October Voice 2018

RING BOTTLES UP RECYCLING PAGE 6

TARIFFS IMPACT SMALL BUSINESS

STIGMA OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE

PAGE 11

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THE VOICE IS ONLINE AT ROCKFORDCHAMBER.COM

PARTICIPATE WITH ALIGNMENT ROCKFORD

of the Rockford Business Community

OCTOber 2018 | Volume 31 | No. 10

Rockford Public Schools:

On the road to first choice for all The Rockford Public Schools want to be the first choice for all families. It also wants to serve local homeowners as well as businesses.

That was the message delivered

by Dr. Ehren Jarrett, Rockford Public Schools superintendent, during the Rockford Chamber of Commerce education luncheon, held Sept. 6 before a crowd of 260 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center.

“We have to be clear when talking about our vision,” Jarrett told the audience. “We have three core audiences.

First are our families, specifically our parents. Second are the people in this room, the homeowners. When you buy a home here you want to feel like it’s a good investment. Finally, we want to link our schools with businesses, in the hopes that students will come back to work in Rockford.”

It starts with a School Scorecard to address the area where the most work needs to be done. The scorecard will focus on goals for all 44 public schools, starting next year. Seventy percent of the scorecard will address construction, 20 percent will be climate and culture and the remaining 10 percent will measure continuous improvement. “There are no shortcuts,” said Jarrett. “It starts with a teacher, a student and a series of short cycle goals.”

“I give Dr. Jarrett credit. He’s not going to shy away from the fact that we have a ways to go,” said Einar Forsman, president and CEO of the chamber.

“Nine years ago we were talking about areas of concern; now we’re talking about areas of opportunity. We should

Dr. Ehren Jarrett addresses the ambitious agenda of Rockford schools becoming first choice.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

feel pretty good. We have a stable group of school board members and superintendent. But we still need the engagement of the community.”

Another success appears to be the multi-classroom leader concept that was piloted at Kishwaukee Elementary School. This new model includes having an experienced teacher overseeing a group of grade-school teachers and a student teacher. “We have a huge teacher shortage in our community,” said Jarrett.

Continued on page 3

Rock Valley College seeking to fill vacant board seats Business representatives wanted—to focus on local workforce needs

Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com ■ online registration ■ keynote speaker video clips ■ event photos ■ list of Chamber events

Questions? 815-987-8100

Join the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group

The Consolidated Election for members of the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 511 will be held April 2, 2019.

Anyone seeking a position on the board will be able to start circulating nominating petitions on September 18, 2018.

The Rock Valley College Board of Trustees is looking to elect three Board members for a term of six years each and one Board member for a term of two years. The Board of Trustees also appoints the Chief Financial Officer and staff as the Secretary of the Board’s designated representative to receive the statements of candidacy, nominating petitions, and election results from the various local election authorities and

to transmit the results to the Board of Trustees within the time permitted by law (110 ILCS 805/3-7. 10).

The filing period for statements of candidacy and nominating petitions is December 10 – 17, 2018, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 Statements of candidacy and nominating petitions can be filed in the Financial Services office in the Support Services Building at Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois, December 10 – 17, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day except Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Names of the candidates shall be submitted to the voters in the order determined by the applicable provisions of the Illinois Election Code. theVoice

Alignment Rockford invites companies with two Invitations to Participate (ITPs™) on the Single Point of Entry (SPOE) and Job Shadow teams.

The SPOE team seeks developers for a responsive website, organizations to host the SPOE application, iPad/computer donations and sponsorship of web development fees for a digital/interactive version of the SPOE card, which lists service providers for basic needs in the Rockford area. The team will choose one to three high-volume, high-need locations for kiosks to be piloted, November 2018 to November 2019.

The Job Shadow team seeks industry partners in business, engineering/manufacturing, health sciences and/or human and public service for four-hour job shadow experiences for Rockford Public School junior students on Nov. 28, Jan. 30 and March 20.

For questions contact danika@alignmentrockford. com or 779-774-4389 or visit alignmentrockford.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The Heartbeat of

HEALTHCARE LUNCHEON

OCT. 18 • radisson conference center For more info, see page 34 SPONSORED BY

CALCULATING FUTURE EARNINGS Illinois high school students will have access to information on how much they might earn if they graduate from colleges and universities located in the state.

ILCollege2Career.com links employment and higher education data so users can compare the relative earnings value of college degrees. The info is broken down by schools and area of study to compare the earning potential of business degrees.

APPLE VACATIONS ENTERS 14TH YEAR AT RFD The Chicago Rockford International Airport and Apple Vacations announced their flights to vacation destinations. This year they are: Cancun/Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, and new this year, Costa Rica. This season’s charter flights will be on Miami Air operated by TUI Airlines, with the first flight beginning on Dec. 22, 2018.

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| OCTOber 2018

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

position

President’s Message

Domestic Violence can become your business problem The Rockford Chamber recently had a presentation on the impacts of domestic violence in our community. We learned that nearly 30% of violent crime can be attributed to domestic violence. What is the employer’s responsibility? Domestic violence too often becomes workplace violence. This presents social, ethical, legal, and cost impacts on the business.

The violence done to an employee is a terrible thing on its own, but the effects extend beyond the specific incident.

Affected employees are “shamed” in front of their co-workers, physically hurt, and emotionally embarrassed. Workplace domestic violence is challenging for the employer, they can be confused about the appropriate personal response as well as the necessary legal action.

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another… regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality, or educational background… part of a systematic pattern of dominance and control… resulting in physical injury, psychological trauma, and sometimes death.

The statistics are staggering and not to be minimized: ■ One in four women will experience domestic violence.

■ 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.

■ 85% of domestic violence victims are women.

■ Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police.

Victims of intimate partner violence lose almost eight million days of paid work in the United States – each year.

This loss equals more than 32,000 fulltime jobs and almost 5.6 million days of household productivity. That is at least $5.8 billion a year in direct medical costs, health care services, and lost productivity.

Finding recent data is difficult, but Employers against Domestic Violence claims 74% of employed abused women have been harassed by their partner while they were at work. 71% of Employee Assistance Providers have reported an employee being stalked at work and another 83% have assisted an employee with a restraining order.

Domestic violence is no longer a

private affair. Once an employee leaves an abusive partner, the workplace can become the setting for harassing phone calls, stalking, and outright viciousness.

Employers have long understood that home life problems can affect attendance, job performance, and turnover. They know, too, that the abuse can spill over and threaten other employees and the physical assets.

Violence in the workplace hits the business as spontaneous and unexpected.

As such, it challenges planning and precaution. In the case of domestic violence, the risk assessment is rather obvious, but the risk management poses different challenges, including privacy concerns of employee’s and a failure to protect employees.

On the other hand, common law holds employers liable for protection of employees under certain circumstances.

OSHA requires employers to provide a place of employment free from “recognized hazards” which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” Under certain circumstances, employers have an affirmative duty to protect their employees.

When employee victims deny that

abuse exists, but you, the business owner, Einar K. Forsman still suspect Rockford Chamber of Commerce that the abuser is a threat to the employee as well as to the workplace, you must act to protect the employee and co-workers.

Your best legal and ethical response is to take reasonable steps to educate the staff on domestic abuse, possible threats, and the impact on staff and business.

No business stakeholder, business owner, or business manager wants to see employees suffer from any type of violence at home or at work. You have to remember that violence arrives suddenly and loudly, so it is important to have response mechanisms in place in the interest of the affected employee, coworkers, and business.

It is imperative that business owners understand the cost and difficulties of risk management. You must act early and strategically with clear policies and education on the appropriate response.

Sources: SHRM.org and National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

OCTOber 2018

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Rockford Schools (continued from front page)

“Investing in new (student) teachers with a year-long opportunity and pairing them with higher performing teachers is exactly what we need to do. I would love to expand this program into additional schools.”

Progress for Community According to Jarrett, homeowners have seen the value of the schools. For seven straight years, the school board has kept the tax levy flat, and the tax rate has dropped 29 cents since 2015.

The district’s portion of the tax bill is 52 percent, the lowest percentage of the tax bill of any school district in the region.

Jarrett said the goal is to have a district tax rate below $7 and a total tax rate below $13.50. “If we want to be a first rate community we have to take the tax rate seriously,” he said. “If we don’t do it well it can drive people away from our community.”

The school district is on schedule and under budget with a 10-year, $279 budget facilities plan that tax payers supported. This year, a new school Cherry Valley Elementary School opened, and another, Constance Lane, will open its doors next year.

“Every year, he delivers the most positive message. The city needs to hear this,” said Paul Logli, executive director of the United Way of Rock River Valley.

“The progress he’s making is going to change this city. I’m hoping some of the residents we’ve lost over the years will come back as a result of this work.”

Anisha Grimmett is executive

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages member submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community.

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

director of Alignment Rockford, a local organization that works to align community resources to support public school strategies in order to raise student achievement.

“This type of dialogue helps us to recruit businesses and volunteers,” she said. “We need to let the experts do what they do; they understand the problems and the gaps. This is how they’re changing the learning environment.

What can we do to help support what’s going on inside the classrooms? This helps to paint that narrative.”

Ultimately, the goal is to create a competitive advantage for talent where local students will return home and businesses will stay because of that talent.

That’s Jarrett’s vision for the future.

“We are furthest along to linking talent to opportunities,” he said. “Our engineering pathway plugging into

that RVC/NIU partnership for our graduates has me really excited. What if we do that for 15 pathways? What a competitive advantage that would be to retain companies and our most talented students as well. If we can do it one student at a time, we can do it for all 28,000 students and become first choice for all families.”

Event sponsors included BMO Harris Bank (presenting); SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health; Humana, and Rockford University.

theVoice

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| OCTOber 2018

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective insight

Tariffs – No Problem? WRONG! International tariffs may end up being good for the U.S. economy in the long-run, but the consumer needs to be prepared for higher product costs in the short-run.

A tariff is essentially a tax on imported or exported goods. Tariffs are used by governments to make foreign products less attractive to consumers in order to protect domestic industries from unfair competition.

The current round of tariffs is aimed at pressuring China to change their trade practices, which the President states are hurting American businesses at a moment when the administration believes it has an advantage in the trade dispute. China’s economy is slowing, and this slowdown is expected to get worse as America’s tariffs ramp up. The United States, however, has continued to experience robust economic growth, including the lowest unemployment rate since 2000.

China can win relief from the tariffs by acceding to the U.S. trade demands, that include allowing American companies greater access to the China market and dropping its requirement that American companies hand over valuable technology to Chinese partners.

Is It That Bad? The US has faced unfair trade practices with China for years. Shouldn’t we protect our economy, our manufacturing base and our national security?

One of our Thayer employees, Matt, taught English in China for several years.

He learned that the prevailing culture is to take whatever technology they can get from the U.S. It’s considered acceptable business practice to do so. His students told him “a smart person will take an idea and use it to their advantage.” They claimed to be professionals at back engineering.

Something needs to be done to stop these unfair practices and place the U.S. on equal footing in trade with China.

However, China has enacted a blow-forblow retaliation on tariffs, which may escalate into a full-blown trade war. If equitable negotiations cannot be reached, prices will rise.

What’s Next.

The current tariffs will have a direct impact on consumer goods, causing prices to rise. At first blush the impact appears to be limited for now. But, predictors indicate the U.S. will increase tariffs on China by 10% (as early as September 24),

with another 25% tariff going into effect on January 1, 2019. Keep your eye on the news reports as this story is updating frequently China has already cancelled planned trade talks until after the midterm elections.

The tariffs will affect: ■ Farming Equipment ■ Motor vehicles ■ Health care equipment ■ Products made from steel or aluminum ■ And, in my industry, lighting products, fixtures, LED’s Controls, lamps/bulbs, and more.

At Thayer, we are currently receiving almost daily emails from trade organizations and news outlets indicating prices are going up.

Key points in our lighting industry are: ■ China makes the majority of LED and other lighting components ■ Our manufacturers recently announced that we should expect increases between 8 and 25%, due to tariffs ■ The increases are expected to happen between now and January 1, depending on the product ■ It is crucial to get orders in before increases take effect, if this is a concern.

Many sectors of industry are in a state of shock over Patti Thayer the China-U.S. Thayer Inc trade battle, and many are scrambling to understand its impact. U.S. companies affected by tariffs can respond by absorbing the extra expense, increasing prices, or moving production overseas — or some combination of the three. One of our manufacturers plans to open a new plant in Taiwan on November 1, 2018.

As recently as Tuesday, September 18, the Trump administration approved an additional $200 billion in new tariffs. As we approve new tariffs, China threatens to retaliate by adding their own tariffs.

If you are thinking about purchasing items made in China, you may want to buy now rather than later.

While the tariffs may help America long term, it will cost the consumer more in the short term, and even more by the beginning of next year.

Patti Thayer is owner of Thayer Lighting, Inc. The views expressed are those of Thayer’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

OCTOber 2018

Find out how playing the spoons can make Rockford more beautiful Walking to lunch in downtown Rockford has never been as satisfying as it was this summer. Even rainy days were enlivened by bursts of colorful flowers in huge planters and hanging baskets.

Previously unremarkable spaces around parking lots and downtown buildings have been landscaped and planted with attractive perennials and annual flowers.

The installation of 13 sculptures

by Midwest artists in and near downtown added pizazz with interesting architectural shapes, touches of whimsy and spots of color. Grab your pedometer or open your favorite fitness app and walk the sculpture route. It’s a fun way to get in your steps this fall. (You’ll find a printable map of all the sculptures at gorockford.com/publicart.)

Soon, large new murals by internationally known artists will join the mix of interesting art elements in or near downtown. Muralists whose work has caused a sensation in other cities are coming here to create public art that is sure to please area residents and attract visitors.

Vintage Circus to Benefit Beautification These efforts, which add so much aesthetic appeal to our city, trace to

Forest City Beautiful, a program of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau that began in 2014.

With donations from individuals and businesses, and with lots of help from volunteers, the program has made a huge difference in a short period of time. Beyond planting flowers, we’ve installed attractive benches and tables in areas where they are used by people who live and work downtown, as well as by visitors.

Forest City Beautiful is planning to expand its efforts beyond downtown, including projects to make the city’s gateways more attractive.

It doesn’t just happen, you know.

