SVM_Business Journal_061022

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

A FREE PUBLICATION OF

l al rea c o l o yt ess e ” are s a ke cy’s succ i y l i “Bros ing a nam es Fam te agen v k l ma hemse esta for t he local cene on t aurant s rest

ealer Car d kes an ma ent to tm inves ep the GM er e k togeth y famil

inside 3 Family is a key part of their business

Publisher/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editor & Page design Rusty Schrader

Three generations help turn houses into homes for clients at a Sterling real estate agency.

Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222

6 Bros make a name for themselves: Daryl

Have a story idea for Sauk Valley Business Journal? Let us know ...

Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com

The best friends behind a Sterling restaurant are willing to go the extra smile for their customers.

Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Sauk Valley Business Journal may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

12 No lack of Caddies around here

Not every market has the luxury of a local Cadillac dealer, but thanks to a Dixon dealership, the Sauk Valley still does.

PROUDLY SERVING YOU SINCE 1902 www.FarmersNationalBank.bank

x

Celebrating our Communities with 120 acts of kindness

FARMERS NATIONAL BANK

Geneseo — Prophetstown — Morrison

2

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

F a l l

2 0 2 1

Family is a key part of their business Three generations help turn houses into homes for clients

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

STERLING — Korinna Ramirez’s real estate license is just 4 months old, but the young Sterling agent already has a few closings to her name.

Still, there comes a time when any new agent needs a little help. Thankfully, Ramirez doesn’t have to look far to find it. A quick call to Mom, or if she’s busy, Grandpa and Grandma.

While family is always there to help, Korinna’s mom and grandparents also know quite a bit about making the dream of owning a home a reality. That’s because they’re her co-workers at Bardier and Ramirez Real Estate.

Family businesses aren’t all that unusual, but finding one with three generations working at the same time isn’t quite as common. Korinna’s grandparents, Lee and Bobbie Bardier, 67 and 72, have been helping clients find homes for more than 20 years. Jill Ramirez, 46, Korinna’s mother, has more than 15 years of experience in the business.

“It’s extremely helpful because I’m still new, and I can bounce back to both of them and they can help me and explain stuff that they may not teach you in the real estate classes,” Korinna, 26, said. “It’s nice to have that experience.”

FAMILY cont’d to page 4

Real estate runs in the family at Bardier and Ramirez Real Estate in Sterling, where clients will find three generations of family taking care of business. From left: Korinna Ramirez, her grandparents, Bobbie and Lee Bardier, and her mom, Jill Ramirez.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

3

FAMILY cont’d from page 3 With three generations of experience among them, each family member brings their own talents and experience to the table.

Lee’s a Baby Boomer, Jill’s part of Generation X, and Korinna’s a Millennial, but one thing they all have in common is a desire to find the right home for their clients. That’s where their combined talents come in handy. They can talk things over and bounce ideas off each other.

“It’s nice that we’re on a team because with the way the market is moving, you have to move fast,” Jill said. “If someone calls and says, ‘I want to see this house tomorrow,’ it might be sold tomorrow. So if [Lee’s] busy, I can show it, or [Korinna] can show it, and so it’s nice to help each other out.”

That support not only helps the family, but their customers, too.

“It’s a smoother transaction,” Lee said. “Because you have the family involved, the rapport is different. I’ve learned to rely on Jill probably more than I would if she was just somebody else.

We’ll do the same with Korinna. The trust is a lot stronger. You just know that when they say they are going to do it, you’re not concerned about it.”

The Bardiers met in the late 1990s while working in the healthcare field in Florida. They later married and went into real estate to help supplement their existing jobs, and then became full-time agents. They moved to Sterling, where Bobbie had raised her children, in 2004 and worked for a Re/Max agency before establishing their own agency in April 2021.

