October Voice 2011

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

DER RATHSKELLER CELEBRATES 80 YEARS

20 PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

PAGE 17

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A TIME TO REMEMBER. A TIME TO PREPARE. October 2011 | Volume 24 | No. 10

More than 120 exhibit booths were featured representing regional businesses.

Fourth-annual Regional Business Expo records great success

Photo by Colorwave Graphics

By Paul Anthony Arco To say Wayne Breitbarth was intimidated by social media is an understatement. “I went into it kicking and screaming,” he said. “I didn’t want anything to do with social media.”

That is until he was introduced to LinkedIn, and discovered how helpful the business-oriented social networking site

was to his business. Breitbarth, who owns a Milwaukee office furniture company, was so inspired, he decided to write a book, called “The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand and Job Search.” These days, Breitbarth travels the country, speaking to business groups about the impact of LinkedIn. “It’s a tough economy and everyone is trying to do more these days to get back to sales levels from a few years ago,” he said. “LinkedIn is one of those tools that, if you wrap your arms around it, you might meet some new people, sell more products and hit your numbers again.

With 120 million users, it’s a tremendous tool for business people.”

Breitbarth was the keynote speaker at the sold-out luncheon at this year’s Regional Business Expo, held Sept. 22, at the former Sears Essentials Building,

Photos by Brian Thomas Photography

Author and speaker Wayne Breitbarth offers tips on making sales goals using LinkedIn at the Regional Expo. located on East Riverside Boulevard in Loves Park. It was the second year that the expo was held inside an unoccupied building. Last year, the event was housed at the former Menards building on 251 and 173. more on page 5

Survey asks: ‘What keeps your business alive?’

Data will determine how Illinois workNet® can help

Visit us online at: rockfordchamber.com ■ online registration ■ keynote speaker video clips ■ event photos ■ list of Chamber events Questions? 815-987-8100 Join the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group www.linkedin.com/e/gis/2544

Did you know that recessions occasionally have proven to be great opportunities for those starting new businesses? Many big companies like Hyatt, Burger King, MTV, Trader Joe’s and FedEx started during sour economic times.

These statements were released by Illinois workNet®, an organization that since 2005 has developed partnerships and technology to expand access to workforce development resources for individuals, businesses and workforce professionals. The organization seeks to

Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) released advice, in observance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, on preparations businesses and individuals can make to be self-reliant for three days without utilities and electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or local services — or even response from police, fire or rescue.

Suggestions include putting together an emergency supply kit, making a plan for what to do in an emergency, and identifying information sources that would be helpful before, during and after an emergency.

“In the past 5 years, Winnebago County has experienced flooding, tornadoes, blizzards and the H1N1 influenza outbreak,” said Dan Reilly, WCHD’s public health emergency response coordinator. “Through the efforts of our community and collaborative planning and response from county agencies, Winnebago County was able to mitigate the event, reduce the risk of loss, and swiftly recover.”

For more information visit www.wchd.org or call 815-720-4217.

Visit www.ready.gov/america/getakit/ index.html for instructions on building an emergency supply kit.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

20 People You Should Know October 20, 5:30-7:30 pm For more information, see page 29 CALLING ALL SNOW ARTISTS

find what’s keeping small businesses going and what small businesses are doing to make it through the downturn.

Kauffman Reveals Current Business Challenges According to a 2011 study released by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, entrepreneurs nationwide that kept their startups afloat during the economic crisis showed a better-than-average chance for achieving long-term success. The study, which analyzed more than 8,000 More on page 4

Snow still may be a few months away, but the Rockford Park District is thinking ahead with a call to artists interested in participating in the 26th annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition. The event on Jan. 18 to 21, 2012, at Sinnissippi Park, will feature teams from around the state who will compete to represent Illinois in the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition.

Teams must comprise no more than three members, ages 18 or older, who are current Illinois residents. Amateurs and professionals are eligible.

Applications for adult and high school divisions are available at www.snowsculpting.org. Deadlines to submit entry forms and sketches of proposed sculptures are Oct. 11 for high school teams and Nov. 11 for state (adult) teams.

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President’s Message VIEWPOINT

Chamber to feature national experts on health care, education The Rockford Chamber of Commerce is fortunate enough to feature two very high powered, nationally recognized leaders in the fields of health care and education as the 2011 year comes to a close. The Chamber’s Luncheon Series, sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, will present the Health Care Industry Update on Nov. 16 at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Conference Center, and the Education Outlook on Dec. 8 at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort.

The Presenting Sponsor for both luncheons is BMO Harris Bank.

Health Care Industry Update to feature Henry Aaron, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution Henry “Hank” Aaron is a world renowned expert on health care and economics. His specialties include budget policy and politics; health care cost, financing and rationing; Medicaid; Medicare; Social Security; tax policy. At the luncheon Aaron will provide an up-to-themoment update on the status of health care reform measures in Washington, as well as outline what is taking place in the court system that may dramatically alter the reform landscape.

Henry Aaron He also will address what is occurring in the various states as they adapt to these federal rules. Aaron will further review the potential impacts on reform measures that may come from the outcomes of the federal elections on the horizon, including the Presidential race.

Aaron is a graduate of UCLA and holds a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

He has been a member of the Brookings staff since 1968. During his tenure he has served as assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and has chaired the Advisory Council on Social Security. Aaron is a member of the Institute of Medicine, the Academy of Arts and Science, and the visiting committee of the Harvard Medical School, among many other affiliations. He is a regular contributor to numerous publications including the New England Journal of Medicine, Washington Post, POLITICO, the New Republic, and the National Tax Journal.

Education Outlook to Cap “United for Our Children” Community Education and Awareness Series with Geoffrey Canada, Harlem Children’s Zone

Einar K. Forsman Rockford Chamber of Commerce

In partnership with United Way, Alignment Rockford, City of Rockford, and Zion Development Corporation, the Rockford Chamber is pleased to host Geoffrey Canada for the Education Outlook Luncheon.

In his 20-plus years with Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc., Geoffrey Canada Geoffrey Canada has become nationally recognized for his pioneering work helping children and families in Harlem and for his passionate advocacy of education reform. Since 1990, Canada has been the president and Chief Executive Officer for Harlem Children’s Zone, which the New York Times Magazine called “one of the most ambitious social experiments of our time.” In 2005, Mr. Canada was named one of “America‘s Best Leaders” by U.S. News and World Report.

In 1997, the agency launched the Harlem Children’s Zone Project, which targets a specific geographic area in central Harlem with a comprehensive range of services. The Zone Project today covers 100 blocks and aims to serve more than 10,000 children by 2011.

The New York Times Magazine said the Zone Project “combines educational, social and medical services. It starts at birth and follows children to college. It meshes those services into an interlocking web, and then it drops that web over an entire neighborhood. ... The objective is to create a safety net woven so tightly that children in the neighborhood just can’t slip through.” The work of Canada and HCZ has become a national model and has been the subject of many profiles in the media, such as “60 Minutes,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” “CBS This Morning,” “The Charlie Rose Show,” NPR’s “On Point,” as well as articles in the New York Times, the New York Daily News, USA Today and Newsday.

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PROFILE Board Profile

Offering a perspective from manufacturing, engineering world

John Oller PBC Linear

What do you want to contribute as part of the Chamber board?

What book, movie would you recommend right now and why?

I would like to provide insight from the manufacturing and engineering world to support the Chamber as it seeks ways to support the members and the community.

“Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi & Tahl Raz. Today’s business, career, life is so much about who you know and what is going on around you. Wish I knew this when I was younger.

Why is the Chamber important to business and the community?

The Chamber is a vehicle for the community to unite, both in business and community, and allow the flow of knowledge and support for each other.

What is the name/current purpose of your business/organization?

PBC Linear, a Pacific Bearing Company. We provide innovative, quality linear motion products and solutions.

What recent technology innovation has the greatest impact on your life?

Computers, the Internet, social media …

It wasn’t long ago when we did so many things by hand. Now it’s easy to learn as much as you want and stay in touch with people from around the world.

If you could be or do anything else—what?

What is your business background/responsibilities?

I always was interested in being a pilot and/or a surgeon.

My primary responsibility is management of production and engineering support as needed.

What are you most proud of?

What trend is most strongly impacting your industry?

The skills required to sustain current business are increasing, resulting in the need for more advanced training. The decline in skilled machinists is one of our largest challenges to overcome.

How do you think you impact the community?

I’m one of many who have helped the community improve one step at a time—by sharing many years of diverse experience.

What in your career has had the greatest impact on you?

The changes with companies selling each other, buying each other, downsizing, etc. It has been difficult adjusting to the changes, but I think I’m a much stronger person because of it.

My kids and my wife. They have endured a lot of changes, especially with our past travels. I think it has helped them adjust more easily to all of the technology changes we experience every day.

What’s the one thing about you that few people know?

Used to be a cyclist. Loved it. I stopped racing once I got tired of getting knocked off my bike at 30+ m.p.h. too many times!

What are you most thankful for?

My spouse and my close friends. They always have been there to support me, no matter how many crazy things I’ve tried.

Anything else you’d like to share with Chamber members?

I think the Chamber has a lot of value. We as members need to determine how to support and utilize it. The team becomes stronger if we all help.

Let your Voice be heard The Rockford Chamber of Commerce welcomes and encourages submissions for The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Send news releases and other items of interest to the business community to: The VOICE Rockford Chamber of Commerce 308 W. State St., Ste. 190 Rockford, IL 61101 For information about advertising contact Customer Service at 815-987-8100.

The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community (USPS 784-120). ISSN number 10860630, is published monthly by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, Illinois 61101. Periodicals postage paid at Rockford, Ill. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The VOICE of the Rockford Business Community, 308 W. State St., Ste. 190, Rockford, IL 61101.

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MEMBERSHIP Member Category of the Month

The following is a listing of Rockford Chamber members highlighted in a specific industry.

CHIROPRACTORS

MEDICAL BILLING

Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics P.C. Hulsebus Rockford Chiropractic Maculan Chiropractic Clinic

ACS Medical Billing Solutions

DENTISTS

PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION

Brian F. Soltys, D.D.S. Dental Designers, LLC Midwest Dental Jamie L. Milos, D.D.S. Oates Dental Ongena Dental Pumilia Family Dental Group Sexson Orthodontics, Ltd.

CLINICS, MEDICAL GROUPS Forest City Diagnostic Imaging High Field Open MRI of Rockford InnovaMed Medical Pain Management Services, Ltd. Northern Illinois Vein Clinic OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Physicians Immediate Care Rockford Health System Summit Radiology SwedishAmerican Health System True Laser University of Illinois Rockford, A UIC Health Sciences Campus

HEALTH CARE Amberwood Care Centre Crusader Community Health Belvidere Crusader Community Health on Broadway, Uram Building Crusader Community Health on West State Street, Woodward Campus for Community Health Care Forest City Diagnostic Imaging Rock River Valley Blood Center Rock River Valley Blood Center Perryville Road University of Illinois Rockford, A UIC Health Sciences Campus

NURSES, NURSING REGISTRY SilverCare

Advanced Therapy Solutions Rockford Orthopedic Associates

PHYSICAL THERAPY Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers ATI Physical Therapy Ege WorkSmart Solutions, PC Orthopedic & Sports Therapy Institute - Byron Orthopedic Rehab Specialists PIC Physical Therapy Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital

PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS ALL SPECIALTIES Advanced Reproductive Center, Inc. Affiliated Surgeons of Rockford Brightbill Ericson Eye Associates New Vision Laser Center of Illinois Georgis, William N. M.D., SC Imler Eye Clinic of Rockford, LLC MD at Home Miller Eye Center OB GYN Associates of Rockford Ltd. Primary Eye Care Centers, P.C. Rockford Anesthesiologists Associated, LLC Rockford Gastroenterology Associates, Ltd. Rockford Orthopedic Associates Rockford Spine Center Rockford Urological Associates, Ltd. Surgical Services of Illinois SwedishAmerican Medical Group/Rock Valley Women’s Health Center Weiskopf, Jerome S. M.D., PC

REFLEXOLOGY Healthy Balance Reflexology

HOSPITALS OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Rockford Health System SwedishAmerican Health System Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital

REHABILITATION Maple Crest Care Centre Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital

Member-to-member Loyalty Card Cut out and write your company name on the card below.

Give it to the member you are doing business with to show your support of member-to-member business.

Keeping Your Business Alive cont from front page companies launched over the past 175 years, found that businesses that started during down cycles in the economy were more likely to succeed. The Kauffman Foundation launched the Kauffman Firm Survey in 2004 to gather more information on new U.S. businesses, and to track trends over their early years of operation from startup to sustainability.

The trends with the release of the 2011 survey included the time period of the Financial Crisis. Responses showed that with six years of operation, the survival rate of the small businesses surveyed was 56 percent, slightly above the historical average of U.S. employer firms of 50 percent, yet falling from 61 percent in 2008.

The survey also touched on the challenges businesses currently are facing.

Sales, Customer Payment Problems As in 2008, the most challenging problem reported by businesses in 2009 continued to be slow/lost sales.

Unpredictable business conditions ranked second. Problems with customer payments were cited by 13 percent of firms, up from just two percent in 2008.

Falling real estate values, inability to obtain credit, and the cost and/or terms of credit were cited by less than 10 percent of firms.

Loan Denials Increase About a quarter of business owners who applied for new credit in 2009 said that their loan applications always were denied — a large increase over 2008.

About 60 percent of firms that applied for credit in 2009 had their credit application(s) always approved, compared with 67 percent in 2008. Most of the firms felt that banks were putting tighter restrictions on the lending.

In 2009, three percent of firms said

SOUND OFF BY TAKING THE SURVEY Illinois workNet® invites Illinois entrepreneurs to take the Trouble Shooting Your Small Business survey to learn how it can best serve area businesses. Visit www.rockford chamber.com, home page, to access the survey.

they had loans backed by the Small Business Administration.

Financial Injections, Investments Only about half of firms made new investments in their businesses from debt financing in 2009, and less than one-quarter of firms made new equity investments.

Nearly half of firms had some spending on intangible assets — expenditures expected to produce longterm benefits for businesses, such as brand development and worker training. This was similar to the level in 2008. For those with some spending, the average spent was about $31,000, compared with $28,000 in 2008. About 13 percent of firms invested in research and development in 2009, similar to 2008 levels. Investments averaged about $75,000 in 2009, up from about $54,000 in 2008.

Marketplace Advantage Even with at least six years in operation, less than half of surveyed firms believed they had a comparative advantage in the products and/or services they offered. Partnering with another company and reputation were cited as the most common reasons for comparative advantage.

Source: The Kauffman Firm Survey, March 2011, An Overview of the Kauffman Firm Survey, Results from 2009 Business Activities.

Prepared by Alicia Robb and E.J. Reedy.

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, Mo.

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman of the Board Mike Broski Entré Computer Solutions Vice Chairman Rich Walsh SwedishAmerican Health System Treasurer Larry Bridgeland Mid-City Office Products Immediate Past Chairman Pam Maher KMK Media Group DIRECTORS Teresa Beach-Shelow Superior Joining Technologies, Inc. Romero Bennett Blue Sky Insurance Agency

Andrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc.

Paul McCann Stanley Steemer of Rockford

Walt Boothe Harris Bank, N.A.

