AUG/SEPT
2020
Newsletter
Proudly serving the City of St. Charles, St. Charles Township, Village of Campton Hills and surrounding communities.
PRIORITIZING CASH FLOW The Small Business Development Center at Elgin Community College has resources to help By Hannah Hoffmeister
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hen it comes to operating during the pandemic, focus on products with high profit margins and include your employees in honest, creative discussions about your business, experts say. This will help you maintain positive cash flow even if the pandemic has rerouted some of your financial expectations for this year.
“Given today’s market, though, working towards positive cash flow could be one of the most high-impact tasks you can do in the coming months,” wrote Elaine Stone in a WordStream blog post about managing cash flow during COVID-19. One way to increase cash flow is to reduce variable costs — say, perhaps, by offering a limited menu that would allow
you to buy in bulk, Stone said. Another is to think about ways you could incentivize existing customers; for example, with deals or gift card options. In her blog post, Stone emphasized working with your employees as a team. This means being honest and transparent about where your business is financially and where they can help. u continued on page 3
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St. Charles Chamber of Commerce WHAT'S INSIDE u Continued from page 1
You can lean on your employees, but local avenues offer help, too. The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Elgin Community College provides free counseling to entrepreneurs and small business owners, including help with reviewing business plans and sales strategies. In addition to one-on-one help, the SBDC hosts workshops and trainings and also facilitates different partnerships that could help your business. The
center is even providing help specific to COVID-19, whether that’s navigating loans, new business strategies or anything in between. The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Elgin Community College is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Elgin Community College. Visit www. elgin.edu/sbdc for more information.
I'm very impressed with the amount of valuable connections the Chamber has provided through their high-caliber events and experiences. I'm so grateful for everything they do for their members! - Sean Rosensteel www.seanrosensteel.com
Click on "NEWS AND RESOURCES" on www.stcharleschamber.com for more information.
Illinois Small Business Development Center at Elgin Community College New opportunity at ECC! The Illinois Small Business Development Centers provide one-on-one business consultation; assistance with business, management and marketing plans; financial assessment and guidance; in-depth business training and more. The Illinois SBDC also provides specialized services in technology, innovation and entrepreneurial development. We have a new program opened at ECC, which is ready for you to sign up.
Contact information for the SBDC: SARA TROYER Director and Business Analyst Phone: 847-214-7488 Email: stroyer@elgin.edu
TABLE OF CONTENTS Prioritizing cash flow .....................................................................................1 Illinois Small Business Development Center ............................................ 2 St. Charles Chamber Board of Directors ...................................................4 Manufacturing outlook .................................................................................. 5 Meet the candidates ...................................................................................... 5 Why be a member............................................................................................ 7 Marketing strategies ......................................................................................8 Navigating the pandemic at your workplace..................................... 10-11 Support local ....................................................................................................11 www.stcharleschamber.com
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216 S. Riverside Ave., St. Charles, IL 60174
(630) 584-8384 • Fax (630) 584-6065
www.stcharleschamber.com
Becoming a Member is EASY and Affordable!
Check us out online at www.stcharleschamber.com Call, e-mail, or stop on by! St. Charles Chamber of Commerce 216 S. Riverside Avenue • St. Charles, IL 60174 Phone: (630) 584-8384 • Fax: (630) 584-6065 Email: info@stcharleschamber.com
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St. Charles Chamber of Commerce BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
RYAN ANDERSON Chair HighWire Networks
DEBBIE GURLEY Vice Chair Miscella Real Estate
NICK BROOKS Treasurer DHJJ, Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors
DIRECTORS
JOSHUA FEAGANS Griffin | Williams LLP
BIL PAPP P&F Business Advisors
DAVE FROLICSTEIN Frolicstein Financial Wealth Management
RENEE RAYMOND Ameriprise
JOYCE GILBERT Association of Nutrition & Food Service
CHRIS SCHEJBAL AAA Schejbal Insurance Agency
STEVE MARTIN First State Bank
LAURA SHAW Kane Country Chronicle
SHARON SPERO Ex-Officio & Past Chairman of the Board Money Mailer of Fox River Valley
ANGELA MCCRUM LivingWell Cancer Resource Center
RITA TUNGARE City of St. Charles Ex-officio
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St. Charles Chamber of Commerce NEWSLETTER WSLETTER
ZOOM EVENT TO PRESENT
MANUFACTURING OUTLOOK
The webinar will be presented by the CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Meet the
CANDIDATES
By Pat Szpekowski
AUGUST 25TH • 8:30 A.M. 6th Congressional District Candidate: Jeanne Ives (R) AUGUST 25TH • 4:30 P.M. 6th Congressional District Candidate: Sean Casten (D) SEPTEMBER 1ST • 9 A.M. 14th Congressional District Candidates: Lauren Underwood (D) and Jim Oberweis (R)
I
llinois is a leading manufacturing state, and the Fox Valley area is home to many dynamic manufacturers, distributors and packaging companies.
With many issues facing these industries during the pandemic, what’s in store for the future?
