One, Vol. 5 Iss.1

NOVEMBER 2015

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROCKFORD, IL PERMIT NO. 63

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W O N K LD U O H S U O Y LE P EO P 2015 TWENTY

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SPONSOR’S WELCOME

OSF HealthCare and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center is once again proud to be the presenting sponsor for the Twenty People You Should Know.

We believe in the value of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and thank them for their foresight and commitment to recognizing and introducing leaders in our community.

Through efforts to transform our region and to work collectively to make Rockford a better place to do business, raise families and prosper — it has become evident that we need to do more to cultivate and mentor leaders who can join us and then take that next step.

Those honored as members of the 2015 class of People You Should Know have been identified by their peers as having what it takes to meet the challenge and have already assumed a role in addressing the problems and needs of our community.

Take the time to learn more about the amazing individuals you will find in these pages. And if you have occasion to see them, introduce yourself, get to know them and welcome them to the team of leaders that are moving Rockford forward.

OSF gives heartfelt thanks to the award recipients for the great job they have done and the promise they offer in the years to come.

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

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one voice for the rockford area business community

“Never stop learning.”

You’ve heard the mantra before… you’ll hear it again… and in this edition of One, you’ll see it in action as we proudly present the 2015 class of People You Should Know.

It’s only fitting that we’ve photographed our movers and shakers in education facilities, because they truly are “in the know” when

staff Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO Heidi Garner, Chief Operating Officer Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology Lynette Jacques, Vice President, Member Investment Caitlin Ludwig, Vice President, Leadership Development

it comes to running successful businesses

Stacy Mullins, Director of Events

and giving back to our community.

Sue Boyer, Member Relations

Among them, the field of education is well

Mary Ann Suprenant, Membership Development Manager

represented, including two deans of local colleges, a school board president, and an executive director who helps teachers enjoy the “fruit” of their labor.

We honor learners from the school of life, too: an Italian immigrant

Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator Visit us online rockfordchamber.com

committed to manufacturing’s comeback. Another inspired by the progress of people with developmental difficulties. And one who reminds us to relax and enjoy the recreational side of our great city.

We invite you to grab a coffee, page through this issue and get to know our community’s shining stars. Their stories of success are an education in leadership for us all!

Einar Forsman, President/CEO Rockford Chamber of Commerce EForsman@rockfordchamber.com

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce ­publishes One once a year.

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

Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, Illinois 61101 Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: One, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101

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PYSK honorees get schooled for photo shoots With so many great things happening in Rockford Public Schools, we couldn’t think of a more suitable backdrop for showcasing this year’s PSYK honorees.

You see, for years the Rockford Chamber has been an active partner in the progress that’s taking place within RPS 205. In fact, we were among the first and strongest supporters of the current $250 million investment in all RPS schools to bring them up to 21st Century Learning Standards. From the early planning stages to facility improvements that grow more impressive by the day, we’re proud to be working together to implement positive change.

Back in 2010, results of our Public Education Survey showed that our business community had an unsettled impression of, yet a vested interest in, the success of our public schools. Reinstating zoned student assignment, improving engagement between school administration and local businesses, and providing more vocational training to address local workforce needs were areas we targeted for improvement. It was time for us all to think

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outside the box to support our students and our mission: To be the region’s leading advocate for business growth.

Fast forward several years, and Chamber members have become active leaders on the RPS Strategic Planning Committee and Facilities Oversight Committee. We’ve formed a Political Action Committee to endorse highly qualified school board candidates. We’ve connected local businesses with their future workforce and sparked students’ interest by sponsoring events like National Manufacturing Day Students Tours and Career Awareness Expo. And we’ve communicated it all to you, our community stakeholders, through editorials in The Voice and speakers like Dr. Ehren Jarrett at our Annual Education Outlook Luncheon.

Best of all? The Chamber’s ongoing collaboration with RPS 205 costs next to nothing because it’s almost 100% volunteer driven. And that sends our students—our future workforce—an important message that the Rockford business community cares and is committed to a bright future.

But for now, what these students know is that East High School has a new auditorium where student talent shines…Auburn High has a spacious field house where top athletes train…future scientists enrich their minds in Froberg Elementary’s modern STEM lab and library…and the list goes on.

Thank you, Rockford Public Schools, for opening your doors to our PYSK honorees and camera crew. We’re excited to see today’s young scholars becoming tomorrow’s people we should know!

Thanks to the staff and students of Auburn High School, East High School and Froberg Elementary for partnering with the Chamber on these photo shoot sessions. Special acknowledgement to RPS 205 Marketing Coordinator Jennifer Thompson for going above and beyond to help turn our collaborative creative vision into reality!

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event

2015 People You Should Know pose for a “class” picture.

2015 One “People You Should Know” Reveal Reception Presenting Sponsor: OSF HealthCare/OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Prairie Street Brewhouse • October 22, 2015

One Magazine and Rockford Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 2015 “People You Should Know” award recipients at a special reception, sponsored by OSF HealthCare. More than 350 guests enjoyed appetizers and drinks in the ballroom of the Prairie Street Brewhouse near downtown Rockford. Chamber President Einar Forsman, Paula Carynski of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, and Mike Broski, Chamber Board Past Chairman announced the awards and recognized each of the twenty recipients.

To see all the One Event pictures, go to rockfordchamber.com.

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Rockford Chamber President Einar Forsman, Paula Carynski and Mike Broski unveil the 2015 cover of the One publication.

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Congratulations!

Heather Kelley

for being one of the People You Should Know!

The rest of Rockford is discovering what we’ve known for years— when it comes to People You Should Know, you top the list.

We admire your magnetic way with clients, your tireless support of education, and your ability to balance it all as the heart of your family. V2 is a better place because of your smiling face. Cheers!

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” ~ Stephen Covey

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For more pictures from the One event, visit rockfordchamber.com.

