SBJ 12-01-2010 by The Southern Illinoisan

DECEMBER 2010

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ENTREPRENEUR’S MAILBAG For the holiday season: Columnist Cavanaugh L. Gray looks at the other side of business during the bustling holiday season. Not all businesses shift into high gear as the year draws to a close. Businesses that deal with a lull during the holiday season — obviously not anything involving retail sales — might use the slower pace to focus on their business goals for the year, three years and five years. Strategic planning isn’t exclusive to the biggest businesses; it can have an even greater impact for a smaller company. Page 4

STATE FOCUS Illinois voters killed wrong dragon: State voters followed the national trend by filling the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama with a Republican, but went predictably Democrat in filling state offices. The vote was largely business as usual, where the perpetrators of Illinois’ fiscal disaster were returned to office with the same governor and leaders of both houses of the General Assembly. Columnist J. Fred Giertz wonders why voters gave state leaders a pass, while punishing federal politicians who, by comparison, were models of prudence and rectitude. Page 7

YOUR BUSINESS Get peers involved in hiring: When making a hiring decision, smart business people use a peer interview process that involves the people who

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will be working alongside the new employee. Columnist Kristin King uses the approach in her position as employment manager in Corporate Human Resources for Southern Illinois Healthcare. She believes the process builds employee morale and produces highly functional teams. Page 17

Southern Illinoisan. Contact us via mail at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL, 62901, or at P. O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL, 62903. Also reach us on the Web at www.sbj.biz and via e-mail at SBJ@thesouthern.com. The Journal is published 12 times per year monthly, and

Custom Cleaners .............................. 15 Edward Jones .................................... 19 Feirich, Mager, Green & Ryan ................ 3

INDICATORS Do we dare feel optimistic? Can we really be starting the long drive out of the recession? Our indicators this month give more reason for hope than we’ve seen in more than a year. Unemployment dropped a full 1.5 percent for the region in the month-to-month measure, and is down 1.1 percent for the year. Even more significant, perhaps, was the decline occurred in 17 of 18 Southern Illinois counties. There was no change for the month in Saline County. We still need help with home sales in some counties, but perhaps there finally is real light at the end of the tunnel. Pages 12-13

ACHIEVEMENTS Learn the latest: Find out who has been hired, who has been promoted or who has received an award for their efforts in business. Make sure you check out our newest ‘Faces in the News’ collection of business portraits. If you know of a business or business person who deserves special recognition for advanced training, a unique honor or an expansion of business, please let us know at sbj@thesouthern.com. Page 18

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Glass Haunt ...................................... 19 Graphics Galore .................................. 7 Health Alliance .................................. 15 Hyannis Air Service .............................. 5 Jim’s Mobile Offices and Homes .......... 7 John A. Logan College ........................ 22 Midwest Backgrounds, Inc. ................ 17 Oliver and Associates, Inc. ................ 10 Pepsi MidAmerica .......................... 5, 10 Property with TLC, LLC ........................ 19 Raymond James Financial Service ...... 3

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DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Cover Story Crystal ball for 2011: Business hopes are rising, but fingers still crossed BY LES O’DELL SBJ CORRESPONDENT

2010 has been a monumental year for the nation: an economy showing some signs of recovery, sweeping health care reform signed into law and new faces headed to Congress after mid-term elections. Southern Illinois is no different: progress toward establishment of a destination development near Marion, state budget woes causing problems for communities and institutions that rely on state money and infrastructure improvements from the federal stimulus package. While some businesses have struggled, others have prospered. Business leaders are, by nature, optimists. As they look to 2011, many are confident in a better year, yet their hopefulness is somewhat tempered. “I see some cautious optimism,” Lori Cox, director of Workforce and Illinois Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, says. “I think they’re still cautious about things, and probably rightly so.” Cox says a primary way businesses are being timid is in the hiring of new employees. “In manufacturing, we’re seeing some positive signs, but they remain cautious in hiring,” she says. “Rather than bringing on

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New businesses, and those that have made it through the economic downturn of recent years, will be more apt to succeed.

individuals right now, many are waiting to see what happens with this economic blip. I don’t think small businesses are ready to jump in with both feet yet, either.”

A year for new business? Business consultant Cavanaugh Gray of the Entrepreneur Café in Carbondale says he thinks the region will see business growth, especially in brand-new ventures. “I think 2011 will be a good time to start

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a new business,” he notes. “We are still going to see governmental programs to encourage new businesses. Also, banks now have money to lend and are not as fearful of lending it.” In a posting on his Twitter feed, Gray said that new businesses, and those that have made it through the economic downturn of recent years, will be more apt to succeed. “In the ‘new normal,’ businesses that can survive now will be well prepared for the future,” Gray wrote. Unlike a majority of the region’s more traditional businesses, some of the new endeavors are likely to be high-tech spinoffs from research and discoveries from other companies and institutions such as Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Jeff Myers, senior technology transfer specialist at SIUC says there are several technologies and innovations on the campus now being commercialized as new businesses and others on the horizon. “We’ve got two different companies based on professors’ inventions that are operating right now, and there are at least two other companies that are in the earlyfunding stage,” he explains. Myers says a plus has been the University’s “Operation Mousetrap” program that trains would-be faculty entrepreneurs the ins and outs of launching a business. “The program has six participants this term, and had nine last semester,” he says.

“It trains them to know how to take the next step.” He adds that the companies developed from the transfer of technology to the business world can be an economic plus for the region. “You never know how a company will grow after it’s created,” Myers explains. “These companies are employing people, spending money and, hopefully, growing here to employ many more people. These are high-skilled, high-paying positions. They’re really good to have in our backyard.”

New business models, new businesses Along with new technologies leading to new businesses, both Cox and Gray say that fresh business concepts are helping both new and emerging businesses. “Businesses that have been mired down in the traditional ways of doing things are going to come up against more and more resistance,” Gray says. “To succeed, businesses need to be willing to change and innovate.” He points to the emergence of video rental company Redbox and streaming provider Netflix as examples of new business models. He added that one way area companies are growing is through adoption of technology, including social media. “It really levels the playing field, especially for small businesses,” he says.

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SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2010

Cover Story Cox says many Southern Illinoisans are choosing to launch their own companies. “Entrepreneurship is big when there is a lot of unemployment,” she says. “Sometimes it’s the only way for people to make it. I see a lot of people starting businesses that will sustain their families and allow them to stay in the area. I think we’ll see more of that.” She adds that she sees a trend of microbusinesses, firms started “not necessarily to be huge companies, but rather just to make a little extra money.” Microbusiness trends, such as small plot farming, have already taken root in neighboring states, and Cox expects to see growth of similar startups in the region. Additionally, she is encouraged by the potential advancement of Marion as a tourist destination. “For our area, I think everyone is holding their breath with the development,” Cox says. “It could drive and dictate what happens across the region for the next few years.”

Agriculture and coal The coming year should be a good one for mining and miners, says David Columbo, associate professor of mining technology at Rend Lake College. “We have two new mines going in and probably a third one ready to break ground

in the near future,” he says. “The Illinois basin is the next area of coal mining expansion in the U.S.” He explains that as Appalachian mining is on the decrease because of heightened EPA regulations of mountaintop mining, the demand for Illinois coal is on the upswing. “I don’t think there’s going to be so much as to impact the whole area, but there will be jobs and it will be a positive influence,” he adds. “It’s definitely part of the solution.” The outlook for agriculture is more uncertain, but then again, forecasting for agriculture always is tough, says Garry Jenkins, manager of Williamson County Farm Bureau. “There are many factors in agriculture,” he says. “It depends on fertilizer prices, it depends on fuel prices, and it depends on the weather.” Because of all of the variables, Jenkins says it’s hard to predict what 2011 will hold. He says the wide range of rainfall received across Southern Illinois this year is a perfect example. “In our region, 2010 varied with those that got rain and those that didn’t. I’ve heard of corn yields ranging from 50 bushels to the acre to 176 bushels to the acre, and I’ve heard of soybeans from ‘we didn’t even go get them’ to 40

bushels per acre.” All in all, Jenkins says the farm economy has been good during the last several years, and he says he expects it to continue, depending on all of the usual variables and one that comes along every four years: the creation and passage of the federal farm bill. This legislation sets the federal government’s primary food and agriculture policy, including everything from international trade and food safety to food assistance programs. The current bill was passed in 2008, with the next farm bill set for 2012. Jenkins says even this year’s preliminary discussions about what will be included in the farm bill can affect commodity and input prices for producers. “The big word with Congress right now seems to be cut,” he adds. “Even though it’s less than one percent of the farm bill that actually goes to farmers, if they cut across the board, that’s going to hit everybody.”

Government’s impact The farm bill is not the only part of government that will affect Southern Illinois business in 2011. From a divided congress to the state budget crisis, businesses are likely to be affected by government, although how they will be affected is not clear.

