july voice 2016

The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com

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July 2016 | Volume 29 | No. 7

ART DELI SERVING UP LOCAL BRANDINGPAGE 4

fi rm believer in leading by example and fi nding enjoyment in all that I do. It is remarkable what a team can accomplish when members are happy, satisfi ed and working towards a common goal for a great organization.”

The expo and luncheon is held every year to recognize women-owned and -managed businesses. More than 350 people turned out and 40 businesses were represented at this year’s expo, which was held June 23 at Giovanni’s.

In addition to Couper, two other business leaders were honored during the luncheon for their professional and personal contributions. The chamber recognized Mary’s Market owner Stephanie Koch as Woman Business Owner of the Year and Pamela Murphy of MurphyRealty Inc. as Woman Business Leader of Tomorrow.

Before the awards, the chamber hosted, for the fi rst time in many years, a

ROCKFORD AREA’S TOP TENPAGE 19

Continued on page 3

As senior vice president - marketing and communications, Lesly Couper wears many hats for Alpine Bank – communicator, planner, ambassador and strategist. In addition to her day job, Couper serves on the boards for Carpenter’s Place, Discovery Center and is a spoke lead for Transform Rockford.

For her efforts, Couper was recognized with the Woman Manager of the Year award during the Rockford of Chamber of Commerce’s annual Women in Business Expo and Luncheon.

“I’m honored to have been nominated and selected for this award,” said Couper. “It is truly a testament to an amazing and talented team I have the pleasure of working with each and every day. I am a

The Rockford IceHogs and Chicago

Blackhawks signed an agreement in June

with a fi ve-year agreement that extends

their NHL/AHL affi liation through the

2021-22 season. Rockford began its fi rst

season in the American Hockey League in

2007-08, and 67 players have dressed for

both the IceHogs and the Blackhawks.

“The combination of the great staff

and Rockford’s proximity to Chicago

makes it only natural that we extend this

agreement,” said Al MacIsaac, Blackhawks’

senior vice president, hockey operations.

“The Chicago Blackhawks organization

is very proud of the relationship we have

with the city of Rockford and the growth

of our fan base at the BMO Harris Bank

Center over the last nine seasons,” said Mark

Bernard, Blackhawks’ director of hockey

administration/general manager of minor

league affi liations. “The community of

Rockford has shown a tremendous amount

of support to our young prospects and has

helped make the start of their professional

careers that much more special.”Continued on page 18

IceHogs, Blackhawks extend affi liation agreement

ROCKFORD CHAMBER EXPO AND LUNCHEONWomen in Business

SUPPORT FOR NEW MULTI-USE RECREATIONAL PATH, AQUALOOP

The Rockford Park District Board of Commissioners voted on June 13 to approve a resolution supporting the creation of a multi-use recreational path along Spring Creek Road between Alpine Road and North Second Street in Rockford.

The path would link Sinnissippi Park and riverfront, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, Anderson Japanese Gardens and the downtown area, to Rock Valley College and communities north, east and south of Rockford. “By linking fragmented path systems, we not only provide enhanced recreational opportunities, but also a safer, more effi cient means for human-powered transportation,” said Board President Ian Linnabary.

Delay of construction is possible to allow for a comprehensive study on the feasibility of the path, including its potential as a tourism attraction, as evaluated through a regional planning process.

Also on June 13, the board of commissioners approved a $213,050 contract to FGM Architects for complete design services for upgrades to Magic Waters Waterpark’s Little Lagoon and a new AquaLoop waterslide.

“Through our research, users ranked the AquaLoop as the number one waterslide they would like to see at Magic Waters Waterpark,” said Tim Dimke, executive director of the park district. The waterpark’s last major addition was the Double Dare Drop in 2012.

In December 2015, the board approved the initial authorization for the sale of $3,500,000 in general obligation bonds, with net cash proceeds to help fund continuing work on the waterpark’s multi-year master plan.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Rockford Chamber’sFOUNDERS DAY CELEBRATION

BUSINESS AFTER HOURSJuly 14 • Rockford University

For more info, see page 27

SPONSORED BY

Representatives from Rockford and Chicago celebrate the agreement to extend the Rockford IceHogs and Chicago Blackhawks NHL/AHL affi liation through the 2021-22 season.

Three women were honored during the luncheon. Above clockwise from left, Stephanie Koch (center) with Einar Forsman and Linda Heckart; Lesly Couper (right) and Patti Thayer, and Pamela Murphy. PHOTOS BY BRIAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

2 July 2016 theVoice rockfordchamber.com

VIEWPOINTPresident’s Message

Einar K. ForsmanRockford Chamber

of Commerce

Addressing matters of importance to the Rockford business community is a core responsibility of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Many matters translate over to public policy by which the Chamber works with government organizations, legislators, and community leaders to advocate for sound policies and priorities that are good for Rockford’s future and good for the business climate.

For the immediate or short term issues that may arise, the Chamber’s Government Affairs Council exists to maintain an awareness of issues and will also recommend positions on particular issues to the Chamber Board of Directors for their consideration. Recent positions included support for the Rockford Public Schools’ facility referendum of $250 million, extending the license for the Byron Nuclear Facility, and supporting the sales tax referendum for Rockford roads. The Rockford Chamber supports issues that contribute to strengthening the overall business climate.

Regarding long-term priorities for the Rockford Chamber, the focus is on workforce and education, crime and safety, leadership development and

small business development. Each of these can be discussed in much greater detail than the space allowed for this article, so I will only touch on their importance to the Chamber.

Workforce Development and Education

These are two topics that need to be talked about together. Rockford is like many urban communities who are struggling to grow or find talent. It is the most common woe I hear from local businesses. The Chamber, along with other organizations, needs to be part of leading the effort to address these areas. Recently we released our second Public Education Survey to our members to gauge where they find their talent, what are their greatest needs, and how well the public education system addresses these needs. Watch for these results soon.

Crime and SafetyCrime, in particular violent

crime, is a threat to our growth as a community. Our residents, employees and businesses have to feel safe. This is a core expectation we all should have from our local governments in providing

services. We also have to be mindful of

the importance of helping ex-offenders

recover from their past discretions and

have an opportunity to get work and

change their life. Our Public Safety

Council is working with several officials

to help in advising and offering support

for certain activities, while also making

sure our business community is fully

educated on key issues.

Leadership DevelopmentWe have to encourage and grow

new leaders for business, non-profits,

and government. A gap will be coming

quicker than we will realize and we

need to get out ahead of this issue.

The Chamber’s Center for Leadership

Development is tackling this issue.

Small Business Development

Over the

past two

years, many small business services

for guidance, entrepreneurship, and

development have left Rockford due to

budget issues. For a community the size

of Rockford, to not have a Small Business

Development Center is a significant gap

for small business startups. Look for

that to change shortly at the Rockford

Chamber.

For more information on any of these topics,

please feel free to contact Einar Forsman at

[email protected]

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 VOICERockford Chamber of Commerce308 W. State St., Ste. 190Rockford, 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 1086-0630, 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.

Let your Voice be heard

Public Policy Important to the Rockford Chamber

theVoice rockfordchamber.com July 2016 3

Women in Business (continued from front page)

panel discussion featuring V2 Marketing Communications President Kathy Velasco, Anderson Environmental & Engineering Co. owner Jennifer Anderson, and Koch. The trio answered questions on a number of topics including advice for first-time business owners, the challenges of being a woman in business, and best business decisions they’ve made.

“We have to reinforce the message that we have strong business leaders out there, and they come from many different parts of the community,” said Einar Forsman, chamber president and CEO. “Some of the strongest in the chamber membership and in the community are woman business owners. They get things done, they’re very active in volunteer roles, and they’re pro-Rockford.

“I wanted to feature some prominent local business leaders. Kathy is highly decorated, Jennifer has been very successful and Stephanie has recently taken on a business with an established brand.”

The panel discussion was lively, informative and, at times, humorous.

“Keep dancing, keep moving forward,” said Velasco. “Make connections and do what you love.”

“Starting a business is a lot harder than you think,” said Anderson. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And never give up. There are going to be days where you

want to quit. You have to persevere.” “That first year in business is really

hard,” added Koch. “You find yourself working 90-100 hours a week. Make sure to surround yourself with amazing people.”

Koch started marketing for the local Culver’s group, before buying Mary’s Market in 2014 and later added the Bagel Place and more recently Aunt Mary’s. They both have been incorporated into the Mary’s Market brand. She’s been involved with many local events and organizations including the Rockford Rescue Mission, Stroll on State, Rockford AirFest and Club Blue. Now she’s busy working on plans to expand Mary’s Markets in the future.

“I feel really honored,” Koch said. “There are so many choices you can make that can impact people one way or another. I try to make the best choice possible – not just for me, but for my team too. My team counts on me and I have a lot of respect for them. If I gave up, so would they. I want to keep going for them and they keep going for me. There’s much respect there.”

In addition to her business, Murphy

is a mentor, certified life coach, and community volunteer. “Pamela has leadership characteristics she’s developed as a young girl, thanks to the teachings of her parents,” read her nomination form. “When I think of a business leader of tomorrow, I think of Pamela.”

Kate Wirth of Lucette Salon/Spa was named as this year’s participant in the ATHENA PowerLink mentoring program, sponsored by PNC. This is a national program that pairs participants with a panel of business experts to help grow their company.

Prior to the luncheon, many business leaders filed through the various booths to talk with representatives from different businesses and organizations, including

American Solutions for Business, a distributor of promotional products, who saw steady traffic all morning long.

“It’s a way to get back in front of our clients and hopefully meet some new people,” said Tim Larson, business unit owner. “We’ve worked this event 5 or 6 years now. Anymore, it’s all about socializing and networking. This is not your typical chamber event. We can specifically target women. When we connect with this crowd, it’s beneficial to both them and our business.”

The presenting sponsor was Mercyhealth. Other sponsors were OSF HealthCare, Northwest Bank of Rockford, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network and PNC Bank. theVoice


By Paul Arco

The Rockford Art Deli has come a long way in a short amount of time.

The t-shirt boutique is owned by Byron natives Jarrod Hennis and Britney Lindgren, who found their way to Rockford. The custom design, printing business and retail store is located on the corner of the 400 block of East State in downtown Rockford.

“We have things you can’t find anywhere else,” said Hennis. “We’re a business that prefers quality over quantity. We offer good screen printing. We have shirts you’re going to wear when you go out — not cut your grass in — but if you do, you’re going to look good doing it.”

The offerings are many: T-shirts, mugs, patches, sweatshirts, pencils, tote bags, pillows, gift bags, stickers. All of the materials used by the printing shop are manufactured in the U.S.

Hennis started out working in the information technology field, when he decided to experiment with screen printing. While attending a one-year technical school he fostered his love for videography. As he started his IT career, he also continued to explore his creative side where he began to make his own t-shirts.

A longtime competitive golfer, Lindgren studied graphic design in college while playing on the golf team at Robert Morris University in Waukegan. “Golf was fun. I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said. “It was my main objective for going to college, but my interest in art was sparked as I began taking graphic design more seriously in school.”

Hennis started Boarded Up Productions in 2001 with a passion for filming extreme sports – this quickly turned into a screen printing business in 2004. Lindgren and Hennis joined creative forces part-time in 2007 and two years later, the business went full-time as Pirate Ninja Print Shop. In 2011, the Rockford Art Deli was born.

“This has been everything we thought and more,” said Hennis. “What started out as making t-shirts has evolved into a

pride thing with our city. We didn’t think it would get this big. We just wanted to make t-shirts.”

Rockford Art Deli has five employees. The business is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The owners rely on word of mouth, social media, a presence at the Rockford City Market and giving customers a good experience. “For us, it’s all about natural growth,” said Lindgren. “When we get repeat customers, we tell them about other businesses downtown. This isn’t just about us. There are many good things going on downtown.”

Their customer base is a mix between locals who want to show off their Rockford pride, and visitors who are in the market for a Rockford keepsake. “We don’t target just one demographic,” Lindgren said. “We appeal to people who love Rockford.”

And so do many local companies. Rockford Art Deli has designed t-shirts for Beefaroo, Nicholson Hardware, and Prairie Street Brewhouse, among others. Most shirts sell for $20.

Customers love the 815 shirts as well as themed shirts such as one depicting the bear that was recently sighted around town. Ideas come to Lindgren and her team in myriad forms. “We have a running list of something someone says or does,” she said. “Rarely do we do a time-sensitive piece. When something like the bear pops up, you have to make it that day. But most of our ideas have been on the list for years.”

Hennis and Lindgren have other plans in the works. They plan to start selling merchandise online soon.

Mostly, they are just taking things one day at a time.

“We want to keep improving upon what we do well,” Lindgren says. “We want to focus on being the best we can be.”

