Business Journal January 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2015

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Your Friday, Jan. 2‌

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.

calendar

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Jan. 14‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille, 101 S. Main St. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club, 158 W. Prairie Ave.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., La Hacienda, 1475 E. Village Parkway. Scheduled speaker is Ralf Pansch of Macon County Hybrid Court.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Real Estate Investors Association, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Family Restaurant, 2999 N. Monroe St.

Tuesday, Jan. 6‌

Thursday, Jan. 15‌

Monday, Jan. 5‌

Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton, 333 W. Marion Ave., Forsyth.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility, 3909 W. Main St. Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Jan. 7‌

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 8‌

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Christian Women’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur AMBUCS, 6 p.m., Decatur Club.

Friday, Jan. 16‌

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Noon Women’s Network, 11:45 a.m., Decatur Club.

Monday, Jan. 19‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

GFWC Decatur Woman’s Club, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Senior Resources Network (formerly Mature Resources Network), 11:45 a.m., Keystone Gardens, 1455 W. Mound Road.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., Decatur Club.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe (formerly Easter Seals), 2715 N. 27th St. Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Environmental Center, 3939 Nearing Lane.

Tuesday, Jan. 20‌

Friday, Jan. 9‌

Thursday, Jan. 22‌

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Monday, Jan. 12‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 13‌

Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall, 3390 N. Woodford St. Decatur Area Society for Human Resource Management, 11 a.m., Doherty’s Pub and Pins, 242 E. William St. Central Illinois Ad Club, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Jan. 21‌

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Christian Women’s Network, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Busey Bank, 2070 S. Mount Zion Road.

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Decatur Camera Club, 7 p.m., Rock Springs Environmental Center.

Friday, Jan. 23‌

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

American Business Women’s Association (Monarch), noon, location varies.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Building Construction Trades Council, 10 a.m., IBEW Local 146 Hall.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Jan. 28‌

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 29‌

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Friday, Jan. 30‌

Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Monday, Feb. 2‌

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Women’s Progressive Club, 6 p.m., Greater Northside Baptist Church.

Tuesday, Feb. 3‌

Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

Kiwanianne Club of Decatur, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Prairieland Kiwanis, 9:30 a.m., Decatur Civic Center.

Decatur AMBUCS, noon, Decatur Club.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Feb. 4‌

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Feb. 5‌

Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

American Business Women’s Association (Amacita), 11:30 a.m., location varies.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Human Service Agency Consortium (HSAC), noon, Central Christian Church, 650 W. William St. Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Greater Decatur Y, 220 W. McKinley Ave. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr. Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Independence Pointe (formerly Easter Seals).

Friday, Feb. 6‌

Monday, Jan. 26‌

Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon, noon, Main Street Church Tea Room, 2000 N. Main St.

Tuesday, Jan. 27‌

To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at (217) 4217976, at sperry@herald-review.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www.thebusiness-journal.com

Decatur Noon Lions Club, St. Nicholas Grille.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

January 2015

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FROM THE EDITOR ‌Me and buffets. We’re buds.

My inability to walk away from food sitting there for the taking just amazes me. One more bite of this, another bite of that.

Free. Paying for it. It doesn’t matter.

Want to chat with me at a gathering, there’s a good chance you will find me near the food table, especially if there are huge shrimp (those words just sound funny together) or those bacon covered dates (mmm, bacon) that are regular features of the Chamber’s Business Expo Preview Party.

It’s not a good weakness to have when trying to keep a good-intentioned doctor, worried mom and wife, all of whom track your latest lab results like you are part of some fantasy sports league, happy.

I can remember like it was yesterday, sitting in my Effingham apartment and bragging to my roommate how I can eat anything without putting my manly physique at risk while she was going through one of her get-healthy phases.

OK, there wasn’t much of a physique to risk, but weight and all the other things that come with my love of grazing wasn’t a problem. I also could read without glasses and medications, aches and pains weren’t part of any discussions.

BUSINESS JOURNAL 3

Business Journal Of Midcentral Illinois

Volume 21

Issue 1

601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax) Publisher: Julie Bechtel General Manager: Gary Sawyer

Those were the days.

Editor: Scott Perry Advertising: AnnaMarie Hanes

Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois

January2014Contents Standing features Biz Bites

11

Fred Spannaus

10

Advertising: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the February issue is Jan. 21. Call 217.421.7953 for rate information.

22 Go off line 10 reasons to take a tech break

7

Business Clips

Cover Photo: Jim Bowling

17

Liz Reyer

20

Office Coach

20

Professional Profile 19 SCORE counselor 11 Wendy Gauntt

22

SUBCRIPTIONS: To order additional copies, call 217.421.7931

The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois is printed monthly and is a publication of Lee Enterprises, Inc.

Free Time calendar 21 Health calendar

STORY IDEAS: Email sperry@herald-review.com or call 217.421.7976

‌Healthy New Year We kick off 2015 with an expanded Your Health section that includes tips for exercising your mind and your body, breaking those pesky habits and improving the health of Macon County’s residents.

19 Community driven Meet St. Mary’s CEO Dan Perryman

Information published is the responsibility of the author and does not reflect the opinions of The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois. To submit articles, mail typewritten and 500 words or less to: The Business Journal, 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523. Articles will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lee Enterprises, Inc., DBA The Business Journal of MidCentral Illinois.

Herald & Review All rights reserved for entire content.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2015

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Your

Community

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Larry Altenbaumer, left, enjoyed a productive run as the interim president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County. Among the projects announced during his tenure was a new home for Union Iron along Mound Road, pictured in the back. Now it will be up to Ryan McCrady, former city manager for the city of Decatur, to keep the momentum going.

Foundation in place for economic growth Macon Co. looks to build upon the past year’s successes CHRIS LUSVARDI

Business Journal Writer‌

‌Ryan McCrady is looking forward to being able to tell the story of Decatur more often.

From his point of view, McCrady said the story includes a positive outlook with the economic foundation having been solidified in the past year.

McCrady has played a leading role in establishing the foundation as Decatur city manager for the past six years.

He plans to expand on that start as Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County president starting this month.

McCrady has been encouraged by the businesses that have been willing to expand in the area.

“That’s a great sign of optimism for the city,” McCrady said. “We need to keep doing the positive things to build the foundation. I see great things to come in 2015.”

McCrady said work the city has done such as the dredging of Lake Decatur and improving the sewer system provide business leaders with the ability to have confidence in the infrastructure their companies will need now and in the future.

Several businesses already are making significant investments in their Decatur operations as the list of expansion projects is more notable than it has been in recent years.

Chinese automotive glass manufacturer Fuyao Glass Group bought the PPG Industries facility near Mount Zion with plans to rebuild both production lines. Union Iron is building a new $11-million manufacturing facility while planning to create 25 full-time jobs within the next two years.

Akorn Inc. is working on a multiphase expansion of its pharmaceutical site on West Grand Ave. in Decatur after having doubled its employment level over the past four years. Akorn has gone from 200 employees in 2010 to its current level of 435 employees.

Parke & Son is expanding its warehouse on Mound Road in Decatur, one of the first expansions directly attributed to the establishment of the Midwest Inland Port, a concept that is intended to capitalize on the area’s transportation network.

The transportation network includes rail, air and roads, with $10 million in funding made available from the state to bring a bypass connecting U.S. 51 with Interstate 72 to the southeast of Decatur one step closer to beginning construction.

“Those are all foundational type investments,” McCrady said.

The EDC has worked over the past year with the businesses that have announced plans to expand in Decatur. It has happened with Larry Altenbaumer serving as interim president during a transition between Craig Coil resigning in October 2013 and McCrady deciding to take the position.

“A high level of optimism exists within the community,” Altenbaumer said. “Conversations are taking place to build upon what was started in 2014, which was a good turnaround year for the Decatur area. The list of projects is the most robust in many years.”

Of all the things the EDC has done in the past year, Altenbaumer said selecting McCrady to lead it in the years to come will have a lasting impact.

“It’s the best accomplishment we’ve had getting someone of his caliber,” Altenbaumer said. “It will have the longest lasting benefit to the community.”

The EDC has positioned itself in the past year to build on the strong foundation that has been established, with a particular focus on the Midwest Inland Port and McCrady’s selection, said Tim Stone, EDC board chairman and Decatur Memorial Hospital administrator.

“With the EDC’s selection of Ryan McCrady as its new president, we established the leadership that will support long-term economic success for our community,”

Foundation/5

January 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 5

Foundation Continued from 4

Stone said.

Leading the area’s economic development efforts is a role McCrady is eager to take on.

While the EDC is focused on non-retail development, McCrady realizes the importance of adding to the area’s retail base. McCrady said retail growth often happens as other types of businesses invest in the community.

Major retail projects such as a new County Market store on Decatur’s west end are already under way.

McCrady said some might see Hobby Lobby’s plans to move from Decatur into Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth as a loss, but he sees it as a greater gain for the broader community. Hobby Lobby, which is currently located on Pershing Road in Decatur, plans to open its store in the former JC Penney space at the mall in September.

“The community is bigger than the city,” McCrady said.

“The energy can be picked up on by other retailers. They’re not going to expand if the community isn’t growing.”

Consumer spending picked up between 4 percent and 5 percent in the past year as sales tax revenue increased, even with a slow start due mainly to weather in 2014, McCrady said. That trend can continue, he said, especially if gas prices remain low as it has been to close out the year.

Adding to the optimism is the Decatur area unemployment rate falling, with some of the largest over-the-year decreases in 30 years.

McCrady plans to coordinate with other organizations within the community to make working with businesses as seamless as possible and streamline the inquiry process for business development.

“Collaboration between partners means business folks

Business Journal, Jim Bowling‌

Site preparation is under way for the expansion of the Parke & Son warehouse facility along Mound Road. The expanision is the first of what is hoped will be many projects tied to the growth of the Midwest Inland Port.

Altenbaumer will lead a committee that will be promoting the Midwest Inland Port and Decatur’s prime access to three major railroads, several highways and an airport.

can get information as effortlessly as possible,” McCrady said. “They won’t have to go as many different places.”

Bringing groups within the community together has been a goal of Grow Decatur, an initiative Altenbaumer helped to establish. His attention has at times been diverted away from that project while working for the EDC. Altenbaumer plans to renew his focus with Grow Decatur in the coming year while continuing to lead the EDC’s efforts to develop the Midwest Inland Port as the executive

director of a new development committee.

Grow Decatur has kept moving forward with others stepping up to lead the way, Altenbaumer said.

Among the efforts Grow Decatur will be focusing on as it moves forward will be a branding initiative intended to help change the perception of the city, Altenbaumer said.

He hopes to keep the process moving along, as the focused approach of Grow Decatur has sustained it longer than other community improvement initiatives.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2015

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Macon County town leaders reflect on 2014 Forsyth‌

In 2014, the village of Forsyth welcomed three staff members, over 90 residents and 14 businesses.

New staff members are David Strohl, administrator; Amy Goodman, clerk; and Emily Prather, community and economic development coordinator.