“I think there will be some businesses that will be winners and some that will be losers,” says David Yepsen, director of Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “I think it will be a case-by-case scenario, and I don’t think you can make a general statement that policies in Washington are going to help or hurt business.” Yepsen says examples of companies that benefit from governmental policies might include construction companies that received work from federal stimulus funds, but he pointed out that vendors for state agencies may be seeing reduced revenue as a result of decreased spending. “I think the message out of this election, both in the state and nationally, is that citizens want government to clean up their finances,” he says. “I think governments that are on a sound financial footing are good for business. The bad news is that both Washington and Springfield are up to their eyeballs in debt, and there are only two ways to resolve that. One is to cut spending; the other is to raise taxes. Either way, business is going to have to pay part of the burden.” LES O’DELL of Carbondale is a regular contributor to Southern Business Journal and The Southern Illinoisan.

Entrepreneur’s Mailbag Holiday season is a good time for strategizing BY CAVANAUGH L. GRAY SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

For some companies, the last two to three months of the year could be their busiest, representing a significant amount of the company’s sales. But what is Gray an entrepreneur to do when the end of the year causes their business to slow? Many owners might agree that managing the company’s

day-to-day activities often keeps them from plotting any long-term direction. If your business is experiencing the holiday lulls, now may be a good time to do a little strategic planning.

Defining strategic planning If you are an owner who thinks strategic planning is only for the big boys, I would encourage you to reconsider. A strategic plan describes how your company intends to execute a chosen strategy and where it intends to be during the next three to five years. This plan is usually organization-wide, or you could choose to focus on a major

function, a division or a department. A strategic plan is a management tool that helps your company focus all of its energy, resources and time in one direction. This systematic plan focuses on several important areas; however, the evaluation of a company’s mission statement is key.

Staying true to your mission One my favorite quotes comes from the late Walt Disney ,who, in defining his young company, said, “Around here, we keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps

leading us down new paths.” Walt didn’t let his company veer far from that mantra, which is evident from the first line of Disney’s mission statement. “The Walt Disney Company is to be one of the world’s leading producers and providers of entertainment and information.” Many might agree that Disney has not lost sight of its mission. Take a moment to examine your mission statement and determine if it summarizes what the company does and gives insight into the principles that guide it. Determine how close or how far you may have drifted from your SEE MAILBAG / PAGE 15

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DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

State Focus Elections and the economy: Illinois and the nation BY J. FRED GIERTZ SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Illinois voters slew the wrong dragon in the November elections. Following the national trend, voters in the state elected a Republican to President Obama’s seat in the Giertz Senate, while Republicans added three U.S. House members and retained Sen.-elect Mark Kirk’s House seat. This is remarkable in a deep blue state that has supported every Democratic presidential candidate since the Reagan administration, where the party holds every statewide office. The voters presumably responded to the Tea Party fears about excessive federal spending and unsustainable deficits along with lingering concerns about Obamacare. However, voters’ concerns about fiscal discipline seemed to evaporate when it came to the state of Illinois. For state offices, it was largely business as usual, where the perpetrators of Illinois’ fiscal disaster were returned to office with the same governor and leaders of both houses of the General Assembly. It is puzzling why the voters gave state leaders a pass, while punishing federal politicians who, by comparison, are a model of prudence and rectitude. There likely will be important changes

in federal policy, even though Republicans control only the House. The election results have already chastened Democratic survivors in both the House and Senate. First, a second large Obama stimulus package is now dead. The 2009 stimulus package has been a distinct disappointment. Proponents thought it was too small, while critics believed it was counterproductive. Regardless of this controversy, a new stimulus will not be approved with a Republican House. In addition, the prospects for the continuation of the Bush-era tax cuts changed dramatically after the election. Originally, Democrats wanted to keep the Bush cuts in place for most taxpayers, while allowing them to expire for millionaires, defined as single people with $200,000 and married couples with incomes above $250,000. Now the Democrats appear to be willing to continue the cuts, including lower capital gains rates for all taxpayers, at least for the next two years. As the 2012 election approaches, it is likely that the lower rates will continue even longer. The estate tax (the so-called death tax) has taken a holiday for the current year as part of the Bush tax cuts. However, without action, the estate tax will come back with a vengeance in 2011, with only a $1 million exclusion and marginal rates of up to 55 percent. While the permanent repeal of the estate tax is unlikely, some type of compromise, such as a $3 to $4 million exclusion, along with somewhat lower marginal rates, appears almost certain.

Prospects for the state of Illinois are considerably more uncertain. The crew is still in charge that produced a $6 billion annual state deficit with another $6 billion of unpaid bills. For comparison purposes, $6 billion is approximately 20 percent of the state general fund budget. This means that the state is now spending about $1.25 for every dollar of continuing revenue. This seemingly unsustainable situation has been perpetuated by a number of creative fiscal expedients, such as borrowing, selling assets, fund transfers, deferring payments and pension underfunding. These tricks have allowed the state to continue on its imprudent course, but the state has dug the fiscal hole even deeper. Righting the state’s course will require large and painful changes. The arithmetic of the problem is simple: the state needs first to reduce spending and then raise more revenue. The politics of this process are more complex. Citizens have been led to believe (most notably by Gov. Blagojevich) that they should not have to pay for the services they receive from the state. Unfortunately, small changes will not address the problem, nor will a return to stronger economic growth. For example, a one percentage point increase in the state income tax rate, along with a 10 percent reduction in state spending, would be necessary to eliminate a $6 billion shortfall. Changes of this magnitude are never even considered by politicians.

Readers can tell immediately if Illinois politicians are not serious about addressing the problem if they suggest adding a riverboat casino or leasing the lottery or increasing cigarette taxes or cutting politicians’ salaries or eliminating just “waste and abuse” in government spending. These changes taken individually or as a group would fall far short of the goal attaining a new fiscal equilibrium. Even Gov. Pat Quinn’s tax increase plan offers little promise. Quinn would increase the income tax by 1 percentage point (about $3 billion) and use the new funds for additional spending in the form of increased aid to education and local property tax relief instead of addressing the state’s basic budget problem. This leads back to the original question: Why would Illinois voters voice such concern about fiscal prudence at the national level while turning a blind eye to even more serious problems in the state? The answer seems to be that Illinois citizens really do not understand or accept the magnitude of the problem and cling to their something-for-nothing philosophy. It is time for political leaders to really lead or for a local version of the Tea Party to emerge to press the issue to force action. J. FRED GIERTZ is a professor of economics within the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs. He can be reached at 217-244-4822 or jgiertz@ad.uiuc.edu.

DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Employment Law Learn whether your ‘professional’ employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements BY ED RENSHAW SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

In previous articles, we have addressed the question of what types of employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements under the federal Fair Renshaw Labor Standards Act. As a rule, only employees who are classified as executive, administrative or professional employees can be exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of federal law. (Certain computer workers and outside salespeople can also be exempt, but that’s a topic for another day.) It is not that easy to determine whether employees fit into one or more of these three categories. So, in this article, we will focus on the professional exemption, i.e., which employees qualify as professionals so that minimum wage and overtime laws do not apply to them. There are actually two broad categories of professionals under the Fair Labor Standards Act. One category is “learned professionals” and the other is “creative professionals.” Let’s look at learned professionals, who, as the term implies, obtain their professional status through advanced learning and education. There are four criteria that must be met for an employee to be considered a learned professional under the Fair Labor Standards Act. First, an employee must make a minimum of $455 per week ($23,660 per year) and that salary cannot be calculated as an hourly wage — it must be a straight salary or fee. If an employee doesn’t make that much money, he cannot be exempt from receiving overtime pay, no matter how “professional” his job is. Second, the employee’s primary duty

There are actually two broad categories of professionals under the Fair Labor Standards Act. One category is ‘learned professionals’ and the other is ‘creative professionals.’ must be work that requires advanced knowledge. Work requiring advanced knowledge is a job that is predominantly intellectual and that requires the exercise of independent discretion and judgment. This means the job cannot be simply performing routine mental or physical work. A duty is “primary” if it is the principal or most important duty the employee performs. Third, the advanced knowledge of the employee must be in a field of science or learning. Examples of these types of occupational fields are law, medicine, theology, accounting, actuarial computation, engineering, architecture, teaching, pharmacy and the physical, chemical and biological sciences. There certainly are other occupations that involve advanced knowledge. However, they may not qualify for the exemption because the knowledge is not in a field of science or is acquired outside of formal educational channels. Skilled carpenters or auto mechanics may have a tremendous amount of advanced knowledge, but they are not considered “professionals” under the Fair Labor Standards Act so as to be exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements. Fourth, which is related to the third factor, the advanced knowledge of the employee must be gained through a “prolonged” course of specialized intellectual instruction. Knowledge gained in high school is not enough. Normally, the proof of the prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction is an academic degree in a field that generally has a recognized professional status. However, there is

no outright requirement that you have such a degree to be considered a professional. The advanced knowledge can be obtained through a combination of work experience and classroom instruction. But, if the occupation is largely made up of people who learn through work experience rather than intellectual instruction, the occupation will not qualify as a profession. Like the learned professional, the creative professional must also earn at least $455 per week on a salary or fee basis — not an hourly basis. A creative professional’s primary duty must be doing work that requires “invention, imagination, originality or talent in a recognized field of artistic or creative endeavor,” such as music, writing, painting or acting. Occupations falling under the creative professional exemption would usually include actors, painters (not house painters), musicians, composers, singers, writers, cartoonists and novelists. Finally, a special professional category exempt from overtime requirements is that of teacher. Teachers are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements if their primary duty is imparting knowledge through teaching, tutoring, instructing or lecturing in an educational institution. Further, teachers do not have to be paid the minimum of $455 per week required for other professionals. Overall, to be a professional who is exempt from minimum wage and overtime laws, an employee must have more than knowledge. He or she must have an advanced academic degree and must exercise a great degree of independent judgment and discretion.

