Genoa Area Chamber 2023 Business Directory Guide

2023 BUSINESS DIRECTORY GUIDE

A picturesque small town in the heart of Northern Illinois, Genoa is perfectly situated to provide residents with access to rural charm and big-city culture.

Genoa AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

On behalf of the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce, I would like to welcome you to our town. Genoa is an outstanding place to live, work, and grow a business. Whether you’re visiting for the day, looking for a new place to call home, or you’re already a resident of our thriving community, we guarantee you will love our community.

Genoa is a quaint little town with a big heart and plenty of opportunities.

It is a great time to be a member of the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce. We are always looking to create new networking and promotional opportunities to help chamber businesses succeed and grow. As a member you can promote your business through our website, newsletter, networking opportunities, business referrals, continuing education or marketing at one of our many events.

We continue to partner with local government and other organizations to pursue improvements in the overall quality of life for the city, county, and region. Our success in achieving our mission and purpose is due to a collaborative effort from the Chamber Board of Directors, Chamber Ambassadors, City of Genoa, Chamber members, area professionals and community volunteers.

Our online business directory and Area Guide are two resources the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce provides to the local community. We continue to encourage you to think local, shop local! By supporting the businesses in our directory, you are reinvesting in your community.

To our current Chamber members, thank you for your continued support. For those of you considering relocating your business or opening a new business in Genoa, you will find that becoming a Chamber member is of great value to you. Genoa is thriving, come grow with us!

Krissy Johnson Executive Director

Genoa

Area Chamber of Commerce

Krissy Johnson Executive Director

Emily Martinez Administrative Assistant & Digital Coordinator

Manuel Peña President American Family Insurance Manny Peña Agency

Karen Simmons

Vice President

Genoa-Kingston CUSD #424

Linda Peterson Treasurer Illinois Community Credit Union

Mark Carlson

Mark Carlson – State Farm Insurance

Melissa Davidson

Davidson Pargman & Company, LLC

Hannah Davekos Old National Bank

Stephanie Bradac OpenDoor Coffee

Scott Suchy Northern Illinois Realty

Jennifer Groce Northern Illinois University, Gospel Life Bible Church

Alyssa Seguss City of Genoa Ex-Officio

The 2023 Genoa Area Business Directory Guide is published by Shaw Media in cooperation with the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce.

PROJECT MANAGER: Lisa Angel

DESIGN & LAYOUT: Teresa Spence

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Katherine M. Photography

CONTRIBUTING WRITER: Kelley White

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Shaw Media Staff

The Genoa Chamber Ambassador Club meets the first Friday of each month from 12:00-1:00pm.

Meeting Dates for 2023

January 6 • February 3 • March 3

April 7 • May 5 • June 2 • July 7 • August 11

September 1 • October 6 • November 3 • December 2

Locations will rotate throughout our membership. We invite you to join our Ambassador Club and network with us.

GENOA CHAMBER AMBASSADOR CLUB

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Genoa Ambassador Club of the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce is a prestige public relations, booster and goodwill organization dedicated to a better community. It will concern itself with activities to enhance the image of the Genoa area Chamber of Commerce, create solidarity within the membership, and will bring about a greater appreciation among community citizens of what the Chamber stands for in terms of goodwill, civic participation, recognition and appreciation.

AMBASSADOR CLUB MEMBERS

Krissy Johnson

Genoa Area Chamber Executive Director

Emily Martinez

Genoa Area Chamber Assistant Administrator & Digital Coordinator

Sherry Frankenbach, KVHS

Bonnie Hanson, Edward Jones

Carolyn Tobinson, Tobinson’s Ace Hardware

Hannah Davekos, Old National Bank

Melissa Davidson, DPC, LLC

Jennifer Groce, Gospel Life Bible Church & NIU

Jennifer Lechelt, Community Member

Josh Kubiak, Edward Jones

Karl Gallagher, Century 21 New Heritage

Karyn Dulin, O’Neil Property Group – By Grainger Team

Susie Grainger, Communities by Grainger

Mary Keys, Genoa Guest House

Michaela Menzies, Heartland Bank

Lynnette Obrycki, Clean USA

Nancy Peña, American Family Insurance Manny Peña Agency

Gabriela Rodriguez, Mark Carlson State Farm

Sandi Rease, Genoa Park District

Carol Romano, Resource Bank

Jamie Sibigtroth, Heartland Bank

Cortney Strohacker, DCCVB

DeaLynn Stone, Heartland Bank

Sheri Wigant, O’Neil Property Group – By Grainger Team

Emily Woodard, Tobinson’s Ace Hardware

Anne Zimmerman, Genoa Veterans Women’s Auxiliary

Outside

Let the In Walcamp Offers Outdoor Activities for the Community

By: Kelley White

Walcamp Outdoor Ministries and Retreat Center is a haven for community members to find peace in nature. As this camp continues to grow, their focus remains steadfast on strong values centered around the guiding light nature affords. Executive Director Bill Indelli has a passion for the outdoors and sharing WalCamp’s fulfilling programs with folks from every walk of life and age group.

“We were founded in 1963 by a group of teenagers that were part of the Walther League, which was a Lutheran youth group,” says Indelli. “They wanted to have a Lutheran camp in the Northern Illinois District, and they got together and raised the money on their own for the down payment.”

The Walther League was named after renowned Lutheran youth ministry leader C.F.W. Walther and is also where WalCamp got its name. Now, WalCamp continues to drive the teenagers’ passion for outdoor camaraderie on a larger scale. “Our mission statement is about providing outdoor ministry where creation is explored, Christ is exalted, and Christians are equipped for service back home and beyond,” says Indelli. “All of our programs are pretty much set around being outside, exploring creation and being outdoors. Even climbing a wall – it’s all outside with the purpose to challenge people.”