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PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KN

This page, (l to r) back row: Scott Hall, Julie Bosma, Dr. Christopher Sliva, Dr. Lamata Mitchell, David Stenerson (l to r) front row: Danielle Potter, Dr. John Dorsey, Kristina Reuber. Not shown, Dr. Tino Oldani.

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LD KNOW 2015

This page, (l to r) back row: Dr. Juliette Kalweit, Linda Heckert, Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, Heather Kelley (l to r) middle row: Carm Herman, Michael Cyrs, Steve Carter (l to r) front row: Jedediah L. Cantrell, Joel Zirkle, Cathy McDermott, Vint Buckwalter 19 » November 2015 »

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CATHY MCDERMOTT

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Administrator Rock River Development Partnership

[City]Marketing Maven If Cathy McDermott were not a demon for details, Rockford might not have a booming City Market and we might still be funding street improvements through bond sales.

As administrator and sole full-time employee of the Rock River Development Partnership, McDermott led the team that got the market up and running six years ago when the first Friday afternoon event drew 1,000 people.

“We were beyond ecstatic with that turnout” she says. Six years later, nearly 5,000 people came each week this summer. They spent about $4 million on food and goods in the market and in restaurants and shops. Thanks to the market, there are six new storefronts in town, vendors who found enough success at the market to set up shop. “We are very grateful for the way the community has embraced the market,” McDermott says.

The outdoor market will continue, even as plans are being made to open an indoor downtown market in 2017. And McDermott and the Partnership took over the Saturday morning North End Market, which doubled its attendance this summer with additional vendors and a new site on the southeast corner of North Main and Auburn.

It all has happened smoothly, thanks to McDermott, a Rockford native who was former Mayor John McNamara’s aide in the 1980s and led campaigns for Mayor Larry Morrissey.

“There are a lot of moving parts to projects like this,” says McDermott. She makes sure everyone has the proper licenses and permits to sell, and that food vendors know the health regulations.

She turns down vendors who want to sell things like insurance and recruits those with quality food or other items. And she handles some decidedly unglamorous details, like how many portable toilets and garbage containers are needed. “Those little things can make you or break you,” she says.

McDermott also led a drive to transfer city street funding from bond proceeds to a sales tax in 2007. The referendum passed handily after McDermott diligently coordinated the dozens of campaign details.

McDermott and her husband, Kevin, have three children. She also is active in other civic causes, including Transform Rockford and Boylan High School.

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SCOTT HALL

President & CEO Textron Industrial Segment & Greenlee Textron

Global Leader Scott Hall calls himself a “situational leader” of the thousands of employees under his watch as President & CEO of the Industrial group at Textron, which includes Greenlee, Jacobsen, E-ZGO and Kautex.

“I try to gauge the situation and determine if a team needs encouragement, or obstacles removed, or direct instruction, etc., and then provide it. I feel I’m direct, provide clear guidance on operational issues, and foster a safe, creative environment on product development issues.”

Originating from Canada, where “as any boy growing up, I suppose, I wanted to be the next great hockey player,” he earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an MBA from The University of Western Ontario-Richard Ivey School of Business. Hockey has remained a part of his life; coaching it from age 17 until his sons finished playing. He also is an avid sailor and private pilot.

Textron’s Industrial Segment has more than 50 plants in more than 20 countries. “In order to succeed in this diverse environment and have success on a global scale, you have to know and accept that your pre-conceived notions may be wrong. Adapting to the country or environment you are in, is far more important than simply driving to a predetermined outcome.”

As a member of Textron’s Executive Leadership Team, Hall has helped grow the profitability of the segment’s roughly $3.2 billion of industrial products. “We are focused on execution of strategy and annual plans and on growing our strong brands through improved operating performance and introduction of new, innovative products.

In today’s marketplace, we must continue to make improvements and put the customers’ needs first.”

Scott has shared his best practices as keynote speaker at the Rockford Chamber’s 2014 Manufacturing Dinner. He’s also been involved with the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and the United Way of Rock River Valley. He is a board member of the National Association of Manufacturers and a trustee of The Manufacturer’s Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, both of Washington, D.C. The most valuable lesson he has learned as a leader of employees worldwide: “Humility and respect are the foundation that all cultures understand.”

By Barbara Connors

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JEDEDIAH CANTRELL

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Vice President of Operations SwedishAmerican, a Division of UW Health

Finding balance Jedediah Cantrell has had some interesting jobs in her career. One of the most interesting, she says, might have been working in a prison.

In the 1990s, Cantrell worked in healthcare information management for the Illinois River Correctional Center, a medium maximum security prison in Canton, Ill. She met with prisoners every week to review their medical records. While she never felt threatened, Cantrell admits, “It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done. At the time I was young and excited to learn something new. It was one of the best opportunities in my career.”

Cantrell also worked on the clinical side as a nursing assistant, phlebotomist, and clinical laboratory technician. Today, she is vice president of operations for SwedishAmerican, where she’s responsible for hospital internal operations and clinical services.

“All of my experiences have helped me to become a better leader,” she says. “I remember working second and third shift. I know what it’s like to work with patients, physicians and other staff members. I can relate to what my frontline staff is going through on a day to day basis.”

Cantrell, who is married to Donte, and has three children, T.J. Saniya, and Kimoni, also finds time to give back. She serves on local boards such as United Way of Rock River Valley, Zion Development Corporation and the Belvidere YMCA. “Community has always been important to me,” she says. “It’s critical for people to reach back and help others. When I was struggling, I had family, friends and community support. I will never forget people who helped me. We get busy but it’s important to make time. It’s my responsibility to do the same for others. It’s part of my DNA.” Cantrell says she’s in a good place when it comes to managing work and family responsibilities. “SwedishAmerican promotes work life balance,” she says. “I didn’t always have that in my career. It makes things so much easier when you have that balance in your life.”