Patrick Morrow Alpine Bank

Ryan Brauns Rockford Consulting & Brokerage

John Oller PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company

Paul Callighan ComEd Joe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc. J. Chapman Maverick Media Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Darlene Furst Furst Staffing Penny Lechtenberg Hinshaw & Culbertson Mike Mastroianni Rock Valley College

Mark Peterson CBL Associates CherryVale Dee Premo Whitehead, Inc. Realtors Peter Ricker Rockford Register Star Tim Rollins WilliamsMcCarthy LLP

Patrick Shaw RSM McGladrey, Inc. Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc. Jennifer Wood Sikich LLP Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Janyce Fadden Rockford Area Economic Development Council Einar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Dan Saavedra Saavedra Gehlhausen John Groh Architects Rockford Area Convention Henry Seybold & Visitors Bureau Rockford Health System President/CEO

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Regional Expo cont from page 1 “I like to see the expo using these vacant buildings,” said Lindsey Oswald, an account executive for Meridian, a print management and promotional marketing services company located in Loves Park. Oswald and co-worker Chrissy Walsh, were busy distributing homemade cookies, pens and other premium items which their company produces. “An event like this is a perfect way for a company like ours to showcase what we can do for other companies.”

More than 3,000 people turned out for the fourth-annual event, which was free for attendees. This year’s expo was organized by eight chambers of commerce – Belvidere, Byron, DeKalb, Freeport, Greater Beloit, Oregon, the Parks and Rockford. The expo featured more than 120 exhibit booths, with businesses ranging from advertising agencies to media outlets to nonprofit organizations.

In addition, visitors took part in speed networking events, interactive sessions that gave participants the opportunity to meet one-on-one with other attendees.

There also were breakout sessions on such topics as social media in the workplace and 401(k) for small businesses, as well as a Regional Taste and Business Afterhours.

Photos by Brian Thomas Photography

Once the ribbon was cut, more than 3,000 people toured the fourth annual Business Expo.

Mary Krystopa lead a breakout session on social media in the workplace.

Participants enjoyed making new contacts during the “Five-Minute Speed Networking.”

Veolia Environmental Services was a sponsor of the Expo.

Exhibitor Michael Lombardo of Colorwave Graphics talks to a potential client.

Highlighting Area Green Practices A new twist to this year’s event was a green expo, a corridor showcasing businesses centered on green practices and products that promote the environment and energy efficiency. “It’s a growing trend in business, and it’s important to highlight right now and make people aware of what’s available in Rockford from a green perspective,” said Einar Forsman, president and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

“Many companies, especially large corporate businesses, only want to do business with other companies who have green philosophy embedded into their organization.”

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois is one such business. Goodwill is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides jobs, training and placement services, as well as retail operations that sell donated, gently-used products and new items from well-known

TDS, a telecommunications provider, was the presenting sponsor of the Regional Expo.

stores. Goodwill covers an 18-county area in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, and is headquartered in Rockford.

According to its president, Sam Schmitz, the expo is a good opportunity for Goodwill not only to promote its nine area stores, but its green initiative. “Only nine percent of what gets donated ends up in the landfill,” he said. “We also have programs including a partnership with Dell, which allows us to accept used computers

throughout the year, and a donation drive for local businesses. This event helps us promote our brand and the work we do.”

Chance to Rekindle Connections Vickie Fogel attends the expo every year. She is president of VLFogel Consulting, a virtual staff business for non-profit organizations and small businesses. “It’s an opportunity to talk to many different businesses all under one

roof. I have found companies willing to tell me what they do and ways they might be able to help my company, as well as listen to what I can bring to the table for them. You can’t beat that.”

After visiting the expo last year, Paul and Paula McCann, owners of Stanley Steemer Carpet Cleaner, decided to purchase a booth this year as a way to promote new services, including air duct cleaning and water damage restoration. “It’s a good investment,” Paula said. “We haven’t been as active with Chamber events lately, so we decided this would be a good time to rekindle some business relationships.”

The presenting sponsor of this year’s expo was TDS, a telecommunications provider. Other sponsors include Humana, Veolia Environmental Services, Giovanni’s, Inc., and The Morrissey Family Businesses.

“Our partnership with the Chamber has been very fruitful, and we’re happy to support such an important event for the business community,” said Jon Ollman, regional marketing manager for TDS.

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Manufacturing still a wealth generator

By Matthew Simpson, RAEDC I have heard many stories about the manufacturing companies that once called our city home. Usually the stories are told in the context of how manufacturing has “fallen off.” I couldn’t disagree more! There is no doubt that industry has changed, but Rockford’s storied manufacturing tradition is not as far in the past as we may think. A robust supply chain capable of providing exceptional manufacturing services still exists right here in the region.

Thriving in a Tough Economy One of the companies in that supply chain is DLM Manufacturing. DLM has been in business for eight years on Rockford’s west side. Its craftsmen build furniture and display products for a number of markets including universities, libraries and restaurants. The business may be small, but it has been able to make some big things happen. In fact, DLM’s wooden condiment stands and

napkin holders can be found in McDonald’s and Burger Matthew Simpson King restauRAEDC rants across the country.

Duntai Mathews, the company’s owner, has managed the business quite well in the tight economy. “The last two years were really tough, but business has picked up for us this year,” he said.

Despite economic challenges, DLM has added a manufacturing line and hired seven new employees in 2011.

DLM Manufacturing is one of many Rockford area manufacturers that creates wealth and provides quality jobs. There are many like DLM in the region that represent the proud manufacturing tradition of our community — a tradition that still is alive and well today.

Matthew Simpson is business development specialist at Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

Photos by Mike Graham and Brian Thomas

Mark Tingley, owner of Accelerated Machine Design & Engineering, and Dave Barr, executive vice president of Lyons Consulting Group, have grown their businesses at EIGERlab.

EIGERlab expands: Mixed-use incubator space available

By Sherry Pritz, EIGERlab EIGERlab (E-L) has had the good fortune to experience growth. Several E-L incubating companies have experienced exponential growth, which has resulted in the expansion of E-L’s footprint. Two companies in particular that have grown at impressive rate are Accelerated Machine Design & Engineering, and Lyons Consulting Group.

E-L offers a unique, complete package of leading-edge business and engineering support services, including CAD design, rapid prototyping (R/P), commercial- ization coordinators to assist with all facets of startup and expansion, and connections to regional manufacturers, banks and investors.

With the largest and most sophisticated collection of R/P equipment in the area and its speed-to-market capability, E-L can build prototypes in days, rather than the customary months or years. In addition, E-L also houses several business support services that can assist with business plan development, governmental sales opportunities and import/export strategy development.

Mark Tingley, owner of Accelerated Machine Design & Engineering, has been an

E-L tenant since 2008 when he established his company. He has benefited from the incubation center’s services, which include business plan assistance, access to mentors and other services for start-ups. Tingley states, “They are a great resource for our community.”

Dave Barr, executive vice president of Lyons Consulting Group (LCG), said, “E-L introduced us to the right people, and our business is growing rapidly.” Since opening, LCG already has hired eight people for the Rockford office (one from Rock Valley College) and continues to seek more technical recruits from the area.

Interested in space? Bring your computer and phone, and the team at the E-L will provide the rest, including: furniture, WI-FI, meeting space and use of a copier and fax machine. To learn more regarding how E-L’s business development specialists can assist or to check space availability, call 815-9653522 or peruse the Web site, www.EIGERlab.org. Please note that E-L is a member of the National Business Incubation Association and requires a screening process for all entrepreneurs.

Sherry Pritz is marketing coordinator at EIGERlab, Rock Valley College.

Help for building business overseas

By Yulia Sopina, Illinois SBDC ITC Export sales are booming for U.S. and Illinois companies. In Illinois, exports are up 31 percent, and on pace to top $60 billion for the year—Rockford area businesses can be part of this boom. On average, only 10 percent of sales for area businesses are through exports.

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) of the Rockford Area can be a cost-effective and valuable resource for many Rockford area manufacturers to develop business overseas. The ITC focuses on delivering complementary services, allowing you to leverage your resources in a timely manner as you develop business contacts overseas.

The next Export seminar is Oct. 3 at the Radisson Hotel. The topic is logistics, and

features speakers from the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Service Export Assistance Center and global logistics and forwarding company Savino Del Bene S.p.A. Logistics is the management of the movement of goods and materials from origin to destination. This seminar will ensure that the student understands all of the major aspects of international logistics, including establishing the terms and conditions of the sales contract, determination of the total cost of acquiring the goods, and the physical movement of the goods via the selected modes of transportation.

For more information please contact Yulia Sopina, national business development assistant of the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center of the Rockford Area, at ysopina@ rockfordil.com.

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Greater wage parity, opportunity for women holding STEM jobs Woman significantly underrepresented in STEM The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economics and Statistics Administration issued in August the second in a series of reports on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs and higher education. The report, “Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation,” found fewer women than men in STEM jobs and degrees, despite greater income parity between the genders than the employment market as a whole.

While women make up 48 percent of the U.S. workforce, only 24 percent hold STEM jobs. Over the past decade, this underrepresentation has remained fairly constant, even as women’s share of the college-educated workforce has increased. Women with STEM jobs, however, earned 33 percent more than women in non-STEM jobs in 2009, exceeding the 25 percent earnings premium for men in STEM. The 50 STEM jobs included in the report included professional and technical support occupations in computer science and mathematics, engineering, and life and physical sciences.

Women who got STEM degrees were more likely to enter jobs in fields like education or healthcare, the report found.

And while more women choose to major in math than men – nearly 10 percent versus 5.7 percent – most men with STEM majors select engineering degrees.

Engineers are the most male-dominated STEM occupational group, but also the one with the smallest gender wage gap.

Dr. Linda Rosen, CEO of Change the Equation, a non-profit, non-partisan, CEO-led initiative focused on solving America’s innovation problem said research was needed to understand how to engage girls in STEM learning. “Girls prefer creative, collaborative learning on open-ended projects that help improve the human condition. An important part of Change the Equation’s mission is to help give more girls nationwide opportunities to engage in this type of learning.”

Other possible factors include a lack of female role models, gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly flexibility in the STEM fields.

STEM STATS ■ In 2010, there were 7.6 million STEM workers in the United States, representing about 1 in 18 workers.

■ STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17.0 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations.

■ STEM workers command higher wages, earning 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts.

■ More than two-thirds of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to less than one-third of non-STEM workers.

■ STEM degree holders enjoy higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations.

■ Workers in STEM occupations on average experience lower unemployment rates than workers in other fields. The unemployment rate for STEM workers rose from 1.8 percent in 2007 to 5.5 percent in 2009 before easing to 5.3 percent in 2010. The unemployment rate for nonSTEM workers rose from 4.8 percent in 2007 to 9.5 percent in 2009 and then continued to increase to almost 10 percent in 2010.

For more information, visit www.changetheequation.org.

Coaching is hot ... Is it right for you?

In a recent FORTUNE magazine article on coaching, Ryan Harris, 33, said he has learned to focus on results and approach more experienced executives with confidence. He has become a more effective leader who holds people accountable. So much so that he’s sold his boss, the CEO, on offering company-paid coaching to other senior team members.

Once seen as a last-chance effort to turn around flagging careers, coaches now are for the mainstream.

They work with newly-hired managers and executives as well as newly-promoted department heads who suddenly must manage people.

A July, 2011, American Management Association survey shows that almost half of participating companies use coaching to prepare individuals for a promotion or new role. Coaching’s three most common uses according to the AMA survey: leadership development, remedial performance

improvement, and optimizing strong contributors. “A coach is like a personal trainer for business,” said Erika Andersen, author of Being Strategic.

Coaches meet with clients one-on-one and typically are available for emergency consults. Hiring a coach “is an investment in people who are seen as very solid performers.”

Coaching Resources for Local Manufacturers Does coaching work? For all the popularity, companies need to find a way to measure its effectiveness. The biggest mistake is expecting immediate results. Another error: Not taking the coaching seriously or skipping coaching appointments.

The coaching sessions should be considered a priority.

In Harris’ case he’s restructured his department and set performance standards and timetables. “(coaching)

has helped my career by leaps and bounds,” he said.

“I’m certainly more effective.”

The Business and Professional Institute of Rock Valley College is working with various local Bernie Luecke manufacturing businesses to Rock Valley College, provide coaching resources BPI with industry expertise to ensure the best possible outcome for the company and the employee being coached. To learn more about how your company can benefit from professional coaching call Bernie at 815-921-2067.

Bernie Luecke is director of business development at the Business and Professional Institute (BPI) at Rock Valley College.

Manufacturing News is sponsored by Rock Valley College, BPI

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Rockford needs to be cleaner, greener The research is clear—being clean and green is important to the economic vitality of a region, and to your business.

Leading communities pay attention to, and make sure they have appealing streets, pristine landscaping, welcoming gateways and great public areas.

Businesses do the same. These areas not only improve the quality of place for local residents and employees, they also make a community more attractive to new businesses, residents and visitors.

Great Beginnings Rockford has many great natural assets including abundant parks and preserves, wide-open farmlands surrounding our urban core and four beautiful rivers.

In recent years, the City of Rockford has made great strides by intentionally adding green infrastructure – landscaping beds, rain gardens, green space – when making public infrastructure improvements. The city recently completed a two-year improvement project along Main Street, which now boasts nicely paved sidewalks, planting beds, decorative lights and unique signage. A few years ago Harrison Avenue was rebuilt with pedestrian pathways, a landscaped median and attractive lighting. The Miracle Mile along State Street recently added sidewalks and green space.

Challenged to Maintain The challenge, however, is in maintaining all of this green infrastructure. Grass has to be mowed; beds, planters and pots need seasonal plantings and regular water and weeding; trees need to be cut back and bushes need pruning.

Our public works employees are doing a yeomen’s job trying to maintain these spaces, despite significant cutbacks. And, to be clear, this is not just a City of Rockford challenge. The State of Illinois, all of our regional communities, Winnebago County and other public entities (i.e., airport, RVC) have land and spaces that need to be maintained and fewer resources to do so.

How our community looks is a direct reflection on how much we value ourselves. Think about it as a homeowner; if you value your investment you work to ensure your yard looks good – your grass gets cut, and the flowers are tended to.

City of Gardens Shows It’s Possible The City of Gardens, a program of the Rockford Park District Foundation,

9

John Groh RACVB

brought together public and private organizations and volunteers in a citywide beautification program.

Thanks to its efforts Rockford won the prestigious America in Bloom competition in 2005 and 2007.

This accomplishment was a huge boost to our city’s pride, but we need to make sure it continues.

“Beautification efforts are important year-round. Not only is it a matter of first impression, it shows pride of ownership and serves as a welcome for our guests,” said Ruth Miller from the City of Gardens.

What Others Have Done Other communities have found unique and reasonable approaches to ensure they are clean and green. Here are two examples we could learn from.

The City of Chicago’s Gateway Green program is a non-profit organization that utilizes public/private partnerships and volunteers. With private organizations and businesses sponsoring projects and providing volunteers, the organization is able to maintain landscaping along roadways, including planting, weeding and cleanup; installing art along the expressways; and encouraging tree planting in vacant lots.

Nashville, Tenn. utilizes a public program called the Metro Beautification and Environment Commission. The commission, appointed by the mayor, coordinates the efforts of volunteers, city departments, business and community groups and government agencies to provide environmental programs and beautification projects, as well as training and educational opportunities. The program is funded by the Public Works budget, state grants and in-kind goods and services.

We Need a New Approach The green infrastructure improvements already made here in our region are important. Now we have to come up with a comprehensive approach to maintain what we have. Wellmaintained public areas will bring investments into our community at a time when we need them most.