WalCamp welcomes everyone, and guests by no means have to be Lutheran to attend. Their camp is rooted in the Lutheran faith but those who choose to practice their faith at the camp do so with discretion and respect toward others. “When we do nonfaith-based experiences, we don’t force the issue,” says Indelli. “All of our summer camps are faith-based so we pray before all the meals. But we have a non-faith-based group here, so we’re not going to community pray. Our staff will still pray

in our own little group but we’re not going to force that on anyone either.”

Their campus is well maintained and diversified for year-round necessities. “We have lodging, and we can host 162 campers overnight,” says Indelli. “We have multiple buildings and multiple different styles of housing, and we do things with retreat groups as well.”

Outdoor programming and opportunities are vast and span from activities for anywhere from 5–90-year-olds. “We have a campground, and, on the campground, we have activities all weekend long so it’s not odd for an entire family unit to rent out the entirety of the six cabins out there for their whole family,” says Indelli. “And when someone comes out for that, every weekend from Memorial Day through the first week in August, we have programming all weekend long like archery, kayaking, canoeing, river floats and hayrides. These programs are also open to the public all the way through to October 31.”

Generally, WalCamp runs at 60-70 percent capacity throughout the summertime and they also include a seasonal section for the colder months on their property. “We have a north loop and south loop,” says Indelli. “On the south loop we have folks who come every weekend from April to October and keep their campers here over the winter, so it’s like a seasonal rate.”

Outdoor education takes center stage most of the year at WalCamp, featuring overnight experiences and indoor activities when the weather is bad. “The kids come out anywhere from one overnight to four overnights and just spend time experiencing learning outside,” says Indelli. “All the learning we do is hands-on experiential learning.”

As an outdoor youth camp rooted in faith, it’s only natural that WalCamp is involved in serving the community and helping youth experience their camp in any way possible. “Our day camp program is one of the biggest ways we serve the community,” says Indelli. “It’s affordable and we offer some camperships. Last year we had between 30-45 kids a day in our day camp program. It helps the parents, it gives everyone a safe space to interact, the kids are outside, and we work on STEM as well.”

WalCamp also hosts special needs houses and participates in day events with them. “For example, this week we’re doing musical instruments,” says Indelli. “We call our special needs program Camp Agape. We also have an Advent and an Easter retreat and are pretty actively involved in the community. In Genoa, we participate in a lot of community events. We keep humming all year round.”

In recent months, WalCamp installed a brand-new climbing wall and zipline, affording the outdoor recreational center a host of new opportunities for their guests. “When we had the training for the climbing wall, we had some members of the staff of Adventure Works here to train alongside us, and maybe we can do some partnership using that wall in their mission,” says Indelli. “We have paintball and archery tag, which you play with arrows that have big foam heads on them. The idea is to get the kids out of their comfort zone.”

Donations funded the construction of both the zipline and the climbing wall which took about a year to complete. “We started looking to build it last year in September and we actually had a grand opening this year in September,” says Indelli. “It takes camp to a different level and a lot of people will be pushing their fears. It’s all built around safety. It kind of helps to show them they can do things that are really pushing them but with that safety net.”

Perhaps one of the best characteristics of the new activities is their accessibility. “We’re really excited about using the zipline especially since one side of it is handicap accessible,” says

Indelli. “It has what’s called a davit arm, which has a special chair that if someone were immobile in a wheelchair, they’d be able to get transferred from that to this chair. They can pull themselves up the wall, or we can pull them up, and they will still be able to go out on the zipline. It’s universal accessibility and that’s going to set us apart from a lot of different camps.” The zipline and climbing wall will be open to the public starting next summer and WalCamp encourages guests to come out and climb or zipline whenever they’d like. Truly, WalCamp just encourages and helps guests foster a love and connection with the outdoors.

As an organization, WalCamp operates under a full value contract with their attendees. “The first thing is safety first, then the second thing is to choose your challenge,” says Indelli. “We will never force you to do something. We will encourage you to do what you can, and we can show you how safe it is, but you will not get to the point where you are being pushed to do something you don’t want to.”

These values lay the foundation for the camp as a whole and Indelli reiterates their importance in all of WalCamp’s programming. “You have to respect yourself and others – and you’re going to give your 100%,” says Indelli. “Lasty, have fun. That’s how we operate inside of all our programs, and we run on donations, program fees, and grants.”

In the near future, WalCamp seeks to include programming for guests who are looking for a quieter experience. “Right now, what we’re looking at is maybe having a weekend where people can just kind of come out and hang, and basically it’s just to get away,” says Indelli. “One night we’ll have a trivia contest or something – not structured but some planned activities if they want to. We’re also looking at a camp ‘inside out’ which will be almost more of a journalling, low key hangout but it’ll still have some of the main traditions of summer camp.”

WalCamp is perfect for unadulterated youthful fun, and a great escape for anyone willing to let the outside in.

Memory Rich ‘ ‘

Herron and Company Barbers bring Old School Style to Genoa

Herron and Company Barbers has spent the last handful of years building a client base and creating an environment of classic barbering values in downtown Genoa. Owner and traditional craftsman barber Scott Herron hones his passion for his craft in every haircut and service he provides alongside his fellow barber Jackson Butz. After a long career in business, Herron was ready to step into the light with his artful talent.