New businesses include: Connie’s Green House, The Back Institute, Ross for Less, Ulta Cosmetics, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, State Farm, Temmen Eye Care, Physician Choice Wellness, Cavanaugh Dental, Fabric Cobbler, DMH Kidney Specialists, Residence Inn and Colee Corner Drug.

For the first time this year ASA softball tournaments were held in our main park.

The village of Forsyth updated ball diamond lights, scoreboards and installed new adult exercise equipment within our main park.

The Forsyth Public Library completed the window replacements and continues to make other minor updates.

The Eagle Ridge subdivision road improvements were completed.

I would like to thank staff, all residents, businesses and visitors who help supported the village of Forsyth in 2014 and continuing into 2015.

Marilyn Johnson, Mayor

Long Creek‌

The village of Long Creek has had an exciting year.

We were able to install new playground equipment at Corman Park on Salem School Road. In August many village and township residents and businesses volunteered to install the new equipment.

We are thankful for their help and hope everyone can enjoy the park.

Corman Park now offers two agespecific play areas with equipment for learning, developmental needs and are size appropriate for 2-5 year olds and 5-12 year olds, swing sets that includes special need accessible swings, a covered pavilion, a walking path and free parking.

To reserve the pavilion for outdoor picnics or birthday parties, contact Village Clerk Carla Zerfowski at (217) 864-5263.

We remain committed to providing a safe, quiet and friendly atmosphere for our residents and businesses. Village residents and businesses still don’t pay a village tax. Our funds are obtained through sales tax revenue from our businesses.

This year the village was able to purchase a new backhoe, which with assist our road crew in road and drainage projects. Neither the village of Long Creek or Long Creek Township have had a backhoe for several years, and since the road crew shares responsibilities and equipment, this will benefit all Long Creek residents.

Residents are also provide free recycling where items can be dropped off in Waste Management containers located behind the Long Creek water tower off U.S. 36 East. The only change to this service is that glass is no longer accepted. In the spring the village and township will co-sponsor a Sparkle and Shine event, usually in April. Residents can dispose of unwanted items at this event and materials are recycled if possible.

In 2015 the village plans to enter into the Macon County enterprise zone to promote economic growth in our area.

This will provide a win-win situation for everyone in the village.

We want to encourage businesses to look at the village of Long Creek for many reasons. Our location is in hightraffic areas, Illinois 121 south of U.S. 36 to Mount Zion and on U.S. 36 East. The enterprise zone, coupled with the lack of a village tax, should enhance our appeal to businesses.

The village board is committed to keeping Long Creek a great place to live or work and are looking forward to exciting changes and improvements in 2015.

Cheryl A. Smith, village president

Macon‌

2014 in the city of Macon was one of continuing revitalization of its downtown area.

The tax increment financing district has assisted several people in starting new businesses in our old downtown business district. To date the city has seen a hardware store, antique/woodworking store and bakery open their doors for business.

Joining these new businesses on Front Street is a new firehouse currently under construction. The new home for South Macon Fire Protection District is scheduled to be completed this spring.

Construction for Phase 1 of the new Meridian High School project has been completed and Phase 2 is under way. It is anticipated that construction will be completed prior to the start of the new school year.

Construction seems to be the underlying theme this year as the Nite Owl Bar and Grill, destroyed by fire a little over a year ago, has recently started the rebuilding process.

Frank Dunmire, alderman

Mount Zion‌

The village of Mount Zion had an exciting 2014 and is looking forward to 2015. Besides the normal day-to-day operations, village employees worked tirelessly to accomplish many projects.

Our police department continued to offer top-notch service to our residents and business owners. The public works department finished many projects, including street repairs, sidewalk installations, park improvements, and many other projects that helped save Mount Zion taxpayers money.

In October, Mayor Don Robinson, the Mount Zion Area Economic Development Corporation and the Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce unveiled a cooperative branding effort for Mount Zion. With the assistance of Brook Paslay Creative Marketing, new logos and taglines were revealed that tie the three organizations together. As part of the branding effort, the village installed two new welcome signs along Illinois 121 and plans are under way to update the village website in 2015 as phase two of this project.

The village’s event coordinator, Kelly McCourt Edwards, created and planned many fun events such as the Valentine’s Dinner/Splash Pad Fundraiser featuring Dueling Pianos (also planned for Feb. 7, Chill on the Hill at Fletcher Park, Breakfast with Santa, Haunted Halloween Bash, and Mount Zion’s very own New Year’s Eve Bash, The Great Gatsby Casino Night Gala.

The Convention Center has hosted many public and private events including the Spring and Fall Craft Shows, the Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce Small Business Expo, The Home Builder’s Association Show, Mount Zion’s Quality for Education Foundation fundraiser, the annual Prayer Breakfast hosted by St. Mary’s Hospital and the Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce, several local proms and much, much more.

Information about all events at the Convention Center or Fletcher Park is always available at www.mtzion.com or by calling (217) 864-5424. The village of Mount Zion would like to thank the

community and wonderful sponsors that make these events a success.

Mount Zion’s Fletcher Park received many visitors in 2014. A new toddlersized play unit is being added and will be available for use this spring. Judy Roessler, parks and recreation director, also has activities planned for 2015 including tumbling, Zumba, Kids Club, scrapbooking crop, art classes and ballroom dance classes. The grass has been repaired and reseeded around the amphitheater at Fletcher Park. Plans to repair and reseed the entire park are under way. As always visitors to Fletcher Park can also fish in its stocked pond. Thanks to efforts by the village and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the pond at Fletcher Park is available for catch and release fishing.

Judy and the Parks and Recreation Commission have begun fundraising efforts to help with the purchase and installation of an outdoor aquatic play area (splash pad) for Fletcher Park.

The estimated cost of the splash pad is between $300,000 and $400,000. Naming rights are also available for the splash pad. Interested parties can contact Judy Roessler at (217) 864-5424. A splash pad will offer a unique way to cool off in the summer at Fletcher Park.

Chill on the Hill 2015 will kick off on Thursday, June 6. This season Chill on the Hill will feature several bands from Central Illinois, as well as country bands from Nashville every Thursday evening. Mount Zion’s very own, Third Shift, is scheduled to rock the park on July 23. Music lovers can bring their chairs and blankets, purchase food and beverages and enjoy a night of music under the stars. A portion of the proceeds for each night go to a local non-for-profit.

Village staff continues to work on economic development issues to retain and bring retail businesses to Mount Zion.

In 2014, the village welcomed many new businesses including LePaul Nail Salon, La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Mount Zion Auto Service, The Hidden Lair, The Coaching House, Larry Paul Tanning Salon, Richland Insurance Services, Weight Watchers and Heroic Age Studios.

In February 2015, Crawford’s Pizza and Pub will open in a newly remodeled location, 170 Debby Drive, formally known as Marybelle’s Restaurant.

Mount Zion’s future is looking bright and 2015 is sure to be an even better year than 2014.

Julie Miller, village administrator

Go to www.thebusiness-journal.com for a recap of last year's newsmakers

January 2015

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Biz Now open‌

“Gin mill” was the slang Josh Irby’s grandmother used to refer to the tavern down the street.

Yet while the establishment in downtown Decatur bears that name, it’s much more than that.

“We have two bars, one on the main floor and another in the mezzanine, but we’re mostly a restaurant,” Irby said.

Steaks, Chilean sea bass and freshwater scallops are among the specialties, and as the former chef at Robbies and most recently the Southside Country Club, Irby said he oversees the preparation of each dish.

The décor is somewhat reminiscent of Bavette’s in Chicago, yet has a look all its own, “kind of cross between a pre-Prohibition tavern and a hunting lodge,” Irby said. The space can seat up to 110 people.

Located at 124 E. Prairie Ave., the Gin Mill is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 4 to 11 p.m.

Saturdays. Reservations are accepted for parties of six or more by calling (217) 330-8073. nnn Two gaming lounges are open in Decatur with a third in the works.

Ruby’s is located at 4831 East U.S. 36 in Airport Plaza and at 3098 N. Water St. in Brettwood Village. Customers can grab a bite to eat, drink a cup of coffee or cold beer and play slot and video poker machines.

It has five video gaming machines that offer more than 40 varieties of games from WMS, Bally, IGT and Spielo. Customers can cash out instantly via an onsite payout device.

Guests must be 21 and older.

“We are very excited to be a part of the Decatur community and appreciate the warm welcome we have received,” said Chris Hall, director of marketing for Ruby’s. “Ruby’s welcomes customers to enjoy our exceptional customer service, relaxing environment and a whole new gaming experience.”

A third Ruby’s location at Decatur Crossings is being developed.

Ruby’s serves meals and light bites for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with drinks such as beer, wine, juice, coffee and soft drinks.

Hours at both locations are 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Call the Airport Plaza location at (217) 571-0070 and Brettwood Village (217) 330-8988.

On the move‌

Jason Reinhardt is taking advantage of moving his family-oriented mixed martial arts center to Mount Zion to expand and change some of what is offered.

Reinhardt has partnered with Mustapha Biba, a 12-time national champion from Morocco, to open Reinhardt & Biba Martial Arts and Fitness at 160 Wildwood Drive near Family Video. Reinhardt had previously operated a gym in downtown Decatur.

bites

Reinhardt thinks Biba will bring a positive energy to the business.

They want to teach more than just fighting to students of all ages. Reinhardt wants children, in particular, to understand discipline and respect.

Nobody gets beat up during the training, he said.

“We’re here to teach self defense, fitness and health,” Reinhardt said. “We have a lot of things going on. I have a dream and vision to have something that big cities have. I see no reason we can’t have what big cities do.”

Included as part of what the 5,000-square-facility with mat space offers is a dietician, massage therapist and juice bar in addition to body building and fitness equipment, Reinhardt said.

One of the focuses is on Brazilian JiuJitsu, he said.

Classes are offered throughout the week, including Saturday. Call (217) 853-5533. nnn West Side Naz Thrift Shop is moving from 1290 W. Grand Ave., its home since it opened in December 2003.

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Akorn Inc. has purchased the property and will demolish the building to make way for a 40,000-square-foot addition.

Manager Debbie Kennedy said the shop will reopen this month at 788 N. Sunnyside Road.

For more, call (217) 423-6968. nnn Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches is settling into cozier digs in downtown Decatur, and that’s just the way General Manager Joshua Sigmon likes it.

The shop’s décor and equipment are not only updated, but its new home at 154 Merchant St. also enjoys more foot traffic than the previous location opened in 1996 at the northeast corner of Prairie Avenue and North Main Street.

“It’s a little smaller, but it’s quicker, faster and cleaner,” Sigmon said.

The spot was once home to Franny’s on Merchant, which closed in 2007.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more, call (217) 423-8323.

Expanding‌

The Farm Trust Inc. seed dealership in Moweaqua is having a growth spurt.

