Update - February 2023

Advocacy CITY TOPICS DISCUSSED AT MAYORAL FORUM

4Spring sign-up for Energy Co-op

4Gala Awards & Recognition

4Utilize Job Fair & Job Board

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

the Chamber talking with our Key-Tiered Investors was an important step in building a relationship with our newest member of our Federal Congressional delegation. I also expressed the importance of my saying yes to the sixteen requests I have had to serve on Boards, steering groups, and committees to ensure that the voice of business is heard as we plan the area’s future.

Mike Murphy President and CEO

We had a great 2023 Gala with almost 700 in attendance at the Crowne Plaza. My remarks that night highlighted our work with our Four Core Functions.

Advocacy : I spoke about our work with other chambers around the state to ensure that the state’s 4.5-billion-dollar deficit in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was addressed along with other issues we are working on with the General Assembly. I also spoke about the work of our Development Policy Council that continues to meet monthly with city and county officials. This council also has developers and contractors working with the city and county to improve the permitting and zoning policies. Having newly elected Congresswoman Budzinski making one of her first appearances at

Business Resources & Support : Our Association Group Health Insurance plans help small employers to offer an affordable benefit to their employees which will help attract and retain employees. I mentioned our work regarding educating our members on the new requirements with the Illinois Secure Choice retirement plan and how the Chamber now offers an alternative to the State’s plan. I mentioned the tremendous opportunity we provide our members with our Economic Outlook Breakfast, getting to hear from a nationally recognized economist on the state of the economy.

Leadership & Professional Development: The highlight in this area is Leadership Springfield, having our largest class ever in 2022 and impacting them for many years to come. We also offer leadership seminars such as John Maxwell’s Live to Lead and other events that provide leadership development for everyone that attends. I also mentioned

Chamber’s Core Functions Advocacy

how excited we are about our new young professional group “RISE Springfield” and how they will have a leadership development aspect of their mission.

Visibility & Connections that Matter : The Gala itself offers tremendous opportunity to connect and to be seen by the leaders of our community. Other events like Shoes, Brew & Biz have been very successful in bringing our business community together to allow relationships to blossom.

I finished by telling them why we do all these things and many more for our members. It is to ensure that our mission statement “Enhance our members’ success and advocate on their behalf” is carried out. We need you to be successful so your business can continue to provide opportunities for your workers that will allow them to achieve their goals. We need a strong economy to support our schools, parks and other quality of life endeavors. I stated that all businesses are in the same business of providing opportunities. I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve you and rest assured that the staff at the chamber will be working every day to “Enhance your success and advocate on your behalf”.

As a significant voice of business, we support legislative policies and practices conducive for a thriving business community and local economy, and oppose those that are not.

Business Resources & Support

We connect local businesses to resources that address specific needs, protect their businesses, and increase opportunities for growth.

Leadership & Professional Development

We offer opportunities for professional growth and leadership development to members and their employees.

Visibility & Connections That Matter

We provide marketing, programming and relationship-building opportunities to help members make strategic connections.

TIERED INVESTORS

Summit Level

Leadership Level

HSHS Medical Group

Foundation Level

Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc.

Visionary Level

Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc.

Express Employment Professionals

Springfield Clinic

Premier Level

U.S. Bank

Catalyst Level

Bank of Springfield

KEB

PNC Bank

Sikich LLP

Executive Level

BUNN

Carrollton Bank

CEFCU

Security Bank, s.b.

Warren-Boynton State Bank

Tiered Investors receive recognition and enhanced services for an additional investment. To learn more, contact Mike Murphy at (217) 525-1173 x205 or mmurphy@gscc.org.

Chamber Mission: Enhance our members’ success and advocate on their behalf.

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Executive Committee Chair

Sharon Riechers .................................................... BUNN

Chair-Elect

Kayla Edwards Express Employment Professionals

1st Vice Chair

Tyler Cormeny O’Shea Builders

Vice Chair

Jennifer Call TROXELL

Vice Chair

Kevin Corbin Edward Jones

Secretary/Treasurer

Josh Shugart ..............................................................KEB

Immediate Past Chair

Mark Donovan INB

At-Large Directors

Kathyy Battee-Freeman University of Illinois Springfield

Jennifer Boyer Springfield Clinic, LLP

Chris Bullock Capitol Radio Group

Mylas Copeland Green Toyota Volkswagen Audi

Jeff Dillman MASCO Packaging & Industrial Supply, Inc.

Michelle Eccles Horace Mann

Anna Evans ......................................... Memorial Health

Josh Flanders Buzz Bomb Brewing Co.