“I spent 24 years in corporate America, the last ten in retail bank management,” says Herron. “It was a good career, and I was raising a daughter. Once she hit 18 and moved out of the house, I decided to do something different. I left that industry and corporate America altogether, and I never looked back.”

Herron spent much of his time reflecting on his memories of high school when he could focus on the things he loved. “I remembered back to my roots, and I thought about what I loved doing or what I gave up for ‘money’ and everything seemed to point to an art. I didn’t know how I was going to make that a paycheck, but as I was sitting at other jobs and daydreaming, my then-partner, now husband asked me to buzz his head.”

As he buzzed his beloved’s hair, Herron thought about barbering and more specifically, traditional barbering. “It is a thing there aren’t many of us doing, as far as traditional barbering goes,” says Herron. “Like using hot, freshly whipped shaving cream or hot towels – that kind of traditional barbering.”

Part of Herron’s artistry lies in the environment he creates inside his shop. “I wanted the service itself to be as much of an experience as the longevity of that experience,” says Herron. “I want them to be able to look into the mirror for 4-6 weeks and see that experience, both reflective of each other. I’m not sure a lot of barber shops buy into that philosophy.”

After Herron finished barber school, he completed an

By: Kelley White

apprenticeship and went to work at Beardsgaard Barbers in Batavia. “They were in that footprint of traditional style barbering, and it was, for two years, a match made in heaven,” says Herron. “I used to think that if I ever left Beardsgaard, I knew I was going to be working under a sign with my name on it. I wanted to build a client base and I wanted to be consistent in my location.”

After falling in love with Genoa, Herron and his husband bought a house on St. Patrick’s Day. Shortly thereafter, he began to devise a business plan for his own shop, which he opened on January 9, 2018. “The city said they could find me a contact from someone from a bank and they mentioned they had some space for rent,” says Herron. “I came to find out it was their old city hall. I occupy a portion of that building and I have three chairs in here, two of which are actively manned and worked.”

Herron’s business was rapidly picking up in the first 4-5 months when he serendipitously met Jackson Butz. “I had a couple of guest barbers that would help me out sometimes and it just got to be a fun environment for the barbers and a great experience for the clients,” says Herron. “One of those clients was a junior in high school and he was sitting in my chair. We had some general conversations about life and, long story short, he ended up going to barber school. He saw it all the way through covid and has been working a chair here for two years. It’s Jack and me, and he’s third generation here so his client book is pretty busy.”

Now, Herron and Butz are looking for

another barber with an eye and talent for traditional services. “Finding that right person in the very small percentile that loves to learn and constantly trains on new techniques, stays up to date on styles and concentrates on traditional barbering, that’s a hard find,” says Herron.

Herron and Butz have grown the business to the point where they are planning new and exciting services to add to their roster. “Our growth has been relatively organic and now my next venture is non-surgical hair replacement for both males and females,” says Herron. “Jack and I both are getting into doing human hair wig toppers for men, women and whoever has a need for it, whether we’re able to accommodate someone who’s going through cancer or something like that. We’re always looking for ways to service the community.”

Herron & Co. offers a wide variety of services and treatments for all their clients, from shaving to cuticle care. “We do haircuts, both clipper and scissor work, and cuts for the young guys under 12 or the older guys over 65,” says Herron. “We offer beard trims, scalp conditioning, and we restore skin under beards with deep conditioning and a steamer – it’s very much a relaxing experience.”

Herron and Butz are especially adept at fades, utilizing a straight razor to ensure the shortest possible hairs at the bottom. “When we do our fades, there’s an option to bring a straight razor into that fade, so when the shortest point of your fade is done with a straight razor it’s like the skin on the inside of your arm,” says Herron. “We do

face and head shaves, which are mostly done with freshly whipped hot lather and hot towels. And we do paraffin hand treatments.”

They also offer men’s waxing – only throat and above –and ear/nostril hair trimming. “We will turn one eyebrow into two,” says Herron. “We mostly use our straight razors on the eyebrows and every service that we do, they get a straight razor with hot lather on the back of their neck.”

This five star-rated barber shop is on its way to bigger things, as Herron describes his dream of bringing a tricked out old truck to weddings for the groomsman to enjoy their services. “No one ever factors in the wedding day for the guy,” says Herron. “So, we want to be able to go out and do grooming services on location where we’re doing it from an old truck we’ve converted with all dark wood. It’s another avenue Jack and I want to explore. Currently, we do it in shop but the real break for us is if you’ve got five or more guys and you want us to come out to your event – it doesn’t have to be a wedding – that’s a thing we can do.”

A unique business requires a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and Herron & Co. Barbers delivers with characteristics evoking the happiest memories in their clients. “It’s an aromatic environment with all the pomade, beard oil, and other incredible scents you can find here,” says Herron. “It brings people back to days of old and barbering is such a memory rich experience for a guy. Every guy who sits in the chair has a story. As long as people keep coming to our shop, I’ll be here for them.”

Over the River and Through the Woods to River Run Disc Golf We Go

By: Kelley White

As co-creator of the River Run Disc Golf course in Genoa, Chuck Whitmer realizes the success of his family’s dream coming to fruition with the new, sporty addition of a disc golf course nestled in Carroll Park. His passion for the game started a year and half ago.

“I kind of got very addicted to disc golf and I played a lot around the Genoa area as there’s a good course in Kirkland that has been there for quite a while,” says Whitmer. “Once I was really into it, I thought it would be a good idea to create one in Genoa.”