By Paul Anthony Arco

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20 » 2015 ALEX STAGNARO-GREEN, M.D., MHPE Regional Dean, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford

A new beginning Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green could have stayed on the East Coast and been perfectly content.

He grew up in Brooklyn, graduated from New York City’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine, served his residency in Internal Medicine at New Jersey Medical School, and returned to Mount Sinai to complete his fellowship.

So why, 18 months ago, did he pack his bags and move to the Midwest to become the dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford?

“I wanted to become a dean of a school where I could have a significant impact on medical education, while being part of a challenging, diverse and excellent institution of higher learning,” he says. “It was important to me to become a vital part of a community where I could help move things forward. In New York City, it’s hard to make that kind of impact.”

Stagnaro-Green has been busy in his short time here. He reached out to the area’s major healthcare systems and created strong ties with the Rockford Public Schools and higher education institutions. He’s revamped the college’s strategic plan and is enhancing programs, creating new areas of research, and expanding community activities. A key initiative is to bring 5 new residency programs to Rockford. He’s also joined several local boards.

Stagnaro-Green is internationally renowned for his research on the impact of thyroid disease on adverse outcomes in pregnancy including miscarriage, preterm delivery and decreased IQ in the children. He’s written extensively on thyroid and pregnancy and was the lead author of an international panel of experts, which published thyroid and pregnancy guidelines that are utilized worldwide. Dr. Stagnaro-Green lectures extensively on his research and will travel this year to Spain, The Netherlands, India, and Finland as an invited speaker.

“I am honored to be the Dean of our College of Medicine, proud of our 1,700 graduates and excited about the ever-increasing role of the College in improving the health and wellness of our community.”

By Paul Anthony Arco

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JOEL ZIRKLE

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Principal Owner and Branch Manager Fehr Graham

Lucky break Sometimes the unluckiest breaks can be the best breaks. That’s what happened to Joel Zirkle, an Iowa native, when he was downsized from a job in his home state. With limited prospects, Zirkle contemplated his future when fate stepped in. During a tennis game between his father-in-law and a retired partner of Fehr Graham, an engineering and environmental firm, it was brought up that Fehr Graham was looking for an environmental manager in their Freeport location. Zirkle landed the job and moved his family to Illinois in 2003.

Zirkle worked in the Freeport office until 2008, when he was promoted to Branch Manager of the Rockford office. Fehr Graham has 10 locations in the Midwest spread throughout Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. Zirkle’s hard work paid off, when in 2011 he became a Principal Owner. Fehr Graham has been involved with numerous downtown projects including the Ziock Building/Gorman development, TAPCO building demolition, Ingersoll building sports complex, among others. “We assess and clean up contaminated sites,” Zirkle says. “We get in early and get the work done, paving the way for redevelopment.”

In 2009, Zirkle joined Next Rockford. Currently, he is a Spoke Co-Lead for Transform Rockford’s Revitalization Segment. He also can be found volunteering for Rockford Sharefest and promoting local events that further the education of local students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Zirkle is also a past member of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council board of directors and an alum of the Rockford Chamber’s Leadership Rockford program.

Zirkle is married to Amy; the couple has two college-aged children, Madeline and Patrick. In his spare time, Zirkle enjoys ice fishing, pheasant hunting, hiking and biking. Three years ago, he and Patrick even took up blacksmithing.

Two years ago, Fehr Graham left its eastside Rockford office and moved into the Prairie Street Brewhouse building, an adaptive mixuse redevelopment located in downtown Rockford.

Zirkle says Rockford’s rebirth starts with the potential in the downtown area. “I didn’t grow up here, but I’ve fallen in love with Rockford,” he says. “When communities die at their core, that’s when they’re in trouble. The core is not dying here. It’s being reinvented.”

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HEATHER KELLEY

Principal, V2 Marketing Communications President, Harlem School Board

Kid at heart Heather Kelley has three jobs: working at V2Marketing Communications; serving as president of the Harlem School Board; and tending to family, husband Chris, and two children, one in college and one a senior at Harlem High.

But setting priorities is never difficult. The answer is always the same: The children come first, whether it’s her own or the 7,000 students in the Harlem School District.

A seat on the Harlem School Board would seem like the last thing Kelley needed nine years ago when she asked her own children, then 12 and 8, how they felt about it. She had helped the district create a public relations committee and decided the school board was how she would like to serve the community.

Her kids said okay, Kelley put in her name and was appointed to the board in 2006. She’s still there, as president since 2010, devoting at least 20 hours a week to board duties.

Kelley pushed for professional development of all board members and reminded them to focus on what’s best for students. “Everyone has a voice and we talk out the issues,” she says. “In the end, we speak with one voice.”

Kelley encourages communication among area school districts and the business sector, establishing relationships with the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and Alignment Rockford, among others. “We should be collaborating and bringing people to the table,” she says. “Everyone benefits when we build a stronger educational system.”

Kelley has worked in the marketing field for 22 years, not counting the commercials she made for WREX-TV as a child. She and husband Chris started their own marketing company in 2010. Two years later, they merged with another firm to form V2 Marketing. With seven employees, V2 serves about 25 clients at any given time.

While Kelley’s priorities are clear, it is not always clear where to find her. She could be at work, or at a Chamber lunch, or visiting a school. If it’s the weekend, check the bleachers at any Harlem sports event. If she’s not there, she might be on the Interstate heading north for a visit with her college senior daughter.

It is, after all, about the kids.

By Geri Nikolai

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DAVID STENERSON

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Chief Financial Officer OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

High wire act Dave Stenerson has lived in Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois. Nine years ago, he moved to Rockford when he accepted the position of chief financial officer at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center. “Rockford is a wonderful place to raise a family,” he says. “People are genuine, and there’s a great work ethic.”