If you are treating an employee as being exempt as a professional, be sure the employee really meets all of the requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act. EDWARD RENSHAW is a partner with the Carbondale law firm of Feirich/Mager/ Green/Ryan. F/M/G/R is a general practice law firm offering a full range of legal services, including labor and employment law, commercial transactions, banking, real estate, workers’ compensation, municipal law and estate planning. The firm’s telephone number is 618-529-3000 and its website is www.fmgr.com.

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Directions: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube or Bundt pan and set aside. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat together butter and shortening with the sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add lemon extract. Add flour and 7UP alternately, beating after each addition. Spoon batter into prepared pan and bake for 80 minutes or until cake tests done. Remove from oven and place pan on wire rack to cool for 30 minutes, then turn out cake onto wire rack to cool completely. Prepare icing: In a small saucepan, cook egg, sugar, flour, butter and pineapple with juice over very low heat (if heat is too high, the egg will curdle). Stir frequently and cook until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut and blend well. Spread on cooled cake.

DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Money Matters Paying for college while saving for retirement BY SCOTT MCCLATCHEY SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

It can be done. All across America, families are meeting a mighty financial challenge — the challenge of paying college costs with retirement potentially on the horizon. How do McClatchey they do it? They go about it consistently; they also get creative. First, make sure the priorities are in the right order. Strange as it may sound, your retirement may need to take precedence over your child’s college education. Think about it. Your son or daughter might qualify for student loans or financial aid. By the time they are 30 or 35, they will have the earnings potential to pay those loans back. Do you see any ads out there for “retirement loans” or “retirement aid”? For most, it is much harder to earn money at age 65 than at age 35. Because of this, many choose to allow the younger generation to assume the debt.

The following are some short-term and long-term ideas you may want to consider if you have college costs on your mind: Save for college the DCA way. While dollar-cost averaging is a useful way to build retirement savings, its merit often goes unrecognized when it comes to saving for higher education. If you could put $40 a month even in a basic savings account with a tiny interest rate, over 10 years that is approaching $5,000. That’s nothing to sneeze at, and will certainly help out. Move the money from a checking account each month into a savings account, or … Consider a tax-advantaged college savings plan. Contribute to a 529 plan, which features tax-advantaged growth and tax-free withdrawals when the withdrawn funds are used to pay qualified education costs. Not all 529 plans are the same — in fact, some of them will even provide a small cash “match” or “signup” bonus when you start your plan. Some 529 plans are even “prepaid.” That means you may be able to secure future tuition rates at current prices, usually at in-state public colleges. Another advantage of the prepaid plans — they are often guaranteed by the state. Exploit your credit card. No, don’t pay for college with it … well, at least not

directly. Some credit cards give you a cash-back rewards option. You may as well put the rewards toward college. Some of the major banks let you do this and so do online shopping websites such as Upromise. Keep your income as low as possible in the base income year. That is the calendar year that starts as your child is in the middle of his or her junior year in high school. That is the year when college financial aid departments start to look at a family’s earned and received income. If you can avoid taking capital gains or a distribution from a 401(k) or 403(b) in that year, that will keep your taxable income low. Will Roth IRA conversions raise eyebrows? Yes, they will. However, don’t stop contributing to your own retirement savings accounts, and feel free to pay off consumer debts with the money from your savings and checking accounts. The assets in these accounts aren’t used in financial aid formulas. Let the college know if your financial situation has changed. Has the value of your home fallen? Is your business netting you far less than it once did? Financial aid departments should be willing to review these developments and may be able to adjust student aid.

Make it a family affair. In some cultures, it is common for all members of a family to pitch in on the down payment or mortgage payments for a home. Consider this strategy as your family saves for college. Close friends and family members may be willing (or even excited) to make ongoing contributions to a college savings plan for your child and/or an annual “birthday” contribution. They may find giving such a gift to be much more meaningful and fulfilling than a mere toy or item of clothing. In short, hunting for every scholarship or alumni connection you can and finding a great school at a reasonable price — that’s important. But it may be just as useful (if not more) to be both creative and consistent as you save for college. While it has always been a challenge, by putting some thought into it, most families and students can find ways to respond. SCOTT MCCLATCHEY is a founder and LPL financial advisor with Alliance Investment Planning Group, a Carbondale-based investment firm located at 115 S. Washington St. He can be reached at 618-519-9344 or scott@allianceinvestmentplanning.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Making the best of low interest rates BY MICHAEL P. TISON SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Bank Certificates of Deposit have historically low interest rates. That is the price to pay to limit your risk. No matter what type of savings you choose, keep in mind the FDIC insured limit is Tison now $250,000 per account (double that for joint accounts). That limit is set to last until Dec. 31, 2013. As long as you’re within the limit, you won’t lose any savings or CD funds, no matter what happens to your bank. While

that’s not usually a worry, banks have been disappearing with alarming regularity. This year, as of mid-August, the FDIC had shuttered 77 banks. For account holders, bank closings may seem more upsetting than most actually are. Since the FDIC came into existence through legislation in 1933, no one has ever lost a penny of insured savings. However, these low interest rates do have a few benefits.

The intra-family loan If a parent lends money to a child in exchange for either a verbal or documented commitment to repay, an intra-family loan has been created. The interest on this loan can be whatever the parent wishes to charge, but at a minimum, it must be whatever the

Applicable Federal Rate is during the month the loan is made. Not charging interest would make the “loan” a gift, counting against the gift tax exclusion from the Internal Revenue Service’s standpoint. However, with rates so low, opportunities abound. If a child or other relative wants to start a business or buy a house, this could be the ideal time, because the rate of interest you must charge is so low. A parent could even loan money to a child for investment purposes. Funds invested wisely enough to earn more than the AFR could allow the borrower to benefit from the difference after repaying the loan to its originator. Again, if you engage in any intra-family loan transaction, remember you must collect payments and charge at least the appropriate minimum interest. The IRS

takes a dim view of transactions that appear to be “loans” but are, in fact, gifts in disguise.

Dividend paying stocks These low-interest rates are making blue chip stocks that pay dividends above the 10-year Treasury bond yield appealing. Of course, equities have more risk; however, the potential return, including the dividend, can be significant. This long-term investment decision, prodded by the lack of opportunity elsewhere, might prove beneficial in the long run for investors.

SEE MONEY / PAGE 16

Retail sales for Southern Illinois cities City Anna Benton Carbondale Carterville Chester Du Quoin Harrisburg Herrin Jonesboro Marion Metropolis Mount Vernon Murphysboro Nashville Pinckneyville Red Bud Sparta Vienna West City West Frankfort REGION ILLINOIS

YTD Aug 2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

82.6 51.9 389.8 27.6 35.4 51.6 132.0 107.0 7.9 461.3 54.7 343.2 87.5 64.3 24.3 50.2 85.0 26.6 59.7 74.8 $2,217.4 $97,309.0

114.5 69.4 565.5 39.9 52.9 100.8 191.9 147.2 12.5 676.0 77.1 476.7 129.1 107.9 37.2 70.1 126.4 37.1 91.9 111.4 $3,235.5 $139,593.2

113.3 71.4 587.7 40.1 51.5 91.9 179.3 135.9 12.4 673.4 75.9 482.8 117.1 101.8 39.0 77.7 130.5 40.5 89.6 111.2 $3,223.0 $237,438.0

112.3 72.4 607.4 40.3 51.7 94.4 173.6 134.4 11.3 662.4 79.8 461.5 94.9 105.2 35.8 73.7 129.5 39.8 82.8 111.4 $3,174.7 $180,162.7

111.7 75.0 610.4 39.9 54.0 103.1 168.5 137.5 11.5 592.7 74.8 501.0 93.0 105.7 41.7 82.5 133.1 36.9 77.7 106.8 $3,157.6 $173,362.8

109.7 70.4 579.4 32.7 51.1 95.0 164.9 127.9 11.5 545.9 69.4 475.3 94.6 101.1 38.0 82.5 127.7 32.7 70.8 102.3 $2,983.0 $167,459.0

N I L L I Chicago Fed Midwest % change 05-09 Manufacturing Index

p q q p p p p p p p p p p p q q q p p p p q

4.4% 1.4% 2.4% 22.0% 3.5% 6.1% 16.4% 15.1% 8.7% 23.8% 11.1% 0.3% 53.4% 6.7% 2.1% 15.0% 1.0% 13.5% 29.8% 8.9% 8.5% 16.6%

The CFMMI is a monthly estimate by major industry of manufacturing output in the Seventh Federal Reserve District states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. It is a composite index of 15 manufacturing industries, including auto and steel, that uses electrical power and hours worked data to measure monthly changes in regional activity. It is compared here to the national Industrial Production index for Manufacturing (IPMFG). Base year is 2007. Starting in November 2005, the index excluded the electricity component. 105 104 103 102 100 98 94 90 88

IPMFG Sept 10 91.4

86 84 82

SOURCE: LATEST STATISTICS AVAILABLE FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. FIGURES ARE IN MILLIONS.