The engine behind Forest City Beautiful projects are people who give generously of their time and money. A large portion of the funds needed to launch new initiatives and maintain existing ones is raised at the annual “Paint the Town Green” fundraiser, which is set for 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12, at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

This year, we’re presenting a Vintage Circus featuring show-stopping aerial acts under the Big Top performed by Chicago-based Aloft Circus. The Spin-

 Destination

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ILLINOIS, USA

ADDING WEALTH TO THE REGION’S ECONOMY BY GROWING TOURISM

Spun Cotton Candy Experience will serve up sugar in a whole new way. We’ll have street performers and side shows, too. Count on Alchemy to conjure up delicacies of food and drink in a magical environment created by Event Floral. The cost is $75 per person. (Go to Eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.)

a

When Murals Go Viral

abstract, colorful and detailed, evokes

Proceeds from the event will help launch the next big beautification initiative – a new “Paint the Town” mural project. One mural will be painted by Kelsey Montague, a young street artist who may be best known for the angel wings she’s painted on walls in cities around the world. A wing mural Montague created went viral when Taylor Swift posed in front of it and posted on Instagram. Now, people wait in long lines to pose and post at Montague’s murals in Nashville, New York and elsewhere.

Montague is planning a similarly interactive piece for Rockford, something featuring trees, treehouse and a footbridge. That mural will be at 331 E. State St. Popular Chicago-based street artist Justus Roe will create a mural on

retaining

wall

in

the

500 block of 6th a

Street, one-way

flowing

into

downtown. aerial

John Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Roe’s

perspectives

work, and

typically geometric

shapes.

You can help make it – and efforts like these – happen by joining us at the Vintage Circus on Oct. 12. I guarantee you’ve never seen an act like Abby the Spoon Lady from North Carolina. You won’t want to miss it.

John Groh is president/CEO of Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The mission of the RACVB is to drive quality of life and economic growth for our citizens through tourism marketing and destination development. www.gorockford.com The views expressed are Groh’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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| OCTOber 2018

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

PROFILE Member Profile ALL BOTTLED UP: Ring Container Technologies Finding success in recyclable containers

According to Plant Manager Joe Ricks, his company can produce up to 20,000 mustard bottles an hour.

By Paul Anthony Arco You probably don’t think much about the mustard bottle during a summer picnic or where that salad dressing bottle came from. But chances are good they were made right here in Rockford.

Ring Container Technologies is where 190 million plastic recyclable containers for food, snacks and condiments are made each year. The Rockford plant specializes in non-dairy coffee creamer, mustard and salad dressing containers.

“Rockford has been a good location for us,” said plant manager Joe Ricks, who joined the company 12 years ago.

“We’re centrally located and with I-39

and I-90 nearby we can get our shipments out with no problem. We’re poised for more growth in the future.”

The Rockford plant, which opened in 1990, is one of 19 owned by Oakland, Tenn.-based Ring, which was founded in 1968 and is one of the largest plastic container manufacturers in the country.

The company started out producing metal cans and was known as Ring Can Corp. before getting into the plastic bottle business.

Nationally, Ring customers include Bunge, Cargill, ConAgra Brands, Hormel and Stratas Foods. The Rockford plant produces containers for

Bay Valley/Treehouse in Pecatonica, Fischer’s Nuts in Elgin and Ventura Foods, among others. Customers are anywhere from 20 minutes to 3½ hours away from the Rockford plant.

“We have a focus-plant philosophy,” said Ricks. “We build plants close to our customers. We pride ourselves on customer service. If there’s ever an issue, we have a rapid movement team that can hop in the car and help them out.”

Ring has major competition locally in Chicago and Harvard. “We’re not the biggest, but we pride ourselves on customer service that’s not offered by larger companies,” said Ricks. “That’s why we build smaller plants. We’d rather turn a speedboat than a battleship.”

The Plastic Process Locally, Ring has 62 employees including engineers, maintenance techs, machine operators and material handlers.

“We have highly dedicated employees who take enthusiastic ownership of our products,” said Ricks. “We have longterm employees, including one who’s been with us the entire time we’ve been here in Rockford.”

Before the containers are filled with food, though, they are first filled with air as part of a two-step process.

During the first step plastic Polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET) is fed into machinery and heated. The hot plastic is shot directly into a mold to create a blank, preformed piece of solid plastic.

The plastic blank is sent to another machine where the hot plastic form is hit with a blast of high pressure air, forcing it to expand like a gum bubble, but into a bottle-shaped mold. “Depending on the size of the bottles, our fastest machines can produce mustard bottles at 20,000 bottles an hour,” said Ricks. “We make

1,200 cheese ball containers in an hour.”

And Ring shows no signs of slowing down. Ricks said mustard bottles fly out the door during the summer months.

Now as the “white season” (snow) quickly approaches, the company will be slammed for coffee creamer orders.

“We don’t have a slow time,” said Ricks.

“While some companies experience plant shutdowns, we don’t have to worry about that.”

Employee Appreciation Taking care of its employees is a top priority for Ring. Whether it’s renting out a Wrigley Field rooftop to catch a Cubs game or providing a free lunch, employees are treated like family. “We like to take the opportunity to celebrate when we can,” Ricks said. “We do birthday cakes and gift cards. We know the names of our employees’ children.

In general we like to have fun. We do little things to make sure they feel appreciated.”

And those good feelings are felt in the community as well. Ring employees volunteer with the Rockford Rescue Mission, preparing lunch once a month and helping prepare the annual Thanksgiving meal. The reason, said Ricks, is simple. “This is where we live and work. A lot of our employees are from Rockford. It’s important to give back to those who might be down on their luck.”

RING CONTAINER TECHNOLOGIES Joe Ricks, plant manager 4689 Assembly Dr. 815-229-9110 www.ringcontainer.com

Credit for hiring new workers With many businesses facing a tight job market, the Internal Revenue Service offers employers a tax credit for hiring long-term unemployment recipients and other categories of workers with employment barriers.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) encourages employers to hire designated categories of workers. Legislation enacted in recent years has both expanded and modified the credit; adding the new category for long-term unemployment recipients unemployed for at least 27 weeks. The credit is generally based on wages paid to eligible workers during the first two years of employment.

Though the credit is not available to tax-exempt organizations for most categories of new hires, a special rule allows them to get the WOTC for hiring qualified veterans.

Visit the WOTC page at IRS.gov for more information and the list of eligible worker categories.

8 | living a rewarding retirement: senior living

october 2018 • theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

Rockford University PERSPECTIVE

October is National Financial Planning Month

Don’t leave your future income to chance In my finance class, I pose the following scenario to my students.

Imagine yourself shopping for a new computer mouse. You find one you like for $20 at one of your favorite stores, but as you head for the checkout, another customer mentions that the same model is available at a competitor next door for $15. Would you go to the other store to save $5? Now imagine yourself shopping for an entire new computer. You find one you like for $2,000. It has all the features you are looking for. But as you head to the checkout, another customer mentions that the same model is available at a competitor next door for $1995. Would you go to the other store?

Most shoppers would go to the competitor to save $5 on a computer mouse. But very few shoppers would take the time to go to another store to save $5 on a $2,000 purchase. In both cases, the cost savings is $5. We make five to 10 financial decisions every day, ranging from simple shopping to more serious considerations, such as applying for a loan or making investments in our retirement funds. These decisions are mostly affected by seemingly irrelevant factors and are frequently made without any planning.

Financial planning is about achieving your goals, most of which can be very important in our lives. To make prudent financial decisions, we need to have a sound plan. Financial Planning Month should raise our awareness about these issues and help us to think about our daily financial decisions.

Are we making sound decisions, or are we vulnerable to decisions based on inaccurate data?

Financial planners frequently talk of the importance in recognizing that costs will continue to rise. Retirees frequently overlook the impact of inflation, and neglect to plan on the taxes that will need to be paid as they withdraw funds from their retirement account. The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland reported last month that its latest estimate of 10-year expected inflation is 2.13 percent. In other words, the public expects the inflation rate to be above two percent on average over the next decade. Without careful financial planning, we could suffer a two percent decrease in our spending dollars for the next 10 years.

Living Longer Most Americans are going to be enjoying a longer life than their ancestors. The Social Security Administra-

Dr. Orhan Erdem Rockford University

tion (www.ssa. gov/planners/

lifeexpectancy.html) tells us that a man reaching age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 84.3. Women of the same age can expect to live, on average, until 86.7. Life expectancy just 50 years ago was 67 for men, and 74 for women.

Living an additional 10 or 20 years requires careful financial planning. As challenging as it can be to estimate life expectancy, rising healthcare costs can also have a significant impact on financial planning for retirees. Consumer Reports estimates the average Illinois monthly health insurance premium will be $489 in 2019. A 0.7% increase from 2018. “Nearly 20 million Americans buy their own health insurance,” according to Donna Rosato of Consumer Reports (August, 2018). “40 percent of people who buy their own health insurance, make too much to qualify for financial help.” Careful financial planning is necessary to ensure adequate health care coverage throughout our lives.

Financial

planning

is

equally

important when our investments are showing double-digit increases, as it is when the markets are offering low, single-digit rates. There are obvious times when careful financial planning is critical, such as a major life-changing event. Things such as getting married or having a baby should be obvious but, we also need to stress the importance of beginning a sound financial plan as early as possible.

Federal student loan debt has reached more than one trillion dollars: More than twice as much as it was a decade ago. A college education provides huge financial returns in a student’s future, but academic goals should be built upon a solid financial plan.

October

is

National

Financial

Planning Month. The perfect time to assess our savings and investments, and consider our financial goals. Watch for, and take advantage of a variety of financial planning opportunities that will be taking place this month in the greater Rockford area.

Orhan Erdem, Ph.D., is visiting assistant professor at Puri School of Business at Rockford University.

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

rockfordchamber.com • theVoice • OCTOBER 2018

living a rewarding retirement: senior living |

Guest Perspective insight

Envisioning a rewarding retirement Never too early to take steps

It takes planning and effort to be able to enjoy and live your retirement! What do I mean by this; will you be a retiree who has more activities than time or one who has more time than activities?

The choice is yours, and planning is a big part in figuring out what life in retirement will actually be like.

Remember, you are not retiring from life. You are simply refocusing all of your energy into something different — things that you have always had the intention of doing, things that bring you peace and happiness, things that could be your passion.

you can spend during

your

Steven L. Schou Rockford Bank & Trust

retirement without running out. Balance is an important component to your financial life; and what I mean by that, is not to be so fearful that you do not enjoy the financial fruits of all of your labors or spend so much that you run out of money either.

Preparing for retirement is like getting ready for a trip – it never goes quite as planned. However, the better that you plan, the better the outcome, and if things don’t go as planned, you have a “plan B” in mind.

Your ‘Plan A’ in Retirement Here are some steps to consider as part of your “plan A” for your rewarding

While your finances are an important part of your retirement life, it is by no means the only thing in your retirement life.

How do you envision a normal day in your retirement? What if those things you have looked forward to all these years – more time for your hobbies, more time for travel and more time to relax – are not enough to sustain you?

What then?

Remember, you are not retiring from life. You are simply refocusing all of your energy into something different — things that you have always had the intention of doing, things that bring you peace and happiness, things that could be your passion.

This brings us back to the point I mentioned earlier; that one needs to plan ahead for a rewarding retirement.

retirement.

It Takes a Balanced Approach

and doing activities you enjoy.

The great paradox of the golden years is that there is so much time and yet so very little of it. For most people, retirement happens after 40-plus years of work, and it can create both excitement and anxiety. The excitement comes from having more free time, but the anxiety can also come from having more free time. Aging well and gracefully in retirement may be the goal, but getting there is often a challenge.

After all, it can be traumatic to leave the working world — particularly if your self-concept is wrapped up in your job.

You might feel a loss of importance and a loss of vitality; you may grieve the loss of friendships.

While money is not a panacea for a rewarding retirement, it can cause anxiety in trying to figure out how much

■ Within five years of retirement, live

■ Take some of your bucket list trips while you are still working.

■ Talk about the proximity that you both want to your children and grandchildren.

■ Talk about the lifestyle that you plan to continue during your rewarding retirement.

■ Address any health issues, sooner rather than later, all the money in the world would be worthless without your health to enjoy it.

■ Rekindle old hobbies or start new ones.

■ Make friends who are already retired

on your retirement income.

Finally, professional

above

all

else,

seek

help

to

create

and

monitor your plan and strategy. After all, a rewarding retirement is not a destination, but a change of plans or direction which can last and be enjoyed for decades if managed properly.

Steven L. Schou, CFP® is vice president, business development & wealth advisor at Rockford Bank & Trust.

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

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Young Professionals

| OCTOber 2018

theVoice

ignite

Day trips: The broke man’s solution to travel I will never be OK with the word “staycation.” Despite having learned that most of my strong opinions on dumb things have changed with time and experience, I am sticking to this one with undue confidence. It’s partially because of its vague definition; it’s either as narrow as spending your vacation enjoying local attractions instead of going anywhere, or as broad as vacationing within one’s home country. I refuse to call a Saturday trip to the Burpee Museum as vacationing just as I refuse to qualify a trip to San Francisco as a mere staycation. It’s just altogether a phrase that brings indignity to people like me who love to travel.

Now, when I say I love to travel, you should know the helpful expository fact that I have never once been outside of the country. That takes money and time, and I’ve never had both of those things simultaneously. Does that mean I’ve had to give up my wanderlust! No! Does that mean that new places and people and experiences have been completely outside my grasp! No! Does that force me to confront the possibility that, under its broadest definition, ALL of my travels have technically been staycations?

I refuse to think about this!

Instead I’ve learned to slake my thirst for travel within my means -- by finding things that are about 60 to 90 minutes away and cost me less than 50 bucks to enjoy. I know most people go on day trips every so often, but I am telling you that there is an underappreciated bounty of exciting things within arm’s reach of our city for those Saturdays when you just want to get away from it all … but still be back in your own bed that night to avoid hotel costs.

Don’t believe me? That’s very rude, but I’ll generously meet your hostility with a curated list of recommendations for day tripping from the Rockford area!

Chicago and Madison Let’s get the obvious ones first. Madison is an hour north, and Chicago is an hour and a half to the southeast. Both are amazing cities with all the chic urbanism you’ll ever want. They’ve got parks, museums, great food, bars and breweries, cafes, free zoos, cultural events, street festivals, farmers markets, live music, live comedy, interesting neighborhoods and robust downtown centers.

There’s something there for you in both, so check around sites like Eventbrite or Eventful that aggregates interesting events for you to catch in those cities.

Additionally you can use local publications (Time Out and RedEye for Chicago) or sites from tourism boards (visitmadison.com) to find specific events happening throughout the calendar that you can plan for.

