Herald & Review Business Journal: January 2013

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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M I D C E N T R A L

JANUARY 2013

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2013

YOUR CALENDAR

Friday, Jan. 4

Friday, Jan. 11

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.

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

Monday, Jan. 7 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill, 101 S. Main St. Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Mount Zion Village Board, 5:15 p.m., Village Hall, 1400 Mount Zion Parkway.

Decatur City Council, 5:30 p.m., council chambers, Decatur Civic Center.

Forsyth Village Board, 6:30 p.m., Village Hall, 301 South U.S. 51.

Tuesday, Jan. 8 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton, 333 W. Marion Ave., Forsyth.

BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church, 4415 N. Water St. 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.

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Monday, Jan. 14 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 15 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church.

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

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan. 16 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.

Thursday, Jan. 17 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Area Women’s Connection, 11:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St. Decatur AMBUCS, 6 p.m., Decatur Club.

Wednesday, Jan. 9

Friday, Jan. 18

Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, 7 a.m., 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., LOCATION Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

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

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

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

Thursday, Jan. 10 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

GFWC Decatur Woman’s Club, 10 a.m. Call 877-7008 for location information.

Mature Resource Network, 11:30 a.m., Decatur Club.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St. Decatur Area Women’s Network (DAWN), 5:30 p.m., location varies.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.

Monday, Jan. 21 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Mount Zion Village Board, 5:15 p.m., Village Hall.

Decatur City Council, 5:30 p.m., council chambers, Decatur Civic Center.

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

Forsyth Village Board, 6:30 p.m., Village Hall.

Tuesday, Jan. 22 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church.

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.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Jan. 23 Decatur Golden K Kiwanis Club, 9:30 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 24 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St.

Friday, Jan. 25 Decatur Breakfast Sertoma, 7 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

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

Monday, Jan. 28 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Tuesday, Jan. 29 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church.

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

Noon Kiwanis Club, Decatur Club.

Noon Sertoma, Decatur Club.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

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

Decatur Shrine Club, noon, Scovill Banquet Facility.

Thursday, Jan. 31 Earlybird Kiwanis, 6:45 a.m., Scovill Banquet Facility.

Decatur Metropolitan Rotary Club, noon, Decatur Club.

Thursday Noon Toastmasters, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St.

Friday, Feb. 1 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.

Monday, Feb. 4 Decatur Noon Lions Club, Main Place Bar & Grill.

Decatur Rotary 180, noon, Decatur Club.

Mount Zion Village Board, 5:15 p.m., Village Hall.

Decatur City Council, 5:30 p.m., council chambers.

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

Forsyth Village Board, 6:30 p.m., Village Hall.

Tuesday, Feb. 5 Forsyth Rotary, 7 a.m., Homewood Suites by Hilton.

BNI First Class Professionals, 7:45 a.m., Crestview Christian Church.

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.

Blue Mound Rotary, 6:30 p.m., Pleasantview Township shed.

Wednesday, Feb. 6 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. 7 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, Knights of Columbus Hall, 520 E. North St. Metro Decatur Home Builder’s Association, 6 p.m., Beach House.

Lincolnland AMBUCS, 6:30 p.m., Easter Seals’ Building.

To submit items for Your Calendar, contact Scott Perry at 421-7976, at sperry@herald-review.com, or click the “Submit an Event” link at www. thebusiness-journal.com

Crossword answers Robbies Word of the Day Crossword answers for December. There is no crossword in this month’s issue.

Across 3. Oneiric 7. Gerrymander 10. Vilipend 11. Philomath 12. Intestate

Down 1. Gravamen 2. Refurbish 4. Rarefied 5. Cognate 6. Balletomane 8. Niveous 9. Quiddity

BUSINESS JOURNAL Printed with environmentally safe water-based ink

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January 2013

FROM THE EDITOR Resolutions and I are casual friends. We talk multiple times a year, setting a date to get my life in order when it comes to things like health, finances and fun.

We have to talk several times because it usually takes just a day or two before our latest plan is busted (I can’t live without pop, really), requiring another start date to be set.

Part of this year’s resolution attempt was inspired by something I read in, of all places, AARP The Magazine. (For the record, I’m only 46.)

The headline said it all. “Whatever scares you, do it. Now.” It went on to say, “Escaping your comfort zone can make you happier, smarter, more confident, more grateful and more satisfied with life.”

I made a couple practice runs leading up to this year’s resolution attempt. I spent a Saturday helping a friend put siding on a garage, attended my first meeting as a member of my church council, and, with help, diagnosed a starter problem with my boat and did the repair myself.

I’m convinced I can do a lot of things. My problem is I need someone who can assure me that I’m doing the right thing the right way. Without this guidance, which used to come from my dad, I tend to spend a lot of time thinking about it.

So long comfort zone. It’s been nice knowing you.

BUSINESS JOURNAL

BUSINESS JOURNAL OF MIDCENTRAL ILLINOIS

VOLUME 19

ISSUE 1

601 E. William St. Decatur, IL 62523 217.421.7976 217.421.7965 (fax)

PUBLISHER: Todd Nelson EDITOR: Scott Perry ADVERTISING: Cayla Hittmeier LAYOUT & DESIGN: Ginger Wortman

Scott Perry, editor Business Journal of Midcentral Illinois

January2013Contents

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

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Standing Features

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Biz Bites . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Macon County town leaders reflect on 2012

Business Clips . . . . . . 19 Fred Spannaus . . . . . 20 Free Time calendar . . 21 Health calendar . . . . 14 Liz Reyer . . . . . . . . . . 17 Office Coach . . . . . . . 17 Professional profile . . 12 SCORE counselor . . . 20 Wendy Gauntt . . . . . . 16

Here’s to your health We kick off the new year with an expanded Your Health section that examines a variety of health-related issues, including stress, sick days and resolutions.

22 BYE BYE BUCK Dollar bill may be thing of the past

SUBSCRIPTIONS: To order additional copies call 217.421.7931 ADVERTISING: The deadline for ad and ad copy for the February issue is Jan. 15. Call 217.421.7931 for rate information.

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

Copyright 2013 Herald & Review All rights reserved for entire content.

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January 2013

YOUR COMMUNITY

Drought emphasizes dependence on lake Officials seeking other sources

By ALLISON PETTY Business Journal Writer

DECATUR — When drought dug its gnarled fingers into Central Illinois this year, nobody escaped without a scratch.

Farmers saw their crops wither and die. Boaters lost half their summer on Lake Decatur. Faced with an increasingly choked water source, the city instituted the most stringent water restrictions in its history. As a result, car washes and detailing facilities were forced to seek alternate water sources or shut down.

People could not water their lawns.

The city turned brown.

The situation emphasized the community’s dependence on Lake Decatur and the shortcomings that make such reliance problematic. Decatur’s largest employers require millions of gallons of water per day for their processes. Meanwhile, city and Decatur Park District leaders have pledged millions of dollars toward developing the Nelson Park lakefront into a hub for recreation and the subsequent economic activity.

None of this would be possible without water, a reality that became clear this summer and fall. City officials pledge not to take the lesson for granted.

“What we need to take a look at is how we manage the entire water asset: the lake, the water supply, the water distribution, the water treatment system. It’s probably one of the most important assets that we have,” City Manager Ryan McCrady said. “So we’re still committed to finding that water.”

Lake Decatur was full June 6. Scorching temperatures and lack of rain, coupled with the city’s high water demands, drained it to a low point of 610.71 feet above sea level by Oct. 13. At that point, the lake was 3.79 feet below normal summer lake levels and was 54 percent full, said Director of Water Management Keith Alexander.

While the city maintains several sources of supplemental water, those supplies started at a disadvantage because of dry conditions the previous year. One of the water sources, a former sand and gravel pit, was tapped so extensively in 2011 that it was only a third full when the city began pumping it again July 31.

Other water sources include an electric well near Cisco and a system of eight wells in DeWitt County, several miles north of Argenta. The city began pumping both Aug. 6. But the supplemental water sources are expensive to operate, and they do not supply even half of the water that residents and large industry use each day.

The lake was nearly three feet below normal summer levels and was losing 2/3 of an inch per day when the city moved to the stage two water restrictions

H&R file photo

Faced with the possibility that A.E. Staley Mfg. Co. could be forced to move its operation because of the lack of water, city leaders came together in 1918 to lay the groundwork for what would become Lake Decatur. More than 90 years later, the water needs of the community and the maintenance of Lake Decatur continue to be a topic of discussion.

Aug. 9.

“We have the lake; we’ve been dredging the lake. We also have some supplemental water supplies,” Alexander said.

“But when those supplemental water supplies were stressed, because they had to be used twice in two years, those in combination with the lake did not provide enough water to meet our customer demands and that’s why we’re looking for additional water.”

Officials rapidly sought other alternatives. The Decatur City Council voted Aug. 20 to spend up to $1.4 million on a temporary plastic pipeline that would connect the city’s raw water pump station with another supplemental water source. Though the above-ground pipeline was built this fall, officials have not yet identified whether it would attach to a surface water or groundwater source.

McCrady said the pipeline could be buried in case the city needs to use it in the future. “Right now, we’re leaving it where it is because we’re not convinced we’re out of the drought yet,” he said. “If we decide to bury that, while we’re in the process of burying it, it’s not very useable. So we want to keep it in a useable state until we know for sure where the drought is going and where the water supply issue is going.”

The council also voted Oct. 15 to spend $1.6 million drilling four temporary wells that were expected to bring in 1.4 million to 2 million gallons of emergency water

per day. Officials hoped that the sites could be developed into permanent wells if they proved effective.

However, the results of test drilling and information from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency have altered that plan, officials said. Some sites that were thought to be ideal turned out to offer less water than officials had hoped for.

As a result, the city’s contractor, Black & Veatch Construction Inc., has drilled 17 test bores around the city in search of the best places to drill temporary, and eventually permanent, wells. Alexander said the company would return with a report early this year, giving the city more information from which to proceed.

Dredging is also high on the city’s agenda. The process of removing sediment from the lake’s bottom would ultimately allow it to hold more water, but it is a costly and complicated endeavor.

McCrady recently told the city council he hoped to move forward with dredging the lake’s Basin 1 in the second half of 2013.

Alexander said that dredging project would remove about 2,156 acre feet of sediment from the lake. That is 3.4 square miles of ground with a foot of material on top.

The sediment would be stored in a 523acre site in Oakley Township, where the byproduct of previous dredging projects

has been held. Alexander said the city would need to build new berms around the site to hold the additional sediment.

Though they were hard-won lessons, city officials did gain insight from the 2012 drought. Alexander said one revelation was how cooperative customers could be.

“We had upwards of 15 percent reduction in total water use by our customers during the height of the drought,” he said.

“Another thing we learned is that we cannot rely solely on Lake Decatur in times of moderate to severe drought. It simply does not hold enough water.”

A water rate increase is also likely in the cards for residents this year.

McCrady said the city provides very inexpensive water compared to the cost in surrounding communities, but that low cost does not cover investments that need to be made in the city’s water system. The city council is likely to hear a report about what those improvements might be within the first quarter of the year.

“Although cheap water is nice when you write the check to pay the bill, you have to have sufficient resources to make the capital investments to keep the asset where it needs to be. Otherwise you’re doing a disservice to your community,” McCrady said. “... We don’t want to go through what we went through this year again.”

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January 2013

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Macon County towns’ annual report year for oiling and rocking our streets at a cost of $94,000.

The sewer pump station at 4900 W. Main St. was rebuilt in September. Petersburg Plumbing and Heating won the bid at a price of $122,000. This is part of the upgrade plan for our 35-year-old sewer system.

The other two pump stations were rebuilt in 2010 and 2011 at an average cost of just more than $100,000 each.

It was necessary to increase building permit fees this fall to cover the cost of inspections. This only happens every few years but a small increase in the compensation of our building inspectors required us to play catch up. Building codes are necessary to ensure that safe and standard building methods are used. It is our goal to produce only enough revenue from permit fees to cover the cost of administering the building code.

— Gordon Schrishuhn, mayor

Editor's note: Time Machine tags along with this year's Macon County highlights feature, offering a mix of vintage photos to compliment the annual look at the past year's happenings in local towns. All Macon County towns were invited to submit their highlights.