FAMILY cont’d to page 5

4

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

More info Bardier & Ramirez Real Estate 415 Locust St, Suite B (Library Plaza), Sterling 815-213-7401 Online: bardier-ramirez.com and on Facebook

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

2 0 2 2

FAMILY cont’d from page 4 Lee and Bobbie utilized a team approach to sales during their years at Re/Max, tapping in to each others’ talents and skills. Jill joined Re/Max in 2006 and the trio became the “Bardier Team” — almost like an agency within an agency.

Having Jill on board helped expand their reach into another market. She could speak Spanish, which proved to be a big help in a city such as Sterling where there is a large Hispanic population.

When she started, Jill was the only bilingual agent in Sterling.

“They had a lot of Hispanic clients that didn’t speak English, and I could speak Spanish,” Jill said. “I went along with them at times and helped translate for them. Then they wanted to see if I could look into getting my license. It sounded like a good idea, and I did it.”

Bobbie is the agency’s office manager, and the first person clients meet.

She points people in the right direction and makes sure the business is running smooth. She’ll often accompany Lee on home visits, but also lends a hand to Jill and Korinna when they need it.

If there’s a client who’s close to Korinna’s age, chances are Bobbie will point them to her direction.

“People her age are starting to buy houses now, and it’s good for her to help her friends find them,” Bobbie said.

Every now and again while growing up, Korinna would surf through her mom and grandparents’ listings and dream about what it would be like to live in nice places like those, or even show them off to someone.

Today, she’s helping others experience the emotions that come with buying a home.

“When they walk in the home and go, ‘Oh, this is the one!’ It’s exciting to see that reaction,” Korinna said. “Especially with a first-time home buyer, it’s nice.

It’s exciting.”

She’s enjoying her time helping people find their new homes, and it’s been a joy for both her mother and grandparents to see Korinna follow in their footsteps.

“It’s nice to pass down the knowledge that you’ve picked up along the years,” Lee said. “I’ve passed it down to Jill, she’s going to pass it down to Korinna. It’s nice to know that if Bobbie and I decide to retire from the business, that we’re going to leave it in good hands.” n

RECOGNIZE IT. REPORT IT.

24/7 ELDER ABUSE HOTLINE

Blood-borne Pathogen Training Wellness Programming, Health Risk Assessments & Ongoing Progress Monitoring Cholesterol, Blood Pressure & Glucose Screenings Vaccinations/Immunizations OSHA Compliant Respiratory Monitoring Programming & Fit Testing Corporate Onsite Drug Free Workplace Programming & Testing Corporate On-Site Nursing And much more!

1-866-800-1409 Only 1 in 24 cases of elder abuse are reported, while 1 in 6 adults 60 or older experienced abuse in the past year.

Learn more about Lifescape's Adult Protective Services program at www.lifescapeservices.org

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

5

m a n e a for the e k a m m s s a c l o l o f o e o e r h d t B s n cen lves o e .. .

Daryl

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

The best friends behind a Sterling restaurant are willing to go the extra smile for their customers

Hi. This is a story about brother Daryl, and his other brother Daryl, and the restaurant they run: Brother Daryl’s.

Sensing a theme here? If it’s one that makes you smile, that’s just how the pair behind a Sterling restaurant like it.

Daryl and Daryl are actually Chris Schueler and Tony Walters, self-proclaimed “bros” and best friends who’ve found a home for their talent with tastes at Brother Daryl’s, at 406 Ave. G. Brother Daryl’s, with Schueler as owner and Walters managing it, opened its doors in October. It’s the culmination of a journey that started more than 20 years ago, took them to a food tent, and eventually grew into a place of their own.

The carryout restaurant keeps things simple and fun, with no shortage of bro-themed dishes — Breakfast Bro Rito, anyone?

The only thing you won’t find on the menu is a lot of is seriousness. That’s a no-go, bro.

“Anything that we can fit ‘Bro’ in, we’re doing it,” Walters said.

“Anything that we can come up with that’s going to get someone to go, ‘These guys ...’ We don’t want to get too serious.”