Neglecting them now would send us backward, and we can’t afford that.

John Groh is president/CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. He is interested in well-maintained and visually appealing public spaces, including medians, boulevards and rights-ofway and is attracted to flower boxes and the higher property values they encourage. If you are, too, contact him at jgroh@gorockford.com.

October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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Members Caught on Digital ON DIGITAL

Ameriprise Financial, 6735 Vistagreen Way, Ste. 110, in Rockford held a ribbon cutting on Sept. 15, including a live remote with Aaron Wilson, WROK 1440 AM, and a food drive for Rock River Valley Food Pantry.

Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center held a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 18 for a health center addition and the new Sjostrom Center. The health center will have dining and activities space, a new senior-friendly fitness and wellness center, and recreational courtyard.

The Sjostrom Center will be a multi-purpose facility with two breakout activity rooms including seating for groups of 20 to 40 each, and chapel seating up to 125.

MashUp Restaurant, 1641 N. Alpine Road, Ste. 212, in Rockford held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The restaurant features a menu of comfort food with a cool, new twist.

Crusader Community Health celebrated the opening on Aug. 25 of its fourth location, Crusader Community Health Loves Park, at 6115 N. Second St. Left to right: State Senator Christine Johnson; Diana Johnson, executive director, Parks Chamber; Daryl Lindberg, mayor, City of Loves Park; Gordon Eggers Jr., president & CEO, Crusaders Community Health; Becky Cook Kendall, president, Crusader Community Health Foundation Board of Directors; Linda Niemiec, vice president development, Crusader Community Health Foundation; Peter Roche, chair, Crusader Community Health Board.

rockfordchamber.com theVoice October 2011

ON DIGITAL Members Caught on Digital

The City of Rockford led a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 30 for the $40 million Morgan Street Bridge Replacement and Corridor Reconstruction project. The construction project includes a $29 million bridge, a new street from South Main to Kishwaukee, a roundabout at Seminary Street and College Avenue, and recreation paths and parkland on both sides of the river.

The new tied arch structure, unique in today’s era, will be configured so that the arch is above the roadway surface, very visible to motorists and pedestrians.

Rockford wins grant to strengthen aerospace industry Rockford is one of 20 U.S. cities, out of 125 applications submitted nationwide, to win a $2.4 million grant to accelerate job creation and innovation for regional smalland medium-sized aerospace companies.

The federal Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge grant was awarded to a collaborative made up of Northern Illinois University, Rock Valley College, the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and EIGERlab. The Workforce Investment Board, the Rockford Region Economic Development District and the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning also are partners.

The project will enable the rapid acceleration of the Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN). The organization is developing Rockford’s regional workforce capacity and collaboration infrastructure to more quickly respond to the dramatic aerospace growth anticipated in the next two decades.

The grant is funded by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, Department of Labor’s Employment Training Administration and the Small Business Administration.

Northern Illinois University’s Office of Sponsored Projects and Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives will administer the grant. Mansour Tahernezhadi, Ph.D., associate dean for research and graduate programs, NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET), is principal investigator (PI).

RAAN’s Plans for the Future ■ Expand the market for the Rockford area aerospace cluster from regional to national and international.

■ Enhance technical knowledge to accelerate the advancement of small- and medium-sized businesses through technology transfer and meeting the growing needs of the global aerospace industry.

■ Promote access to a qualified workforce, including new starts, and nurture disadvantaged populations through STEM education, training and internships.

New Programs, Initiatives Underway ■ New research and technology projects facilitated through RAAN. ■ Creation of a new program to facilitate a seamless, cost-effective transition of high-potential students from Rock Valley College to Northern Illinois University’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

■ Engineers in Residence program to place NIU engineering faculty and graduate students in Rockford area companies to assist in innovative practices.

■ Create a new system to effectively link regional aerospace suppliers to customers.

■ Mentoring and educational support to broaden inclusion of underserved populations in high-growth clusters.

‘Industry Worthy of Investment’ “This project will provide new pathways to success for students and aspiring entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Jack Becherer, president of Rock Valley College. “As important, it will provide opportunity for achieving collaboration among our community college, NIU and the aerospace and manufacturing sectors.” For more information about the Challenge, visit www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/jobsand innovationchallenge.

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rockfordchamber.com theVoice October 2011

FOCUS ON LAW FIRMS TO SERVE YOU 13

Guest Perspective PERSPECTIVE

E-Verify: Should we or shouldn’t we?

Climate of increased enforcement In the past two years, enforcement actions by the federal government with regard to immigration in the workplace have significantly increased. Many employers have been affected. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through its Immigration Customs & Enforcement (ICE) branch, has been conducting extensive audits of employers’ workforce and Form I-9 records.

Employers are required to complete Form I-9 for every employee at the time of hire as a means of verifying the employee’s lawful authorization to work in the United States. All employers are subject to unannounced government audits of their I-9 forms and payroll records. ICE conducted 2,196 audits in FY2010, and 2,338 audits so far this year — issuing 1,000 audit notices to employers in February and another 1,000 in June, 2011. ICE has indicated that its goal is to increase the number of annual I-9 audits to 10,000 beginning as early as next year. Penalties for noncompliance can range from $110 to $16,000 per violation. Average I-9 penalties for large entities last year exceeded $100,000.

Good faith compliance practices are a mitigating factor in the penalty stage.

Methods of Verifying Employee-Provided Information Currently, most employers are not required to independently verify the social security number and work authorization information provided by workers on their I9 forms. However, some employers nonetheless like to be able to verify the information. Two methods currently exist: E-Verify and the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS).

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that enables employers to verify the employment eligibility of their employees, regardless of citizenship.

Process” (means the SSA is still checking, and the final answer will be available shortly — usually within a few days).

Who is Required to Use E-Verify?

Since September 2009, employers have been required to enroll in E-Verify if and when they are awarded a federal contract or subcontract that requires participation in E-Verify as a term of the contract. All federal contracts awarded and solicitations issued on or after September 2009 are supposed to include a clause committing government contractors to use E-Verify.

What are the Obligations of E-Verify Participants?

To use E-Verify, an employer must register online. Following registration, a tutorial is required for all system users. The employer also must enter into a written Memorandum of Understanding with the DHS and the SSA, allowing those agencies periodic site visits for the purposes of reviewing E-Verify records. All new employees must be filtered through EVerify upon hire.

Any Benefit to Enrolling if I Don’t Have to?

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that enables employers to verify the employment eligibility of their employees, regardless of citizenship. Based on the information provided by the employee on his or her Form I-9, E-Verify checks this information electronically against records contained in DHS and Social Security Administration (SSA) databases.

E-Verify does have benefits. Employers using E-Verify are presumed not to have violated the employer sanction rules of the Immigration & Nationality Act if they obtain confirmation of the identity and employment eligibility of new hires in compliance with the terms and conditions of the E-Verify program. The program also allows employers to immediately crosscheck I-9 information gathered, and this alone may be of marketing value to employers whose customers rely on – or require -- them to provide on-site workers possessing legal work authorization.

How Does E-Verify work?

What are the Flaws of E-Verify?

Employers input data from their I-9 forms into the E-Verify system and nearly instantly receive one of three messages for each individual: “Employment Authorized” (self-explanatory); “SSA Tentative Non-Confirmation” (means the employee is likely not authorized to work, so additional actions are required by employer); or “DHS Verification in

If an E-Verify employer continues to employ a worker after receiving final nonconfirmation, there is a legal presumption that the employer knowingly employed an individual lacking authorization to work.

No employer, even one who uses E-Verify, has “safe harbor” from workplace enforcement. In addition, some documents presented during the I-9 process are valid

What is E-Verify?

but belong to someone other than the presenter and the E-Verify system cannot distinguish or identify these discrepancies.

Further, E-Verify can only be used for new hires (except by government contractors), not to check existing employees.

How Can I Check My Existing Workforce?

Employers may use the SSNVS to verify social security numbers of the entire workforce (both new and existing employees). But, be careful. If you decide to check any social security numbers, you must check all of them. To do otherwise may expose you to liability for potential discrimination charges.

The federal government for the future is encouraging all employers to use EVerify, and it appears that the program eventually will be mandatory for all employers. It even has developed a related voluntary certification program called “IMAGE,” which has more stringent employer obligations and which the government is targeting for promotion in certain industries as “industry standard.”

Penelope M Lechtenberg, J.D. Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

IMAGEcertified employers maintain special written hiring policies, internal training/compliance programs, use both E-Verify and SSNVS, promote EVerify with subcontractors, report violations to ICE, maintain internal tip lines, and are subject to a number of other requirements. For now, the E-Verify program remains voluntary for most employers in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Employers are presented with a business decision as to whether the pros of participation in E-Verify outweigh the cons of the additional government regulation involved. Additional information on EVerify can be viewed at www.uscis.gov or www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Penny Lechtenberg is a member of the Rockford Chamber board and a partner in the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, concentrating on labor & employment (management defense) and immigration. Call 815-490-4916 or email plechtenberg@hinshawlaw.com.

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

14 FOCUS ON LAW FIRMS TO SERVE YOU

October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Using “self-help” to save on litigation expenses Jeffrey Powell

Litigation can be expensive – and not just in terms of money. Litigation also is costly in terms of time and mental energy. Imagine the frustration that comes with having received a judgment against a debtor only to find the debtor lacks sufficient income or assets to satisfy the judgment.

If you are a creditor and collectability may be problematic, there is some hope.

Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which governs secured transactions, provides several options to secured creditors seeking to avoid the time and expense associated with litigation. Recently, we have assisted several clients use the “self-help” remedies provided by the UCC to repossess and/or dispose of their collateral without having to file a lawsuit.

In these cases, the debtors were clearly unable to keep their loans current.

Additionally, the creditors understood that filing a lawsuit would ultimately be a case of throwing good money after bad. Each of these creditors held a security agreement which provided for a security interest in some or all of the debtor’s assets. Seizing and reselling these assets was likely the only chance the creditors had to recover a portion of what was owed.

The problem in each case, however, was that over time junior lienholders also had acquired security interests in the collateral.

Typically, these junior liens only can be extinguished through litigation or a voluntary release executed by the lienholder.

However, through the self-help remedies found in Article 9 of the UCC, these secured creditors were able to seize their collateral, dispose of it, and extinguish any junior liens.

Following is a brief overview of how these self-help remedies work.

Option 1 – Peaceful Repossession After the debtor has defaulted, and assuming all the documents are in order, a secured creditor has a right to repossess its collateral. The method of repossession differs depending on the type of collateral.

For example, one might obtain possession of an investment account by issuing a letter of instruction to the brokerage firm.

Alternatively, one might use the “repo man” to take a car owned by the debtor. The important thing to know is that the method of repossession must be peaceful. The UCC does not define breach of the peace, it’s generally determined on a case-by-case basis.

Once the secured creditor has taken possession of the collateral, it may (1) dispose of the collateral or (2) accept the collateral as partial or full satisfaction of the debt.

(Although the second option, called a “strict foreclosure,” also can be performed without first obtaining possession of the collateral.)

Under either option, the UCC has some very stringent rules regarding the methods used by the secured creditor. Simply put, notice

Reno & Zahm LLP must be given to everyone, and the process must be undertaken in a “commercially reasonable manner.”

A secured creditor may dispose of the collateral by sale, lease or license. However, before disposing of the collateral, notice usually must be given to all interested parties, including any guarantors. This allows the interested parties, including the junior lienholders, an opportunity to protect their interests in the collateral.

The collateral can then be sold at a public or a private sale. A public sale generally is one in which the public has an opportunity to competitively bid—typically, an auction format. In the instances in which our clients have chosen this option, we have used a private, third-party auctioneer.

For a public sale, the UCC indicates that 10 or more days notice is sufficient. For a private sale, the UCC merely states that the notice must be “reasonable.” A longer notice period may be required if a federal tax lien is involved. If all goes well, the buyer walks away with the collateral free and clear of all liens and the secured creditor walks away with the proceeds. The debtor’s indebtedness is reduced by the sale price less certain costs and expenses, and depending on the circumstances, the debtor may remain liable for the deficiency.

Option 2 - Strict Foreclosure The second option is strict foreclosure.

The secured creditor accepts the collateral in satisfaction of all or a portion of the indebtedness. It is a relatively straightforward process and takes less than a month.

The secured party must send a written proposal to the debtor and give notice to any other person with an interest in the collateral.

If the debtor accepts or fails to object to the proposal and the other interested parties do not object within 20 days, then the secured party takes ownership of the collateral under the terms of the proposal. When this occurs, all subordinate interests in the collateral are terminated and the secured creditor owns the property outright.

If you are a secured creditor, the UCC may provide you with certain tools you can use without resorting to costly litigation.

Consult your legal advisor before you seek to implement any of your self-help remedies or if you have any questions regarding these matters. Please be advised that this is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice.

Jeffrey Powell is a senior associate at Reno & Zahm LLP, where he focuses on civil litigation, business law and employment law. He graduated magna cum laude from NIU College of Law, where he was a member of the Board of Editors for the Law Review.

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

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FOCUS ON LAW FIRMS TO SERVE YOU 15

Advice for on-campus students in protecting identity College students often feel they have enough to juggle when it comes to school, work and their social life – and protecting identities and credit ratings often doesn’t make the list of priorities.

Because college students on campus are so susceptible to identity theft, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends that they take several protective steps.

According to the 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report released by Javelin Strategy and Research, more than 8.1 million people became victims of identity theft in 2010. For young adults, “friendly fraud” is on the rise — perpetrated by people known to the victim, such as a relative or roommate. “Friendly fraud” grew by seven percent last year.

“Identity thieves don’t care if you’re a struggling student and don’t have a penny to your name. Sometimes all they want is to exploit your clean credit record,” said Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois. “Young adults who establish good habits for protecting their identities, as well as monitoring for fraud, are laying a foundation for a healthy financial road during the rest of their lives.”

Steps to Protect Yourself The BBB recommends the following

tips for students to take to help fight identity theft on campus.

Never loan your credit or debit card to anyone — even a friend. And just say no if a friend wants you to cosign a loan or finance agreement for items like TVs or computers.

Don’t share too much on social networks. People using social networking for five or more years are twice as likely to suffer identity fraud as those newer to these sites. Javelin research found that 36 percent of people aged 65+ do not use the privacy settings on their network, potentially exposing crucial information to fraudsters. The good news is 89 percent of 25 to 34 year olds were actively using the privacy settings on social network sites.

Make sure your computer has up-todate antivirus and spyware software. Be diligent with installing updates and patches to your computer’s operating system or browser software, which help keep your computer safe from hacking attempts by online identity thieves.

Important documents should be stored under lock and key. These include social security card, passport, and bank and credit card statements. Shred any paper documents that have sensitive financial information rather than simply tossing them out. Also shred any credit card offers that come in the mail.

Always check your credit or debit card statements closely for any suspicious activity. The sooner you identify any potential fraud, the less you’ll suffer in the long run.

School mailboxes are not always secure, and mailboxes in a dorm or apartment can often be easily accessed. To combat sticky fingers in the mailroom, have sensitive mail sent to a permanent address, such as the parents’ home or a PO Box. When shopping on unfamiliar Web

sites, always check the company out first with BBB at www.bbb.org. Also look for the BBB Accredited Business seal along with other trust seals and click on the seals to confirm that they are legitimate.

Check your credit report at least once a year with all three reporting bureaus for any suspicious activity or inaccuracies.

You can do this for free by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.