But if you’re looking for my personal

recommendations, I always Matt Hargrove suggest the MuIGNITE sic Box Theatre, one of my very favorite places on earth. It’s an independent movie theater with great atmosphere and an eclectic lineup of movies from classic to contemporary. I’d also suggest any of the several bar arcades throughout the city. They’re often a bit overcrowded, but almost every trip to one has given me lasting memories. Finally, if you’re checking out Millennium Park for its beauty or maybe a free concert, did you know that there’s a semi-hidden garden on the grounds? If you’re in the area, you should seek out the Lurie Garden.

I’ll tell you, unashamedly, that my favorite place in Madison is the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. I’m trying to avoid the places that are in every tourist handbook, but Olbrich is a magical place with a gorgeous outdoor campus and a breaktaking greenhouse. If you need some greenery in your life during a winter month, flee there. I’d also recommend the entire city for biking.

Madison is downright European with its urban biking scene.

Literally Everywhere Else, Too Seriously, hunt around. You’ve got Galena to the east (and the gorgeous Highway 20 route to get there). I can do this with every cardinal direction. Starved Rock State Park is to the south, and Cave of the Mounds is to the northeast if you’re looking for astounding nearby sites of natural beauty.

And finally, you’ve got to check out the Mitsuwa Marketplace, also in Arlington Heights. This Japanese marketplace has a lot of fun authentic fare — cuisine, books, crafts, stationary — all the stuff you’d buy at a gift shop in the Tokyo International Airport. How do I know it’s authentic?

I don’t, but it’s only about 40 percent cosplayers and white hipsters like myself, so it feels authentic.

EXPLORE This is only a sample from my own limited traveling. I have yet to run out of amazing things to explore, and because all of what I listed are within 90 minutes and 50 dollars, I’ve still got the time and money to explore more. This weekend give the Netflix account a rest and discover what lies just beyond the city limits -- and the limits of your comfort zone. Safe travels, and leave your staycations behind!

Matt Hargrove is an IGNITE member and works for The Literacy Council.

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

theVoice

OCTOber 2018

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11

A FEW WORDS FROM RPS 205 SUPERINTENDENT

Making Rockford a Top 25 City Relief of taxpayer burden for property owners

If Rockford wants to be a Top 25 city by 2025, we have to be on the Road to $13.50 or Below.

That’s the total tax rate all taxing bodies in Winnebago County should set as their goal so we can give property taxpayers relief. We are now at $14.84.

The Rockford Public Schools is doing its part.

As I explained during the Chamber’s Education Outlook Luncheon last month, the district has kept its tax levy flat for seven years in a row. We did not collect more than the $100 million we were legally allowed to collect. Since 2015, the tax rate for education has dropped 29 cents.

With a rate of $7.65, Rockford Public Schools was responsible for 52 percent of the property tax bill in 2017 — the lowest portion of the tax bill of the nine school districts in the region.

It’s like a teeter-totter.

As values drop, the tax rates go up, as taxing bodies are left with less property value to tax in order to raise the amount of money they need. Conversely, if property values go up, those tax rates can go down.

The hard work of the School Board and district administration to hold the line on taxes would be worthy of a shout-out in any case. But it’s especially worthy given that the county lost $563 million in property value from 2011-15, and nearly $1 billion if you go back to 2008.

On an Upward Trend It’s like a teeter-totter. As values drop, the tax rates go up, as taxing bodies are left with less property value to tax in order to raise the amount of money they need. Conversely, if property values go up, those tax rates can go down.

That upward trend has been happening in the last few years, thank goodness. The county has gained $11 million in value from 2015-18. We expect the slow gains to continue, but we’re not taking anything for granted.

We will continue to practice fiscal responsibility while working with the other taxing bodies that make up the

Dr. Ehren Jarrett Superintendent RPS 205

remaining 48 percent of your tax bill. None of us can do it alone, and all of us have a stake in the economic health of our region.

Whether your child goes to RPS 205 or private school — or whether you have one or three children in school or none at all — the district exists to serve you.

We view our role as threefold: to raise student achievement, to grow the local economy and (to borrow a concept from Rock Valley College) to link talent to opportunity.

It’s all of our jobs to create a community in which businesses want to be here and students want to stay here.

School Scorecard This year, we are building our School Scorecard that establishes clear and transparent measures for each of our 44 schools. We are continuing to implement our multi-classroom leader project, which leverages the talent of experienced teachers to lead aspiring teachers — which not only builds our future local workforce but benefits hundreds of students in our neediest schools. We’re almost to the finish line on a $279 million, 10-year facilities plan that received the trust of voters and the generous investment of taxpayers.

We’re not done.

Just as we’ve watched our bottom line and made progress on lowering our tax rate, we’ll continue to work with our partners to lower the rate even more.

Like the disciplined march to the South Pole by expedition leader Roald Amundsen in 1912, we’ll take those 20 miles a day. We’ll take it over the unsustainable pace of Amundsen’s competitor Robert Scott, who despite impressive progress some days, died along with his team on the way to the South Pole.

We’ll take it over flashy work that seeks headlines but can’t sustain forward momentum.

We have a long way to go on this road but, like Amundsen, we’re proud of our work and confident in our strategy.

Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.

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

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OCTOber 2018

theVoicE • rockfordchamber.com

+ Regional training partnership provides employment

Bernie Luecke RVC BPI

Collaboration produces much-needed CNC operators Looking beyond the obvious and thinking outside the box is something Gail Graham, business & employer services coordinator with the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) in Janesville, Wis., has done successfully throughout her career. The SWWDB is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting innovation and providing quality local workforce development programs and services to businesses and residents in southwest Wisconsin.

On June 29, five SWWDB participants successfully graduated and found employment after a three-month accelerated CNC training program provided by Rock Valley College’s TechWorks. The training began on April 16, meeting Monday to Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., at Beloit Memorial High School

As the demand for trained CNC operators grew, Graham and her team were faced with some challenges, which included finding a site with the needed training equipment as well as an experienced CNC instructor that could work with a diverse population.

Each of the five participants successfully passed two NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) exams and received a credential in Measurement, Materials & Safety along with a credential in CNC Lathe Operator Level 1.

The state-of-the-art machining lab at Beloit Memorial High School was utilized for the hands-on portion. “The CNC equipment and lab layout are outstanding and extremely conducive for teaching,” said Gordy Blaisdell, TechWorks training specialist. “The CNC machining lab is a huge asset for Beloit Memorial and its students.”

located at 1225 Fourth St., Beloit, Wis.

Regional Training Facility It consisted of 192 total training hours, with 108 hours comprised of classroom and 84 hours devoted to hands-on training.

As the demand for trained CNC operators grew in southwest Wisconsin, Graham and her team were faced with some challenges, which included finding a site with the needed training equipment as well as an experienced CNC instructor that could work with a diverse population.

With its machining lab that would rival any high school machining program in the region, Beloit Memorial High School was selected as the training site since it allowed training beyond the normal business hours. Intending to offer the lab to outside entities, it was an immediate win-win partnership that was created between SWWDB, Beloit Memorial and Rock Valley College’s TechWorks. The partnership with Beloit Memorial did include a rental fee to cover usage and routine This page is sponsored by RVC BPI

maintenance on the machines during the training program.

With the training facility secured, Graham reached out to TechWorks in search of an experienced trainer.

Only 19 miles separating Rockford and Beloit made the training feasible for

Blaisdell.

“Collaborating

with

TechWorks at RVC resulted in another successful program where all those who completed the training were hired locally,” Graham said. “Gordy Blaisdell is an outstanding trainer and

TechWorks

has

consistently

accommodated our specific needs.”

June 29, 2018 marked the fifth class offered through the SWWDB, Beloit Memorial High School and Rock Valley College’s TechWorks. From 2014 to present, the program has graduated 37 students.

If your company has a need to train your existing workforce in CNC or you have new hires that need skill improvement,

please

contact

me,

Bernie Luecke, director of the business & professional institute, at B.Luecke@ RockValleyCollege.edu or 815-921-2067.

Bernie Luecke is director of the Business & Professional Institute at Rock Valley College.

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

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

OCTOber 2018

|

13

CRUCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL TM

BEFORE

WORK ON ME FIRST Get Unstuck Start with Heart Master My Stories

DURING

SAFETY

MY MEANING

Describe the Gap

THEIR MEANING

POOL of

SHARED MEANING

Make It Safe

SAFETY

National best-selling author makes the case for accountability

In a room of 300 business professionals, the topic of Accountability resonated. Be it a personal or professional experience, the concept of creating safe environments in which people ask for what they need and deliver what they say they will, was an appealing – and now attainable – vision.

Joseph Grenny, national bestselling author of Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability, Influencer, and Change Anything, painted a picture that all audience members could relate to during the kick-off of the 2018/2019 Rockford Leadership Alliance (RLA). Participants in RLA, as well as other members of the business community, gathered to hear Grenny speak and learn the reasons that accountability actually matters and ways to begin to practice such a skill.

Organizations with cultures of accountability have the tough conversations during the meetings — even if it takes courage and a commitment from all those present to work towards the good of the organization.

Participants were encouraged to first start with themselves when working towards a culture of accountability.

Accountability discussions require that the person who brings up the failed promise is talking about the right problems based in facts rather than emotion-filled stories.

Taking this a step further, conversations,

such as these, require that the person who brings up the failed Caitlin Pusateri promise does Rockford Chamber so in a way that makes the offending party feel safe and truly cared for. They are able to describe the gap between what was expected and what occurred, focus on if the gap stems from a problem of motivation or ability, and works with the person to move the relationship forward.

As a masterful speaker, Grenny was able to engage the audience while illuminating an area in which most people as well as organizations could develop and grow. RLA participants will continue their accountability development throughout the remainder of the 2018/2019 program. By tackling important business concepts such as trust, organizational health and accountability, RLA helps to develop a pipeline of talented leaders poised for success.

2018/2019 RLA investors include The City of Rockford; Crusader Community Health; Midland States Bank; Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association; Northwest Bank; Rock Valley Credit Union; Rockford Housing Authority; Rockford Park District; Rockford Public Schools; Rosecrance; Savant Capital Management; SwedishAmerican, a Division of UW Health; and Thayer Lighting, Inc.

PERSONAL

2

SOCIAL

MAKE IT MOTIVATING

AFTER

1 3

4

5

6

MAKE IT EASY

Joseph Grenny offers tools for resolving violated expectations, broken commitments and bad behaviors in both personal and professional life

ABILITY

STRUCTURAL

DIAGNOSE MOTIVATION

MOVE TO ACTION Who does What by When Follow up © 2013 VitalSmarts. All Rights Reserved. Rev 1.0 Blue-2Day-MP-v2

rockfordchamber.com • theVoice • OCTOBER 2018

life to the fittest: healthcare and wellness |

15

Guest Perspective insight

Stigma and behavioral health in the workplace Creating a culture of empowerment Last month was Recovery month, and I found myself reflecting on the importance of behavioral health and wellness in our community. I’ve spent decades working in the areas of substance use and mental health treatment services, and there is one thing I’ve learned for certain: things change, treatment modalities evolve, and programs and services expand and grow. Yet, through it all, my belief in the miracle of recovery has remained steadfast.

At Rosecrance we know that the healthiest, happiest and most productive communities have behavioral health services in their infrastructure. The same is true of the workplace. A workplace that fosters an empowering and de-stigmatized environment, and values the behavioral health and wellness of its employees, is altogether more successful. Unfortunately, that is often the exception and not the rule.

Less than half of working Americans say the culture in their organization supports employee well-being, while one in three reports chronic stress as a result of the job, according to a 2016 Work and Well-Being Survey by the

American Psychological Association.

While it is the responsibility of everyone to cultivate a positive work environment and combat stigma related to behavioral health, employers and leaders of the workplace should be held especially accountable.

Stigma and Behavioral Health Disorders The notion that a behavioral health disorder is somehow a moral failing is lessening considerably, but it still exists.

Stigma may not directly affect you or someone you love, but it impacts the lives of the one in five Americans living with mental health conditions, according to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the 21 million Americans living with substance use disorders, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Many people who live with a behavioral health diagnosis have been blamed for their condition at some point in their lives. They’ve heard ostracizing expressions like — “if only you tried to quit” or “the way you are feeling is just a phase.” Mental health and substance

Older people projected to outnumber children for first time The year 2030 marks an important demographic turning point in U.S. history according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 National Population Projections. By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65, so that one in every five residents will be retirement age.

“The aging of baby boomers means that within just a couple decades, older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history,” said Jonathan Vespa, population evaluation, analysis and projections branch chief. “By 2035, there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.7 million (previously 76.4 million) under the age of 18.”

The 2030s are projected to be a transformative decade for the U.S. population; expected to grow at a slower pace, age considerably and become more racially and ethnically diverse. Net international migration is projected to overtake natural increase in 2030 as the primary driver of population growth in the United States, another demographic first for the United States.

“In 2030, we project that the U.S will add about 1.1 million people through net international migration but only about 1.0 million people by natural increase, or more births than deaths,” Vespa said.

Population Growth By 2060, the United States is projected to grow from about 326 million today to 404 million. Population is projected to cross the 400-million threshold in 2058.

In coming years, the rate at which the U.S. population grows is expected to slow down to an average of 1.9 million per year between 2030 and 2040, and continue falling to 1.6 million per year from 2040 to 2060.

Aging As the population ages, the ratio of older adults to working-age adults, also known as the old-age dependency ratio, is projected to rise.

By 2020, there will be just over threeand-a-half working-age adults for every retirement-age person. By 2060, that ratio will fall to just under two-anda-half working-age adults for every retirement-age person.

Race and Ethnicity The non-Hispanic White alone population is projected to shrink over the coming decades, from 199 million in 2020 to 179 million in 2060 — even as the U.S. population continues to grow. In comparison, the White alone population, regardless of Hispanic origin, is projected to grow from about 253 million to 275 million over the same period.

Source: census.gov.

use disorders are diseases, like diabetes and heart disease, and until that realization is universal we all have work to do.

Creating a Culture of Empowerment It can feel like a hopeless pursuit to fight stigma and advocate for wellness at your place of work. But, I want to remind you, as with any organizational change — it doesn’t matter how small you start, only that you do. Stigma promotes and perpetuates an environment of fear, shame and silence, all of which are toxic in the workplace.

NAMI suggests some easy ways to reduce and reverse stigma, such as: talk openly, educate yourself and others, be conscious of language, encourage equality between physical and mental illness, show compassion and be honest.

Of course, this all sounds great in theory, but how do we actually put this into practice?

The solution starts with trying and trying again; it starts with small steps and big hearts. I urge you to be more honest, more compassionate and more willing to listen. Consider whether

someone you interact with Philip W. Eaton on a daily basis Rosecrance is suffering; your support could make all the difference.