One of those Bro items is a well-rounded dish that’s been a big hit with customers since the two first came up with them: the Bro Taters potato rounds with a sweet seasoned salt taste to them. They come as a side with some of the dishes, or can be ordered separately. The rounds became a big seller when the pair had their food tent, and the flavor favorite hasn’t changed since those days — or has it?

The pair spent a lot of time perfecting the blend of their special seasoning, but never wrote down an exact recipe. When they were getting ready for their first tent event, they had to jog their memory, and sprinkle in a little thinking on the fly.

DARYL cont’d to page 7

6

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

FACEBOOK

The Daryls behind Brother Daryl’s: owner Chris Schueler (left) and manager Tony Walters.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

FACEBOOK

Left: Brother Daryl’s Bro-rito, is stuffed with scrambled eggs, shredded cheddar, chorizo and choice of Bro Taters or redskin potatoes.

Right: Brother Daryl’s Bro Taters, seasoned potato rounds, are a customer favorite, and one of the Daryls’ earliest specialties.

DARYL cont’d from page 6 “The day before our first event, I was like, ‘Tony, what was in that recipe?’” Schueler said. “He had a pretty good idea, I thought he was right. So it might be the exact same, but it might be a little different than our first one.”

Either way, the recipe they landed on continues to be a crowd pleaser. “I’ve had people ask for extra seasoning, and

I’ve even given away some of the seasoning to other guys to put in steaks, chickens and ribs,” Schueler said.

The rounds also come in the Bro-rito, along with scrambled eggs, shredded cheddar and chorizo wrapped in a flour tortilla; diced redskin potatoes can be substituted for the tater rounds.

DARYL cont’d to page 8

Understanding Your Social Security Options

As you transition to the next season of life allow us to help you with your • Social Security Maximization Strategies • 401K Rollover • Medicare Supplement Call us today to schedule your in person or phone consultation.

We are HERE to HELP YOU!

Providing Care....offering Hope Sinnissippi Centers offers a wide variety of behavioral healthcare services for individuals of all ages. We’re here when you need us • Treatment for mental illness & substance use • Individual and family counseling • Child and adolescent services • Crisis services

315 S. Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL

Brett Nicklaus, CFP® • 815-288-5800 Not affiliated or endorsed by Social Security Administration or any government Agency.

Securities and advisory services offered through Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc., an unaffiliated entity member FINRA & SIPC.

B u s i n e s s

Dixon, Mt. Carroll, Oregon, Rochelle Sterlinga

800-242-7642 www.sinnissippi.org

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

7

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Brother Daryl's is located at 406 Ave. G in Sterling. It's open 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

DARYL cont’d from page 7 The menu continues to go with the Bro flow with the Lil Bro and Big Bro breakfasts — the Lil Bro with scrambled eggs, a biscuit, Bro taters and two sausage links; and the Big Bro with all that plus a pair of pancakes (Deuce Cakes, and the bros call them).

And it wouldn’t be breakfast without a bowl on the table — just don’t look for any cereal in this one. The Brothers Bowl has a mix of Bro Tater Rounds, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, ham and shredded cheddar, all smothered with sausage gravy.

Another customer favorite is one the bros made a real mess of, much to their customers’ delight. The Mess is a heaping helping of scrambled eggs, grilled onions, bell peppers, bacon, sausage, ham and diced redskin potatoes, topped with shredded cheddar cheese.

Walters has been a cook at a number of Sterling and Rock Falls food establishments for more than 20 years, while Schueler has worked in sales and insurance over that time. Through the years they would find themselves working together from time to time, including their stint more than 20 years ago flipping burgers at McDonalds.

When Walters left his previous cooking position in the middle of 2020, he talked with Schueler about the idea of having a go with his bro at starting something on their own.

“We literally had one phone call and we’re like, ‘Let’s start a

8

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

food truck,’” Walters said.

The truck wound up being a tent instead. No truck, no problem. Their food was still a hit.

“It took us about 5 months before we got started, but we got there,” Walters added. “We started with a tent and that generated the income we needed that eventually led to here. We worked to the bone all summer long and had a real good time doing it.”