PROFILEMember Profile

Rockford Art Deli:Making T-shirts into art

Byron natives Jarrod Hennis and Britney Lindgren run their t-shirt boutique, and custom design and printing business on the corner of the 400 block of East State Street in downtown Rockford.

Lindgren sports tote bags with silk screens representing Rockford pride.

ROCKFORD ART DELIOwners: Jarrod Hennis, Britney Lindgren 402 E. State St., Rockford www.rockfordartdeli.com 312-725-4723


Business networking and referrals – it’s one of the main reasons we join the Rockford Chamber. It is a valuable way to expand your knowledge, learn from the success of others, attain new clients and tell others about your business. The Power Advantage Club of the Rockford Chamber provides that, and more.

Business Reasons to NetworkThe business advantages of getting

involved in a network group include:1. Generating Referrals and

Increasing Business This is the most obvious benefit and the reason most business owners decide to participate in networking activities. Follow up on these referrals and leads, and you can often turn them into clients.

“This club has given me the opportunity to broaden my view of the business people who live and work here. It has given me a better understanding of what is happening in the community and how interdependent we are on one another.” – Advantage Club member Lisa Radant, LUTCF agent, Shelter Insurance

2. Connections “It’s WHO you know.” This phrase often sounds like a negative, but you need to have a great source of relevant connections you can call on when needed. It can open the door to influential people you wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach.

3. Opportunities Gathering a group of business owners opens the doors to joint ventures, client leads, partnerships, speaking engagements, business or asset sales, and more. The opportunities with which you get involved should align with your business goals, vision and interests.

4. Raising your Profile Being visible and getting noticed is a big benefit of networking. Make sure you regularly attend business and social events that will help get your face known. Then build your reputation as a knowledgeable, reliable and supportive person by offering useful information or tips to people who need it.

5. Advice Having like-minded business owners to call allows you the opportunity to get advice from them on all sorts of things related to your business. Tap into their advice.

“Because we meet on such a regular basis, we are able to learn more about each others’ unique needs and become allies in business. Individually we are one drop, together we are an ocean.” – Advantage Club member Yvonne Peterson, director of marketing, Heritage Woods of Rockford

6. Positive Influence The people

with whom you associate influence who

you are and what you do. It is important

to surround yourself with positive,

uplifting people that help you to grow

and thrive as a business owner.

“I am pleased to be part of a group

of people who are committed to the

success of the Rockford area, both in

terms of economic growth and social

services.” – Advantage Club member Peg

Wilkerson, senior vice president, Alpine Bank

Community Support ReasonsThe longer you participate in a

networking group, the more you realize

it is about more than promoting your

business. You learn the combined

talents in the group lead you to

something bigger, by donating time and

resources to the community.

Besides benefitting the community,

there is great individual (and group)

satisfaction from these donations. Since

2010, the club has participated in these

representative projects, and more:

■ Veterans’ Drop-In Center –

Prepared, served meals.

■ Rockford Park District — Cleaned

up Brown Park playground and added

cushioning mulch.

■ Walter Lawson Children’s Home

— Multi-year support purchasing

batteries for their therapy devices.

■ Rockford Rescue Mission —

Provided donations, served meals.

■ Rockford Health System — Donated

toys for their pediatric patients.

■ Rock House Kids — Provided

donations, served meals.

“Our club doesn’t just focus on our

individual businesses, but what we all

can achieve together as a group. We’ve

supported many nonprofits as a group,

and also support each other in our

individual endeavors.” – Advantage Club

member Teri Watts, commercial & industrial

real estate broker, Key Realty

I hope this has opened your eyes

to the possibilities and advantages of

belonging to such a vital group within

the Rockford Chamber community. For

more info, call the Chamber office or

check out www.rockfordchamber.com/

events-programs/advantage_clubs.

Kathy Velasco is the owner of V2 Marketing

Communications and a Power Advantage

Club member since 2010.

INSIGHTGuest Perspective

Business networking can help your businessAnd help you personally, too! Kathy Velasco

Power Advantage Club


PERSPECTIVERockford University

Meredith Stoll Rockford University

Lessons from Leadership RockfordThe impact of perspective, teamwork, … and BFF necklaces

My sister has used the common phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” for as long as I can remember. As a school social worker at the elementary level, she says this frequently. It’s cheesy and silly and unfailingly true.

Our area organizations need to grow and nurture leaders. Our current leaders need to help newer leaders learn how to become better team members, more informed community members and future area leaders. One strategy for doing this is to have our newer leaders participate in Leadership Rockford. I was able to do this and here is my story.

When my Leadership Rockford journey began with an all-day retreat last fall, my sister’s voice rang through my head as we embarked on several challenges that got our class to work together as a team. Whether we were tying gigantic knots or MacGuyver-ing sailboats, we had to rely on one another and trust that everyone was bringing something different to the table. We quickly learned that different ideas brought to the table were all valuable, and the more diverse the perspectives, the better off we were.

As we split into small groups, tasked with working on a project for a local nonprofit, it became clear my team was not going to be short on differing perspectives. Our differing perspectives were seen as a strong suit from day one, and we pretty much agreed we would have matching tattoos and a five-part BFF necklace in short order. Just kidding, we never got tattoos.

Power of Shared VisionA large part of the Leadership Rockford

experience is the opportunity to hear from representatives from many community organizations that provide vital services. Twice per month, our class gathered first thing in the morning to learn about how people are fed, transported, cared for and represented in our area. From food banks to mental health treatment, each of these providers saw themselves as part of a system of service, and worked together accordingly. They understood the only way to meet the needs of their clientele was to communicate and collaborate. Understanding how interwoven these organizations were, was an invaluable lesson for our class.

Being personally and professionally committed to the team and to what we were trying to accomplish made us grow together. There is power in shared passion and vision, and those tend to be the lynch pins for successful teamwork.

Eight months after knot-tying and creative sailboat-making, I don’t know what the outcome for our project will be; that is now out of our hands. What I do know is each of us will continue to seek out opportunities for community involvement, in large part because of what we have gained through our experience. I will now approach teamwork differently in my job, and seek to understand perspectives more deeply so that they can in some way inform my own, because I see value there more clearly than I did before.

Team PerspectivesThis is, of course, my take away from

our experience. I cannot neglect the perspective of my teammates:

“Our group was as diverse as it was talented, but what made it a successful team? I would argue that individual goals will rip through the cohesiveness of a team faster than any other factor. However, individual leadership towards a unified goal makes the most effective team. As leaders, we were all different, but our goal was unified and that is what made our team successful.” - Daniel McKee, Rockford Toolcraft

“A big challenge was appreciating different perspectives and using them to solve a problem. It required a lot of adapting, but was a valuable lesson.” - Brandon Johnson, Dickerson Nieman Realty

“I think everyone involved with the program would agree that Leadership Rockford puts you in touch with a wider variety of temperaments and personality types than you encounter in your day-to-day life -- in your professional life, birds-of-a-feather tend to flock together. However, the undertaking of a major project with people you hardly know and might not relate to isn’t the challenge you might expect; it is empowering and transformative. You quickly learn to value differing opinions, to give people room to make mistakes and fail, and to value the input and effort of personality types you might not normally seek out as collaborators. In the end, you find that this uncommon variety is what really makes the team work, which then, as Meredith’s sister loves to say, “makes the dream work.” - Michael Seuring, Ticomix

Meredith Stoll is the charter fund coordinator at Rockford University.

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


Closing the 30-million word gapGiving all children a chance to succeed

We know so much more today about preparing children to succeed in school. And we know that preparation begins long before a child even enters preschool.

While the Rockford Public Schools is proud of our award-winning, high-quality Early Childhood Education program, we know we need to build on the success. We are working alongside community partners to create a more comprehensive support structure for children, especially from the prenatal period to 3 years old.

It’s been 20 years since the landmark study by child psychologists Betty Hart and Todd Risley. The study uncovered a 30-million word gap between poor versus wealthy families. By age 3, a child of poverty will have heard 13 million words, compared to a child with high-income, professional parents, who will have heard 45 million words.

Recent research by Paul Tough

added another layer to the picture. In his new book, “Helping Children Succeed,” Tough says the most important foundations for learning are emotional. In an interview with National Public Radio in May, he said: “The back and forth that children and parents have, the level of fear and stress in the community, how parents manage stress and deal with it, it matters in ways we can measure very precisely at the neurobiological level. And we also know that you can change it.”

What’s Happening at RPSHere in Rockford, we are trying to

level the playing field in ways we know work:

RPS 205’s Prevention Initiative Program provides home visiting services to families and children, prenatal to age 3. We coordinate with four other agencies: the City of Rockford Early Head Start program, Easter Seals, LaVoz Latina and the Winnebago County Health Department. A total of 226 families are enrolled in the RPS 205 home visiting program. For the 2016 fiscal year, we made nearly 2,700 home visits.

For the 2015-16 school year, RPS 205 enrolled 2,868 children in preschool programs. Because of a federal grant awarded to Illinois, we were able to expand our commitment by 120 seats in full-day classrooms. I am proud of the fact that all three of our Early Childhood Centers – under the leadership and direction of Kim Nelson – have been recognized with the Award of Excellence for Inclusion of Children with Special Needs from ExceleRate Illinois.

The mission of our Early Childhood program is to empower all young children to become effective, enthusiastic and socially competent learners. We know that doesn’t all happen in the classroom. That’s why we believe the work of groups like Alignment Rockford is so important.

Alignment’s Healthy Starts committee has established benchmarks to guide its team’s early childhood work. These benchmarks range from all babies being born healthy, to all families being engaged with their children, to all children having experiences that spark cognitive development and social-emotional growth. The benchmarks reflect precisely the points made by

researchers such as Paul Tough and the

“30 million word” psychologists.

Meeting these goals — creating not just

isolated student successes but a system

of change — will take the coordinated

efforts of many. We are fortunate to

work alongside talented, committed

people from groups like the Healthy

Starts committee, the Rockford Housing

Authority, Crusader Community Health

and the United Way of Rock River Valley.

Good preschool experiences are key,

but kindergarten readiness hinges on a

myriad of other factors including quality

prenatal care, quality health care and

quality interactions with caregivers,

parents and other adults.

Those goals are ambitious but the

result — a child secure in his or her world

and ready to learn — is more than worth

reaching.

Dr. Ehren Jarrett is superintendent of Rockford Public Schools.

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

The study uncovered a 30-million word gap between poor versus wealthy families.


It was one of THOSE conversations. One that I usually dread. It typically goes like this:Crystal clear sentences in my brain

turn into fumbling idiotville.Words shape-shift while moving from

my lips to their ears. Please tell me I’m not alone and you’ve been

there too!Yet this time, I was inspired to prep a

little differently for a looming discussion. Remember, don’t be too much in control. Let

your heart lead the conversation. I noticed my attitude softening, and

still I knew it was a risk. Heart pounding, I opened my mouth to speak…

Just a few days earlier I had sat in the Difficult Conversations session at the Rockford Leadership Alliance. Even though I’m a leadership coach working with executives on a daily basis about being intentional and having those tough back-and-forths, there are areas in my own world where I stumble and fumble when those sticky situations arise. Sitting in the audience this time not only pricked my daredevil awake, but it re-energized me to use those dusty tools.

What will these readers think as I expose my humanness here? Will it lessen my credibility? I don’t want this to be seen as a touchy-feely piece. Tread lightly here, Jen.

Then just this past week, Steve Thomas

spoke at the June RLA session. Once again, a speaker was declaring a message that crashed into my default way of thinking. Piercingly accurate and laced with humor, he proclaimed that silos in organizations mimic running the halls in junior high.

Wait a second. Junior high? You just got my attention and now I have images of big hair and sounds of Bon Jovi playing in my brain. What does this have to do with growing as a leader?

Steve went on to say that the people skills we exhibited in middle school are the typical ones many of us keep into adulthood. That’s because we are intentional about growing in math, science and art, but much less focused on purposely strengthening the muscle of how we engage with others.

He adeptly laid out the case for the idea that the higher the level of connection, the higher the level of communication, thus the higher the level of everything else. But I was already trailing off in my mind, attaching it to a current business scenario for me.

Ouch! So that’s what is going on within me. And that’s what’s going on within them. I’ve never thought of it that way. Boy, this stuff “says easy” but “does hard.”

My ears caught back up with his train of speech as he was mentioning an example of a group of middle school girls responding to a gorgeous female classmate

walking into the room. He bet we all would agree that this clique would most likely pin the “I hate her” label on that stunning young lady. A knife seared my gut. I might not hate a woman in business, but I’m not immune to automatically labeling another female negatively from a first impression. This is both to her and my own detriment.

I’m thinking of another woman in Rockford right now that I have attached a label to that is not necessarily accurate. I don’t even know her. I need to own up to this. I need — no — I want to give her a chance. Will I allow myself to be stretched in this way?

