

Landshark Solutions Provides Resources that Help Small Business Owners Operate, Protect, and Grow Their Businesses Jeff Klinger 815-222-0788

New Chamber Members MEMBERS

MSI Reverse

Rock Valley Apartments

Providing Money to Help SENIORS, Federally Insured, No Monthly Payments 5745 Weymouth Dr., 61114 Thomas J. Conwell 815-520-4046 www.msireverse.com

Management and Leasing of 180 Apartments 7102 Rock Valley Pkwy.

Loves Park, IL 61111 Steve Pinnon 815-637-6508 www.rockvalleyapartments.com

Mercy Ambulance Service Emergency and Non-Emergency Ambulance Service 6822 Forest Hills Road Loves Park, IL 61111 Robert Esmond 815-633-8040

Panino’s Restaurant For 20+ Years, this Locally Owned Restaurant has been Serving the 17” Panino, Panizzas™, Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, and Pastas!

2725 N. Main St., 61103 Frank & Mary Ann Savitski 815-636-0036 www.paninosofrockford.com

Panino’s Restaurant For 20+ Years, this Locally Owned Restaurant has been Serving 17” Panino, Panizzas™, Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, and Pastas!

5403 E. State St., 61108 Frank & Mary Ann Savitski 815-227-9200 www.paninosofrockford.com

Pelion Actuarial Services At Pelion We Don’t Make Predictions, We Make Valuable Solutions 4320 Spring Creek Road, Ste. A, 61107 Jeffrey R. Mason 815-516-0560 www.pelionactuarialservices.com

Primetime Audio/Video Custom Installation and Retail of Consumer Electronics 6917 E. State St., 61108 Tom Priola 815-399-2500 www.primetime-av.com

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

40-Year Members

10-Year Member

A.W. Anderson Agency, Inc. Powmet, Inc.

Rockford I.D. Shop, Inc.

25-Year Member

Chicagoland Medical Billing Specialists, Inc. Liberty Baptist Church Super Shredders Upper Iowa University – Rockford Center

Faust Landmark Apartments Office

15-Year Member Rockford Education Association

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November 2012

5-Year Members

Roy Gayle Pony Baseball Softball Organization Providing Baseball & Softball for Kids P.O. Box 1011, 61105 Ken Held 815-962-4417 www.rockfordpony.com

SecurCare Self Storage Self Storage Company Month to Month Storage Rental. We Offer a Variety of Self-Storage Units in Several Sizes.

7511 Vandiver Road Cherry Valley, IL 61112 Juwanna Phillips 779-771-2120 www.securcare.com

T. Pratt & Associates, Ltd. Conducts Retained C-Level Executive Search Assignments for Integrated Hospital and Healthcare Systems, Managed Healthcare, and Specialty Care Organizations.

5411 E. State St., Ste. 379, 61108 Tyler P. Pratt

815-397-2899 www.tprattassociates.com

TSYS Merchant Solutions Wide Range of Payment Processing Solutions for Financial Institutions & Businesses 6260 E. Riverside Blvd.

Loves Park, IL 61111 Pamela Jackson 779-537-0842 www.tsys.com

Universal Recycling Technologies An Industry Leader for E-waste and Universal Waste Management Providing Comprehensive Solutions for Original Electronics Manufacturers, Municipalities, Retailers, and Businesses.

2535 Beloit Ave. Janesville, WI 53546 Laura Barten 608-754-3400 www.universalrecyclers.com

Vacations by Veronika Full-Service Travel Agency 1180 Butler Road, 61108 Veronika Markgraf 815-580-8036 www.vacationsbyveronika.com

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November 2012

EVENTS

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Upcoming Chamber Events November, 2012 Tuesday, November 6 Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road. Kathy Velasco and Heather Kelley, V2 Marketing Communications, present What is Inbound Marketing - Six tools to build an online marketing engine that develops leads for your sales team. Sponsored by AAIM Employers’ Association.

Wednesday, Nov. 7 7:30 - 11:30 am Radisson Conference Center 200 S. Bell School Rd., Rockford

Leadership Integrity and Cyber Fraud Prevention:

How People Lose Their Ethics and What Can be Done to Stop It Jeff Lanza, retired FBI agent, will present on hiring employees with high integrity and maintaining a moral compass.

Includes continental breakfast. For more on Lanza, visit www.thelanzagroup.com.

Complimentary to Chamber members, courtesy of event sponsor, US Bank.

Seating is limited, so please register now.