Stenerson is involved in financial reporting, analyzing budgets, maintaining information systems and strategic planning. As part of the OSF management team, Stenerson makes rounds on patients to make sure patients are having a good experience.

“I love what I do,” he says. “It’s incredible to be part of an organization that takes its mission very seriously. We look at everything we do to make sure we do it cost effectively and extremely well.”

Stenerson has worked behind the scenes on some of the system’s biggest projects. He led the activation of the electronic medical record (EMR) at OSF Saint Anthony, the first OSF facility to go “live” with the program. For its efforts, OSF HealthCare received “Most Wired” recognition by Hospitals and Health Networks magazine. Stenerson also worked on OSF’s $9 million Center for Cancer Care renovation, and now is busy making plans for an $85 million construction project that will bring a four-story bed pavilion to OSF. Stenerson has been a board member for the YMCA of Rock River Valley and now for Goodwill Industries. He is a member of the Midwest Foundation for Orthopedic Research and Education, the research foundation for Rockford Orthopedic Associates. He and his wife, Lana, stay plenty busy with their young sons, Garrit and Grant.

For several years, Stenerson was an actor in community theater when he lived in Kewanee. There was a method to his madness. “I wanted to get more comfortable speaking in front of people,” he says. “As a financial person, getting on stage was a little weird, but I enjoyed it. I’m finally able to step out of my comfort zone.”

By Paul Anthony Arco

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KRISTINA REUBER

Executive Director Golden Apple Foundation

The midas touch If Kristina Reuber’s role as executive director of the Golden Apple Foundation consisted only of what the public sees, it would be easy.

Not that awarding Golden Apples to five teachers each spring doesn’t follow a load of work. It starts with the delivery of 6,500 apples to teachers. That generates between 700 and 1,200 award nominations from the community in the fall. Over a five-month, four-stage selection process involving hundreds of trained volunteers the pool is narrowed down to twenty finalists and then five teachers are surprised in their classrooms with the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching. One outstanding principal is also awarded each year through a nomination process.

Reuber, until recently the only paid employee of the Foundation, doesn’t relax after the banquet for recipients. Her job also involves coordinating grants to innovative teachers; sending collegeeducated volunteers into third grade classrooms to plant seeds of college aspirations; picking an assistant principal to attend a Harvard program for aspiring school leaders; and helping Golden Apple teachers help others through the Golden Apple Teacher Academy.

All of this requires relationships, given that the Foundation operates entirely from the support of local businesses and individuals.

Reuber, a Rockford native, also is passionate about encouraging people of her generation to get involved in civic engagement through community service and board membership. Reuber herself serves on the Rockford Register Star’s editorial board, on United Way’s Neighborhood Impact Committee, and on the Rockford Coronado Concert Association board of directors. As a member of IGNITE, a group aiming to attract and retain young professionals to our region, and Transform Rockford, she pushes the positives about this city as a place to live.

“First, you have home affordability you will not see anywhere else,” she says as both a homeowner and landlord. “There are job opportunities for motivated degree holders that are out of reach elsewhere, and third, it’s easy to get involved in the community here.

All you need is the will to do it.”

That, she has proven.

By Geri Nikolai

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MICHAEL T. CYRS

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Estate and Wealth Transfer Advisor Savant Capital Management

The money whisperer You would be hard pressed to find a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in this town that hasn’t benefitted from the tax and estate planning expertise of Michael Cyrs.

You would also be hard pressed to find out exactly how Cyrs helped, if you relied on him to tell you. He likes being a “quiet do-er,” and would rather not be in this Chamber of Commerce spotlight, or any other.

Cyrs, who was in the private practice of law in Rockford for over 20 years, recently agreed to lead a newly formed Wealth Transfer Advisory service at Savant Capital Management.

In private practice, Cyrs would work quietly behind the scenes to remind his clients of needs within the community. When he was able to light a fire of interest, he would go to work to structure specialized trusts and structures to capitalize on the most efficient vehicle available to realize a client’s charitable goals. As one of his colleagues says, “If you’re in an estate planning session with Mike, be prepared to be asked point blank how you plan to give back to your community.”

Research confirms there is hardly a charitable organization in the community that hasn’t benefitted from Cyrs’ work. From sending interested clients to development officers, to lectures for planned giving councils and charitable organizations themselves, to donated time to assist organizations with their tax structure, Cyrs has always been there to help.

“That’s the part I love the most,” says Cyrs. “I truly believe people have an innate desire to do positive things for others and their community. It comes naturally. Some have just never thought about giving back to their high school, their church, or another local charity, and they don’t know how to go about it. Sometimes you just have to be willing to make some suggestions, and help them connect the dots that are already there.”

Cyrs holds a Juris Doctorate and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Marquette University, and Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame. He has also maintained his certification as a Certified Financial Planner for over 15 years.

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CARM HERMAN

Executive Director Barbara Olson Center of Hope

City of hope Carm Herman has one goal for everyone who comes to the Barbara Olson Center of Hope: To enjoy a good quality of life and live as independently as possible.

For people who have a developmental disability and/or autism, achieving that can be like climbing a mountain. But at the Center of Hope, where Herman’s expertise, enthusiasm and determination have permeated the staff and programming, success has become the norm for 180 teen and adult participants. Herman’s first rule was that each participant be seen as an individual with unique needs and abilities.

“When I came, there were a lot of people together in big rooms, with a lot of different behaviors,” Herman recalls. “I said, everyone is different. We have to work with each individual.

“We set up classes — reading, computers, work training, etc.

— and dealt with each one’s needs. The inappropriate behaviors went away.”

If Herman had a slogan, it would be “Whatever it takes.” For example, sensory integration services are not mandated by the state.

But Herman knew that many of the center’s participants had sensory processing disorders. The center hired a trained therapist and set up an Occupational Therapy Clinic, the only one of its kind in the Rockford area.