Our day wrapped up with Mr. Thomas having us grapple with an uncommon word in leadership circles. GRACE. That seems more of a churchy, spiritual word, not fit for the constraints of business. Yet he was unafraid. He stomped all over convention. He spoke like a big brother to a 10-year-old little sister — giving permission and room for goodness to self and growth by saying we all need to separate the person from the action. Instead of labeling we need to look at the what IF and not the what IS. It levels the playing field.

Preach it,

Steve! I need to

hear those words

often. I’m a

businesswoman

living, working

and rubbing

shoulders with

the leaders in

Rockford. I have

room, much

room to traverse

in the “transformation arena.” I wrestle in

my interior with the connection and the

value I give to others. I’m really weak in

the win-win category. I don’t very often

overlay grace on my path or others.

And yet I want to be better. I want to

help others be better. I’m committed to

growth. And I see others wanting the

same. So what about you? I just exposed

my inner middle schooler. I now challenge

you to consider the questions below!

Jennifer Whiteford is managing partner &

leadership coach with The Anser Group.

The views expressed are those of Whiteford’s and

do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford

Chamber of Commerce.

Confessions of a middle schooler

Leadership Development news is sponsored by Comcast Business.

Jennifer WhitefordThe Anser Group


IGNITEYoung Professionals

Caitlin LudwigRockford Chamber

of CommerceMy fiancé just moved to Rockford.

From the suburbs. That’s right — in our relationship battle of “who’s moving” between Rockford and the burbs, Rockford won out. To celebrate Adam’s move to my favorite city, I ran over to Rockford Art Deli (one of my favorite Rockford shops) and picked him up a t-shirt to celebrate his new Rockfordian status. He’s worn it proudly.

Over our two years of dating, Rockford became a second home to Adam. It has been fun to show him around in my favorite city and relive my favorite hot spots through the eyes of a newcomer. From our first date at JMK Nippon to walks with our dog along the river on the Sinnissippi bike path, I’ve fallen in love with both a boy and a city — one for the first time and one sort of a renewal of love.

Adam’s transition to Rockford has been met with high-fives and welcome remarks. Being the leader of the young professional group in town, it isn’t surprising to me that Adam’s announcement of his arrival was met with cheers and we’re-glad-you’re-here’s. I surround myself daily with people who love Rockford and continue to work to love our city.

As Adam and I prep for our upcom-ing wedding, I’m constantly reminded by others that love isn’t always easy. Some-times love comes in the form of making chicken noodle soup and bringing it to Adam on the couch when he’s sick. Some-times it comes in the form of sitting and listening after a long day. Sometimes it

shines through when admit-ting I’m wrong in an argument (what?? I’m wrong sometimes??). But love means never giving up and working through the hard parts.

It Means CommitmentLoving our city should involve the

same level of commitment. Sometimes love isn’t pretty. Sometimes love comes in the form of getting our hands dirty, solving problems and commitment to work through the hard parts. When you’re truly in love, you don’t focus on faults — you focus on the good while committing to work through the issues together. Our city (and our mates!) isn’t perfect — it never will be. But, our city needs our love all the same.

We can actively love our city while continually trying to help her work through her faults. We can address crime while celebrating new successes. We can work on issues of poverty while enjoying the beautiful outdoors. We can research new economic development opportunities while treating our families to dinner at a local restaurant. Love doesn’t mean picking and choosing — it means working through it together with a commitment to one another. And that’s the kind of love Rockford (and my marriage-to-be) needs.

Caitlin Ludwig is vice president, leadership development, at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Welcome to Rockford, AdamFalling in love … all over again

Redesigned Woodward Technology Center at RVC ready this fall

Construction is underway on Larson & Darby Group’s new design for the Woodward Technology Center at Rock Valley College. The 10,000-sq.-ft.-plus facility will be home to the bachelor’s degree programs in engineering at RVC, started through a partnership with Northern Illinois University to encourage the growth of talented engineers in the Rockford region. Completion is expected by August and will include updated laboratory spaces, new flexible learning labs, and new classrooms and office space. The 2,000 square feet of lobby space will be reclaimed and four student collaboration hubs added.

New, state-of-the-art engineering laboratory spaces will include large expanses of glass to promote Rock Valley College’s theme of “engineering on display” and allow passersby to observe students’ hands-on learning.

By Patricia Lee, FMA

Dozens of companies in the Rockford area have hosted MFG DAY events in the past four years, and hopefully even more companies will host events in 2016, the fi fth anniversary year for MFG DAY. It takes just a few minutes to add your event to the calendar.

Whether your event is open to the whole community or is designed just for a specifi c group of students from a local school, it is important to have it on the calendar in order to be acknowledged in the offi cial count. A host company can start the registration process at www.mfgday.com/user/register. As an offi cial event host, a company has access to a wealth of resources that will help with event planning and promotion.

In addition, offi cially registered events can also subscribe to use the Rock MFG DAY Kit, provided by MFG DAY’s strategic content partner, Edge Factor. The complimentary kit offers nearly 20 multi-media resources that can turn any event into a very special occasion. Learn more at www.mfgday.com/resources/rock-mfgday-kit.

In addition, offi cially registered events may use the survey tool that was developed by Deloitte to measure how participating in a Manufacturing Day event changes the perception of a visitor about the industry. Introduced for the fi rst time in 2015, this survey demonstrated that a positive perception shift does occur. As more data is collected this year and in the future, more insights will be analyzed related to specifi c

demographic groups. See 2015 data at www.

mfgday.com/resources/2015-event-survey-results.

Can manufacturing attract the number of

qualifi ed skilled workers it needs over the next

decade as Baby Boomers leave the workforce?

Positive perception change brought about by

experiences like Manufacturing Day may be

what’s needed to bring about this result.

Patricia Lee is project manager, MFG DAY, for

Fabricators & Manufacturers Association.

The views expressed are those of Lee’s and do not

necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of

Commerce.


Manufacturing News is sponsored by FMA

Register your MFG DAY event on the offi cial event calendar

Pelco Products Inc. in Oklahoma welcomed students to their traffi c and utility products plant.

Ace Clearwater in California welcomes 300 students or more each year for their plant tour/hands-on demonstration program of technology.

Students watch the parts whirl at JL Clark in Rockford.

By Patricia Lee, FMA

The national Manufacturing DaySM concept was “born” in Rockford at the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) in 2012 and includes as co-producers the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Manufacturing Institute (MI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

This year, FMA is hosting its own MFG DAY event, specifi cally designed for Rockford-area manufacturers and other affi liated business professionals, educators and elected offi cials.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m., those with an interest in learning the facts about “How Manufacturing Drives the Economy” are invited to attend a panel presentation and reception at FMA, 833 Featherstone Road in Rockford. It’s an opportunity to hear the kind of in-depth analysis about manufacturing that is rarely reported in today’s news world of “soundbites.” This event is endorsed by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Three panelists with deep background in manufacturing will provide different and unique perspectives.

Stephen Gold, president & CEO, Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), will look at the impact of manufacturing on the creation of technology, and the multiplier effect it has on expanding the economy as a whole. Gold has been involved in manufacturing for three decades. First, specializing in regulatory law, and more recently representing U.S. manufacturers in a variety of senior-level roles in nonprofi t membership organizations, including in government relations, communications and operations.

Scott Mayer, chairman & CEO, QPS Employment Group, will look at how the shortage of skilled workers available to serve the manufacturing industry will have an impact on all other sectors of the economy as well. Mayer founded QPS in 1985 and has grown it into one of the largest independently owned staffi ng fi rms in the Midwest.

Dr. Chris Kuehl, managing partner, Armada Corporate Intelligence, has been the economic analyst for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association since 2007. He will provide the overview of how the U.S. economy works and how the manufacturing sector in many areas — including locally — is the fuel that drives all other development and stability. He will also be the moderator for the Q&A session that will follow the presentation.

Interested in attending? Go to www.mfgday.com/events/2016/fma-14 to learn more and register online. There is no charge to attend.

FMA plans special event for area manufacturersCelebrate Manufacturing Day


Josh AlbrechtRockford Area Convention &

Visitors Bureau

Become a #Rockfordexplorer Our community is fi lled with gems

One of the best parts of working at the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is that I get to explore Rockford and the surrounding region. I do it with fresh eyes, as I have only worked in the community for just shy of two years. As a transplant, everything is new. Each neighborhood, each business district, each restaurant and attraction … they are all new and exciting, and I love telling the world about these great places that I discover.

And, while a signifi cant portion of the RACVB’s job is to bring the world to the city so that tourists and travelers can experience our community (and spend their money here!), I am fi nding more and more that it is equally as important to tell our own residents the story of their city.

Our daily routines make it easy for us to be blind to what is in our community as we travel the same roads to and from work, hit the same coffee joints or lunch spots each week, or buy memberships to our favorite museums and attractions. What if we challenge ourselves to become tourists in our own communities; to explore Rockford, Loves Park, Rockton or Roscoe as if we didn’t live here. What might we then discover?

Discover Our GemsAt the recent RACVB Annual

Luncheon, guest speaker Peter Kageyama talked about loving our city. He challenged the room to fi nd the “love notes” in our community that help to inspire citizens to greater heights. He referenced the UW Health Sports Factory, the Rockford City Market and the murals dotted through the downtown as some of our “love notes.” And, I completely agree with him.

But I also think there is one more step that is needed in our love of city. Placemaking is a term used for the “love notes” that Peter talks about, and they often are the components of community that are calling cards in public spaces. Large buildings, festivals, etc., that announce the community to its residents and visitors. But, in order for us to truly

love our community, we need to discover the hidden gems … the everyday gems … the places where community happens, and where we get the Real. Original. experiences that make Rockford so, well, Real and Original.

For instance, how many of these places have you been to?:

■ Hai-Quynh, a Vietnamese restaurant in the Midtown District

■ La Chiquita, a southwest side grocery store and taqueria

■ Severson Dells Forest Preserve, a beautiful park in southwest Winnebago County

■ Chubby Guys BBQ, a BBQ joint on Riverside Blvd. with some tasty sauces

■ Anderson Japanese Gardens, one of the fi nest gardens in the United States

Now, many of you reading this likely have been to Anderson Japanese Gardens, and maybe you have even been to all these locations. But, I guarantee you that many of those reading this column haven’t been to these spots yet. I’ll admit, I just made it to Hai-Quynh a few weeks back. And, by the way, you would be surprised at how many of us are life-long residents of the Rockford region and still haven’t been to many of the popular sites and attractions.

So, I challenge you to become a #Rockfordexplorer and visit a few places you have never been to in the Rockford region. Step out of your comfort zone and take in some of the amazing locations we have to be discovered. We still have roughly two months of summer left, so let’s take advantage of the nice weather and get out and about. AND, when you do it, share your adventure with #gorockford #Rockfordexplorer … and let gorockford.com help guide your way.

Josh Albrecht is director of marketing & public affairs at the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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

Relief in the HeatDuring the hot summer months, Community Action of Boone and

Winnebago Counties will open cooling sites in the Winnebago and Boone County area when an Excessive Heat Advisory or Warning is issued by the National Weather Service Cooling Centers. Visit www.keepcool.illinois.gov.

12 Business Advisory Teams July 2016 theVoice rockfordchamber.com


Ryan Jeffrey Edward Jones

How can you declare your financial independence?Plan while keeping the end game in mind

Next week, we observe the 4th of July with sparklers, picnics and parades. And living in a country that offers so much freedom, we have a lot to celebrate. But on a more personal level, you may still be working toward another type of independence – financial independence.

What can you do to speed your progress toward this goal?

Some Ideas to Consider

■ Free yourself from excessive fear. As an investor, it’s not hard to find something to fear. Oil prices, interest rates, political squabbles, even natural disasters – at any given time, each of these factors (and many more) might be blamed for volatility in the financial markets. In response, many people take a “time out” from investing. Don’t let fear hold you back. It takes discipline and some mental toughness to stay invested in all economic environments, but if you’re constantly jumping in and out of the market, you’re almost guaranteed to

miss out on the kind of continuity and

opportunities you need to move toward

your financial freedom.

■ Liberate your investments’ growth

potential. Many investors avoid investing

too aggressively, wishing to lower their

risk level. And that’s certainly not a bad

idea. On the other hand, you can easily

slip into investing too “safely” by keeping

the bulk of your portfolio in investments

that protect your principal but offer

so little in the way of return that they

may not even keep up with inflation.

So, try to always maintain a reasonable

percentage of growth-oriented vehicles

in your portfolio. The exact amount may

depend on your age and tolerance for

risk, but at virtually every stage of your

life, you need some growth potential.