For more advice on fighting fraud and managing personal finances visit www.bbb.org.

October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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Guest Perspective PERSPECTIVE

How to hire a lawyer The daunting process can be accomplished with a little legwork The process of hiring a lawyer can be daunting. Skills, experience, outcomes and fees all can vary wildly. Everybody wants to hire the best attorney for the job, but where do you start?

Where access to information is limited, people often make bad choices, particularly where they lack the time and energy to become better informed. For example, when choosing a family doctor, people often chose the closest doctor to their house who also is in their plan’s network. People have chosen their lawyer for even flimsier reasons than that.

But what if access to information were not limited? What if you didn’t have to spend your time chasing after hard-to-find information because someone else did the legwork for you? What’s more, what if it were free?

In the following paragraphs, we’ll walk you through what you need to know to hire a lawyer, provide you with questions you’ll need to ask a lawyer before you hire him or her, and show you how you can lop hours off the process and make a better decision than you would have, had you spent the hours tracking down information.

What You Need to Know about Lawyers What do lawyers do? Lawyers protect their clients’ legal interests by negotiating for them, preparing documents, providing advice, and representing them in legal proceedings. Their knowledge, training and experience keep their clients out of legal trouble and minimize the difficulties once their clients are in legal trouble.

How do lawyers charge a client?

How a lawyer charges a client depends upon the type of work involved. There are generally three types of fee arrangements: set fee, hourly rate and contingency fee.

Set fees are used where the amount of work involved is generally known in advance, such as preparing a will, closing a loan, or defending certain types of criminal cases. In those cases, the lawyer will quote a single fee that the client must pay for the work involved.

Hourly rates are the most common method for lawyers to charge their clients.

Under this approach, the lawyer charges the client the number of hours involved, multiplied by the lawyer’s hourly rate. All lawyers have an hourly rate, and it can vary widely, with the most experienced and accomplished lawyers generally charging the highest rates.

Scott C. Anderson Leading Lawyers Network

should ask the lawyer before meeting with him or her whether the consultation is free. Meeting with a lawyer does not obligate you to hiring the lawyer. In any event, the lawyer works for you, and you are free at any time to dismiss him or her if that is your wish.

What kind of documentation and information do I need to prepare for meeting with a lawyer for the first time? You should bring whatever documents you have regarding the matter you want to hire the lawyer for. If you are not sure whether a document is relevant, bring it. If you have a general understanding of the law involved, you

It’s important to know how long a lawyer has practiced and whether he or she has handled similar cases. Lawyers, like doctors, tend to concentrate in certain specialties.

Contingency fees are used most often where a lawyer represents a client who is the plaintiff (the party filing the suit) in a civil suit. Under the typical contingency fee arrangement, the lawyer collects nothing unless he or she wins the case, at which point he or she collects an agreed-upon percentage of the amount recovered.

What is a retainer and what is a reasonable amount? A retainer is an amount the client pays up front for the work the lawyer will do. Retainers are common in cases where the lawyer will have to incur out-of-pocket expenses in preparing the case for trial, such as criminal cases.

If I meet with a lawyer, do I have to pay them and keep them as my lawyer?

Whether you have to pay them when you meet with them depends upon the lawyer.

Most lawyers provide a free one-time consultation meeting, but not all do. You

can ask better questions and greatly increase the value of your meeting with the lawyer. One way to gain a general understanding of the law is to visit a local library and research the area. A better way is to read the information available in the Leading Lawyers Network archive.

How can I verify a lawyer’s claims regarding experience and reputation?

There really isn’t any good way to verify the claims. The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission has a Web site, www.IARDC.org, where you can verify that an attorney is properly licensed and whether or not he or she has been publicly reprimanded.

Other than that, the only ones who can really verify a lawyer’s reputation are judges and other lawyers. You could interview previous clients, judges the lawyer has appeared before, and other lawyers, but the time involved just in discovering who they are would make

the exercise futile. That is why at Leading Lawyers we say we help you find a better lawyer, faster. We have done the work for you by identifying those lawyers with the finest experience and reputation.

What can I do if I am unhappy with my lawyer? Your lawyer works for you.

You can fire the lawyer if you are unhappy with his or her performance, just as you could fire anyone who works for you.

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer What is your overall experience and your experience with cases like mine?

It’s important to know how long a lawyer has practiced and whether he or she has handled similar cases. Lawyers, like doctors, tend to concentrate in certain specialties. You want to satisfy yourself that your lawyer is familiar with this area of the law and has had significant experience handling similar cases. You would no more want to hire a lawyer who doesn’t handle similar cases than you would want your podiatrist to clear your blocked artery.

What are the potential results of my case? It’s important to set your expectations appropriately as early in the process as possible. If there is a chance you could lose your case, you should be aware of that possibility. You want as few surprises as possible. Be wary of any lawyer who guarantees victory or who talks only of the successful outcomes.

Do I have any other means to resolve this matter? Understanding all your options is important. The best lawyers will recommend other options where those options are best for you, including those that don’t involve hiring a lawyer. For example, if a simple do-ityourself remedy exists, such as for More on page 17

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FOCUS ON LAW FIRMS TO SERVE YOU 17

PROFILE

Member Company Profile

Owners Betty and Dick Giesen (front) and her son Mike DuPre, (behind the bar) have kept Der Rathskeller in its original location on Auburn Street.

Hungry for bratwurst, beer, Lyonnaise potatoes?

Der Rathskeller celebrates 80 years in the restaurant business

By Paul Anthony Arco Nora Jeter loves dining at Der Rathskeller any chance she gets.

“The atmosphere is fun,” said the Rockford resident. “I love the food and the polka music playing in the basement. It feels like I’m in Germany, perhaps during the 1950s. And the beer garden brings you the same amazing food, just with a more modern, trendy feel.”

That seems to be the consensus about Der Rathskeller, Rockford’s oldest restaurant still in its original location. But there have been plenty of challenges along the way: economic woes, a fire that shut down the restaurant for nine months, not to mention a road construction project outside the front door that slowed business for another six months. Despite the obstacles, the customers never stopped coming in.

“Our customers have always been supportive of us,” said owner Mike DuPre. “After the fire, we were overwhelmed by how busy we were. And during road construction, customers still found their way in here. We have very loyal customers.”

German Old World Charm Der Rathskeller, which means town hall cellar, is known for its traditional German fare — homemade sausages, secret-recipe Lyonnaise potatoes and homemade desserts.

Der Rathskeller opened in 1931 by Fred Goetz, and was operated by his children, before Betty Giesen, a retired teacher and principal, bought the restaurant in 1976. She runs the restaurant today with her husband, Dick, and her son, DuPre, who practically grew up in the business.

The German restaurant is warm and comfortable, but has more than enough room for 240 customers. A small bar and deli case with homemade sausage and other food items greet customers who walk through the front door. Background German music sets the mood, and an accordion player provides live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The main dining area is located in the basement, which is known for its old-world

German charm. The cellar dining room is dark and still has its original oak tables from 1931. They were restored after fire gutted the restaurant in 2000. Der Rathskeller experienced a resurgence in 2009 with the opening of an outdoor Biergarten (beer garden) that seats 100. “Our business is still growing because of the garden,” DuPre said.

“Some people, who didn’t know we’re here, drive by and notice the outdoor seating.”

Der Rathskeller’s menu is typical of German cuisine. Half of Der Rathskeller’s sausages are produced by Usinger’s of Milwaukee, one of the most well-known sausage houses in the country, and Der Rathskeller even manufactures its own bratwurst. Draught and bottle beers, such as Warsteiner and Bitburger, are just two of the many brews served.

Another popular item is the Lyonnaise potatoes, onion fried potatoes prepared in iron skillets, a secret recipe that’s been with the restaurant since the beginning.

Der Rathskeller, which is also open for breakfast on weekends, and lunch and dinner on Sundays during the summer, offers American food as well, including New York strip and an assortment of fish and chicken entrees. Hungry for dessert? There’s German chocolate cake, and Rathskeller’s famous homemade cheesecake.

Mary White Lamphere of DeKalb gets to Der Rathskeller at least six times a year with family, usually for lunch or for dinner before an IceHogs hockey game. “We enjoy it,” she said. “We love that kind of food. My husband loves the Reuben and brats, and my daughter and I split the cheese and sausage platters. We actually prefer to be seated downstairs. I think the dark basement is part of the unique Rathskeller dining experience.”

DER RATHSKELLER Betty and Dick Giesen, Mike DuPre, owners 1132 Auburn St. Rockford, IL, 61103 815-963-2922 www.derrathskeller.net

How to hire a lawyer cont from page 16 collecting an overdue debt or back child support, a good lawyer will recommend that option to you. The worst lawyers care only for generating fees and generally will present their services as the only option.

How long does this type of matter take to resolve? This is another important question that helps you set your expectations. Legal matters frequently take far longer than the average layperson realizes. If this matter will take longer than you think it will, you want to know it ahead of time.

What are your rates and billing procedures? Understanding what and how you are to be charged obviously is important. Billing procedures and rates are a common point of disagreement between lawyers and clients. The more you know ahead of time, the better off you’ll be. Again, this is another one of those questions designed to eliminate disagreements later on. You’ll want to know, for example, whether your lawyer will bill you monthly or only after all services are rendered.

What do you estimate the total bill, with fees and expenses, will be? In many cases, a lawyer cannot give you an exact estimate because the fees depend upon the time involved, which cannot be determined exactly until the services are performed. Every lawyer, however,

should be able at least to give you a ballpark estimate. If your fee arrangement is be hourly, you also should ask your lawyer to notify you when he or she realizes that the estimate is likely to be exceeded.

Could I have less experienced staff handle some of my case to lower my costs? The best lawyers don’t need to be asked this question because they should be trying to keep costs down wherever possible. You should still ask this question, however, at least to let your lawyer know that you’re aware that he or she can reduce costs by using lower-cost staff.

Are all our conversations completely confidential? Lawyers are duty-bound to keep conversations with their clients confidential. This can still be an important question, however, because there are issues around when the attorney-client relationship begins. You should discuss with the lawyer if there are any situations when the confidentiality doesn’t apply. For example, if you meet with a lawyer, but don’t retain his or her services, were the conversations confidential?

Scott C. Anderson is publisher of Leading Lawyers magazine and a director at Law Bulletin Publishing Co., Chicago. He has been involved in legal marketing for more than 18 years. Email Anderson@LeadingLawyers.com.

The views express are those of Anderson’s and do not necessarily reflect those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

18

Regional, National Indicators THE ECONOMY Other Indicators, National

Midwest Manufacturing Output Increased The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 0.5% in July, to a seasonally adjusted level of 84.8 (2007 = 100). The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing increased 0.6% in July.

Regional output in July rose 6.2 percent from a year earlier, and national output increased 4.2 percent. Updated August 29, 2011 Monthly Index May 11

% Change

Jun 11

Jul 11

Chicago Mfg. Index

84.1

84.4

84.8

CFMMI-Auto

76.5

76.0

77.2

CFMMI-Steel

81.5

82.1

83.3

CFMMI-Machinery

82.7

84.0

83.7

CFMMI-Resource

90.8

90.9

91.0

National Index

90.9

91.1

91.6

Jul 10 - Jul 11

6.2 3.0 17.2 12.0 1.3 4.2

Unemployment Rates—Region, State, Nation July 2011 June 2011 July 10

Change/Mo.

Rockford

12.1

11.6

15.4

Chicago

10.5

10.4

10.5

Illinois

10.0

9.7

10.5

0.5 0.1 0.3

United States

9.3

9.3

9.7

0.0

Change/Yr.

3.3

0.0

0.5 0.4

Source: U.S. Department of Employment Security, Aug. 25, 2011

Sept. 17, 2011

U.S. 312,234,551 World 6,962,658,302

U.S. Indicators

Advance Monthly Sales for Retail & Food Services Unchanged, August 2011 from prior month

August, 2011

Manufacturing, Mining, Wholesale Trade & Selected Service Industries 7¢ second quarter, 2011 from first quarter, 2011

Consumer Price Index 0.4 percent Unemployment Rate 9.1 percent Payroll Employment 117,000 Average Hourly Earnings $0.03

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Population Clocks

Manufacturing & Trade Inventories & Sales 0.7% in sales, July 2011 from prior month

Producer Price Index 0.2 percent

Monthly Wholesale Trade: Sales & Inventories 0.8% in inventory, July 2011 Quarterly Services Survey 2.0% second quarter, 2011 from first quarter, 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods & Services $44.8 billion July 2011 from prior month

Employment Cost Index 0.7 percent (second quarter, 2011) Construction Spending 1.3% July 2011 from prior month Productivity 0.7 percent (second quarter, 2011) Manufacturers’ Shipments, U.S. Import Price Index 0.4 percent

Inventories & Orders 2.4% July 2011 from prior month

U.S. Export Price Index 0.5 percent

Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories & Orders 4.0% July 2011 from prior month

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

New Home Sales 0.7% July 2011 from prior month Housing Vacancies & Homeownership

State, Local Governments Employ Fewer Full Time The 90,740 state and local governments across the country had 16.6 million full-time equivalent employees in 2010 — 203,321 fewer than 2009, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The majority of these employees, 9.0 million, worked in education, followed by hospitals (986,471), police protection (946,196) and corrections (731,692).

Local governments which include counties, cities, townships, special districts and school districts accounted for 12.2 million full-time equivalent employees in 2010, while state governments employed 4.4 million. Both figures showed decreases from 2009.

Homeownership Rate 65.9% second quarter, 2011 from second quarter, 2010 Rental Vacancy Rate 9.2% second quarter, 2011 from second quarter, 2010 Homeowner Vacancy Rate Unchanged, second quarter, 2011 from second quarter, 2010 Quarterly Financial Report—Retail Trade 9¢ first quarter 2011, from fourth quarter, 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

rockfordchamber.com theVoice October 2011

19

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

RFD has taken off in 2011 Growth in cargo, passengers, partnerships New destinations, a passenger airline, cargo facilities and an upgraded runway are just a few of the notable positive changes and accomplishments that have occurred at the Chicago Rockford International Airport this year. And there are many projects still underway that will result in long-term growth and improvements to benefit RFD, its customers, staff, taxpayers and the local economy and quality of life.

Even in a difficult economy, the airport has been able to maintain a strong budget, allowing it to make new infrastructure improvements. RFD finished its 2011 fiscal year with a surplus of $670,000, and an approved 2012 budget that projects $1 million in reserves. New projects at RFD also have been supported through several federal grants. The airport recently was awarded more than $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide funding for the construction of the apron that will provide additional parking for aircraft to meet current and future operational demands. With assistance from Senator Durbin, RFD recently was awarded almost $7 million from a federal grant to be used to rehabilitate an existing runway.

RFD is in a great position to grow its cargo operations, and we are working on building strong business leads to secure a carrier. In September, Ken Ryan, RFD’s director of cargo, had the privilege of returning to China as part of the Illinois delegation with Governor Quinn. This gave us the opportunity to make face-to-face connections with decision makers from a targeted location and build awareness of the cost and convenience options at RFD. We will work diligently to grow and strengthen these relationships, with the goal of bringing their business to Rockford. With a thriving cargo operation, the airport will generate more jobs, economic growth and wealth in the community.

Cleared to Land Larger Airplanes The delivery of Boeing’s new 747-8 Freighter to customers in September has presented a great opportunity for cargo operations at RFD. We are one of the few airports in the country who are cleared by the FAA to land the larger 747-8s. In addition our current ramp can handle parking for two 747-8s and will be able to handle parking for 10 when the four-phase development process is complete. In January, 2012, an international cargo carrier will test 17 flights at Rockford to measure and weigh the costs and time savings RFD has in comparison to O’Hare.