To help area businesses learn about the outlook on Illinois manufacturing, join a Zoom discussion at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 2. It will be presented by Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, founded in 1893, represents 4,000 members. Denzler started in his current position in January 2019 after serving previously as vice president and COO. “Understanding the current state of manufacturing from such a senior leader as Mark will be great for the manufacturing community,” said Jim Di Ciaula, president and CEO of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. Kathy Gilmore, president of the 220-member Valley Industrial Association in Geneva, agreed. “Mark is highly respected and has the pulse on everything,” she said. “He is a fierce advocate of the manufacturing industry in our state.” The event is hosted by the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce Industrial Committee, along with the Valley Industrial
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Association and the Batavia and Geneva chambers of commerce. According to its website, the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce Industrial Committee “develops and strengthens the relationships between industrial businesses, educational community, government and entire business community as a means to attract and retain industrial business to St. Charles.” Members of the committee are: Cheryl Flood of Practical HR Support Services Ltd., Robert Ferrigan Jr. of West Suburban Bank, Peter Schwartz of Streng Agency, Carol Smith of St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, Mark Taylor of Clearview Sales Solutions, Anne Hauca of Elgin Community College, Muhummad Starks of Schramm Construction, Laura Swarts of Flexicorps (a subsidiary of Vertex Resources Group), Bo Smith of Strategic Enhancements Group, Dee Johnson of Supporting Strategies and Anita Tyndall of The Packaging Source.
SEPTEMBER 9TH • 8:30 A.M. 25th District Candidates for Illinois Senate: Karina Villa (D) and Jeanette Ward (R) SEPTEMBER 17TH • 8:30 A.M. 65th District Illinois House of Representatives: Martha Paschke (D) and Dan Ugaste (R) SEPTEMBER 30TH • 8:30 A.M. 49th District Illinois House of Representatives: Maura Hirschauer (D) and Laura Curtis (R) IN PROCESS OF SCHEDULING 50th District Illinois House of Representatives: Kate Monteleone (D) and Keith Wheeler (R)
THE FORMAT WILL BE
I. II.
Welcome Introduction by each candidate • Overview • Background/Experience • Platform • Top 3-5 priorities if elected Q&A from Audience
Committee sponsors are CIBC and West Suburban Bank.
III.
Members of the St. Charles Chamber Legislative Committee and its sponsors will also be recognized during the presentation.
Hosted by the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and the Legislative Committee
Registration for the event with a $10 fee is available through the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. There will also be time for audience Q&A.
Click on "COMMUNITY" on www.stcharleschamber.com for more information.
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St. Charles Chamber of Commerce  THANK YOU
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WHY BE A MEMBER? At the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, we: • are invested in our member’s success • provide business advocacy • are connections-focused • offer a breadth and depth of quality programs and experience The Chamber Provides: • Business Support Services • Educational Programming • Networking & Relationship Building There are a few key factors one should consider in determining whether or not a membership in the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce is right for you? • Is your goal as a company to grow your business and/or engage with the community? • Are you looking for quality connections that will lead to personal and professional growth as well as business opportunity?
Complete
Entry & Exit Services for Industrial Assets • Turn-Key Building Solutions • Loading Dock Equipment • Hollow Metal Doors • Sectional & Rolling Doors • Concrete & Masonry Services
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• Will you be able to commit some of your time to engage and participate in one or more of our quality programs, environments and experiences? If the answers to these questions are YES, we would love to partner with you on your journey. We look forward to connecting with you soon.
Click on "ABOUT MEMBERSHIP" on www.stcharleschamber.com for more information.
As someone new to the area, I found it difficult to grow my business. Joining the Chamber connected me to networking events that have been instrumental in helping me connect with other business owners. Amber Grady Fuller, AGF Services
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St. Charles Chamber of Commerce NEWSLETTER
MARKETING STRATEGIES — KEEP MOVING FORWARD Here are three strategies to weather this storm By Leah Hoppes
A
s the madness of 2020 continues, the most important thing to remember is just as every other tumultuous time has passed, this, too, will pass. Understanding this is not going to last forever will help keep things in perspective and help you continue to reassess, reinvent and, most importantly, keep moving forward.
HERE ARE THREE CRITICAL MARKETING STRATEGIES TO WEATHER CURRENT AND FUTURE STORMS: BUILD A STRONG DIGITAL PRESENCE. You need a mobile-friendly website, a strong social media presence on the platforms your audience engages on, and search engine optimization (SEO) so people who don’t know you can find you. DIVERSIFICATION. Offering additional services, finding new industries to serve and/ or adding revenue streams will help you both now and in the future. AVOID GLIB LANGUAGE. Stop doing what everyone else is doing — the public quickly tires of it. There are many overused phrases, but I’ve selected a couple cringeworthy phrases you should avoid as much as the plague — er, virus. X
“IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES” In truth, there is no “certain” time, rendering this phrase meaningless.