“The therapy leads to a better quality of life, our main goal for all our individuals,” says Herman.

The center has set up its own businesses: Hope Industries which subcontracts jobs like assembly, labeling and packaging; Super Shredders which can handle thousands of pounds of paper each day; Gour Mutts flavored dog treats; and Moments Remembered, in which people bring in flowers from a memorable occasion and participants dry them and fashion them into arrangements or wreaths.

A staunch believer in collaboration, Herman was instrumental in forming local and statewide groups for disability service providers to strengthen services locally and lobby more effectively at the state level.

She will do anything in her power to help the participants at the Center of Hope grow. “They want to go out and help make the community stronger,” she says. “If we empower them to be independent, that’s just what they’ll do.”

By Geri Nikolai

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DR. TINO OLDANI

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President & CEO/Co-Owner Ingersoll Machine Tools

Manufacturing champion Tino Oldani is not one to “blow his own horn,” says

Wanting to keep the area’s manufacturing base healthy, Oldani has made it a goal when outsourcing to keep the work local and seeks to hire engineers from the Rockford region.

“Price is secondary. The network of local companies represents a know-how that cannot

nominator Bob Trojan, Rockford Linear Actuation, Inc. “He is not well known in the community, yet his contributions to the local economy include resurrecting Ingersoll from the ashes.”

In April, 2003, Ingersoll surprised many when it shut its doors.

The custom-made machine tool company founded in Rockford in 1891 was winning multi-million contracts at the time. Oldani, owner and president of small, Rockford-area manufacturer IMTA, bought the bankrupt company with the help of financial partner, Comozzi Group of Italy; modernizing and expanding it.

His philosophy, “Be resilient, and failure is not an option.”

Like the mythical phoenix, his company has risen; securing projects such as the $30 million rotating mounting base for the world’s largest solar telescope. The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope being assembled on a mountaintop in Maui, Hawaii is expected to be operable in 2019 and will allow astronomers to see detailed images of sunspots, magnetic fields, solar flares and coronas.

In June, his company announced it would build the aluminum aft bulkhead for NASA’s Orion spacecraft, a deep-space exploration vehicle. The bottom of the module where astronauts live and work will include a heat shield that can withstand up to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit as astronauts re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

Other customers his company has secured include recognizable names such as Boeing, Airbus, Caterpillar, General Electric, Goodrich, Mitsubishi, NASA, BAE Defense Systems, Alenia (Italy), Lockheed Martin, ChengDu Aircraft (China) and Vestas.

Wanting to keep the area’s manufacturing base healthy, Oldani has made it a goal when outsourcing to keep the work local and seeks to hire engineers from the Rockford region. “Price is secondary. The network of local companies represents a know-how that cannot be replicated around the world.”

An advocate on the importance of manufacturing, he’s hosted numerous plant tours for students and manufacturers. “These ‘Millennia Kids’ are the future, and it is their responsibility to take a company from a good one to a great one.”

By Barbara Connors

be replicated around the world.”

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DR. LAMATA MITCHELL

Dean of Communication Rock Valley College

The great communicator Dr. Lamata Mitchell is an English professor who supervises the communication division. Of course. What other career could she have chosen? She was born in Stratford-onAvon, the city of William Shakespeare’s birth and work, and raised in Nottingham, home of the legendary Robin Hood.

But Mitchell, a professor of English at Rock Valley College who now is dean of communication, almost went into health care. “That’s a tradition in my family,” Mitchell says. “Most of my relatives work in the medical field.”

Happily, her upbringing, and such things as her grandmother reciting Shakespeare’s sonnets and Longfellow’s poetry to her, “infused her with the literary spirit.” She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy and a master’s in publishing and journalism in England, and then went to work for a publisher in London.

While there, Mitchell proofread a Maya Angelou manuscript. She became intrigued with black American works. “I told my mother, I know African literature, but I know little about African-American literature,” says Mitchell. Her mother said the best way to remedy that was study in the United States.”

That brought her to Andrews University in Michigan for a master’s in African-American literature and then to Northern Illinois University for a doctorate in postcolonial literature. Along the way, she met and married financial advisor Kent Farrakhan and they had two children, both now in college.

The family settled in Rockford and Mitchell fell in love with teaching, spending 18 years in classrooms. Today, she oversees 30 instructors and the classes they teach in English, journalism, writing, mass communication and speech.

Mitchell loves the fact that all students — including those who go into science fields — must study English. “It challenges them to explore that part of their brain and develop an appreciation for literature,” she says. Mitchell also is active in Alpha Kappa Alpha, Rockford Association for Minority Management, and other groups.

She loves mentoring minority students and was instrumental in starting STEM — which introduces middle school girls to science, technology, engineering and math careers.

By Geri Nikolai

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STEVE CARTER

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President & Chief Financial Officer Ingenium Aerospace, LLC

Working hobby Steve Carter has traveled all over the world – Germany, England, Australia, to name a few — but he’s always felt right at home here in Rockford. “I was born here, went away to college and got my degree and then came back,” he says. “This has always been home.”

Carter worked in public accounting and banking before embarking on a career with Woodward. In 2006, Carter retired as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Woodward after 19 years of service with the international energy control systems powerhouse. “It was energizing to see this local company become a global institution, helping other companies grow and succeed,” he says.

Following retirement, Carter stayed busy with consulting work and serving on various corporate boards. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that he missed the day-to-day grind of working in a business environment.

In 2010, Carter became a principal in Ingenium Aerospace, LLC, a small, growing aerospace company that is located in Rockford. Now in his role as president and CFO, Carter remains focused on strategic direction and financial oversight.

“I looked at this opportunity for several months,” he says. “I wanted to get to know the management and their process. I enjoy dealing with people and the challenges that come with working in business. The world is built around small business.”

Over the years, Carter has served in a number of nonprofit leadership roles, including Crusader Health Foundation, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, Riverfront Museum Park, and Discovery Center Museum.