81 80

Unemployment rates for Southern Illinois counties, state and nation Alexander Franklin Gallatin Hamilton Hardin Jackson Jefferson Johnson Massac Perry Pope Pulaski Randolph Saline Union Washington White Williamson .,REGION ILLINOIS U.S.

Labor force

Jobless

Sept 2010

3,182 18,146 2,759 4,176 1,819 33,945 20,682 5,130 7,476 9,512 1,973 2,902 15,585 13,173 8,307 8,242 7,598 35,585 200,192 6,658,735 153,854,000

361 2,324 264 386 192 2,438 1,863 530 654 1,037 205 309 1,310 1,312 918 608 636 3,163 18,510 629,741 14,140,000

11.3% 12.8% 9.6% 9.2% 10.6% 7.2% 9.0% 10.3% 8.7% 10.9% 10.4% 10.6% 8.4% 10.0% 11.1% 7.4% 8.4% 8.9% 9.2% 9.5% 9.2%

Aug 2010 Sept 2009 13.2% 13.6% 10.2% 9.9% 12.5% 8.4% 9.9% 11.4% 11.2% 11.8% 11.0% 12.0% 8.9% 10.0% 12.4% 7.9% 8.8% 9.6% 10.7% 9.9% 9.6%

12.7% 13.9% 10.8% 9.2% 12.4% 7.2% 9.8% 10.6% 8.0% 11.6% 10.7% 12.0% 9.2% 10.9% 10.8% 8.0% 8.6% 9.4% 10.3% 10.4% 9.5%

SOURCE: ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. FIGURES ARE NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED.

Change month q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q

1.9 0.8 0.6 0.7 1.9 1.2 0.9 1.1 2.5 0.9 0.6 1.4 0.5 0.0 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.5 0.4 0.4

Change year

76 74

q 1.4 72 80.2 q 1.1 70 68 q 1.2 0.0 66 q 1.8 64M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S ’10 ’09 0.0 q 0.8 SOURCE: FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO q 0.3 p 0.7 q 0.7 q 0.3 q 1.4 Sept 10 Sept 09 Change q 0.8 q 0.9 MONTHLY TOTALS p 0.3 702 195 p260.0% q 0.6 YTD TOTALS q 0.2 q 0.5 1,914 575 p232.9% q 1.1 2009 2008 Change q 0.9 ANNUAL TOTALS q 0.3 2,750 2,636 p 4.3%

CFMMI Sept 10

Williamson County Regional Airport passengers

I S I N Consumer credit score

Credit scores are numeric reflections of financial behavior and credit worthiness and they are based on information included in a credit report. Ranging from 330 to 830, a higher score means a lower credit risk. Scores are from November 2010.

698

Carbondale

Region

699

692

State

U. S.

O R S U of I Flash Index

Total cars, trucks sold based on title applications filed. Excludes motorcycles, trailers.

New vehicle sales Sept 10 Sept 09 14 95 21 21 8 116 81 26 30 59 7 13 74 67 39 46 51 164 932

694

SOURCE: EXPERIAN

Alexander Franklin Gallatin Hamilton Hardin Jackson Jefferson Johnson Massac Perry Pope Pulaski Randolph Saline Union Washington White Williamson REGION

p p p p q p p

9 64 12 13 11 84 55 26 19 32 6 11 43 45 28 29 32 111 630

p p p p p p p p p p p

Change

2009

55.6% 48.4% 75.0% 69.2% 27.3% 38.1% 47.3% 0.0% 57.9% 84.4% 16.7% 18.2% 72.1% 48.9% 39.3% 37.0% 59.4% 47.7% 48.0%

137 989 184 224 94 1,348 842 353 278 565 85 124 936 719 447 515 471 1,868 10,179

2008 169 1,341 294 287 109 1,969 1,270 481 422 689 123 221 1,208 1,064 596 621 721 2,515 14,100

q p p p q p p p p p p p p p p p p p p

Change 13.3% 7.5% 30.7% 10.4% 19.3% 21.4% 14.9% 14.8% 3.7% 8.0% 10.8% 11.1% 7.3% 15.7% 11.6% 4.4% 8.6% 9.7% 11.1%

108 107 106 105 104 103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 89

Oct 10 93.8

Q3 10 Alexander Franklin Gallatin Hamilton Hardin Jackson Jefferson Johnson Massac Perry Pope Pulaski Randolph Saline Union Williamson ILLINOIS

5 68 2 0 3 97 66 24 21 26 2 1 31 33 21 160 24,628

Q3 09 6 67 7 1 4 129 81 16 13 23 2 2 34 28 27 186 32,776

SOURCE: ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

Change

q 16.7% p 1.5% q 71.4% q 100.0% q 25.0% q 24.8% q 18.5% p 50.0% p 61.5% p 13.0% 0.0% q 50.0% q 8.8% p 17.9% q 22.2% q 14.0% q 24.9%

2008 17 276 NA 7 0 383 332 78 112 126 10 13 149 80 101 639 107,075

2007 32 332 NA 8 0 467 381 92 128 149 9 4 136 78 91 705 140,378

q q q

q q q q q p p p p p q q

Hotel/motel stats

Consumer Price Index

Total amount of revenue generated in Carbondale by hotels and motels for room rentals only.

The CPI measures average price changes of goods and services over time, with a reference base of 100 in 1982-84.To put into context, a current CPI of 194.5 means a market basket of goods and services that cost $100 in 1982-84 now costs $194.50.

June 10 June 09 MONTHLY TOTALS YTD TOTALS $3,662,736

Change

$722,378 q

$712,750

$3,793,841 q

2009 ANNUAL TOTALS

2008

1.3%

U.S. city average Sept 10 218.4

220

218

3.5%

Change

$7,520,856 p

Change

MEDIAN SALES PRICE Q3 10 Q3 09

46.9% 16.9% NA 12.5% 0% 18.0% 12.9% 15.2% 12.5% 15.4% 11.1% 225.0% 9.6% 2.6% 11.0% 9.4% 23.7%

$50,000 $42,625 $35,800 $0 $124,500 $104,000 $79,000 $62,000 $89,500 $75,000 $15,000 $39,000 $83,900 $47,000 $115,000 $98,000 $154,000

Total units sold, including condominiums

’10

216

214

212

Midwest urban Sept 10 208.8

2.7% 210

Home sales

’09 ’08 SOURCE: INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

$7,725,727

SOURCE: ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE. LATEST DATA AVAILABLE.

The Flash Index is an early indicator of the Illinois economy’s expected performance. It is a weighted average of growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending and personal income. An index above 100 indicates expected growth; an index below 100 indicates the economy is contracting.

$37,450 $59,500 $40,000 $142,500 $76,500 $104,000 $84,200 $44,000 $56,500 $42,500 $75,750 $47,500 $68,500 $54,200 $79,000 $98,750 $164,000

208

Change

p 33.5% q 28.4% q 10.5% q 100.0% p 62.7% 0.0% q 6.2% p 40.9% p 58.4% p 76.5% q 80.2% q 17.9% p 22.5% q 13.3% p 45.6% q 0.8% q 6.1%

206

204

200 S O ’09

A ‘10

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Prices at the pump Average price per gallon of regular, unleaded gas as of Oct. 15 and Nov. 19, 2010.

Nov 10 Metro East Springfield Illinois U.S. SOURCE: AAA

$2.90 $2.91 $3.01 $2.88

Oct 10 Nov 09 $2.86 $2.87 $2.96 $2.83

$2.64 $2.60 $2.70 $2.64

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2010

Workplace Horse-human connection continued: Gender behavioral differences in equine action BY JANE SANDERS SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Continuing with my November column subject, this month I will explore a few tips for men when communicating with women, and add an interesting twist of how our Sanders equine friends might interpret the masculine style. Don’t assume women’s softer style means less competent. (It’s just different than your style.) Just because a horse communicates differently than you do doesn’t mean she’s not trying to understand or communicate back. It doesn’t mean she is not extraordinarily intelligent in her own way, or that she is not a spectacular performer when it counts. Be personable and insert a little personal disclosure. (Research regarding employees’ preferences for a masculine vs. feminine style of management consistently shows the latter, usually called participative style, is more effective.) As mentioned last month, the more personal the better as far as horses are concerned (except training situations where conciseness and brevity are important). They are with us to serve. They may not understand the words you are saying, but they’ll understand that you need a kind, listening ear and a big heart to absorb your pain. They love a kind human voice and appreciate your attempt to connect with them. Maintain direct but not constant eye contact. (Women perceive lack of eye contact as intentional avoidance and disinterest in listening.) Horses are all about eye contact and body language; this is the basis for all horse whispering. They can tell if your eye is soft or hard from many yards away. In a roundpen, a