Rosecrance seeks to increase awareness and ‘change the conversation’ of substance use and mental health disorders to reduce stigma. In doing so, we hope to offer solutions for our clients in recovery, but also to our employees in the workplace and the community at large. Together we can foster a community that is rooted in courage, uphold a culture of strength over silence and allow everyone to feel seen, heard and understood. It’s time we start valuing wellness and ensuring the health of our community members.

With that at the forefront, I trust everything else will follow.

Philip W. Eaton is president/CEO of Rosecrance Health Network.

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

rockfordchamber.com • theVoice • OCTOBER 2018

life to the fittest: healthcare and wellness |

17

legislative

Healthcare Legislation

New Medical Laws Effective Mid-Year The following are some new state laws passed during the state’s fiscal year in July 2018. For more details, visit www.ilga.gov.

Encouraging Use of EpiPens On July 31, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation that encourages medical professionals’ to equip police officers with epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) for allergy-related emergencies. The law expands on the Annie LeGere Law, inspired

by Annie LeGere, a 13-year-old from Elmhurst who died from a fatal allergic reaction that could have been prevented with epinephrine. It allowed Illinois police officers to carry and administer epinephrine auto-injectors on duty as an emergency measure to reverse life-threatening allergic reactions.

Senate Bill 2226 protects prescribing medical authorities from civil or professional liability when a police officer delivers an epinephrine auto-injection during an allergy-related emergency. The physician, physician’s assistant or advanced practice registered nurse with prescriptive authority who provides a prescription or standing order for epinephrine for an Illinois police department will not be subject to civil or professional liability for law enforcement’s misuse of the medication.

Medical Laws Taking Effect in 2018 The Illinois legislature passed these healthcare-related laws effective Jan. 1, 2018. Visit www.ilga.gov.

Mental Health Council HB 3502/PA 100-0184 Establishes an Advisory Council on Early Identification and Treatment of Mental Health Conditions to report on evidence-based best practices, identify barriers to statewide implementation of early identification and treatment, and reduce the stigma of mental health conditions.

Dental Assistants Expanded Functions SB 589/PA 100-0215 Allows a dental assistant to remove a loose, broken or irritating orthodontic appliance to eliminate pain or discomfort.

However, a dentist must approve and inspect the assistant’s work.

Additionally, closes a loophole for dentists trained in foreign countries by requiring two years of graduate credit from an accredited institution.

Veterans’ Cancer Screenings SB 838/PA 100-0224 Requires the Department of Public Health to conduct a program to promote the awareness of cancer in veterans, and creates a Veterans’ Cancer Screening Program within the department.

Hospital “Do-Not-Admit” List Prohibition HB 2762/PA 100-0306 Prohibits hospitals from maintaining a list of individuals that may not be admitted for treatment at the hospital.

The prohibition does not prevent a

hospital’s medical staff from recommending an alternate provider, coordinating an appropriate transfer, or arranging access to care services that best meets the needs of an individual patient.

Pharmacist Administer Prenatal Injections SB 317/PA 100-0208 Adds Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate, a prenatal care drug, to the list of injections a pharmacist may administer to a patient with a valid prescription from their doctor.

Asthma in School Health Examinations SB 1846/PA 100-0238 Requires the Department of Public health to promulgate rules and procedures to include asthma in the standard school health examination. Adds asthma to this list of illnesses for which the Department of Public Health must collect and maintain statistical data.

Nursing Home Residents ID Bracelets HB 223/PA 100-0293 Gives authority to physicians to provide any resident with an identification wristlet. The resident’s clinical record should physically document the need for the wristlet.

Also authorizes facilities to require residents residing in an Alzheimer’s disease unit with a history of wandering to wear an identification wristlet. It allows a resident’s

Funding for Children with Hearing Loss Gov. Bruce Rauner signed health legislation that requires Illinois insurers to cover replacement costs of hearing aids every three years for hard-of-hearing children who are 18 or younger. It also provides that repairs are covered when deemed medically necessary and provides ear examinations, selection, fitting and adjustment of ear molds when medically necessary.

“At the Center for Sight & Hearing, we currently work with over 150 kids who use hearing aids,” said Dr. Sarah Filer, AuD., pediatric audiology specialist. “Hearing aids last about 5 to 7 years, but unfortunately, with kids they don’t last as long. Kids tend to be rougher with the devices and they also grow, which means they need different parts such as ear molds replaced periodically. Until recently, when a child’s insurance benefits did not cover the cost for hearing aids, ear molds, repairs, etc., the families would have to pay out of pocket.”

Boosting Protection for DCFS Workers A new law boosts protections for Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers, in the wake of a violent attack on a local DCFS worker last year that led to her death in February. Approved unanimously by lawmakers this spring, Senate Bill 3105 was introduced by State Sen. Tim Bivins in response to the death of a Dixon woman who worked as a DCFS child protective investigator. Pamela Knight of Dixon was beaten during a home visit for one of her clients.

It encourages police protection for DCFS workers who don’t have co-workers available to accompany them on a call that involves a high-risk report of child abuse or neglect, or a case that involves a person who could be violent.

Compiled by Barbara Connors, editor of The Voice, from press releases. guardian or attorney to deny the facility from requiring the wristlet.

Telehealth Act SB 1811/PA 100-0317 Authorizes licensed health care professionals in Illinois to practice telehealth services. Clarifies that telehealth services are limited to the professionals’ scope of practice under their licenses, and that telehealth services are to be provided under the same standard of care as in-person services. Additionally, amends the Medical Practice Act to clarify that telemedicine (telehealth) can be practiced in the state of Illinois and clarifies that physicians can provide services to existing patients while either the physicians or patients are traveling.

Hypodermic Syringes Purchase SB 1944/PA 100-0326 Allows people to have in his or her possession up to 100 syringes or needles, instead of 20. With that, it allows pharmacists to sell up to 100 sterile syringes or needles.

Removes the requirement for DPH to develop and provide educational materials to pharmacists to make available to people who purchase syringes or needles. Allows pharmacists to prescribe syringes or needles upon oral or electronic order, instead of just upon an oral order.

Synthetic Drugs HB 2534/PA 100-0368 Adds synthetic drugs and cannabinoids to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. Adds other

substances to the Schedule II list of controlled substances and lists all hydrocodone derivatives as Schedule II controlled substances.

Telehealth Services Healthcare Provider HB 2907/PA 100-0385 Eliminates the Medicaid requirement that healthcare providers be present in the room with a patient while receiving tele-health psychiatry services.

Preexisting Condition Coverage Mandate HB 2959/PA 100-0386 Provides that no policy of individual or group accident and health insurance issued, amended, delivered or renewed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, may impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to that plan or coverage. Supplemental polices are exempted from this mandate.

Mammogram Coverage SB 314/PA 100-0395 Provides that insurers must provide coverage for breast MRI if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue (when medically necessary).

Enhanced Opioid Monitoring SB 772/PA 100-0564 Requires prescribers with an Illinois Controlled Substance License to register with and use the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program, a database that records patient prescription history.

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| life to the fittest: healthcare and wellness

OCTOBER 2018 • theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

Pet Loader realizes international sales success Innovation made in region helps owners and dogs

By Sherry Pritz Enderle, NIU EIGERlab When Evon and Bob Whalen’s dog Casey injured her leg, it became difficult for her to jump into the Whalens’ car.

As Bob started looking for tools to help the 115-pound dog into the car, he found nothing suitable or transportable. With nothing on the market to solve their problem, the Whalens invented their own transportation solution -- the Pet Loader.

Bob’s idea was to assist his four-legged friend -- with a horizontal body -- into vehicles designed for our vertical bodies safely, versus jumping down; risking a painful ACL tear.

His passion for helping his dog, and recognizing that other pet owners were probably facing the same problem, motivated him to begin working with NIU EIGERlab 14 years ago to make his idea a reality. NIU’s Center for Product Development has assisted with the commercialization of Pet Loader’s entire product line — a solid partner supporting the Whalen’s as they’ve discovered new markets and applications.

Unexpected Clients Today, the Whalens run a highly successful business that is well-known around the world, and to a host of

professions they initially didn’t consider as clients. Today’s list includes your average dog owner, the Great Dane Society of Baltimore, both the United States’ DEA and Homeland Security entities and the NY Bomb Squad.

When a dog completes his training to assist in services, such as working with a bomb squad, K-9 patrol, etc., it entails a hefty financial investment. By paying less than one percent of the total training costs to procure a Pet Loader, entities such as the NY Bomb Squad can lengthen a dog’s years of service by two-to-four years by eliminating the need to jump in and out of vehicles. For service dogs, jumping injuries are cumulative and crippling.

Veterinarians, dog groomers, dog trainers and customers comprise a significant portion of Pet Loader’s sales.

With its lower angle of ascent/decent and greater traction, it allows dogs to feel more confident transitioning from one surface to another.

Pet Loaders are shipped to customers in the USA and Canada; places where the Pet Loader is used by owners of large dogs in extreme temperatures.

Internationally, the company is experiencing an eight to 10 percent growth in sales, year over year, to clients in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

From National Parks to Scenic Waterways

Proud to Share The Pet Loader is made completely in the USA, and Evon and Bob are proud to share that except for two small parts, their entire product supply chain is located within 60 miles of Rockford. A dog will not wear out its Pet Loader -- shipping damage or improper use of the product are the only problems they’ve experienced to date.

“The stories shared by our customers are individual and heartwarming,” shared Bob. “They all point to the joy of having their best four-legged, and occasionally three-legged, pets on the road with them again. Those that are the most poignant are from women who are recently widowed.

When their husbands pass, a percentage of women assume they’ll no longer be able to assist their large dogs with entering and exiting vehicles safely, thus eliminating trips to the dog park, groomers and vet’s office. It’s been rewarding assisting female dog owners with keeping their four-legged friends.”

To lift a medium-to-large dog into the cab of a semi-truck is quite dangerous to both the person and their pet. Three of the Whalen’s newest markets are allowing semi-drivers and RV owners to bring their dogs along on the road, and boat owners to easily assist the dogs from transitioning to swimming in their favorite lake, to being onboard and cruising the waterways.

Bob’s advice to small business owners includes reading, The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It. “Understanding who you are in relation to what your business will be is essential. Be prepared for things you can’t prepare for. Take advantage of connecting with all of the small business development entities, and glean from their experiences and advice.”

To learn more visit www.EIGERlab.org or 815-753-2192.

Sherry Pritz Enderle is marketing & events coordinator/business development at NIU EIGERlab Innovation Network.

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

rockfordchamber.com • theVoice • OCTOBER 2018

life to the fittest: healthcare and wellness |

19

Guest Perspective insight

Building a healthy medical practice It takes more than hanging out a shingle Today, more than ever before, patients are exhibiting what we traditionally consider consumer behaviors as they make choices about their health care services.

They “shop” for health care providers in much the same way they evaluate other purchases like automobiles and cell phones. They review ratings, compare the costs and weigh variables. Perhaps most importantly, they ask around before making any significant purchase.

Friends trust friends and consumers trust other consumers to help them make buying decisions. Health care is exactly the same.

Recent studies show that: ■ 59 percent of adults have looked online for health information in the past year.

■ 80 percent of health inquiries start with a search engine.

■ 92 percent of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over all other advertising.

■ 88 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

■ 74 percent of consumers identify word of mouth as a key influencer in their decisions.

For health care systems, private practices and specialized clinics, the competition continues to grow and medical organizations seek to set themselves apart.

It may seem that resources (think: money) is the only way to stand out amongst the noise of the health care industry. However, there are most definitely initiatives which provide costeffective avenues to gain consumers’ attention and attract patients to your physician’s clinic or office.

■ Identify and Lean Into Your Message.

Who are you as an organization? Do you have the most innovative technologies?

The best bedside manner? The most robust skill sets under one roof? In other words, what is authentic and unique to your practice is what sets you apart for your future patients. Not all practices can claim all these options equally, so identify what’s in your organization’s DNA and market that again and again. When you first promote and then deliver on your brand promise, you’ve earned that initial (and hopefully future) trust from your patients.

■ Recognize that the Experience Extends Beyond the Examine Room.

If we’re being honest, most of us do not look forward to a doctor’s appointment.

From the time a potential patient picks up the phone to make an appointment to the time he or she exits your doors, all of your team members play an important role in the patient experience and have some responsibility in delivering excellence in patient care. An uninterested scheduler on the phone? An unkempt office setting?

A rushed doctor or nurse unwilling to take the extra time to answer questions?

All these affect the trust and potential word of mouth that are the bread and butter of growing a practice. And we all know that negative experiences have the unfortunate habit of spreading faster than positive ones.

sites.

Sharing

this

content

■ Engage in Active Reputation Management.

Active reputation management doubles down on the benefit of positive word of mouth by generating and sharing the content directly from those who matter most – patients. Post positive patient stories on your social media outlets, including patient video testimonials on your website. Share unique patient outcomes through public relations efforts or set up a process to encourage patients to review and rate doctors on key medical practice ranking

and actively managing your reputation,

continuously with current or past

patients

Rebecca Epperson Chartwell Agency

gives them the tools to deliver a glowing referral (and keeps a practice top of mind) when asked for health care provider recommendations.

Understanding the patient decisionmaking processes – determining who sets foot in an office, who stays away and why – is as critical to driving patient volume as the treatment and care within the practice.

Understanding your message, training your team to deliver quality interactions combined with quality patient care and solid outcomes, ensures that your patients are trusted resources to grow your organization.

Rebecca Epperson is the president of Chartwell Agency.

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

rockfordchamber.com • theVoice • OCTOBER 2018

Workers affected by chronic conditions Can workplace policies and programs help?

By Barbara Connors With many workers calling for flexible work schedules to accommodate a greater work-life balance – time for family, friends, volunteering, personal growth and self-care – others are calling for more flexibility from employers to deal with chronic conditions — their own and their loved ones’.

Dealing with chronic conditions is not a small issue. Roughly 34 percent of adults, 18 to 65, have at least one chronic condition, and roughly 11 percent have two or more chronic conditions, according to the Center on an Aging Society, a non-partisan policy group at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University. These include hypertension, mood disorders, diabetes, heart disease and asthma.

In addition, some 35 percent of workers report that they have provided care for a family member 65 years of age or older in the past year, the center said.

Sometimes this has required leaving the workforce, reducing hours or taking a temporary leave of absence to care for family members who are chronically ill.

The Center on an Aging Society looked at flexible policies for workers dealing with chronic conditions in its report, “Challenges for the 21st Century: Chronic and Disabling Conditions.” It details accommodations implemented as a part of employers’ work-life programs, including flexible work options, dependent care services, financial assistance, time-off policies, and caregiving and eldercare programs.