Argenta The village of Argenta went through a huge transformation in the past year.

The replacement of street signs has begun and will continue for the next couple years as motor fuel tax money allows. Sidewalks in the most need of repair have been replaced and more will be done as money allows. Our sewer system is up and running, some streets were widened where possible and all of the fire hydrants have been replaced.

Rambos Pub and Grubb is open and offers drink specials, a light menu and video poker machines for your entertainment. Fishers Auto Repair is available for all of your automotive needs.

Friends of Argenta is in its third year of monthly community events which included everything from breakfasts to family safety day and a chili cookoff. The not-for-profit group gave more than $4,000 back to the community last year, including e-readers to the Argenta-Oreana schools.

A clothing room is housed inside the Basket Case Catering in the old grade school building and has like new clothing and accessories for less than a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Come check out the village of Argenta. We are a small village with a big heart.

This will be my last year as mayor for the village and I would like to thank the many people who have helped along the way.

— Deena Bowman, mayor

Harristown All of the street signs in Harristown have been replaced. It was done early in the year as a result of a mandate from the Illinois Department of Transportation that specified standards for street signs and regulatory signs. Many of the street signs that were removed from our streets were sold to residents as souvenirs or to help identify their home address. Regulatory signs cannot legally be sold to or owned by private citizens, so they were sold as scrap along with the remaining street signs.

The board of trustees awarded a contract to Burdick Plumbing and Heating to drill a new well to replace well No. 1 at a cost of just under $100,000. Five bids

Blue Mound: A view of Main Street. Date unknown.

Long Creek

File photos

Macon: The Legion Hall in 1936. were received ranging from $100,000 to $142,000. Well No. 1 was removed and sealed. Well No. 3 was drilled and pump tested at more than 200 gallons per minute for 8 hours. It was completed and in production in late July.

All of the streets in Harristown were resurfaced last summer by oiling and rocking. We have done this every second year for quite some time resulting in our streets being in excellent condition. Crushed white rock was used this year instead of pea gravel in an effort to reduce the bleed through of oil. Some believe the angular shape of the white rock helps it to stick to the road surface better than the round pea gravel. For the most part, it seems to be successful. Allied Asphalt and Lane Trucking won the contracts this

Forsyth: An aerial view from the southeast shows construction of the Hickory Point Mall in 1978.

The village of Long Creek is a wonderful place to live and we want to promote that as much as possible.

Thank you for the opportunity to let area residents know what is being planned for the upcoming year, and give them a glimpse into what projects we completed this year.

Anyone who has taken a trip down U.S. 36 East in the past several months has noticed new businesses in our area. Midwest Diesel Trucks has constructed a new building. Connie’s Greenhouse will have a location here in the spring, and Miller Products Unlimited has located in the village.

Just take a drive out our way to see the progress we are making. Long Creek offers auto body repair, beauty salons, day spas, entertainment, food, auction, concrete supplier, Casey’s General Store, asphalt installation repair, industrial cleanup and outdoor landscaping supplies. Long Creek offers something for everyone.

During the past summer, the village of Long Creek was able to complete a large scale drainage project affecting a large area of the village. It posed an inconvenience to many residents but it will alleviate flooding caused by heavy rains. We are currently in the process of getting bids to complete Long Creek Road from Firehouse Road to U.S. 36. This will provide residents another option to travel to subdivisions and businesses in village.

We are proud to be able to let the community know how much we value our small town heritage but want to

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Harristown: A view of the Harristown Depot in use in 1910.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2013

Argenta: Lions Club/cheese factory building in 1932.

Continued from page 5 be considered by anyone thinking about making a move to this side of town. Anyone interested in more information about the village of Long Creek can reach the Village Hall at 864-5263.

— Cheryl A. Smith, village president

Macon It has been encouraging to hear people talking about the changing look of Macon as they drive through and around town. These changes are positive and for the advancement of the community as a whole.

In late October, we finally switched over to our new water tower as construction was completed. This was a very smooth transition. The new tower, with its additional capacity, was needed badly. This project not only changed our skyline with its construction, but the removal of the old tower is difficult to get used to.

The Meridian High School building project is also changing the look of our community. Anticipation is growing to see the finished project. This complex will be impressive and we hope it will be a draw for young families to build homes and start their families here in Macon.

During the past year, we have been trying to improve the conditions of our parks. We have been working on equipment rehabilitation, removal of old equipment, removal of hazards and updating old equipment.

We feel that the overall improvements that we have been making to our city will entice more families to move here. A few more homes were built in Hogan Hills with plans for more this spring. A couple more duplexes were constructed on the south edge of town. Plans are in the works for another subdivision.

Even with the past two summers showing us

Long Creek: The Long Creek Pioneers. Date unknown.

File photos

Mount Zion: The Village Plaza Shopping Center in 1971.

drought conditions, we continue to work on and improve the drainage for the city of Macon. Another tile project has been completed with more drainage ditch work having been completed. Other water distribution infrastructure projects have been completed, resulting in higher efficiencies being noted and a considerable reduction made to unaccounted for water loss. These are all positives that we plan to build on in 2013.

This past year has been very successful and we look forward to a great 2013.

— Ed Aukamp, city administrator

Oreana This has been an exciting year for the village of Oreana.

In early December, the village began purchasing water from the village of Forsyth as construction of a water main from Forsyth to Oreana comes to a close.

The purchase of water from Forsyth has been long awaited, as residents had complained of poor tasting, discolored water for many years. While our water has always been safe to drink, the water purchased from Forsyth is a major improvement. The purchase of water from Forsyth has and will continue to make Oreana a more desirable place to live.

Oreana also has seen improvements to the village park. A new illuminated marquee sign has been installed. In addition to the sign, a landscaping project was undertaken to enhance the visual appeal of the park.

As a new year begins, Oreana is well positioned for the future. With our recently completed sanitary sewer system, our improved water quality and a great community, we are sure to have another great year.

— Aaron Keathey, village clerk

Oreana: People watch as corrugated boxes flow from the die cutter during a 1985 open house at Decatur Container Corp., which is now Greif Inc.

Warrensburg As I reflect on what our small town has accomplished this past year, I get an overwhelming sense of pride and gratification. This community has come together to make all of the fundraisers and community events an absolute success.

Working with my board members and employees, we all strive to keep this village clean and presentable.

Each board member has their assigned areas, but we all work together and continue to get things done year after year.

Here are some of the highlights from 2012.

In January, we bought and installed a new grinder pump for the south lift station. We also selected our winner of the annual Christmas lighting contest.

In March, we obtained new computer and security software for the police department.

In April, our citywide clean-up day and community rummage sales were held.

In May, the Cenex store reopened.

In July, we adopted new computer software for the monthly water bills.

In August, the village obtained a Hum V from the military, at no cost, for use as an emergency vehicle.

The annual Bike Night run was held.

In October, the village was approved for a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to replace its outdated water plant which was built in 1965.

The 3rd annual Lawn Mower Poker run to benefit the local Lions Club and another successful Halloween parade were held.

In December, the Joyce Fisher Memorial fundraiser, held at Da Burg Bar-n-Grill, collected $5,500 for the Lions Club and hospice.

— Stephen W. Mills, mayor

Niantic: Workers outside a mine in 1908.

Warrensburg: A view of the Ritchie Block. Date unknown.

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January 2013

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BIZ BITES

Now open An uncertain future for the building that houses Cafe Brio in Springfield prompted its owner to sell the business there and bring its name and menu to Decatur.

The restaurant, which boasts a menu with a Mediterranean/Southwestern flair, opened at 2880 N. Oakland Ave. Owner Mark Meng sees a lot of potential in the location, which is best remembered for being home to the Arch Lounge before becoming a temporary stop for businesses that moved elsewhere or simply faded away. But realizing that potential began with a major renovation of the building’s interior.

“The people who come here will be surprised,” he said, adding the city needed another family dining option in the northwest part of town.

“We use a lot of spices and chilis, and everything is homemade,” said chef John Becker, who followed Meng from Springfield.

The menu includes variations on chicken, steaks, pork chops, tacos, burgers, salmon, soups, salads, award-winning margaritas and more.

The restaurant is open daily for dinner, with plans to begin offering a lunch menu in February. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m.

Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Outdoor dining, with music on the weekends, will be offered beginning in the spring. Call 8752746. nnn Bella Vein Medical Spa has expanded its services to Decatur.

Bella Vein, which already has offices in Charleston and Champaign, provides the most advanced vein procedures, all spa services and comprehensive nonsurgical cosmetic and medical services.

Bella Vein also offers rejuvenating customized facial treatments, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and a variety of laser services.

Bella Vein Medical Spa is at 345 E. Ash Ave., Suite A. Appointments can be made by calling 615-0838. Visit www.bellavein.com. nnn Four area travel agents have combined their expertise to launch a new agency headquartered in White Heath.

Brenda Blacker of White Heath, Jeanette Burkart of Decatur, Nora Kilby of Monticello and Patti Price of Milmine combined their knowledge in a variety of areas to form Fun For All Vacations. Benefits of the agents coming together include increased availability of group trips, specials and sales.

“We have separate areas of expertise and have different areas we specialize in,” Blacker said. “We can all do all of it, but now we can refer people to their specialties. We can help each other out.”

Blacker specializes in Caribbean and romance-style vacations, Burkart and Price are the experts in Europe and river cruises, and Kilby works primarily with family vacations and romance.

Call Blacker at 377-2363, Burkart at

412-5846, Kilby at 621-2920 or Price at 620-4223. Visit www.funforallvacations. com. nnn Book World has opened in Hickory Point Mall. It is the fifth Illinois location for the Appleton, Wis.-based chain.

“The company is moving into a number of old Waldenbooks retail locations in malls, and they believe a community the size of Decatur should definitely be able to support one,” said Lori Williams, the store’s general manager.

The Forsyth location is large enough that it also will host products from sister-store chains Gift World and Calendar World. As for the rest of its book stock, Williams said specific sections would set it apart from the previous business. nnn You can’t be in two places at once, but now a new Decatur firm is offering to be there for you.

Central Illinois Home Watch provides home monitoring services for homeowners away on vacation, flown south for the winter or for any other extended absence that might leave their home vulnerable.

The business is owned and run by Swartz Properties owner Cathy Coulter and Swartz general manager Chris Tuttle. They say they have 50 years of combined property management experience between them and launched Home Watch to meet a need often expressed by property owners.

“I thought, ‘Home Watch, why don’t we do that?’ ” said Coulter. “That should be something we do.”

The base price of the service is $45 per hour, and empty homes might typically be inspected once or twice a month.

Inspections are inside and out, and any problems — signs of a break-in, a leaking pipe — are brought to owners’ attention immediately.

Central Illinois Home Watch operates over the Decatur-Springfield-Bloomington area, and other locations are available by arrangement. Call 877-8704 or go to www.cihomewatch.com

New owner The building at the corner of Prairie Avenue and Water Street in downtown Decatur has a new name to reflect its new owner.

Hickory Point Bank & Trust announced it has purchased the 71,795 square foot DemirCo Place Building, 225 N. Water St., from DemirCo Properties.

The building, which is the site of the bank’s flagship location, will now be known as the Hickory Point Bank Building.

“We are always looking at partnerships and opportunities to invest where our customers live and work,” said Anthony G. Nestler, bank president and chief executive officer. “As we prepare for growth, we believe this investment underscores our confidence in the Bank, the health and vitality of the Decatur economy and the future of downtown Decatur.”

No significant changes in the building tenants are anticipated, the bank said in

a news release. nnn Plans to expand Millikin University’s campus and find a new home for its rapidly growing Exercise Science and Sport Department have taken a big step forward.

Millikin closed in November on the West Towne Square building at Wood Street and Oakland Avenue, buying it from the Romano and Demirjian families of Decatur for $3 million, a fraction of what it would have cost for the new construction once considered.

Dave Brandon, interim vice president for alumni and development, said the university is still in need of funds to remodel West Towne Square and buy state-of-the-art equipment before Exercise Science and Sport Department programs can move there from Griswold Physical Education Center and other scattered sites around campus.

Millikin’s Pipe Dreams student-run theater company and Student Programming and Entertainment Center will remain in West Towne Square.