“I get involved because I believe in the community,” he says.

“I’m excited about Transform Rockford. The transformation process worked at Woodward and it can work in the community.”

And Carter has no plans on retiring again.

“I could have gone fishing and golfing, but if you ask my wife, my hobby is work,” he says. “I enjoy the dynamic of work – the interaction with people, problem solving, and all that comes with it. That’s what energizes me.”

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20 » 2015 JULIETTE KALWEIT, M.D. Medical Director SwedishAmerican, a Division of UW Health, Palliative Care Program

Doctor in the house

Rockford native, Juliette Kalweit, is a doctor who enjoys making house calls. It gives her more time with her patients.

Dr. Kalweit grew up watching her father as a doctor. “He enjoyed his patients so much.” She wanted this for herself since third grade but kept her education well rounded. The Guilford High School graduate earned a degree in German literature at Northwestern University before heading off to medical school.

For 15 of her first 20 years, she worked as a family practice physician, delivering more than 1,500 babies. House calls began in 2007; leading to her position as medical director for Serenity Hospice in Ogle County. She became medical director of SwedishAmerican’s Palliative Care Program after earning a board certification in hospice and palliative care.

Serving patients in their final life stages is rewarding, she says.

“There’s so much that can be done in terms of making patients more comfortable, and patients who are comfortable tend to live longer.”

Her concern about losing time with patients due to current recordkeeping responsibilities doesn’t stop her from encouraging students to become doctors. “At a time when many young people (especially girls) are being ‘talked out of ’ medicine as a career, Dr. Kalweit is a tireless advocate for her profession,” says nominator Julia Zimmerman, SwedishAmerican. She teaches medical students, residents and peers in palliative care, is working on a palliative care fellowship at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford and an outpatient palliative care program at SwedishAmerican. She takes high school students on patient rounds.

“My advice to students; just as in any other career, you have to have passion for it. Others can see it.”

Dr. Kalweit volunteers for Holy Family Parish, the Carrie Lynn Center, the Gorham Fund Committee, and served on the Rockford College Music Academy and New American Theater boards. She provides free medical care to the cloistered Poor Clare Nuns and has established house calls at the Rockford monastery.

“My time in medicine is different from my dad’s. Tomorrow’s medicine will be different from mine. Still the essence of medicine is so rewarding. That never changes.”

By Barbara Connors

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DANIELLE POTTER

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Operations Director Rockford Park District

Parks and recreation When Danielle Potter was 15, she landed a seasonal job at Sportscore I. Little did she know it would turn out to the start of a long and prosperous career with the Rockford Park District.

“It was a part-time job that I loved,” she says. “I majored in education, but when I graduated I decided I wanted to work at the park district rather than teaching. It’s a classroom without walls.

I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

While she has worked in various roles throughout the district, Potter spent eight memorable years as director at Washington Park Community Center. The center serves 150 youth and teens daily, in a positive, safe, and fun environment. The experience left a lasting impact on Potter.

“You think your problems are so big, but working with a 5-yearold from a broken home has given me a better perspective on life,” she says. For her efforts, Potter was named the park district’s 2011 employee of the year.

Now, Potter serves as operations director for the park district. She oversees therapeutic recreation, youth sports and community recreation departments. Potter and her staff work to come up with creative ways of meeting the recreational needs of area youth and teens.

Through her work at the park district, Potter is in a position to help various organizations throughout the Rockford community.

She’s a board member for the United Way, First Tee of Rockford and River Bluff Nursing Home, and serves on committees for the Midtown District and Rockford Public Schools 21st Century.

“I’m so fortunate in this job that I get to meet so many wonderful people,” she says. “I get the opportunity to be involved in so many different parts of the community. I can really have an impact.”

Away from work, Potter enjoys spending time with her four children, all of whom participate in sports-related activities. Potter, a former high school athlete, knows the impact sports can have on young people. “Sports teach you about teamwork and comradery,” she says. “In life, competition makes you strive to be better.”

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JOHN DORSEY, M.D.

Vice President of Physician Services and Chief Medical Officer Rockford Health System

The best medicine Dr. John Dorsey sums up his career in a quote from Beatles great John Lennon. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

Dorsey is the Vice President of Physician Services and Chief Medical Officer at Rockford Health System. He spent nearly three decades as a practicing physician before taking on a full-time administrative role three years ago.

“I miss interacting with my patients,” he says. “But the decisions I’m making affect many more patients than I ever did in my practice. These administrative decisions are still focused on patient and family needs.”

Dorsey’s interest in medicine piqued during his childhood living in Connecticut. His half-sister was often ill, so his family spent a great deal of time in hospitals. His mother died when he was 9, and his father passed away five years later. So it came as no surprise when Dorsey became intrigued with helping people stay healthy. “That was my first exposure to medicine,” he says.

“When my parents died, my aunt raised me. She was a strict school teacher who helped mold my desire to get a good education and have a career.”

Dorsey first worked at Crusader Clinic, before entering into a private practice with two other internists. Dorsey has been an active member of the Rockford Memorial Hospital Medical Staff since 1987. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he has taught for 28 years, and is also serving as acting chairman for the Department of Medicine. He is the medical director of VNA Hospice. He spends his free time with his family, including his wife, Sue Hessian, five children and two grandchildren.

“For me personally, this is the most challenging but yet exciting time for healthcare as we reframe the healthcare system locally and nationally,” Dorsey says. “I enjoy helping shape the present and future of health care delivery, and working with policy development to help solve problems.”

By Paul Anthony Arco

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VINT BUCKWALTER

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Director, Electric Systems Finance UTC Aerospace Systems

Reputation builder Rockford area native and Rockford University MBA Vint Buckwalter has spent more than 30 years in various finance departments at UTC Aerospace Systems; pricing, treasury, benefit finance, business unit controller -- but the common theme for him is maintaining integrity.