The company at 600 E. Main St. is just wrapping up a 10,800-square-foot warehouse addition that will roughly double its retail seed storage capacity. The additional space comes on line just as farmers are ramping up their seed orders for the spring and Farm Trust, a Stone Seed dealer, says sales are good.

“We just needed more room because the business is expanding,” said Craig Saddoris, a Farm Trust vice president and one of its three owners. “This is our second year as Farm Trust and it’s been a very good start for us.”

The firm was formerly known as the

BUSINESS JOURNAL 7

Moweaqua Seed Co. and changed its name with a change in ownership. Call (217) 768-3030. nnn Much like its presidential namesake, Decatur-based Land of Lincoln Credit Union looked to Sanagmon County for expansion opportunities.

Land of Lincoln has merged with the former Sangamo Chapter Credit Union to offer products and services to all those who live or work in Sangamon County.

“We are thrilled about our partnership with Sangamo Chapter Credit Union,” said Mac Dunaway, Land of Lincoln CEO. “This allows us to offer a Springfield branch not only to Sangamon County employees and Sangamon County residents, but also to our growing membership including St. John’s Hospital employees and United Methodist Ministries Credit Union members from a previous merger.”

Closed‌

The regular weekend and every Monday sales he used to stage at his Mike Hall Auction Co. center off of Illinois 121 near the Macon County Fairground attracted diehard regular crowds from all over Central Illinois. Friends met up there and bidders planned their calendars around the sales for the last 35 years, but no more.

The Monday sales stopped the

beginning of the year and the other sales have faded away and now the five acre auction center has its own “For Sale” sign. Hall, who recently turned 65, says it’s time for a change of pace.

“People keep stopping me and saying ‘Why did you quit? Why did you quit?’ he said. “Well, I prayed about it and thought about it and thought about it; I didn’t make the decision overnight, but I just felt it was time to do something different.”

He’s a long way from getting out of the auction business, however. A real estate broker and registered real estate auctioneer, he plans to concentrate on that aspect of the business. And he is now working with Decatur-based agricultural services firm Schroeder/Huber LLC. He’s quite happy to do the occasional personal property auction, too, but wants to be free of the organizational commitment of run n ning a fixed auction center.

He said the Illinois 121 property is now being used for rented storage until a sale is finalized. For more information, call 877-7546.

Biz Bites highlight businesses that are opening, closing, expanding … you get the picture. If you have information for our Biz Bites column, contact Tony Reid at treid@herald-review.com, Chris Lusvardi at clusvardi@herald-review.com, Theresa Churchill at tchurchill@herald-review.com or call them at (217) 421-6979.

8

BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2015

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Your

Business

Business Journal, Danny Damiani‌

Dr. Kristin Newcome talks with Jack Kenney as she performs a check- up at Priority Health Family Medicine. Instead of the usual insurance-based fee-for-service model, Priority Health charges its patients a membership fee that buys them 365-day access to their doctor.

Membership has its wellness privileges Priority Health doctors there when you need them TONY REID

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – Having your doctor on speed dial and knowing they are available 24/7 is the prescription for peace of mind.

That’s the diagnosis of businesswoman Nicole Ropp, a patient for the last six months with a new kind of Decatur medicine practice, Priority Health Family Medicine.

Instead of the usual insurance-based feefor-service model, Priority Health charges

its patients a membership fee that buys them 365-day access to their doctor.

The practice has been up and healing for 14 months and is run by two physicians and business partners, Dr. Kristin Newcome and Dr. Timothy Miller. They claim their patients love it and they’ll get no argument from Ropp, who lives in Decatur and runs TenderLeaf Natural Products offering bath and body goodies.

“I’ve had Dr. Newcome meet me out at their office at 7 a.m on a Saturday morning,” said Ropp, 31, who had some post-surgery concerns at the time. “Anyone else would

be faced with having to go to the emergency room and you don’t want to pay to do that unless you think you’re going to have a real emergency. But it’s so nice when you can have your own doctor look at you and say ‘You’re going to be OK’ or ‘No, you need to go to the ER.’” Ropp has young children, too, and says the peace of mind that comes from being able to chat or even email your doctor for advice whenever you have a concern is soothing medicine for parents. “You don’t have to call an office and explain everything to the receptionist and then everything to

the nurse and then, if the doctor calls you back, they usually say you have to come in,” added Ropp.

“Now, I just call and talk to the doctor and we go from there.”

Similar medical businesses are springing up all over the country where this style of membership practice is known as “concierge medicine.” But Miller says some of those other practices have additional fees and Priority Health doesn’t. “One fee with us covers pretty much everything,” explained Miller, pointing out that office visits, EKGs, pregnancy tests, blood pressure checks,

January 2015

www.thebusiness-journal.com well-child exams and school physicals are all included.

“We also do home visits, nursing home visits and we see our patients when they are in hospital,” added Newcome.

So, what does membership cost?

Fees range from $110 monthly for one person or $165 for a couple, to $1,200 annually for one person or $1,800 for a couple. A family of four pays $220 a month or $2,400 for a year; in all cases the yearly fees paid in advance reflect a 9 percent discount and there is a 4.5 percent discount for fees paid in advance every six months. Patients will still need regular health insurance to cover treatment by specialists and hospitalizations.

But for the regular aches, infections, stomach bugs, maladies, checkups and physicals of everyday life, Priority Health is there. Patients, of course, have to get used to the notion of paying for a service before they use it, and one they might not use for weeks or months. Newcome says you have to contrast that, however, with the high deductibles and co-pays on many insurance plans which can have patients paying hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket when they do need care.

Miller says compared to that, paying Priority Health $1,200 a year doesn’t seem so bad, and it encourages patients to seek preventative care. “You know you can see us whenever you need to and we have very low cost labs (testing) and we have access to other low cost testing, too,” he added. “I think we can definitely be a money-saver for a lot of people. It just makes sense.”

Stepping out into a whole new way of delivering health care was a bold move for the doctors, who used to work as family practitioners in a conventional fee-for-service practice. They grew unhappy and frustrated with the mounting tangle of insurance red tape and felt their blood pressure rising under the constant demand to see more patients, faster.

To escape, they opted out. They sought a business model that would allow them to make a decent living from Miller a practice where they could limit the number of patients and so manage their time per patient. This allows them, they say, to practice medicine their way, which means taking as long as you need to deal with whoever is sitting on your exam table.

Newcome “Priority Health has absolutely improved the quantity and the quality of the time we spend with our patients,” Newcome said. And it’s removed a lot of the time we spent on paperwork and red tape.”

The doctors patient care package means one of them must be available whenever a patient calls, and Miller says he came into the office on Thanksgiving Day to treat a patient coming down with an upper respiratory infection. And, in the last year, he has come in on three occasions to rendenvous with and sew up weekend warriors who have

Employment Services

Heather Sawyer Account Representative

655 W Pershing Rd Decatur, IL 62526 (217) 872-7400

decaturil.expresspros.com

Owners Lee Best Brian Lockwood

Q

How can you be sure your business conforms to current employment laws?

A

At Express Headquarters in Oklahoma City, there is a staff of risk management and HR professionals whose responsibility is to keep all 700 Express offices compliant with state and federal regulations.

Employment law is a moving target that requires constant HR and legal attention. For example, there are new laws affecting background checks and regulations pertaining to the Affordable Care Act that go into effect this year.

Do you know when you can legally ask a candidate about any criminal history? Do you know what steps must be taken to provide a candidate with background and credit check results? Is your company subject to the employer mandate to provide healthcare insurance? If not, do you use a staffing provider that is? Do they indemnify your company?

Express complies with all employment laws protecting clients from reprisal for unintended violations and/or illegal hiring practices. We retain the legal liability, not you.

Outsourcing your hiring may seem like an unnecessary cost, but it can save you time, money, and your reputation.

gashed different bits of themselves open with chainsaws and knives.

It begins to sound as if the doctors can never count on having a day off, but both insist that, thanks to limited patient numbers, the on-call demands are more than manageable. They even say patients are very shy of calling them outside of regular hours, even though they are encouraged to do so.

“People are respectful our time,” Miller said.

Their style of medicine is attracting a lot of attention and both doctors have been guests at medical conferences and at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine where they get lots of questions.

Newcome said their way of doing medicine is still new nationwide but growing fast. “I think the numbers are around 5,000 practitioners currently operating, with an increase of about 30 percent over the time frame of the last one to two years,” she added.

One criticism of practices like Priority Health is that, as the doctor’s limit the number of patients on their books, there is less health care to go around for everybody else. But Newcome believes that making the art of medicine attractive to physicians by allowing them the freedom to do their jobs properly will make family practice a more appealing career choice to med school graduates.

“And there is definitely a need for a lot more primary care physicians,” she said.

Two patients anxious to retain her as their primary health care physician are husband and wife Jack Kenny and Joan Kenny, who

BUSINESS JOURNAL 9

live in Decatur. They followed the doctor over from her former practice and, while they weren’t quite sure what to expect at first, they now say they have got the best of both worlds: a good doctor who cares and has the time to talk and listen and really understand what’s going on with their health care.

The Kennys have been Priority Health members for more than a year and have renewed their membership. “So the proof of the pudding is right there,” said Jack Kenny, 81. “If we weren’t happy, we wouldn’t be doing it a second time.”

He says you don’t feel like “you’re on a production line” at the practice and, when he leaves, he gets a printed list of what medication he needs, when he needs to take it and what if any follow-up visits are needed.

“At my age, I want that kind of information,” Kenny said.

Priority Health’s list of friends and clients is growing and it recently added its first business client, which makes the service available to workers as an employee benefit.

In fact, the medicine business is going so well – the practice is up to about 85 percent of its patient capacity – that the doctors have not ruled out expanding their reach by adding a third physician. But, in the meantime, they say they are coping well with a small office support staff as long as the twin physicians manage to avoid coming down with the same bug on the same day.

“Oh, we can get sick,” Miller said. “But it’s much better if we both don’t get sick at the same time.”

DIGITAL HOUSE Q

I know I need to build a presence for my business online, but where do I start?

A

That is a loaded question with a loaded answer! When building a digital presence for your company, it’s best to think of it as if you’re building a house. You wouldn’t do anything before creating a firm foundation. In the digital world, this is your website. ALL things lead back to your website; social media, banner ads, search engines. After establishing an effective website, social media is a must. Facebook, of course, is the most important due to the sheer volume of users. Many will go to Facebook to search for your business before Google. Next up; Twitter, Instagram, Yelp, Urbanspoon, Four Square and more. It’s

Cayla Hittmeier

Digital Sales Specialist Herald & Review

not enough to just be present; you have to engage with the users to remain relevant. Don’t leave a negative comment unanswered. You must monitor them regularly, daily, if not multiple times a day. The next level is to improve Search Engine Ranking, although you’ve already started this indirectly with your website and social media. But, to really compete, you need Search Engine Optimization or Maximization. By purchasing a plan that allows you to associate your business with keywords that your consumers will regularly search, you will improve your ranking in an organic search on a search engine such as Google.