Whitmer’s brother-in-law, Brian Wallace, helped facilitate the process of creating the course. “He’s very involved with the community and very involved with Genoa as a business owner, and he puts on the Volksfest every year,” says Whitmer. “We have a lot of connections with the city, and he got things rolling with the Genoa Public Works. Basically, he and I and my other brother-in-law, Kevin, started coming up with an idea for a course, trying a few different areas in Genoa that we thought might work and ending up choosing Carroll Park as the best option.”

The first step was to design and plan a course that would complement the naturally beautiful parkway. “We spent a few months walking out and trying to design and plan a good layout for the course,” says Whitmer. “Brian got things going with Public Works and they got to work clearing some of the woods out because it’s a pretty wooded area. I ordered the baskets from a topline disc golf company, and Brian was able to get the Kishwaukee Valley Wanderers to kind of foot the bill for that.”

River Run was a family affair involving both of Chuck’s brothers-inlaw as well as his sister in the entire planning process. “I designed it with Brian, who’s married to my sister Juli,” says Whitmer. “My sister Laurie, her husband Kevin and my nephew Zach went and walked around the course a lot and decided how long we wanted to make the holes, where the tees would be and where the baskets would be – kind of the flow of the course. We came up with a basic layout and then we guessed at where we wanted the baskets. Then, we drove some stakes in the ground for the public works guys and they did all of that work.”

Overall, the project took less than a year to complete, an incredibly rare feat in the disc golf world. “We got the idea rolling last January and it sounded like it was going to be possible, so during the winter, we started doing some random walkthroughs and Brian got a hold of someone with some design experience – he was very helpful,” says Whitmer. “By spring, Brian had gotten approval from the Kishwaukee Valley Wanderers and I ordered the baskets in February.”

Genoa Public Works played a huge role in the speedy installation of the disc golf course. “Once the baskets were here and the layout was done, the Public Works went out and did an amazing job of clearing woods and carving out what we wanted,” says Whitmer. “By early August, they had it pretty cleared out and they began to install the basics.”

Whitmer then registered the course on an app called UDisc. “It’s a very popular app to keep track of your golf scores and it just uses

a GPS to show you courses in your area,” says Whitmer. “I laid out the course in UDisc and that’s when I became the official course administrator, or course ambassador, and ever since, the participation has been great.”

The Course itself is gorgeous and shows off some of the best characteristics of David Carroll Memorial Citizens Park. “You pull right into a very small parking lot at the entrance of Carroll Park, and if you go a little bit down the bike path off of that parking lot, you’ll see a sign for tee 1 that we designed so you were meant to tee off from the path, flowing directly to the river, due west,” says Whitmer. “That hole is 283 feet from the path to the basket and the basket is probably just 50-60 feet from the river. It’s basically woods that are cleared from the fairway and not very wide.”

Walking about thirty feet from the dirt path off of tee 1, golfers will see a sign for the second tee. “That flows directly the opposite way, alongside the other hole,” says Whitmer. “It’s our shortest hole at 156 feet, but it’s a little more wooded. Next to that tee, heading south, is our third hole which is 231 feet but there’s a few guardian trees that are closer to the baskets.”

Moving on, golfers will find themselves at the bike path where the bridge goes over the Kishwaukee River. “You’re throwing toward the river, alongside it, then you go back to the bike path and that’s where tee 4 is,” says Whitmer. “That basket is 239 feet.”

In their design, the group tried to keep as many open areas in their course as possible to encourage putting, though one hole is almost completely an open landscape. “You head back into the woods for hole five, which is 159 feet, and then there’s a path through the woods to come out into pretty much the only wideopen clear hole on the course,” says Whitmer. “It’s very wooded on the right and wide open on the left, and there’s a retention pond there. You have to throw right along the retention pond and that basket is also pretty close to the woods. That’s our longest hole at 320 feet.”

After the lengthy drive, golfers will walk across the retention pond and over a road that leads into a nearby neighborhood. “You turn around and start throwing north and that’s a very wide-open shot,” says Whitmer. “That one is fully guarded by woods and the hole, tee 7, is about a 300-foot throw.”

The woods throughout Carroll Park surround, compliment and flow around the last baskets on the course. “At the very end, it goes back into the woods and the basket is nestled among the trees for hole 8, a short 190-footer,” says Whitmer. “Then you’re back out to the bike path, near the bridge and not far from the tee for hole 4. Now you’re swinging right back toward the parking lot for hole 9 at 300 feet. You have to throw around the woods to get to it.”

Disc Golf is a family friendly, fun, and cheap activity that encourages beautiful walks among nature while tempting a little competition with friends and loved ones. “If you can buy a tendollar disc, you can go play,” Whitmer concludes.

The NECA/IBEW Local 196 Safety and Education Training Center is thriving in the Genoa Community. Business Manager and Financial Secretary Derek Luetgert has watched the organization grow from the ground up to where it is today, a successful and effective training center many large companies and customers rely on.

“NECA is the National Electric Contractor’s Association that represents all our contractors,” says Luetgert. “The entire NECA/ IBEW organization was built to provide training for our members.” Years ago, local contractors took the initiative to drive training and provide equipment for the tradesmen which allowed NECA to focus on creating a more consistent regimen all contractors could be a part of.

“It’s fully evolved to where the long-term goal and the purpose of the trust is to basically train anyone working within the jurisdiction of the IBEW Local 196, which is 14 counties in Northern Illinois, and anyone who has contributions made on their behalf through working here is eligible to take the training,” says Luetgert. “The very simple goal is to continue to provide the best skilled trade workforce that is not only safe, but productive for our contractors. Our customers include ComEd and many others such as At&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.”