When they decided on a name, they found one in the Nick of time, courtesy of three backwood brothers who were part of an inn crowd.

Reruns of comedian Bob Newhart’s classic comedy, “Newhart,” ran on Nick-at-Nite during the late 1990s and early 2000s, bringing the 1980s sitcom about a Vermont inn-keeper to a younger audience, including both Schueler and Walters. A trio of recurring characters on the show turned their greeting into a popular catchphrase that caught on during the show’s original run, and continued to catch on decades later: “Hi. I’m Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl.” That line stuck with Schueler and Walters.

“That’s where it all came about, that one scene of ‘This is my brother Daryl, and this is my other brother Daryl,’” Schueler said. “We were just being stupid, calling everybody Daryl.”

S u m m e r

DARYL cont’d to page 10

2 0 2 2

Mabley is Hiring Medical Administrator (Licensed Physician)

Salary: $98.77-$132.76/hour Registered Nurses starting at

$6,176-$6,883/month Mental Health Technicians Trainee (Similar to a Nursing Assistant) starting at

$3,202-$3,647/month

Psychologist Associate/Psychologist starting at

$4,162-$6,699/month Social Worker III starting at

$5,326-$7,530/month Health Benefits, Annual salary increases, sick/vacation/personal days

CALL TODAY! 815-288-8340

DHS.MABLEYHR@ILLINOIS.GOV B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

9

DARYL cont’d from page 8

promote their lunch specials, usually the day before they’re served.

One recent special was a Sloppy Bro, a sloppy Joe-like sandwich that was extra sloppy: meat piled high and overflowing on a bun. Its choice as a lunch special was inspired by another comedy: the Adam Sandler film “Billy Madison,” in particular the scene of a lunch lady whipping out sloppy Joe sandwiches with an attitude.

The Sloppy Bro became such a hit that it recently was added to the full-time menu.

“We did it and we took it to the extreme,” Schueler said. “The moment you say ‘sloppy Joe’ when thinking of ‘Billy Madison’ the very first funny line you think of is ‘Extra sloppy!’”

The bros pride themselves on personalized customer service with a side order of fun, and it starts the minute someone calls in an order.

They answer the phone with an enthusiastic “Broooooooooooother Daryls!”

“That’s what sets us apart more than anything else.” Schueler said. “It’s us interacting with each other, our other employees, and then with the customers all at the same time. They’re definitely smiling and laughing.” n

Schueler became “Daryl” and Walters became the other brother “Daryl.” Friends became “Daryls.” It was Daryls all around. The friendly shtick would inspire the name of the pair’s Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball team when that event was in town for many years.

“We figured we were going to lose anyway, so we might as well just confuse everybody by calling each other Daryl,” Walters said. “We had Daryls one through four, with T-shirts.”

It got to the point where some people actually thought that Daryl was their real name. That only grew the Daryl lore.

“I worked with him at The Dog House for a little while between jobs, and I was off one day when someone came by and asked, ‘Where’s Daryl at?’” Schueler said. “Tony’s like, ‘Who? I don’t have a Daryl that works here.’ He was like, ‘Yeah you do, you called him Daryl the entire day.’”

Breakfast takes up much of their business during its 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. hours Wednesday through Sunday, but the menu does feature some lunch items, including hot dogs. Schueler and Walters make the social media rounds on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and will

Your Partner

in Business

Brother Darylls, 406 Ave. G in Sterling, is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Contact: 815-5908513, brotherdarylsllc@ gmail.com, or www. brotherdaryls.com/ contact Orders can be phoned in or placed online — call the number above or go to brotherdaryls.com. Pickup and delivery are available.

Want to bring the bros to you? Give them a call to have them set up their tent at your event. They also offering catering services.

Online: brotherdaryls. com, on Facebook and Instagram (@brotherdaryls).

At Community State Bank, we’re all about you. We’re a community bank owned by local people and our mission is to make sure our customers are successful.