Take it a step further by purchasing “Pay-Per-Click” plans, giving you a top ranking sponsored link on the search result. Finally, the roof of your house is to purchase banner ads. You can run a reasonably priced ROS (run-of-site) campaign on any news site. These ads can click through to your website, Facebook page or a splash page with a specific

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January 2015

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Effective reprimands set course for change ‌As sales manager, Marla heads a team of a dozen salespersons. Eleven of them work hard and produce good results, and four are outstanding producers.

That leaves one, a Mr. L.Z. Seller. His sales figures have lagged the others forever, and Marla knows why. It seems that while his colleagues are working the field, mining prospects, and making calls, L.Z. is elsewhere.

He reports to the Human Resources office in person or via text every morning, just like the others. Then he goes to the local coffee shop, where he chats amiably with a circle of buddies until noon, when he moves to a nearby café for lunch, before hitting a sports bar for the afternoon.

Clearly this is a problem. Marla decided to tackle it head on. So she sent this blistering email:

Fred Spannaus

To: All Sales Team Members Subject: Issues?

It has been suggested that some members of the sales team may be not giving the company their full effort. This could be somewhat of a problem, and it is to be hoped that it will be resolved in the future. Thank you for your cooperation.

Pretty blunt, eh? Not. A good reprimand has four elements, all of which were missing from Marla’s marble-mouthed message.

First element: State the expectations.

“We expected every sales representative to be working at least eight hours every workday.”

Second element: State what the person did, and when they did it. “We observed your actions on Jan. 6, 2015. On that date, you reported to work at 7:45 a.m.

You were at Wildflour from 8:15 until 11.

You had lunch at the Downtown Café.

Then your car was parked outside Buffalo Wild Wings from 1:45 until 4:30 p.m.”

Third element: State why it was bad (that’s pretty easy in this case). “Our company and every one of its employees depend on you to sell our products. By not performing work-related duties, you are not only dishonestly collecting

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pay for your time, you are affecting the health of the entire firm.”

Fourth element: State consequences and expectations. “We are deducting a full day’s pay from your next check.

We expect that you will perform workrelated duties whenever you are on company time. If we observe you not conducting business on company time in the future, we will suspend you without pay and initiate termination procedures.”

A few other tips: Address it to the person who is the problem. Marla’s first error was sending the message to the entire sales team. It is always a mistake to reprimand a group when the problem is with a few individuals.

Be clear and to the point. Avoid the passive voice. “We observed your

Featured Business:

actions” is stronger than “You were observed.” “We expect” is more direct than “It is to be expected.”

Avoid weasel words. Weasel words are terms that weaken the impact, words like somewhat and relatively. Say what you mean.

A reprimand has two purposes, and both are important. Its first purpose is to improve performance. It does this by clearly stating what needs to happen.

Its second purpose is to provide a written record of the problem and your attempts to fix it.

Fred W. Spannaus, principal of Spannaus Consulting, is a senior professional in human resources. He loves feedback to his columns. Fred can be contacted by email at spannaus@ameritech. net or by phone at (217) 425-2635.

BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 72% read The Business Journal monthly. n 17% are 34 and under.

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January 2015

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Ask

the

SCORE

BUSINESS JOURNAL 11

co u n s e l or

Building a better website ‌Q: How can I avoid common mistakes and build a better website?

A: E-commerce sales by small businesses have increased rapidly over the last few years. Websites are a necessity for small firms, solo operators and home businesses of almost any type. Customers expect websites to be clear, crisp, informative and highly functional. Even if you have a crackerjack web designer, he/she may know little or nothing about building a site that actually produces sales or leads. An eye-pleasing site by itself won’t necessarily get the job done.

A good starting point for avoiding errors that often doom websites to mediocrity is

to think of the “less is more” axiom. While appearance is important, the usability of a website from the customer’s perspective is even more vital. Your goal is to have a site that appears professional and credible to customers as well as be easy to navigate.

Categories should be clear and logical.

While the web’s almost unlimited space gives you the ability to overwhelm customers with product details, you should exercise some restraint. Give visitors the option of clicking to more information if they wish, but don’t force it on them.

Flashing images, scrolling text, and blinking buttons may have seemed clever and

Business

clips

New staff members‌

Early

Rudsinski

Howe

Stelbrink

Hillen

Summer

ReedThompson

Whitehead

Robinson

ZuHone

Game” model.

Kurt Rudsinski has been Wes Hillen, of Foster named market president Financial Services, Inc., Midland States Bank and is the recipient of a Milwill oversee commercial likin University Lindsay lending services in the Medallion in recognition Bloomington and Decaof outstanding student tur markets. athlete performance and achievements.

Ken Summer has joined Timi’s Tours as a driver.

Decatur Memorial Hospital Linda Reed-Thompson has was named one of the been named social services nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Truven director for The Salvation Health Analytics for the Army of Macon County. fourth consecutive year.

Laura ZuHone has joined First Mid-Illinois Bank & Melody Burgess and Trust as vice president, Brittany Kacsir, of Peerless director of marketing.

Cleaners Inc., recently completed the Fire and James Timothy Howe has Smoke Restoration and joined State Farm Leo Odor Control courses Berger Insurance Agency with Restoration SciInc. as a staff agent. ences Academy.

The city of Decatur has Promotions‌ Jeanne Robinson has been been named by Global Trade magazine as one promoted to Supportive Services for Veteran Fami- of America’s Best Cities for Global Trade for the lies case manager for The third consecutive year. It Salvation Army of Macon was recognized as one of and Dewitt counties.

10 cities for Best BusiMandy Early has been ness Environment, with promoted to manager of mention of the Midwest the Pride Cleaners and Inland Port, and in the top Launderers location at 25 overall.

2056 Mount Zion Road.

Matt Whitehead has been Decatur Memorial Hospital promoted to CEO of the was among 35 Illinois Decatur Family YMCA. hospitals recognized by the March of Dimes for reducing early elective Achievements‌ deliveries.

St. Mary’s Hospital has received a renewal of its Business Clips are abbreviEmergency Department ated versions of paid Business Approved for Pediatrics Achievements which appear on certification.

Mondays in the Herald & Review.

Shirley N. Stelbrink, of For more information about Learning Alliances ComBusiness Achievements, go to pany, LLC, obtained her www.herald-review.com/app/ certification to facilitate secure/businessach/ the “Playing the Bigger

‌G O T A Q U E S T I O N For additional help building websites, to schedule one-on-one counseling, or to submit a question for the “Ask the SCORE Counselor” column, contact SCORE Chapter 296, Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522 or call (217) 424-6297.

high-tech when they were introduced, but now they are simply annoying. Dump them in favor of graphics that enhance your site usability. Make a fast-loading site a top priority. Select photos or other graphics for your site carefully; don’t use the same old generic stock photos you see everywhere.

Use graphics of real people and places to add personality to your site and reinforce the notion that your business exists in the real world, too.

Every inch of your site should address your customers’ goals and needs, not just the needs of your business. Make the checkout process on your website fast and simple. Don’t bombard buyers with lastsecond choices or pop-up ads. And if your site requires a registration process, don’t force buyers to answer endless questions

designed to fill your need for marketing demographics.

Once built, don’t make the mistake of neglecting your site either. If you want the Internet to help build your business, make your website a top priority in your daily operations. If your products, services, prices, location, hours, contact information or marketing messages change, make the updates immediately. Outdated information frustrates customers. And since many potential customers visit websites merely for basic contact information, put yours in a prominent location. Also be sure to set up a system for tracking your site activity. Don’t be in the dark about what’s happening on your site.

— Bethany Wetherholt, SCORE counselor

Meet a SCORE counselor‌

ConilleCannaday

Laura Conille-Cannady retired from the company she started, Learning Alliances Company. Her counseling specialist are human resources, strategic and business planning, organization design, rapid growth coaching and executive coaching.

12

BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2015

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Professional & Confidential Service

January 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 13

h e a lt h

Business Journal, Danny Damiani‌

Brenda Houser and Marsha Creek start the Mount Zion Trail Autumn Walk in November at Goodwin Park. Plans call for continued expansion of the county’s walking/biking trail system in such a way that it connects the communities of Mount Zion, Decatur and Forsyth.

Community taking steps to improve health Access to care, obesity top list EMILY STEELE

Business Journal Writer‌

‌DECATUR – Going into the New Year, everyone has a resolution, usually about eating better or exercising.

But a community-wide resolution for better health is an ongoing battle.

In 2012, Macon County was chosen as one of 149 ACHIEVE – Action Communities for Health, Innovation and Environmental Change – communities by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Macon County ACHIEVE was formed to prevent and manage major health-risk factors such as high obesity rates and limited access to health care.

The group includes representatives from the health department, city of Decatur, the park district, Decatur public schools, the Community Health Improvement Center, United Way, University of Illinois Extension, St. Mary’s Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital.

“What we’re trying to do is identify the problems in Macon County,” said group member Angela Foulke.

“We’re trying to get a common understanding of the community issues.”

Access to care‌

“Our greatest focus for this last year and next year is access to health care,” said Tanya Andricks.

Andricks is the executive director for Crossing Healthcare, formerly known as CHIC, a federally-qualified health center for low-income patients.

The agency revealed its new name when it broke ground on Dec. 19 for the building which will serve up to 30,000 patients when it opens next fall in the Wabash Crossing

neighborhood. In April, CHIC opened an express clinic in Decatur Memorial Hospital’s emergency room where noncrisis patients can be seen and connect with a primary care physician.

She said there aren’t enough health care providers for the number of patients in the area.

“Every day, most of my appointment slots are filled,” she said.

Andricks said she pays attention to data that says Macon County has high obesity rates, high teen pregnancy and adjusts their services accordingly to connect with patient needs.

“If we know we have obesity and diabetes issues, it’s important to make sure we have health and wellness and diabetes education programs available,” she said.

Obesity‌

A third of Macon County’s population is obese according to 2014 County Health Rankings. With a BMI, body mass index, of 30 percent fat or more, residents are more likely to have high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and diabetes, among other things.

Matt Whitehead, the new chief executive officer for the Decatur Family YMCA said several programs aimed at reducing obesity rates are in progress for the this year.

However, the cost of joining a gym and a lack of comfort in a gym setting are barriers they have to overcome.

Staff members are currently training for a class aimed at reducing childhood obesity rates.

“We’re going to have new family fitness classes so that families can come and work out together,” Whitehead said.

Of its 8,000 members, Whitehead said 13 percent have lower membership fees subsidized through the Y Cares income-based pricing system. The program also covers

child care, sports, swim lessons and summer camps.

“Lower-income people can apply for assistance through our Y Cares program and get a lower cost membership they can afford,” Whitehead said.

Obesity is also a major risk factor for diabetes, which has a variety of complications which can lead to disability and death.

An estimated 10 percent of Macon County residents has diabetes according to 2014 County Health Rankings. That doesn’t include anyone under the age of 20, those who are undiagnosed or with prediabetes.