IBEW provides training at multiple levels, helping workers learn how to do their oftentimes dangerous jobs safely and efficiently. “We do training on things like learning how to climb poles, run equipment, and unloading/loading equipment,” says Luetgert. “They are learning any of the ways we do our work, whether it’s running powerlines or installing them underground, working in manholes, installing equipment – any of those kinds of things.”

But highly detailed, high-stakes training is not without its challenges.

IBEW Local 196

NECA Safety Education Training Center

Helping to Ensure Worker’s Come Home Safe

By: Kelley White

“One of the biggest challenges we struggle with on a regular basis – and this is the for the entirety of everyone involved – is time,” says Luetgert. “The demands of our work are real and there are deadlines, and at the same time the contractors and the union all have to balance to make the times for the training and for men and women to come in and take the training.”

All aspects of the organization, including workers and trainers, have to stay as up to date as possible in order for customers to be reassured they are getting the best possible outcome for their work. “For example, the work on the power grid has drastically changed throughout the whole smart grid process, so the trust, the union, and the contractors are constantly having to relearn the new technology and then pass that training along,” says Luetgert. “One of the other big challenges is not only facilitating the training but getting members to be there so that there are enough people to perform the work for the customer.”

Despite a varied curriculum, some of their classes, like Directional Drill Training and the basics, have a high demand and significant attendance rate. “Directional drill is basically a horizontal drilling process that is installing various facilities for utilities, with virtually no signs to the public,” says Luetgert. “They run through a series of sophisticated controls on one end to the machine where there are people on both sides, directing it underground so you can’t see it and there won’t be much damage compared to the old ways of doing things with an open trench.”

Recently, IBEW 196 has acquired a crane for their new class, EICA Crane certification. “We’re really excited about this certification and we’re training our members as quickly as we can to be certified to safely operate cranes installing or lifting equipment,” says Luetgert. “We just purchased a crane in the last couple of months and we’re putting on our first class in December. We’ve got six or seven trainers throughout the organization so we can begin to proctor our own crane certification right in Genoa. The partnership has been working on this for several years to get to a level where we could not only afford it but have facilities to safely do it as well.”

As for location, Genoa was a natural choice for the organization due to the community’s willingness to integrate the training facility into the fabric of the town. “Genoa welcomed us,” says Luetgert. “We looked at property in many different locations and we were very fortunate the realtor we were using helped us find it. Even the first public hearing I was a part of some years ago –it was evident they were going to work with us.”

IBEW is celebrated throughout all 14 counties, with members and loved ones proudly sporting IBEW apparel and walking IBEW banners in parades. “The entire organization is very proud of their work,” says Luetgert. “We also have the pride of having the best, most skilled workforce and we’re very excited to be a part of something now where we are large enough to facilitate all these things that have been in the works for several years. We’re really gaining ground quickly.”

Even now, IBEW is actively seeking new training courses to provide their members with, keeping up with modern demands. “We are pursuing third party attachments,” says Luetgert. “With everyone upgrading to 5G, there is a tremendous amount of antenna work throughout the city and suburbs, so the larger providers are constantly evolving in different ways in order to do that. All-in-all, these devices are being placed all over our 14 counties at a rapid pace. The third party attachment work includes not only installing it, but installing it safely – sometimes in very high places. The entire smart grid as a whole is evolving very rapidly.”

It’s easy to overlook the people who do the kind of vital work that keeps fundamental infrastructure running. Even more, it is easy to misunderstand the level of danger they face each and every day so that communities may have things like high-speed internet at their fingertips. IBEW Local 196 sees these tradesmen for the value they own and works diligently to make sure they are safe so that after every day, they may come home.

GENOA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Membership

1st Response Plumbing & Dr.ain, Inc.

Dba Wagner Family Plumbing Kingston (815) 784-5300

www.wagnerfamilyplumbing.com

AA&A Sisters Ice Cream Shop 113 W. Main St. • Genoa (779) 255-0068

Abby’s Gaming 701 Pearson Dr. • Genoa (815) 784-8200

www.abbysvideogaming.business. site

Adkins Milk Hauling, LLC 33473 Genoa Rd • Genoa (815) 784-5211

Air Management Services 1030 E Greenlee St. • Marengo (815) 784-2055

www.airmanservices.com

Alan Browne Chevrolet 700 Pearson Dr. • Genoa (815) 784-2511

www.mychevy.biz

All Natural Chiropractic 405 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-4455

www.all-naturalchiro.com

Amanda Cortese Photography, LLC Genoa (630) 277-3262

American Family Insurance

Manny Peña Agency 221 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 895-3551

www.amfam.com/agents/illinois/ sycamore/manuel-pena

American Family Insurance

Manny Peña Agency 116 W. State St. • Sycamore (815) 895-3551

www.amfam.com/agents/illinois/ sycamore/manuel-pena

BBanner Up Signs

1170 E. State St. • Sycamore (815) 899-9211

www.bannerupsigns.com

Becker Law Office 213 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-2695

www.beckerlawyers.com

Benzinger Printing 673 Park Ave. • Genoa (815) 784-6560

www.benzinger.com

Beth Fowler School Of Dance 303 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-5658