Ronda Folkerts Hanson Professional Services Inc.

Angela Nguyen Hospital Sisters Health System

Erica Riplinger Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP

Adam Solomon Solomon Colors, Inc.

John Staff.....................................................Staff Carpet

GSCC STAFF

Mike Murphy........................................President & CEO

Lisa Schafer...........................................VP - Operations

David Earhart............................VP - Member Services

Teri Hill..............................Advertising Representative

Melissa Horn Events Manager

MAYORAL FORUM INTEREST HIGH

NUMEROUS CITY ISSUES DISCUSSED

The Chamber held a Mayoral Forum on January 25th at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. Incumbent Mayor Jim Langfelder and challenger and current City Treasurer Misty Buscher were featured in a 90-minute discussion moderated by retired State Journal-Register political writer and columnist Bernie Schoenburg. Hardly an empty seat was available in the LRS Theatre for this issues-focused forum.

Topics ranged from city affairs such as red-light cameras, parking meters, what to do with the Y-block and more. The conversation also touched on current state and national issues.

The followings excerpts are from the Illinois Times coverage of the event.

RELATIONSHIP WITH CITY COUNCIL: Buscher said she would work to mend relations with, and communication between, the mayor’s office and the 10 alderpersons when it comes to matters in front of the council. The mayor casts a potentially tie-breaking 11th vote on the council.

Council members “seem to go on a fact-finding mission on most Tuesday nights,” Buscher said. “We need to communicate as an administration what’s on the agenda, why it’s on the agenda, and answer their questions. … I want our aldermen to be empowered to do their job. They are the people who touch our citizens every day.”

Langfelder said he has a “good relationship” with the council that has benefited the city, though he said during the forum that the council blocked some initiatives he favored.

He alluded to a report from Business Insider, a New York-based business and financial news website, that in 2020 proclaimed Springfield the best city in America to live after the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve done that by keeping the council together, as well as our community, during these very challenging and difficult times for all of us,” Langfelder said.

“Direct communication” with the mayor’s office is always available to council members, he said. He added that his deputy mayor calls each council member every week about upcoming agenda items, and there’s a council coordinator who can assist members as well.

WYNDHAM CITY CENTRE: A proposal by New York-based real estate developer David Mitchell to convert and renovate the aging hotel, a downtown landmark, into market-rate apartments, hotel

rooms and convention space has been stalled by three council votes denying Mitchell’s zoning variance requests to create more than the 200 apartment units allowed under current zoning.

Langfelder has been frustrated by council opposition to Mitchell’s plans for a $40 million acquisition and renovation of the 30-floor hotel. The mayor said at the debate he would like to see 225 to 250 hotel rooms remain. Mitchell’s latest offer to the city would preserve 125 hotel rooms for convention-related and other clients and create 274 market-rate apartments. The mayor previously proposed Mitchell maintain up to 150 apartments, an option the council shot down.

Buscher said there are some apartments already in the Wyndham, and she doesn’t want to see any more at the site. Downtown vendors worry that a decrease in hotel rooms for conventions downtown would reduce their customer base more than any increased consumer spending from new apartment dwellers, she said.

RELATIONSHIP WITH LABOR UNIONS: Langfelder said union leaders aren’t supporting him this election cycle, which is surprising to many rank-and-file members. But he said he has a good relationship with unions and supports project labor agreements on city-funded projects.

Buscher received more than $25,000 in campaign contributions from labor unions in the fourth quarter of 2022, including from Laborers Local 477 and unions representing iron workers, plumbers and sheet-metal workers. “My relationship with unions is, I’m a woman of my word, and the unions know I’m a woman of my word,” she said.

She said the city hasn’t done a good enough job enforcing project labor agreements and prevailing-wage rules. “Labor knows that I will enforce the rules we have on the books, and that’s all they’re asking for,” she said.

SECOND WATER SOURCE: Langfelder said he supports developing an additional lake as a water source for the city to supplement Lake Springfield, the city’s primary drinking-water supply, during severe droughts. An environmental-impact evaluation of the proposed Hunter Lake proposal is expected later in 2023 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

- Continued on page 16 -

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIGH UTILITY RATES

TAKE ACTION NOW!

The Chamber continues to partner with nationally recognized energy management experts and consultants, CQI Associates, to run the cooperative. CQI’s 25-plus years of experience provides the best option for stabilizing your utility expenses. Competitive rates are obtained by leveraging aggregated usage from members of 23 Chambers of Commerce. The increased purchasing power allows members to receive lower rates than they could typically attain on their own.