Qualifies for 3 hours of continuing education credits for CPAs; 2 hours of Illinois MCLE professional responsibility credit hour(s) for attorneys.

Sponsor: US Bank

Thursday, November 8

Good Morning Rockford! 7 to 9 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 7675 Walton St. Advantage Club Originals presents Build a Bridge of HOPE Highlighting Bridge Ministries. Free breakfast and networking. Bring a donation of wrapped toilet paper, footballs, peanut butter, girls’ hair accessories and basketballs to enter for drawings for prizes given away every 30 minutes.

Friday, November 9

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

Tuesday, November 13 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Sam’s Ristorante, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd. Contact Denise Galluzzo-Wimmer, Macktown Insurance Agency, dgalluzzo05@ gmail.com.

Wednesday, November 14 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Wednesday, Nov. 14 7:30 - 9:00 am Rock Valley College Woodward Technology Center 3301 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford

Breakfast Buzz Collaboration!

How people and organizations can work more effectively together Presenter is Rena Cotsones, NIU. Sponsored by McGladrey

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

Ribbon Cutting, V2 Marketing Communications, 220 E. State St., Ste. G, Rockford, 4 to 6:30 p.m. open house; 4:30 p.m. ribbon cutting.

Join the celebration of the merger of Velasco & Associates with Argyle Marketing and office expansion.

Thursday, Nov. 15 11:30 am - 1:15 pm Giovanni’s 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford

Healthcare Industry Update

Ted Nodzenski, vice president of the Strategic & Business Development for the Illinois Hospital Association is the keynote speaker.

Sponsors: BMO Harris Bank (presenting) Humana; Rosecrance Health Network; Rockford Spine Center (gold) Employers’ Coalition on Health (ECOH) (silver)

Friday, November 16

Ribbon Cutting, 10 to 11 a.m., Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries, 2710 20th St.

Wednesday, November 21

Ribbon Cutting, 10 to 11 a.m., Children’s Holiday Shoppe, 300 N. Mulford Road, Market Place Mall, Rockford.

Tuesday, November 27 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Sam’s Ristorante, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd. Contact Denise Galluzzo-Wimmer, Macktown Insurance Agency, dgalluzzo05@gmail.com.

Wednesday, November 28 Advantage Power Network Club, 11:45 a.m., Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

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

December, 2012 Tuesday, December 4

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

Sponsored by AAIM Employers’ Association.

Thursday, Dec. 6 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Cliffbreakers 700 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford

Education Outlook Luncheon

Sponsors: BMO Harris Bank (presenting) Humana (gold)

Tuesday, December 11

Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Sam’s Ristorante, 6075 E. Riverside Blvd. Contact Denise Galluzzo-Wimmer, Macktown Insurance Agency, dgalluzzo05@ gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 12

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

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

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community 2. Publication Number: 784-120 3. Filing Date: 10/01/2012 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 6. Annual Subscription Price: $25 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101-1104 Winnebago County.

8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: Same as above.

9. Publisher: Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101-1104.

Editor: N/A Managing Editor: Doug Hessong, same as above.

10. Owner: Rockford Chamber of Commerce Complete Mailing Address: 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101-1104.

11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities.

Full Name: N/A Complete Mailing Address: N/A 12. Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at special rates.) The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months.

13. Publication Title: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data: September 2012 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation a. Total Number Copies (Net Press Run) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 6,000 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 6,000 b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1)Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 255 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 263 (2)Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 3,186 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 3,143 (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS® : Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: N/A Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: N/A (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail®) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: N/A Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: N/A

c. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b(1)(2),(3), and (4)) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 3,441 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 3,406 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: N/A Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: N/A (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541 Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: N/A Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: N/A (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: N/A Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: N/A 4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 1,769 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 1,800 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d(1),(2),(3), and (4) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 1,769 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 1,800 f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 5,210 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 5,206 g. Copies not Distributed Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 790 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 794 h. Total (Sum of 15f and g) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 6,000 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 6,000 i. Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 66% Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 65% 16. This statement of ownership will be printed in the November 2011 issue of this publication.

I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties): Signed: Doug Hessong, Dir. of Publications and Technology Date: Oct. 1, 2012

theVoice rockfordchamber.com

27

November 2012

Membership Renewals Thank you to the members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber in September, 2012.