Accommodations for Disabilities The report highlighted the Job Accommodation Network, a governmental agency that works to increase the employability of individuals with disabilities. It states that the typical cost for workplace accommodation for an employee with a disability was no more than $250. Examples included installation of elevators or lifting aids, increased lighting, more frequent work breaks, flexible scheduling, job restructuring, job sharing, training of staff or supervisors and changing work procedures.

According to a study in the Community Mental Health Journal, accommodations for people with psychiatric disabilities included job coaching, flexible scheduling, extra or modified supervision, extended training, and transportation assistance.

Flexible Work Arrangements The report cited the Center for Work & Family at Boston College, which found that employees implementing flexible work arrangements were healthier and more satisfied with their jobs and experienced better balance between work and family.

Flexibility was especially helpful for individuals with chronic and disabling conditions and working caregivers.

Examples included traditional flextime (a schedule with a fixed start and end time), daily flextime (varying work hours on a daily basis), part time, compressed work weeks (four 10-hour days), telecommuting, job sharing, paid and unpaid leaves, and paid or unpaid sabbaticals.

Health Promotion Programs The report highlighted health promotion programs built into the employee benefit structure, such as respite care or flexible leave policies that allow workers to attend to ailing parents.

Other initiatives included education in caregiving skills, nutritional and dietary interventions for older workers, polypharmacy and therapy management programs, tailored exercise interventions and disease screening.

Barbara Connors is editor of The Voice.

life to the fittest: healthcare and wellness |

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OCTOBER 2018 • theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective insight Be healthy in the office and go home with more energy the workplace. And over $100 billion dollars/year are spent on treating these “aches and pains.” One study found that 86 percent of office workers report some discomfort from their office furniture and equipment. Another study found that 35 percent of sick days away from work are due to musculoskeletal injuries

Make Positional Changes

Safety in the office has been receiving increased exposure over the past few years. Solutions range from the latest “ergonomic chair” to standing workstations. As an ergonomics consultant and physical therapist, I am routinely bombarded with questions like: What’s the best chair to use? What’s your opinion on using exercise balls in the workplace? What do you think about standing desks? Do those treadmill desks really work? How about those gel pads for my wrists – do they really help?

These are all great questions, given the fact that there is a prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort in the workplace. According to the Arthritis Disease Center, 50 to 80 percent of Americans complain of back pain in the workplace. The cause? Bad posture which results from bad habits people pick up while sitting and/or standing for prolonged periods of time.

According to OSHA, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) contribute more than 33 percent of the total injuries in

So, what’s the best solution to prevent these “ergonomic injuries” in the office place? We suggest starting with steps that move a worker toward a path of “musculoskeletal health.” There is value in providing a seated option that offers enough adjustability to accommodate a wide range of body types. An argument can also be made that standing is a more ideal option for office work. Then you add in other peripheral ergonomic options that include keyboard design, mouse, monitor placement, task lighting and overall workstation adjustability.

Studies show that more than 90 percent of people showed signs of improved posture when they had reminders about their posture while seated at a desk. You don’t need a graduate degree to recognize when people are working in slumped postures.

But what about you? When was the last time you watched yourself work?

Science supports the use of proper ergonomics in the office environment.

This includes a proper chair, task lighting, location of the keyboard/mouse, display size, viewing distance and so on.

These are all important factors to consider when trying to optimize productivity in the workplace without the “cost” of musculoskeletal discomfort or pain.

Even after your workstation setup is

optimized for your comfort, you shouldn’t sit there all day.

Scott Ege If you’ve read Ege WorkSmart Solutions, PC about standing desks, you’ve likely run into articles with completely conflicting messages — that either you need to revert to a standing desk, because sitting is the new smoking or that standing at work doesn’t provide the benefits it claims to have. The truth isn’t so black and white. It’s common knowledge now that sitting all day is bad for you — but standing all day can be uncomfortable and hard on your body.

The key to comfort in the office is MOVEMENT. Alan Hedge, professor of ergonomics at Cornell University, recommends the 20-8-2 Rule: For every half-hour of work: ■ Sit for 20 minutes ■ Stand for eight minutes ■ Stretch or move for two minutes The frequency of position changes may be more important than the length of the break. Changing positions results in increased blood flow, which will help you maintain focus and energy throughout your workday. Skeptical?

Give it a try for a week and notice the difference in how you feel when you go home at the end of the day. Movement is good!

Scott Ege, PT, MS, is owner of Ege WorkSmart Solutions, PC. The views expressed are those of Ege’s and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Federal dollars to beef up Illinois’ fight against opioid abuse Illinois will receive $43.5 million through a federal grant in the fight against opioid abuse. About $29 million will go towards the availability of addiction treatment and helping reduce overdose-related deaths through prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives. The remaining $14.5 million will help federally-funded community health centers, schools and rural drug help centers expand their treatment services.

This year, the General Assembly passed several new laws directed at combating the opioid crisis, including ■ allowing individuals who have been prescribed opioids the option to use medical marijuana to treat their pain, ■ requiring licensed prescribers of controlled substances to complete three hours of continuing education on safe-opioid-prescribing practices prior to renewing their prescription license, and ■ allowing consumers to begin physical therapy services without a doctor’s referral, while still ensuring professional medical oversight safeguards.

Opioids were involved in 80 percent of overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. About 11,000 people have died in Illinois since 2008 from opioid overdoses.

Source: Senator Syverson’s Week in Review, Sept. 17-21, 2018

rockfordchamber.com • theVoice • OCTOBER 2018

life to the fittest: healthcare and wellness |

Guest Perspective insight

Is sitting really the new cancer?

Simple steps counteract the effects Dr. Rimas Gilvydis Northern Illinois Vein Clinic

This past June, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced all Apple employees would receive standing desks because of his belief that “sitting is the new cancer.”

This may seem like an extreme parallel, but research has linked sitting for long periods of time with an increased risk of developing a number of health concerns – some even serious and life-threatening such as cancer.

According to Mayo Clinic, prolonged sitting can result in blood clots, obesity, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, and can increase your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), cardiovascular disease, cancer and other serious diseases.

Mayo Clinic conducted an analysis of more than a dozen studies of sitting time and activity levels, and the study found that those who sat eight hours or more a day – and did not participate in any physical activity – had the same risk of dying due to obesity and smoking.

Results, however, from other studies found that people who incorporated at least 60 minutes a day of moderate physical activity countered the effects of too much sitting.

the

Serious Side Effects

work calendar to send you reminders

So why does sitting cause so many side effects? Sitting for long periods of time negatively affects circulation, it can lower a person’s metabolism, and it prevents the body from properly controlling blood sugar levels, breaking down fat and keeping blood pressure in-line.

Additionally, your veins put more effort into pumping blood from the lower legs back to the heart. This is especially true if you tend to sit with your legs bent. This can cause many people to suffer from minor to severe leg pain issues.

Every day I talk with patients who have been suffering from leg pain issues for years; some don’t even remember life without discomfort or pain. Surprising to most people, the presence of vein disease such as varicose veins is a major player in people suffering from leg pain issues that include achy legs, restless legs, swelling, heavy feeling in the legs and throbbing.

Sitting for long periods of time can worsen varicose vein symptoms.

Adding Routine Activity Below are some simple — but very effective — solutions to help make your eight-hour workday healthier and more comfortable: Stand often. Take a break from sitting every 30 to 45 minutes. Check with your employer about purchasing a stand-up desk. There are many on

market,

so read online reviews and purchase one that is adjustable and can be lowered when you want to sit.

People who incorporated at least 60 minutes a day of moderate physical activity countered the effects of too much sitting.

Take frequent walking breaks.

Walking encourages your heart to pump faster, increases blood flow to your extremities and will help you to reenergize and be more productive.

Even when using a standing desk, it’s also important to incorporate frequent walks throughout the day. Download a free app on your phone that will remind you once per hour to stand up and go for a short walk; purchase a fitness/ sports watch that will tell you when it’s time to get up and move; or utilize your throughout the workday.

Sit properly. When sitting down, keep your legs elevated and somewhat straight. If you cross your legs this will counter the effects. Elevating legs will reduce strain on your veins and improve blood flow throughout your body.

Add exercise to your daily routine.

Incorporating moderate exercise or even mild activity on a regular basis can help get your blood flowing more effectively.

Walking,

bicycling

or

performing targeted exercises can also strengthen your leg muscles. Building stronger muscles helps keep your circulatory system healthy, especially in your legs.

A sedentary lifestyle can contribute substantially to developing many health concerns. This may seem alarming, but it also means simple changes can make all the difference in the world – and even relieve any symptoms you may be currently experiencing.

Dr. Rimas Gilvydis is a board-certified interventional radiologist with Northern Illinois Vein Clinic.

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

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theVoicE • rockfordchamber.com

Capitalizing on the positives Young focuses on positive changes happening in our area

By JAC, RAEDC Correspondent What do you do after you have spent a career in professional sports, have worked in New York City, and have built a national reputation as an equestrian?

For Robin Young, the answer to that question led her back to her roots in the thriving downtown area of Rockford.

Robin was born in northeast Georgia and moved with her parents to the Rockford area in 1980. After graduating college, she pursued a professional career as an equestrian for 26 years. She counts former Olympians among the many friends she made during that time. She returned to the Rockford area in the early 1990s, and last year she began a new venture, the Capital House, which is located at 308 W. State St., in downtown Rockford.

Robin is excited to be a part of the positive change she sees happening in the downtown area. She notes the many restaurant and entertainment venues, as well as the unique shops that have opened. She loves the vibrancy of the downtown and personally enjoys walking along the “beautiful, scenic and convenient river walk.”

Downtown Reawakening When she came back to Rockford in the 1990s, Robin said the city was losing jobs and losing companies. Now she sees the city on the up curve of the economic cycle. She attributes part of that to the collaboration of individuals and associations who work together to strengthen our economy.

Robin said she was a typical Rockford resident before she started Capital House. She says, “I didn’t go downtown that much. I lived on the east side. I went to restaurants on the east side. I didn’t realize all the things I was missing by not enjoying the downtown area.”

She has seen first-hand that the things she used to believe were barriers to her enjoying time downtown, such as limited parking or even safety concerns, are not frequent problems in the downtown area. She wants everyone to be a part of this reawakening of the downtown. She wants everyone to see what she has seen.

Growing Momentum Spend any time talking to Robin about the area and her excitement and enthusiasm are contagious.

Not only does she get involved when possible, she encourages others to become involved and create more spokespeople sharing and shouting about the amazing opportunities found right here, in our own community.

Robin is helping get the word out through her business, by supporting other businesses in the downtown and organizations that provide events and happenings in the downtown. Currently, she is helping promote the Fall for Rockford festival event on Sept. 22, sponsored by the River District. She said the event ties in the start of fall with the exhortation to fall back in love with Rockford. It’s another chance to bring people downtown and to see what’s changed.

She complements the current city administration for their leadership. She said “as her businesses grow, and others grow, they employ more people.

A high performance community now Collaboration, leadership take center stage

A community’s ability to effectively collaborate will define its opportunity for growth Don Harkey, keynote speaker for the RAEDC’s Annual Meeting, challenges us to think and act as collaborative leaders. Harkey will walk through the concept of how to shift from a community of cooperation to one of collaboration. The connection between leadership and collaboration directly applies to a community’ success.

We own our story and no single organization or person can be the voice alone.

We must collaborate to shape the future of our region as well as share our story.

BE THE CHANGE – THE VOICE – A LEADER. Visit RockfordIL.com/annualmeeting for details.

The higher employment brings in more revenue and brings in more people and investment.” She sees all of the momentum growing and building on itself. She sees a lot of change in play. The strong manufacturing base is undergoing a resurgence in Rockford. Now new businesses are coming to the city.

“There’s a lot of potential in this community,” she mentioned during the conversation, “we need to focus on the positive things happening right here and build on that.”

Right now, Robin said they are working on building their base. But as that happens, Robin has ideas for future businesses and is committed to opening an urban grocery store in the downtown with a deli, bakery, fresh food in a smaller store.

She loves to see the businesses coming in and now feels that people are moving back to the downtown.

Capitalizing on those trends is Robin’s goal, and her restaurant is turning out to be a “capital idea.”

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

OCTOber 2018 | 25

R O C K F O R D

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

Small Business Enterprise Demographic, economic trends facing small businesses Technology changes everything; the necessity of sustainability The following is a continuation from last month’s article in The Voice; continuing the discussion on future trends and how they will impact the northern Illinois and Rockford market.

We continue, first, with a common and perpetual theme of “Savvy Kids,” – Digitally Kids Grow Up and Change Everything.

Gen Y (millennials) are maturing quickly by adopting and adapting new technology, focusing on a career, families, home ownership and especially high-tech living. Generation Z is different compared to Y. They are graduating from high school and entering the workforce, or trade school, or even college.

One characteristic of Zs is not duplicating the huge debt that the millennial generation brought into their lives. Zs watched their parents go through one of the most devasting economic downturns our nation has ever experienced: the Great Recession of 20062009. They witnessed their parents’ job loss, home loss, under-employment, and families broken and divided because of the inability to maintain a reasonable lifestyle.

Again, this Z generation clearly is infinitely interested in stability, obtaining usable life skills that are long-term sustainable, and most critically, a debtfree, even pay-as-you-go, education. The mindset of Zs compared to Ys is a change of massive proportions. Small business owners of the X generation and Y generation can and will observe a contrast

that brings change to the employee “pool.”

Burden on the Individual Another key trend that introduces strenuous, meticulous and thoughtful planning - Individuals Shoulder the Risk Burden. Driven by economic change and needs, individuals will increasingly account for making their own insurance and retirement decisions, where institutions previously involved and lead this effort. Likewise, governments reducing social support systems will drive the necessity for individual risk management.

What are the ramifications and manifestations of this trend? Experts from Intuit provide these thoughts for our consideration. Federal, state, provincial and local fiscal problems will result in fewer social support services. This impact will affect those less financially fortunate, placing the responsibility “squarely” upon the individual and family regardless of economic stature. Nations across the globe will raise retirement requirements and reduce the scope of the national safety net.

Please note these are simply the trends that are possible, not necessarily “what will happen or will take place” -- all possibilities are possible.

Here is the kicker that we all should think about -- collectively and individually, “Corporations will continue

ABOUT THE SBDC The Illinois SBDC at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce offers services free of charge to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Rockford area, both chamber members and non-members. As a partnership between the Rockford Chamber and the Illinois DCEO, it operates out of NIU EIGERlab, NIURockford, 8500 E. State St., and maintains an office at the chamber’s downtown location.