■ Avoid the tyranny of debt. It’s not

easy to stay out of debt. But carrying

a heavy debt load is truly a burden

– you’re not only concerned about

making the payments, but you’re also

depriving yourself of dollars that could

be used to invest for your future. Try

to do everything you can to live within

your means and avoid racking up more

debt than is necessary. And when you

do whittle down your debts, put that

“found” money to work. The more you

put in your investment portfolio, the

more opportunities you have to reach

your objectives.

■ Free your thinking about the future.

Here’s another roadblock on your

journey toward financial independence:

short-term thinking. Instead of seeking

quick gains (which are notoriously hard to achieve), strive for steady growth. Instead of reacting to the news of the day by making impulsive moves, chart a long-term strategy that’s appropriate for your needs, and stick to it. Instead of focusing on the losses you might see on one month’s investment statement, look back over the progress you’ve made over the last five or 10 years. In short, worry less about today — and plan for tomorrow.

It will take a lot of time, effort and patience to ultimately achieve your own Financial Independence Day. But once you do, you’ll have reason to rejoice – and you won’t even need the fireworks.

Ryan Jeffrey is a financial advisor for Edward Jones.

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

Instead of reacting to the news of the day by making impulsive moves, chart a long-term strategy that’s appropriate for your needs, and stick to it.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com July 2016 Business Advisory Teams 13


Jeff Glass SmithAmundsen

LLC

Changes in non-compete law you need to knowWhat constitutes a fair application of the law?

Legal change is afoot in the world of “non-compete” agreements. Non-competes are contracts that restrict former employees from soliciting customers, using certain business information, or otherwise unfairly competing for a certain period after they leave the company.

There is a widespread belief that non-competes are not enforceable. Not so! If properly drafted, courts usually enforce them. But that’s a big “if.” Too often, these contracts are poorly drafted or are not up-to-date. If you are an employer who uses these, or an employee who has signed one, read on.

Longevity RequirementIllinois now requires two years of

employment to enforce a non-compete. Most employment relationships are

“at will,” meaning that either side can terminate it at any time for any reason, and most non-competes are signed at the start of employment. For many years, courts considered the job to be a

fair exchange for the non-compete. Not anymore. Now, if the at will job

is the only benefit the employee gets, employment must last for a “substantial” period. The rule of thumb is two years, although agreements have been enforced with less than that. This applies even if the employee voluntarily resigns. So if you have employees who signed non-competes less than two years ago, you could have a problem if they resign.

What to do? Most Illinois employers choose to pay the employee a bonus or other form of benefit in exchange for the non-compete. This can be done at the time of hiring or it can be rolled out to all or part of an existing workforce. Another option for some employers with multi-state operations is to revise their contracts to choose another state’s law. Wisconsin’s law, for instance, is better than Illinois’ on this issue.

New Federal Trade Secrets StatuteOn May 11, 2016, President Obama

signed into law the federal Defend Trade

Secrets Act (DTSA). A “trade secret” is

any type of confidential, competitively

sensitive information. Examples run the

gamut and include business strategies,

product formulas, manufacturing

techniques, and profit margins, to name

a few. Non-compete contracts usually

contain non-disclosure provisions and

non-compete lawsuits typically include

a trade secret claim because former

employees often compete using inside

information from the former employer.

Now, under the DTSA, trade secret

claims can be filed in federal court,

which means the non-compete case

also gets litigated in federal court. This

option can be important for strategic

reasons. Also, the DTSA provides for

the recovery of attorney’s fees in certain

situations. Employers should note that

the DTSA requires contracts to provide

certain statutory notice to employees in

order to get the full range of protections

under the DTSA. So you will need to

revise your contracts.

Ban for Low Wage Employees

The Illinois legislature appears to be ready to enact a statute that prohibits non-compete agreements for low wage employees. This is being enacted in response to a high-profile case involving Jimmy John’s. It is not law yet but it appears that it will pass in some form.

Bottom line: if you have not looked at your non-competes in a while, it is time to take them out of the drawer and review them in light of the foregoing changes in the law.

Jeff Glass is a partner in the Rockford office of SmithAmundsen LLC. He authored the chapter on drafting and litigating restrictive covenants in the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Employment Law Handbook.

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



Three Cs for successful business succession planningOn April 13th, Tom Budd, T.J. Leake

and I moderated a panel discussion on Business Succession Strategies for the Rockford Chamber’s Breakfast Buzz series. It was no coincidence that the panel included a group of individuals with independent legal, financial, banking, income and estate and gift tax backgrounds. The resulting discussion was a robust exchange of ideas from a variety of perspectives. During the presentation itself and from the myriad of questions fielded afterward, it became clear that successful business succession planning requires a teamwork approach, invoking the three Cs of proper planning: Coordination, Collaboration and Cooperation.

First ‘C’: CoordinationAs revealed during the program,

successful business succession planning takes time and requires a multidisciplinary, coordinated approach focusing on a myriad of tax and non-tax issues alike. Complicated corporate and individual income tax issues must be addressed and alternative financial scenarios often modeled, further complicated by the ever-changing estate and gift tax issues which simultaneously come into play. More importantly, the transfer of a family business requires a

keen awareness of family dynamics and the personal circumstances of individual family members. Without coordinated planning, not only can the family business be lost, but financial livelihoods and the personal relationships among family members destroyed.

Second ‘C’: CollaborationThe ultimate purpose of collaboration

is to tap into and harness the collective wisdom of advisors from varying backgrounds. Those seeking to successfully transfer their business, as well as the advisors themselves, invariably benefit from the powerful synergies accessed in a collaborative environment. When advisors collaborate, they are able to vet ideas and solutions in a broader context. Strategies and solutions can be scrutinized from a legion of viewpoints: legal, financial, tax and many others. In addition, a collaborative teamwork approach can prevent tunnel vision and the risk that important information may be lost between a business owner’s independent advisors, such as often is the case when communication is not made in an open forum or group setting.

For example, although the starting point in most business succession scenarios

is to appropriately consider and navigate applicable taxes, the tax “dog” cannot wag the underlying personal and family issues that may exist. Although historically high transfer tax exemption levels do provide an opportunity to transfer significant wealth to future generations with little or no estate tax to consider at death, attention should be given when possible to transferring business interests during lifetime. Transfers during lifetime have the non-tax benefit of providing time to involve other generations in the family business while the first generation is still around to settle disputes.

Third ‘C’: Cooperation: Cooperation involves everyone

working together for the greater good of the succession project. It is not clear why cooperation is not the norm in business succession planning, despite its well-defined benefits. Perhaps it is the perceived threat of losing control, or the fear by a single advisor that a peer will hijack the agenda or recommend strategies that could result in lower personal compensation among one or more advisors. In any case, it is clear that for a cooperative teamwork approach

to take root, it is an ethical imperative that a client-first mentality must be shared by all team members.

Business succession planning invariably involves applying a variety of personal, tax, legal and financial disciplines to a single cause. As was demonstrated to the many participants at the Breakfast Buzz, coordination, collaboration and cooperation among a team of advisors working in unison for a common goal can be the single most effective way to start down the path of the successful transition of a family business.

For a copy of the business succession planning checklist provided to the Rockford Chamber Breakfast Buzz participants, visit savantcapital.com/chamber.

Mike Cyrs, J.D., MBA, CFP®, is a wealth transfer advisor at Savant Capital Management.

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

Mike Cyrs Savant Capital Management

For informational purposes only. Not intended as tax or legal advice. Each individual’s situation is different and you should consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your personal circumstances. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

theVoice rockfordchamber.com July 2016 Business Advisory Teams 15


Tom Furst FurstSearch

How to be an effective board directorApproach the role with energy, humility

It’s official – you have recently joined a board of directors … and you are eager to attend your first meeting. Once the congratulations are over, you are left wondering what to expect of your upcoming board experience and what will be expected of you? Most directors attend their first meeting with little or no previous experience – and it can result in an “uncomfortable” scenario. Some thoughts and suggestions are summarized below.

#1 – Know the Role You are Expected to Play

Being an effective director begins by knowing the role of the board for the business you are serving, and the specific reason you were selected. In privately held companies, the board’s role is frequently more advisory than governance, so you need to understand exactly what they expect from the board. There are various types of boards, ranging from “window dressing” to boards that actually govern through strategic and/or specific operational duties.

Boards should typically take the view of where is the company heading in the long term, and what strategies do we have to get there? This long-term attitude is what owners of private companies usually need to hear – as they are typically doing all they can to keep up with the current day-to-day struggles of running the company. Remember, in private companies boards serve at the pleasure of the owner/entrepreneur, so be sensitive and listen to what is asked of you, and try to respond to specific requests – and leave the backseat driving to others – at least until you have earned the respect needed to offer constructive observations and criticism.

Directors also need to understand their personal role within the board environment. Rarely is a prima donna director effective. Boards are more

effective when the members work together as a team. A good director understands that his or her opinion is very useful for some matters, somewhat useful for other issues, and not useful at all for some issues. The important thing is for the board as a whole to realize its role, and then for individual directors to participate according to their abilities.

#2 – Allow for an Orientation PeriodWhen joining a new or established

board, some orientation period will be necessary before a new member feels comfortable. That period will go more smoothly and the new director will earn respect more quickly by showing a little humility toward others who probably have more experience and certainly more seniority.

Avoid coming into a board with a loaded agenda and attitude that says, “I’m here to save you and correct all the mistakes you have made.” Perhaps not said verbally, but the attitude is

sometimes conveyed. New directors are recruited to bring new ideas and fresh perspectives, but one should not try to make changes the first day, or even the first few meetings.

#3 – Be ProfessionalA professional attitude and work

style will go a long way toward building an effective team. Professionalism means being prepared for the meetings, including reviewing carefully your agenda and packet before the meeting begins. Be on time and stay until the meeting is adjourned. Get enough sleep the night before so as to be alert and not yawning during presentations. Be polite and avoid irrelevant chatter and negative behaviors of all types. They will destroy whatever harmony may have existed in a group.

#4 – ParticipateGood directors are prepared,

they listen to others, and they share

their views,

opinions and

experiences.

They are sensitive to the opinions

of others, yet avoid “groupthink” or

going along with the crowd just to

avoid controversy. Directors should

periodically assess their participation –

a little honest reflection can do wonders

to keep participation at an appropriate

level.

#5 – Seek FeedbackBoard memberships typically do not

have a formal job description or annual

performance review. Directors should

seek outside feedback to ensure that

their performance is satisfactory, and,

hopefully, ever-improving. A good place

to start is by asking the chair or CEO

to honestly review your effectiveness as

a director. Perhaps suggest a lunch or

breakfast meeting and let them know

in advance what you want to discuss.

Another good source for feedback is

your fellow directors – just tell them

you are doing a self-evaluation and

would like some input.

Final ThoughtsDo not accept an invitation to serve

unless you have an interest, and you

really can contribute – and intend to

work hard to do so. And, if after some

interval of board service you feel you

are not contributing, resign and get out

of the way – you will be less frustrated

finding a better place to serve and the

board will be healthier too.

Tom Furst is founder of FurstSearch.

The views expressed are those of Furst’s and do

not necessarily represent those of the Rockford

Chamber of Commerce.

Before and outside of regular meetings

■ Be Prepared – read the material! ■ Seek additional information –

both general and specific to issues ■ Find ways to help the leadership

team: attend special meetings and retreats; serve on committees; attend dinners and special activities, etc.; be available as a resource (telephone conferences, lunch meetings, etc.)

■ Actively fulfill your role as a board member in the community – be a networker, cheerleader, flag-waver – but NOT a meddler!

Tips for effective board participation at the meeting

■ At the meetings, be attentive - listen to others

■ Admit your lack of knowledge – ask questions!

■ Dig deep – ask discerning questions

■ Avoid public embarrassment of your leader (ask some questions in private)

■ Don’t engage in “group-think” ■ Engage in serious debates –

don’t be a bystander ■ Don’t be petty ■ Keep notes where appropriate –

they may come in handy later

A few reminders for becoming an effective director


INSIGHTGuest Perspective INSIGHTGuest Perspective

Joseph T. QuillenNorthwest Bank

Digital Banking: Moving from ‘brick-and-mortar’ to ‘brick-and-click’

Put down your smart phone for a second. I know, it’s not easy. 88 percent of you have checked your emails today. 82 percent have used social media. 72 percent have text messaged. In between, you’re planning a vacation, downloading a book or paying a bill. While traditional “brick and mortar” banks have perhaps been slower in adopting new online and mobile technologies, they’re catching up fast. In fact, a recent survey by the Federal Reserve showed that some 52 percent of smartphone owners with a bank account have already used some form of mobile banking; most commonly to check account balances and recent transactions, and transferring money between an individual’s own accounts.