“Typically, what we see are people who end up with heart attack or stroke and diabetes was the underlying cause,” said Nicole Simmons, director of the American Diabetes Association in Springfield.

Diabetes is a complex disease. A diagnosis comes with the recommendation to take a course explaining medication, nutrition, fitness and other management techniques.

Crossing Healthcare offers diabetes education for Medicaid patients and the Macon County Health Department hosts free management classes regularly to prevent further health problems.

The Y is looking to expand membership discounts currently offered to several area businesses, including Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Decatur Memorial.

“What we’re trying to do is create a win-win-win situation,” Whitehead said, referring to benefits for companies, employees and the Y. But besides personal health benefits, better community ratings also have the potential to boost the economy and unemployment rate.

“I’m hoping if we can make our community healthier that will attract more potential employers,” Whitehead said.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Mental exercises key to better brain function

Brain Games ROBIN ERB

Tribune News Service Writer‌

‌ ETROIT — Go ahead, do it. Grab a penD cil. Right now. Write your name backward.

And upside down.

Awkward, right?

But if researchers and neurologists are correct, doing exercises like these just might buy you a bit more time with a healthy brain.

Some research suggests that certain types of mental exercises, whether they are memory games on your mobile device or jotting down letters backward, might help our gray matter maintain concentration, memory and visual and spatial skills over the years.

“There is some evidence of a use-itor-lose-it phenomenon,” says Dr. Michael Maddens, chief of medicine at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich.

Makers of computer brain games, in fact, are tapping into a market of consumers who have turned to home treadmills and gym memberships to maintain their bodies, and now worry that aging might take its toll on their mental muscle as well.

But tweaking every day routines can help.

Like brushing your teeth with your nondominant hand. Or crossing your arms the opposite way you’re used to, says Cheryl Deep, who leads “Brain Neurobics” sessions on behalf of the Wayne State Institute of Gerontology.

At a recent session in Novi, Mich., Deep encouraged several dozen senior citizens to flip the pictures in their homes upsidedown. It might baffle houseguests, but the exercise crowbars the brain out of familiar grooves cut deep by years of mindless habit.

“Every time you walk past and look, your brain has to rotate that image,” Deep says.

“Brain neurobics is about getting us out of those ruts, those pathways, and shaking things up.”

Participants were asked to call out the color of ink that flashed on a screen in front them. The challenge: The colors spelled out names of other colors. Blue ink spelled o-ra-n-g-e, for example.

Several in the crowd at Waltonwood Senior Living hesitated, a few scrunching up faces in concentration. The first instinct is to say “orange.”

In another exercise, participants had to try to name as many red foods as possible.

Apple? Sure that’s an easy one. It took a while, but the crowd eventually made its way to pomegranate and pimento.

Elissa and Hal Leider chuckled with friends as they tested their recall.

Hal Leider, 82, a retired carpenter, was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s, and he tries to challenge himself mentally and physically by bowling, shooting pool

and playing poker: “I think anything we can do might be helpful,” says Elissa Leider, 74.

The idea of mental workouts marks a dramatic shift in how we understand the brain these days.

“We want to stretch and flex and push” the brain, says Moriah Thomason, assistant professor in Wayne State University School of Medicine’s pediatrics department and in the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development

Thomason also is a scientific adviser to www.Lumosity.com, one of the fastestgrowing brain game websites.

“We used to think that what you’re born with is what you have through life. But now we understand that the brain is a lot more plastic and flexible than we ever appreciated,” she says.

Still, like the rest of your body, aging takes its toll, she says.

The protective covering of the neural

cells, white matter, begins to shrink first.

Neural and glial cells, often called the gray matter, begin to shrink as well, but more slowly. Neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, decrease.

But challenging the brain stimulates neural pathways, those tentacles that look like tree branches in a cluster of brain cells.

It boosts the brain’s chemistry and connectivity, refueling the entire engine.

“Certain activities will lay more neural pathways that can be more readily reengaged,” Thomason says. “The hope is that there are ways to train and strengthen these pathways.”

Maddens explains it this way: Consider the neurons of your brain like electrical wires and the white matter like the insulation. When the insulation breaks down over time, things can misfire.

In labs, those who engaged in mentally challenging games do, in fact, show improvement in cognitive functioning.

They get faster at speed games and stronger in memory games, for example.

What’s less clear is whether this improvement transfers to everyday tasks, like remembering where you parked the car or the name of your child’s teacher, both Thomason and Maddens say.

But when it comes to the link between physical exercise and the brain, researchers and clinicians agree: physical exercise is good for the brain; it has also been linked to lower rates of chronic disease. Good nutrition is essential too.

Oxygen, itself, is essential, Deep said: “Your brain is an oxygen hog.”

Diet, exercise and mental maneuvers all may boost brain health in ways science still doesn’t understand. In the best cases, the right mix might stave off the effects of Alzheimer’s and other age-related disease too, Maddens says.

All this is good news for an aging, stressed out, and too-busy society, he says.

Reading a book, engaging with friends or going out for a walk and paying attention to what’s around you , that’s not really about goofing off. Rather, it’s critical time that stimulates neural pathways and boosts the odds of long-time brain health.

“It’s talking to friends. It’s getting out socially. It’s engaging in life. The question is ‘How do I force myself to learn?’” Thomason says.

The same might be true when it comes to mentally changing computer games.

Says Maddens: “Would I have patients playing computer games eight hours a day in hopes that they can delay Alzheimer’s by two months? No. But you can enjoy (playing such games) and possibly get a benefit from it, too.”

January 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 15

Don’t let the winter yucks get the best of you JAMIE LOBER

Business Journal Writer‌

The colder months can feel like a war zone when it comes to protecting your health.

While it can be challenging, there are actions you can take to avoid the spread of the winter yucks at your office and beyond.

There are a few common reoccurring issues.

“The biggest acute illnesses we see are simple coughs and colds and, of course, the flu virus,” said Dr. Valerie Thompson, family medicine physician with St. Mary’s Hospital.

Proper hygiene plays a big role, especially with stomach bugs that can be spread through close contact.

“Wash your hands, even if you are not sick, to avoid spreading bacteria and viruses around. And if you have an upper respiratory infection, cough and sneeze in a controlled manner,” Thompson said.

Protect yourself and others. “Interestingly enough they did a study not that long ago that showed how far a cough or sneeze could travel in the air and it was greater than 5 to 10 feet,” Thompson said.

It is a misconception that you only affect the person sitting next to you.

“They said the best way was not the elbow cough we had been telling people about for years, but the tissue cough or sneeze,” Thompson said. It can help to avoid contact with people who are sick, including a co-worker who may be coughing in the cubicle next to you.

“Try to put more space between you and those who are sick,” Thompson said.

Get vaccinated. “The best bet for the flu is the flu shot,” Thompson said.

Some people have anxieties about the vaccine but evidence shows that it works.

“A lot of patients are nervous about it because they think it makes them sick or they will get the flu from the flu shot, but that is absolutely not true,” Thompson said.

Unless you’ve had an adverse effect or an allergy, it is a good idea universally.

Focus on what you can control. “Keep stress in check; eat right; sleep right; and exercise,” said Cherylee Bridges, nurse manager at the American Lung Association.

Take precautions. “Use common sense about being outside in the weather for cold exposure. So if you are going to be outside shoveling snow or even playing and building a snowman, you need to have gloves and a hat to protect your fingers and toes from things like frostbite,” Thompson said.

“

Steer clear of alcohol. “It can give you a false sense of temperature and often you can get in trouble with the cold and not realize it because the alcohol is keeping you warm on the inside,” Thompson said.

If you have a heart condition, don’t shovel snow. “Find a neighbor where you can barter or pay rather than going out because it can increase your chances of having a heart attack,” Thompson said.

Be able to recognize the common cold. “Common symptoms include runny

nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, sore throat, headache and mild fever,” Bridges said.

They are highly contagious.

“If you want to stay healthy, prevention and boosting your immunity are the only easy ways possible,” Bridges said.

Cold germs are present everywhere.

“In order to stay away from cold, avoid touching your eyes and nose constantly,” Bridgessaid .

Know when to see your doctor. “If someone has a chronic cough that is not going away they need to see their doctor because there can be things that are not viral that are causing it,” Thompson said.

If the cough is linked to the average cold, over-the-counter cold preparations that are multi-symptom and cover the cough would be fine.

“If you have a blood pressure problem, call your doctor’s office before and ask them because there are certain brands that say they are for patients with heart conditions or blood pressure,” Thompson said.

While winter can be difficult, do your best to stay warm and healthy and know that spring is just around the corner.

Making a difference in people’s lives is the true purpose of mine.

”

THAT’S HOW MEGAN PFLEGER, PT IS

ELEVATING HEALTH CARE

every day.

At HSHS St. Mary’s, we invest in our people, our technology and our hospital to create the ideal healing environment. Megan takes pride in assisting her orthopedic patients through minimally invasive procedures that feature faster recovery times, less pain and shorter hospital stays. For more examples of how we are elevating health care, visit stmarysdecatur.com. stmarysdecatur.com

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Rid yourself of those pesky habits, once and for all HEATHER SCHROERING

Tribune news Service Writer‌

‌Are you that guy at brunch who can’t stop playing Candy Crush? Or have you ever reached for another potato chip, only to realize that you had eaten the entire bag in one sitting?

Worst of all, do you acknowledge you have a bad habit, but can’t seem to get rid of it?

“Why we keep doing things that hurt us is a fascinating question, because normally we learn from experience,” said Richard O’Connor, author of “Rewire: Change Your Brain to Break Bad Habits, Overcome Addictions, Conquer SelfDestructive Behavior.”

“The automatic, non-thinking brain knows how to drive and type and breathe.

That part of the brain really does learn from experience so we don’t repeat the same mistakes twice, except in certain circumstances, like when we’re not paying attention or when we have some hidden motive that’s keeping us in this self-destructive habit.”

In his book, O’Connor draws on the idea that we have “two brains,” a conscious, decision-making one and an automatic one that “quickly gobbles up the potato chip while the conscious self is distracted,” he writes in the book. So in order to kick a bad habit, whether it’s overeating, incessantly playing video games or chronic procrastinating, you have to consciously coach your autopilot self through it, which isn’t always easy.

Remember, degrees of self-destructive behavior vary, as does the time, effort and focus it takes to change that behavior. Here are O’Connor’s tips to getting rid of pesky bad habits: Practice willpower. “People believe they lack willpower, but willpower is not something you either have or don’t, like blue eyes,” O’Connor writes in his book.

It’s a skill, he said, that can be developed with practice by telling yourself no, removing yourself from the temptation or reminding yourself that there’s a bigger reward if you don’t give in. “These kinds of bargains contribute to training the brain so it becomes more easy,” he said.

Try replacement therapy. “The real secret is not to try to break a bad habit but to learn to do something else instead,” O’Connor said. “Our brains are wired to keep biting nails or procrastinating. So we’re used to it. It becomes the default mode. Instead of going on a battle against procrastination, you should reframe it.”