We look forward to demonstrating RFD’s advantages to the airline and hopefully securing its regular business. We believe that once RFD secures one cargo carrier, others will follow.

Amy Ott Chicago Rockford International Airport

Continued Growth in Passenger Service

We also have seen new success and growth this year with our passenger services.

Starting in December, Frontier Airlines will start its nonstop service three times weekly between RFD and Denver. We also announced a second international seasonal destination to Punta Cana once a week starting in December, as well as an additional weekly flight to West Palm Beach, Fla. RFD’s service options have grown, along with passenger traffic. As of August, 2011, we reported a nearly 16 percent year-to-date increase in passenger traffic compared to the same time period in 2010. Since returning air service eight years ago, RFD has served more than 1.3 million passengers.

The strong partnerships with the airlines and travel agents have helped contribute to our growth. RFD recently hosted a community open house with Frontier Airlines, which gave the public and local travel agents a personal introduction to the airport’s newest airline.

On Oct. 1, we hosted our Destination Sunshine event with Camelot World Travel to showcase vacation options at sunny RFD destinations. We also have a great partnership with Apple Vacations, which helps bring in customers to fill the aircraft going to our popular vacation destinations, whether it is a regularly scheduled route or charter flight. Throughout 2011, the airport has reported a load factor, which measures level of occupied passenger capacity, of more than 90 percent.

Accommodating Airlines in Rough Weather RFD has seen its share of weather-related challenges this year. However, it never closed for even one day despite significant lightning strikes this summer and the considerable snow fall we experienced earlier this year. Our operational efficiencies are a great advantage we have over other airports in the area. RFD’s efficiencies have been noticed by the 27 airlines that now utilize RFD as their diversion airport.

When an aircraft needs to land, either due to a weather or mechanical issue, it’s necessary that they can quickly land, taxi and park at the airport without delay.

RFD’s independent airspace and ability to land any aircraft in the world, allows planes to land, taxi and park within five minutes, on average.

Amy Ott is interim executive director of the Chicago Rockford International Airport.

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

October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

20 FOCUS ON INSURANCE COMPANIES TO SERVE YOU

CENSUS COMPARES TODAY’S INCOME, HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE TO PRE-RECESSION FIGURES The U.S. Census Bureau announced that despite a decline in 2010 median household income and an increase in the poverty rate, the percentage without health insurance coverage was not statistically different from 2009. Real median household income in the United States in 2010 was $49,445, a 2.3 percent

decline from the 2009 median.

The nation’s official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 percent, up from 14.3 percent in 2009. This represents the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate. The percentage of people without health insurance coverage was not statistically different from 2009 at 16.3 percent.

RETURNING TO THE NEST From spring 2007, prior to the recession, to spring 2011, the percentage of doubled-up households with at least one “additional” adult (a person 18 or older not enrolled in school and not the householder, spouse or

cohabiting partner of the householder) increased from 17.0 to 18.3 percent. In spring 2011, 14.2 percent of young adults ages 25 to 34 lived in their parents’ household, compared with 11.8 percent before the recession.

HISTORICAL IMPACT OF RECESSIONS Since 2010 represents the first full calendar year after the recession that ended in June 2009, one can compare changes in income, poverty and health insurance coverage between 2009 and 2010 with changes during the first year after the end of other recessions: Median household income declined the first full year following the December 2007 to June 2009 recession, as well as in the first full year following three other recessions (March 2001 to November 2001, January 1980 to July 1980 and December 1969 to November 1970). However, household income increased the first full year following the November 1973 to March 1975 recession, and the changes

following the July 1990 to March 1991 and July 1981 to November 1982 recessions were not statistically significant.

The poverty rate and the number of people in poverty increased in the first calendar year following the end of the last three recessions. For the recessions that ended in 1961 and 1975, the poverty rate decreased in the next full calendar year.

After the most recent recession, there was no significant difference in the uninsured rate during the first full year after the recession. However, in the year following the recessions that ended in 1991 and 2001, the uninsured rate increased.

INSIGHT Guest Perspective

Health Care Reform’s impact on smallto mid-sized employers The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act has been in effect since March 23, 2010, and the major impact to employers and individuals to this point has been increased confusion and greater uncertainty about what’s to come.

The inability of insurance carriers to underwrite small groups will have a profound effect on health plan costs.

The biggest changes to the health insurance marketplace for small- to midsized employers will take place in 2014 should the legislation continue to be implemented as passed. Most critical to small- and mid-sized employers is the expansion of the definition of “small group” employers, and the new guidelines that will preclude them from being evaluated and rated on their own merit in the future.

‘Credits’ for Some Employers May Cease Currently, a small group is defined as an employer with two and 50 total employees.

In 2014, a small group will consist of an employer with 100 or less employees. This delineation is extremely important because under health care reform, insurance carriers in the fully insured marketplace will no longer be able to underwrite based on the sex of the member, the industry (SIC Code) of the employer, or the age of the member* The ability to underwrite based on those criteria have afforded more than half of all small employers in the group health insurance marketplace the opportunity to enjoy significant credits in the form of reduced heath insurance rates.

The inability of insurance carriers to underwrite small groups will have a profound effect on health plan costs. Female rating factors across all age segments are 25 percent higher on average than male rating factors. Industry rating factors for favorable and unfavorable business sectors can vary by 40 percent or more.

As an example, extended-care facilities historically have been rated by insurance *with more than a 3:1 rating differential

James Rozinsky Spectrum Insurance Agencies

carriers as an unfavorable industry with a predominantly female-employee population, and consequently are surcharged 20 percent or more than would be considered a standard rate. Thus, employer groups favorably rated in an industry that carries a 20 percent “credit” with a heavily maledominated population can reasonably anticipate their rates to go up by 40 percent or more. Conversely, groups heavily debited for industry and sex/age factors will possibly realize no increases, or even reductions.

By extending the small group definition to include employers with up to 100 employees, health care reform will exponentially increase the number of employers that will be impacted by the inability of carriers to underwrite by any criteria other than geographic area, tobacco versus non-tobacco usage or age.

A ‘Wait and See’ Approach Conservative estimates suggest that fully insured carriers will begin altering their pricing practices as early as the middle of 2012 to offset anticipated premium shortfalls and to dissuade groups that will cease to be profitable based on the legislation changes from sticking around until January, 2014.

For many employers and their advisors in the health insurance community, there has been a “wait and see” kind of approach taken in anticipation that much of the future progress of health care reform will hinge on the 2012 elections. Some insurance advisors have begun proposing self-insurance strategies to a growing segment of small employers seeking alternatives to maintain their independence and to elude the constraints of the new small group employer definition. Ultimately, reform legislation looks to drive small- to mid-size employer health care costs substantially higher than previous trends.

James Rozinsky is vice president of employee benefits for Spectrum Insurance Agencies.

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

rockfordchamber.com theVoice October 2011

FOCUS ON INSURANCE COMPANIES TO SERVE YOU 21

INSIGHT Guest Perspective

Voluntary benefits for income protection, worker retention Many American workers don’t plan for expenses not covered by health insurance, such as loss of income, child care costs and the expense of travel to treatment centers. In fact, unexpected illnesses and injuries cause 350,000 personal bankruptcies each year, according to the Council for Disability Awareness.

Voluntary benefits such as disability, life, accident, critical illness, cancer and supplemental health can help protect employees’ savings if they can’t work due to an illness or injury. Employees can choose the benefits best suited to their needs and fund them through payroll deduction. Additionally, with voluntary benefits, also called worksite voluntary benefits, you can add employee benefits and maintain your bottom line while helping your employees prepare financially for the unexpected.

Take a potential debilitating illness such as cancer as an example. An employee can purchase a cancer policy through his or her employer for just a few dollars a month. If that person is ever diagnosed with cancer, medical insurance will cover most of his or her doctor and hospital bills. But what about lost income? Living expenses?

Experimental procedures? Cancer insurance can help with those kinds of costs, which might otherwise result in personal financial ruin.

From the Employer Perspective Following are some of the ways that companies benefit: ■ Companies can expand their benefit options without increasing costs since voluntary benefits are 100 percent employee paid.

Jeff Schmidt Humana

■ Companies can provide a wide range of employee benefits, which helps keep employees productive and loyal.

■ Companies may be able to reduce their payroll taxes for each employee enrolled in a voluntary plan.

■ Companies can use voluntary benefits to build a multi-year plan design and cost-saving strategy.

From the Employee Perspective Voluntary benefits provide important protection to employees, including: ■ Benefits paid directly to employees.

■ Employees don’t have to rely solely upon their savings while recovering from an accident or illness.

■ Employers can save money on premiums by purchasing these policies through a group rather than on their own.

■ Employees can pay the premiums through payroll deduction, frequently on a pre-tax basis. Cost typically is a few dollars per month per plan.

■ Employees can be enrolled at their workplace.

According to Eastbridge Consulting Group, more than half of all employers now offer at least one voluntary benefit.

In addition, 65 percent of employees in businesses with at least 10 employees are covered by at least one voluntary product. And those numbers are climbing.

Jeff Schmidt is small business market practice leader for Humana Illinois.

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

October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

22

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Rockford College PERSPECTIVE

Gender relations in business Collaborative or autocratic style … or maybe something in between?

Unless we work in a very unusual situation, most of us deal with the opposite gender in colleagues, co-workers, bosses and customers every day. The existence of male and female is as old as the human race, but despite the passage of millennia, we still are adjusting to our differences and continuing to make attempts to constantly improve the communications, teamwork and leadership between men and women.

In thinking of genders, first we must differentiate the term “gender” from “sexes”. Gender is a term to describe attributes that go beyond basic biological and chromosomal differences. Gender refers to the set of characteristics, attributes and societal interpretations that define “male” and “female” behaviors. And while our physical differences have had an effect on the roles we have taken in society -- that women traditionally have raised the children because they are biologically disposed to that role, and that men traditionally have taken care to ensure the family is fed because they are not “bound” to protecting small people -- those roles are not as rigidly defined as they once were.

Through a variety of different historical, sociological and environmental forces, women found themselves entering the modern workforce in growing numbers starting in the early 1970s, and these numbers have grown to the point where women make up fully 48 percent of the workforce today. As such, gender relations have become an important issue to understand as never before.

Communication Styles “Women talk too much and men are not communicative.” “Women are nurturing and men are competitive.”

“Women are empathetic and men are logical.” All of us have heard, experienced and repeated these stereotypes until they have become part of urban legend. The jokes are common and the banter back and forth between each of the sexes is frequent.

The surprising part of our stereotypes is that the severity of the differences are more perceptions than realities.

In controlled experiments, the data has told us that in the workforce, men speak more often than women, women frequently compete heavily with other women (and often other men) and men often are as empathetic as women. Have the stereotypes been true as well? Absolutely. But what we have learned through study is that the genders are not as far apart as our perceptions believe them to be. The takeaway in understanding our communication styles is that they do vary, but they are more on a continuum, and

Andrea Gibbs Rockford College

both genders exhibit tendencies on both sides of the spectrum.

Leadership Styles Which gender exhibits a leadership style that is more effective in organizations? Again, there are stereotypes holding that women tend to be more collaborative, interactive and team oriented and men tend to be more autocratic, dictatorial and hierarchical. It is common to read in the business literature today that a feminine style of leadership is much more effective in the interconnected, highly-adaptive workplace we face today. This may be true, but the premise that men cannot adopt this kind of style or that this kind of style is the only kind of style that will work in business is erroneous at best. There are a variety of different leadership styles that are as nuanced as the organizations in which they operate. The data shows us that people tend to respond to leadership styles that tend toward the male or androgynous. Again, we are faced with a spectrum of possible styles that could vary from leader to leader and from situation to situation.

Styles Should Match Culture What is clear is that specific male or female leadership or communication styles are best when they fit the corporate culture or society in which they operate. Richard Branson is known for his collaborative leadership style. In an industry that frequently calls for innovation and change, his style works despite the fact that he goes outside his gender stereotype. Margaret Thatcher, otherwise known as the Iron Lady, was credited with one of the strongest leadership styles in the history of Britain’s prime ministers.

Both of these leaders were “allowed” to go outside their gender expectations because the context in which they operated required that they do that. Being an effective communicator and leader is about knowing what your style is and how others perceive you. Once you know where you are on the gender spectrum, you can adapt and change in order to communicate and lead in the manner that pulls the team together for maximum productivity.

Andrea Gibbs is the owner of Act2 Strategists, a strategic planning and corporate training company.

She teaches gender in business for the MBA program at Rockford College.

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

Five Black Belt sales techniques you should know Have you ever considered sales a martial art? A martial art is an organized system of skills, methods and mindsets designed to control the outcome of an encounter. Selling should be, too.

In both, selling and martial arts, the Black Belt expert doesn’t just “wing it.” A master may perform at an unconscious level and not need to think about techniques, because his expertise has become internalized and automatic. The Black Belt anticipates the situations he’ll face, and is ready with practiced responses learned well before needed. A Black Belt learns, practices, evaluates, and then repeats this cycle over and over again, until the techniques are mastered.

Here are some techniques to practice to overcome objections in sales.

Get More Voicemail Messages Returned with this Technique. “(First Name) This is Joe Rosner. I’ve just done some research on your company and your competition too, and wanted to see if you’d be open to some ideas to help (State Your Benefit)? My number is 815648-4601.”

Stating that you’ve researched the prospect’s business and competition provides credibility and can cause the prospect to feel insecure about not returning your call.

“Judo” for Your Most Predictable Objections to Setting a Meeting. “(First Name), this is not a surprise.”

(Restate Objection). “You know, that’s what (Name Your Best Customer) said, before they learned how our (Product/Service) could enhance what they were already doing. Are you free at (Name a Date/Time)?”

If they are, schedule a meeting. If not say: “What about (Name a Specific Date/Time)?

Now the conversation is about “when,” not “if” you’ll be meeting. The “What’s better: Tuesday or Wednesday?” approach is easier to object to than one specific time slot.

Zero In with the “Invisible” Close.

(They never see it coming!) “(First Name), on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being ‘I’m about to be thrown out,’ and 10 being ‘you’re ready to write a check,’ where are we at?” (Almost always a 7) “Well, what would you need for this to be a 10?” (Wait for the answer). “So, if I can get you that, do we have a deal?”

If they say “yes,” pick up your phone and call to get the okay to give them what they want. Even if you already know you can.

Joe Rosner Best Defense USA

Countering the “I Want to Think it Over” Stall.

BEFORE you begin your presentation, eliminate this time-wasting tactic. “(First name), I don’t know if what I’m offering will help you or not. The reason I’m here is to work with you to find out. After you learn everything you need to know about it, there’s three answers you could give me: a ‘yes,’ which I’m hoping for; a ‘no,’ which is okay: I appreciate you at least hearing me out; or a, ‘I want to think it over,’ which generally is just a wimpy ‘no’ that wastes my time. So, could I get your promise right now, that you’ll give me either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ when we’re done today?”

Thank them and shake hands to seal their promise. Keep in mind you’ll lose more sales by wimping than by being direct and honest.

Maintaining a Black Belt Mindset.

This requires being both very focused on your goals at a strategic level, and at the same time, having no concern about the outcome of any individual sale at the tactical level. For example, when sparring at a tournament, I’m at my best when I not worried about winning or even getting hit.