In the coming months, here are a few more digital capabilities you can expect from your “brick-and-click” bank:

1. Make a mobile deposit. Up until a few years ago, depositing a check typically meant visiting a branch. Now, many local and regional banks have caught up with the largest fi nancial institutions in offering customers a mobile deposit capability. It’s simple too: download the app, enter your account number and deposit amount, use your smartphone to take a picture of the front and back – and instantly credit it to your account. It’s posted to your account the next day, just as it would be if you’d deposited the check conventionally at your branch. No trip – just a few clicks!

2. Make a mobile payment. Most of us have long been using Automatic Funds Transfer (AFT) to pay on-going monthly bills from large institutions like retailers, utilities and credit card companies. Today it’s just as easy to make a mobile payment person-to-person. P2P payments are expected to grow from $12.8 billion in 2012 to $90 billion by 2017. Now anyone with access to a mobile phone can make or receive payments instantly, and securely.

Let’s say you’ve just gotten home from dinner and a movie and realize you don’t have enough cash to pay the babysitter. No problem. If your bank offers a third party service such as Popmoney’s personal payment service to facilitate the P2P payment, you simply initiate a payment through the Popmoney app. The babysitter receives a notifi cation via email or text message that the specifi ed money is available for deposit, and then it’s deposited directly in their bank account. It’s fast, easy and, most importantly, secure.

3. Reduce your risk with fraud alerts. While we all appreciate the instant access and enormous convenience afforded us by our debit card, it also opens the door to criminals intent on accessing these cards for unauthorized purchases or cash withdrawals. The ability to check your account balances daily online is very important to detecting fraud early. Many banks enable you to take it a step further with additional services designed to minimize your exposure. These banks often partner with an industry expert such as SHAZAM BOLT$ to offer, via their app, a host of services such as viewing balances, receiving transaction alerts, notifi cations of suspicious transactions and temporarily blocking future transactions.

4. Get instant access via a “smart” ATM. The average ATM is convenient, functional – but not that bright. When it comes to making deposits, most ATMs are little more than a mailbox. Now, a new generation of deposit-smart ATMs are appearing on the banking landscape. Not only can you make a deposit any time day or night, but the deposits are posted to your account that same business day. Depending on the bank, you also will have immediate access to at least a portion of these funds.

5. Benefi t from every banking “channel.” The speed and convenience of mobile banking is undeniable. Yet, for many, the banking experience isn’t characterized by just a single banking channel. Surveys show that most banking customers utilize at least four of the typical fi ve channels available to them to conduct their banking business. This includes visiting a branch or ATM, banking online, using a mobile app, or simply telephoning. Demographics, personal preference and the particular needs of the customer make it imperative that your bank have all of the digital, physical and human resources necessary to deliver an exceptional banking experience to everyone -- from tech-savvy Gen Ys to a “tech newbie” member of the Greatest Generation.

Joseph T. Quillen, retail team leader and vice president, has been with Northwest Bank since 1998. He has experience in consumer, commercial and mortgage lending and currently provides leadership for the retail banking team.

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

Anne WilsonComfort Keepers

You may need a power of attorney, but fi rst know the facts

A power of attorney is often likened to an insurance policy – you hope you’ll never need it, but your family will be very grateful for your foresight if you do. It’s the only way to ensure you have your say on who you trust to manage your affairs, that your health is managed as you wish, and that decisions are made as simple as possible for your loved ones. Here are some myths in regard to this legal document.

Myth 1. A power of attorney is a person. Actually a power of attorney is a legal document you use to allow another person to act for you. You create a legal relationship in which you are the principal and the person you appoint is the “attorney-in-fact” or agent. A power of attorney specifi es the powers you give to your agent.

Myth 2. Only a lawyer can be a power of attorney. This popular myth arises because of the language involved with power of attorney uses the term “attorney-in-fact.” A power of attorney is just a kind of document, while an attorney-in-fact is a representative. No one involved in the creation or use of a power of attorney needs to be a lawyer or have any familiarity with the law. While not mandatory, it is always wise to consult a lawyer when creating or using any kind of legal document.

Myth 3. I don’t need a power of attorney because I’m young/healthy/married. No one knows what the future holds, and a power of attorney is one of the best tools you can have to guard against future disasters or emergencies. Every capable adult, whether they are young, old, healthy or sick, needs powers of attorney in place. If you don’t have these documents and something should happen to you, there is no guarantee that those who end up making decisions on your behalf will do what you want them to do.

Myth 4. I made my power of attorney years ago after speaking to a lawyer, so I don’t need to worry about it anymore. Laws change, people change and the power of attorney you made years ago might not be of any value to you today. As with any other estate-planning device, it’s important for you to review your power of attorney on a regular basis. If the power is active, meaning that your agent is currently representing your interests, you might go so far as to renew or rewrite the power every six months or every year.

Myth 5. Stating that you are the person’s “power of attorney” is all you have to do to be able to make decisions for that person. Saying so

isn’t enough.

You must

provide a copy of the power of attorney

to anyone you want to recognize and

follow the power of attorney guidelines.

Don’t think just saying “I am mom’s

power of attorney” is suffi cient. Powers

of attorney vary in what may and may

not be done by the agent. They are not

“one-size-fi ts-all” documents.

Myth 6. Becoming someone’s power of attorney gives the agent rights over that person. This is one

family members often believe. Just

because they are the designated agent

on someone’s power of attorney, they

assume they can go against their loved-

one’s wishes just because they decide the

person is not making wise decisions.

Delegating your rights to someone

else is not giving them away. Through

your power of attorney, you have the

ability to choose the kinds of decisions

you allow your agent to make and when

those powers are in effect. Whether you

want to make a document that only

gives very limited powers, or very broad

powers, the choice is always up to you.

Furthermore, as long as you remain

mentally competent, you also retain the

ability to revoke or terminate power of

attorney whenever you like. The agent

can only act for as long as you choose. If

you choose to fi re your agent at any

time, you are free to do so.

Myth 7: When creating a power of attorney, it is best to appoint my spouse and children to act jointly. This

can be a very poor choice. Appointing

family jointly means they must act

together in all matters, rendering the

power of attorney useless when one

member is unable or unwilling to act.

You can, however, appoint a primary

agent and then appoint a successor

health care agent who could act in the

event the primary agent was unwilling

or unable to do.

Myth 8: A power of attorney is good in every state. I don’t need a new one if I move. When you move

to a different state, you should always

consult a local attorney to see whether

your power of attorney will be effective

in the way you intended.

Anne Wilson, a certifi ed senior advisor and owner of Comfort Keepers Northwest Illinois, works professionally with the elderly on issues relating to senior independence.

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


Business owners of small- to medium-sized companies can leverage advisory boards to support business growth through effective decision-making. Advisory boards may have a broad focus and provide feedback on general business decisions. They also may be more ad hoc; developed for key business initiatives such as development of a new product or market. Advisory board members provide their subject matter expertise without impinging on the ultimate decisions of the business owner or board of directors.

One specifi c business initiative for which advisory boards are useful is succession planning. During the RAEDC’s Succession Planning Seminar on June 7, Lisë Stewart of the Galliard Institute included advisory boards in her recommendations for family businesses. She advises businesses to be bold in asking succession planning experts or industry leaders who may be willing to provide their time supporting the business.

The seminar’s panel discussion reinforced the value of advisory boards. Jack Ward, partner at Reno & Zahm, emphasized that business owners fi nd individuals that they trust as his most important piece of advice.

There is no one-size-fi ts-all advisory board model. Lisë Stewart recommends that business owners ask for short periods of commitment, a one-year period for example, to reduce barriers for participation. Commitment periods

can be renewed for members who remain interested and benefi cial, while providing fl exibility to modify participation with other individuals as needed. Some business owners may not have the networks to identify suffi cient perspectives from individuals whom they trust. In these cases, they may organize a fl oating advisory panel that does not meet formally, and where members’ commitment only extends to the next conversation. This more informal structure can provide the advisory benefi t while the business owner develops trusted contacts.

Advisory boards can positively impact small- and medium-size businesses, from a start-up company to a third-generation, family-owned business. Regardless of business sector or advisory board structure, they help navigate common business planning decisions with expert insight and support.

Karl Franzen is business development specialist at the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

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

Recently the RAEDC and the Business Retention & Expansion Team welcomed Lisë Stewert, nationally recognized succession planning expert, to speak and lead a panel conversation at a succession planning presentation. Stewert is the founder of Galliard, Inc., a consulting service for family-owned and closely held businesses.

With 30 years of experience, she shared her practical advice in our competitive economy for ensuring the sustainability and value of family and closely held businesses as they pass from one generation to the next or from one owner to the next.

More than 95 individuals representing 69 companies from the Rockford Region listened to Stewert speak about the importance of succession planning and how to get started with this company-critical activity.

Following Stewert’s presentation a panel discussion moderated by Stewert featured

■ Thomas Barrett, sr. advanced markets director, MetLife Premier Client Group

■ Neal Richardson, partner in charge, Wipfl i

■ Frank Rotello, CEO, Alpha Controls & Services

■ Jack Ward, partner, Reno & Zahm

■ Rick Bastian, chairman and CEO, Blackhawk Bank

Succession planning simply means having a plan to mitigate the risk in the event of illness, retirement or job changes. Some of the key considerations when it comes to succession planning include:

■ Make succession planning a priority, early. This should happen during the growth phase/consolidation phase of a

business. The passage of time is critical

to the benefi t of the succession plan.

■ Find advisors and people you can

trust as quickly as possible.

■ Have the fi nancial backing to

support the succession plan.

■ Build the bench. Groom and train

the next generation of business leaders,

whether they are family members or

non-family members/employees.

■ Have succession and expectation

conversations with family to ensure

everyone is on the same page when

it comes time to sell or transfer the

business.

Organizing seminars such as this

provide the opportunity to align the

needs and services between business

owners and partners, thus increasing

the long-term economic well being

of our region. In an area such as the

Rockford Region with many family-

owned and closely held businesses, it

is critical to economic development

and the stability of our region to ensure

those businesses survive the transfer of

ownership.

Succession planning isn’t a onetime

event; with the many variables involved

it takes time to develop a solid plan. The

RAEDC recognizes the importance of

this topic and as part of its strategic

plan Rockforward20/20 will continue

to provide, along with its partners,

ongoing opportunities for education

and planning.

The RAEDC would like to thank

presenting sponsor Blackhawk Bank,

breakfast sponsor First Midwest Group

and supporting sponsor Wipfl i.

Planning for success

Karl FranzenRAEDC

Advisory boards key to business growth

Businesses in the Rockford Region generally are reporting positive business trends, with 57 percent reporting an increase in sales. Among the companies that hosted a conversation in 2015, 43 percent anticipate increased hiring needs in the next three years.

The Voice of the Customer (VOC) dialogues lead to 68 retention and expansion projects. These fed directly into the region’s economic indicators of new and retained jobs, new and renovated space, and capital investment in the region, as reported by the RAEDC on a monthly basis.

Results of the survey, conducted by the RAEDC and sponsored by ComEd, have been released. The full report can be found at www.rockfordil.com/VoiceOfTheCustomer.

2015 Voice of the Customer summary now available


Rockford has been key in the

development of a number of impact players

in Chicago.

Last season, 22 past and current

IceHogs players appeared in a game with

the Blackhawks.

In the last seven seasons, 22 players

have gone on to win the Stanley Cup

with the Blackhawks after playing in

Rockford, and eight have their names

engraved on Hockey’s most-storied

hardware multiple times.

The IceHogs have secured a winning

record in each of the team’s nine AHL

seasons.

Attendance at the BMO Harris Bank Center has continued to increase during the affi liation. New attendance records were set in 2015-16 with 190,492 total fans and an average of 5,013 fans per game.

Tournaments begin at UW Health Sports Factory

The City of Rockford, Rockford Park District, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Winnebago County Regional Tourism Facility Board celebrated the completion of UW Health Sports Factory at 305 S. Madison St., in downtown Rockford, with an inauguration on June 2. The city led the design and construction of the 108,000-square-foot facility. The park district owns and operates it, and the RACVB leads tourism

sales and marketing.

UW Health Sports Factory saw its fi rst

tournament played on June 4 and 5 with

Rockford Hoops’ grand opening, which

drew 3,200 people and generated an

estimated $115,000 in economic impact. Rockford Hoops agreed to hold the event at the new downtown location for the next three years, which includes 21 weekends in the fi rst year. theVoice

On June 21, Transform Rockford brought New York Times best-selling author Tony Buettner to Rockford to talk about lessons learned through a 10-year worldwide longevity study by National Geographic.

Buettner is senior vice president of business development at Blue Zones Project, which is working to institute community-wide health initiatives in interested communities, including places such as Naples, Fla.; Dodge County, Wis., and Albert Lea, Minn.

Rockford was a perfect candidate to hear and try to adopt better wellness initiatives because according to an annual health ranking, Winnebago County is heading in the wrong direction.