“I try to work, and lead, by the belief that you and your organization are only as good as your reputation. It can take years to gain the respect of being considered as highly ethical, but in an instant, it can be lost forever if the standard is not rigorously maintained.”

According to nominator and coworker Colleen Carroll, his work in building an ethical culture within the finance teams has strengthened UTC Aerospace Systems’ reputation in the global corporation.

The Harlem High School graduate who spent “most of his free time in the pool,” and “like most young boys dreamed of playing professional sports,” says he doesn’t regret applying his gifts in mathematics and deductive reasoning to a career in accounting and finance.

“Accounting and finance has been a tremendous career choice for me. It’s a career I’d encourage students to consider, because it provides a means into some of a company’s most critical business decisions, and overall, is a very rewarding profession.”

His own financial analysis has impacted the funding of product advancements, facility improvements and employee development at UTC Aerospace Systems.

Buckwalter’s strong philanthropic spirit is seen in his service on UTC Aerospace Systems’ Community Giving committee, the Employer’s Coalition on Health board, Rock Valley College’s Accounting and Finance Advisory board and the Rockford Park District Foundation board.

As co-leader on Transform Rockford’s Sense of Place spoke team for Arts & Recreation, he’s working on strategies to promote Rockford as a top tier community through its performance arts, sports complexes and riverfront activities. “I think the Transform Rockford process, overall, and the dialogue it is enabling is developing a improved community spirit and a positive attitude shift that I have not seen in my lifetime.”

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LINDA HECKERT

Senior Vice President, Director of Retail and Business Banking Northwest Bank of Rockford

The right move Growing up, Linda Heckert and her family moved around often, due to her father’s job. She lived in 10 homes in 11 years throughout Illinois, before her family settled down in Franklin Grove.

“I met a lot of people,” she says. “I think that’s why I’m such a good salesperson. I learned how to access different situations. I knew how to figure out the lay of the land.”

In college, Heckert found a job as a bank teller. It was more than just a part-time job, however, for the Illinois State University student. “There was a lot more I wanted to learn about banking,” she says.

Heckert has spent more than 25 years in banking. These days, she is senior vice president and director of retail and business banking for Northwest Bank. She oversees all aspects of Northwest Bank frontline, from customer service to training to determining deposit and loan rates. “I like helping people grow their business,” she says. “I’ve seen a number of small business owners do what it takes to be successful.”

Banking has seen plenty of changes over the years, mostly when it comes to regulations. “I grew up in a community where farmers came into town, shook hands with the banker and had his money the next day,” she says. “You can’t do that now. There’s so much fraud and risk these days.”

Linda is the Co-Spoke Lead for Transform Rockford Funding and Alignment. She’s vice chair for the Rockford Memorial Development Foundation board; she was elected to the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Hall of Fame and was named Volunteer of the Year by Forward Janesville. Heckert was also instrumental in bringing the ATHENA PowerLink program, which provides women business owners support from professional consultants, to town.

“I don’t feel like I’m doing my share if I don’t give back,” she says.

“There are so many people doing great things. Our community can be as good as it wants to be.”

By Paul Anthony Arco

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JULIE BOSMA

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Executive Director RAMP

Educate, elevate, infiltrate Julie Bosma has spent 23 years making society more accessible for people with disabilities. “RAMP’s plan is to see individuals with disabilities educated about their rights and their potential so they will be elevated in life and infiltrate society; taking their rightful place and fulfilling their responsibilities.”

The executive director who grew up playing “desk, (for some reason, I thought that was really cool),” began raising money to help others in walk-a-thons as early as grade school.

As executive director, she’s grown RAMP from one office and nine staff serving 120, to four offices and 38 staff serving more than 1,000.

Annual revenues have increased from $300,000 to more than $2.1 million. Services have grown to include employment, transitioning from institutions to home, equitable education for students with disabilities, accessibility assessments, skills training, Pre-K through 12th grade curriculums, community education and more.

Bosma believes her consumers don’t need RAMP’s help as much as they need people to ‘see’ them and appreciate who they are. “Every person has a unique story, good and bad.”

Her belief in others extends to her staff. She’s developed an organizational culture that respects differing skills and abilities, and rewards innovative thinking, enthusiasm and teamwork. She credits her staff for “the patience to walk alongside someone who is working out their life.”

Bosma volunteers for other nonprofits, including Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, Rockford Health System Ambassadors and Rockford Memorial Development Foundation.

She was an adjunct professor for Northern Illinois University’s master in public administration program.

RAMP staff has been studying the book, “Toxic Charity,” over the past six months, taking a look at how their services can move individuals towards greater independence, versus creating dependence. “Staying true to one’s mission is a constant struggle and not for the faint of heart. It is easy, for those of us who have chosen this profession, to fall back into doing for others, and that is why we develop a strategic plan and revisit it bi-annually to ensure we are staying the course.”

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20 » 2015 CHRISTOPHER SLIVA, M.D. Surgeon, Partner and President Rockford Spine Center

A quality of caring You can go anywhere but you won’t find a higher quality of spine care than exists right here at the Rockford Spine Center.

That’s the belief of Dr. Christopher Sliva, a partner, surgeon and president of the Spine Center. He has the credentials to make that statement.

Sliva completed a fellowship in spinal surgery at the prestigious William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. He is one of a handful of fellowship-trained spine surgeons in the county. And, he and his associates were the only Midwest group to be featured in a Newsweek article earlier this year that recognized top surgeons in spine, bariatric and vision surgery.

When he finished his fellowship in 2005, Sliva had lots of choices of where to practice. After he had checked out other clinics, he came to look at the Rockford Spine Center, then two years old.

“You could see the pride everyone had and their drive to deliver really high-quality care,” he says. “It was not about the most patients or the most money. I had been looking for a spine-only practice, and one with high quality partners. This was it.”