After all, I know I’ll survive. When I relax and envision operating the “Joe robot,” I’m not at all concerned about the outcome: I can see a few moves ahead and actually react better and faster. Yet, being highly goal-focused at the strategic level permits me to train hard and maximize my skills.

The same is true in selling. You must see your goals and be ready to pay the required price to achieve your sales target. The better you see your goals, and the stronger your incentive for achieving them, the more motivated you will be. At the same time, it is necessary not to be emotionally invested in the outcome of any single sales encounter.

This allows you to truly focus on your prospect so you can anticipate his next move and calmly choose your next best step.

Because a Black Belt understands that his skills are either getting better or atrophying, he always seeks opportunities to train on new skills and hone existing ones. Are you a Black Belt or will you settle for something less?

Joe Rosner is a speaker/self-defense teacher with Best Defense USA, leads Black Belt Selling continuing professional education seminars at Rock Valley College in September. (www.rockvalleycollege.edu/cpe) He can be reached at www. SalesAsaMartialArt.com.

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

rockfordchamber.com theVoice October 2011

23

Guest Perspective INSIGHT

Can an old perspective become a new perspective?

Offering teenagers positive life experiences through employment Lynne Strathman Lydia Urban Academy

Can businesses afford to provide job opportunities to teens? Can businesses afford not to? We have heard, seen and experienced that the current labor market is not prepared for holding a job.

However, how can young people become prepared to work if not provided the opportunities to learn, like we had?

When I (Lynne) was a teenager, times were very different. My first job was at Burger King at the age of 15. No, my first job was babysitting. No, it was doing well in school. No, my real first job was having responsibility at home.

For many employers this sounds normal because that is their experience, too.

However, for the majority of students today that is neither their experience nor perspective.

Young people are constantly receiving messages to do their best in school, achieve their goals, and “reach for the stars.” But, what if your life does not provide you with the opportunity to do those things? There is a misconception that exists that all people are granted the same options, the same breaks, as everyone else. This is not true.

Trouble Transitioning from School to Work According to the Journal of Counseling Psychology, urban youth in the United States are at considerable risk for experiencing unsuccessful school-towork transitions, which increases chronic joblessness and underemployment. This happens because of the inequities that do exist, along with significant external challenges that hinder the vocational development (racism, discrimination, poverty, and access to fewer resources).

Consider this Monopoly game

There is a misconception that exists that all people are granted the same options, the same breaks, as everyone else.

This is not true. analogy: Three people have been playing the game of Monopoly, and you want to start playing on the fourth day of the game. From your perspective what would be the safe places to land? You could only safely land on “Go,” “Jail,” “Go to Jail,” and “Free Parking.”

Landing on any other spaces most likely would cost you something. You would not be a real “player” for long.

Something to Strive For Our work at Lydia Urban Academy is helping high school students learn to become self-sufficient through education and mentoring. We have seen firsthand what real opportunity can do for a person, specifically work opportunity. Having a job provides meaning and value to someone’s life, and for adolescents it increases their commitment to learning.

Young people need the chance to experience that a job is more than just getting money. They understand money; however, what they need to experience is that relevant, meaningful work can enhance their lives and their future.

Ultimately, it instills hope and dignity and presents a future that they might have never known existed. They feel more connected to the community and give back in positive ways.

We don’t work with just any high school students, we work with exceptional students. They are excep-

tional because, in spite of the barriers in their lives, they keep persevering and haven’t given up. Perseverance in adversity is one thing that we don’t have to teach our students — they practice it every day. But in spite of their perseverance, they can’t do it alone.

They need opportunities and fewer barriers. They need to be connected to the community in a positive way — and that’s how businesses can help.

Giving Back Because We First Received People often say to us, “The teens should be volunteering to get experience.” But, that is not how we were treated. We had paying jobs and were given the opportunity to learn while doing. Adults give back to the community through volunteering. Indeed we give back because we first received.

When we feel connected in a positive way, we perform in a positive way. Teens are not unlike adults.

Many times our perspective is that we have done something to create our opportunities, but in reality there were many people that helped us along the way. We had parents at home, neighbors that told our parents when we did something wrong, coaches, and available job opportunities. Can an old perspective become our new one?

If we invest in our young people — our future employees — we will be investing in ourselves. We are ready to help if you want to practice a new perspective.

Lynne Strathman, M.S., is director, and Cira Guevara, B.A., career counselor at Lydia Urban Academy, a non-traditional Christian high school that serves students who have not succeeded in a traditional school system.

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

October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

24

Member Company Spotlight SPOTLIGHT

IGNITE

Young Professionals

Starting our own happiness project Working on our city one step at a time I currently am reading a book, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I happened across it while browsing lazily during one of my (many) Target runs. The title immediately grabbed my attention, so I flipped through it and decided it would be the perfect little gift for my best friend on her 31st birthday. Well, a few months later, my best friend loved it so much that she said I had to have it and bought my own copy. So, I’ve been digging in. If I could buy a big, giant copy for the City of Rockford and put it on display somewhere I would! (Think of the benefits – public art, promoting literacy and making people happy!)

Caitlin Ludwig IGNITE

overwhelming. So I think it’s time to give Rockford it’s very own Happiness Project.

Let’s start with little steps. What little things can we do to make our city a better place? Maybe one month we focus on picking up trash and beautifying our city. The next month we focus on continuing those efforts while adding a new piece of the puzzle – perhaps reading to kids to help close the word gap that exists for far too many kindergarten children. If we all just took our own little piece of the pie and worked on small, manageable goals, think of what combined we could accomplish.

Big plans are great but can become extremely overwhelming if we always look at the big picture rather than focus on the small tasks. But so often, we don’t follow our own advice to “live in the moment.”

I think lately, Rockford’s been a bit overwhelmed.

The book basically describes one woman’s year-long journey to figure out what makes her happy. While this isn’t the first book on a topic such as this (Eat, Pray, Love, anyone?), this book had an interesting twist. Instead of tackling her whole life at one time, Gretchen breaks down her journey into small, manageable, one-month steps.

She focuses on removing clutter during her first month … work another month … her marriage a different month.

Rather than trying to tackle the whole, big mess all at once, she turns an overwhelmingly large task into small manageable pieces.

Each of Us Doing Our Part Now you may be thinking, why is this so revolutionary? Well, to be honest, it isn’t. We all know the “one day at a time” motto is a good one to follow. Big plans are great but can become extremely overwhelming if we always look at the big picture rather than focus on the small tasks. But so often, we don’t follow our own advice to “live in the moment.” I think lately, Rockford’s been a bit overwhelmed.

We all know we’ve got our issues. We were named the ninth most dangerous city in America – ouch! Our school systems have been going through some tough times, and our economy was hit harder than most during the Great Recession. We have plenty of issues that, when put together, could be a tad

Perhaps we should put that on display somewhere – our commitment to our city – one small step at a time.

Our very own Happiness Project. And who knows? Maybe with all of our small steps, we’ll see some gigantic outcomes!! If nothing else, we will instill a sense of pride in Rockford that sometimes needs a little shining — and that, in my opinion, is a good enough reason for me.

Caitlin Ludwig is director of IGNITE. Learn more at igniterockford.com.

JOIN US FOR A ROARING GOOD TIME! Don’t miss IGNITE’s Annual Roaring Rockford: Casino Royale sponsored by SPX Hydraulic Technologies on Oct. 7 at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort!

Dinner, dancing and casino games (all in good fun) as well as a silent auction and raffle! Tickets are only $35 or $300 for a table of 10! ALL 21+ ARE WELCOME – need not be a member or a young professional to attend and support our mission to attract and retain young professionals to the Rockford region. More information and tickets sales available on our Web site, www.igniterockford.com.

Len and Donna Roach, owners of LDR Construction Services, Inc./LDR Cleaning & Restoration, celebrated their business’ 20th anniversary year on Sept. 16.

Restoration Specialists What is the name of your company/organization?

How do you plan to bring this about?

LDR Construction Services, Inc./LDR Cleaning & Restoration

We currently are marketing in the areas that we want to expand into. We also are training staff to fill the positions that will be created. We will continue to provide excellent customer service in both markets. Word of mouth and referrals are the best advertising.

What is the current goal/purpose of your organization?

LDR’s goal always has been to provide superior, personalized service that will exceed the expectations of its customers.

The purpose of our organization is to provide a friendly, safe, educational and respectful work environment. By doing this we are giving our employees all the tools they need to be successful and to help achieve our goal.

What unique product/service does your business/organization provide?

LDR provides full restoration from start to finish. When you call LDR, you only need to make one call. We will take care of your property as well as your personal belongings. What sets LDR apart from our competition is that all of our workers are trained and certified employees.

How does this business fit with your life?

It’s been a great fit. Owning your own business is a lot of hard work, but it has its fair share of benefits and rewards.

What trend is most affecting your business/industry right now?

The economy has affected us more than we thought it would. Even though disasters still are happening every day, people are turning in fewer claims — or they have a friend or family member who is out of work that is willing to do the repairs. Also, the closing and consolidation of insurance claims offices has affected how we do business.

How is your business/organization making a difference?

Any advice you would offer other business professionals based on Whenever you have a loss — large or your experiences?

small — it can be very stressful. LDR’s goal is to make the repairs as stress-free as possible. We are helping people put their lives back together. It is very rewarding when we move customers back into their homes. LDR also is very active in the community. Giving back is important, and we are happy to help where we can.

Are there plans to add staff?

We have just added to our current staff and are looking to hire an additional three to four employees in the near future.

Any growth plans in the next five years?

We have expanded our service area into southern Wisconsin, and we plan to have another office open within the next two years. Beyond that, we plan to continue growing our current market share and expand the services that we are able to provide to our customers.

If you have the opportunity, learn from others within your same industry — the information and advice is invaluable. We belong to a large organization called Disaster Kleenup International, which is made up of large and small restoration companies in the United States and Canada. I have had the opportunity to visit and learn from companies that are larger than us. They have helped us avoid some of the same pitfalls they went through. It has been a great experience.

LDR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC./LDR CLEANING & RESTORATION Len & Donna Roach, owners 4652 Stenstrom Road Rockford, IL 61109 815.874.7066

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Issues to Watch LEGISLATIVE News from the Illinois Chamber, State of Illinois NEW ONE-STOP SHOP ON HEALTH REFORM FOR EMPLOYERS The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has created a Health Reform Resource Center at www.ilchamber.org as a one-stop shop for employers to access information on a variety of topics and issues related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed on March 23, 2010. PPACA is the federal law that will significantly alter the nation’s healthcare over the course of the next decade. The resource center also provides employers with an opportunity to make their voices heard through the regulatory process that’s shaping implementation efforts.

For more information visit www.ilchamber.org. Click on Health Reform Resource Center button left on home page.

Taking on expanded reporting requirements for businesses Republicans in the House and Senate are pushing legislation that attempts to eliminate the expanded 1099 reporting requirements set to take effect Jan. 1, 2012 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The proposed Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act, H.R. 5141, attempts to prevent the more than 40 million entities affected — local governments/ municipalities, chambers of commerce, and small and large businesses — from having to file 1099-MISC forms for any goods and services valued over $600 for the year. It’s projected that the mandate could significantly increase accounting costs for employers and definitively alter purchasing behaviors in the marketplace.

Federal health insurance reform impact on employers The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act makes sweeping changes to the nation’s healthcare coverage system over the next decade. It will significantly increase access, extending coverage to an additional 32 million individuals who currently are uninsured by 2019, according to an analysis performed by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT). This increase in access to coverage was widely supported by the Illinois Chamber and members of the employer community; however, key philosophical differences over how to achieve expanded access and affordability made for a long and contentious debate.

$940 billion over the next 10 years, financed primarily by new taxes and fees on employers, individuals and health care stakeholders, and alterations to the current Medicaid and Medicare programs.

While new government programs providing coverage and premium subsidies to low-income individuals and families, small employer tax credits to make coverage more affordable for business owners, and expansions of entitlement programs will provide necessary assistance to those who currently cannot afford to purchase coverage, the new law contains few elements that lower costs and will in fact, increase the cost of coverage.

New and expanded mandated benefits, reductions in allowable deductibles and cost sharing, new taxes on insurers and healthcare suppliers that will be passed on to purchasers, and restrictions on contributions to FSAs, HSAs and Archer MSAs all will increase the cost of coverage moving forward.

The CBO estimated in a November, 2009, analysis that the average premium per person is likely to increase 10 to 13 percent under the reform provisions.

What Employers Should Know There are a few major provisions contained in the new law of which employers should be especially aware: ■New tax credits for small employers purchasing healthcare coverage beginning in 2010 (credits expire in 2016).

■New coverage expansions and benefit requirements beginning in 2010.

The Impact on Costs

■New W-2 reporting requirements beginning in 2011 and expanded 1099 reporting beginning in 2012.

According to the CBO and JCT, the cost of adding 32 million individuals to national health insurance rolls is approximately

■New coverage requirements and penalties for employers with more than 50 employees beginning in 2014.

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100

Direct Line

Einar K. Forsman, President & CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4304 Heidi Garner, Executive Assistant to the President . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4312 Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology . . . . . . .815-316-4338 Lynette Jacques, Advertising and Sponsorship Executive . . . .815-316-4317 Vee Jevremovic, Manager of Education Programs and Events . .815-316-4337 Cyndie Landis, Financial Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4300 Caitlin Ludwig, Director of Ignite! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4335 Joy Moriarty, V.P. Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4316 Stacy Mullins, Director of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4302 Diane Navickis, Membership Development Manager . . . . . . . .815-316-4315 Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . .815-316-4320 Valerie Tippitt, Membership Development Manager . . . . . . . . .815-316-4336

THE VOICE ONLINE NOW ON ISSUU™ Read favorite articles in full screen mode in the size you want. Print and send to friends with the click of a button.

Click on advertisements of interest to go to company Web sites to learn more and interact quickly.

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October 2011 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

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Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS The YMCA of Rock River Valley will offer LIVESTRONG® starting in January, 2012, a physical activity and well-being initiative that helps cancer survivors and their families affected by cancer reach their holistic health goals.

Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club, 5151 Guilford Road, in Rockford, was designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, and recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International.

SwedishAmerican Health System added an online bill payment feature to its Web site, www.swedish american.org, for the convenience of patients and families.

Eclipse Incorporated in Rockford acquired CEC Combustion Safety, Cleveland, Ohio, the industry leader in the field of combustion safety.

The Rockford Park District Foundation selected Eventus to produce the 2011 Preview Celebration for the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens.

The Janet Wattles Center building, 526 W. State St., downtown Rockford, was renamed the Rosecrance Ware Center to honor longtime director, Frank Ware, who died unexpectedly in February.

Rockford Park District dedicated the softball fields at Sportscore One, 1288 Elmwood Road, as Papich Fields in September.

SwedishAmerican patient Diane Disch spends time with Ginger as part of the hospital’s Caring Canines program.

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Rockford Health System was certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Entré Computer Solutions, 8900 N. Second St., Machesney Park, merged operations with Computer Business Services, 1406 Willowbrook Road, Beloit, Wis. Entré has another remote office in Bloomington, Ill. Rock Valley Credit Union, in Loves Park, Machesney Park and Rochelle, hired Argyle Marketing to produce an internal training and development video on collaborative work environment and service standards.

Chris Sherrard, Farmers Insurance agent, hired Argyle to produce a promotional brochure for clients and prospective clients. Brad Benedict, real estate agent with Gambino Realtors, hired Argyle for a real estate Web site and photography services for commercial and residential properties.