In the 2016 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps by the University of

Wisconsin Population Health Institute,

Winnebago County ranked 88th out

of 102 counties in health outcomes.

The rankings have been compiled and

released annually since 2011, and 2016

was the worst showing yet.

It is a curious statistic for Winnebago

County in that much of its tourism

income is sports-based. From Rock Cut

State Park to the Sportscore facilities

and the new UW Health Sports Factory,

Rockford and Winnebago County

brings in millions in revenues from

teams coming here to compete.

A look at the 2016 results for

Winnebago County and the state’s

supposedly healthiest county, DuPage,

shows how much Winnebago County

residents need to get moving.

Category Illinois DuPage WinnebagoPoor or fair health 17% 12% 17%Adult smoking 17% 12% 17%Adult obesity 27% 24% 32%Physically inactive 22% 18% 26%Alcohol-related driving deaths 36% 26% 36%Uninsured 15% 11% 13%Children in poverty 20% 11% 25%

Winnebago County heading wrong way in health rankings

County Comparisons

Rockford Art Deli is going to take part in Rockford Day by having a free print holiday, featuring a limited edition design. Photo by Rockford Art Deli co-owner Britney Lindgren

New event to showcase everything good about 815

In April 2014, Gallup released the results of a very telling poll. Just 72.8 percent of the more than 300 people Gallup surveyed in Rockford were satisfi ed with their city.

That may not seem like a bad score, after all 72.8 percent is a C in most classes. According to Gallup though out of the 189 communities surveyed, Rockford residents were the least satisfi ed. Stockton, Calif., was next lowest at 73.3 percent. Flint, Mich., was fourth at 74.2 percent.

At the other end of the spectrum, 94.9 percent of the residents in Fort Collins, Colo., were satisfi ed with their city. Other communities in the top 10 included Holland-Grand Haven, Mich. (93.4 percent), Des Moines, Iowa (92.2 percent) and Madison, Wis. (91.9 percent).

One interesting aspect to those who move to Rockford is to discover how much local residents love to beat up on the city. In August, a new event aims to build the love for everything Rockford.

On Aug. 15, Rockford Community Partners is holding Rockford Day. The date is signifi cant, 8-15 for the traditional Rockford area code. It also is the day the annual Rockford Pro-Am is being held and students in the Rockford and Harlem school districts head back to school.

Modeled after Milwaukee Day in Wisconsin, which is held annually on April 14 to match that city’s 414 area code, organizers aren’t really organizing. They want area businesses and nonprofi ts to come up with as many different 815 ideas as possible.

“The goal really is to get the

community involved in coming up

with the ideas,” said Andrea Mandala,

marketing and communications manager

for the Rockford Area Convention &

Visitors Bureau. “It will be fun to see what

everyone comes up with.”

As of June 16, nine organizations

already had announced 815 specials

for Rockford Day. These include local

businesses offering special pricing on

food, clothing, fi tness programs, and

countless other opportunities.

The Rockford Park District is getting

involved by offering a $8.15 meal deal at

Magic Waters – two slices of pizza, a bosco

stick and a regular size beverage – and a

$8.15 buy one get one free deal for nine

holes of golf at Ingersoll or Sinnissippi

golf courses.

The convention and visitors bureau

is adding all giveaways and events to a

microsite, www.gorockford.com/events/

rockfordday/.

“There’s so much momentum

right now with Transform Rockford

and the opening of the UW Health

Sports Factory,” said Denise Delanty,

Rockford Park District marketing and

communications manager. “We think

it’s wonderful that we’re having a day to

celebrate all the great things we have here

in Rockford.”

Alex Gary is president of Alex Gary

Communications Inc.

Ice Hogs (continued from front page)

UW Health Sports Factory holds a grand opening celebration in June. ©Rockford Park District - Photo by Ben Wiegel (edited by Jesse Fox)


Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that Winnebago County tourism attractions and events drew 7,662,205 guests in 2015, up from 7,604,578 in 2014, an increase of 57,627 people over the prior year.

2016 Attendance ProjectionsFor the second year in a row,

attendance numbers hit the 7.6 million mark in the Rockford region, and the RACVB expects numbers to climb towards 8 million in 2016. Sports tourism should continue to rise with the UW Health Sports Factory opening in June and 15 tournaments booked so far in 2016.

The first Tough Mudder event for the area drew 15,000 visitors in May. Other anticipated draws for this year are Alpine Hills Adventure Park and the new Rockford Rivets baseball team.

RACVB rates top ten area attractions in 2015

Alpine Hills Adventure Park offers activities year-round with tubing, skiing and snowboarding in winter and canopy zip line tours in temperate weather.Photo ©Rockford Park District - Photo by Ben Wiegel (edited by Jesse Fox)

Attraction 2015 20141. Sportscore Complexes/Indoor Sports Center 2,878,847 2,867,1732. Rock Cut State Park 1,076,346 1,059,1833. Ice Facilities – Carlson & Riverview 491,815 477,5904. BMO Harris Bank Center (includes IceHogs) 289,837 292,2105. Forest Hills Baseball Diamonds 200,000 280,0006. Rockford Park District Golf Courses 187,006 188,5287. Magic Waters Waterpark 186,331 170,0218. Discovery Center Museum 181,961 169,3289. Lockwood Park Equestrian Centre 135,200 133,72010.Rockford Speedway 124,556 128,311

Rockford’s seventh most popular attraction, Magic Waters Waterpark, is a summer favorite open Memorial through Labor Day weekends.Photo ©Rockford Park District - Photo by Jake Swenson

Rockford’s third most popular attraction, Carlson Ice Arena and Riverview Ice House, is home to activities such as Junior IceHogs Hockey Leagues. Photo ©Rockford Park District - Photo by Jesse Fox


Rockford Chamber members appear bolded. Thank you for your support of your fellow Chamber members.

BOARD APPOINTMENTSJoAnn Lane (1), consumer banking assistant manager, Illinois Bank & Trust, recently joined the Rockford Day Nursery and Early Learning Center board of directors HR committee.

Sandra Lindvall (2), credit manager, CCP, CPC, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, was selected for the Credentialing Standards Board of the Business Credit Management Association, American Society of Credit and Collection Professionals.

Mary Beth Peterson, marketing coordinator, Larson & Darby Group, was named vice president of the Laurent House board.

Robert Reed (3), UTC Aerospace Systems, joined the Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful board.

NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTSMarcus Hill joined Rockford Housing Authority as the community development manager.

Alpine Bank promoted Teresa Heiken (4) to mortgage processing officer, Dale Jones (5) to mortgage underwriting officer and Dana Potter (6) to senior mortgage underwriting officer.

Rockford Health Physicians welcomed family practice physicians Chunliu Zhu, M.D. (7), to Rockford Health Physicians – N. Rockton Ave., and Jeff McFadden, D.O. (8), to Rockford Health Physicians – Byron.

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford hired John Plescia, M.D. (9), as the Rural Medical Education program director; replacing Craig Davenport, M.D.

Allen Benjamin, Inc., North American Tool Corporation hired Rick Rath (10) as brand manager.

Muhammad Habib, M.D. (11), joined OSF as a family medicine physician at OSF Medical Group - Rock Cut Primary Care.

Kelly Lesniewski (12), PT, DPT, joined OSTI - Belvidere Physical Therapy.

Midland States Bank hired Cynthia Carr (13) as its director of information security and IT governance.

Rockford Park District announced the starting lineup for its hockey program: Scott Burfoot, general manager of ice facilities; Don Walker, hockey director; Oak Hewer, hockey coordinator, and Tim Mattila, coach/parent development coordinator.

U.S. Cellular named John Heimsch (14) as its new director of sales for its corporate-owned channel in northern Illinois and Wisconsin.

Linda Sutton (15) celebrated four years with The Brian Boyer Group and was promoted to executive assistant. Taneel Fraley (16) was promoted to office manager.

Heinzeroth Marketing Group hired Dave Johnson (17) as senior account manager.

Heartland Hospice hired Angelica Montes (18), DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CCRN, as a nurse practitioner for its hospice team.

Illinois Bank & Trust hired Kim Ballard (19) as senior personal banker

at the Perryville Banking Center.

Rockford Mutual Insurance Company promoted Gerard (Gerry) DuMelle (20) to web developer II. Margaret Hafferty (21), receptionist, celebrated five years.

Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center hired Dr. Danny Pierce as its new executive director.

Arc Design Resources, Inc., hired Nancy Everett (22) as assistant survey department manager.

KMK Media Group hired Pamela Castro (23) as its newest graphic designer.

Kevin Van Briesen, CPA, was promoted to chief financial officer at Specialty Screw Corporation in June. Alex Johansson joined as the new materials manager.

Nicole Koblesky joined Blackhawk Bank’s senior management team as vice president human resources.

Rockford Area Economic Development Council hired Kaela Gardner (24) as business attraction coordinator.

EMPLOYEE/COMMUNITY RECOGNITIONS, AWARDSWill Geske (25) was recognized as one of only 821 leaders out of the firm’s 14,000 financial advisors in the United States and Canada at Edward Jones’ Financial Advisor Leaders Conference.

Shirley Geiser (26), Spectrum Insurance Agency, received the Silver Key Award from Pekin Life Insurance Company.

Peg Wilkerson (27), SVP, commercial services, Alpine Bank,

was recognized by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers for 25 years as an active board member for Rosecrance Health Network at the NAATP Annual Leadership Conference in Florida. Carol Moll (28), SVP, senior wealth advisor & trust officer, Alpine Trust & Investment Group, received the Northern Illinois Hospice Ewald Leadership Award as the board president for the past four years.

The International Preservation Studies Center awarded Alix Fox, director of education and collections, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens, with a scholarship for training in museum best practices.

Kate Rosenwinkel (29), commercial underwriter II, celebrated five years with Rockford Mutual Insurance Company.

Comfort Keepers gave Dawn Rosencrans (30), Rockford, and Pradipa Ganti (31), Freeport, the April Comfort Keeper of the Month award.

Melissa VanSistine (32), junior at Lewis University, received the Rockford Park District’s $2,500 2016 Jane Lyons Memorial Scholarship at the board of commissioners meeting.

Rockford University faculty members were honored in May with 2016 Excellence in Teaching awards: Sean Beckmann (33), assistant professor, biology (full-time), and Tim Wagner (34), adjunct professor, mathematics (adjunct).

IN THE NEWSMembers in the News

1. JoAnn Lane 2. Sandra Lindvall

3. Robert Reed 4. Teresa Heiken 5. Dale Jones 6. Dana Potter 7. Dr. Chunliu Zhu

8. Dr. Jeff McFadden

9. Dr. John Plescia

10. Rick Rath 11. Dr. Muhammad Habib

12. Kelly Lesniewski

13. Cynthia Carr 14. John Heimsch

15. Linda Sutton 16. Taneel Fraley

(continued on page 21)

17. Dave Johnson

18. Angelica Montes

19. Kim Ballard 20. Gerard (Gerry) DuMelle

21. Margaret Hafferty

22. Nancy Everett

23. Pamela Castro

24. Kaela Gardner


theFranaGroup awarded two $1,000 scholarships to Michael Booker, studying physical education, and Nathan Brady (35), studying autotech/electrical engineering.

Kasey Abney (36), vice president of process improvement at Alpine Bank, earned a Six Sigma Green Belt certificate from the Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional and Executive Development.

OF GENERAL INTERESTNancy Salsbury (37), Spectrum Insurance Agency, attended the Commercial Advisory Council meeting for Illinois with Hanover Insurance in May. Bonnie Arrington (38) attended an ethics class by Perfection Cleaning & Restoration in May. Karla Rodgers (39) completed her Agency Operations exam towards her Certified Insurance Service Representative designation.

Ander Smith (40), C. Ander Smith,

Attorney at Law, PC, attended a two-day seminar, “Acquiring or Selling the Privately Held Company,” by Practicing Law Institute in Chicago in June.

Kathy Velasco (41), CEO of V2 Marketing Communications, was an honoree at the 2016 Jefferson Awards DC National Ceremony, June 15-16 in Washington, DC, representing the best of public service in America. Velasco received the Jefferson Award from the Rockford Register Star for over 40 years of service to Rockford’s non-profit community www.jeffersonawards.org.

IN THE NEWSMembers in the News

Continued from page 20

25. Will Geske 26. Shirley Geiser 27. Peg Wilkerson

28. Carol Moll 29. Kate Rosenwinkel

30. Dawn Rosencrans

31. Pradipa Ganti 32. Melissa VanSistine

33. Sean Beckmann

34. Tim Wagner 35. Nathan Brady 36. Kasey Abney 37. Nancy Salsbury

38. Bonnie Arrington

39. Karla Rodgers

40. Ander Smith

41. Kathy Velasco

CelebratingLife,

One Familyat a Time

First Class Facilities, First Class Service

Roscoe andRockford Chapels

honquestfh.com815.636.5100



Sunday, July 3Rockford Park District presents Live at Levings, talent showcases and free concerts at Levings Park, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave. Talent show, 4 to 6 p.m.; performances/concerts, 6 to 8 p.m. Street Life Band and P2P Band with Harlan Jefferson. Visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org or call 815-987-8800.