Sliva and his wife, Heather, moved here with two small children and have since welcomed a third child. Sliva, a sports enthusiast, has no shortage of youth athletics to occupy his off-duty time.

On duty, Sliva and his associates have combined research with treatment. They have led the field with less invasive surgical techniques and a better way to reduce surgical infections. The national average for post-surgical infections is 2.4 percent; at the Rockford Spine Center, it is 0.2 percent.

They have also reduced the length of hospital stay for many patients by using a cutting-edge drug which reduces pain and allows for a speedier recovery.

Spinal medicine is not the easiest medical practice, Sliva says.

“Diagnosis can be difficult and the decision on the most appropriate treatment is seldom simple,” he says. “Our understanding of the spine lags behind other specialties in orthopedics. I see our work here as an opportunity to help fill in that knowledge gap.”

By Geri Nikolai

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THE SELECTION COMMITTEE Thank you to our People You Should Know committee

who dedicated time and effort to make the difficult choices.

Andy Benson, Benson Stone Company

Joe Castrogiovanni, Giovanni’s Inc.

Kelly Davit, The Alliance

Brian McIntyre, Rock Valley College

Mike Robinson, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

Jennifer Wood, Wood CPA’s Ltd

PROUD

V2 Marketing Communications and Brian Thomas Photography: Two companies that worked together to help create One publication.

And proud to help represent the People You Should Know.

815 985-9000 brianthomasphotography.com

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815-397-6052 marketingV2.com

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THIS IS THE ONE TO BE IN!

one

magazine

For advertising rates and a publishing schedule, please contact Lynette Jacques at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Lynette Jacques Vice President, Member Investment 815-316-4317 ljacques@rockfordchamber.com

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THE WRITERS

Paul Anthony Arco is the senior staff writer for Northwest Quarterly Magazine, and frequent contributor to the Chamber newspaper, The VOICE. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg News, Rockford Register Star and many others. For more information, visit paulanthonyarco.com.

Barbara Connors, M.S., journalism, University of Illinois, is an editor and writer with 20+ years of experience in newspapers, magazines, and newsletters, including The VOICE, Illinois Farmer, Wisconsin CPA, and the Rockford Register Star.

She’s done extensive work leading committees, seminars and special projects, and recently completed her degree in Nursing from OSF Saint Anthony College of Nursing.

Geri Nikolai is a freelance writer who spent 40 years in the newsrooms of Rockford Register Star and Wausau, Wis., Daily Herald, She’s been a Rockfordian since 1986.

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People You Should Know Class of 2011

Dr. Jack Becherer

Brent Brodeski

Gary Caruana

Rebecca Epperson

Lori Gummow

Roberta Holzwarth

James Keeling

Dr. Kathleen Kelly

David Klintworth

Dan Loescher

LoRayne Logan

John Phelps

Bill Roop

Andreas Schell

Samuel Schmitz

David Stern

Right Column: Jeff Fahrenwald Dana Kiley

Dr. Michael Roh Robert Trojan Kathy Weber

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People You Should Know Class of 2012

Saul Arteaga

Amy Brewer

Paula Carynski

Dan Cataldi

Philip Eaton

Dr. Bill Gorski

Bob Guirl

Dr. Robert Head

Mark Hunter

Christie Stenstrom Jarrett

Timothy Knauf

Dr. John Koehler

Bill LaFever

Jeff Layng

Ian Linnabary

Lisa Miles

Peter Provenzano

Jody Schumacher

Scott Sullivan

Sarah Wolf

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People You Should Know Class of 2013

Teresa Beach-Shelow

Mike Brown

Thomas Budd

Ronald Clewer

Rev. K. Edward Copeland

Lauren Vanags Davis

Gordon Eggers

Brad Gummow

Staci Hoste

Dr. Ehren Jarrett

Gary Kaatz

Jeffrey Kaney

Steven Larsen

Paul Logli

Pam Maher

Jeffery Makeever

David A. Schertz

Tyler Barden Smith

Sandy Stansell

Dr. Fred Sweet

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People You Should Know Class of 2014

Rick Bastian

Karen Brown

Rebecca Cook Kendall

Jim Derry

Kris Kieper

Caitlin Ludwig

Daniel Malaney

John J. Morrissey

Tom Muldowney

Ricardo Oceguera

Patrick O’Keefe

Dan Parod

Kevin Polky

Luz M. Ramirez

Daniel G. Saavedra

Paulina Sihakom

Jeff Simonic

Matthew Simpson

Kathy Velasco

Mike Webb

To see all the One Event pictures, go to rockfordchamber.com.

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Congratulations!

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors would like to extend their congratulations to the 2015 Twenty “People You Should Know!”

Your Rockford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc.

Jan Bowman TLC Construction

Larry Bridgeland Mid-City Office Products

Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc.

Dr. Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University

Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency

Darlene Furst Furst Staffing

Ira Grimmett UTC Aerospace Systems

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Dr. Robert Head Rockford University

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home

Jeff Hultman Illinois Bank & Trust

Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Michael Mastroianni Rock Valley College

Paul McCann Stanley Steemer

Patrick Morrow Alpine Bank

Michael Nicholas Rockford Area Economic Development Council

Amy Ott Boylan Catholic High School

Mike Paterson Mid-West Family Broadcasting

Mark Peterson CherryVale Mall/CBL & Associates Properties. Inc.

Michele Petrie BMO Harris Bank

Visit us online rockfordchamber.com Laura Pigatti Williamson Rockford Park District

Timothy Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy LLP

Dan Ross Williams-Manny Insurance Group

Henry Seybold Rockford Health System

Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc.

Rich Walsh Zimmerman & Walsh, LLP

Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center

Einar Forsman Rockford Chamber of Commerce

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Patrick Shaw RSM US LLP

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