The Literacy Council received a National Book Fund Award of almost $2,000 from Proliteracy to update its collection of tutor and classroom resources.

The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners accepted a bid by Stenstrom Companies of $2,154,700 for Phase II of Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens.

Construction includes a retaining wall and lagoon overlook deck, the infinity pond, pedestrian bridge, water features, paths and landscaping, and sitting areas. The conservatory is set to open at the end of October.

KMK Media Group, Inc., completed a new Web site for Rockford Township Assessor, Ken Crowley’s office at www.rockfordtownship assessor.net. KMK completed a 30second television commercial for the United Way of Rock River Valley to promote its annual fundraising campaign. KMK was hired to

SwedishAmerican Health System announced the recertification of its cardiovascular rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Savant Capital Management was named by Barron’s magazine for the fifth year as one of the 100 best independent financial advisors in the United States. Savant also ranked 43 out of 454 firms in Financial Advisor magazine’s 2011 Top RIA Rankings list.

High school graduates Hermond Colvin, Joe Canale, Andrew Collier and Spencer Meinert complete Eclipse, Inc.’s, summer internship program focused on engineering and manufacturing. redevelop the Rockford Board of Election Commissioners Web site at www.voterockford.com.

Grace Funeral & Cremation Services’ Web site www.gracefh .com/store now includes a feature where friends and family can send flowers and sympathy gifts online.

Rockford Orthopedic Associates’ rehabilitation center was named a 2010/2011 Apex Quality Award Winner for Healthcare Excellence by CTQ solutions, which recognizes leading healthcare providers for excellence in patient satisfaction and delivery of care based on patient feedback surveys.

Winnebago County received an Outstanding Performance Award for its use of the NACo Prescription Discount Card Program at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference and Exposition in July. Residents have saved more than $1.2 million on the cost of prescriptions since Winnebago County implemented the program in 2008.

The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) opened at Rockford College on the first floor of the Howard

Coleman library. CELL assists future teachers of young children with literary selections appropriate for young children, reading techniques and the use of technology in working with children under 8.

For the 16th consecutive year, new Rockford College students on Labor Day weekend volunteered with local organizations such as Rockford Rescue Mission, Burpee Museum, Discovery Center, YMCA Camp Winnebago, and Aldeen Park as part of the college’s Plunge event.

Chem Processing, Inc., met the requirements of the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) program, which recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. OSHA exempts the worksite from OSHA-programmed inspections during the period the SHARP certification is valid.

Rockford Park District offers a discount program at Carlson Ice Arena and Sapora Playworld for home school students every Wednesday through May 16, 2012, and features indoor ice skating from 2:20 to 4:20 p.m.

Next Rockford members raised $1,100 to purchase uniform clothing for Rockford School District elementary school students, distributed on Sept. 9 to Barbour, Conklin, Haskell, King, Lewis Lemon, Marsh, McIntosh, Nashold, Spring Creek, Walker, Welsh and Whitehead schools.

Sikich LLP completed a thorough peer review of its audit and accounting practice, which concluded that the public accounting and advisory firm complies with the stringent quality control standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

United Way of Rock River Valley announced its fundraising goal, 4.3 million, during a breakfast at BMO Harris Bank Center, formally known as the MetroCentre. For the second year it will run a promotion, “Give a gift, Get a chance.” Donors who contribute a minimum amount of $104 annually or $2 a week will have an opportunity to win one of five donated prizes. Visit www.unitedwayrrv.org.

Rockford Art Museum will exhibit through Nov. 20 about 15 pieces from the WATT collection of 57 framed oil paintings of different poultry breeds created by three American artists,

rockfordchamber.com theVoice October 2011

Business Briefs A.O. Schilling, L. Stahmer and F.L. Sewell, and commissioned by J.W. Watt, founder of Watt Publishing Company in the mid-1920s.

The Rock River Valley Blood Center received AABB accreditation for technical and administrative performance that met or exceeded standards, based on an onsite assessment by specially trained AABB assessors.

For the second consecutive year, Judson University ranked at 20 of Best Colleges in the Midwest, according to the latest U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges for 2012 survey.

For the third consecutive year, Thayer Lighting, Inc., was selected for the 2011 Best of Machesney Park Award in the Lighting Consultants category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

Nationwide, less than one percent of 2011 award recipients qualified as three-time award winners.

The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners voted to allow the Rockford Park District Foundation to continue with the Lagoon Restoration Project, next to Nicholas Conservatory, 1354 N. 2nd St. Work on the lagoon and surrounding landscaping will begin in fall, 2011, and is scheduled for completion in summer, 2012. The foundation currently is working on raising funds to reconstruct a tea house to overlook the lagoon, for completion in 2012.

Wipfli LLP, a CPA and consulting firm, formalized its Public Company (SEC) Services Practice to better serve emerging-growth and midsized publicly held companies and entrepreneurial, private companies contemplating going public.

SwedishAmerican Health System celebrated the first anniversary of its Caring Canines animal-assisted therapy program. The program began with six therapy dogs and handler teams in its mental health

unit and has quadrupled in size to include 21 dogs that visit patients in many units.

Eclipse, Inc., Rockford, worldwide manufacturer of products and systems for industrial heating and drying applications, completed its summer 2011 intern program with four graduates from Boylan, Rockford Lutheran, Dakota and Belvidere North high schools. They now are pursuing engineering degrees at the various Midwest colleges.

The Testor Corporation, a Rockford-based paint and coatings manufacturer, designed, developed and launched an Exact Match auto touch-up marker under the Rustoleum brand name and now available in WalMart stores with automobile sections in Rockford and surrounding areas. Testor announced that ColorMark and TouchBack won Allure magazine’s Best of Beauty Awards for the third consecutive year for Home Color Root Coverage. Both products instantly touch up gray roots between salon visits.

Trekk, Inc., used a “mobile first” strategy to refresh its Web site at Trekk.com, which provides smallscreen friendly content.

KMK Media Group, Inc., completed a video addressing the trend of bullying and harassment in schools around the country which features Hononegah students, faculty and staff. More information can be found at www.hononegah.org.

Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., in Rockford, opens two art exhibits, Body Fantastic and Clay Bodies, which run though Oct. 20.

The Winnebago County Health Department received a 36-month grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of $2,885,700 to begin on Oct. 1 for lead mitigation of 200 older houses of children aged 0 to 6.

Get to Know Your Ambassadors Name: Pat Casazza Company: Broadmoor Agency Inc. Position: Agent How long have you been an Ambassador?

20+ years What do you like most about being an Ambassador? I love knowing what is “happening” in Rockford. I like going into businesses for ribbon cuttings and feeling the excitement a person and his or her family has for the accomplishment of starting a new business. Most of all, I enjoy the friends I’ve made as an Ambassador!

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MEMBERS New Chamber Members

ACTION MOVING & STORAGE, INC. Residential and Commercial Moving and Storage; Also Offers Transportation Services for Freight Commodities.

725 23rd Ave., 61104 Mel Homuth 815-968-3706

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Helping Individuals Achieve their Goals Through Financial Planning and Helping Businesses Educate Their Employees on Financial Decisions 363 Financial Court, 61107 Kevin Heideman 815-977-5999

BENCHMARK HEALTH CORP Up Close and Personal Home Health Care 5936 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60646 Maggie Walker 773-467-4500 www.benchmarkhealthcorp.com

BEST FAMILY CARE INC. Provides Non-Medical Companion/Homemaker Services to Seniors, Those Recovering from Surgery, New and Expecting Mothers in Boone, Winnebago and Stephenson Counties.

9748 Sumner Road Pecatonica, IL 61063 Becky Nichols 815-239-2414 www.bestfamilycareinc.com

COME TOGETHER ROCKFORD Devoted to the Healing of Racism in Rockford Through Education 852 Lakewood Dr., 61102 Harlan Johnson, LMFT 815-968-5433 www.cometogetherrockford.com

FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST CO. Diversified Financial Services Corporation Headquartered in Beloit, Wis.; Chartered in 1882 300 E. Main St. Rockton, IL 61072 Jennifer Krutchten, Matt Roegner 800-667-4401 www.bankatfirstnational.com

FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST CO. Diversified Financial Services Corporation Headquarted in Beloit, Wis.; Chartered in 1882 5360 Bridge St. Roscoe, IL 61073 www.bankatfirstnational.com

GIUSEPPE VERDI SOCIETY/VERDI CLUB Local Social Club that Offers Two Banquet Halls, Full Bar, Outdoor River Front Grounds Available for Rent 782 N. Madison St., 61107 Brian Leggero 815-968-8119 www.rockfordverdiclub.com

JT’S BOURBON STREET GRILLE Offers Authentic Southern and Cajun Cuisine; Catering, and Delivery Available & Hosting Special Events & Meetings 1407 N. Main St., 61103 Anthony Foreman 815-964-4400 www.jtbourbonstreet.com

LINCOLNSHIRE PLACE Assisted Living 6617 Broadcast Pkwy.

Loves Park, IL 61111 Pamela Maha 815-633-5880

MASHUP RESTAURANT A New Take on Comfort ... Offering Traditional Comfort Food with a Gourmet Twist!

1641 N. Alpine Road, Ste. 212, 61107 John Branyan 815-708-8740 www.mashuprestaurant.com

NATIONAL EQUIPMENT SALES Dealer of Laboratory and Life Science Equipment 2020 Harrison Ave., 61104 Kyle Johnson 815-670-6400 www.nationalequipmentlabs.com

ROCKFORD RIVERHAWKS PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL May through September, Enjoy Professional Baseball in a Fun and Exciting Atmosphere!

4503 Interstate Blvd.

Loves Park, IL 61111 Bryan Wickline 815-885-2255 www.rockfordriverhawks.com

T6 BROADBAND INC. The Areas Fastest Growing Local, High Speed Internet Services Provider and Telecom 1890 Chrysler Dr. Belvidere, IL 61008 Chris Beto 815-544-1157 / www.t6business.com

THE OLYMPIC TAVERN Family Owned and Operated Since 1945 – A True Rockford Tradition 2327 N. Main St., 61103 Thomas Rotello 815-962-8758 www.theolympictavern.com

TOM’S CUTLERY Over 2000 Knives; Cutlery, Folding, Hunting, Military, Pocket & Custom Knives.

6930 Charles St., 61108 Tom Bloemke 815-227-1188 / www.tomscutlery.com

VETERANS INDUSTRIES Vocational Rehabilitation Program that Provides Temp-to-Hire and Permanent Staffing 2500 Overlook Tr., Bldg. 7 Madison, WI 53705 John Kirika 608-280-7082 / www.va.gov

WATERSIDE CENTER Office Building - Four Stories, 34,000 Sq. Ft. on The Rock River - Downtown 124-6 N. Water St., 61107 Michael White, Sr. 815-963-0461

October 2011 Member Anniversaries Thank you to the following members who celebrate their anniversaries with the Rockford Chamber in October, 2011.

25-YEAR MEMBERS

10-YEAR MEMBERS

American Cancer Society Phelps Industries, Inc. Wesley Willows

Pathways EAP Rabine Paving Woodman’s Food Market, Inc.

20-YEAR MEMBER

5-YEAR MEMBER

ComElec-East, Inc.

Remedies Renewing Lives

Membership Renewals Thank you to the members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber in August.

A-1 Restoration Inc. Action Tool & Manufacturing Inc. ADT Security Services, Inc. Advanced Rockford Eye Care Al’s Carpet Flooring & Design Center Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois Anderson Environmental & Engineering Co. Aramark Uniform Services, Inc. Behavioral Medicine & Neuropsychological Association, LLC Berg Industries, Inc. Brian F. Soltys, D.D.S. Carpetland USA, Inc. Cedar Hill Condominium Association Century Building Supply Inc. (SRS Acquisition Corp) Chili’s Grill & Bar CHIP Alumni of Rock River Valley Communication Center of Rockford Courtyard by Marriott/Rockford Creative Pig Minds Design Crimson Pointe Focus Financial Advisors, Inc. Fridh Corporation Gerdau Ameristeel H & R Block Howe Freightways, Inc. Ingenium Aerospace Instant Jungle, Inc. J. Carlson Growers, Inc. L & S Label Printing Lawn Care by Walter, Inc. Luther Center M & W Grinding of Rockford Maciano’s Pizza Columbia Parkway Mainstreet Financial Group Maverick Media of Rockford LLC Metallic Bonds, Ltd. MetLife Bank Nelson Fire Protection NIU Rockford Club North Park Rental Service, Inc. Northern Illinois Communications Northern Illinois Vein Clinic

Northern Public Radio (WNIU/WNIJ/NIRIS) Northwestern Mutual Financial Network/The Krueger Financial Group NRG-Rockford Energy Center OB/GYN Associates of Rockford Ltd. PACCAR Parts, A Division of PACCAR Pathfinder Wealth Management, Inc. Paychex, Inc. Pella Products, Inc. Phelps Industries, Inc. Production Tool and Supply Company Provena Cor Mariae Center Provena St. Anne Center Rasmussen College Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren P.C. Rockford Art Museum Rockford Cemetery Association, Greenwood Cemetery & Crematorium Rockford Lutheran School Rockford Rigging, Inc. Roxy Carmichael, LLC Sam’s Club, A Division of Wal-Mart Stores Servpro of Rockford Shadow Trucking, Inc. SilverCare Stewart & Associates, Inc. Stockholm Inn Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens The Pension Specialists, Ltd. The Terrace Senior Apartments The UPS Store Thompson’s Transmissions Thunder Bay Grille United Association of Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Local Union 23 Universal Restoration Services USANA Health Sciences Van Galder Bus/A Coach USA Co. Weinberg & Co. Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers (K & K Foods Inc.) World Financial Group Write Away, Inc.

November Focus on

People You Should Know Holiday Event & Meeting Venues For information on advertising,

call 815- 987-8100

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Member in the News IN THE NEWS

1. Jeffery J. Makeever

2. Matt Coletta

BOARD APPOINTMENTS Thomas P. Sandquist, a lawyer at WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, was elected to the Natural Land Institute Board of Trustees.

Jeffery J. Makeever (1), shareholder and Rockford office managing partner at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren P.C., was named a judge advocate for the Mid-States Federation of Cosmopolitan International.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS Kimberly Wheeler Johnsen joined the Natural Land Institute staff as director of membership and marketing.

Entré Computer Solutions hired Matt Coletta (2) to its service department.

Laura Baker was named the new

3. Carla Paschal, CPA

4. Dr. Pam Wetzel

5. Melissa Adams

6. Dr. Jerry B. Cain

executive director of the Rockton Chamber of Commerce.

Rockford Sportsmen’s Golf Association.

Deb Nau was appointed director of development at Midway Village Museum.

Navid Bahmanyar and Kurt Williams, Keith Country Day School, qualified for National AP Scholar Awards by earning an average score of 4 or higher on all AP exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. Twenty-four former and current Keith students combined have earned AP Scholar Awards on the spring AP exams.

Carla Paschal, CPA (3), joined Sikich LLP, a public accounting and advisory firm, as senior manager in the Rockford office.

SwedishAmerican Health System promoted Dr. Pam Wetzel (4) to vice president of operations.