Monday, July 4The Rockford MELD Classic July 4th Run & Walk takes place at 7 a.m., at North Madison Street, Rockford, in front of the trolley station. It features the Alan Hutchcroft 8K Run, 2 Mike Run and Mile Walk. Visit www.rockfordmeld.org.

Thursday, July 7Midway Village Museum presents The Rockford Plate: A Culinary Journey of Early Rockford Immigrants, 5:30 to 9 p.m., in Victorian Village, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Journey to 1900 and explore menus and drinks from six of Rockford’s ethnic immigrant groups. Visit www.midwayvillage.com or call 815-397-9112, ext. 109.

Rockford Police Department and United Way of Rock River Valley host a Strong Neighborhoods Days block party, noon to 2 p.m., at Creek View Road and East Lawn Drive. For questions contact 815-986-4802 or [email protected].

University of Illinois Extension presents Yes! You Can: Preserve It Safely – Water Bath and Pressure Canning Basics, 6 to 8:30 p.m.,

at 1040 N. Second St., Rockford. Register at 815-986-4357 or web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw/.

Saturday, July 9Midway Village Museum presents History Explorers: What Were They Thinking on weird, wacky, amazing inventions from the 1890s, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Interactive activity stations at Victorian Village. Call 815-397-9112 or visit www.midwayvillage.com.

Riverfront Museum Park celebrates 25 years with Dancing Under the Stars, 7 p.m., in its parking lot. Entertainment with Prime Time Live, hors d’oeuvres from Prairie Street Brew House, signature cocktails, and rides down the Rock River on the Forest City Queen. Register with Kathy at 815-972-2829.

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful hosts a Clothing Drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at all eight Rockford-area Schnucks parking lots and Belvidere Township offices. Free drop-off of clean clothing, soft luggage, shoes, purses, linens, pillows and stuffed toys. Call 815-637-1343 or visit www.knib.org.

Sunday, July 10Rockford Park District presents Live at Levings, talent showcases and free concerts at Levings Park, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave. Talent show, 4 to 6 p.m.; performances/concerts, 6 to 8 p.m. Eighteen 11 Band and Red Band. Visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org or call 815-987-8800.

Monday, July 11Community Foundation of Northern Illinois hosts a Grantseekers

Meeting for the Carroll H. Starr Endowment Challenge and Club Blue grants program, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford. Nonprofits in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties are encouraged to attend. Visit cfnil.org/events.

Friday, July 15Alpine Kiwanis Club hosts its annual BRAT DAYS, July 15, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and July 16, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Edgebrook Center, and at Schnucks on East State Street and North Alpine & Harlem Roads. Includes live entertainment. For large orders (50 or more) call 815-979-5249. Entertainment schedule at www.alpinekiwanis-il.org.

Saturday, July 16First National Bank and Trust hosts a free Shred Day, 9 a.m. to noon, at 5360 Bridge St., Roscoe. Office Pro will ensure secure destruction of paper documents.

Rockford Park District presents A Walk in Their Shoes, 9 to 11 a.m., at Seth B. Atwood Park, 2685 New Milford School Road. No registration required. Discover different historical sites throughout the park, who might have inhabited the area and who still does.

Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund presents Hotrods for Hospice & Other Classic Cars, a benefit in memory of Ray Heinke, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall, 7070 Cherryvale Blvd. N, Rockford. Free for spectators; fee for car entry. Call Katy Chadwick at 815-874-7861.

Sunday, July 17Rockford Park District presents Live at Levings, talent showcases and free concerts at Levings Park, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave. Talent show, 4 to 6 p.m.; performances/concerts, 6 to 8 p.m. B. Cole and Tara Terry, Cookie and The Real Deal Band and Clyde Stubblefield All Stars Band with Harlan Jefferson. Visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org or call 815-987-8800.

Thursday, July 28FurstSearch presents the second in a three-part professional development series, Personality Traits, based on the work of Carl Jung’s four personality types, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford. Register at 815-229-7800 or [email protected].

SwedishAmerican BetterLife Wellness presents Pain: Is it Muscle or Nerve? Treatment Options with SwedishAmerican Physical Therapist Andrew Larson, 5:30 p.m., in the hospital conference rooms, 1401 E. State St., Rockford. Free. Call 779-696-9700 or visit www.swedishamerican.org.

Saturday, July 30Anderson Japanese Gardens presents its Japanese Summer Festival, July 30 and 31 during regular garden hours. Includes exhibits, demonstrations and performances for all ages. Visit www.andersongardens.org.

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful hosts a free Shred Day, 9 a.m. to noon, at Rockford Recycle Center, 4665 Hydraulic Road. Limit two boxes per vehicle. Call 815-637-1343 or visit www.knib.org.

COMMUNITYCommunity Events

Membership RenewalsThank you to members who renewed with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in May, 2016.

15th & ChrisABC Catering Ltd., A Better Choice CateringAccess Services of Northern IllinoisAFLAC - Andy KraussAkerman ShoesAuto Clinic of Rockford Inc.Bourn & Koch, Inc.Brian Thomas Photography, Inc.Brookdale RockfordCaraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics P.C.Carpenter’s Local 792Chem Processing, Inc.Cliffbreakers Riverside Hotel & Conference CenterComprehensive Community SolutionsCrown Machine, Inc.Days Inn RockfordDeMuth Steel Products, IncDickerson & Nieman RealtorsDiscount TireDiscovery Center Museum of RockfordEge WorkSmart Solutions, PCEickman’s Processing CompanyFairfield Inn & Suites

Feldco Windows, Siding & DoorsFiberglass Innovations LLCFirst Community Credit UnionFirst Midwest GroupFirst National BankFreed Plumbing, Inc.Friends of the CoronadoFurstStaffingGinestraWatson Co.Goldie B. Floberg CenterGustafson’s Earthworks Inc.Heinzeroth Marketing GroupHilton Garden InnHoliday Inn Express - RochelleHulsebus Rockford ChiropracticIgnition Studio, Inc.Ingersoll Machine ToolsInterTECH Integrated Systems, Inc.Jerome S. Weiskopf, MD, PCJohn Morrissey Accountants, Inc.Kinovate Heating, Cooling & Indoor Air QualityKryder Wood ProductsL/J Fabricators, Inc.Lawn Care by Walter, Inc.Lifescape Community Services/Community Kitchen, Inc.

LM Sheet Metal & Service, Inc.Lonnie’s Stonecrafters, Inc.LSP Industries, Inc.Macianos Pizza (Perryville Pizza, LLC)Mainstreet Financial GroupMassage Envy Spa of RockfordMcMAHONMeg’s Daily GrindMidland States Bank - Wealth ManagementMidwest Community BankMosaic in RockfordNorth American Tool CorporationNorthern Illinois Chapter, National Electrical Contractors AssociationNorthern Illinois Optical CompanyNorthwest Bank of RockfordOrchard Ridge FarmsOSTI - ByronPer Mar SecurityPoliceman’s Benevolent & Protective Association Unit 6 - RockfordPrint JetRock House KidsRock River Tower LLCRock Valley CulliganRockford Country Club

Rockford Heat Treaters, Inc.Rockford Map Publishers, IncRockford Mutual Insurance CompanyRockford Park DistrictRockford Radiology AssociatesRockford Speedway/Forest Hills LodgeRockford Spine CenterRockford Supportive LivingRockford Tech-Systems, Inc.SPX Hydraulic TechnologiesStaff Management, Inc.Stillman BancCorp N.A.SupplyCore, Inc.Swanson’s Discount Vacuum, Inc.The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle CountiesThe Atrium - Meridian Senior LivingThe Salvation ArmyTodd Transit, Inc.Two Men and a TruckUnited Way of Rock River ValleyUS BankWidmer Interiors


ON DIGITALMembers Caught on Digital

Ceremonial ribbon donated by SERVPRO of Rockford.

Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries held a ribbon cutting and dedication celebration for Pitney Place, 715 W. State St., on April 29. Attendees toured the 25,000-sq.-ft., $7 million facility, with shelter, meals and services for 120 women and children. Pitney Place houses the Women’s Crisis Center and Women’s Life Recovery Center and includes classrooms, chapel, art therapy room, salon, infirmary, laundry facilities and fitness center. Each floor has a playroom, computer lab and study room for children.

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford held a ribbon cutting for Glenn Netto Health and Wellness Center, 1601 Parkview Ave., on May 6. The university developed the health and wellness center for faculty, staff and students in collaboration with the YMCA of Rock River Valley, with support by the Glenn Netto family.

Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps hosted a Rockford Chamber Business After Hours at Rockford University on May 26. Celebrating its 60th year, the Regiment will host its annual “Show of Shows” on July 9, 7 p.m., at Boylan High School. Visit www.regiment.org.

Alize’s Grill held a ribbon cutting on June 10 at 479 N. Springfield Ave., Rockford.

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on June 6 for Mercyhealth Women’s and Children’s Hospital along Riverside Boulevard and I-90. Land surveying and site preparation began in early May 2016 on the $485 million regional campus, and construction is estimated for completion by January 2019.

Rockford Supportive Living, LLC, held a ribbon cutting and grand reopening on June 14 for the Memory Care Floor at 2114 Kishwaukee St., Rockford.

Rockford Rotary Club held a ribbon cutting at the Rotary Labyrinth Dedication on June 15 at the southwest corner of Avon and West State Streets. Rockford Rotary celebrated its centennial with this gift to the community in Linear Park in the Ellis Heights area.

Rock House Kids held a ribbon cutting on June 20 for the new playground at 1325 7th St., Rockford.



OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center donated more than 2,700 pounds of gently used office furniture to Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois to fund 483 hours of Goodwill job programs, such as the Let’s Go to Work supported work program, GoodGRADS high school equivalency services and employment services.

Rockford IceHogs hosts its Summer Reading Program at 44 libraries in Illinois and Wisconsin. Through participation, Young IceHogs fans can earn a free ticket to an IceHogs game in October or November during the 2016-17 season.

Goldie B. Floberg Center received the first two of three paratransit vehicles with wheelchair lift in May through a 2015 Consolidated Vehicle Procurement grant by the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Public and Intermodal Transportation.

Ringland-Johnson, Inc., launched a new corporate website, www.ringland.com, with virtual walk-throughs and recently completed building projects, organized by industry.

Rockford Specialties expanded its wire forming capabilities with two new AIM AccuForm automated CNC 3D wire bending machines. Both fully automated, they can manufacture more complex pieces with multiple bends, greater accuracy and repeatability, and shorter lead times, which is particularly valuable for the medical supply, industrial food, point-of-purchase and furniture industries.

Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will award 145 scholarships worth up to $212,000, mainly to graduating high school seniors in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties who are pursuing post-secondary education.

Field made the list of Inc.’s inaugural 50 Best Workplaces, among more than 500 U.S. companies with up to 500 employees.

The Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford launched a new mobile medical unit, the “Stork Bus,” housed in an up-fitted Mercedes Sprinter and offering free and confidential pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound, STD testing and initial mentoring performed by a compassionate mentor and registered nurse.

Discovery Center Museum will participate in Blue Star Museums, more than 2,000 U.S. museums offering free admission to active duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve and their families. Through Sept. 5, personnel and up to five family members will receive free admission to Discovery Center.

Visit arts.gov/bluestarmuseums for museums and types of cards necessary for admission.

Illinois Bank & Trust’s Galena Banking Center partnered with Riverview Center for its second-annual Evening of Light fundraising event in June in Dubuque, Iowa.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau invites residents and visitors to download the Summer Love flyer at www.gorockford.com/summer with a listing of local farmers markets, festivals, fairs and other family-friendly activities and events.

Hanson Professional Services Inc., ranked 18th out of 26 companies in the medium-employer category on a list of 74 companies named the best places to work in Illinois.

Chartwell Agency produced an integrated communications plan for the Scottsdale Institute, a not-for-profit membership organization of prominent health care institutions in Maple Grove, Minn., that work towards clinical integration and transformation through information technology.

Savant Capital Management was named as one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois in The Daily Herald Business Ledger, in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, MRA-The Management Association, the Small Business Advocacy Council, the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group.

Rockford Rescue Mission received $850,000 with the help of Alpine Bank through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s Affordable Housing Program, which financed 60 affordable housing projects primarily in Illinois and Wisconsin. Funds were instrumental in completing Pitney Place.