Other tenants, including St. Mary’s Hospital’s employee service center, dentist Dr. Patricia Norton and Hickory Point Bank & Trust Co.’s stock transfer services office, won’t have to move until additional funds are raised and the needed renovations can begin.

Benny Ballazhi, owner of the former Tuscany Steak and Pasta House in the south part of West Towne Square, went ahead and shut down his restaurant after the pending sale of West Towne Square was announced last year.

Midland Co. First Illinois is the locally owned bank holding company which has had the controlling interest in the bank since 2011.

Bank President Anthony Nestler said the deal maintains 100 percent local ownership of the common stock of the business. ADM will remain a key customer of the bank and maintain a nonvoting investment in it.

The deal is not expected to impact bank services or employment, as Nestler said management considers it to continue with business as usual.

Correction Vibhav Corp. is the owner of Jabroni’s.

Its ownership and the title of the person who provided the information were incorrect in December’s Biz Bites column. The Business Journal received incorrect information.

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 421-6979.

BUSINESS JOURNAL Printed with environmentally safe water-based ink

Closed After nearly 14 months in business, Secret Recipes Inc. in Mount Zion has closed.

“Unfortunately, it’s true,” said coowner Travis Schutte, citing lack of business as part of the problem. “Bills were just piling up.”

Schutte and co-owner Dave Linn opened the restaurant in a shopping plaza off Illinois 121 last October.

“We gave people a job for a year and paid taxes for a year, but the restaurant just never took hold,” Schutte said. “We tried.”

In addition to having a storefront in Mount Zion, Secret Recipes was also the official caterer of the Mount Zion Convention Center. Village Administrator Julie Miller and village attorney Ed Flynn said they already have another caterer in mind to cover upcoming weddings and convention center events.

“We have also been reaching out to customers who have contracted with the convention center to make sure they know our facility will be ready for their events with great catering options available,” Flynn said.

Misc.

An agreement has been reached for First Illinois Corporation to acquire the remaining common equity interest of Hickory Point Bank from Archer Daniels

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January 2013

CHECKING ACCOUNTS Q A

COLON HEALTH

What should I look for when choosing a checking account?

Q

You have a variety of choices when it comes to choosing a checking account, and it’s important to choose one that best fits your lifestyle. Here are some things to consider:

A

• Are there monthly service charges or balance requirements? Some financial institutions offer free checking accounts, but require you to hold a minimum monthly balance or you may be penalized with a fee. Other financial institutions offer completely free checking accounts – no minimum balances and no monthly service charges.

Diane Ellis Loan Operations Manager

• How many checks can I write and do I get a debit/ATM card? If you write checks on a regular basis, unlimited check writing is a benefit you should look for. Debit/ATM cards make purchases easy and the convenience of owning one may be important to you, especially if you travel.

• Can I review the checking account balance and pay bills online? Many financial institutions offer home banking and bill pay where you can check account balances, transfer money, and even pay your bills direct online.

Having this feature is convenient, and most often times, free.

Thomas Dekoj, MD Colorectal Surgeon Surgical Specialists of Central Illinois

Other features of checking accounts may include a free box of checks, overdraft protection, and may be interest bearing when you have a minimum balance. Some financial institutions also offer special checking accounts for teens, mature adults, and even accounts that give back to the community.

Chris Phillips, VP of Marketing Land of Lincoln Credit Union 3130 East Mound Road, Decatur, IL 62526

Why should I get colorectal cancer screening?

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death and the third leading cause of all newly diagnosed cancers in the U.S. With early detection, colon cancer deaths can be significantly reduced. Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for all people over age 50 and colonoscopy is considered the “gold standard” screening method. It allows your doctor to not only look for cancers and pre-cancerous polyps, but remove or biopsy them during the test without any added discomfort or preparation. Removal of pre-cancerous polyps also serves to prevent cancers from occurring in the first place. Colonoscopy can also help to monitor, detect and diagnose other colon problems such as: diverticulosis, diverticulitis, constipation, diarrhea, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, among others. For more information about colon health and colon cancer screening, please contact your primary care provider.

St. Mary’s Hospital Surgical Services 1800 East Lake Shore Drive, Decatur, Illinois 62521 Phone: 217.464.2966

(217) 875-3823 cphillips@llcu.org

Taking care of BUSINESS

Ask the Professional >>>

To participate in Ask the Professional, call 217-421-6994

MONEY BURNING A HOLE IN YOUR POCKET? Q A

Online Advertising ONLINE ADVERTISING

Your budget stipend for office renovation was approved, now where do you start?

Q

Your first call should be to your local interior solutions provider. Whether you need a private office or entire facility renovation, Illini Supply has all the resources for your project. Our knowledgeable sales team and in-house design will bring your ideas from conception to implementation. Illini’s resource library has product selection for every style available in today’s ever-changing office environment. From quality carpet, desking, workstations and seating, we provide products to meet your style, function and budget.

Since 1949, Illini Supply has been a leader in interior solutions. Contact us today so our experience can guide you into the perfect space. Our reputation will ensure you are completely satisfied, and our innovation will create an environment that exceeds your expectations.

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What is online advertising?

It is the most efficient advertising available for targeting local consumers, whether you are a small business or a large business.

Marketing online to attract local customers works because every day, more and more consumers are using the Internet and herald-review.com to access news and information, local offers and services in close proximity to where they live.

Because so many local people are visiting herald-review.com every day (we average over 7,000 unique visitors each day and generate 1.8 million pages views each month*) it is up to us to provide as many reasons for them to keep coming back for more.

From sponsoring breaking news and doing Today's Deal to helping your business show up better in a Google or Yahoo! Search, if you haven't inquired about including online advertising, you should. It doesn't cost you anything to ask.

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January 2013

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9

YOUR HEALTH

Make healthy New Year’s resolutions Focus on exercise, nutrition, yourself

By JAMIE LOBER Business Journal Writer

When it comes to making your New Year’s resolutions for 2013, think holistically and try to encompass all areas of your health.

“From evidence and studies, we know that you should have a healthy mind, a healthy body and a healthy heart,” said Dr. Anuradha Kolluru, cardiologist with Illinois Heart Specialists at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

In 10 simple steps, you can achieve just that.

Focus on nutrition. “First and foremost, you should have a healthy diet which means a balanced diet that includes micronutrients and plants,” said Kolluru.

Some people need low calories while others need higher. The DASH diet is recommended. “It is the approach for systemic hypertension and involves low salt, having more servings of fruits and vegetables, cutting down on red meat and having lean meat instead, avoiding too much sugars and having more fiber and low fat,” Kolluru said.

Get moving. “Take some time off from your busy schedule to walk at least five times a week for half an hour,” Kolluru said. When you find a physical activity that you enjoy, it is more likely that you will keep it as part of your daily regimen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention point out that while 20- to 30-minute sessions are ideal for health and mood, you can still reap substantial

benefit from exercising in 10 minute spurts as well. If you have not been active in awhile, be sure to check with your doctor first and build up your frequency and intensity gradually.

Sleep well. Have a set time to go to bed and wake up. “Turn off your phones and television, do not snack before sleep and dim the lights, listen to soothing music and just go to bed,” Kolluru said. If you get enough rest, it is easier to be more active the next day. If you are having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about it and make sure that you do not have an underlying health problem such as thyroid disorder or depression. Sleep clinics are always available to help as well.

Have healthy relationships. “Sometimes your body is totally fine but because of some emotional trauma, your heart can be affected and that is called psychosocial syndrome,” Kolluru said. Be open to sharing new experiences with good people and try to expose yourself to nature, music and the arts as much as possible. If you are dealing with troubles, join a support group where you will find others who can empathize with you and show you that it is possible to cope well.

Manage stress. Mental Health America suggests that if you have suffered an upsetting event that you write about it in order to feel better and help you file the problem away. They also recommend meditation such as deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, visualization or repeating a mantra. If you feel overwhelmed, do not be afraid to talk to a trusted friend or counselor for advice and seek emotional support.

Be proactive in your health care. Everyone

‘Take some time off from your busy schedule to walk at least five times a week for half an hour.’

DR. ANURADHA KOLLURU, ILLINOIS HEART SPECIALISTS CARDIOLOGIST should get an annual physical and know their numbers. “Most important is the blood pressure routine screening because uncontrolled blood pressure leads to myocardial infarction and stroke,” Kolluru said. Also be sure to see the dentist and other specialists such as the gynecologist as needed.

Stay away from unhealthy substances. “Stay away from smoking, do not do drugs and decrease your alcohol consumption to two drinks for men and one for women because it is good for your

heart,” Kolluru said.

Make time for yourself. “Take time off and have a planned vacation and something to look forward to like a social gathering or family get-together because the interactive things can cure mental disorders and depression,” Kolluru said.

Be safe. “Accidents in young adults are the number one killer so wear a seat belt and do not talk on the phone when you drive,” Kolluru said. Nobody should be driving under the influence of alcohol and people should avoid dangerous substances by getting rid of unhealthy self-talk and instead thinking of achievements that disprove your insecurity.

Stay positive. Mental Health America recommends looking at tough times as an opportunity to learn, grow or improve your situation and to focus on your goals, values and beliefs such as what brings you hope, joy and comfort, what you care most about and how you can make a difference in the world. When you consider your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being as you set your resolutions, you are likely to succeed in all areas of your life.

MACON RESOURCES -Building Meaningful Lives-

Avoid ineffective workouts McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Almost any exercise is good exercise.

That said, some people waste time on routines that aren’t best for reaching their goals, trainers say. Here are general tips from Shaun Knight, a certified athletic trainer in Virginia Beach, Va.: Think about variety, not just time. Keeping your body guessing is the best way to torch calories. “If you ride an exercise bike at the same level for an hour, it may not be beneficial, especially given the time you’re putting in,” Knight said.

“Your body will get used to it and start to think it’s easy.”

Add different elements. Instead of running at a steady pace for an hour, you might run for 20 minutes, bike for 20 minutes and run stairs for another 20. For strength-training, you could rotate between push-ups, squats and rowing machines.

Switch up intensity. Increase your speed or resistance for short bursts of time.

Even if you’re just walking on a tread-

mill, you can make the incline steeper.

Focus on more than one muscle group. Your abdominal muscles won’t look great from crunches alone — you need a fullbody aerobic workout, too. You also won’t effectively tone your legs just by using sit-down resistance equipment; instead, try a standing “cable column” machine that requires balance and works muscles from different angles.

Schedule time with a trainer. Even if you can afford just one session, you can learn correct form for favorite exercises to prevent wasted energy and injury.

Understand your goals. If you want to lose weight, exercises that isolate one muscle group such as biceps curls or calf lifts won’t be much help. But if you’re trying to tone your arms or calves, those curls and lifts are important.

Shorten breaks. Resist the urge to rest for more than a minute or two between machines during circuit training. And cut socializing by putting on headphones until your workout is done.

Macon Resources, Inc. provides services that promote the growth, independence, and self worth of children and adults with disabilities 2121 Hubbard Avenue - Decatur, IL 62526 - (217) 875 - 1910

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January 2013

Sick day excuses all over the map Actual illness accounts for most

By DIANE STAFFORD McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

The annual sick season is upon us.

The first signs of fall each year inaugurate the cold and flu season, along with higher absence rates at work and school.

But studies and surveys make it clear that illness gets two-thirds of the blame for “sick” days. One-third of the reasons are all over the map.

Take the employee who couldn’t come to work because of a toe stuck in a faucet. Or the employee who was upset after watching “The Hunger Games” movie. Or the one whose hair turned orange in a home dye job.

All three were real-life examples shared in a recent CareerBuilder survey in which human resource managers were asked for unusual absence excuses they’d heard.

The excuses may be funny, but business managers and productivity experts aren’t laughing.

American workers take about 2.8 mil-

lion work days of unplanned absences a year, not counting planned vacation days, holidays or personal days. And that costs billions of dollars in lost productivity.

A 2010 Mercer/Marsh report on the financial effect of employee absences said the cost of unplanned time off amounted to 5.8 percent of total payroll costs.

As a percentage, that’s not a big figure. But, the report noted, “the total costs for planned absences, such as vacations and holidays, average an equivalent of 26 percent of base payroll.”