However, we can easily go from one bad habit to another, so the trick is to focus on a positive activity you feel good about.

Be realistic when setting goals. “Your

Tribune News Service photo‌

In order to kick a bad habit, whether it’s overeating or biting your nails, you have to consciously coach your autopilot self.

standards are very important, and if they’re too high, you can give up before you start,” he said. There are two types of goals you can set: The overarching goal is where you want to end up, but be aware: “It can be motivational to imagine yourself 30 pounds lighter, but you can also use those kinds of goals to beat yourself up every time you fail,” O’Connor said.

Operational goals, or concrete steps for the next day, week or month, will help you reach the overarching goal. In other words, using weight as the example, focus on losing 2 pounds each week.

Make your goals public. “Talking with other people about how you want to change can be very helpful,” O’Connor said. “They can have experiences or knowledge you can use.” It can also give you motivation when your friends and family help you out by reminding you of your goals.

Don’t sweat the slip-ups. “The good news from all the brain research is (that) every time you practice a good behavior, you’re building up a little network of neurons that make it easier to do the same thing next time,” O’Connor said. “When you slip up, you haven’t hurt yourself too much. You might have a little bit of catching up to do.”

Francis c. Lee, MD, FaaD

Advanced Dermatology

Board certified in Dermatology and Dermatopathology

skin cancer eDucation • Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. • Generally curable if caught early.

• Self exams and evaluation by dermatologist are imperative.

What to Look For

MicheLLe B. schoenLein, Pa-c

the key to detecting skin cancers is to notice changes in your skin. Look for: • Large brown spots with darker speckles located anywhere on the body.

• Dark lesions on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, fingertips, toes, mouth, nose, or genitalia.

• Translucent, pearly, and dome-shaped growths.

• Existing moles that begin to grow, itch, or bleed.

• Brown or black streaks under the nails.

• A sore that repeatedly heals and re-opens.

• Clusters of slow-growing, scaly lesions that are pink or red.

If any of these conditions occur, please make an appointment right away. The doctor may do a biopsy of the

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Reader Profile: n 89% are college educated. n 28% are ages 45 to 54.

mole to determine if it is cancerous. A Physician is on site Monday-Friday.

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January 2015

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Community health calendar Support groups‌

TOPS Club IL 49 Decatur, 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Main Street Church of God, 2000 N. Main St. (enter from Garfield Street).

Support group for Real People seeking Real Results with weight loss. For more information, go to www.topsclub.org or call Chris Granda at (217) 521-2420.

Helping Hands Bereavement for Children, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, 210 W. McKinley, Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Grief support group, 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, St. Mary’s Hospital, Conference Room 561. For information, call Jamie Smith at (217) 544-6464 ext. 45268.

Bariatric support group, 5:30 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 6, DMH Specific Performance Enhancement Center, 2122 N. 27th St. to register, call (217) 876-4249.

Pink Link breast cancer support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. To register, call (217) 876-4377.

Breastfeeding support group, 10:30 a.m.

Monday, Jan. 12 and Jan. 26, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at (217) 464-2334.

SHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24.

Support group for those who have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or early infancy. For more information, call (217) 464-2045.

Epilepsy support group, 5 p.m. Tuesday,

Jan. 13, St. Mary’s Hopsital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information, call (217) 853-1655.

Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 14, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Diabetes support group, 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, DMH Specific Performance Enhancement Center, 2122 N, 27th St. Call (217) 876-4249.

Parkinson’s disease support group, 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main St. For information, call Kathy Broaddus at (217) 820-3096.

Lyme-MTHFR support study group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, Mari-Mann Herb Co., 1405 Mari Mann Lane. Call (217) 429-1555.

Brain tumor support group, 10 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Call (217) 876-4750.

Postpartum emotional support group, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. For more information, call (217) 464-2334.

Cardiac rehabilitation wellness group, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, Decatur Memorial Hosptial, Classroom C. Call (217) 876-2496.

Widowed support group, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 22. Monthly dinner

Make your resolution come true Metro Editorial Services

‌New Year’s resolutions provide a perfect opportunity to set positive goals for the year to come. The following are some ways you can ensure this year’s resolutions don’t go unresolved.

Be specific. A resolution that’s too general may ultimately prove ineffective. For example, if you resolve to lose weight this year, you probably hope to lose a substantial amount of weight over the next 12 months, as opposed to just one or two pounds. If you set specific and periodic goals, such as lose one to two pounds by the end of January, as part of your resolution, then you are building in some measuring sticks along the way, and meeting those measuring sticks can motivate you to stay on course and realize your resolution by year’s end.

Don’t go overboard. If you traditionally find resolutions hard to live up to, then stick to a single resolution this year. This allows you to focus your efforts more effectively and ensures you won’t be overburdened, which could negatively impact your ability to realize your resolutions.

Enlist a friend. If your New Year’s

resolution is one that others can apply to their own lives, then by all means enlist a friend. The buddy system is a great motivating tool, and enlisting the help of a friend or family member provides the added benefit of seeing that loved one more often in the year ahead.

Use technology. Saving more money is a popular New Year’s resolution, and now men and women looking to save more can employ technology to help them realize their financial goals. If your goal for the coming year is to save ‘X’ amount of dollars, sit down and calculate how much you need to save each pay period to realize that goal. You can then have that figure automatically deposited into an interestbearing savings account each time your paycheck is deposited into your account.

Don’t let setbacks derail your resolution.

Resolutions too often fall by the wayside when men and women experience setbacks directly related to their resolutions.

If you resolved to save more money but had a month when that simply was not possible, don’t allow that to derail your resolution for the rest of the year. Setbacks are nearly inevitable, but they’re never an excuse to give up on a resolution.

gathering. For location or to register, call (217) 428-7733.

Renewal bereavement support group, 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Complementary Education Classroom, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Register online or call (217) 876-4750.

Classes‌

Safe Sitter class, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. This program teaches 11-13 year olds how to handle emergencies and provide safe child care. Cost is $30. To register, call (217) 876-3448.

Cardiopulmonary rehab nutrition class, 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Cafe DMH. Information on heart-healthy eating with emphasis on reading labels. For more information, call (217) 876-2496.

Look Good, Feel Better, 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, Cancer Care Specialists of Decatur Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. A program that teaches beauty techniques

to female cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. To register call, (217) 876-6600.

Sibling class, 5:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Conference Room. Children 3-12 learn about being a big brother or sister. For more information or to register, call (217) 464-2334.

Infant CPR class, 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classrooms, third floor. Register online or call (217) 876-3400.

Cardiopulmonary risk factor education, 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Classroom C. Call (217) 876-2496.

In BeTWEEN for Girls, 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, Decatur Memorial Hospital, OB Classroom. Girls ages 9-12 learn more about health, physical and emotional changes during puberty, the reproductive system, nutrition and exercise and caring for their bodies. Registration required. Register online or call (217) 876-3100.

Newborn care and breastfeeding basics, 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Cafe DMH 1 and 2. Registration required. Register online or cal (217) 876-3400.

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Call Lisa today for information and to schedule a tour. Space is limited. • 217-737-7778

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January 2015

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Staying healthy in the great indoors Don’t let winter keep you on the couch EMILY STEELE

Business Journal Writer‌

DECATUR – The annual migration to the couch is in full swing.

As hard as we try, humans don’t hibernate, so while the days are shorter and colder, we get creative to stay active and stave off cabin fever and winter weight gain.

Keep it simple‌

The doors at Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth open at 6 a.m., but this time of year it’s not shoppers prowling for holiday deals there that early: It’s walkers.

Before the shops are open, dozens who are part of the Decatur Memorial Hospital Heart Walkers program or just there informally tread the exterior track of the mall.

Carol Ridgeway walks seven days a week with her husband following the blue footprint stickers that bear the Decatur Memorial Hospital logo. She prefers walking outside, as she still does in the afternoons, but likes have the option of the mall.

“It’s convenient; it’s warm,” she said.

A mall walker for more than a decade, Ridgeway said the number of walkers picked up last month. She’ll walk three loops, about two miles, before meeting up with other walkers for coffee.

“This is nice; we’re lucky to have it,” she said.

Most of the walkers wear sneakers, some use walkers or push strollers, while others,

such as Phil Polley, power walk.

When it starts getting too cold, Polley trades his hiking backpack for a 24-pound weighted vest and a trip to the mall. He’s getting in shape for a hiking excursion to Iceland this summer and spends more than an hour walking, five days a week.

“It keeps the weight in check and makes sure that my day pack doesn’t weigh too much,” he said.

Try a new sport‌

The dull whack of a wiffle ball meeting a paddle echoes through the gym at the Decatur Family YMCA, attracting the attention of those walking by.

It’s quite possible some may be recruited to play pickleball, one of the newest indoor sports to come to Decatur.

Kaleb Renfro, the Y sports director, said pickleball is popular in Central Illinois, with leagues in Springfield, Champaign and Peoria. But it came inside when it became too cold to use the outdoor tennis courts.

“We like to run it for the colder months when they’re not able to go outside,” Renfro said.

The high-speed sport is a combination of tennis, badminton and racquetball.

“It’s almost like you’re standing on a pingpong table,” Renfro said.

Renfro said they have a mix of participants, from tennis players keeping their skills sharp over the winter to feeding their competitive nature. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, every court was full, with members bringing in

Carol Ridgeway enjoys a morning walk at Hickory Point Mall.

Business Journal, Jim Bowling

Keep kids active

Indoor calorie burners

Spend less time in front of the TV, computer and other electronic devices.

Or opt for a video game or board game that requires movement, such as Twister or Charades Use a workout DVD Turn on your favorite music and dance Source: Healthfinder.gov

out-of-town family members to play.

Avid participants such as Sherry Plain often recruit curious people walking by or those on the second-floor track looking into the gym.

“If you show up here, we will put a paddle in your hand, teach you the rules and teach you how to play,” Plain said.

Plain called Renfro and encouraged him to set up an indoor course this year.

Competitive by nature, she plays three times a week in the open play setup and always against a different group of players.

“I leave here sweating,” she said.

Knowing that the temptation for kids to play video games during their whole winter break is too great, the Decatur Indoor Sports Center offers a winter camp starting the Monday after most schools get out.

“When the kids are out of school, we want to give them something to do and not just sitting at home,” said Danita Deffenbaugh with the DISC. As the recreation supervisor, Deffenbaugh makes sure there are activities to keep children ages 5 to 13 busy.

The Winter Break Day Camp includes field trips for bowling and ice skating, but each day starts with morning exercises.

“We just try to keep them moving around,” Deffenbaugh said. “We limit their electronic use.”

Kids get a chance to socialize with campers from other schools through crafts and games. They’ll play dodge ball, climb the rock wall and keep busy with a variety of indoor activities.

“In the winter, when it’s so cold, they don’t mind staying indoors,” she said.