horse whisperer can control the speed and direction of a horse with eye contact. It can be that powerful. Horses are connection-based, herd-oriented, nurturing, prey animals. They are vulnerable, but strong and wise. As Charles de Kunffy, famed dressage trainer, said, “Courage, wisdom born of insight and humility, empathy born of compassion and love, all can be bequeathed by a horse to his rider.” Say “please” and “thank you” more; use demands less. Polite, clear, loving, yet firm, communication gets the best results with horses. Avoid interrupting; use active listening skills. (Demonstrate that you are indeed hearing what she is saying.) If the horse isn’t responding as you wish, pay attention. He is trying to tell you what’s wrong, with his ears, his tail, his back, his feet. Offer more details, more often. Horses have a masculine style in this case and don’t handle great detail all at once. But women generally function best with detail, generally. Ask women for their input and opinions. (When you don’t ask, women think you don’t value their thoughts and contributions.) Here, working with horses differs a little. Because they need consistent leadership, giving them room to make decisions (give their opinion, so to speak) can snowball into frequent bad choices — like running back to the barn before you’re ready. If you know your horse well, you’ll know when it’s safe and appropriate to give him leeway to make decisions. For example, one sunny afternoon, while riding my horse Beau on the mountain trails in Malibu, Calif., he uncharacteristically stopped dead in his tracks, jerked his head up high and stared ahead for a moment, then whirled around and trotted quickly the other direction. He was clearly spooked. I usually see scary things before or at the same time he does, but in this case I saw nothing. I pulled him up and turned him around, knowing that if I let him

make that decision, he would do it again and start making other decisions as well. After two more repeats of the same reaction, it was time to allow him his decision. I know my horse. I know he is rarely that spooked. He has been on that trail hundreds of times and never reacted that way. Just because I couldn’t see or hear anything doesn’t mean he didn’t hear or smell something. It would be unusual, but quite possible, that he caught a whiff of a mountain lion. In this case, I needed to listen to my horse’s opinion. He has never behaved that way again, at least not yet, and that was more than four years ago. Watch nonverbal language for confusion or upset. (Women often don’t want to ask questions because they fear being judged as incompetent.) As mentioned, horses are all about body language and eye contact. Ears and tails provide a language all their own, an entire article in its own right. Recognize that her intentions may be different than your perception of her words or behavior. I think this tip is obvious as relevant to horses. Say, “I’m sorry” more often. (Including for small blunders or omissions.) Horses amaze me with their ability to comprehend genuine humility and regret. With the right attitude from people, horses (and women) have great capacity to forgive. Be empathetic, but not afraid of women’s tears. (It’s just a different way of expressing emotion. She’s been told her entire life that it’s acceptable and even good to cry.) The same tip applies to horses as well, but for different reasons — they sense fear and are afraid of it. Don’t be afraid of them. They sense it and will return the fear or will become bossy in order to provide the missing leadership into the equation. Be cautious, safety-conscious and smart, but not fearful. Remember, horses take their cues from us. Don’t underestimate a woman’s capability just because she doesn’t talk

about her accomplishments. And don’t underestimate the speed an otherwise seemingly lazy horse can find when extremely frightened. Many riders have found themselves on the ground in a flash when a horse has whirled and bolted (called a spin-n’bolt), so fast they suddenly found themselves in mid-air with no horse under them. Yes, just like in cartoons. Be flexible and keep a positive attitude about differences. Different is not right, wrong, bad or good — just different. One of my favorite horse sayings is, “No good horse is a bad color.” What else can I say? In the words of Frederico Tesio, arguably the most successful thoroughbred breeder in the history of racing, “A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart and wins with his character.” As with training horses, effective communication between men and women will take commitment, consistency and practice by both genders. But, with respect and flexibility, we can all enjoy success. JANE SANDERS is a speaker, trainer and facilitator in the areas of gender communication, strategic business or work/life planning, presentation skills, authentic leadership confidence, recruiting and retention of women and selling to women. She also facilitates brainstorming, best practice, and strategic planning sessions and retreats. Jane’s clients include Toyota, MassMutual, Prudential, US Steel, Walgreens, Mayo Clinic and many more. Located in Mount Vernon, she is the creator of the Undercover Confidante™ service, offering discovery and solutions to challenging employee issues. Jane is author of “GenderSmart: Solving The Communication Puzzle Between Men and Women,” available on her website. Reach Jane at 618-204-5540; jane@janesanders.com; www.janesanders.com.

DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAILBAG: A good time for strategizing FROM PAGE 4 original mission and then takes steps to get things back on track.

Assessing the environment An often overlooked area of strategic planning is understanding how internal and external factors impact your business. Assessing the current business environment allows you to examine any pressing issues that may be on the horizon. Now may be a good time to examine how economic and regulatory conditions might be affecting your business. It is always a good idea to know if your competition has launched a new product and how that might be affecting sales. Lastly, are there technological advances driving your industry? And, are your company’s technology efforts up to speed? It’s important to note that a strategic plan need not be a lesson in futility. Try developing three realistic and obtainable strategies based on your

company’s most pressing needs. Make sure these milestones are flexible enough to be adjusted in case things don’t go exactly as planned. One goal for your company may be to increase sales 40 percent next year. Objectives to help you meet that goal might include hiring two new sales staff, improving company-wide marketing efforts and implementing technology that will bring greater efficiencies. Getting an early start on strategic planning could be the key to success in the upcoming year. CAVANAUGH L. GRAY is the director of business development for The Entrepreneur Café, L.L.C. in Carbondale. He can be contacted at cgray@ecafellc.com or 618-206-7013. For more information on developing a strategic plan or for information on how to start, grow and succeed in small business, be sure to follow The Entrepreneur Café, L.L.C. on Twitter, www.twitter.com /TheECafe, or at www.ecafellc.com.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2010

Elder Law Avoid disagreements between your health care and property power of attorney agents BY RICHARD HABIGER SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Just as we create estate plans for our eventual demise, we also need to plan ahead for the possibility that we will become sick and unable to make our own medical decisions. Medical Habiger science has created many miracles, among them the technology to keep patients alive longer, sometimes indefinitely.

Power of attorney for property For most people, the power of attorney for property is the most important estate planning instrument available, even more useful than a will. A power of attorney allows a person you appoint — your “attorney-in-fact” or agent — to act in your place for financial purposes when and if you ever become incapacitated. In that case, the person you choose will be able to step in and take care of your financial affairs. Without a durable power of attorney, no one can represent you unless a court appoints a guardian. That court process takes time, costs money, and the judge may not choose the person you would prefer. In addition, under a guardianship, your representative may have to seek court permission to take planning steps that he or she could implement immediately under a durable power of attorney that specifically permits gifting and other similar types of planning.

Power of attorney for health care If an individual becomes incapacitated, it is important that someone have the legal authority to communicate that person’s wishes concerning medical treatment. Similar to a power of attorney for property, a power of attorney for health care allows an individual to appoint someone else to act as that person’s agent,

but for medical, as opposed to financial, decisions. The health care power of attorney is a document executed by a competent person (the principal), giving another person (the agent) the authority to make health care decisions for the principal if he or she is unable to make or communicate such decisions. By executing a health care power of attorney, principals ensure that the instructions that they have given their agents will be carried out. A health care agent is especially important to have if an individual and family members may disagree about treatment.

Appointing your agent A durable power of attorney for property and a health care power of attorney are two very important, yet very different, estate planning documents. Both allow other people to make decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated. Because the individuals chosen will have to coordinate your care, it is important to pick two people who will get along. While the health care agent is the one who makes the health care decisions, the person who holds the power of attorney for property is the one who needs to pay for the health care. If the two agents disagree, it can spell trouble. For example, suppose your health care agent decides that you need 24-hour care at home, but the agent you named in your power of attorney for property thinks a nursing home is the best option and refuses to pay for the at-home care. Any disagreements would have to be settled by a court, which will take time and drain your resources. The easiest way to avoid conflicts is to choose the same person to do both jobs. But this may not always be feasible; for example, perhaps the person you would choose as health care agent is not good with finances. If you pick different people for both roles, then you should think about picking two people who can get along and work together. You should also talk to both agents about your wishes for medical care so that they both understand what you want.

Medical directive An advance medical directive should accompany a power of attorney for health care. Such a directive provides the agent with instructions on what type of care the principal would like. A medical directive can be included in the health care power of attorney or it can be a separate document.

him at 618-549-4529 or info@habigerelderlaw.com.

MONEY: Making the best of low rates FROM PAGE 11

Living wills Living wills are documents that give instructions regarding treatment if the individual becomes terminally ill or is in a persistent vegetative state and is unable to communicate his or her own instructions. If an individual would like to avoid lifesustaining (death-delaying) treatment when it would be hopeless, he or she needs to sign a living will. A living will takes effect only when a person’s condition is terminal and he or she would die within a short time but for the use of deathdelaying medical procedures. A living will is not set in stone; an individual can always revoke it at a later date if he or she wishes to do so. A living will, however, is not a substitute for a power of attorney for health care or broader advance medical directive. It simply dictates the withdrawal of life support in instances of terminal illness.

Time for a GRAT?

Do not confuse a living will with a “do not resuscitate” order. A DNR says that if you are having a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke, medical professionals may not try to revive you. This is very different from a living will, which only goes into effect if your medical condition is terminal. Everyone can benefit from a living will, while DNRs are only for very elderly and/or frail patients for whom it wouldn’t make sense to administer CPR.