X
“NEW NORMAL” Avoid using words that are
demoralizing and elicit strong negative reactions of stress and anxiety; that is not what you want associated with your brand. The key to marketing this year is to remain nimble and continue to innovate. Resist the temptation to do what everyone else is doing by putting out distressing, disempowering messages because if you make people feel like it’s the end of the world, it actually deters people from making buying decisions. Use this time to position your brand in a positive light by creating a message that cuts through the noise, counters all of the negativity and elevates your audience and your brand. LEAH HOPPES is an experienced speaker, trainer, marketing consultant, marketing coach and public speaking coach. The author of two books, she works with businesses to help them leverage the power of marketing to achieve business growth.
Click on "TOOLS AND SERVICES" on www.stcharleschamber.com for more information.
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RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & MUNICIPAL 8
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Fall Clean-up for a Beautiful 2021 Spring!
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A huge thank you to ALL the First Responders/First Liners out there who have been working non stop since this all started.
www.stcharleschamber.com
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St. Charles Chamber of Commerce NEWSLETTER
NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC AT YOUR WORKPLACE
Preventative measures and compassion are both important By Hannah Hoffmeister
W
hen navigating the workplace and COVID-19 — whether that’s returning to the office, staying home or dealing with a confirmed case — prioritize safety and compassion, experts said at a webinar in early July. “We’re learning more about COVID every day,” said Michael Isaacson, assistant director of community health for the Kane County Health Department. “What this pandemic has shown us is how we respond as a society is partially based on science and partially based on human behavior.” Isaacson, human resources consultant Cheryl Flood and lawyer Jeff Risch gave a virtual presentation on COVID-19 in the workplace, hosted by Jim Di Ciaula, president and CEO of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce.
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“First and foremost is employee and customer safety, which can differ by location or company,” Flood said in a phone interview. “Second, we really need to take a peek into our humanistic side too. This is something we’re all going through together.” Flood emphasized the need to effectively communicate with employees about new policies related to the virus. From an HR standpoint, it’s your right to check in with employees about whether they’ve traveled recently to a state with a high rate of infection, she said. “Those questions are pertinent to being able to keep your environment safe,” Flood said. “What if you don’t ask the question and what if your employee gets COVID? It’s a brutal truth.”
In his presentation, Isaacson went over data on outbreaks in workplaces, common symptoms of the virus and reopening guidelines. From a public health standpoint, he stressed that taking protective measures and keeping businesses open during the pandemic are both possible. “We can have the economy moving forward in a positive direction and at the same time take protective measures to make sure we’re limiting the spread of illness,” he said. “The economy and health are not mutually exclusive.” If someone in your workplace tests positive, he advised communicating with all employees and notifying the health department, which can help you find ways to prevent future spread.
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He stressed the importance of handwashing, maintaining social distances (which varies by industry), sanitizing frequently (clean bathrooms every hour or two), using technology to avoid face-to-face meetings and wearing face masks. “The good news is that the spread of illness can be prevented,” Isaacson said. “We may not be able to 100% keep it from coming into our workplace, but there are certainly many, many strategies we can put into place to limit its spread.”
Photo by Homesbymarco.com
St. Charles Chamber of Commerce NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT LOCAL
Chamber offers gift cards that work at area businesses
MORE RESOURCES To access COVID-19 business tools and resources, including documents mentioned in the webinar, visit www. stcharleschamber.com/covid19. To watch the Zoom mentioned in this story, visit the chamber COVID-19 resource page and click “An employee notifies you that you that they have COVID – Webinar.” To view a dashboard of Kane County’s COVID-19 data, visit www.kanehealth.com.
By Hannah Hoffmeister
Y
ou’ve probably heard the saying before: “Support local.” But what about “gift local”?
The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce is offering gift cards that can be used at area businesses. Buying a gift card ensures your dollars are spent on local businesses, which positively impact the whole community.
the hundreds of options. The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce’s website has a complete listing of businesses that accept the gift cards.
The gift cards can be purchased online or over the phone in amounts of $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100. Customized amounts must be purchased over the phone.
“Locally owned businesses build strong communities by creating more jobs locally, sustaining a vibrant City, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes, which enriches our entire community,” said Jim Di Ciaula, president and CEO of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce.
As St. Charles navigates the pandemic, supporting local businesses is more important than ever. Vintage 53, Pinot’s Palette and McNally’s pub are just three of
The gift cards don’t expire, so you can even buy one now and use it for holiday shopping later in the year. One thing is for sure: Local businesses will be grateful for your support!
Click on "SHOP LOCAL" on www.stcharleschamber.com for more information and a complete listing of businesses.
A CELEBRATED DESIGN. A LASTING IMPRESSION.
www.stcharleschamber.com
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Proudly serving the City of St. Charles, St. Charles Township, Village of Campton Hills & surrounding communities
e? u s s i s i th n i U O Y Are
216 S. Riverside Ave., St. Charles, IL 60174
SM-CL1803111
(630) 584-8384 • Fax (630) 584-6065 www.stcharleschamber.com
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