For questions, contact Bo Boger, SBDC director, at 815-316-4301.

reducing benefits and increasing their use of contingent workers. In developing countries, income inequality will continue to grow as the demand for highly skilled workers increases, while the demand for lower-skilled workers falls. As we can readily see, this trend plays well with Generation Z’s plan to acquire trade school skill and practical knowledge for the future.

Finally, advanced data mining techniques will allow greater identification of niche and individual risk, shifting risk from large insurance pools to small groups and individuals.

Cash is No Longer King Just a few more that appear to lend some merit. Economically speaking – You No Longer Need Cash to Start a Business.

The tagline for this trend is: “Imagine a world where economies of scale are no longer entry barriers and small businesses compete and win in almost all industries.”

The cost of starting and running a small or personal business is declining, and that trend will continue in the coming years as smaller, lighter and smarter systems, components and manufacturing methods emerge.

Embedding digital technology in a growing array of business processes, services and products is creating a lightweight infrastructure; cutting costs and lowering barriers to entry. There are areas where business infrastructure costs will not decline, technology will grow accessible on a “variable-cost basis,” this will provide a low-cost access to large-scale business infrastructure to firms, regardless of size. These infrastructure costs are

typically variable vs. fixed costs that will hinder small business growth and market position.

All About Sustainability

Bo Boger SBDC

It seems Sustainability will move from Social Novelty (good if you do that) to Business Necessity, especially as costs drop and demand grows from a wide range of stakeholders, including customers, employees and government.

This is a subject or trend that follows the “sustainability becomes a competitive requirement category;” a major shift from today’s thoughts. The corporate resource productivity, or output per unit of resource input, and good service resource productivity will become a central driver of competitiveness in many industries.

This trend is in complete congruence with lean manufacturing practices as well as ISO certifications.

At first it may seem we are miles from these trends and tendencies; however, we have laid the footing and foundation for these economic moves for years and decades in the past.

This concludes our trends and issues theme. There are more trends developing and present as we all experience the changing times, economy and social cases of our society and markets. As always we wish you well and success as you pursue your life.

Bo Boger is director at the Illinois SBDC at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

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theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

National Indicators theRegional, economy

It’s great when a plan comes together

U.S. Indicators August 2018



Consumer Price Index Unemployment Rate

0.2 percent 3.9 percent

      

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

201,000 $0.10 0.1 percent 0.6 percent (second quarter, 2018) 2.9 percent (second quarter, 2018) 0.6 percent 0.1 percent

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rates Region / State / Nation May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

Aug 2018

Rockford

4.4

5.2

5.0

---

Chicago

53.3

4.3

4.1

3.8

Illinois

4.3

4.3

4.2

4.1

United States

3.8

4.0

3.9

3.9

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Guest Perspective insight

We are in planning mode around the Rockford Park District, which is what the fall season means to us every year. We tweak priority results, create operational plans, and establish budgets for the next fiscal year. I’ve done this for 22 years, but it’s different this time around, and I have to admit even more exciting. The community is writing a new chapter in the history of our organization, thanks to the communities’ feedback regarding our goals and priorities. Our future is clear, and now we as an organization and community have to rise up to continue exceeding the expectations of the citizens we serve, and tackle the challenges before us. It’s exciting to think about where your Rockford Park District will be in five years!

Vibrant and Relevant Park System Last month, the Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the communityled master plan recommendations that are guiding District decisions regarding areas to reinvest in, add, and reduce to achieve our desired outcome, which is a relevant and vibrant park system that is meeting the needs of this and succeeding generations.

Not only are we essential in helping people enjoy life by improving their quality of life, but a vibrant and relevant park system increases property values, stimulates economic development, decreases juvenile crime, and improves our community’s health.

A vibrant and relevant park system also protects the environment, employs hundreds of area teens, and brings our diverse community together in unity through the common love of play.

Master plan recommendations were turned into priority results, which were also approved by the Board. Now, team members are developing action plans and timelines as part of our five-year strategic plan to achieve Board and communities’ priorities. Fundraising priorities for the Rockford Park District Foundation Board also are directed by the communities’ priorities to invest in neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and to help area youth play. It’s all connected, and I can’t thank the community enough for their excellent direction.

Soccer Lessons As we develop long-range plans, we’ve had some immediate opportunities to impact a few priorities such as: our next generation and being culturally inclusive to make sure District services

and programs Jay Sandine are accessible Rockford Park District to all and meet the recreational needs of our diverse community. Recently, I met an incredible man and community leader named Mustafa Abdall, (“Mus” for short) who is the Executive Director for Rockford Today Network. Mus gives up his personal time to connect and support a lot of diverse families in our community who have barriers such as access and language which often prevent them from participating in various recreational opportunities.

Mus asked me, “Does the Rockford Park District offer soccer lessons?”

He has a group of youth and teens of diverse nationalities who have a major love of soccer, and who have been playing at various parks and on concrete gym floors. He explained that he knows nothing about the game, but he’s been on YouTube trying to learn how to be a coach and how to play soccer. I connected Mus to Louis Mateus, General Manager of Mercyhealth Sportscore Complexes and local/international soccer superstar.

Louis invited Mus and 85+ youth players to the Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two for a free soccer clinic, as participation costs are another barrier to recreation for these youth and teens.

After taking one step inside the new addition at ISC and having a chance to play on turf fields, these area youth and teens felt like soccer stars. They had no idea the facility existed, and are now excited about the opportunities this connection may bring, as soccer can open a lot of doors, including scholarships. Now we are going to work to get these youth and teens involved in weekend soccer leagues and possibly other recreational opportunities.

This story is just one example of how play builds unity and how we can have a greater impact on our next generation by providing amazing mentors and leadership development opportunities.

The diversity of our community is also a strength of our community. It’s also one of the many reasons why I’m excited about the future of your Rockford Park District!

Jay Sandine is the Rockford Park District Executive Director.

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

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

OCTOber 2018

Creative ways to cross a food desert Improving food access with shared bikes and a trolley Lime Bikes and a trolley played a key role during Farmers Market Week in a promotion to encourage Rockford Housing Authority adult residents to visit their local markets. On Aug. 11, eight adults hopped on a Lime Bike and rode to North End City Market for their first visit to a farmers market.

The idea came after University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed educator, Carol Erickson, spoke at North Main Manor’s July resident council meeting.

She found out that the majority had never been to the market or were aware that some markets accepted SNAP. Many of the 338 adult residents who live at the RHA sites, North Main

Manor and Oleson Plaza, lack transportation to leave their neighborhoods for fresh produce.

The two corner stores within walking distance have little or no fresh produce.

Residents found out that two of Rockford’s four farmers markets accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps, and were 0.5 to 1.5 miles away from North Main Manor and Oleson Plaza.

Partnership to Promote Fresh Produce Erickson met with Rockford Mass Transit on bus options to Rockford City

Market and North End Market.

The RMTA had partnered in the past with Rockford City Market to provide a free trolley on the west side of Rockford, which drives past North Main Manor and Oleson Plaza every Friday night to take riders to City Market.

Erickson also met with Lime Bike General Manager, Gwen Jones, who agreed to help with a bike-to-market program that would provide free access to Lime Bikes for RHA residents during Farmers Market Week.

As a special promotion for Farmers Market Week, Rockford City Market and North End Farmers Market agreed to offer triple-value for SNAP redemption

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at their markets. If SNAP shoppers spent $10 of their benefits, the LINK Up Illinois program would give them $20 extra for fresh produce. Ten dollars would instantly become $30.

One of the trolley riders sent a text message to the organizer after shopping at the Friday market to share that not only did she go to City Market but she also brought her daughter, and they bought lots of fresh produce.

Because of the Farmers Market Week promotion and events, Rockford City Market had 21 and North End Farmers Market had 11 new SNAP customers. Between the two markets, SNAP shoppers spent $725 of their benefits and received $1,310 of Link Up coupons to spend on fresh, healthy produce.

Rockford Statistics

The City of Rockford infographics help residents and businesses understand the key metrics by which the City measures its performance.

City departments use dozens of statistics to track the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of critical city services. Slide presentations of these key metrics are posted monthly on the City website and released to the media and public.View the full presentation deck on the City website: https://rockfordil.gov/news/rockstat/

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business

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

Business Briefs

Center for Sight & Hearing, RAMP and the Great Lakes ADA hosted Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Communication Training to reduce communication barriers and foster a quality patient experience in the medical community.

Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, researchbased guidelines.

Chartwell Agency completed a new website for the National Center for Rural Health Professions’ Illinois Area Health Education Center Scholars Program.

The Mercyhealth Board of Directors made a unanimous board resolution to rename Mercyhealth Hospital in Rockford as “Javon Bea Hospital.”

Rosecrance’s Florian program received the 2018 Excellence in Mental Health Award by the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health for innovative practices in mental health treatment, access to services and quality care.

The Illinois General Assembly released more than $6.6 million in capital to Northern Illinois University as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 capital budget for critical infrastructure improvements, such as the installation of two new high efficiency boilers on campus; updating a system installed in the 1960s.

Rockford Systems, LLC., is helping simplify installation of emergency stops in facilities with its IP69Krated Modular Emergency Stop (eStop) Safety Control System for Wash-Down Areas to protect machine operators in food, beverage and pharmaceutical processing.

SwedishAmerican and the Rockford Fire Department opened an ambulance-themed Little Free Library, donated by Stenstrom Construction, on Rockford Fire Station 3 campus; directly across from SwedishAmerican’s new Riverwest Clinic scheduled to open this fall.

PCI Pharma Services competed a purpose built -40°C storage and distribution facility at its North American Clinical Services Center of Excellence in Rockford for packaging and labeling services, logistical services for global storage and distribution, and onsite analytical laboratory services for the global healthcare industry.

Digital Hive Mind was engaged by Doc’s Enterprises to produce its 47th annual Doc’s Sports Journal for the fourth year in a row, with a consolidated football schedule of every NCAA and Pro football game from preseason through the Super Bowl, historical angles, statistics, odds, trends, and handicapping information and articles.

Mercyhealth Advanced Primary Stroke Center received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The

SwedishAmerican, a division of UW Health, was awarded Bronze Recognition for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries through the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. The campaign added more than 443,000 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide.

In August, SwedishAmerican’s Lake Peterson House and Burpee Museum of Natural History’s Barnes Mansion opened their doors for educational tours as a part of Doors Open Illinois, part of the Illinois Office of Tourism and Illinois’ bicentennial celebration.

Upper Iowa University - Rockford Center celebrates 10 years in Rockford. It offers associate’s degrees and more than 40 undergraduate majors and graduate programs.

Per Mar Security Services achieved Manitou Elite Certification from Bold Technologies and was recognized as having an exceptional Alarm Monitoring Center. It was named in the Security Letter’s “Top” Guard Watch & Patrol Companies List as the 17th largest company for security guard, patrol and watch services – a list it’s made for more than 30 years. [design] [build] by architects PLC was renamed Streamline Architects PLC. KMK Media Group designed a McDonald’s food tray liner for the Golden Apple Foundation highlighting the 2018 Golden Apple winners and encouraging nominations for the 2019 teacher excellence awards to be used at 12 McDonald’s restaurants throughout northern Illinois.

designated U.S. location where companies can enjoy delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise, as well as other savings. GRAA has authority from the U.S. Department of Commerce to allow companies to establish FTZs in a designated 11-county region. Some of the six companies using the program report annual savings exceeding $2 million due to efficiencies.

In celebration of its centennial, Northern Illinois Building Contractors Assoc., is offering one $5,000 University Undergraduate Scholarship. Since 2008, NIBCA has awarded scholarships totaling more than $140,000 to college students enrolled in a construction-related field of study. Apply online at www. nibca.build.

As part of the recently approved Fiscal Year 2019 capital budget, Rock Valley College will receive $335,905 to begin reconstruction and resurfacing for a campus parking lot and energy-efficient lighting upgrades. Kishwaukee College will receive $220,005 for extensive repairs and accessibility improvements to the greenhouse and head house.

Rockford Park District held a celebration on Sept. 15 for the 60th anniversary of Washington Park Community Center.

With the help of a $15,000 grant from the Swedish American Foundation, Stateline Youth for Christ is broadening its Juvenile Justice Ministry to include engagement with teens upon reentry to combat recidivism; Campus Life empowering teens in five schools, up from two schools a year ago, and City Life, with expanded programming such as Life Skills training for disadvantaged youth in partnership with the YMCA of Rock River Valley.

Rock House Kids received a donation from Fraternal Order of Eagles #392 to provides hot meals, basic life essentials and a takehome bag of food to more than 250 inner-city kids of Rockford, four evenings a week.

Chartwell Agency completed a new website at www.carzrus.net for Carz R Us, a family-owned automotive maintenance, repair and tire facility in Machesney Park.

Natural Land Institute achieved national recognition as an accredited land trust; something it must renew every five years with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. It debuted a book, Natural Voices, Celebrating Nature With Opened Eyes, at its annual Nature Poetry & Prose event in September.

Greater Rockford Airport Authority Board (GRAA) signed a contract with Zethmayr LLC to administer Foreign Trade Zone #176, a

Thinker Ventures hosted Rockford’s third Startup Weekend, Sept. 7 to 9, where 20 entrepreneurs worked to create brand new companies from

scratch over 54 hours. Two Rock Valley College students, a Hononegah High School student and a recent University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduate, teamed up to create Ataraxcity, a website to help new professionals in town by mining all available event calendars for a comprehensive list of things to do and groups to meet in town. Thinker Ventures completed a new logo, marketing materials and website for Reliable Machine Co. It hosted a Women in Today’s Manufacturing panel discussion on Sept. 20 on how small businesses can become employers of choice.

Discovery Center Museum brought back a temporary exhibition, “Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors: Great Balls of Fire!” to run through Jan. 16, 2019.

Rosecrance was approved for the Veterans Choice Program. Veterans will be able to receive treatment services from Rosecrance paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rosecrance oversees the Florian Program, which offers substance use and mental health services for first responders and veterans, with treatment that incorporates occupational factors and traumas.

YMCA of Rock River Valley reopened a wellness center at the Northeast Family YMCA following a two-week renovation. More than $350,000 went into transforming the 5,400-sq.-ft. space, including a Syngry360 unit that allows for functional training and an artificial turf floor for sled pushes and pulls.