This program is only available to Chamber members who receive their electric and/or natural gas services through Ameren. If your business or organization is a substantial user of natural gas and/ or electricity, significant savings can be realized on its annual utility costs.

In addition to receiving competitive rates, additional co-op benefits include having an organization working for you that monitors energy market changes and negotiates on your behalf.

WATCH OUT FOR SCAMMERS

Are you getting a lot of calls from Energy Suppliers, Brokers, or potential scammers? CQI can help! CQI manages all your energy accounts and you will only hear from them when it comes to energy needs.

Please be aware of the multiple energy scams going on right now. Companies are cold calling members saying contracts have expired or accounts have not been enrolled correctly to pull you in. DO NOT give out any account information or sign anything.

TAKE CONTROL!

SIGNING UP IS EASY AND FREE

If you would like an estimate on your company’s savings, contact David Earhart at (217) 525-1173 ext. 215 or dearhart@gscc.org. For the estimate of savings, companies will need to complete a Letter of Authorization (download at www.gscc.org/membersavings) and provide a recent copy of their utility bill.

For questions or specific details, please contact Shelby Dupont with CQI Associates at shelby@cqiassociates.com or (217) 5219400.

REGISTER NOW in the current campaign which runs from February 1, 2023, to March 3, 2023.

FILL YOUR OPEN POSITIONS

THROUGH CHAMBER JOB FAIR, JOB BOARD

Members of The Chamber, like other businesses nationally, are seeing unprecedented staffing shortages. The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce has two resources to assist members with filling their positions with quality candidates.

The Chamber will hold a Job Fair on Wednesday, March 29 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Springfield Convention Center. The event will be promoted via print, radio, and social media extensively to bring quality candidates in front of employers. Companies frequently report high satisfaction with their results from Chamber job fair events, including strengthening their talent pool and/or hiring new employees.

The event will be promoted via LinkedIn and Facebook, and The Chamber is also partnering with the Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance at Illinois workNet Center and other workforce partners to promote the event to job seekers. Members can secure a booth for $175 when registering online by March 1 at www.gscc.org. After that date, the rate increases to $250.

The Chamber also has a Job Board that is a resource for members as part of their Chamber investment. Postings reside on The Chamber website, www.gscc.org, and are also posted to The Chamber’s Facebook page. To post a job, login to the Member Information Center. If you don’t know your login credentials, contact the Chamber at admin@gscc.org.

Job Fair

March 29

4:00 - 6:00 PM

Crowne Plaza Springfield Convention Center

PRESENTING SPONSOR

CHAMBER’S MEMBER INFORMATION CENTER

SIMPLE TO USE ONLINE MARKETING TOOL

Members of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce have access to our Member Information Center (MIC), which is an online marketing tool that allows members to maximize their Chamber membership and extend the reach of their business brand.

This ‘members only’ section of the Chamber website is a simple-touse tool that gives members greater control to tell their business story, connect with other members, register for events, and pay invoices. Members can also post and view Hot Deals, job openings, events and news, which once approved are published on The Chamber’s website and Facebook page.

Members can also easily access additional information through the Resources link and manage their business profile by updating their representatives, business information and description, and keywords to enhance their search engine optimization.

Your listing on our website enhances your overall Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The reason is Google loves chamber websites. It knows they consist of credible business information and aren’t trying to cheat their system. Larger chamber sites are often powerful and robust, so a direct link back to the member’s website is an

authoritative and trusted reference point for search engine relevancy. It tells Google your site is also important by association. While there are many factors that go into it, your chamber listing can enhance your SEO.

How To Obtain Login Credentials

A Member Login link can be found on The Chamber’s home page at www.gscc.org. A username and password are needed to access the MIC. Members can easily obtain login credentials by using the link on the login page or by contacting The Chamber at (217) 525-1173.

GALA AWARDS & RECOGNITION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PRIORITIES REVIEWED

At its Annual Gala, The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce celebrated the successes of the past year and revealed priorities for 2023. As part of the celebration, The Chamber, along with Presenting Sponsor, PNC, recognized those who have helped enhance its organization and lead the business community.

Leadership Springfield graduates of the class of 2022, as well as Small Business Award Recipients from the same year were also recognized at the event.