As you may have heard since the federal rates dipped so low, this could be an excellent time for you to implement plans for wealth transfers connected with your estate plan. In effect, you can shift your wealth to others at greatly reduced transfer tax obligations. There are several ways to do this. One is through a grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT), a relatively simple revocable trust that often appeals to those who disdain more complex estate planning vehicles. A GRAT can work to your advantage if the appreciation accrued over the term of the trust exceeds the “hurdle rate,” or “7520 rate,” which earlier this year hit an historic low of 2 percent. The rate is locked in when the trust is established and, for tax purposes, the assets in the GRAT are assumed to grow at this initial rate. If your assets grow at a significantly greater rate than that, the appreciation, in most cases, goes tax-free to your children. A risk to your beneficiaries is the possibility that you could die before the trust ends, in which case it is as if the GRAT never existed. Its entire value is included in your estate and is subject to estate tax. Life in this era of low interest isn’t ideal for everyone, but if the circumstances are right, and if wealth transfer is part of your plan — if you see the glass as half full — this could be the ideal time to put part of your estate plan into effect.

RICHARD HABIGER is author of the Illinois edition of “How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets.” He is an elder law attorney, who focuses on asset protection, Medicaid and VA benefits. You may contact

MICHAEL P. TISON is an investment advisor and registered principal with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., with offices in Harrisburg and Marion. He can be reached at 618-253-4444 or michael.tison@raymond james.com.

Do-not-resuscitate

DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Your Business Peer interview program can make it easier to find the right new employee BY KRISTIN KING SBJ CONTRIBUTOR

Finding the right candidate for the right job at the right time can be a challenge. It is why organizations like Southern Illinois Healthcare have a peer interview program in place as King part of the employment process. Peer interviewing is the practice of including members of a work group in the hiring process. After a department manager interviews an applicant, three to five peers meet and interview the applicant(s) to determine both job and cultural fit. The peer role is to assess the applicant’s goals, mission, values and work ethic. Interviewing is not a one-sided process. The applicant should be evaluating the company just as much as the company is evaluating the applicant. It is the organization’s responsibility to ensure that the applicant understands the roles and responsibilities of the job, if the technical skills are right for the position, and if the individual possesses the skills to do the job. The applicant should inquire about the culture of the organization, the strategic plan, future goals and mission/vision. The peer interview team asks applicants a set of structured, behavioral-based questions. Behaviorbased interviewing uses prepared questions to probe an applicant’s past behaviors in situations that reflect those that the applicant will encounter in the new position. As a new hire, Jamie Radney, office coordinator in corporate clinical services, recalls her experience with the peer interview process.

“The peer interviewing process was new to me and a bit intimidating, but I do feel the experience of a peer interview is beneficial for both parties. I had two peer interviews prior to the position I am in now. The questions are standardized and there is a method to the questioning. What you receive from those interviewing you is crucial. Whether it is a look exchanged or a tone of voice, you can get a general idea of the atmosphere or environment you would be entering into and if you would be a good fit for their team. When I left my last interview, I knew I would be more comfortable and more likely to succeed at the position I was offered.”

Peer interview process

l Department manager receives and reviews all applications of candidates applying for their job opening. l Department manager screens all applications, selects candidates for initial interview, and conducts the initial interview. l Department manager selects the candidates, based on their education, job experience and the requirements of the job, for peer interviews. l Peer interview team members interview the candidates, make their selection for the hire, and review their decision with the hiring manager. Peer interviewing has given our employees a sense of ownership in the hiring process. Engaging our employees in organizational processes has increased employee moral, built stronger interdepartmental relationships and produced highly functioning teams. KRISTIN KING is the employment manager in Corporate Human Resources for Southern Illinois Healthcare. She can be contacted at 618-457-5200, ext.67803.

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2010

Achievements CBAI names Altmix ‘Outstanding Member’

Faces in the news

Altmix

Palys

Criste

Bleichner

Grandhi

King

Wente

Greatting

Jackman

Stalls

Lyerla

Porrazzo

Faces in the news Have you been promoted? Send a photo. Has a colleague at work completed an intensive continuing education program? Send a photo. Others in the business community will want to know it, so please consider passing on your employment news and photos to the Southern Business Journal. Feel free to e-mail the information to sbj@thesouthern.com.

Ray Altmix, president and CEO of The Bank of Marion, was named the “Outstanding Member” of Community Bankers Association of Illinois for 2009-10. The announcement was made recently during the association’s annual convention in Louisville, Ky. This is the highest honor presented to a member banker. It is bestowed annually upon the banker who best represents personal and professional involvement in both CBAI and in the communitybanking profession. Altmix has served in various capacities as a CBAI leader for several years, including two terms as a CBAI group director. He currently serves on the board of Community BancService Corporation, a subsidiary of CBAI.

Hospital through Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

King named CFO Hugh King has been named vice president and chief financial officer at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. The appointment was announced recently by Southeast Missouri Hospital President and CEO Debbie Linnes.

Two attend conference

Marilyn Wente, assistant cashier/officer at First National Bank of Steeleville, and Lisa Greatting, teller supervisor at Sparta Banking Center, a branch of FNB of Steeleville, attended the 2010 Women in Banking Conference on Oct. 21 and 22 at the Hilton in Springfield. Sponsored by Illinois Bankers Association and Illinois League of SIMS welcomes Financial Institutions, the conference brought together nearly new physicians Southern Illinois Medical Services 100 women in banking from throughout Illinois. has welcomed four new physicians to the Center for Medical Arts in Jackman appointed to board Carbondale. Erica Palys, M.D., infectious Cindy K. Jackman, CIC, has disease/internal medicine. In been appointed to Independent addition to helping patients manage Insurance Agents of Illinois Board of chronic illness, Dr. Palys also will Directors. diagnose and treat patients with less IIA of IL is a trade association of common infections. independent insurance agents, Gerson Criste, M.D., specialist located throughout the state, who in interventional pain management. are engaged in all facets of the Dr. Criste performs a full range of insurance industry. Jackman is interventional pain management director for Region 1, which covers procedures. the 30 most southeastern counties Amanda Bleichner, M.D., in the state. board-certified, pediatrics. A native She has been with Independent of Benton, Dr. Bleichner received Insurance Agents since 1984 and is her medical degree from Southern an insurance consultant with Illinois University School of Consolidated Insurance Agency, Medicine in Springfield. She Inc. in Carbondale. completed her residency at Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital of Stalls attends conference Loyola University Medical Center in Dr. M. Stalls, a Carbondale Chicago, where she worked with resident and board member of pediatric experts in multiple Association of Black Women in disciplines. Higher Education, recently Sandhya Grandhi, M.D., attended the biennial national board-certified, family medicine. conference in Culver City, Calif. Dr. Grandhi completed her medical The conference was hosted by the degree in the United Kingdom and Los Angeles ABWHE chapter. The her residency at E.A. Conway

theme was “Mission Impossible: Reaching New Heights in Academia.” ABWHE supports and empowers sister scholars, administrators and students through various resources and networks.

Advanced Mobility moves Kip Lyerla, owner of Advanced Mobility LLC, and certified assistive technology professional, has moved his business to Illinois 13 in Carterville to better serve the region. Lyerla has worked in the industry since 1986. This new store and showroom includes several custom manual and power wheelchairs, scooters, lifts, ramps and more.

Porrazzo named director Alandra Porrazzo has been named director of marketing for InnoTech Manufacturing, LLC of Mount Vernon, a design, steel fabrication and manufacturing company, Porrazzo joins InnoTech Manufacturing, LLC from Stark & Associates in Reno, Nev., where she was an administrative marketing manager overseeing the company’s operations. InnoTech Manufacturing, LLC has more than 70 combined years in the construction industry.

Hospital to build aquatic therapy pool Plans are under way for Union County Hospital in Anna to build an aquatic therapy pool. A portion of the cost for the new service line is being funded by Union County Hospital District. The estimated date for completion is the first half of 2011. The aquatics therapy program will be offered through the hospital therapy services department, which currently offers physical, occupational and speech therapies. A physician’s referral is required to participate in aquatic physical or occupational therapy. An individualized program will be developed by a licensed physical or

DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Achievements occupational therapist to meet the patient’s manager of U.S. Bank’s office at 120 S. Front St. in Cobden; Michele Maher, needs. 4100 Broadway St. in Mount Vernon; and Cindy Page, U.S. Bank Southern Illinois Edward Jones branch recognized Derek J. Hood and Melody Stevens of district manager, and Rob Hammond, the financial services firm Edward Jones in U.S. Bank Southern Illinois financial consultant, who are both based out of U.S. Carterville recently received the firm’s Bank’s office at 701 Public Square in Client Service Excellence award for their Benton. region. U.S. Bank also was presented a Patriot “Derek and Melody are outstanding Award by the U.S. Department of Defense members of the Edward Jones team,” said for support of its employees in the National Jim Weddle, Edward Jones’ managing Guard and Reserve Forces. And, U.S. Bank’s partner. “While all of our associates FlexPerks credit card was highlighted in understand the value of client service, it’s December’s Kiplinger’s Personal Finance obvious that they have been striving to for being the best card for travel perks. provide the best service for their clients.”