Rockford IceHogs invites fans to bring their dogs to the BMO Harris Bank Center for all Wednesday home games during the 2018-19 season for “Wednesday Dog Days,” which includes $2 hot dogs at concessions.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois will open its new Rockford Girl Scout Resource Center at 1866 Daimler Road across from CherryVale Mall on Oct. 3, with retail, office space and areas for local Girl Scouts to connect and grow. Girl Scouts also can shop online at www.girlscoutsni. org/shop.

Hundreds of Mercyhealth Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) graduates came together for a reunion at the Celebration of Miracles event held at Café 2400 inside the Mercyhealth Rockton Avenue campus on Sept.

16. Since1984, the NICU has held an annual reunion in September for graduates, families and the medical staff that provided their care.

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OCTOber 2018

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on digital

Members Caught on Digital Ceremonial ribbon donated by SERVPRO of Rockford.

Rosecrance Marlowe House receives a $4,000 grant on Aug. 17 from Daniel Schmitt, Freeport Community Foundation, and Dick and Marianne Drogosz, founders of the John M. Drogosz Memorial Fund, to update fitness equipment in the existing fitness rooms.

SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health, holds a topping out ceremony on Aug. 22 with the placement of the top steel beam on the 70,000-sq.-ft. Creekside Medical Center at 3505 N. Bell School Road, adjacent to the Regional Cancer Center. Plans are for completion in late 2019.

Circle of Wellness hosts a ribbon cutting and open house on Sept. 18 at 3626 E. State St., Rockford.

Rockford Park District hosts a ribbon cutting on Sept. 12 at Aldeen Golf Club for the completion of Rockford Bank & Trust Pavilion, 1868 Reid Farm Road. The 9,000-sq.-ft. facility holds 250. Funding came in part from $2.7 million in donations, a naming rights agreement and continued partnership with Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center; operating Graystone Grill at Aldeen Golf Club.

Baird Wealth Management hosts an open house and ribbon cutting on Sept. 19 at 2601 Reid Farm Road, Rockford.

Fastsigns of Rockford hosts a ribbon cutting on Sept. 25 at 7310 Walton St., Ste. C, Rockford.

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theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

in the news

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

Members in the News

1. Patrick Derry

2. Frank Rotello

3. Cathy Herdeman

4. Tracy Girardi

5. Ronda Barkley

6. Jessica Grunzke

7. Emily Keilback

8. Douglas Moffitt

9. Sherri Nelson

10. James Simonovic

11. John Tejeck

12. Donna Thompson

13. Joan Lodge

14. Dr. Pawandeep Dhillon

15. Dr. Jason Ziegler

16. Laura Snyder

BOARD APPOINTMENTS The Golden Apple Foundation board voted in new member, Patrick Derry (1).

Rosecrance Foundation Rockford board added Susan Maher and Kim Keefe, the Chicago board added Joe Gasbarra and Kathy Weber, and Rosecrance Health Network/Inc. board added past chair Lisa Lindman.

The Workforce Connection board announced new officers: Frank Rotello (2), board chair; Michelle Cassaro, vice-chair, and Amy Ott, secretary-treasurer.

chief advisory and development officer, Sherri Nelson (9) as retirement plan services assistant, James Simonovich (10) as associate in the Accelerated Career Development Program, John Tejeck (11) as business development manager for the retirement plan services team and Donna Thompson (12) as risk management analyst.

Rosecrance hired Joan Lodge (13), LCSW, as administrator of adult community mental health.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS

University of Illinois College of Medicine chose Pawandeep Dhillon, M.D. (14), and Jason Ziegler, M.D. (15), as co-chief residents for the Rockford Family Medicine Residency Program.

The Music Academy hired Cathy Herdeman (3) as voice instructor beginning fall 2018 semester.

The Rockford Housing Authority board announced Laura Snyder (16) as CEO.

Tracy Girardi (4) joined Blackhawk Bank as VP treasury management.

Womanspace named Debby Gaines as its new program director.

Savant Capital Management hired Ronda Barkley (5) as client services assistant, Jessica Grunzke (6) as administrator, Emily Keilback (7) as program manager for talent development, Douglas Moffitt (8) as

OSF HealthCare welcomed Dr. Asma Khan (17), pediatrics, to OSF Parkview; Dr. Taariq Khan (18), family medicine, to Rock Cut Primary Care, and N. Mariam Shair, M.D. (19), pediatrics, to OSF HealthCare

Medical Group – Belvidere.

Mercyhealth hired Joel Prah (20) as vice president of supply chain, Loretto Glynn, M.D. (21), to the pediatrics specialties staff and Ladd Udy (22) as vice president of value based care and population health.

Rosecrance hired Carlene Cardosi (23), LCSW, CADC, as regional administrator, with oversight of services in Milwaukee, McHenry County, Des Plaines and Chicago.

Union Savings Bank promoted Nicholas A. Gill (24) to senior vice president and hired Allen Sisson (25) as senior vice president and commercial lender.

Omni hired Alyssa Schwabe as marketing manager, Kerry Weber as senior talent acquisition consultant, and Michael Kenyon and Stephanie White.

Rock Valley College appointed Jonathan Hardbarger as dean of aviation, engineering & apprenticeship, and Garry Krause as vice president of workforce development.

SwedishAmerican welcomed endocrinologist, Amrutha George, M.D. (26)

The Rockford Art Museum board selected Aimee Floto as its new executive director.

Steve Bauling (27) joined the Illinois Bank & Trust business banking team.

Meridian named Fred Bruchsaler (28) as Employee of the Month for August.

Mercyhealth promoted Sherrie Jones, MBA, BSN, RN, to clinic operations director.

Rockford Bank & Trust hired Mary Breeden as vice president, treasury management, and Rhonda Sunden as senior vice president, commercial banking.

OrthoIllinois physicians Dr. Jon Whitehurst (29), Dr. Geoffrey Van Thiel (30) and Dr. Scott Trenhaile (31) will continue as part of the Chicago Blackhawks medical network.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS David Bogner (32), vice president and trust officer, Stillman Bank, received the Certified Trust &

Continued on page 31

17. Dr. Asma Khan

18. Dr. Taariq Khan

19. Dr. N. Mariam Shair

20. Joel Prah

21. Dr. Loretto Glynn

22. Ladd Udy

23. Carlene Cardosi

24. Nicholas A. Gill

25. Allen Sisson

26. Dr. Amrutha George

27. Steve Bauling

28. Fred Bruchsaler

29. Dr. Jon Whitehurst

30. Dr. Geoffrey Van Thiel

31. Dr. Scott Trenhaile

32. David Bogner

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OCTOber 2018

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in the news Members in the News

33. Carrie Loven

34. Dr. Harry Ginsberg

35. Dr. Kashif Zaheer

36. Michelle Gorham

37. Michelle Bowman

38. Brian Lyons

39. Jeff White

40. Judy White

(continued from page 30) Financial Advisor professional certification from the American Bankers Association.

Carrie Loven (33), CFP®, financial advisor, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., earned her Certified Financial Planner™ certification.

Dr. Harry Ginsberg (34), program director, Mercyhealth Internal Medicine Residency Program, received the Clinical Educator of the Year award by U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois 8th Congressional District.

Kashif Zaheer, M.D. (35), OSF HealthCare Medical Group – Belvidere, earned the American Association for Physician Leadership® Certified Physician Executive (CPE) certification.

Michelle Gorham (36), chief advancement officer, YMCA of Rock River Valley, recertified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive by CFRE International.

Michelle Bowman (37), financial advisor, Edward Jones, achieved the professional designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist®.

YWCA La Voz Latina named Jaime Diaz, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center as Community Member of Distinction; Reynaldo Gallardo, retired police officer, Rockford Police Department, as Latino of Distinction,

41. Penelope M. Lechtenberg and El Sol de Rockford as Corporate Partner of Distinction.

Brian Lyons (38) was one of 67 volunteers recognized by the Illinois 4-H Foundation, part of University of Illinois Extension, as a 4-H Hall of Fame recipient in August at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

University of Illinois Extension Winnebago County master gardener volunteers, Jeff (39) and Judy White (40), received State Outstanding Master Gardener Awards.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Penelope M. Lechtenberg, J.D. (41), founder, managing partner, Lechtenberg & Associates LLC, was panelist and speaker at the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s national Workplace Immigration Compliance conference in Boston.

TerriAnn Ryan, M.Ed., RT, program director, Mercyhealth Hospital School of Radiography, delivered a presentation at the Association for Medical Imaging Management 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando in July.

Are you a Member with News to Share?

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

DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION

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Membership Renewals Thank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in August, 2018.

Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter

Nelson Fire Protection

American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois

PNC Bank

Baymont Inn & Suites Bergstrom Inc. C & H Design Center Corporate Services, Inc Culver’s Restaurant Discount Med Direct Easterseals Easterseals Teen and Family Support Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) Fastsigns of Rockford Fleet Feet Sports Rockford Focus Financial Advisors, Inc. Giuseppe Verdi Society/Verdi Club Helen Hill Communication Historic Auto Attractions Honquest Family Funeral Home With Crematory InterActive Safety Solutions Inc. J. Carlson Growers, Inc. Johnny Pamcakes Josef’s Steakhouse & Oyster Bar Kelce & Company Maciano’s Pizza Columbia Parkway McMAHON Mid-West Family Broadcasting

Nutrition Works, Inc. Prairie State Legal Services Inc. Premium Oil Company R. J. Bowers Distributors, Inc. Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Rock River Service Company Rockford Art Museum Rockford Board of Election Commissioners Rockford Buzz Rockford Carpetland USA, Inc. Rockford Charter School Organization/Jackson Charter School Rockford Litho Center Rockford OMS Rockford Rigging, Inc. Roy Gayle Pony Baseball Softball Sam’s Club, A Division of Wal-Mart Stores Security First Title Company ServiceMaster Restoration

by DSI State Farm Insurance & Financial Services Stateline Real Estate LLC/ Stateline Rental Properties Tavern on Clark The UPS Store

Midwest Roofing Supply

Transform Rockford

Morgan Building Maintenance Inc.

Youth Services Network

UPS

October 2018 Member Anniversaries Thank you to our members celebrating their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

35-YEAR MEMBER

15-YEAR MEMBER

Van Galder Bus/A Coach USA Co.

Winnebago County Bar Association

25-YEAR MEMBER

5-YEAR MEMBERS

Benson Stone Company, Inc.

Charles Schwab Rockford OMS

20-YEAR MEMBERS Bobcat of Rockford Briggs Floor Sanding & Refinishing Forest City Diagnostic Imaging Rockford Bell Credit Union

Are you a Member with News to Share?

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

DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

New Chamber Members ALPINE BODY SHOP, INC.

HUB PRINTING INC.

Auto body repair shop for all foreign & domestic vehicles.

4804 Hydraulic Road, 61109 Tina Johnson 815-874-4424 www.alpinebodyshopinc.com

A full house service commercial printer with 2, 4 and 6 color 28" x 40" offset presses with in-house digital presses and bindery services.

101 Maple Ave. Rochelle, IL 61068 Chris Haas 815-562-7057 www.hubprinting.net

ALPINE FIRESIDE HEALTH CENTER Providing family-style care for personal well-being and a satisfying quality of life for the elderly.

3650 N. Alpine Road, 61114 Michelle Cruden 815-877-7408 www.alpinefireside.com

AM SOLUTIONS Direct Mail and Printing 100 Interstate Blvd.

Edgerton, WI 53534 Scott Tennyson 608-884-0648 www.amsolutionswi.com

CHRISTINA RAE SALON SPA LTD. Your destination for beauty and relaxation.

109 N. Showplace Dr., Ste. 113, 61107 Christina LePart 815-544-6629 www.christinaraesalonspa.com

CIRCLE OF WELLNESS

HULSEBUS COMMERCIAL LENDING, LLC Commercial and Business Financing P.O. Box 508 Capron, IL 61012 Brett Hulsebus 877-891-8373 www.hulsebuscl.com

IRONTEK A collaborative and dynamic coworking space and incubator for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

635 Third St. Beloit, WI 53511 Erin Clausen 608-312-4333 www.irontekbeloit.com

LQL CONSULTING Providing internal communication solutions by identifying systemic solutions by identifying systemic issues and streamlining processes.

300 E. Grove St. Poplar Grove, IL 61065 Joel Branthaver 815-520-1315 www.lqlhome.com

Alternative health and rehab services such as medical massage, chiropractic, rehab, reflexology, acupuncture, weight loss and nutrition.

PAUL LUNDEEN MERCHANT 3626 E. State St., 61107 SERVICES, INC. Leila MacQueen, LMBT 779-423-1700 Business Services/Merchant www.circleofwellnessrockford.com Services Paul Lundeen COMBINED INSURANCE 815-505-1275 ANGELIQUE ALBERT, AGENT http://www.cpay.com Insurance Consultants PIZZA HUT 8750 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. PERRYVILLE ROAD Chicago, IL 60631 Angelique M. Albert Family restaurant offering fresh 815-319-0598 pizzas, breadstix’s and hot wings. www.combinedinsurance.com Carry-Out and Delivery.

575 S. Perryville Road, 61108 EDWARD JONES Kevin Thompson ERNA COLBORN, 815-395-9595 FINANCIAL ADVISOR www.pizzahut.com Saving for Retirement - Living in ROXY CARMICHAEL Retirement - Paying for Education BOUTIQUE - Preparing for the Unexpected Women’s Boutique: Apparel, Estate Considerations Handbags, Gifts, Shoes, Curvy Girl P.O. Box 15101 and More Loves Park, IL 61132 310 N. Alpine Road, 61107 Erna Colborn Christine LaMantia 815-282-2761 815-316-7396 www.edwardjones.com www.roxycarmichael.com

GETZ FIRE EQUIPMENT COMPANY

Sales and Service of Fire Equipment, Restaurant Fire Suppression Systems, Special Fire Hazard, First Aid Suppiles.

2420 Harrison Ave., 61108 Tim Bunk 815-394-0100 www.getzfire.com

THE INSURANCE GUY, LLC Business/Personal/Life Insurance 4415 Harrison Ave., Ste. B, 61108 Jim Felts 815-397-6050 www.allstate.com/jimfelts

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

OCTOber 2018

community

Monday, October 1 Northern Illinois University Art Museum hosts two exhibitions: “SWEET, Golden and Delicious,” and “Imagery and Icons,” through Oct. 19 in Altgeld Hall on the corner of College Avenue and Castle Drive on the main campus in DeKalb, Ill. Visit www.niu.edu/artmuseum.

Rockford Park District presents Wings of Wonder: The Lorikeet Exhibit at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., through Nov. 11. For a calendar listing visit www.nicholasconservatory.com.

Wednesday, October 3 NIU EIGERlab’s FastPitch takes place at NIU-Rockford, 8500 E. State St. Initial presentations, 3:30 p.m.; final presentations, 6 p.m.