Rockford Hoops’ grand opening, June 4 and 5, was the first tournament in the UW Health Sports Factory. Rockford Hoops agreed to hold the

event at UW Health Sports Factory for the next three years, which includes 21 weekends in the first year alone.

The Y, a global organization, marked its 172nd anniversary on June 6. The YMCA of Rock River Valley’s history dates back to 1858 with its first location at East State and Madison Streets. The I.D. Pennock Family YMCA opened in 1964.

Remedies Renewing Lives’ ninth-annual golf play day raised more than $23,000 for its capital campaign and domestic violence walk-in services.

Investors ranked Edward Jones as a top full-service investment firm, according to research firm Hearts & Wallets, based on more than 10 different attributes investors deemed most important. Edward Jones outperformed across nearly all attributes, including “fees clear and understandable,” “unbiased, puts my interests first” and “explains things in understandable terms.”

Funds raised in May at the Rockford Health Gala 17: We’re Building It! by the Rockford Memorial Development Foundation will support women’s and children’s services at the new Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center being built on I-90 and East Riverside Boulevard. The event typically raises about $200,000.

SwedishAmerican Foundation, Midtown District, Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc., and Thrivent Financial hosted a Midtown Community Work Day on June 11. Volunteers from the organizations and East High School helped the eight residents who received a $2,500 exterior repair grant in their home repair work.

Ignition Studio, Inc., launched a new website for Family Optical Centre. It also created a formal identity for WorkFlo, a software solution developed for metal finishing shops by Rockford-based beyondRelations, which was on display at the SUR/FIN Manufacturing and Technology Tradeshow in Las Vegas. Visit www.getworkflo.com.

For the consecutive second year, OSF Healthcare System ranked in the top 20 percent of large U.S. health care systems by Truven, an independent health care analytics research company, based on publicly reported data. It was the only one in that category in Illinois.

Thayer Lighting Inc., a Smart Ideas Trade Ally, participated in advanced training on June 17 in serving customers of the ComEd Smart Ideas® Energy Efficiency Program Year 9.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, HKS architects and project construction manager Ringland-Johnson, Inc., built a model patient room to give hospital personnel a real-world sense of their new workspace in the $85 million bed pavilion scheduled for completion in 2018.

Rockford Housing Authority received a Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing monetary award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for its efforts in ending veteran homelessness. HUD awarded $38 million dollars to programs across the United States.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., (NYSE: TDS) ranked #496 on the Fortune 500 by Fortune magazine. The $5.12 billion company’s last appearance on the list was in 2013. Before that, it was a member of the Fortune 500 for 10 years.

SwedishAmerican Foundation is sponsoring a Yard of the Month contest for local residents in the Jackson Oaks and Keith Creek neighborhoods, May through October. The neighborhood associations will select one residential yard each month to receive a yard sign and a $25 gift card to Nicholson Hardware.

Last fall, University of Illinois Extension and the Rockford Police School Liaison Unit implemented 4-H Police Academy, an eight-week program where nearly 300 fifth grade youth participated in weekly hands-on learning with police officers. The program will be offered to fifth grade students this coming school year.

Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Phantom Regiment launched the Rockford Rhythm music program, along with the Rockford Public Schools and Court Street United Methodist Church, for students, 12 to 16. Visit www.rockfordrhythm.com.

The SwedishAmerican Hospital Organ and Tissue Donation Committee received a bronze Award of Hope for its ongoing commitment to saving lives through organ donation.

Remedies Renewing Lives received a grant from the Mill Foundation towards the salary of a domestic violence walk-in counseling position.

Rockford Park District hired Chartwell Agency to help develop

BUSINESS BRIEFSBusiness Briefs

Jan Heeren (left) in her Mount Morris home with Emily Dempsey, OSF valve clinic coordinator, on April 19, one month after her transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center celebrated its 100th TAVR procedure with members of the procedure team and about 40 TAVR recipients.


a sales structure and strategy and to off er training sessions on managing critical conversations and confl ict resolution. Chartwell will off er guidance during the strategic planning process later this year.

The Wound Care Clinic at SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW Health now is open on the fi rst fl oor of Camelot Tower, 1415 E. State St., Ste. 100.

Rock Valley College received the Government Finance Offi cers Association of the United States and Canada’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

Colorwave Graphics donated all of the event signage for The Literacy Council’s 27th annual 100 Men Who Cook fundraiser. It wrapped a van for PBC Linear, installed storefront graphics at Bygone Brand, a new

outdoor sign at Forest City Dental and several paint sample signs for Testors.

The 31st annual Ryan Jury Memorial Golf Outing in June at Aldeen Golf Club raised more than $67,000. Total donations amount to more than $1.1 million.

Chartwell Agency was retained by Carz R’ Us, Machesney Park, as its agency of record.

Illinois Bank & Trust and the Club Blue 2016 Committee presented grant checks made through Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. Crusader Community Health received $75,000 to build four pediatric examination rooms at its new Kids Care Now Clinic on Alpine. Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity received $77,500 to build a new, single-family home. Shirley’s Place received $34,500 to fund a safe, dedicated playground for the children who live there.

BUSINESS BRIEFSBusiness Briefs

July 2016 Member AnniversariesThank you to the members celebrating their anniversaries

with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

30-YEAR MEMBERSLifescape Community Services/Community Kitchen, Inc.Rock Road Companies, Inc.Winnebago County Sheriff ’s Department

15-YEAR MEMBERSIllinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)Winnebago County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)

5-YEAR MEMBERSGommel DesignGustafson’s Earthworks Inc.Hulsebus Rockford ChiropracticKinovate Heating, Cooling & Indoor Air QualityRockford Spine CenterSmeja Foundation

Get to Know Your AmbassadorsName: Janet FischerCompany: Northern Public Radio/WNIU/WNIJ/WIRISPosition: Corporate Support Representative How long have you been an Ambassador? Since 2011What do you like most about being an Ambassador? I appreciate the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for an organization that

provides such a positive impact on the community. It is apparent from the well-attended functions, that the chamber staff works diligently to create meaningful and impactful events for its members. Serving at various functions, from educational meetings to ribbon cutting to social events, has been a great way for me to get to know the community and its rich history. It is a joy to see positive changes in Rockford and to feel part of the change. And ultimately, the greatest benefi t is that chamber members and fellow ambassadors have not only become business partners, but they have become friends.

Membership: 101Membership: 101MEMBERSHIP 101

www.rockfordchamber.com

Special Announcement

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives will honor the Rockford Chamber and other winners at its annual convention this year in Savannah, Ga.

One is the Rockford Chamber’s annual glossy, four-color magazine that profi les leaders in the Rockford Region.

Over the past fi ve years, 101 area leaders have been chosen by their peers and honored with People You Should Know awards and profi led in One.

These 101 honorees have gone on to share their knowledge and experience as speakers in monthly, free TEDx-style talks open to the community at Rockford University.

While we’re making announcements …This year’s One magazine will feature the return of

Start thinking about the great leaders you know under 40 years old at your workplace, among your friends, and volunteering for your favorite causes.

If selected, we’ll honor them in The Voice newspaper, One magazine and at a special community celebration. Watch for details at www.rockfordchamber.com.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce learned it has won a

2016 Award of Excellence in the publications category for

One magazine!

AUGUST VOICE SPECIAL SECTION:

Educational Attainment/Workforce of the Future

For information on advertising, call 815 987-8100


EVENTSUpcoming Chamber Events

JULY, 2016Wednesday, July 137:30 - 9:00 am NEW LOCATION!Rockford University PURI Business School Building Room 124 5050 E. State St., Rockford

Breakfast BuzzSusan Sklar, Alzheimer’s Association; Annie Fridh, Psy.D., Rosecrance Ware Center/Rosecrance Mulberry Center, and Jim Schmitt, North American director of human resources, Bergstrom, present Hot Button Issues in the Workplace on how Alzheimer’s disease and mental health and substance abuse affect your workplace. Sponsored by RSM US LLP.

Thursday, July 14 5:00 - 7:00 pm Rockford University 5050 E. State St., Rockford

Chamber’s Founders Day Celebration BUSINESS AFTER HOURSAnnouncement of the newest inductee into the Northern Illinois Business Hall of Fame.

Sponsored by Rockford University (presenting) and AT&T (business).

Friday, July 15Ribbon Cutting, OSTI-Edgebrook Physical Therapy, 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., at 1643 N. Alpine Road, Rockford.

Monday, July 18Ribbon Cutting, Alden Park Strathmoor, 2 to 3 p.m., 5668 Strathmoor Dr., Rockford.

Thursday, July 21Ribbon Cutting, Vici Fitness, 4 to 5 p.m., 4911 26th Ave., Rockford.

Ribbon Cutting, Integrative Healing Center, noon to 2 p.m., 6019 Fincham Dr., Rockford.

AUGUST, 2016Tuesday, August 2Ribbon Cutting, Rock Valley College downtown, 10 to 11 a.m., Rockford Register Star building, 99 E. State St.

Business Women’s Council, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rockford Country Club, 2500 Oxford St. Teresa Beach-Shelow, president, Superior Joining Technologies, Inc., presents The Hard Truth About Being a Manager. Sponsored by MembersAlliance Credit Union.


ADVERTISERSAdvertisers Index

Alpine Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 14Blackhawk Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Brian Thomas Photography . . . . . . . . . . .11Broadmoor Agency, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6C. Ander Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Comcast Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Int’l. (FMA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10The Global Leadership Summit . . . . . . . .19Honquest Funeral Homes with Crematory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Illinois Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Klaas Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Mercyhealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Northern Public Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Northwest Bank of Rockford . . . . . . . . . .13

Rockford Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Rockford Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19, 26-28

Rockford University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

RSM US LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Staff Management, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Stillman Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Thayer Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Chamber Staff / Call 815-987-8100 ............................................. Direct LineEinar K. Forsman, President & CEO ......................................... 815-316-4304

Heidi M. Garner, Chief Operating Officer ................................... 815-316-4312

Doug Hessong, Director of Publications & Technology .................. 815-316-4338

Lynette Jacques, Vice President, Member Investment ................... 815-316-4317

Caitlin Ludwig, Vice President, Leadership Development ................... 815-316-4337

Stephanie Mathews, Administrative & Finance Assistant ................... 815-987-8100

Stacy Mullins, Director of Events ............................................. 815-316-4302

Doug Rand, Accounting Manager/Controller .............................. 815-316-4316

Sue Boyer, Member Relations ................................................ 815-316-4315

Mary Ann Suprenant, Membership Development Manager ............. 815-316-4336

Joan Sundvall, Membership Contact Coordinator ........................ 815-316-4320

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEChairman of the Board Patti Thayer Thayer Lighting, Inc.Chair Elect Richard Zumwalt OSF Saint Anthony Medical CenterVice Chair Michele Petrie BMO Harris BankTreasurer Amy Ott Boylan Catholic High SchoolImmediate Past Chair Richard Walsh Zimmerman & Walsh, LLP

DIRECTORSAndrew Benson Benson Stone Company, Inc.Jan Bowman TLC ConstructionJoe Castrogiovanni Giovanni’s, Inc.Dr. Rena Cotsones Northern Illinois University Jean Crosby Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real EstateDon Daniels SwedishAmerican, A Division of UW HealthRebecca Epperson Chartwell AgencyDarlene Furst FurstStaffingIra Grimmett UTC Aerospace Systems

Tim Honquest Honquest Family Funeral HomeJeff Hultman Illinois Bank & TrustMichael F. Iasparro Hinshaw & Culbertson LLPKris Kieper YWCA Northwestern IllinoisPaul McCann Stanley Steemer of RockfordPatrick Morrow Alpine BankMike Paterson Mid-West Family BroadcastingMark Peterson CBL Associates CherryValeDan Ross Williams-Manny Insurance Group

Patrick Shaw RSM US LLPLaura Williamson Rockford Park District

EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORSEinar K. Forsman President & CEO, Rockford Chamber of CommerceJohn Groh Rockford Area Convention & Visitors BureauMichael Nicholas Rockford Area Economic Development

Chamber Board of Directors & Officers

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

DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION

Do you have news

to share?

Let your Voice be heard

Tuesday, August 9Chamber 101 with Speed Networking, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., 6000 E. State St., fourth floor, Rockford. Orientation for new members and new employees of existing members. Sponsored by MembersAlliance Credit Union (presenting) and Rasmussen College (hospitality).

Friday, August 12Government Affairs Council, 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford. Sponsored by AT&T.

EVENTSUpcoming Chamber Events

Breakfast BuzzJohn Groh, president of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, presents The Business Case for Tourism on how events, tournaments and capital investments boost the economy. Sponsored by RSM US LLP.

Wednesday, August 107:30 - 9:00 am NEW LOCATION! Rockford University PURI Business School Bldg. Room 124 5050 E. State St., Rockford

july voice 2016

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