U.S. Bank honors local employees Brehm School hosts conference U.S. Bank recently recognized five local bankers with pinnacle awards for being top retail employees in the entire company. The bankers include Sharon Pulver, branch manager of U.S. Bank’s office at 510 Eighth St. in Carlyle; Nina Lofton, branch

Brehm Preparatory School, one of the nation’s leading schools for children with learning disabilities, hosted the 2010 Harvard Medical School Dyslexia Foundation Conference. More than 70 people attended the Oct. 15

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video conference, which was geared toward teachers and parents who wanted to hear the latest information on practical application and scientific foundations on literacy, reading and dyslexia. The Dyslexia Foundation sponsors this yearly event.

Halleran joins VNA-TIP HealthCare Christy Halleran recently joined VNATIP HealthCare team’s Southern Illinois marketing region after a career in pharmaceutical sales. VNA Tip HealthCare’s Marion branch is located at 4501 W. DeYoung St. The Marion branch is one of 13 VNA-TIP HealthCare facilities in the Illinois region.

Neuman, Hunter earn certification Melissa Neuman, R.N., and Debbie Hunter, L.P.N., staff members for Hospice of Southern Illinois, recently earned certification in hospice and palliative nursing. This specialty credential, given by the

National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses, is an indication of current competence and advanced knowledge in hospice and palliative care practice. Nine members of HSI’s clinical staff, including Neuman and Hunter, have attained this level of achievement.

Appleton named administrator Longtime Benton resident Pamela L. Appleton has been named the new administrator of Heritage Woods of Benton, an assisted living community which serves older adults, of all incomes, who need some help to maintain their independence. For more than nine years, Appleton served as the surgical technology program director for Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market, a consortium of five community colleges based in Herrin. She is a graduate of Rend Lake College in Ina and the University of Tennessee.

DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Business Fine Print PERMITS | BANKRUPTCIES

Building permits Carbondale EMAC, 2380 Emac Way, $250,000 E.T. Simonds, 1500 N. Oakland Avenue, $63,000 Jennifer Butcher, 1106 W. Freeman Street, $10,000 Judith Green, 1080 Kira Court, $20,000 Michael Asa, 617 N. Almond Street, $68,000 James and Jackie McFadden, 203 S. Tower Road, $500 Linda Johnson, 1712 W. Colonial Drive, $2,500 William Connell, 900 W. Pecan Street, $200 Brian Kennedy, 801 W. High Street, $200 Jacob Povolish, 512 N. Carico Street, $200 House of Rentals, 516 W. Pecan Street, $1,000 Gerald Compton, 1002 W. Walkup Avenue, $500 Home Rentals, 502 W. Freeman Street, $500 J.W. Rendleman, 1270 E. Walnut Street, $40,000

Herrin Dan Shirley, 2220 Shirley Drive, $300 Greg Beers, 2004 W. Cherry, $270,000 Jack Coriasco, 1805 W. Oak St., $0 James Davis, 3221 Appaloosa, $0 Dwayne Johnson, 508 N. 21st St., $1,500 Phyllis Nelson, 9 C Lane, $0 Steve Seever, 1721 W. Cherry St., $95,000 Steve Seever, 1805 W. Cherry St., $80,000 Steve Seever, 1602 Kaijo, $150,000 Paul Garavalia, 1012 S. 16th St., $24,720

Marion Tom Gabriel, 1209 N. Glendale, $6,000 James Watkin, 418 Bainbridge, $8,000 Candy McFarland, 707 S. Duncan, $2,500 Brad McMillian, O’Neal Drive, $4,565,000 Amanda Prowell, 1606 Morgan Ave., $15,000 Pro Storage, 2408 Skyline Drive, $68,000 Radcliffe Estates, 901 Independence, $85,000 Aldersgate United Methodist, 1201 N. Fair, $1,500 Hobart Beasley, 101 Chase Lane, $292 Bruce Jett, 1502 Browns Lane, $2,000 Phyllis Pritchett, 103 N. Lear, $650 Timberline Fisheries, 201 E. Timberline, $100,000 Kim DeFrank, 1205 Lincoln, $7,500 Scott Cranick, 4005 S. Market, $230,000

Metropolis 12th Pawn and Gun, 10A and K Drive, $10,000 Kandi Stepter, 201 E. 11th St., $6,000 Misty and Robert Garduno, 608 E. 8th St., $4,500 Eugene George, 1200 Ophia St., $2,700 Thomas and April Reed, 210 Shawnee Lane, $3,000

Troy and Michelle Lewis, 6 Dove Lane, $8,500 Janice Neblett, P.O. Box 64, $900 Beth Williams, Illinois 3, Box 265B, $80,000

Mount Vernon Vicky Taylor, 2601 Brownsville Road, $4,500 Dunham’s Sporting Goods, 3917 Broadway, $2,600 Buffalo Wild Wings, 227 Potomac, $8,000 Jack Weems, 311 Caslteton, $995 Jerry Sharp, 2710 Bishop, $10,000 Anytime Fitness, 616B 42nd St., $82,000 Roxanne Hicks, 1308 Wescott, $0 Nada Bee, 913 Gilbert, $0 Stan the Tire Man, 1213 Broadway, $4,500 Ryan Gillespie, 1010 10th St., $4,000 Pizza Hut, 3519 Broadway, $656,000 Jane and Don Byars, 1819 Warren, $15,830 AMC Showplace 8, 400 Potomac, $1,200 Steak N Shake, 130 N. 44th St., $10,000 Ruby Mitchell, 144 Opdyke, $0 Carla Page, 1201 23rd St., $2,000 So. IL Harvest Fest, 1400 Broadway, $0 Continental Tire, 11525 Illinois 142 South, $445,000 Darla Drew, 2501 Perkins, $2,800

Murphysboro Dale Roberts, 1932 Logan St., $4,000 Dan Coomer, 1625 Shomaker Drive, $15,000 Larry Reinhardt, 1808 Pine St., $3,000 Melanie Wyatt and Josh Stevens, 2019 Herbert St., $3,000 Dale Grob, 1603 Pine St., $40,271 Norman Beckman, 1928 Illinois Ave., $4,075 Mary Ellis, 511 N. 21st St., $3,500 Mike Schumaker, 2003 Illinois Ave., $475 Janet Meggs, 713 N. 23rd St., $3,503 Laura Mueller, 2131 Logan St., $3,000

Bankruptcies Chapter 7 Brandi Atlee, 709 E. 13th St., Johnston City Susan White, P.O. Box 842, Energy Angelia Young, 811 N. Mulberry St., Mount Carmel Linda Baker, 117 N. 12th St., Herrin Pamela Carlton, 319 Third St., Cairo Jennifer Mayes, Route 3, Box 635B, Fairfield Barbara Melvin, 2444 Cedar Hill Road, West Frankfort Terry Thomas, 1401 W. Prairie St., Marion Linda Shipp, 509 S. Adams St., West Frankfort Garrett Berry, 208 E. South Second St., Red Bud Jada Berry, 11484 Mine Road, Benton Mary Blake, 212 Third St., Carmi Patrick Clawson, 1205 W. Mack Ave., Apt. C, Marion

Kenneth Raigner Sr. and Jonie Raigner, 510 Fifth St., Carmi Kraig Anthony, P.O. Box 3493, Carbondale Rebecca Ntow, 1809 W. Main 179, Carbondale Connie Busby, 806 S. Jackson St., West Frankfort Patricia Waner, 190 E. St. Louis, Nashville Kelly Raymond, 1006 E. Carter St., Marion Patricia Johnson, 1015 N. 11th St., Mount Vernon Jeffrey Barnes, 42532 Illinois 3, McClure Kimberly Roberts, 403 E. Main St., Marion Jacob Lindsay, 300 Mill St., Okawville Shannon Hicks, 408 W. Walnut St., Carrier Mills Kimberly Hughes, 307 N. McLaren St., Marion Mallary Overstreet, 125 Carrier Mills Road, Carrier Mills Christina Unthank, 603 Madison St., Eldorado Audrey Cunningham, 600 McKinley St., Anna Kenneth Mishler and Judith Mishler, 1118 Saddlebrook St., Mount Carmel Carla Belmont, 207 S. Robert Ave., Bluford Wesley Patterson Jr. and Nicole Patterson, 4459 District 204 Road, Tamaroa Grace Robinson, 601 Madison St., Eldorado Donna Rose, 802 E. Summers St., West Frankfort Michelle Mosher, 206 W. Perrine St., Johnston City Keith Stricker, P.O. Box 104, Olmstead Kimberly Shrum, 5854 Illinois 4, Steeleville Michael Lewsader and Mary Lewsader, 1310 Meadowbrook Lane, Carbondale John McNeal and Barbara McNeal, 611 E. Gardiner St., Benton Sandra Nimmo, 900 Brady Mill Road, Apt. 5, Anna Carlton Van Ness and Phyllis Van Ness, 1113 Beulah St., Eldorado Carolyn Wiggins, 418 Cedar Ave., Du Quoin Ronald Burkett and Sharon Burkett, 4383 Black Jack Road, Red Bud Paula Wells, P.O. Box 950, Harrisburg John Blackford and Hazel Blackford, 410 E. Parkhurst St., Fairfield Dennis Graves, 1004 N. 17th St., Herrin William Curtner and Julie Curtner, 101 N. Price St., Pittsburg Terry Owens, P.O. Box 118, Hurst Guy Ford, R.R. No. 2, Box 1AA, Elizabethtown Jeffrey Nolda and Melissa Nolda, 1200 Brenda St., Chester Ashley Bruce, 18471 E. Hawk Road, Mount Vernon Jacob Edmonds, P.O. Box 422, West Frankfort Guy Rasor and Mary Rasor, R.R. 3, Box 133, McLeansboro Denise Young, 127 E. Last St., Mount Vernon Melissa Browning, 311 E. Locust St., Norris City