Awards were given to Chamber leaders who went above and beyond their positions to help enhance our members’ success and advocate on their behalf.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Presented to Taylor Stevens, SYNERGY HomeCare of Central Illinois, for her commitment to her work on the Ambassador Committee and spearheading a professional clothing drive, a community service event, that was designed to help those trying to get back into the workforce by allowing them to have the necessary clothing to make a great first impression. Stevens is also serving on The Chamber’s newly formed Young Professionals RISE Committee.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

Presented to Roger Austin, Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc., for going above and beyond the call of duty as it relates to his investment of time in The Chamber, the community at-large, and representing the interests of our members. Austin has served as an active member on the Chamber’s Board of Directors for several years, providing steady and thoughtful leadership during the difficult year of the pandemic, 2020, when he served as Chairman of the Board.

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Presented to Maggie Gullo, LRS Web Solutions. The Chamber’s Ambassadors Committee is comprised of local Chamber member professionals that advocate on behalf of The Chamber in a variety of ways, including member contacts, identifying member leads, and attending events such as ribbon cuttings, Chamber on Tap, Coffee & Connections, and committee meetings. A point system is utilized to recognize the accomplishments of its members, and the Award recognizes the hard work and dedication of the individual that earned the most points for the various responsibilities of an Ambassador.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Event sponsors also included CEFCU, Horace Mann and HSHS St. John’s Hospital as premier sponsors; Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Crowne Plaza Springfield Convention Center, Solomon Colors, and Stratus Networks as partner sponsors; Modern Mailing & Printing as print sponsor; Cooper’s Hawk Winery Restaurants as wine sponsor; JnR Mehan Expo Decor as stage decoration sponsor, Ed Clark Photography & Music Services as photography sponsor, and ContentWorks LLC as graphic design sponsor.

LS CLASS OF 2022

Presenting Sponsor

ON NEXT PAGE E

LEADERSHIP SPRINGFIELD - CLASS OF 2022

Nicole Ball HSHS St. John’s Hospital

Joseph Bridges Hanson Professional Services Inc.

Tiffany Bauman Hanson Professional Services Inc.

Chris Davis National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

Stephanie Cullen SIU Medicine

Rachel Dyas Springfield Public School District 186

Brandy Stabler Compass for Kids, Inc.

Maryann Phillips Land of Lincoln Credit Union

Sean McDonald TROXELL

Lucas Hall Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP

Mark Embree Sikich LLP

Mitch Baker United Way of Central Illinois, Inc.

Katherine Frey Solomon Colors, Inc.

Michelle Graven Marine Bank

Robert Frazier All In One Management & Services

Rebecca Graves YMCA of Springfield

Connor Etheridge Hickory Point Bank

Nick Gentile Heartland Bank and Trust Company

Doug Hemberger United Community Bank 1

Brianna Lakin The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce 2

Andrew Hazelrigg Memorial Health

Jeremy Logue Security Bank

Toni Hartman O’Shea Builders

Eric Hills Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc.

Austin Naumann CEFCU

Nick Patton Bank of Springfield

Kelly Miller Springfield Clinic, LLP

Tiffany Penley Horace Mann

Christopher Miller BUNN

Diana Nielsen INB

Patrick Ryan Hanson Professional Services Inc.

Kelli Sinclair Lincoln Land Community College

John Ridley Memorial Health

Patrick Smith KEB

Branden Richardson HSHS St. John’s Hospital

Isabella Silveri SIU Medicine

Jamil Steele Lincoln Land Community College

Dan Sullivan O’Shea Builders

Hollie Weber Springfield Dental Care

Arthur Steiner YMCA of Springfield

Bailey Woolsey Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc.

Kirsten Taylor Lincoln Land Community College

RIBBON CUTTINGS

INB WEALTH

2601 Chatham Rd., Springfield, IL 62704 (217) 747-5577

QC KINETIX

319 E. Madison St., Suite 2C, Springfield, IL 62701 (217) 679-3399

LEGACY POINTE EATERY

1130 W. Legacy Pointe Dr., Springfield, IL 62711 (217) 670-1217

For more information on the businesses that held a ribbon cutting or groundbreaking, please visit our Business Directory at www.gscc.org .

MAYORAL FORUM CONTINUED

In addition to the Army Corps, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency would need to approve such a project, which has been discussed for decades. Funding for such a project hasn’t been worked out.

Buscher said she would need to hear more about what citizens want before supporting a second lake.

ATTENTION TO THE EAST SIDE: Buscher said the city needs to spend more, and pay more attention to, improving the care of streets, curbs and sidewalks on the east side, where poverty rates are higher than in most of the city.

Langfelder said he has worked to improve the east side, pointing to council approval of, and city assistance for, the scheduled $38 million redevelopment of the Poplar Place housing site by owner Chicago-based Related Midwest.