We offer a variety of progressive banking services, including: Checking Accounts Mortgages – apply online, call or stop by Construction loans Home equity loans Savings, CDs, IRAs, and Health Savings Accounts Online Banking and Bill Pay Debit cards 24-hour ATMs Mobile Banking FULTON

DIXON 1021 North Galena Avenue (815) 284-8500

NMLS #480435

SM-ST1985161

MORRISON

10

Call or visit today and experience the Community State Bank difference. You’ll like the way we do banking!

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

1325 17th Street (815) 589-9090

ROCK FALLS

STERLING

220 E. Main Street 1801 First Avenue 3210 E. Lincolnway (815) 625-1110 (815) 625-4300 (815) 772-4011

2 0 2 2

www.commstbk.com

Sauk Valley Media is proud to bring you local stories about the people you know and the places you go in our line of Living magazines. Published throughout the year and mailed directly to residents, our Living magazines feature the faces and places that make up the landscape of the Sauk Valley — friends and neighbors, businesses and industries, hometown history, and more.

Business puts nature on the right tract

Pizzeria owner is one happy fella

Go on a map quest to Carroll County’s past

PLUS ...

Where Is It? Carroll County

Carroll County Living | Dixon Living | Ogle County Living

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

Certified therapy dog is a pawsitive influence

Historic Dixon Theatre: 100 years of quality throughout

The crown has been passed at Dixon High School

Plus ...

Where Is It, in Dixon?

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

River City Living (Albany/Fulton/Clinton, Iowa) | Small-Town Living East (rural Lee County) Small-Town Living West (rural Whiteside County) | Sterling-Rock Falls Living

WANT TO READ ALL ABOUT IT? When volunteers took on the task of rebuilding a crumbling piece of Mount Carroll’s history, they were determined to leave no stone unturned *****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

The best burgers Shop has enough Candy lovers are just around knick-knacks have found their the corner to fill a Palace sweet spot

Leaf River store Chicks all the boxes

Go to saukvalley.com and click on the Online Newspaper link at the top of the page, then scroll down to the magazine rack to see our complete line of local magazines A local group has been the FACE of philanthropy in Fulton for more than a decade

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

A pair of River City-area revolutionaries witnessed the birth of a nation

Take a closer look and see if you can recognize some sites in Clinton and Fulton

Backtracking ...

A look back at the history of Lee

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

Winter 2021

Business is near and beer to brewers’ hearts

Remembering Van Petten’s Mr. & Mrs. Mayor

Daughters tell the story of our nation

Grange finds common ground in America’s soil

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

Deer Grove business puts its own spin on sweetness

Couple has helped bring oodles of Doodles into the world

*****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

Ready for fun, player one? You’ll find it at a Rock Falls pub

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

Ever wonder where Sterling parks got their names?

Where there’s a Mill, there’s a way for crafters to be creative

Plus ...

Where Is It, in Sterling?

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

A FREE PUBLICATION OF

outside the

Page

14

A Sterling church is showing young people that mixed martial arts is about more than just getting their kicks; it’s about getting closer to God — and themselves

Not anymore *****ECRWSSEDDM***** *****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

Postal Customer PHOTO COURTESY TANNER SKIFF

*****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

People are raising a glass, and their spirits, at a Franklin Grove business they haven’t seen the likes of in more than 70 years: A bar

*****ECRWSSEDDM*****

*****ECRWSSEDDM*****

Postal Customer

Postal Customer

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER MAGAZINES, TOO We make it our business to talk about your business, in the Sauk Valley Business Journal Look into our Kaleidoscope and see stories that focus on the 50 and over crowd Our Ag Mag takes a look at what’s going on — and growing on — in the local farm community We cover the Lake Lifestyle in the Lake Carroll community

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

11

No lack of Caddies around here Not every market has the luxury of a local Cadillac dealer, but thanks to Dixon dealership, the Sauk Valley still does

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

If you’re looking for a new Cadillac, there’s only one place between Rockford and the Quad Cities that’ll have them on their lot, and it’s right here in the Sauk Valley.