In other words, one-fourth of employers’ payroll expenses cover work time when employees aren’t at work.

That helps explain why some employers check up on workers who call in sick.

According to a Harris Interactive survey taken in August and September, nearly one-third of employers who responded said they usually called the employee at home later in the day or required a doctor’s note to verify that the person was at home or was truly sick.

About one in five of the employers surveyed said they’d asked other employees to call “a suspected faker,” and about one in seven said they’d gone so far as to drive by a suspected faker’s home.

‘I’m also hearing that people are experiencing burnout, that it’s hard to work in environments of hyper change.’

CONNIE RUSSELL, LEADERSHIP COACH AND COUNSELOR The psychological jury is out, though, as to whether faked sick days are completely bad. “Mental health days” get credence from counselors who see the toll of stressful workplaces.

According to Sean Sullivan, a cofounder of the Institute for Health and Productivity, there’s a “presenteeism” problem when workers come to work but aren’t fully functioning because of physical, emotional or other time-draining distractions.

Organizations aren’t getting value out of workers who show up but aren’t really working. So in those cases, it may not make much difference if an employee calls in sick or shows up.

Workplaces with excessive unplanned absences may need to reassess their corporate culture.

Connie Russell, a Kansas City leadership coach and counselor, said managers “need to make sure that employees understand how their work contributes to the overall good and that their contributions are valued.”

When that communication is missing, workers are more likely to not know, or not care, that it costs their organizations when they don’t show up.

“I’m also hearing that people are experiencing burnout, that it’s hard to work in environments of hyper change,” Russell said, noting another reason why otherwise good workers might take unplanned days off.

The new CareerBuilder survey found that next to being sick, the most common reason workers call in sick is because they “don’t feel like going to work.” One-third of the respondents admitted that reason.

Nearly one-third said they called in sick simply because they “felt like they needed to relax.” Other excuses included catching up on sleep or running errands.

All of those reasons are likely to be used more frequently as the year winds down. December ranks as the most popular month to call in sick.

WHERE MAIN MEETS PERSHING, CONVENIENCE MEETS CONFIDENCE. Conveniently located south of North Main Street and Pershing Road, St. Mary’s Imaging Center & Laboratory Services was purposely designed to make your visit as fast, easy and comfortable as possible.

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Imaging Center & Laboratory Services 2965 NORTH MAIN STREET, DECATUR • 217.464.1250

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January 2013

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11

Hospitals celebrate many achievements Recognitions, new ER among accomplishments

By ANNIE GETSINGER Business Journal Writer

Looking back on the past calendar year, the CEOs of the Decatur hospitals said there have been many achievements to celebrate. And there’s a lot to look forward to, too.

Ken Smithmier, Decatur Memorial Hospital’s president and CEO cited DMH’s recognition as a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital by Thomson Reuters among the accomplishments of the past year. This was the second year in a row the hospital received the honor, which analyzed hospitals nationwide on various measures related to their cardiac care services, he said.

“Twice in a row (is) even better because you really feel that you’re on a trend,” Smithmier said.

The hospital also became accredited by the Joint Commission, a body that accredits health care institutions, in several different areas.

“We became accredited for orthopedics, for chronic lung disease, for heart attacks and for strokes,” Smithmier said.

He said there have been other changes behind the scenes that will help the hospital from an operating standpoint. This past year, DMH established what’s called a captive insurance company, which allows the hospital to start its own liability insurance company to cover the institution and its employed physicians.

“It’s just for Decatur Memorial and its employed physicians,” Smithmier said.

The company, which became operational in the past calendar year, is headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., and will help the hospital save on insurance costs.

Smithmier said that all hospitals have been paying attention to the Affordable Care Act and looking ahead to the changes that health care reform will bring over the coming years.

“We’re all watching our pennies,” he said.

The hospital employs fewer people now than it did last year, and Smithmier said that’s a trend he expects to see continuing as the reform is implemented. Some vacant positions have gone unfilled, and other jobs have been combined, he said.

“Everybody who understands it knows, that hospitals primarily and doctors are going to get paid less,” Smithmier said.

He said physician recruiting efforts haven’t been as much of a focus as they had been in previous years.

The hospital made a major investment on a new piece of equipment that is already having an impact on the hospital’s services and will likely expand the institution’s capabilities in the next year or so.

Business Journal photos/Jim Bowling

Trauma nurse specialist Laurie Durbin works at a mobile workstation in the new St. Mary's Hospital emergency room.

The new equipment, a cyclotron, is a particle accelerator the hospital already has begun using to create its own nuclear isotopes for use in imaging tests. The cyclotron already has passed its first U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection, and the hospital is waiting for a second-stage license to come from the state.

At that point, Smithmier said, DMH can begin selling the isotopes to other users.

The decision to purchase the device came after an isotope used in cardiac PET imaging tests was taken off the market in 2010. Another isotope is available, but its half-life is so short that it must be created close to the patients having the test.

Out of a desire to create the isotope at the hospital and ensure a lower-cost, reliable supply, DMH investigated the technology, Smithmier said. Now they are able to offer cardiac PET scans again.

The venture has added a few jobs and will likely add some more. The hospital is looking to consult with other institutions in the area that might like to do something similar.

“It’s evolved like peeling an onion,” Smithmier said.

The equipment also will help usher in a new era of personalized medicine and research, he added.

A team of Millikin University MBA students has volunteered to take parts of the cyclotron venture on as their project, which the community will see more of in the coming year.

“They’ll get to kind of learn a new industry,” said Smithmier.

“This has just been a substantive growth year for St. Mary’s,” said Kevin Kast, St. Mary’s Hospital president and CEO. Kast said in the past year, the hospital has added 33 physicians to its medical staff, making for a 15 percent to 16 percent increase in the active staff — good for the hospital and community, he said.

Nuclear pharmacist Eric Lester demonstrates the preparation of PET pharmaceuticals in the Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

“From a community standpoint, what that means is these people are coming into the community, they’re buying homes in the community, their kids are going to our schools in the community,” he said.

One new program at St. Mary’s is a hospitalist physician program, which includes six doctors whose focus is to care for people while they are hospitalized. Kast said he expects to hire two more hospitalists within the next four or five months.

“None of these folks were here last year,” he said.

Having hospitalists on staff improves health outcomes, decreases costs and reduces patients’ length of stay, Kast said.

“(The program) was an important addition to make principally because we were beginning to see more and more patients attracted to the specialists that we have here at St. Mary’s,” Kast said.

“And so they were being seen by the specialists, but their primary care physician might be in Jacksonville or in Pana or in Shelbyville.”

Overall, the hospital’s staff has grown by about 70 employees.

In early 2012, St. Mary’s opened its new emergency department, lobby and laboratory — parts of a three-phase, $31 million project.

“January of this year we’ll be in our second year in this all-new facility,” Kast said, adding that the results of the construction project have been favorable.

In the past year, St. Mary’s also received the distinction of being a U.S. News and World Report Best Regional Hospital, being recognized by the publication “for performing at the level of nationally ranked U.S. News Best Hospitals in one adult specialty.”

Surveys also are reflecting a high degree of patient satisfaction, Kast said.

In the past year, St. Mary’s has expanded its trauma capabilities and neuroscience and cardiac services, Kast said.

The hospital recently completed construction on Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants offices and a new cardiac catheterization lab. Last calendar year, the hospital did about 100 cardiac catheterizations, Kast said. Now, St. Mary’s is doing about 125 a month. Also new to the hospital is an interventional cardiology program, he said.

Another area that has seen an increase in patient volume has been the emergency department, which is connected to the radiology department and the hospital’s new lab.

“We’ve seen about a 30 percent increase in our ED. We’re handling that, maintaining the pledge that we have,” Kast said, adding that the hospital pledges to see patients within 30 seconds and begin active care within 30 minutes.

Kast said the hospital is expecting continued growth and will work on accommodating the increase in the coming year. One area in which Kast said he expects the community will see a lot of growth in the hospital’s operating room capacity.

“The demand is there, and I think it’s going to continue to be there,” he said.

Kast also said that state financial woes and the uncertainties of health care reform have necessitated careful evaluation of hospitals’ spending. In these uncertain times, being part of a system has been a great benefit to his hospital, he said. “At this point, our income is exceeding our expense.”

Kast said St. Mary’s plans to continue to expand its community presence with additional offsite locations in communities outside of Decatur.

He said the hospital will approach its growth and look to the future while emphasizing its values of respect, competence, care and joy.

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January 2013

BUSINESS JOURNAL

Wishing you & yours a Happy New Year!

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January 2013

Community health calendar Screenings Bone density screening, 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, Women’s Health and Breast Center, 302 W. Hay St., Suite 117A. Screening to check your risk for osteoporosis. To register, call 876-4377.

early infancy. For more information, call 4642045.

safe child care. Cost is $30. To register, call 876-3100.

Renewal bereavement support group, 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. To register, call 876-6784.

Look Good, Feel Better, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, 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, 876-6600.

Cholesterol screening, 7-10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, DMH Wellness Center, 241 Weaver Road, Forsyth. Cost is $20. To register, call 876-4377.

Widowed support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24. Monthly dinner gathering. For location or to register, call 428-7733.

Support groups

Us TOO prostate cancer support group, 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, Decatur Memorial Hospital. To register, call 876-4750.

Helping Hands Bereavement for Children, 3:30 p.m. each Thursday in the Complementary Medicine Art Room 409, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, 210 W. McKinley Ave. To register, call 876-4735.

Stroke Support Group, 6–7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, St. Mary’s Hospital Advanced Rehabilitation Center Dining Room, 7th Floor. For information, call 464-5872.

Facing Cancer Together, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Complementary Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. To register, call 876-4750.

Pink Link breast cancer support group, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. To register, call 8764377.

Breastfeeding support group, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14 and 28, Baby TALK, 500 E. Lake Shore Dr. To register, call Flo Folami at 464-2334.

A New Season young widowed group, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 17. For information, call Dawn Followell at 864-2799.

Diabetes support group, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 24, DMH Wellness Center, 241 W. Weaver Road, Forsyth. Call 876-4249.

SHARE support group, 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, St. Mary’s Hospital, Room G24. Support group for those who have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or

Classes Art therapy for cancer patients and families, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Complementary Medicine Art Room 409, Cancer Care Center of Decatur, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Clay, paint watercolor, acrylic draw, print make, collage, weave and more. For information, call 876-4700.

Grocery store tour, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9. A registered dietitian will guide shoppers through the various sections of the grocery store. Cost is $10. To register, call 876-4249.

Freedom from Smoking, a 7-week course.

The DMH Wellness Center, 241 Weaver Road, Forsyth, is hosting two sessions. The first is at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, beginning Jan. 7. The second is noon Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 15. To register, call 876-4249. St. Mary’s Hospital is hosting one beginning Jan. 15. To register, call 464-5872.

Cardiopulmonary education session, 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 11, and 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, DMH Cardiac Rehabilitation Department. For information, call 876-2496.

Infant CPR Class, 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, DMH Classrooms. To register, call 876-3400.

Safe Sitter class, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5. This program teaches 11- to 13-yearolds how to handle emergencies and provide

Intuitive Eating, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7. Rediscover the pleasures of eating and rebuild your body image. Learn the principles of intuitive eating and help free yourself from chronic dieting forever. For information, call 876-4249.

Pre-Diabetes program, 10 a.m. Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 8, at the DMH Wellness Center, 241 Weaver Road, Forsyth. A six-week program teaches you the necessary lifestyle changes to help you prevent diabetes. To register, call 876-4249.

Eat Right to Help the Fight, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14 and 28, Cancer Care Center of Decatur Education Classrooms, 210 W. McKinley Ave. Nutrition class for cancer patients. To register, call 876-4750.

Managing Compulsive Eating, a six-week course that is held at 5 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Jan 16, at the DMH Wellness Center, 241 W. Weaver Road, Forsyth. To register, call 876-4249.

Real Dads Rock, 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, DMH Cafe 1 and Cafe 2. Program teaches new fathers how to handle, feed, burp, change, clean and respond to their baby’s needs. To register, call 422-6294.

More Red Cross Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 2, Assisi Conference Room, St. Mary’s Hospital.