Steven Carlile Jr. and Cathy Carlile, 213 Casey St., Woodlawn Ment Van Mil, P.O. Box 251, Baldwin Jaime Ruffino, 8555 City Lake Road, Du Quoin Ryan Rider and Christy Rider, 683 Sweetgum Road, Du Quoin Chad Deaton and Angela Deaton, 908 S. Aikman St., Marion Michael Kinney and Kathy Kinney, P.O. Box 323, Percy Robert Reinhardt and Shirley Reinhardt, 607A N. Chesterfield Commons, Mount Vernon Rickey Scott and Judy Scott, 3204 Blackberry St., Mount Vernon Richard Perrin, 12 S. Ballantine Ave., Du Quoin Samantha Inselman, 6060 Zion Church Road, Walsh Samantha Young, 622 W. Ogara St., Harrisburg Wade Stanley, 1686 S. Lorene Drive, Nashville Orlando Matthews and Lacynthia Matthews, 302 N. Delaware St., Mounds William Brown Jr., P.O. Box 3161, Carbondale Elizabeth Rodriguez, 2301 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale Lester Lewis and Virginia Lewis, 467 N. Second St., Ashley Larry Palmer and Donna Palmer, P.O. Box 255, Galatia Timothy Roe and Linda Roe, 414 N. Thompson St., Carrier Mills Richard Wade and Annie Wade, 1005 W. Oak St., Herrin

Chapter 13 Christopher Campbell, 500 Miller Road, Dongola Mark Barringer, 1003 N. Eighth St., Herrin Amanda Shewmaker, 607 S. 23rd St., Murphysboro Karen Hanks, 15 N. Indiana St., Harrisburg Eugene Martin and Della Martin, 2015 Lindell Ave., Murphysboro Jodi Mayes, 1303 Waterworks Road, Okawville Paul Loucks and Becky Loucks, 3845 Felicia Road, Pinckneyville Diana Reynolds, P.O. Box 125, Dongola Loretta Hilt, 814 26th St., Cairo Chelena DeWitt, 680 Railroad St., Ullin Angela Hite, 212 W. Park St., Harrisburg Samuel Waters, 108 E. Stotlar St., Herrin Crystal Kellum, 3001 E. Cindy St., Carbondale Mark McQueen and Cheryl McQueen, 605 W. 19th St., Metropolis William Fossie, P.O. Box 218, Murphysboro Gary Melville, 310 Elmwood St., West Frankfort Kevin Pollmann, 11515 Wilson Road, Sparta SEE FINE PRINT / PAGE 23

DECEMBER 2010

SOUTHERN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Business Fine Print PERMITS | BANKRUPTCIES Hobert Karns and Katrina Karns, 13335 Maverick Road, Marion Philip Rivera and Terrie Rivera, 306 N. Lewis St., Sparta Cathy Price, 4333 U.S. Highway 51, Mounds Katrice Edmonds, P.O. Box 186, Ullin Kari Hagler, 401 Paradise Acres lot 28, Carterville Donald Eizenga and Dorothy Eizenga, P.O. Box 129, Metropolis Dennis Stewart and Kathy Stewart, 29 S. Howell St., Du Quoin Jennifer Korando, P.O. Box 1183, Herrin Judith Sherwood, 113 Thomas Drive, Cobden Alvan Smoot and Belinda Smoot, 16314 Evergreen St., Cairo Benny Ingram and Janet Ingram, 1220 Prairie St., Enfield Ray McKane and Heather McKane, 2100 W. Main St., Marion Paul Harris and Nancy Harris, P.O. Box 976,

Carrier Mills Brandy Herron and Chrystal Herron, 23314 Eastern Road, Thompsonville Thomas Tiernan and Lisa Tiernan, 1868 Business Hwy 13, Murphysboro Linda Sanders, 7261 Hill City Road, Apt. 16, Benton Delmar Stone and Edith Stone, 416 S. Ferne Clyffe, Goreville Dustin Scronce, 307 N. Horn St., West Frankfort Fred Roberts and Beth Roberts, 1507 Grand Ave., Johnston City Frankie Wheatley, 6319 Fourth St., Benton Eric Ramsey and Amanda Ramsey, 222 N. Walnut St., Du Quoin Margret Johnson, 2344 McCord St., Murphysboro Kent Ray and Rhonda Ray, 100 Pecan St., Anna Donald Rush and Sheri Rush, 34 Shawnee Hills Drive, Carbondale Shayne Eddleman and Daphne Eddleman, P.O.

Box 601, Cobden Garry Johnson and Tammy Johnson, 19449 St. Highway 149, West Frankfort Robert Sturgeon and Rhonda Sturgeon, 15170 Fietsam Road, Marion Thelma Yates, 1030 George St., Chester Robert Pleasant, 1904 Division St., Murphysboro Melovee Clark, 115 Diamond St., Mound City Cheryl Rautenstrauch, 700 Logan College Road, Carterville Richard Gruny and Deirdre Gruny, 1104 W. Hill St., Carbondale Chancey Thorpe, 4204 Valley Forge Road, Apt. A, Mount Vernon Danny McCarty, 517 Bill Drive, Murphysboro Gary Unthank, 603 Madison St., Eldorado John McCaleb and Beatrice McCaleb, 1205 Market St., Johnston City Jack Hays, Route No. 4, Box 127, McLeansboro Gregory Bose and Alicia Bose, 301 B. Sunridge

Road, Aiken Mary Gilmore, 1675 Mount Hebron Road, Makanda David Reed and Tonya Reed, 920 W. McHaney St., Harrisburg Robert Huff and Kathleen Huff, 530 Liberty Road, Harrisburg Charles Highland, 2012 S. Illinois Ave, Apt. 21, Carbondale Thomas Kellerman and Tammy Kellerman, 6859 State Route 127, Pinckneyville Joe Robbins, 609 E. Everett St., Marion Mollie Cross, P.O. Box 133, Cairo Kass Bukrym and Samantha Bukrym, 7278 Waldo Church Road, Brookport William Glasser, 410 North St., Murphysboro Joshua Chitwood and Amy Chitwood, 33 S. Hickory St., Du Quoin

Find more business news at www.sbj.biz.

Mark Your Calendar Dec. 1 Beginning Access 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Beginning/Intermediate Adobe Acrobat: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 2 Beginning Access 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 3 Beginning Excel 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Beginning QuickBooks 2009: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 6 Visio 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 7 Starting a Small Business Workshop: 1 to 3 p.m., River Room, Shawnee Community College, 8364 Shawnee College

Road, Ullin. Free. Call 618-634-3254 or e-mail gabrielef@shawneecc.edu. Beginning Excel 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 8 Intermediate Access 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Time & Stress Management: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F109, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Cost is $90.

Dec. 9 Starting a Business in Illinois Seminar: 1 to 3 p.m., Room 150, Dunn-Richmond Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Free. An optional business start-up kit is available for $15. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu. Finding Financing: 3 to 5 p.m., Room 150, Dunn-Richmond Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Free. Call 618-536-2424 or e-mail sbdc@siu.edu. Intermediate Access 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Beginning/Intermediate Adobe Photoshop: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room

H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 10 Food service sanitation refresher course: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., SCC Anna Extension Center, 1150 E. Vienna St., Anna. Cost is $45. To attend the class, participants must have a current, unexpired Illinois state sanitation certificate. Students may register the day of the course, but should call in advance to secure a seat in the class. To reserve a seat, call instructor Ruth Kessel at 618-827-4930 or Gabriele Farner at 618-634-3254 or e-mail gabrielef@shawneecc.edu. Intermediate Excel 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Intermediate QuickBooks 2009: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Center for Business & Industry. Team Building: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F110, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Cost is $90.

Dec. 16 Starting a Small Business Workshop: 9 to 11 a.m., River Room, Shawnee Community College, 8364 Shawnee College Road, Ullin. Free. Call 618-634-3254 or e-mail gabrielef@shawneecc.edu. Advanced Access 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 17 Advanced Excel 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Advanced QuickBooks 2009: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 14

Dec. 20

Intermediate Excel 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Advanced Excel 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry. Advanced Word 2003: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room H125, John A. Logan College Center for Business & Industry.

Dec. 15 Advanced Access 2007: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Room F112, John A. Logan College

For more information on John A. Logan or to register for classes, call 618-985-2828, ext. 8510 or e-mail cbi@jalc.edu. Cost is $55 unless otherwise noted.