January 2015

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Your

BUSINESS JOURNAL 19

Career

Meet Daniel Perryman, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital

‌Hometown: Clinton, Iowa Family: Three children: Jateum 26 (RN is Nurse practitioner school), Daniel 21 (Actuarial Science student at SIUE), Isabella, 13 (7th grade) Education: Master’s degree in hospital and health administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science from The University of Iowa.

Currently completing master’s degree in theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

Hobbies/interests: Exercising, reading/ learning about any subject.

My first job: My family-owned a karate school, so my first job was teaching karate.

Why I do what I do: Working in health care allows me to work in a career that helps people in times of need. I especially enjoy Catholic health care because it allows me to live out my faith through my work. I also enjoy challenges and complex environments. Health care is a very challenging and complex environment, and it allows me to be visionary, operational and political all at the same time.

Business Journal, Danny Damiani‌

sisters and leadership. St. Mary’s has a wonderful reputation in HSHS.

Community involvement: Member of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce and Education Coalition of Macon County boards.

What are the major challenges confronting hospitals today? What is St. Mary’s doing to address these challenges? Hospitals face increasing challenges related to reimbursement, difficulty recruiting physicians and nurses and treating many uninsured patients. Regarding financial challenges, we focus on being efficient as possible and providing high quality health care at the lowest cost possible. We provide a great environment to work in so that we can attract talented physician and nurses.

HSHS St. Mary’s mission is focused on treating all in need so we operate efficiently so that we can continue to treat those without insurance or means to pay.

What attracted you to the St. Mary’s job?

I have been a part of Hospital Sisters Health System for eight years. I believe in their mission and enjoy working with the

You are the leader of one of the city’s largest employers. Is the job of hospital CEO the same as leading any large company? How does it differ? I think all businesses have

Personal approaches to challenges: Since health care is full of challenges, approaching each challenge in an objective way is important. It is always important to take time to reflect on the challenge and then decide on the best course of action.

the same type of challenges. Attracting talented employees is a major part of every business. Providing a quality product or service is also important to every business.

Health care is unique in its own way but so is banking, farming, retail or any other business. We all face challenges.

One of the first things you did upon your arrival was host town hall meetings with your new team. What did you take away from those meetings? I very much enjoyed the town hall meetings. It gave me a chance to discuss issues with the majority of colleagues and to answer some of their questions.

Interacting with our colleagues is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job.

In your initial assessment of the hospital, you set goals. What steps have been taken/ are being planned to: Make St. Mary’s more visible in the community? We are focused on elevating health care in our community through community benefits that allow individuals

to gain access to health care, and to encourage the overall health and wellness of our community. You can expect to see more community benefit programs sponsored by HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital.

To improve quality? Our quality team works with the HSHS Central Illinois Division to continually review practices and policies to ensure that we meet quality standards, and provide the best care to our patients.

To attract more specialty physicians?

Decatur is a wonderful community, and is making great strides in development. In addition to our major renovations, technological advances and our dedication to engaging our colleagues and physicians, we hope that the changes the city and surrounding areas are making will help attract more physicians who want to stay in our community. Further, we have established partnerships with physicians groups in other areas who travel to Decatur to ensure that we have coverage for specialty areas.

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January 2015

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Office conflict should have been addressed long ago ‌Q: Two of my employees are refusing to communicate with each other. About three months ago, “Anna” and “Pam” got into an argument that ended in a shouting match.

Their screaming and yelling could be heard by everyone in the department. Since then, they have gone out of their way to avoid interacting.

Anna accuses Pam of being bossy and interfering with her job. Pam says she can’t stand Anna’s attitude and wants nothing to do with her. This ongoing conflict has disrupted the flow of work and created tension in Office Coach the office.

I have told both employees that disciplinary action will be taken if this continues, but their relationship just seems to keep getting worse. What should I do?

A: Has it occurred to you that three people are responsible for this problem? Anna and Pam may be squabbling like childish brats, but you’re the one who is tolerating this disruptive behavior. If you were acting like a manager instead of a fretful bystander, their juvenile antics would have ended long ago.

You say “disciplinary action will be taken if this continues,” but I wonder what you’re waiting for. The proper time for discipline was after the initial shouting match, when both parties should have been given

Marie McIntyre

a documented warning and sent home.

Considering their subsequent performance, corrective action could have been administered at any time.

So instead of wasting another day, you should immediately order these feuding colleagues to cease all forms of disruptive conduct, including pouting and sulking.

From now on, regardless of their feelings, they must consistently interact in a polite and cooperative manner. Any return to their previous behavior will result in a final warning which could lead to termination.

Once these two stop behaving like middle-school “mean girls”, you can begin to explore the underlying cause of their frustration. But no resolution can be reached until Anna and Pam start acting like professional adults, and you start being a boss.

Q: Our manager, who is very old-fashioned, expects women to wear skirts and men to wear ties. She also has a strict policy that no one is allowed to eat at their desks.

Everyone thinks these rules are ridiculous, so we generally ignore them on days when we know she will be out.

Recently, we were surprised to receive a scolding email from our boss saying these policy violations would no longer be tolerated. We eventually determined that a new co-worker had tattled on us. Although this guy seemed nice at first, he’s obviously not a trustworthy person. What should we do about this?

A: The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. So if you have clear evidence that this new colleague acted as an intentional informant, you can probably assume that he will continue sharing

‌W E E K LY T I P S Can’t get enough advice from the Office Coach? Get weekly column updates at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

his observations. And since your manager found the information useful, she will undoubtedly continue to listen.

Fortunately, however, identifying the tattler does put you in a better position to prevent further problems. Knowing that your actions will likely be reported, you must keep confidential information to yourself, avoid making negative comments about your boss, and follow the rules, whether you like them or not.

Q: I don’t understand why my boss is annoyed with me. As his administrative assistant, I try to be as efficient as possible, but he doesn’t always seem to appreciate this.

Last week, when someone called in sick, I sent my boss an email saying this employee would not be coming in. He responded that he would like me to tell him these things in person. I emailed back and said “Do you want me to come into your office now?” He replied “Yes!” When I went into his office, he said my frequent emails were driving him crazy. He also said that sending an email to ask if I should come in was ridiculous. He apparently wants me to talk to him instead of putting my questions in writing.

This makes no sense, because a short email is much less distracting than someone walking into your office. When I do go

talk to him, we waste a lot of time discussing his personal life. Why is he being so unreasonable?

A: Although your manager wasn’t very diplomatic, he is really just trying to express a communication preference.

While some people want written information, others like to talk. For you, zipping off a quick email is the logical way to convey a short message. But to your boss, writing someone from a few feet away just seems silly.

These conflicting communication styles could reflect a common personality difference. The fact that your boss enjoys personal conversation may indicate that he is a “people person” who relishes face-to-face interaction. You, on the other hand, may be a more task-oriented type who hates spending time on irrelevant chatter.

If your manager is significantly older, there may also be a generational gap.

Younger folks tend to view electronic communication as the default option and use talking as a last resort. Some of their elders find this frustrating and ineffective. This is simply a difference of opinion, with arguments to be made on both sides.

The key consideration for you, however, is that this guy is your boss. Given the strength of his reaction, he has probably been stewing about this issue for quite some time. So if you want to be smart about “managing up,” you will respect his wishes and communicate as requested.

Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach. Send questions and get free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter @officecoach.

Recognize your strengths, weaknesses to better develop skills ‌Q: I keep hearing advice that I should build on my strengths, but it makes more sense to me to fix my weaknesses. What am I missing?

A: Development planning requires prioritization, so determine where you’ll get the most for your efforts.

Inner game‌

Think of yourself as a whole person, setting aside any sense of strengths vs. weaknesses or good vs. bad. Relax and settle into some time for reflection, taking some deep breaths and letting go of any preconceptions that may limit your thinking.

While in this peaceful state, allow yourself to experience the deeper essence of who you are as a whole person, not the

Liz Reyer

disparate parts or the personas that you employ in day-to-day life. What do you treasure about yourself? What are the gifts that you bring to the world? If you aren’t used to thinking this way, it might even be uncomfortable. If you’re stuck, imagine that someone who cares about you is offering a description. What does your best friend see?

Next, think about the ways you show up in various settings. What attitudes help you move forward? Do they reflect the inner you in ways you value? If so, consider whether you employ them as fully as you could.

In this context, development becomes the path you take to most fully actualize your inner self. Strengths and weaknesses are simply a way of defining whether you’re bringing your best self to the settings you’ve chosen to engage in.

Outer game‌

To move forward, focus on one personal characteristic — for example, that you’re decisive. Now think through the

‌W E E K LY T I P S Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

following questions: How consistent are you in making decisions?

How satisfied are you with the quality of your decisions?

What underlying characteristics do you have that enable quality decisionmaking?

Likewise, what characteristics detract from the quality of your decisions?

If you approach this as improving a weakness, you’d look at ways that you can fine-tune your skills. For example, you may feel that you make poor decisions under pressure. In that case, consider developing your skills for negotiating more time for decisions. You will need to be selective to pick improvement opportunities that will truly be

of benefit.

To build on your strengths, focus instead on finding opportunities to demonstrate your skills. Perhaps you’re a very strategic thinker in a tactical role. Look for opportunities to use your strategic skills: volunteering for special projects or applying for different positions that need those skills.

Focus on developing in ways that are exciting and interesting. If you find yourself saying “I should get better at soand-so,” find a different direction that is more inspiring to you.

The last word‌

No one can be good at everything, so select your development opportunities carefully.

Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at liz@deliverchange.com.

January 2015

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your The Arts‌

Anne Lloyd Gallery: Young Artists Showcase, exemplary juried art in varied media by area students in grades 5-8, presented by Gallery 510 Artists Guild, Ltd. Call (217) 4233189. www.decturarts.org Gallery 510: Photography by Sally VanNatta. A meet the artist reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9. Call (217) 422-1509.

Decatur Airport: Acrylics, pastels and watercolors by Glenda Sue Goodpaster.

Decatur Public Library: Watercolors by Rae Nell Spencer.

Perkinson Art Gallery, Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Photography by Jonha Calinawan, Maureen Delaney and Jason Lazarus.

free

time

Calendar of events

For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/

On Stage‌

Theatre 7 presents “The Hallelujah Girls,” Jan. 9-11 and 16-18, in Richland Community College’s Shilling Center. Go to www.

6-9 p.m. Cost is $25. Call (217) 522-5911 to reserve a spot.

Super Saturday Recess, 10 a.m. to noon through Jan. 31, Decatur Indoor Sports Center. Call (217) 429-3472.

The Rock Springs Nature Center hosts a long list of mini camps, family adventures and classes during the month. So many, in fact, that there are too many to list. Go to www. maconcountyconservation.org and click on the Programs and Activities tab for a complete listing.

Misc.‌

Music‌

Greater Decatur Chorale presents “A little Dinner Music: Up, Close and Personal,” 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan 9 and 10, and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at Scovill Banquet Facility. For tickets, call (217) 422-5911.