Community Health Lecture Series, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Decatur Public Library. Family practitioner Dr. Joan Covault will discuss women’s health issues. For more information, call 464-5125.

Laugh until it feels good

By JEFF STRICKLER McClatchy-Tribune News Service

You’ve heard of the “runner’s high.” Get ready for the “laugher’s high.”

A study at Oxford University found that laughing causes the body to release the same endorphins as exercising, resulting in the feelings of euphoria mixed with serenity that many endurance athletes report experiencing.

This doesn’t come as a surprise to the practitioners of Laughter Yoga, an exercise routine that combines laughing with breathing exercises, said Minneapolis teacher Jody Ross.

“It’s nice to have Oxford confirm something we’ve been seeing anecdotally,” said the founder of the Linden Hills Free Laughter Club (www.laughtercenter.com), which, with 420 members, is the largest of its kind in the country. “When people leave our weekly Monday night classes, we can see it in their faces.

There’s a sense of elation yet relaxation.”

There’s one caveat: The laughs can’t just be what the researchers called “polite titters.” To get the maximum effect, you need full-fledged belly laughs that give the diaphragm a workout.

Ross and the researchers also agree that the endorphins released by laughing can help offset pain. In fact, Ross initially got involved with Laughter Yoga in hopes that it would help manage her chronic pain from fibromyalgia.

Endorphins “are the body’s natural morphine,” she said. “And I’ve heard that it’s much more powerful than regular morphine.”

Lose weight and improve sleep Study: Less belly fat increases sleep quality McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Drop a few pounds and it will lead to a good night’s sleep, new Johns Hopkins research has found.

As the body loses fat, particularly belly fat, people are able to sleep better, Hopkins doctors found when following 77 people over six months.

The improvement in sleep quality was experienced by those who lost weight through diet, as well as those

who combined a healthy diet with exercise.

Study participants had type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes and were all overweight or obese. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups — one focused on diet, the other exercise and diet.

Both groups lost about 15 pounds on average and 15 percent of belly fat.

Good sleep is important for good overall health, including both physical and mental, the Hopkins scientists said.

The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

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January 2013

Be proactive in coping with stress Take steps to be less reactive

By HEIDI STEVENS McClatchy-Tribune News Service Writer

Facing down a man-eating lion is not the same as facing down an Excel spreadsheet, but try explaining that to your body’s stress receptors.

And good luck getting their attention above the din of your stalled commuter train, looming presentation at work, 14 unanswered LinkedIn requests and blink, blink, blinking BlackBerry.

“Our bodies have not adapted to the culture we’re living in now,” said Brian Luke Seaward, author of “Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being.” “Our response to every threat, whether it’s a sabertoothed tiger or a divorce or an approaching deadline, is fight or flight.”

“We see an increase in our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, basically all the metabolic activities that get you to survive and run for the hills,” Seaward said.

It’s an incredibly efficient system.

Except that it’s slowly killing us.

How’s that for irony?

“Once the lion is gone, your stress response subsides” said Massachusetts Institute of Technology instructor Thea Singer, author of “Stress Less: The New Science That Shows Women How to Rejuvenate the Body and the Mind.”

“So much of what stresses us now, though, is perceived stress. And when you constantly perceive yourself as stressed, your stress hormones never get turned off and you bathe yourself in a toxic substance.”

This toxic substance is made up mostly of epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol, hormones produced by the adrenal cortex in response to stress.

This is fantastic when you need to jump out of the path of a careening vehicle.

Not so fantastic when a Twitter blackout sends you into apoplexy.

Which raises the question: Can we reset our body’s response to stress?

“Absolutely, unequivocally yes,” said J. David Forbes, director of Nashville Integrated Medicine.

And we should.

“Stress drives all kinds of biochemical changes in our bodies,” Forbes said. “It instantaneously increases our heart rate and blood pressure, makes our guts not function well and creates damage to our blood vessels and organs.”

Since we’re unlikely to avoid stressors altogether, “stress-proofing” your brain is a wise approach to our 24-hour brand of anxiety, Singer said.

“There are things you can do so you will be less reactive to a stressor when one hits,” she said. “It’s really important to be proactive.”

Break a sweat Exercise, widely touted as a healthy outlet after stress hits, also protects the body from flying unnecessarily into crisis mode at the first sign of trouble.

“Exercise is a good stressor,” Singer said. “It gives your neurons a tiny little assault and they thicken in response, so they can better withstand a bigger assault.”

So hitting the treadmill will make life’s unexpected traffic jams less taxing on your brain and organs.

It also trains your brain to relax, said Seaward.

“When athletes engage in exercise they have a parasympathetic rebound,” he said. “When they stop, their bodies say, ‘It’s time for relaxation’ and they kick in a chemical called acetylcholine, also known as a relaxation hormone. If you look at our culture, we’re not exercising regularly.

We’re training ourselves for stress, but we’re not training ourselves for relaxation.”

Offline friending “Scientific studies have shown that those who have greater social support are less reactive to stressors than those who have less support,” said Singer. “When we experience emotional pleasure, our reward circuitry kicks in. When we experience emotional pain, a different part of the brain kicks in. In those who exhibit more social support, the part of the brain that experiences pain is less reactive during stress” than in those with less support.

And the benefits apply whether you’re giving or receiving social support, Singer said. “Studies looking at volunteering and our ability to withstand stressors found that it’s a two-way street.”

Call a pal. Join a book club. Get thee some support, ideally, before you need it.

Skip Ben & Jerry’s Stress-eating makes us feel temporarily better, but over time, it wears down our ability to keep anxiety at bay.

“When we reach for the fatty, salty, sweet stuff, it does momentarily have a tranquilizing effect,” Singer said. “It kicks off a pleasure center, the same way drugs of abuse do. But once that wears off, the cycle starts over and we crave the same food to kick off the center again. This actually raises our stress levels and increases our cortisol levels.”

A stalk of celery is not necessarily your answer, however.

“I recommend to people, ‘Think of something else that brings you satisfaction that will also kick off that reward center, but that won’t get you into that

whole cycle again,’ ” Singer said. “Carrots are not necessarily pleasurable. Do something you enjoy: Take a mindful walk, read a book, jump rope.”

BUSINESS JOURNAL

15

Americans making fewer doctor visits

By BLYTHE BERNHARD

Meditate “We’ve seen a lot of research on neuroplasticity that shows people who meditate can begin to change not just the physiology of the brain, but the structure of the brain,” said Seaward. “The brain waves are very different from someone who meditates than someone who doesn’t.”

That’s because meditation (also known as mindfulness-based stress reduction) actually creates new neural pathways between the brain’s right and left hemispheres, he said, which offers coherence between our brain’s analytical, time-conscious, logical left side and the intuitive, accepting, creative right side.

Seaward cites a recent study in the journal Psychiatry Research that used magnetic resonance to analyze the brains of participants in an eight-week meditation program.

The study concludes: “Participation in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is associated with changes in gray matter concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes, emotion regulation, self-referential processing and perspective taking.”

Compassion meditation, a technique aimed at creating more empathy and acceptance of others, is particularly helpful in warding off stress, Singer said.

“The goal is to alter your perceptions of situations outside of yourself,” she said. “It’s not about wearing rose-colored glasses, but finding ways to counter negativity.”

Notice something good that happened to you today and tell someone about it.

Do something nice for another person.

Volunteer your time.

“People say, ‘Oh, this is so touchyfeely,’ but there is scientific evidence to back it up,” Singer said. “I’m as skeptical as the next guy. But when you look at the science behind it, it’s really inspiring.”

Indeed, researchers at the University of Wisconsin at Madison using functional magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, found that compassion meditation affected the brain regions that make people more empathetic to other peoples’ mental states, according to a 2008 Science Daily report.

“Even taking five minutes a day to sit in quiet ambience will help,” said Seaward. “Our culture is in sensory overload and that creates a training effect for our brains to release an avalanche of stress hormones.

“It all comes down to balance,” he said. “Psychological, physiological, emotional balance. Our culture has a lot to do with that. But so do we.”

Lee News Service Writer

Americans aren’t going to the doctor as often, but that doesn’t mean they’re getting healthier.

The average adult makes about four visits a year to a doctor, nurse or other medical provider, down from five visits in 2001, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“On the face of it you’d say we’re going in the right direction,” said Thomas McAuliffe, health policy analyst with the Missouri Foundation for Health. “Then you start thinking of the economy.”

People who are uninsured generally avoid medical care as long as possible.

Just 12 percent of uninsured Americans received routine check-ups in 2010, according to the report, which did not break down the data by state.

Some findings from the report confirm commonly held beliefs — women are more likely than men to visit the doctor and the number of medical visits and hospital stays increases with age.

The report also uncovered some lesser-known statistics. Hispanics make the fewest trips to the doctor of any ethnic group. And more than half of the population did not take any prescription drugs in the last year.

The slowing in medical care usage could also be an indication of employers cutting back on their contributions to insurance coverage. And workers are keeping more money in health savings accounts instead of using it for co-pays.

“More and more Americans are putting off care until it’s urgent,” McAuliffe said.

In a few years, there could be a rush on hospitals and doctors’ offices when all the provisions of health care reform kick in, including the requirement that most people have health insurance by 2014.

That could be trouble for insurers and providers if people show up with health problems that have gone unchecked, McAuliffe said.

“What if you have all the precursors of a chronic condition or heart disease and you put it off for a year or two and you’ve blown past the manageable stage?” McAuliffe said. “Our system may be taxed for the time being.”

Despite the downturn in medical services, Americans still consider themselves in either “excellent” or “very good” health. Only 2 percent consider themselves in poor health, according to the report.

Other findings from the report: n About 59 percent of people surveyed had seen a dentist in the past year, compared to 73 percent who had seen a medical provider. n Hospital stays are rare — 92 percent of people had not spent the night in at least a year. n More than one in three Americans take prescription drugs regularly.

16

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2013

TECHTALK

Improve your company’s cyber-security Between hackers and government regulators, security concerns should be at the top of your mind for any business owner. Hackers can cause all manner of grief, and government fines can be steep if you are subject to any regulatory requirements (HIPAA, PCI, SOX, FISMA, FINRA, etc.). Even if you don’t have regulatory concerns, it could still be a public relations nightmare if sensitive customer information is released, or confidential employee information such as Social Security numbers.

Password policies First of all, make sure nothing on your network has default passwords.

It is surprisingly common to find network gear or software applications with administrator accounts that still have the original vendorsupplied default password. This is Technology an easy way for outsiders to access your systems.

You can set password policies on your server to manage Windows network access. Require complex passwords that are difficult to guess. Force staff to change passwords regularly (quarterly, at minimum). Windows will prompt users to make these changes so that once the policy is created, you know it will happen.

Never share passwords among team members. Everyone should have their own user ID and password to any systems they access.

Change passwords immediately in the event of a termination. It’s also a good idea to review user access from time to time, to catch anyone you might have missed.

Wendy Gauntt

Software patching Nearly everyone knows it’s important to keep Microsoft Windows up-to-date with the latest patches. This includes PCs and servers. Despite that, few companies are fully patched. Many companies set up automated patching and assume it’s fine, but patching status needs to be checked frequently to ensure everyone is current. Sometimes patches fail, or users refuse to reboot, which causes patching to fall behind. Any time this happens, it creates vulnerability on your network.

Microsoft isn’t the only company who provides patching. Nearly any software product you use will release updates from time to time, and in many cases these have to be installed manually. Take an inventory of your software, and then

have someone review each application to find the latest version and patches. It may take some time to get everything current, but your systems should run better and be more secure once this is complete.

Malware management Malware is a serious problem. There are any number of tiny programs out there that are just waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate your systems. No single strategy will prevent this. You need a combination. Make sure you have a powerful spam filter than also checks for virus attachments. Keep current antivirus software installed everywhere, and confirm it’s active and up-to-date on a regular basis. Consider malware protection software as an additional layer of security. Invest in a businessclass firewall with an annual security subscription, and discuss turning on at least basic Internet content filtering to keep staff from visiting high-risk websites.

Software access control When installing complex new software applications, such as financial and accounting software, customer relationship management (CRM), manufacturing or distribution packages, or the like, there is a tendency to rush through all the configuration steps so you can start using it right away. A common shortcut is to give users far more access than they need. The policy should be to provide everyone exactly what they need, and no more. If you have allowed broader access than you should, it’s a safe bet that someone will abuse this at some point.