Ken Nelson Auto Group sealed a deal to remain a member of an exclusive club, as one of only 500 licensed Cadillac dealers in the nation.

It wasn’t that long ago that most General Motors dealers carried Cadillacs along with the company’s other brands, but that’s no longer the case.

12

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

GM gave its dealers a choice in 2020: continue to invest in their facilities’ equipment, tools, and training to in order to stay on as an authorized Cadillac dealer, or take a buyout and sell the franchise back to the manufacturer. Though many dealers in northern Illinois took the company up on the buyout offer, the team Ken Nelson decided they weren’t going to be one of the dealers to let Cadillac drive off their lot.

S u m m e r

CADILLAC cont’d to page 13

2 0 2 2

CADILLAC cont’d from page 12 If Ken Nelson had taken the buyout, customers would have to leave town to get a new Cadillac or get their Caddy serviced by an authorized dealer.

It wasn’t a decision they took lightly, but it’s one they felt was important to make.

“It’s a major investment, but we believe it’s important to our employees, our consumers and It’s a major investment, but our local economy we believe it’s important to keep the sales tax locally versus giving it to our employees, our up to some other marconsumers and our ket where consumers local economy to keep would go to,” said Ken the sales tax locally Nelson President Rick versus giving it up to Curia. some other market.”

He didn’t want to Rick Curia, see that happen, not Ken Nelson Auto Group President only for his dealership’s sake, but the local economy’s. Having the only Cadillac dealership in the area will also bring fresh eyes to Dixon, who will not only spend money on a new Cadillac, and return for service, but see what the city has to offer and hopefully spend some other money here, too.

CADILLAC cont’d to page 14

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Customers looking for a luxury ride, like this 2022 Cadillac XT4, won’t have to travel out of town to find one. Dixon’s Ken Nelson Auto Group is the only local authorized Cadillac dealer in the area.

Serving Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Bureau and Ogle Counties • • • •

Weekly residential service 2-8 yard commercial containers 10-40 yard roll-off containers Compactors, radio-dispatched trucks and experienced local drivers • Licensed special waste & asbestos hauler

1214 S. Bataan Road | Dixon, IL 815.625.1000 or 815.284.2432 RepublicServices.com ®2018 Republic Services, Inc. SM-ST1985744

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

13

CADILLAC cont’d from page 13

More info

Cadillac is planning to make a major push to transition nearly all its vehicles to all-electric by 2030, according to GM expectations. That means investing in upgraded equipment to keep them on the road would need to begin a decade in advance — and that means an investment of at least $200,000. Buyout offers to dealers ranged from around $300,000 to more than $1 million, according to a December 2020 Wall Street Journal report.

Nearly 880 dealers throughout the United States sold Cadillacs before GM’s buyout offers. Currently, there are only around 500.

While Cadillac pushes to become a front-runner in the U.S. electric vehicle market, other lines are soon to follow, and already having the framework in place, such as charging stations, tools and training, will give Ken Nelson a competitive edge in the coming years.

Ken Nelson Auto Group, 1100 N. Galena Ave. in Dixon, is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday. Find it on Facebook, Twitter (@KenNelsonAuto) or Instagram (@ kennelsonautogroup), go to kennelsonauto.com or call 815-288-4455 for more information. Go to cadillac.com to see what’s new for 2023.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

CADILLAC cont’d to page 15

Five-Star Skilled Nursing Facility CMS Quality Rating - CMS.gov

Feel GOOD, and make every day COUNT! Heritage specializes in: • RESTORE THERAPY: Occupational, physical, and speech therapy • Easy transitions from hospital, to Heritage, to home • Long-term skilled nursing • Medicare and Medicaid certified • Respite options available

Your Expectations Exceeded.

Ordinary Tasks Extraordinary Service

Call to schedule a tour: (815) 379-2131 Contact us for your therapy needs today!