Central Illinois Jazz Festival, Jan. 30-Feb. 1, at Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. For more information go to www.juvaejazz.com.

Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra: Young Artists Concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, Kirkland Fine Arts Center.

BUSINESS JOURNAL 21

Herald & Review, Jim Bowling Jim McDaniel keeps the ball in play during a game of pickleball at the Decatur Family YMCA.

theatre7.net.

Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Step Afrika!, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7; The Bob Eubanks Not So Newlywed Game, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. For tickets, call (217) 424-6318.

Charity events‌

UCP/Miller Lite Barstool Open to benefit United Cerebral Palsoy Land of Lincoln,

Saturday, Jan. 17. This annual even featurs a game of minuature colf with the holes located in various bars and restaurants throughout Decatur. For more information, call (217) 428-5033.

For the kids‌

Father/Daughter Dance, Saturday, Jan. 24, Hickory Point Banquet Facility. For girls ages 5-12. Dinner at 5 p.m. and dancing from

Ice skating is back at the Decatur Civic Center. Go to www.decaturciviccenter.org or call (217) 422-7300.

Decatur Bridal Expo, 5-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, and noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel.

Fashion show both days. For more information, go to www. decaturbridalexpo.com or call (217) 828-3481.

The 29th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon is set for noon Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Decatur Club. Secretary of State Jesse White will be the featured speaker.

Tickets are $30. For more information, call (217) 424-2805.

Got an item you’d like listed in the Your Free Time calendar? Send the information to Scott Perry at sperry@ herald-review.com or 601 E. William St., Decatur, IL 62523.

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January 2015

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Tech

Talk

Resolve to give yourself technology breaks in 2015 ‌Do you check your email every time a new message comes in? Are you obsessed with social media? Is texting hard to resist, even while driving? If so, you might be one of millions of people who are addicted to technology.

The medical field has yet to decide whether this is an official “condition,” but it’s clear that overdependence on technology can negatively impact your life. Here are some compelling reasons you need to take technology Technology breaks throughout your day.

Wendy Gauntt

Multitasking is a myth‌

Study after study shows that human beings cannot truly multitask. We simply switch from one task to another, quickly. In doing so, the quality of your work suffers, as well as your memory. The more complicated the task, the greater the impact. Turning off technology allows you to focus and do your best work.

This issue is compounded in meetings.

Instead of paying attention, meeting attendees read and respond to their messages. For addicts, this could take up nearly the entire meeting. They will miss key points, and their overall memory of the discussion will be poor. This issue is a real challenge. Many people take notes on their devices, so it can be hard to tell who is paying attention and who is not. The best solution is to engage everyone in the meeting topic so they are actively involved.

Sleep better‌

If your phone is by your bedside, it can impact your sleep in several ways. Checking email right before bedtime winds your brain up at a time you should be relaxing. Listening for incoming messages in the middle of the night prevents you from sleeping deeply. Worst of all, the LED screens of most electronic devices are so bright that they can disrupt sleep hormones, causing your body to think you should wake up. We are especially sensitive to the blue light emitted by these devices, but even low levels of light can disrupt your sleep cycle. It’s best to leave your phone in another room at night, and bring back the trusty old alarm clock.

Take charge of your day‌

Many productivity experts recommend that you avoid checking email first thing in the morning, or limit it to set periods during the day. The reason? When you start the day with email, you start the day by reacting to someone else’s agenda. That can hijack your entire day. Instead, start the day by working on your most important priorities. Then, at the end of the day, you’ve made progress on

what matters, not just what someone else said was urgent.

You’ll also find you have more time. When you focus on what’s important and avoid the lure of social media, you’ll reclaim a surprising amount of time. It may be quick to check for updates, but when you do it constantly throughout the day, the time adds up fast.

One more benefit? Less stress. When you are constantly checking messages, you constantly feel the urgent need to respond.

Unless you are truly in a life and death situation, these responses can wait. Remember your priorities and stay focused on what matters. Many find they are also stressed because social media makes them feel inferior. Everyone is posting their best moments, their ideal self. If you compare yourself to that, it’s a losing battle.

Enjoy your life‌

If you are out having fun, spending time with friends and family, enjoying a good meal…does checking messages add to your enjoyment or take away? It may be hard to disconnect, but you’ll find that being fully present instead of constantly distracted can make a huge impact on your happiness and your relationships. People feel valued when they have your time and attention. Social media may give us the illusion that we are

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connecting with people, but it’s nothing compared to the real thing.

By being more fully present, you may stumble onto opportunities you would have otherwise missed. Don’t glue your eyes to your phone. Look up and talk to the people around you. See what’s happening; make new connections. When you get around to Twitter or Facebook later on, you’ll undoubtedly have more interesting activities to post.

Strategies to disconnect‌

Need a little help getting started? First, communicate. Let your team know your plans. For example, if you won’t check your email in the morning, let them know they need to escalate anything urgent by phone or in person. If they are accustomed to getting instant responses, set new expectations on how you will handle their requests. Be prepared to answer questions; also be prepared to fiercely defend these new boundaries you are setting. People love instant access and hate change. Ultimately your team will be more independent and learn to make better decisions on their own, but it will take time. Let your friends and family know your plans at well. They’ve also grown to expect speedy response. Make sure they know what you are doing and why.

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To disconnect, you have a few options. If you need a complete break, turn on airplane mode or turn the device completely off.

That will prevent anything from coming in, even phone calls. You can also use the “do not disturb” features (available on both iOS and Droid devices). These allow you to limit calls and message to specific times or specific people. You can put your device on silent and even turn off the tell-tale vibrations, so messages still come in, but you can wait until you are ready to check them.

On your computer, consider turning off the Outlook pop-up notification that a new message has come in. If social media is your weakness, you can even purchase apps that block social media on a set schedule.

Start with small changes, and see what works for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Just try something. If it works, keep it up. If not, try something new. Technology is a tough habit to break, but the entire purpose of technology is to make life better. Make sure it is serving you in exactly that way.

Wendy Gauntt is president of CIO Services LLC, a technology consulting company that specializes in small-business solutions. Visit her website at www. cioservicesllc.com for more information, ideas and free resources.

freshmen 10th, 2015

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BUSINESS JOURNAL 23

Money

Health insurance costs up in parts of Illinois ‌CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois residents returning to HealthCare.gov to buy insurance are finding prices higher in many parts of the state.

Average costs fell in the Chicago area, where health care competition is fierce. But costs rose in Springfield and Belleville, according to an analysis of average rates for popular insurance plans conducted for The Associated Press.

Health care costs are increasing, but competition for insurance plan customers means populous Chicago is bucking the trend, said Marc Pierce of Stonegate Advisors, a Chicago-based independent consulting company that conducted the analysis for AP. In Decatur, John and Alicia Phillips decided to stick with the same Blue Cross Blue Shield policy even though their monthly premiums will increase slightly to $249 a month after their tax credit. Their deductibles will increase, too, from $1,000 per person to $1,500 per person, which will raise their out-ofpocket costs when they use health care in 2015.

John Phillips, 43, owns an auto repair shop. His wife is a daycare teacher.

“I looked at some other plans,” Phillips said. “I stuck with the company I knew had paid the bills before without argument.”

In Paris, 59-year-old Starla Redmon shopped around. Her low-cost bronze plan is going up from $75 a month to $94 a month, after financial assistance. “If I can find other insurance, I will,” she said.

The law requires most people to have health insurance, and the fine for not having it is going up this year to $325 per adult — or 2 percent of household income, whichever is greater.

“Almost every one of my clients got an increase of some sort,” said Jamie Simmons, an insurance broker in Carterville. “Several people have said, ‘I’m going to drop it and pay the fine.’”

The Stonegate analysts ran numbers and repeated scenarios they used in 2013 year when they did a similar study for the AP. Stonegate conducts research for

Associated Press‌

John Phillips Jr. works at his auto repair shop in Decatur. Phillips decided to stick with the same Blue Cross Blue Shield policy even though their monthly premiums will increase slightly to $249 a month after their tax credit.

insurers and benefits managers.

The analysis looked at the average monthly costs for three hypothetical households buying bronze or silver plans, the most popular choices, with costs adjusted

to include available tax credits or subsidies.

It found that for a single, 30-year-old fast-food cook making $18,000 a year, a bronze plan would cost an average of $66 a

month and a silver plan $111 a month in Chicago. In Springfield, the fast-food cook could get a bronze plan for $52 a month or a silver for $106 a month. In Belleville, the cost would be $46 monthly for a bronze or $93 for a silver.

A 50-year-old preschool teacher making $30,000 a year could expect to pay $210 monthly for a bronze plan or $281 a month for a silver plan in Chicago. In Springfield, a bronze plan would cost $188 a month and a silver $274. In Belleville, the prices would be $180 for a bronze or $254 for a silver.

For a family, a 40-year-old freelance writer making $60,000 a year with a stay-at-home spouse and two children, the cost would be $413 a month for a bronze plan or $565 a month for a silver plan in Chicago. In Springfield, the cost would be $367 for an average bronze plan or $549 a month for an average silver plan.

In Belleville, the family would pay $348 a month for a bronze or $508 a silver.

Unpaid medical bills wounding credit ‌WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 20 percent of U.S. consumers with credit records, 42.9 million people, have unpaid medical debts, according to a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The findings suggest that many Americans are being trapped by debt because they are confused by the notices they get from hospitals and insurance companies about the cost of treatment. As a result, millions of Americans may be surprised to find they are stuck with lower credit scores, making it harder for them to borrow to buy a home or an automobile.

“When people fall ill and end up at the hospital with unexpected bills, far too often they have entered into a financial maze,” CFPB director Richard Cordray said.

On average, a person with only overdue medical debt owes $1,766. Someone with unpaid medical bills and other sources of debt, possibly credit cards or back taxes, owes an average of $5,638. More than half of all debt on credit reports stems from medical expenses.

The report by the federal regulator indicates that much of this trouble could be avoided. About half of consumers who only carry medical debt have no other signs of being under financial distress. But complaints to the CFPB indicate that consumers are routinely baffled by medical

bills. Unwieldy insurance and hospital statements leave them uncertain as to how much money they owe, the deadline for payment, and which organization should be paid.

The confusion tends to generate disputes from consumers about the unpaid debts. This has prompted the CFPB to announce that it will require major consumer reporting agencies to provide regular reports on how they investigate and respond to disputed charges.

The unpaid medical bills have negative repercussions for credit scores, which help determine how much money people can borrow and the interest rates for mortgages and auto loans.

An unpaid bill of at least $100 could lower an otherwise sterling credit score of 780 by over 100 points, the Fair Isaac Corp. told the CFPB based on a previous model it used to calculate creditworthiness.

The firm updated its credit score model in August, putting less weight on unpaid medical bills when predicting the likelihood of repayment. Consumers with only medical expenses in collection would see their credit score increase by a median of 25 points once the new model is fully implemented.

The updated model was announced after a separate CFPB report in May on the impact medical debt had on credit scores.

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