Mobile device security Any device that leaves the office should be password-protected and encrypted if possible. This includes tablets (iPads and Droids), smart phones, laptops and even USB keys containing company data.

Set up secure remote access, such as a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or Terminal Server, so that allowing computers and other devices to connect to company resources is safe. Use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates to encrypt remote access to email.

If you have staff who connect to company email or files on their own devices, implement a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Policy that gives you permission to secure the device and perform a remote data wipe in the event of theft or loss.

Physical security Servers should always be in a locked

room, or at least a locked rack. Network gear should also be secured. You may also need to do a security sweep from time to time to look for “rogue� wireless access points that your staff plug in without permission. On most small-business networks, it’s fairly easy to plug in your own wireless hotspot, and if it’s not company-controlled, this could allow outsiders full access to your network.

recovery strategy will be critical. Having multiple backups and redundancies will give you the ability to go back in time and retrieve any lost data or evaluate unexpected changes. Without this, you could be down for an extended period of time or even be faced with complete loss of critical business data.

Security training

No matter how many precautions you take, something could still happen. At that point, it’s all about how you respond. Obviously the more precautions you already have in place, the better a position you will be in if something happens, because it shows that you take security seriously. Most PR consultants will advise that you be open and honest, take proactive measures to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future, and find ways to make restitution for anyone damaged by the incident.

One of the very best preventative measures is to train your staff. Set a policy on how they handle on-premise visitors who they don’t know. Give them guidance on how to handle phishing emails and unsafe email attachments.

Create an acceptable use policy for company resources such as email and Internet, to let employees know their boundaries. Train them on social engineering tactics commonly used by hackers to obtain passwords and gain access to your company resources.

Data recovery In the event of an issue, a sound data

If something happens

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.

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January 2013

BUSINESS JOURNAL

17

YOUR CAREER

Company layoffs take toll on remaining workers Q: Things seemed to be going pretty well at work, and then we had a few layoffs. It’s really shaken me up, and I’m trying to settle down again. What do you suggest?

A: Accept your feelings, but do a reality check to help you move forward.

Layoffs are deeply unsettling for all affected, and it’s not surprising that you’re feeling stress from it. If you’re having trouble coming to terms with the changes in your workplace, you may need to spend some time working through your emotions. Set aside some time to really focus on your feelings.

Find a comfortable place, and take some deep breaths to get centered.

Identify the feelings you’re experienc-

Liz Reyer

ing, setting aside any sense of what you should or shouldn’t be feeling. Let’s go through some likely options. Anger is common, as is fear. Guilt, too, is not unusual for survivors of a layoff.

For each of the emotions you’re feeling, dig a little deeper to understand them. If you’re angry, what is causing your anger? Whom do you blame for the layoffs?

If you’re fearful, notice if you’re afraid you might be next, or if, perhaps, it’s concern over an additional workload that you may receive now that some of your colleagues are gone.

As an antidote to taking this personally, focus on understanding the business reasons for the layoff.

They may be purely financial — the chosen route to cut costs. Or they may be more strategic in terms of having people with the right skills in the right numbers.

If information hasn’t been shared, seek it out so that you can feel steadier.

Having understood your emotions, it’s

Weekly tips Get weekly career tips from Liz Reyer at www.thebusiness-journal.com. important to take action to release them.

Getting them out in words in a safe way can be a great help. Try writing them out in a journal or in a letter that you never send. If you’re not a writer, talk them out into a tape recorder. You also can find a friend or family member to vent to, but be careful not to burn the person out. Other creative outlets, such as drawing or music, also can provide relief.

Consider lessons for the future. If you determine that people were let go because their skill sets were obsolete, assess your own so that your risk doesn’t increase. Accept opportunities for growth, and be a go-to person. Manage your attitude so that you’re a positive

force for the work environment.

When you start to feel anxious or angry, take some deep breaths and do a reality check. Is something bad happening at that moment?

If so, plan a reasoned response. But it’s more likely that you’re reacting to the past or anticipating the future, neither of which is helpful.

All that said, I’m concerned that your angst over the layoffs is somewhat prolonged. If you find you can’t get over it, and are perhaps drifting into depression, don’t hesitate to talk to a professional.

These issues can be just too much to figure out on your own.

Focus on resolving your emotions and moving forward so that the past doesn’t hold you back.

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.

Build a better relationship with your manager Q: One of my co-workers, “Andrea,” was recently promoted to a higher-level position. I applied for the same job, but was never even interviewed, despite the fact that I have more experience and my work is more complex. My boss says Andrea has the necessary qualifications, but I have investigated and found that this is not true.

I also have learned that my manager secretly helped Andrea prepare for the interview. But when I requested a recomOffice Coach mendation, she never followed through. Now I’m concerned that she may be belittling me to other managers in the company.

I find myself spending a lot of time monitoring my manager’s behavior and trying to keep other people in the group on my side. I would really like to move to another department, because all this negativity is exhausting. Do you have any advice?

A: Saying that you need to “keep people on your side” makes it sound as though you are engaged in some sort of battle with your boss. If she perceives you as adversarial, that may explain her reluctance to recommend you for a higher-level job. Promotions are seldom given to employees who are considered difficult, even if they are well-qualified.

Since managers always have their own grapevine, your boss’s negative percep-

Marie McIntyre

tion might also affect your ability to transfer within the company. Just as employees gossip about bosses, bosses also talk about employees. Without “belittling” you, your manager could still share the opinion that you are somewhat challenging to manage.

The bottom line is that, even if you dislike your manager, you will nevertheless benefit from having her support. So instead of wasting energy investigating your colleagues and fretting about lost opportunities, you would be wise to focus on building a better relationship with her. In the long run, employees who go to war with the boss usually lose, simply because managers have more power.

Q: I manage the administrative office in a high school. One of our secretaries, “Cheryl,” has a habit of openly talking about her personal problems and family issues with teachers, students and parents. I have mentioned that she is sharing too much information, but Cheryl sees nothing wrong with this. What is the proper etiquette in this situation?

A: This is not an etiquette issue. It’s a management issue. As the person responsible for establishing office standards, you have an obligation to keep employees from engaging in unsuitable behavior.

For example: “Cheryl, friendliness is certainly one of your strengths, but there is a difference between being friendly and being unprofessional. Discussing your personal problems with students and parents is completely inappropriate, so I need for you to stop doing this. If you’re not sure where to draw the line, I will be glad to clarify what’s acceptable.”

Weekly tips Can't get enough advice from the Office Coach. Get weekly column updates at www.thebusiness-journal.com.

Whether Cheryl agrees with this rule really doesn’t matter. Once you have explained your expectations, she simply needs to abide by them.

Q: I recently completed a lengthy interview process for a general manager position. The first two interviews were with the owners of the company, followed by individual meetings with several midlevel managers. Next, I had a group interview with nine front-line supervisors.

Unfortunately, I just learned that I will not be getting the job. I am extremely disappointed and would like to know how I might have improved my interview performance. Since I established good rapport with some of the interviewers, would it be appropriate to email them and request some feedback?

A: Qualified applicants can be eliminated for many reasons unrelated to their interview skills. Nevertheless, assessing your own performance is always a good idea. Asking interviewers for feedback should be fine, as long as you make your request positive, professional and brief.

For example: “I enjoyed meeting you during my interviews for the general manager position. Although I was not selected, I hope that I might be considered for other openings in the future. For

that reason, I am interested in any feedback you might have on how I could be a stronger candidate.”

If you receive a reply, be sure to express your appreciation. But if not, just let it go, because a second email might make you seem pushy.

Q: After I helped a friend get a job in my office, she immediately began trying to exclude me from any project which involved our manager. Now that she seems to have his undivided attention, he has started giving her assignments which should not be part of her job.

This situation has hurt me so much that I have trouble focusing on my work and have even considered resigning.

When I talked to the manager about it, he accused me of having a personal problem with this woman. How should I handle this?

A: If you are honest with yourself, I believe you will realize that your boss is correct. Your vision is so clouded by jealousy and resentment that you can’t see things clearly. In reality, your manager has every right to assign work to whomever he chooses, and your colleague has every right to take on additional responsibilities.

If you are wise, you will get your emotions under control, find a way to get along with your co-worker, and look for ways to shine in your own job. The only way to change this situation is to first change yourself.

Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author of “Secrets to Winning at Office Politics.”

Send in questions and get free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter @officecoach.

18

BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2013

YOUR BUSINESS

Business owners face health care dilemma Some weighing cost of penalties

By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — Rose Wang looks at her staff of 70 employees and wonders if she’ll have to lay off some of them to comply with the health care law.

The owner of Binary Group Inc., an information technology firm based in Alexandria, Va., is one of many smallbusiness owners who will be required to provide health insurance for her staffers under a provision of the law that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014. Wang already provides insurance, but she has struggled with premiums that have soared as much as 60 percent annually, so she requires employees to contribute to their coverage. She’s worried because she doesn’t know how much she’ll have to pay under the Affordable Care Act. Wang’s worry is a gut-wrenching dilemma that many small-business owners are concerned that they may face.

Now that President Barack Obama has won re-election, the health care overhaul, which presidential candidate Mitt Romney promised to dismantle, is marching forward. Companies must decide before the start of 2014 what they’ll do to comply with the law. Right now, no one knows how much the insurance will cost, and owners aren’t sure if they’d be better off not buying it and paying a government a penalty of $2,000 per worker. Some owners are even threatening to defy the law. The big challenge for most small businesses is that they just don’t have enough information to make concrete plans.

If Wang can’t afford the insurance, she said that some of her staffers may have to go.

“I would have to say, ‘look, guys, you’re family to me in many respects, but this family also depends on having the kind of cash flow available to keep the lights on and keep employing most of you,’ ” Wang said. “It would have to come down to that.”

Not providing insurance and paying the penalty is another alternative.

“That’s what we’re going to decide by 2014, if the math is so obvious it’s cheaper for us to do the $2,000 per head,” she said.

The health care law generally requires that companies with 50 or more full-time workers provide health insurance for their staffers. If they don’t provide any insurance, they’ll have to pay the $2,000 penalty for each worker on their payroll.

If they buy insurance, but it doesn’t meet the government’s tests for affordable coverage, they’ll have to pay $3,000 for each worker whose coverage isn’t deemed affordable. If that seems confusing, that’s just the beginning. There’s a labyrinth of other details that include plans that can be “grandfathered” in and

a maze of other fine points that smallbusiness owners are trying to decipher.

In some industries, owners are considering cutting employees’ hours to under 30 a week, which would take those workers out of the jurisdiction of the law.

Restaurant owners are looking at that option after Darden Restaurants Inc. said in October it was going to try changing the mix of full-time and parttime workers at its restaurants including Red Lobster and Olive Garden. When full-timers leave, Darden will consider replacing them with part-timers, spokesman Rich Jeffers said.

Hurricane Grill & Wings, a restaurant franchise with five company-owned restaurants, is also thinking of lowering the number of hours that its servers and other hourly employees work. That would exempt them from having to be covered under the law. President Martin O’Dowd said the company would have to monitor the quality of its service and food to be sure there’s no impact on customers if workers are unhappy with their shorter work week. But he’s not anticipating any problems.

Hurricane CEO John Metz recently said the company was considering adding a 5 percent surcharge to customers’ bills starting in 2014 to cover the costs of health care for full-time workers. But since the plan was reported in the news media, and generated negative comments on some websites, O’Dowd now said that it was “hypothetical.”

“That is not in our plans,” he said.

Even though some key details of the health care overhaul haven’t been worked out, such as how much insurance offered through the exchanges will cost, there is already a lot of information to sort through. Figuring out the details is keeping human resources consultants and benefits brokers busy.

“It is like a sleeping giant work up,” said Pamela Ross, owner of New Yorkbased Atlantic Human Resources Advisors. “They are very much paying attention because so many regulations kick in for 2014.”

There are so many unknowns about the law that Campus Cooks is hiring an employee to determine what the company’s options are and how much they’ll cost. The provider of dining services for fraternity and sorority houses in the Midwest, Florida and Texas, has 125 employees.