308 S. Second Street • Walnut, Illinois HeritageOfCare.com/Walnut

14

B u s i n e s s

/HeritageHealthWalnut

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

Dixon, Sterling and Rock Falls 815/626-2511 • 815/288-7211

Email: servicemasterclean@comcast.net

www.smbycontractservices.com 2 0 2 2

CADILLAC cont’d from page 14 “One of our thoughts was that eventually the charging stations are going to be needed, the tools are going to be needed for other car lines as well, and we felt that it kind of goes parallel to what’s coming down the line,” Curia said. “So instead of taking the money for our franchise, we needed these tools and charging stations anyway, we felt that it was to our advantage to provide — to our employees and to our customers — one more car line that nobody else has.”

“We elected to keep the luxury-brand franchise with our lineup of vehicles that we have,” Curia said. “We wanted to stay as a full-line General Motors dealer, and felt it was important to keep it knowing that we are the only Cadillac dealer from Rockford to the Quad Cities. We believed it was a good investment to keep our Cadillac customers and to keep the franchise for our Cadillac customers.”

Keeping the Cadillac line also keeps existing technician jobs from going elsewhere, and makes it easier to attract future candidates for the job.

With fewer Cadillac dealers, the company can also focus more on its remaining dealers. The customers see this too, Curia said, with an improved inventory.

“If there were more dealers out there, the availability of product in these times would be more difficult,” Curia said.

So far, Ken Nelson’s decision to keep Cadillac in the family has paid off. The dealership’s Cadillac sales have doubled, a trend that Curia predicts will continue — “We’ve been pleasantly surprised with the attention we’re getting here,” he said — and as Cadillac prepares to energize its future, customers can rest assured that when it comes to local sales and service, Ken Nelson will be leading the charge. n

Cadi-facts: Did you know ... ?

• After WWII, Cadillac introduced the curved glass windshield to America, one of the key defining features of 1950s automotive design.

•Cadillac is named after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a French army officer who founded a settlement called Ville d’Etroit — known today as Detroit, Michigan.

• By 1910, Cadillac was the first manufacturer to mass-produce cars with enclosed cabins.

• In 1912 Cadillac made people less cranky by inventing the electric starter. The term “cranky” originally referred to the bad mood drivers would be in after struggling to turn the crank while starting their car. Cadillac fixed this by introducing the first electric starter on the Model 30 in 1912.

• Cadillac was the first car equipped with electric lights. This also included the debut of highbeams, or “brights,” as we call them today.

• Those pointed front bumpers from the 1950s were called Dagmars, after a popular sex symbol.

• The 1957 Eldorado Brougham came equipped with whiskey glasses. It also had memory power seats, automatic locks, low profile tires on aluminium wheels, and came with a makeup kit.

WE ACCEPT MEDICARE & MEDICAID

MALE WELLNESS PANEL

FEMALE PANEL #1

INCLUDES ALL THE TESTS BELOW AT A DISCOUNT

INCLUDES ALL THE TESTS BELOW AT A DISCOUNT PRICE

OTHER AREA LABS=$1,667.00

OTHER AREA LABS=$1,305.00

✔ CBC ✔ CMP ✔ CRP H ✔ LIPID ✔ PSA

✔ CBC ✔ CMP ✔ CRP H ✔ LIPID ✔ THYROID PROFILE ✔ COMPLETE UA

250

$

✔ TESTOSTERONE ✔ COMPLETE UA

200

$

Offering thousands of tests at prices you can afford.

We are here to help 832 N Galena Ave., Dixon Mon.-Fri 7am-4pm 815-677-9384 www.valuelab-dixon.com B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

15

From Surviving to THRIVING WE BELIEVE YOU. WE ARE HERE TO HELP. We Offer FREE and CONFIDENTIAL Services for All Genders and Ages.

• Sexual Assault Counseling • Legal Advocacy • 24-Hour Crisis Intervention • Medical Advocacy • Se Habla Español

24-Hour Hotline: 815.626.7277 • 815.288.1011

ywsauk.org Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

16

B u s i n e s s

J o u r n a l

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2