www.bethfowlerschoolofdance.com

Bethany Animal Hospital 2400 Bethany Rd. • Sycamore (815) 756-8925

www.bethanyvet.com

Big D’s Hotdogs DeKalb (815) 501-8509

Brian Bemis Toyota of DeKalb 1875 DeKalb Ave. • Sycamore (815) 991-2788

www.dekalbtoyota.com

Byler’s Amish Delights Kirkland (630) 524-8496

CCentury 21 New Heritage II 120 W. Oak Knoll Dr. • Hampshire (847) 683-2000

www.newheritage.com

City of Genoa

333 E. First St. • Genoa (815) 784-2327

www.genoa-il.com

Clean USA

920 W. Prairie Dr. Unit M • Sycamore (815) 754-1226

cmj IT Solutions

435 Borden Ave. • Sycamore (815) 899-2468

www.cmjtech.net

Communities By Grainger

417 Borden Ave. • Sycamore (815) 762-8363

www.bygrainger.com

Compass Staffing Solutions

225 W. Main St. • Genoa (779) 382-8040

www.compassstaffingsolutions.com

Complete Plumbing Service, Inc. Heating & Cooling

220 E. First St. • Genoa (630) 629-0780

www.completeplumb.com

Confetti Wish St. Charles 708-275-253

Country Financial

305 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-6688

www.representatives. countryfinancial.com/david. gingerich

Countryside Towing

708 Railroad St. • Kingston (815) 262-0057

www.countrysidetow.com

CrossWind Community Church

13100 Cherry Rd. • Genoa (815) 784-5427

www.crosswindcommunity.org

Crown Exteriors, Inc. 113 N. Genoa St. Ste. D. • Genoa (815) 784-3003

www.crownexteriors.net

Cruisin’ Genoa

313 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-9800

Custom Aluminum Products

312 Eureka St. • Genoa (847) 717-5500

www.custom-aluminum.com

DDavidson Pargman & Company, LLC PO Box 340 • Genoa (815) 379-8360

www.dpc-advisors.com

DCCVB DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau 2500 N. Annie Glidden Rd. Community Outreach Building Ste. F • DeKalb (815) 756-8129

www.dekalbcountycvb.com

DeKalb Area Alano Club DeKalb (815) 501-6630

DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder 110 E. Sycamore St. 2nd Fl. Sycamore (815) 895-7142

www.dekalbcounty.org/coclerk

DeKalb County Community Foundation

475 DeKalb Ave. • Sycamore (815) 748-5383

www.dekalbccf.org

DeKalb County Community Gardens 2280 Bethany Rd. • DeKalb (815) 793-0950

www.dekalbgardens.org

DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation 2179 Sycamore Rd. Unit 102 • DeKalb (815) 895-2711

www.dcedc.org

DeKalb County History Center 1730 N Main St. • Sycamore (815) 895-5762

www.dekalbcountyhistory.org

DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership

475 DeKalb Ave. • Sycamore (815) 748-5383

www.dcnp.org

DeKalb County Regional Office of Education

2500 N. Annie Glidden Rd. Ste. C (815) 217-0460

www.dekalbcounty.org/roe

DNA Communications, Inc.

601 1st Ave., Rochelle (815) 562-4290

www.dnacom.com

Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce

113 N. Genoa St. • Genoa (815) 784-2212

www.genoaareachamber.com

Genoa Café

233 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-6647

Genoa Faith United Methodist Church

325 S. Stott St.• Genoa (815) 784-4153

www.genoafaithumc.org

EEdward JonesFinancial Advisor: Josh Kubiak

599 Pearson Dr. Suite 2 • Genoa (815) 784-3734

www.edwardjones.com/josh-kubiak

Elder Care Services 1701 E. Lincoln Hwy. • DeKalb (815) 758-6550

www.ecsdekalb.org

Ethos Tech Consulting

Kirkland (815) 205-4700

www.ethostech.info

FFamily Service Agency of DeKalb County, Inc.

1325 Sycamore Rd. • DeKalb (815) 758-8616

www.fsadekalbcounty.org

Flood Brothers Disposal 17W609 14th St.• Oakbrook Terrace (630) 261-0400

www.floodbrothersdisposal.com

Floor to Ceiling 2439 Bethany Road • Sycamore (815) 756-8575

www.floortoceiling.com

Fox Valley Community Services 1406 Suydam Rd. • Sandwich (815) 786-9404

www.fvoas.org

Genoa Fitness Center

333 E First St. • Genoa (815) 784-3488

www.genoaparks.org

Genoa Guest House, LLC 231 S. Sycamore • Genoa (815) 751-0703

www.genoaguesthouse.com

Genoa Kingston Cub Scout Pack 117 Genoa (847) 344-9013

www.beascout.org

Genoa - Kingston Education Foundation Genoa (815) 757-4162

www.gkedfoundation.org

Genoa Lions Club P.O. Box 112 • Genoa (815) 784-5598

www.genoacitylions.org

Genoa Masonic Temple Association 130 S. IL Rt 23 • Genoa (847) 774-7400

www.genoalodge#288.org

Genoa Park District 400 E Second St. • Genoa (815) 784-5612

www.genoaparks.com

Genoa Public Library

240 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-2627

www.genoalibrary.org

Genoa Smiles

Genoa - Kingston CUSD #424 980 Park Ave. • Genoa (815) 784-6222

www.gkschools.org

Genoa - Kingston Fire Department

317 Railroad • Genoa (815) 784-3412

www.genoa-il.com

Genoa - Kingston PTO Genoa (630) 750-6640

Genoa - Kingston United Way, Inc. P.O. Box 5 • Genoa (815) 784-6282

www.gkunitedway.com

Gospel Life Bible Church 301 S. Sycamore St. • Genoa (815) 501-4234

www.gospellifegenoa.com

Green Closet Creative 421 N. California St. Building 1 Sycamore (815) 991-5200

www.greenclosetcreative.com

Hurley & Volk Orthodontics powered by Smile Doctors

895 S. State St. • Hampshire (847) 289-8800

www.SmileDoctors.com

IIBEW Local 196/NECA Safety & Education Training Center 515 Forest View Dr. • Genoa (815) 655-2195

www.ibew196sef.org

Illinois Community Credit Union 508 W. State St. • Sycamore (815) 895-7745

www.myiccu.org

Invisible Fence Brand 1510 Industrial Dr., Unit E Lake In The Hills

www.invisiblefence.com

JJ6 Polymers 601 Derby Line Rd. • Genoa (815) 517-1179

www.j6polymers.com

GG.K. Trailblazers

Cherry Valley (815) 761-7951

www.gktrailblazers.com

Genoa Animal Hospital

703 Pearson Dr. • Genoa (815) 784-6109

www.genoaanimalhospital.com

619 E Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-5166

www.genoasmiles.com

Genoa Veterans Home Corp.