“I don’t know what’s in the law,” said Bill Reeder, president of the Glenview, Ill.-based company. “I’m really hiring someone whose job, in part, for the next six months is to figure out this thing.”

Reeder said he can’t afford to offer insurance now and that’s something he regrets. And he said he might have to pay the penalty if it turns out to be cheaper than providing coverage.

He said he knows this much: “I’m not approaching this by cutting hours or raising prices.”

Whether Reeder pays the penalty or buys coverage, Campus Cooks will have

‘That’s what we’re going to decide by 2014, if the math is so obvious it’s cheaper for us to do the $2,000 per head.’

ROSE WANG, BINARY GROUP INC. OWNER to come up with money to cover the expense. “We have to look at our business and see how to run it more efficiently. We have to renegotiate our food costs, cut office expenses, streamline our technology,” Reeder said.

Some small-business owners, who already provide insurance, are looking at the law and weighing paying penalties against continuing to provide insurance that is more expensive. One risk though is that dropping coverage may send a message to employees that the owner doesn’t care about them. That could lead some workers to quit.

“They’re looking at that and saying,

‘well, if I stop providing benefits for my people, am I going to lose good people to my competitors who may not be taking the same approach?” Ross said.

Ken Wisnefski considered paying the penalty, but said he has decided against it. His company, online marketing firm, WebiMax, based in Mount Laurel, N.J., has nearly 100 employees, and already provides health insurance.

“Not offering health care is not necessarily the best way of attracting talent,” he said.

Companies that won’t be bound by the new law, but that do provide insurance will be looking to see if they can save money through the exchanges.

Matt Helbig provides insurance to the 10 full-time employees at Big River Running Co., his chain of three running and walking shoe stores in the St. Louis area.

He’s waiting to see the cost of insurance on the exchanges before deciding what to do.

Some small-business owners are thinking about paying the penalty because they genuinely believe they won’t be able to afford to buy insurance, said Allen Nassif, president of Northern Benefits, an insurance brokerage serving small businesses in New England.

www.thebusiness-journal.com

January 2013

BUSINESS CLIPS service performance.

New staff members Tracy Preston has joined the Diane Sullivan State Farm Agency as a licensed insurance producer.

Whitney Patient Prosser has joined The Hair Nest as Preston an esthetician/skin care therapist and Mary Kay consultant.

Karalee Misner has been named business development manager for Land of Lincoln Credit Union.

Misner

Achievements Dr. Drew Sullivan of Northgate Pet Clinic has been certified in small animal ultrasound through the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Sullivan

Billingsley Service Center & Towing has received the American Towman ACE Award for achievement in

The Advanced Rehabilitation Center at St. Mary’s Hospital has been accredited by CARF International for its inpatient adult rehabilitation program.

Dr. Darren Love, PsyD, of Psychology Specialists has completed his residency and is now licensed to practice psychology.

Love

Promotions Deborah Born has been promoted to office manager for Illini Supply.

Born

Announcements Matt Sekosky was elected chairman of the Easter Seals Central Illinois Decatur Board of Directors during the group’s annual meeting. Other officers are Bart Rose, treasurer, and Jeannette Zerfowski, secretary. New board members are Rob Comerford, Katie Mears, LeShelle Smalley and Kathy York.

Submitted photo

Sitting: Gary Birschbach, KellyAnn Thompson, Christina Baker, Joshua Dunmire and Felicia Joyce. Standing: Kevin Horath, Andrew Birschbach, Richard Kaczynski, Joshua Dubbelde, Jennifer McMillin, Patrick Bode, Meredith Johnson-Palmer, Howard Martin, Starla Street, Jack Adwell and Rebecca Damptz.

DLI graduates another class The Decatur Leadership Institute added the following individuals to is list of graduates: Jack Adwell and Meredith Johnson-Palmer of Richland Community College; Christina Baker of Hickory Point Bank & Trust; Andrew and Gary Birschbach of G&L Food Inc. (McDonald’s); Patrick Bode and Joshua Dubbelde of SamuelsMiller Law Firm; Rebecca Damptz of Decatur Public Library; Joshua Dunmire of

J.L. Hubbard Insurance & Bonds; Kevin Horath of Decatur Memorial Hospital; Felicia Joyce of Caterpillar Inc.; Richard Kaczynski of Brechnitz Group of Raymond James; Howard Martin of Busey Bank; Jennifer McMillin of The Community Foundation of Macon County/Education Coalition; Starla Street of Millikin University and KellyAnn Thompson of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois.

The group also honored the following businesses, groups and individuals. Outstanding Retail Volunteers, Best Buy; Outstanding Company Donor, Star Silkscreen; Outstanding Service Club, Noon Sertoma; Support of Easter Seals Bowl-a-thon, Walgreens; Softball champions, Wood Printing; Outstanding Media Sponsor for Easter Seals Day Celebration, CEFCU; Outstanding Health Donor Organization, St. Mary’s Hospital; and Superior Chairperson, Doug McCarthy.

Jeanelle Norman has been elected president of the Decatur branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Other officers elected to two-year terms are Deborah Ford, vice president; Minnie Topps, secretary; and Jillian Norman, treasurer.

Business Clips are abbreviated versions of paid Business Achievements which appear on Mondays in the Herald & Review. For more information about Business Achievements, go to www.heraldreview.com/app/secure/businessach/

BUSINESS JOURNAL

19

Did you know?

Five corporate surprises 1. Intel —builds $5 billion fabrication plant every 5 years 2. Atari — sold rights to Pac-Man (“too simple”) 3. Manicurist training in Alabama — requires 700 hours 4. Staples — No. 2 online merchant (Amazon No. 1) 5. McDonald’s — U.S.’s biggest seller of apples

Good developments How long they took to build 1. Build Twitter prototype — 2 weeks 2. Build space shuttle Discovery — 4 years 3. Build Zamboni — 10 years 4. Build Edsel — 9 years (sold for 3) 5. Build 1st commercial computer — 5 years Source: World Features Syndicate

BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 66% have household income of $80,000 or more. n 32% are age 55 or older.

20

BUSINESS JOURNAL

www.thebusiness-journal.com

January 2013

The right point of view matters Last month, we talked about Buster, our pal who has been homeless and looking for work.

This month, we’re going to leave Buster alone for a bit. Not that I’m tired of him, but I want you to think about something else. I want you to consider being Buster’s boss.

Imagine that you’re the one who makes hiring decisions for a local establishment.

Heck, as long as this is all made up, let’s be more specific. Imagine you’re the manager of an economy Human Resources hotel here in Decatur. A nice place, moderately priced, it’s a good bargain for travelers.

Many of your guests are in town temporarily on work crews. You give them a fair deal.

So, there you sit behind your desk in your little office on a slow Tuesday

Fred Spannaus

morning, sipping coffee, thumbing through the paper, and from time to time surfing the Web or playing a game of Free Cell.

Now, imagine two scenarios.

SCENARIO #1: In walks a guy, asks if you have a minute. You can’t really lie, feet on the desk and all. So you ask, “What can I do for you?”

“I need a favor,” he says. “You hiring?”

You admit that you are looking for a groundskeeper. This is night work. It requires someone to clean the parking lot and grounds, pick up trash in the game room and keep a hot pot of coffee for late arrivals and returning guests.

“Great,” he says. “I’ve got a client who really needs a job like that. He’s had a few bad breaks, and you could really do us a favor if you hired him. So, can you take him on?”

SCENARIO #2: In walks another guy, who has made an appointment in advance. He introduces himself as a job developer.

He asks about the challenges of my

job, especially with hiring and keeping good help. And he listens to my answers, as I tell him that I go through half a dozen groundskeepers every year. He asks about the job.

Then he says this: “Our organization has a training program with a proven track record. When a candidate makes it through our program, it means that he or she has developed basic work habits, that they know how to act on the job, and they know how to communicate. In fact, the average placement in jobs like yours retains the job for at least 24 months.

And we have couple people that have stayed for years.

“So, when can I talk to you about a couple of our graduates, to see if they might be able to help you?”

WHICH ONE? Who are you more likely to invite back for a second visit? You saw the difference, right. Guy No. 1 wants you to solve his problem. Guy No. 2 wants to solve your problem.

I’ve talked to both of these guys, or their many clones, in the past few months. Some of them beg employers for

ASK THE SCORE COUNSELOR Q: What are some common small-business tax mistakes I should avoid?

A: Angie Mohr, professional accountant and business writer says: “It can be easy to forget about Uncle Sam when you’re in the midst of day-to-day operations, but making tax mistakes can be costly for your small business.” Angie has written for the SBDC’s Weekly Connection and also has written six books on business management. She says, to help you prevent hearing the knock of the IRS at your door, here are five common tax-centric mistakes to ensure you avoid.

1. Failing to send 1099s. As a small business, the IRS requires you to issue information forms to certain individuals and partnerships that you have paid throughout the year. You must fill out and remit 1099-MISC slips to the IRS and the payee for cumulative annual payments more than $600 for services, rents, awards and prizes, and certain other payments. Before issuing 1099MISCs, you will be required to have payees fill out a W-9 form, which you keep on file. A W-9 provides you with the payee’s Social Security or taxpayer identification number. The 1099s must be sent out to payees by Jan. 31 of the subsequent year and to the IRS by Feb. 28 (for paper filers) or March 31 (for electronic filers). Penalties for not filing on time range from $30 to $250 for each 1099-MISC you’re required to send.

2. Mixing business and personal expenses. Many new small-business owners operate out of their personal bank accounts and make purchases that are used for business and personal purposes.

The IRS is particularly interested in ensuring that only business-related

Got a question?

To learn more about business taxes, for one-on-one, face-to-face business 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 424-6296.

expenses are being deducted for tax purposes, and not doing so can get you into hot water. Open a separate bank account for your business to keep monies apart.

Keep detailed records of business purchases and of any business use of personal assets, such as a car or a home office.

3. Losing track of receipts. When you’re running around wearing all the hats for your business, it’s easy to stuff purchase receipts into your wallet or pants pocket, never to be seen again.

However, you can’t deduct what you don’t document, and you could end up paying more taxes on your business income than you need to.

4. Getting behind on payroll and salestax remittances. Cash-strapped business owners often have to juggle their finances to make sure the bills get paid.

This can create a huge temptation to use money collected from sales tax and payroll to temporarily support operations, which can lead to filing returns late and owing funds to the IRS. The government treats these funds very seriously and considers them to be held in trust. They should be deposited in a separate bank account and remitted on time to avoid penalties and interest. Collecting taxes

and not remitting them also can, in extreme circumstances, lead to criminal charges.

5. Not reporting barter transactions.

In most cases, if you, for example, help your neighbor clean her gutters and she, in turn, baby-sits your kids, no taxable transaction has occurred. However, if you run a home-improvement business, it likely has “barter transactions” (goods or services provided in exchange for other goods and services). These must be treated as taxable business income when they relate to the business you are in. They are valued at the cost of what is being received. In the above example, the gutter cleaning would be assessed at the value of the baby-sitting received and added to your revenue figures on your tax return.

Paying attention to your business’s tax situation can save you the grief of an audit and, potentially, a significant amount of money. If you’re unsure about how to handle a transaction, talk with your accountant to get it handled the right way.

favors, and their programs generally have poor results.

Others offer to help employers, and they have developed solid track records of success. Their outcomes are often incredible. The Cara Program in Chicago, for example, consistently provides employers with people who have low turnover rates and high productivity. In fact, some employers have learned that they get better people by hiring the formerly homeless through Cara than they do by hiring on their own.

The secret? Cara looks at it from the employers’ point of view.

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 425-2635.

BUSINESS JOURNAL Reader Profile: n 48% share their copy of The Business

Journal with others. n 23% are 35 to 44 years old

WINDOWS ROOFING DECKS KITCHENS RESTORATIONS DOORS SIDING REMODELING PORCHES BATHS

— Carol Harding, SCORE counselor

Meet a SCORE counselor Marcia Phillips has been a SCORE Ambassador for almost 3 years. She has previously held management positions in wellknown corporations, owned a Decatur restaurant for 13 years, Phillips and revamped the grille and catering operations at Richland Community College.