Advance Window System Advanced Rockford Eye Care American TV & Appliance of Rockford, Inc. Bisconti Computers Inc. Cedar Hill Condominium Association ComElec-East, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott/Rockford Cream City Scale LLC Creative Pig Minds Design Cremation Society of Illinois Cronies Grill Crystal Precision Drilling, Inc. Culver’s Restaurant Eckburg & Bates Insurance Agency Egg Harbor Cafe Employee Benefit Association of Northern Illinois Entre Computer Solutions First Northern Credit Union Forest Hills Village Gary W. Anderson Architects GNS Gas Company Heritage Aero, Inc. Home Environment Center of Rockford, Ltd. Instant Jungle, Inc. Intouch Home Care Services of LSSI Ken McEachran Agency, Ltd. Kraft Foods Lexxon Networks, Inc. Lou Bachrodt AutoMall Lou Bachrodt Buick GMC M & W Grinding of Rockford Maciano’s Pizza Columbia Parkway Maculan Chiropractic Clinic Minuteman Press Nelson Fire Protection NICOMM Networks

NLT Title, LLC Nutrition Works, Inc. Olson Enterprises LLC Pathfinder Wealth Management, Inc. Personal Finance Co. Phelps Industries, Inc. PR Etc., Inc. Premium Oil Company Rockford Apartment Association Rockford Area Affordable Housing Coalition Rockford Speedway/ Forest Hills Lodge Rockford Toolcraft, Inc. Saco USA (Illinois) Inc. SeeSmart LED Solutions Shadow Trucking, Inc. T6 Broadband Inc. (Skybeam Illinois) Thayer Lighting, Inc. The Alliance the groundUP s.s.i. (gUs, inc) The Pension Specialists, Ltd. Title Underwriters Agency Transitions Hospice Tree Care Enterprises Inc. United Association of Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Local Union 23 Universal Restoration Services US Signal Veterans Industries Wesley Willows Whitehead Inc., Realtors - Teri Watts, Commercial & Industrial Broker Windstream Winnebago County Bar Association Winnebago County Schools Credit Union Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office

december 2012 Special Section

Financial Planning non-Profits For information on advertising, call 815 987-8100

Advertisers Index ADVERTISERS

Alpine Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 BMO Harris Bank . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Brian Thomas Photography . . . .14 Broadmoor Agency . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Comcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Entré Computer Solutions . . . . . .9 First National Bank and Trust Company . . . . . . . . . .4 IMEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 McGladrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 PR Etc., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Reno & Zahm LLP . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Riverside Community Bank . . . .19 Rockford Area Economic Development Council . . . . . . . . .6

Rockford Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . .3

Rockford College . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . 16, 25, 27

Rockford Health System . . . . . . .15 Sikich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 SwedishAmerican Health System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Thayer Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

United Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Upstream. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Van Galder Bus Co . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Widmer Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Williams-Manny. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100 ............................................. Direct Line Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO ......................................... 815-316-4304 Heidi M. Garner, Executive Assistant to the President ................... 815-316-4312 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology .................. 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Advertising and Sponsorship Executive .............. 815-316-4317 Vee Jevremovic, Manager of Education Programs and Events ......... 815-316-4337 Jazzminne Keyes, Ignite Director............................................. 815-316-4335 Andrew Kobischka, Membership Development Manager ................... 815-316-4336 Cyndie Landis, Financial Assistant ........................................... 815-316-4300 Joy Moriarty, V.P. Finance ...................................................... 815-316-4316 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events ............................................. 815-316-4302 Diane Navickis, Membership Development Manager .................... 815-316-4315 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator ........................ 815-316-4320

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

dIrECtorS

Penelope Lechtenberg Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc.

Michael Mastroianni Rock Valley College

Romero Bennett Blue Sky Insurance Agency, Inc.

Ryan Brauns Rockford Consulting & Brokerage

Paul McCann Stanley Steemer Pat Morrow Alpine Bank

Somchan Thatsanaphon K-I Machine Tool & Production Inc. Tim White UTC Aerospace Systems Jennifer Wood Sikich LLP Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

Paul Callighan ComEd, An Exelon Company

Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale

Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc.

Timothy Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy

J Chapman Maverick Media of Rockford LLC

Daniel Saavedra Saavedra Gehlhausen Einar K. Forsman Architects President & CEO, Rockford Chamber Henry Seybold of Commerce Rockford Health John Groh System Rockford Area Pat Shaw Convention McGladrey LLP & Visitors Bureau

Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Darlene Furst Furst Staffing

EX-oFFICIo dIrECtorS Janyce Fadden Rockford Area Economic Development Council