311 S W.ashington St. • Genoa (815) 784-5967

www.genoavetshome.us

HHabitat for Humanity of DeKalb County

1625 DeKalb Ave. • Sycamore (815) 991-5341

www.hfhdcillinois.org

Hauser Ross Eye Institute

1630 Gateway Dr. • Sycamore (815) 756-8571

www.Hauser-Ross.com

Heartland Bank & Trust Services 327 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-5101

www.hbtbank.com/locations/ genoa-il-main

Heritage Woods DeKalb

2626 N. Annie Glidden Rd. • DeKalb (815) 787-6500

www.gardant.com/ heritagewoodsdekalb

Herron & Co. Barbers

113 N. Genoa St. Ste. A • Genoa (779) 382-0543

www.herronandcobarbers.com

Hill’s Tap

319 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-5982

www.hillstap.com

Home Town Storage

P.O. Box 332 • Genoa (815) 355-7271

www.htsitsakeeper.com

Jonamac Orchard 19412 Shabbona Rd. • Malta (815) 825-2158

www.jonamacorchard.com

JT Painters 409 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 703-0001

KKACOA Landscaping, Inc. Kingston (815) 784-3800

www.Kacoalandscaping.com

Kar-Fre Flowers 1126 E. State St. • Sycamore (815) 895-6558

www.karfre.com

Karlsbad Tavern 413 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-6336

Katherine M. Photography 2 Hill Ct. • DeKalb (815) 757-3018

www.katherinemphotography.com

Kingston Mutual Insurance Company

420 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-5657

www.kingstonmutual.com

Kirkland Lions Club

408 S. 5th St. • Kirkland 901-2113

www.kirklandlions.org

Kishwaukee College 21193 S. Malta Rd. • Malta (815) 825-2086

www.kish.edu

Kishwaukee Education Consortium 21255 Malta Rd. P.O. Box 263 Malta (815) 825-2000

www.kecprograms.com

Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association

1403 Sycamore Rd. DeKalb (779) 777-7285

www.kishsra.org

Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra P.O. Box 310 • DeKalb (815) 756-3728

www.kishorchestra.org

Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society

622 Park Ave. • Genoa (815) 784-5559

www.sites.google.com/site/ kvhsgenoail/home

Kishwaukee Valley Wanderers Genoa (815) 761-4660

Knights of Columbus Genoa (847) 987-1989

Knodle’s Appliance Service, Co. 117 S. Califor nia St. • Sycamore (815) 895-4444

www.knodlesservice.com

Krueger & Associates, Ltd. 103 N. State St. • Hampshire (847) 683-2500

www.Kruegertax.com

Lindgren Power, LLC

100 S. Main St. • Kingston (815) 703-8531

www.lindgrenpower.com

Liquor ‘n’ Wine

540 E Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-9780

www.liquornwine.net

Lloyd Landscaping and Garden Center 662 Park Ave. • Genoa (779) 382-0402

www.lloydlandscaping.com

Lynn’s Carpet Cleaning, Inc. PO Box 271 • Genoa (815) 784-3385

www.lynnscarpetcleaning.com

Northern Illinois Realty

511 W. Main St. • Genoa (779) 382-0400

www.northernillinoisrealty.com

Norther n Illinois University

1425 W. Lincoln Hwy. • DeKalb (815) 753-0916

www.niu.edu

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists

540 E. Main St., Ste. 5 • Genoa (815) 784-6417

www.northernrehabpt.com

Northwest Center for Autism at High Road School

123 W. 1st. St. • Genoa (815) 981-4689

www.sesischools.com

Northwestern Medicine

One Kish Hospital Dr. • DeKalb (815) 756-1521

OPG DeKalb, Inc.

P.O. Box 33 • Cortland (815) 501-0705

www.opgdekalb.com

PPaulsen Appliance 245 W. State St. • Sycamore (815) 895-6373

www.paulsenappliance.com

Pest Control Consultants 1100 W. 2nd St. • Dixon (815) 284-4101

www.pccil.com

Pete’s Castle/Marathon 104 W. Main St. • Genoa (847) 683-2188

https://petes-castle-marathonget-the-scoop-ice-cream-shoppe. business.site

LLatsis Bakery

401 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-4334

www.latsisbakery.com

LawnWorks

PO Box 384 • Genoa (815) 784-6309

Lifescape AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP

145 S Sacramento St. • Sycamore (815) 490-1115

www.lifescapeservices.org

MMarc’s Lawn Service, LLC 502 N. Main St.Ste. 2 • Sycamore (815) 739-7818

www.marcslawnservice.com

Mark Carlson-State Farm Insurance Agency 318 W. Main St. #1 • Genoa (815) 784-3337