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January 2013

BUSINESS JOURNAL

21

YOUR FREE TIME

The Arts Anne Lloyd Gallery: Young Artists Showcase. Annual juried exhibit hosted by Gallery 510 Arts Guild featuring the artwork by Decatur area students in grades 5 to 8. Call 423-3189. www.decatur arts.org Gallery 510: Handmade jewelry by Barbara Hodges. Meet the artist reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4. Call 422-1509.

Decatur Airport: Landscapes by Carol Kessler.

Decatur Public Library: A variety of pieces

by Diana Manning.

Erlanson Gallery, Richland Community College: “The Art of Science 2.0: Images from the Institute of Genomic Biology,” from Jan. 14 to Feb. 22. There will be a reception from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 Perkinson Art Gallery, Kirkland Fine Arts Center: Millikin Faculty Biennial Exhibition.

Music “Hooray for Hollywood!” The Greater Decatur Chorale Winter Concert, Jan. 11-13,

Calendar of events For a complete list of events, go to www.herald-review.com/go/ Decatur Civic Center Theater. Cost is $12. All seats are reserved. Call 422-5911.

Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra presents it annual Young Artists Concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call 424-6318.

ture an International Chili Society regional cookoff. Proceeds benefit local charities. For more information, call 433-9068.

Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call 4246318.

Festival of Church Choirs to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Macon County, 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at Tabernacle Baptist Church. The event will feature 12 area churches, as well as an ensemble children’s choir. For information, call 428-4240.

Charity events

For the kids

UCP Miller Lite Barstool Open to benefit United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln, Saturday, Jan. 19. This annual event features a game of miniature golf with the holes located in various bars and restaurants throughout Decatur. For more information, call 428-5033.

Children’s Museum of Illinois: Family Science Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13.

Collaborate and Create Clay Workshop, 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. Pre-registration required. Family Free Night, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31. Call 423-5437.

Central Illinois Regional Chili & Salsa CookOff, Saturday, Jan. 19, at Hickory Point Mall. This event, sponsored by the Forsyth Sunrise Rotary Club, will fea-

org and click on the Programs and Activities tab for a complete listing.

On Stage Theatre 7 presents “Leaving Iowa,” Jan. 18-20 and 25-27, Shilling Auditorium, Richland Community College. For tickets, call 422-3866. www.theatre7.net.

The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 22, Kirkland Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call 424-6318.

Misc.

Decatur Bridal Expo, 5-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Fashion show both days. For more information, call 428-3481.

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.

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.

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

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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January 2013

YOUR MONEY

Have we seen the last of the dollar bill?

WASHINGTON (AP) — American consumers have shown about as much appetite for the $1 coin as kids do their spinach. They may not know what’s best for them either. Congressional auditors say doing away with dollar bills entirely and replacing them with dollar coins could save taxpayers some $4.4 billion over the next 30 years.

Vending machine operators have long championed the use of $1 coins because they don’t jam the machines, cutting down on repair costs and lost sales. But most people don’t seem to like carrying them. In the past five years, the U.S. Mint has produced 2.4 billion Presidential $1 coins. Most are stored by the Federal Reserve, and production was suspended about a year ago.

The latest projection from the Government Accountability Office on the potential savings from switching to dollar coins entirely comes as lawmakers begin exploring new ways for the government to save money by changing the money itself.

The Mint is preparing a report for Congress showing how changes in the metal content of coins could save money.

The last time the government made major metallurgical changes in U.S.

coins was nearly 50 years ago when Congress directed the Mint to remove silver from dimes and quarters and to reduce its content in half dollar coins. Now, Congress is looking at new changes in response to rising prices for copper and nickel.

At a House subcommittee hearing last month, the focus was on two approaches: n Moving to less expensive combinations of metals such as steel, aluminum and zinc. n Gradually taking dollar bills out the economy and replacing them with coins.

The office’s Lorelei St. James told the House Financial Services panel it would take several years for the benefits of switching from paper bills to dollar coins to catch up with the cost of making the change. Equipment would have to be bought or overhauled and more coins would have to be produced upfront to replace bills as they are taken out of circulation.

But over the years, the savings would begin to accrue, she said, largely because a $1 coin could stay in circulation for 30 years while paper bills have to be replaced every four or five years on average.

“We continue to believe that replacing

the note with a coin is likely to provide a financial benefit to the government,” said St. James, who added that such a change would work only if the note was completely eliminated and the public educated about the benefits of the switch.

Even the $1 coin’s most ardent supporters recognize that they haven’t been popular. Philip Diehl, former director of the Mint, said there was a huge demand for the Sacagawea dollar coin when production began in 2001, but as time wore on, people stayed with what they knew best.

“We’ve never bitten the bullet to remove the $1 bill as every other Western economy has done,” Diehl said. “If you did, it would have the same success the Canadians have had.”

Beverly Lepine, chief operating officer of the Royal Canadian Mint, said her country loves its “Loonie,” the nickname for the $1 coin that includes an image of a loon on the back. The switch went over so well that the country also went to a $2 coin called the “Toonie.”

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., affirmed that Canadians have embraced their dollar coins. “I don’t know anyone who would go back to the $1 and $2 bills,” he said.

That sentiment was not shared by

some of his fellow subcommittee members when it comes to the U.S. version.

Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., said men don’t like carrying a bunch of coins around in their pocket or in their suits. And Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said the $1 coins have proved too hard to distinguish from quarters.

“If the people don’t want it and they don’t want to use it,” she said, “why in the world are we even talking about changing it?”

“It’s really a matter of just getting used to it,” said Diehl, the former Mint director.

Several lawmakers were more intrigued with the idea of using different metal combinations in producing coins.

Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, said a penny costs more than 2 cents to make and a nickel costs more than 11 cents to make. Moving to multiplated steel for coins would save the government nearly $200 million a year, he said.

The Mint’s report, which is due in mid-December, will detail the results of nearly 18 months of work exploring a variety of new metal compositions and evaluating test coins for attributes as hardness, resistance to wear, availability of raw materials and costs.

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Retirement worries up among young adults WASHINGTON (AP) — Younger Americans in their late 30s are now the group most likely to doubt they will be financially secure after retirement, a major shift from three years ago when baby boomers nearing retirement age expressed the greatest worry.

The survey findings by the Pew Research Center reflect the impact of a weak economic recovery beginning in 2009 that has shown stock market gains while housing values remain decimated.

As a whole, retirement worries rose across all age groups, roughly 38 percent of U.S. adults say they are “not too” or “not at all” confident that they will have sufficiently sized financial nest eggs, according to the independent research group. That’s up from 25 percent in 2009.

But the concerns are increasing the greatest among younger adults approaching middle age, whose equity in their homes represents most of their net worth.

About 49 percent of those ages 35-44 said they had little or no confidence that they will have enough money for retirement, more than double the 20 percent share in that age group who said so in 2009.

Baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 also reported having more retirement anxieties than before, but now to a lesser degree compared to their younger counterparts. About 43 percent of Ameri-

cans ages 45-54 expressed little or no trust in their retirement security, up from 33 percent in 2009. Among Americans ages 55-64, the share expressing little or no confidence was 39 percent, up from 26 percent.

Broken down by smaller groups, the Pew analysis found that retirement worries peaked among adults in their late 30s; a majority, or 53 percent, of Americans ages 36 to 40 lacked confidence that they will have large enough nest eggs.

Just three years ago, it was baby boomers ages 51 to 55 who had the most anxiety over whether their income and assets would be sufficient.

Richard Morin, a senior editor at Pew who co-authored the report, said the shift in attitudes was somewhat surprising.

“I think most people would expect those on the cusp of retirement — ages 55 to 64 — would be the most concerned about financing their retirement, (so) the finding that the peak is now occurring among adults roughly 20 years younger is notable,” he said. “Moreover, the wealth data showing those approaching or in early middle age had lost the most in the past decade suggests that their concerns are not misplaced.”

Morin said that it is hard to predict whether 30-somethings will continue to

express the most retirement worries in the years to come, but said it was a “real possibility” given that housing values aren’t expected to fully recover anytime soon.

An Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong. com poll in late 2011 also found that concerns about retirement were increasing across all age groups, a reflection of the continuing hard economic times.

According to the Pew report, the inflation-adjusted net worth of Americans ages 35 to 44 fell roughly 56 percent from 2001 to 2010, the sharpest decline for any age group and more than double the 22 percent rate of decline for boomers ages 55 to 64. Net worth, also referred to as wealth, is the sum of all assets such as a house, car, stocks and 401(k)s, minus the sum of all debts including mortgage, credit card debt, car and tuition loans.

In dollars, the median wealth of Americans ages 35 to 44 fell by $56,029 to $43,698 over the past decade. In contrast, those ages 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 lost about $50,000. The median wealth of those 65 and older over the past decade increased slightly — the only age group to experience a gain.

The 35 to 44 age group has been hit the hardest in terms of wealth because they were the ones most likely to have purchased a home at bubble prices during

the housing boom, only to see values shrivel in the housing bust. This younger to middle-aged group also largely stayed out of the stock market from 2001 to 2010 and as a result missed out on the stock run-up that began in 2009, according to Pew’s analysis of Federal Reserve data.

The S&P 500 index peaked above 1,500 in October 2007 but then fell to a closing low of 676.53 in March 2009. It has risen significantly since then, closing above 1,200 in December 2010 and is now back above 1,400.

Broken down by education and income, adults holding a high school diploma or less were less likely to express confidence in their retirement finances than college graduates, 53 percent vs. 71 percent. Those with family incomes of less than $50,000 also were less confident compared to those making $100,000 or more, 51 percent vs. 79 percent.

The Pew study is based on interviews with 2,508 adults by cellphone or landline from July 16 to 26, as well as an analysis of the Survey of Consumer Finances, which is sponsored by the Federal Reserve. The Pew poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points, larger for subgroups. The APLifeGoesStrong.com poll was conducted Oct. 5-12, 2011, by Knowledge Networks of Palo Alto, Calif.

Try to save 8 times your income McClatchy-Tribune News Service

How much should you save for retirement?

Think eight.

As in eight years of your final yearly salary before you say goodbye to your job and head off for retirement.

That’s according to Fidelity Investments, the nation’s largest holder of employer-based 401(k) retirement accounts.

If you make $50,000 in your last year of working, you should have $400,000 saved, Fidelity financial planners say. If you make less, then you won’t need as much.

But if you make more, you should have more money stashed away to ensure a comfortable retirement.

“While every individual’s situation will differ greatly based on desired lifestyle in retirement, the average worker may replace 85 percent of his pre-retirement income by saving at least eight times his ending salary,” according to a Fidelity statement.

The timetable has people working and saving until 67 and living until 92.

Boca Raton, Fla., financial planner Mari Adam said the Fidelity retirement savings goal is doable. “I like this way of measuring,” she said. “It’s easy to understand.”

In fact, in an earlier newsletter to clients, she offered a timetable in which a potential retiree accumulated as much as 10 to 12 times their annual salary by the time of retirement.

The Fidelity recommendation “cuts some slack to workers,” Adam added.

“Everyone is so tired about hearing that they are not doing enough. People are saying they can’t save more.”

Some people may, in fact, not need to save as much as eight times their salary, said Deerfield Beach, Fla., financial adviser Chris Nichols. Those with pensions may only need a fraction of that, he said. Even people without pensions can opt to work longer, he said. That way they will get larger Social Security checks, meaning they don’t need to save as much, Nichols added.

Another factor is people living simply and not needing as much income in retirement, Adam and Nichols said.

Today’s baby boomers, however, “have more stuff,” and more of them want luxuries such as cable television than earlier generations did, Adam said.

One way to cut expenses in retirement is to pay off a mortgage, typically the largest living expenses, said Blair C. Shein, a financial planner who is on the board of the nonprofit Financial Planning Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Some people may actually be better off paying down debt, such as credit card expenses, than saving, he added.

Once savers get their credit card balance paid off, an average of about $4,700, according to the Credit Karma website, then they can start using the money for retirement savings, Shein said.

He recommends saving on a regular basis to ensure a nest egg. Having money automatically withdrawn from a paycheck to place in retirement savings, such as a 401(k), helps people save without thinking about it, Shein said.

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24

BUSINESS JOURNAL

January 2013

www.thebusiness-journal.com