Open to the public at 5 p.m. Visit www.eigerlab.org or call 815-7532192.

University of Illinois Extension presents The Sweet Science and Love of Chocolate, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Winnebago County Extension Office, 1040 N. Second St., Rockford. Seating is limited; preregistration required by Oct. 1 at 815-986-4357 or web.extension. illinois.edu/jsw.

Thursday, October 4 Rock House Kids presents Streets & Sweets 2018, its signature fundraising event, 6 to 9 p.m., Radisson Convention Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford.

Appetizers, gourmet desserts, entertainment and silent auction.

Call 815-962-5067.

YWCA Northwestern Illinois and League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford host a Judicial Candidate Forum for the Nov. 6 election, 5:30 p.m., at 4990 E. State St. Registration required at www. ywcanwil.org. For questions email info@ywcanwil.org or call 815-9689681.

Rockford Systems, LLC, commemorates National Manufacturing Day, Oct. 4 to 5, with an Open House at its facilities to educate on advances in manufacturing career opportunities.

Register by Oct. 2 at www. rockfordsystems.com.

Saturday, October 6

Nine and Wine, a golf and wine sampling event. Shotgun start at 2 p.m., at Sinnissippi Golf Course, 2004 Arlington Ave. Register by Oct. 4 at www.golfrockford.org.

Center for Sight & Hearing hosts Fall Session II Sign Languages classes for all levels. Baby Sign Language begins on Oct. 15. Visit www.cshni.org for the full class schedule and registration.

Garden presents the free event, Autumn at the Arboretum, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in its Fountain Garden at 2715 S. Main St., Rockford. Includes scarecrow building, pumpkin decorating, face painting, horsedrawn wagon rides and petting zoo.

Visit klehm.org.

First Free Rockford presents a free Forum on Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, 6 p.m., at First Free Rockford, 2223 N. Mulford Road. No reservations required.

Tuesday, October 9

Tuesday, October 16

Mercyhealth hosts a Job Fair, 1:30 to 5 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road, Rockford, for open positions at Mercyhealth HospitalRockton Avenue and the new Riverside hospital opening in January 2019. Register at onlinemercy.com/job-fair-august-14, CareersAtMercyhealth.org or 815-971-6110.

Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter, presents Know the Ten Signs: Early Detection Matters, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 925 Belvidere Road, Belvidere. Register at 815-484-1300 or visit www.alz.org/illinois.

Monday, October 8

SwedishAmerican kicks off a new Boy Scouts Explorer Program for local high school students, 6:30 p.m., at 1401 E. State St., Rockford.

To learn more call 815-315-6542.

Thursday, October 11 Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden presents the free event Autumn Colors Tranquility Walk, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at the Visitor’s Center at 2715 S. Main St., Rockford. Visit klehm.org.

YWCA presents the ninth-annual Wine Women & Purses, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Wine tasting, heavy hors d’oeuvre menu pairings, boutique shopping, silent auction, and music by Jordan and Jef. Tickets at www.ywcanwil.org/ event/wine-women-purses.

Friday, October 12

Empowering Word Christian Center hosts a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 9:30 a.m.; followed by the 2018 Regional Leadership Forum, “Leadership, Unity and Networking,” at 10 a.m., with Mayor Tom McNamara at 4010 E. State Street, Rockford. Ribbon cutting commemorates the completion of its church sanctuary and Zero Gravity Youth facility. Complimentary breakfast. RSVP to 815-243-0724.

Saturday, October 13

The Cider n Cinnamon Arts & Crafts Fair takes place at Edgebrook, 1639 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, on Oct. 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit edgebrookshops.com for more details.

Discovery Center Museum presents Scout Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

Free planetarium shows and admission to the Great Balls of Fire temporary exhibition. Call 815-9636769 or visit www. discoverycentermuseum.org.

Sunday, October 7

Sunday, October 14

Rockford Park District presents

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic

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

Community Events

OCTOBER 2018

|

Center for Sight & Hearing hosts a free Hearing Screening Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 8038 Macintosh Lane, Rockford, with free amplified phones from the Illinois Telecommunication Access Corporation available for qualified candidates. Visit www.cshni.org.

Entré Computer Solutions hosts its 2018 Technology Expo at MauhNah-Tee-See Country Club, 5151 Guilford Road, Rockford. Features Thomas Norman, an international security, anti-terrorism and cybersecurity consultant serving the U.S. and foreign governments and major NGOs. Contact tiffanym@entrerock. com or visit www.entretechx.com.

Mayor’s Hunger Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Cliffbreakers Riverside Conference Center, 700 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. Honors the late Ruth Fairchild and benefits her Roots & Wings Program, led by Angelic Organics Learning Center with Zion Outreach, the Rockford Housing Authority and residents of Blackhawk Courts. Contact 815397-5579 or cburmeister1@ comcast.net.

Wednesday, October 17

Northern Illinois University Fall 2018 Internship & Job Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the NIU Convocation Center, DeKalb, Ill. Open to undergraduates, graduating seniors, graduate students, alumni and non-NIU candidates from all majors.

Register by Oct. 3. Visit www. careerfairs.niu.edu.

Saturday, October 20 Rockford Park District Atwood Center presents Tree-Trunk-orTreat, 7 to 9 p.m., part of In the Outdoors at 334-acre Seth B. Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Road. Dress in your Halloween best to enjoy an all treats, no tricks event. Call 815-966-8747 or visit at www.rockfordparkdistrict. org/atwood.

Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter, presents Understanding and Responding to DementiaRelated Behavior at the Senior Resource Center, 10 a.m. to noon, 206 East Stephenson, Freeport.

Register at 815-484-1300 or visit www.alz.org/illinois.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Rock Valley College hosts registration for the 2018/19 Concerto Competition for musicians up to 21 years old within a 50-mile radius of Rockford.

Register by Oct. 3 at www. rockfordsymphony.com/concertocompetition.

Monay, October 22

Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter, presents Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Byron Library, 100 S. Washington St., Byron, Ill. Register at 815-484-1300 or visit www.alz.org/illinois.

Tuesday, October 23

Rockford Regional Health Council and the 17th Judicial Circuit Court present Strangulation: The Last Warning, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road.

Interactive presentation with Gael B. Strack, Esq., expert in clinical forensic medicine. Register www. rockfordhealthcouncil.org.

Thursday, October 25

Rosecrance presents its 2018 Launch to Life® Chicago Benefit, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the JW Marriott Hotel, 151 W. Adams St., Chicago, Ill. Features Elizabeth Vargas, host of A&E Investigates and former ABC News anchor. Register at www.rosecrance.org.

Friday, October 26

Discovery Center Museum presents Spooky Science, 6 to 9 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

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

Saturday, October 27 The Music Academy in Rockford presents its annual free Spooky Suzuki Open House, 9 to 11 a.m., at 226 S. Second St., in historic Haight Village. Visit www. musicacademyinrockford.com.

First Free Rockford hosts Trunk or Treat, 4 to 7 p.m., at Whitehead Elementary School, 2325 Ohio Pkwy.

NOVEMBER 2018 Sunday, November 4 Discovery Center Museum presents Smashing Pumpkins, 1 to 4 p.m., at 711 N. Main St., Rockford.

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

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theVoice

chamber

Upcoming Chamber Events

OCTOBER, 2018 Monday, October 1

IGNITE Lunch with a Leader, noon to 1 p.m., Region 1 Planning Council, 313 N. Main St., Rockford.

Features Dave Rydell, chairman of Bergstrom Inc. Ribbon Cutting at Christina Rae Salon Spa Ltd., 4 p.m., at 109 N Showplace Dr., Ste. 113, Rockford.

Tuesday, October 2

Business Women’s Council presents Growth Through Education, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Mary’s Market, 4431 E. State St., Rockford. A panel of local women who have continued training and education in their respective fields give recommendations in advancing education and balancing career and education. Sponsored by Associated Bank.

Thursday, October 4

Business After Hours at Upper Iowa University - Rockford Center, 5 to 7 p.m., at 1161 Tebala Blvd., Rockford.

Friday, October 5

Ribbon Cutting at Rockford OMS, 2:30 p.m., at 449 Roxbury Road.

Wednesday, October 10

Breakfast Buzz, 7:30 to 9 a.m., at 5050 E. State St., Puri School of Business, room 124, Rockford.

Beverly Broyles, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, presents Recycling at Work.

Sponsored by RSM US LLP. Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting at Getz Fire Equipment, 11 a.m., at 2420 Harrison Ave., Rockford.

Thursday, October 11

Beyond Parks & Rec: Understanding the Community Impact of YOUR Rockford Park District, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rockford Bank and Trust Pavilion at Aldeen Golf Club, 1902 Reid Farm Road.

October Ambassador Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Giordano’s, 333 Executive Pkwy., Rockford.

Friday, October 12

Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., at Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford.

Ribbon Cutting at Empowering Word Christian Center, 9:30 a.m., at 4010 E. State St., Rockford.

Monday, October 15

IGNITE Golf Outing, 1 to 5 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road, Rockford.

Tuesday, October 16

Chamber 101 with Speed Networking, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Rockford Public Library, East

Branch, 6685 E. State St., Rockford.

Sponsored by MembersAlliance Credit Union.

Wednesday, October 17

25th Anniversary Open House Breakfast & Ribbon Cutting at Siena on Brendenwood, 8 a.m., at 4444 Brendenwood Road, Rockford.

Thursday, October 18 11:30 am - 1:15 pm Radisson Conference Center 200 S. Bell School Rd., Rockford

THE HEARTBEAT of Healthcare LUNCHEON

Keynote speaker is Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, regional dean, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.

Sponsored by BMO Harris Bank (presenting); Humana, Rosecrance and SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health (gold); Quartz and Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital (silver), and Wipfli LLP (bronze).

Thursday, October 18 Ribbon Cutting & Open House at Security First Title Company, 4:30 to 7 p.m., at 3963 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. Ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m.; open house, 5 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 24

Ribbon Cutting at Infinite Soul Vibrations, noon, at 333 E. State St., Ste. 108, Rockford.

Thursday, October 25

Advantage Club-Originals Good Morning Rockford, 7:30 to 9 a.m., at Hilton Garden Inn, 7675 Walton St., Rockford.

NOVEMBER, 2018 Thursday, November 1 5 - 7:00 pm Teballa Event Center 7910 Newburg Rd., Rockford

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW RECEPTION Meet the 2018 class of twenty dynamic business professionals, artisans and leaders who are moving the Rockford areas’ economy, culture and technology forward.

Sponsored by workplace (presenting).

Thursday, November 8

IGNITE Adulting 101-How to Negotiate, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Aero Ale House, 6164 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park.

Friday, November 9

Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., 2420 Charles St., Rockford.

theVoice • rockfordchamber.com

OCTOber 2018

chamber

Upcoming Chamber Events

Tuesday, November 13

Hoffman House- Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m., at 7550 E. State St., Rockford.

Wednesday, November 14

Breakfast Buzz, 7:30 to 9 a.m., at Puri School of Business, 5050 E. State St., room 124, Rockford. Jeff Fahrenwald presents Strategic Improvising: Creating a Culture for Successful Strategy Execution.

Sponsored by RSM US LLP.

Thursday, November 15 • 11:30 am - 1:15 pm Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center 610 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford

MAYOR’S BUSINESS ADDRESS LUNCHEON Join Rockford’s 41st Mayor, Tom McNamara, in his second address to the business community.

Sponsored by BMO Harris Bank (presenting), Hinshaw (gold), and AT&T and Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital (bronze).

Register online now at rockfordchamber.com

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Advertisers Index advertisers Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care . . . . 21 The Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Associated Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 BMO Harris Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Broadmoor Agency, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Brian Thomas Photography. . . . . . . . . 31 Employers’ Coalition on Health (ECOH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Edward Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Ege Worksmart Solutions, PC . . . . . . . 21 Gallagher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Humana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Illinois Small Business Development Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 MercyCare Health Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Midland States Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Northern Illinois Health Plan . . . . . . . . 23

Northern Illinois Hospice . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Northwest Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 OrthoIllinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 OSF HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Quartz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Rockford Bank & Trust Co. . . . . . . . . . . 8 Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . 8,13, 22, 34, 35 Rockford Systems, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Rock Valley College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Rosecrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Savant Capital Management . . . . . . . . . 3 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health . . . . . . . . . . 18 Thayer Lighting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . 23

of the Rockford Business Community

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100 ...............................................Direct Line

Harold “Bo” Boger, IL Small Business Development Center Director ...............................................................815-316-4301 Cori Currey, Membership Development Executive ................................815-316-4336 Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO .......................................... 815-316-4304 Heidi M. Garner, Chief Operating Officer .................................... 815-316-4312 Olivia Guzman, Administrative Assistant/Customer Service Rep..........815-987-8100 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology ................... 815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Vice President, Member Investment .................... 815-316-4317 Phoebe Morris, Program & Event Coordinator.............................. 815-316-4302 Kristin Muehlfelder, Member Relations...................................................815-316-4315 Caitlin Pusateri, Vice President, Leadership Development ....................815-316-4337 Doug Rand, Accounting Manager/Controller ............................... 815-316-4316 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator ......................... 815-316-4320

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman of the Board Richard Zumwalt Z Resource Chair-Elect Michele Petrie Wintrust Commercial Banking & Mortgage Vice Chair Dan Ross Gallagher Williams-Manny Treasurer Amy Ott Boylan Catholic High School Immediate Past Chair Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc.

DIRECTORS Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc. Kimberly Blascoe Wipfli LLP Jan Bowman TLC Construction LaVonne Brown Savant Capital Management Paula Carynski OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Samuel J. Castree Staff Management, Inc. Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc.

Sue Schrieber Don Daniels SwedishAmerican, A Mercyhealth Division of UW Health John Schuster Rosecrance Health Rebecca Epperson Network Chartwell Agency Ira Grimmett UTC Aerospace Systems

Karl Swanson Rockford Bank & Trust Co

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory

Udaya Talwar Woodward

Jeff Hultman Illinois Bank & Trust Michael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Elizabeth Lee Greenlee Textron

Kris L. Kieper Jean Crosby Machajewski Berkshire Hathaway YWCA Northwestern HomeServices Crosby Illinois Starck Real Estate Mike Paterson Doug Curry Mid-West Family Stenstrom Excavation Broadcasting and Blacktop Group Mark Peterson CBL Associates Cherry Vale

Jon Thompson Butitta Brothers Automotive

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

NOVEMBER VOICE SPECIAL SECTIONS • Legal Counsel • The Future of Investing For information on advertising, call 815

987-8100