NEW BUSINESS PREFERENCE: When asked what kind of new businesses he would like to see come to Springfield, Langfelder said he would prefer to “retain what you have and build upon it.” He said the city already is working with the health care community to expand and complement its footprint. “You do that across all our industries, with regards to education, energy, and really assess what we have and what would build upon their important assets,” he said.

Buscher said she wants to attract more businesses in the technology sector. “I have a 28-year-old who works in tech, and we have no jobs in Springfield for her, none. That’s a problem if I want my daughter to live in the town I live in.

The event was also sponsored by the Illinois Times, Springfield Business Journal and Mid-West Family Springfield.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

For more information on our new members, please visit our Business Directory at www.gscc.org .

Gateway Foundation

Hands of God Hospice

Illinois Bankers Association

Independent Child Care

Philip Morris International

Pizza Ranch

Ruby Recreational Community Center

Safe Electricity

Sangamo Club

Signature Sign & Lighting

SomerCor

Vextor Boba Tea Lounge

Member Information Center (MIC) Exclusive online marketing tool

Members have their own web page on the Chamber’s website where they can:

• Submit News Releases, Events, Job Openings and Hot Deals

• Add links to member social media

• Include business description, website & map link

• Update member profile and representative info

• Access business resources

Experts believe a unique advantage of being a member is how your listing on The Chamber’s website positively impacts your Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Login at www.gscc.org. To obtain login credentials, click the link on the login page or call The Chamber at (217) 525-1173.

ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLAN AVAILABLE

FIVE HEALTH ALLIANCE PLANS OFFERED

The Chamber is now offering an Association Health Plan (AHP) which aims to save members and their employees money while giving them more options with their healthcare choices. The AHP is geared towards small-to-mid sized businesses, allowing them to gain the buying power of a larger employer when it comes to their healthcare options, including exposure to benefit plan choices currently unavailable to traditional small group employers.

Health Alliance, well known throughout the state for high-quality care and excellent service, will coordinate essential services, including claims administration, medical management, provider network access and pharmacy benefits for the association. Five different plans are available, and employers can offer up to two (2) plans.

To qualify, you must be a member in good standing of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Members can contact any Chamber member agency listed on the right to receive a quote. Contact information for these agencies can be found in The Chamber’s online Business Directory at www.gscc.org. or by contacting Lisa Schafer (217) 525-1173 x-203 or David Earhart at The Chamber at (217) 525-1173 x-215. More information about the program can be found at www.gscc.org/ association-health-plan.

QUOTES AVAILABLE FROM THESE CHAMBER MEMBER AGENCIES

American Central Insurance Services, Inc.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

BOS Investment Services

Dimond Bros. Insurance Agency

Forsyth Insurance Group, Inc.

Goodenow Insurance Agency

Insurance Partners, Inc.

Lee/O`Keefe Insurance Agency, Inc.

Snyder & Snyder Insurance Agency TROXELL

INDUSTRY FOCUS

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

Category Listings

Make sure your business is listed in the categories that fit your products and services. Two categories are included with membership. To locate a member in any of these categories, please visit our Business Directory at www.gscc.org

Apartments

Asphalt Paving Contractors

Building / Construction Materials - Retail or Wholesale

Buildings - Metal

Commercial Construction

Concrete Contractors

Contractors - Interiors

Contractors - Pre-Engineered Commercial Buildings

Counter Tops

Crane Services

Custom Cabinets

Doors - Sales & Service (Commercial)

Doors - Sales & Service (Residential)

Drywall - Finishing / Plastering

Electrical Contractors/Electricians

Excavating Contractors

Fencing - Residential or Commercial

Fire Sprinkler Systems

Floor Coverings

Garage Builders

Generator Installation or Maintenance

Highway & Heavy Construction Contractors

Home Improvements / Handyman Services

Kitchens or Bathrooms - Designing, Planning or Remodeling

Masonry & Landscaping Building Materials

Masonry Contractors

Painting & Decorating

Painting Contractors

Real Estate - Commercial Sales or Leasing

Real Estate - Developers

Real Estate - Lease or Rental Properties (Residential)

Real Estate - Property Management

Real Estate - Residential Sales

Remodeling

Residential and Business Relocation - Right of Way

Residential Construction

Roofing Contractors

Siding & Windows Contractors

Temporary Contractors

Title & Escrow Companies

Windows & Doors - Sales & Service

We live in a constantly changing, data-driven world, and Hanson’s knowledge of how to use that data can help you make smarter decisions. Make