www.agentcarlson.com

Meta 2050 E. Gurler Rd. • DeKalb (650) 785-0146

www.meta.com

MetroNet

1797 W. State St., Ste. C • Geneva (630) 345-6011

www.metronet.com

Midwest Tents & Events

1300 South 7th St. • DeKalb 877-388-8368

www.rentmidwesttents.com

Mighty Cogs Football and Cheer Organization

P.O Box 103 • Genoa (847) 489-5789

Minnihan’s Irish Pub 209 W. Main St.• Genoa

myenergyconsultant.com

Solar Energy Consulting Agency 114 W. Washington St. • Genoa (815) 901-2113

www.nm.org

Northwestern Medicine-Genoa

599 Pearson Dr.ive • Genoa (815) 748-8900

www.nm.org

Northwestern Medicine Physical Therapy-Genoa 599 Pearson Dr. • Genoa (815) 784-2100

www.nm.org

OO’Neil Property Group By Grainger Team

1958 Aberdeen Ct. • Sycamore (815) 762-6096

Old National Bank 601 Pearson Dr. • Genoa (779) 382-6033

www.oldnational.com

Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Cooper-Quiram Chapel

1245 Somonauk St. • Sycamore (815) 784-2518

www.olsonfh.com

Olympia Chiropractic 1680 Mediterranean Dr. • Sycamore (815) 899-6061

www.olympiachiroandpt.com

OpenDoor Coffee, LLC

502 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 991-6281

www.opendoorgenoa.com

Pleasant Hill Construction, Inc. 29439 Pleasant Hill Rd. • Kingston (850) 685-7113

www.pleasanthillconstructioninc.com

Prairie State Winery 222 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-4540

www.prairiestatewinery.com

RR Hansel & Son Company 221 N Sycamore • Genoa (815) 784-5500

Ralfie’s BBQ and Catering Oregon (815) 757-0275

www.ralfiesbbq.com

Re/Max Classic 514 E Main St. • Genoa (815) 784-2800

www.eshometeam.com

Renewal by Andersen Windows & Doors 2300 Ridge Dr. • Glenview 847-486-4040 x2

www.renewalbyandersen.com

Representative Tony McCombie PO Box 71 • Savanna (815) 535-6551

www.repmccombie.com

Resource Bank 310 Hwy 23 • Genoa (815) 784-8301

NNina’s Taco Shop 122 E. Page St. • Sycamore (815) 991-5336

www.resourcebank.com

Responsive Roofing

221 W. Lincoln Hwy. Ste. C. • DeKalb (815) 901-8860

www.responsiveroofing.com

Rivers’ Mexican Cantina and Grill

407 Sycamore Rd. Ste. #9 Genoa (815) 784-2017

SS&A Maintenance Services, Inc.

610 W. Second St. • Genoa (815) 784-8416

Safe Passage, Inc.

P.O. Box 621 • DeKalb (815) 756-5228

www.safepassagedv.org

Servpro of DeKalb County

1958 Aberdeen Ct. #8 • Sycamore (815) 758-3900

www.servprodekalbcounty.com

Seyller’s, Inc.

PO Box 158 • Genoa (815) 784-3724

www.seyllers.com

Shaw Media

121 W. Lincoln Hwy. • DeKalb (815) 756-4841

www.daily-chronicle.com

Slater-Butala Funeral Home

132 W. Main • Genoa (815) 784-5191

www.butalafuneralhomes.com

Small Business Development Ctr. @ WCC

18 S. River St., Rm 268 • Aurora (630) 906-4143

www.waubonsee.edu/sbdc

Smoking Grill

528 E. Main St.• Genoa (815) 784-5551

www.facebook.com/ smokingrillpizzeria/

St. Catherine’s Catholic Church

340 S. Stott St.• Genoa (815) 784-2355

www.stcatherinegenoa.org

State Representative

Andrew Chesney

PO Box 633 • Freeport

www.repchesney.com

Sugar on Top Bake Shop, Inc.

316 W. Main St. • Genoa (815) 751-9857

www.sugarontopbakeshop.com

Sweet-DeLights

113 W. Main St. Unit A • Genoa (779) 382-0087

www.sweet-delights.com

Sycamore Integrated Health 920 W. Prairie Dr. Ste. J. Sycamore (815) 895-3354

Sycamore Park District 940 E State St. • Sycamore (815) 895-3365

www.sycamoreparkdistrict.com

Sycamore Precision Machine 334 E. First St. • Genoa (815) 784-5151

www.sycamoreprecision.com

Voluntary Action Center 1606 Bethany Rd • Sycamore (815) 758-3932

www.vacdk.com

WWakoh Wear, Inc. 673 Park Ave. • Genoa (815) 784-2734

www.wakohwear.com

Walcamp Outdoor Ministeries 32653 Five Points Rd. • Kingston (815) 784-5141

www.walcamp.org

Walnut Street Daycare Center 201 Walnut St. • Genoa (815) 784-2223

www.walnutstreetdaycare.com

WDKB Radio 2201 N. 1st • DeKalb (815) 758-0950

TThe King’s Mansion Church

200 East St. • Kingston (815) 784-4189

www.facebook.com/ thekingsmansionchurch/

Theisen Roofing

257 W. Stephenie Dr. • Cortland (815) 758-8998

www.theisenroofing.com

Tobinson Ace Hardware 361 Sycamore Rd. • Genoa (815) 784-6004

www.acehardware.com

Trinity Lutheran Church 33930 N State Rd. • Genoa (815) 784-2522

www.tlcgenoa.org

VVillage of Kingston

101 E. Railroad St. • Kingston (815) 784-5572

www.villageofkingston.org