PR Etc., hired Melissa Adams (5) as office manager.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS Rockford Park District welcomed the newest people and groups into the Golf Hall of Fame for 2011: Connie Sjostrom, Sr., and Irene Sjostrom Youth Golf Foundation, Jamie Hogan, Gunnar Nelson and

The Local League of United Latin American Citizens Council #5236 honored Judson University President Dr. Jerry B. Cain (6) as Man of the Year at its 10th anniversary celebration on Sept. 13.

Thomas A. Anderson (7), MBA, a financial planning specialist for The Pension Specialists, Ltd., Machesney Park, was awarded the

7. Thomas A. Anderson

8. Dr. Anthony Sorkin

Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst™ (AIFA®) designation from Fiduciary 360 Anderson.

Anthony Sorkin (8), M.D., Rockford Orthopedic Associates, Ltd., is listed as one of the Best Doctors in America for orthopedic surgery 2010-2011

by Best Doctors, Inc.

OF GENERAL INTEREST Thomas A. Gendron, chairman and CEO at Woodward, Inc., spoke at the CL King & Associates ninth-annual Best Ideas Conference in New York in September.

Brian Bear, M.D., Rockford Orthopedic Associates, Ltd., presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand annual meeting, in Las Vegas in September.

His topic to hand surgeons and medical professionals was “Healthcare Legislation Update: Obamacare and Beyond.”

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Community Events EVENTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 Zion Development Corporation hosts a Book Discussion on “Readicide - How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It,” by Kelly Gallagher from 10 a.m. to noon., at Katie’s Cup, 502 7th St. Rockford educator Dr. JoAnn Shaheen will lead. Call 815-962-3340 or email spitzer001@comcast.net.

Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, hosts an event with photographer and Columbia College professor Melissa Ann Pinney, featuring her photo-art book, “Girl Ascending,” from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 815-8770118 or visit www.womanspace-rockford.org.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

Autumn@the Arboretum takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., with horse-drawn wagon rides, education and entertainment.

Free. Visit www.klehm.org.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center of the Rockford Area presents Navigating Logistics for Export Growth from 8 to 10 a.m., Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road. Contact Yulia Sopina, 815-969-4267 or ysopina@rockfordil.com.

Rockford IceHogs and the Rockford Park District host the first-annual Birdies and Blades Golf Playday at 11:30 a.m., at Elliot Golf Course, 888 S. Lyford Road. Contact Amy Chavez, 815-969-4073.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4

Rockford Public Library presents Job Hunting Made Easy from 6 to 7:45 p.m., at the East Branch Friends of RPL Community Room, 6685 E. State St. Lead by Dr. Mercer, author of “Hire the Best – & Avoid the Rest™”, and creator of three Forecaster™ pre-employment tests.

Registration not required. Call 815965-7606.

Clifton Gunderson LLP presents a free Webcast on the Current State of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program from 1 to 2:15 p.m.

Registration required by Oct. 4. Call Rebecca Shaffer at 630-368-3601 or Rebecca.Shaffer@cliftoncpa.com.

TechWorks Fast-Track CNC Machine Training Orientation from 8:30 a.m. to noon at EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Ave. Call 815-316-6354.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 6

Hilander at Brynwood hosts a Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Twenty percent of blood treats cancer patients.

Donors will be registered for raffles.

Call Rock River Valley Blood Center at 815-965-8751 for an appointment.

Disabilityworks presents a free workshop on Disability Inclusion from 8 to 11:30 a.m., at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort, 700 W. Riverside Blvd. Register at www.theworkforce connection.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

University of Illinois Extension-Winnebago County offers Composting for the Homeowner Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 6 to 27, at U of I Extension-Winnebago County office, 1040 N. Second St., Rockford. Register at web.extension .illinois.edu/jsw or call 815-986-4357.

Rockford Public Library presents Advanced Couponing from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the East Branch Friends of RPL Community Room, 6685 E. State St. Registration required at 815-965-7606.

RAMP’s 21st-annual Changing Attitudes Breaking Barriers Luncheon takes place at 11:45 a.m., at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort, 700 W. Riverside Blvd., featuring Stevie Hopkins, co-founder of 3E Love.

Contact Deb Rogers at drogers@ rampcil.org or 815-968-7467.

Rockford Public Library presents How Will We Pay for College? from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the East Branch Friends of RPL Community Room, 6685 E. State St. Registration required at 815-965-7606.

Rockford Area SHRM chapter presents a New Member Orientation at 5:30 p.m., at Rock Valley Credit Union, 11280 Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park. Visit rashrm.org.

Shelter Care Ministries hosts a Volunteer Training and Orientation with Rev. Louisett Ness, executive director, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 412 N. Church St., Rockford.

Contact Bea Neace at 815-964-5520 or bneace@shelter-care.org.

Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc., hosts a fundraiser to benefit YouthBuild Rockford, a hole-in-one shootout “Win a Million Dollars,” Oct. 6 to 8, at the Golf Shack, 1631 Bell School Road.

Tickets at Rockford Park District golf courses or www.youthbuildrockford.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College kicks off its fall Nonprofit Board Training with Board Roles and Responsibilities from 4 to 8 p.m., with Nancy Sylvester, licensed parliamentarian and author, and Rhonda Arends, certified trainer.

Register by Sept. 30 at www.rockford.edu/?nicne.

Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Rockford College presents a Nonprofit Dialogue from 8:30 to 10 a.m., on issues and trends in the nonprofit sector and how NICNE can help. Free. Visit www.rockford.edu/?nicne.

Discovery Center Museum presents You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown by Children’s Theater Project, Oct. 7 to 9, at 7 p.m., Friday, and 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

The Peanuts … Naturally exhibit opens Oct. 1. Call 815-963-6769 or visit www.discovery centermuseum.org.

Natural Land Institute’s annual Fall Prairie Harvest Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Nygren Wetland Preserve in Rockton. Call 815-964-6666 or visit www.naturalland.org.

Womanspace hosts the national tour of Tibetan Monks from Drepung Gomang Monastery, southern India, who will perform sacred chants and demonstrate sand mandala techniques from noon to 2 p.m., in the Anjali Pavilion, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., in Rockford. Call 815-877-0118 or visit www.womanspace- rockford.org.

MembersAlliance Credit Union hosts a free Community Shred Day from 9 a.m. to noon at 2550 S. Alpine Road. Call 815-226-2260, 800-4262260 or visit www.membersalliance.org.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10 Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center presents A Little Liszt at 5:30 p.m., at Emerson House, 420 N. Main St. Visit www.mendelssohn pac.org or call 815-964-9713.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12 AAIM Employers’ Association Education Center presents Age Discrimination: How to Manage Your Aging Workforce Legally, from 8:30 to 11 a.m., at NIU, 8500 E. State St. Call 800-948-5700 or visit www.eaconnect.com.

Jeff Dunham: Controlled Chaos tour, 7:30 p.m., at the Rockford MetroCentre, 300 Elm St. Call 815968-5222 or visit www.metrocentre.com.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 Rockford’s fifth-annual Money Smart Week will be held April 21 to 28, 2012.

The First Partner Meeting is at 10 a.m., Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, 839 N. Perryville Road or email lcote@membersalliance.org or Tmcnamara@ebagency.com.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

The Rockford Area Arts Council presents the 24th annual Fall ArtScene on Oct. 14 from 5 to 9 p.m., and Oct. 15 from 3 to 9 p.m. Original artwork at 40 different locations across Rockford. Admission is free. Visit www.fallartscene.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois presents a Girl Scout Alumnae Day Camp from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Camp McCormick, 9995 N. Girl Scout Road, Stillman Valley. Visit girlscouts ni.org/alumnae.html or call 800-2425591, ext. 7210.

Discovery Center Auxiliary presents the 30th anniversary Family Ball from 5:30 to 10 p.m., at Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Call 815972-2839 or visit www.discovery centermuseum.org.

Postmark deadline for applications for Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association’s 2012/2013 undergraduate scholarships for students pursuing a constructionrelated degree and a desire for a career in the Rockford area.

Visit www.nibca.net.

Rockford Spine Center hosts a free Community Health Care Talk, 9 to 11 a.m., at 2902 McFarland Road, Ste. 300. RSVP to Krystal at 815-316-6873.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

Ethnic Heritage Museum, 1129 S. Main St., presents The Secret Life of Sarah E, a Civil War adventure narrated by Amy Nyman, portraying historic Rockford women, at 2:30 p.m., in the Italian Gallery. Register at 815877-2888.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 Rockford Network of Professional Women presents “Show Me the Money: Women and the Art of Negotiation,” at Forest Hills CC at 11:30 am. Special guest Vickie Austin, founder of CHOICES Worldwide will talk about how women can determine their market worth. Visit www.rockfordnetwork.biz.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19 First IL Regional Technical Education Center Conference from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road.

Register at www.HTECNetwork.org or contact 815-484-3898 or David_ Morgan_244@comcast.net.

Rockford Health Physicians, Diabetes and Nutrition Services, presents Taking Control of Your Diabetes, at 5:45 p.m., in dining rooms 2 and 3 in Café 2400 at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Free.

Register at 815-971-2550.

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Advertisers Index ADVERTISERS

Community Events EVENTS U.S. Bank and LSQ Funding Group, L.C., present a free Small Business Administration Dinner Seminar on how to ease your business cash flow, at 5:30 p.m. Limited seating. RSVP to Paula Smith at 815-987-4775 or Paula.Smith1@usbank.com by Oct. 7.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois presents “Using Video in Your Communications Strategy” at Katie’s Cup, 11:30 am.

Special guests Dan Presser and Mac Chorlton from Tweedee Productions will talk about using emerging and current trends in video marketing. Visit www.niadfed.org.

Crusader Community Health’s 39th anniversary event, Fall in Love with Caring, takes place from 5:45 to 9 p.m., at Giovanni’s Restaurant, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact 815-490-

1620 or mcormany@crusaderhealth .org or visit www.crusader health.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 Lynyrd Skynyrd & ZZ Top, 7 p.m., at the Rockford MetroCentre, 300 Elm St. Call 815-968-5222 or visit www.metrocentre.com.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra with Darwyn Apple, violin, presents Mozart Meets Ravel at 7:30 p.m., at Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St. Visit www.mendel ssohnpac.org or call 815-964-9713.

Alpine Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Broadmoor Agency, Inc. . . . . . . . .11

Discovery Center Museum presents Spooky Science from 6 to 9 p.m. Call 815-963-6769 or visit www.discovery centermuseum.org.

Development Council . . . . . . . .6 Rockford Chamber

Brian Thomas Photography, Inc. . 9

of Commerce .14, 21, 25, 27, 29

Coyle-Varland Insurance . . . . .20

Rockford Health System . . . . .25

Delta Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Rockford Health Physicians . . .10

Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Hinshaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Holstrom & Kennedy PC . . . . .13 Humana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Leading Lawyers Network . . . .12 McGladrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 MembersAlliance Credit Union .11 Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

Rockford Area Economic

at Rockford College . . . . . . . .23 Reinhart Boerner

Rock Valley College . . . . . . . . . .7 Shelter Insurance . . . . . . . . . . .20 Sikich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Spectrum Insurance . . . . . . . . .21 Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Thayer Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 The Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Van Galder Bus A Coach USA Co. . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Widmer Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Van Deuren PC . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Williams-Manny . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Riverside Community Bank . . .18

Williams McCarthy . . . . . . . . . . .14

EVENTS

Upcoming Chamber Events OCTOBER, 2011 Tuesday, October 4 Business Women’s Council, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road. Lisa Plantamura, MBA, professional trainer/manager from AAIM Employers’ Association, presents “Building Bridges Between the Generations at Work.” Sponsored by AAIM Employers’ Association.

IGNITE Breakfast & Business: Entrepreneur Edition-Planning, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., at Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road. SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Businesses, will present programs on planning your business – from marketing to financial projections. Sponsored by McGladrey.

makes for a successful effort?

7:30 to 9 a.m., Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road. Sponsored by McGladrey.

Advantage Power Network Club, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Advantage Club – Originals, alternate locations. Contact Karla Fernet, Healthy Balance Reflexology, Kfernet555@hotmail.com.

Friday, October 14 Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St. For more information, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312.

McGladrey. October LOTB sponsored

by First Northern Credit Union.

Garden Inn, 7675 Walton St. Free Breakfast, Prizes, and Networking.

Tuesday, October 25

Tuesday, November 8

Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact Denise Wimmer, Alliance Insurance, denise@flanders insurance.com.

Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact Denise Wimmer, Alliance Insurance, denise@flanders insurance.com.

Wednesday, October 26

Wednesday, November 9

Advantage Club – Originals, alternate locations. Contact Karla Fernet, Healthy Balance Reflexology, Kfernet555@hotmail.com.

Breakfast Buzz presents Personal Branding, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road.

Sponsored by McGladrey.

Advantage Power Network Club, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Friday, October 7

Wednesday, October 19

NOVEMBER, 2011

IGNITE Roaring Rockford: Casino Royale, 6 to 11 p.m., Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort, 700 W. Riverside Blvd. Her Majesty’s Secret Service requests your presence for dinner, dancing, casino games, silent auction and raffle. Don your best 007 (cocktail) wear. Presenting sponsor SPX Hydraulic Technologies. Major sponsors Anthony Alexander, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Great Hang Ups & GH2, and FlipSide DJ Entertainment.

IGNITE LOTB: Coupon Clipping with the Pros! noon to 1 p.m., Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort, 700 W. Riverside Blvd. Family Credit Management offers great ways to save money by clipping coupons.

Education Series sponsored by

Tuesday, November 1

Tuesday, October 11 Advantage Club – Superstars, noon to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, 610 N. Bell School Road. Contact Denise Wimmer, Alliance Insurance, denise@flandersinsurance.com.

Wednesday, October 12 Breakfast Buzz presents Effective Marketing Campaigns: What

Thursday, October 20 5:30 to 7:30 pm Rock Valley College Karl J. Jacobs Science & Math Center 3301 N. Mulford Road

20 People You Should Know At this event we will recognize our inaugural “20 People You Should Know” with a special reception.

Presenting sponsor is Reno & Zahm LLP Supporting sponsor is McGladrey

Business Women’s Council, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Hills Country Club, 5135 Forest Hills Road.

Sponsored by AAIM Employers’ Association.

IGNITE Breakfast & Business: Entrepreneurship Edition: Ownership, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S. Bell School Road. Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLC attorneys Matthew Logan and Brett Strand will talk about business ownership options — from incorporating to sole proprietorship.

Sponsored by McGladrey.

Wednesday, November 2 Advantage Club Originals “Good Morning Rockford” – 3rd Annual TP Tower to benefit the Rockford Rescue Mission. Bring a package of toilet paper to attend! 7 - 9:00 a.m., Hilton

Advantage Power Network Club, Franchesco’s Ristorante, 7128 Perry Creek Pkwy. Contact Teri Watts, Whitehead Inc., Realtors®, tlwatts@ whiteheadcommercial.com or Holly Hanson, The Business Edge Inc., coach@thebizedge.biz.

Advantage Club – Originals, alternate locations. Contact Karla Fernet, Healthy Balance Reflexology, Kfernet555@hotmail.com.

Friday, November 11 Government Affairs Council Meeting, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St. For more information, contact Heidi Garner at 815-316-4312.

Wednesday, November 16 Healthcare Industry Update Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Giovanni’s, Inc., 610 N. Bell School Road. Health care expert Henry J. Aaron will talk on the health care industry and reform. Presenting sponsor – Harris N.A. Gold sponsors Humana, Rosecrance Health Network.

Silver sponsors – Employers’ Coalition on Health, Wipfli LLP. Bronze sponsors – Alpha Controls & Services, Clifton Gunderson LLP.