B2B Illinois Magazine - July 2008

A Possible and Sustainable Future
Green is Everyone’s Favorite Color
Joliet Job Market Among
Strongest in Nation
Sustainability Practices That Can
Boost Your Bottom Line
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5 JULY 2008
THE BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS FORUM
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #565
KANKAKEE, IL
Publication Director
Ken Munjoy
Editor
Andrew Wheeler
Art Director
Kim Carpenter
Advertising Manager
Jeff Egbert
Copy Editor and Direct Connections Coordinator
Vickie St. Louis
Distribution Manager
Terry LaVoie
Distribution Coordinator
Becky Blackwell
Press Foreman
Dave Grams
Composing
Ross Bertrand and Marcus Jackson
Advertising Coordinator
Janet Jones
Information Systems
Mike Steele and Jennifer Hudson
Staff Photographer
Melissa Gaug
Advertising Consultants
Terry Atkins
Jo Ann Bachar
Sandy Behrends
Joanie Copenhaver
Amy Eichholz
Thomas Goodrich
Gina Harpin
Marcia Hellmuth
Myrdis Hines
Blake Naylor
Monte Parsons
Lisa Sunn
Cary Turner
Lyle Turro
uPCoMiNG B2B iLLiNoiS DEADLiNES
August 1, 2008 Publication:
Ad space reservation / article submission
deadline: 7/11/2008
Ad approval deadline: 7/21/2008
To advertise, contact your advertising
consultant at The Daily Journal: 815.939.6642
HoW To REACH uS
n To receive this publication or change an
address, log onto our website:
www.b2billinois.com
n Editorial, Andrew Wheeler: phone
815.791.3129; e-mail [email protected]
n Send announcements, press releases, etc. to:
fax 815.935.0192; e-mail [email protected]
n Direct Connections, Vickie St. Louis: fax
815.937.3362; e-mail [email protected]
n Toll Free: 1.866.509.4B2B (4222)
n Mailing address: B2B Illinois, 8 Dearborn
Square, Kankakee, IL 60901
B2B Illinois is a free publication of the Small Newspaper
Group. Information published in B2B Illinois is the
responsibility of the author and may not refect the
opinions of the B2B Illinois staff. All editorial content
and advertising published is the property of the Small
Newspaper Group dba B2B Illinois.
Features regulars
4 From the Editor | andrew Wheeler
5 Around the County | ed Piatt
News and programs from the Illinois Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
6 From the Desk of Rep. Dugan | lisa Dugan
6 Ask SCoRE | Michael Holtzman
Life’s lessons learned from the Service Corps of
Retired Executives.
16 organize it! | Karen Mcgregor
Suggestions on how to get out from under the
clutter and into productivity.
26 Tech Corner | Wade leBeau
Tips on utilizing your Internet broadband con-
nection to the fullest.
27 innovative Management Solutions |
Patrick seaton
Operational advice from an industry professional.
30 Spanish Language Training |
Dr. Héctor lópez
Tips for businesses wanting to access the explod-
ing Hispanic consumer market.
33 How’s Business | Bill guertin
Branding advice from an industry professional.
28 out & About
31 out & About
34 Direct Connections
37 Direct Connections, Will Co.
Cover story
Seeing Green:
sustainability Practices that Can
Boost your Bottom line
by Lisa Wogan | B2B Illinois takes a look at sustainability
eforts and technologies from around the world, and right
outside your back door.
On the cover: Ron Romano of Connected Community with
Mark Johnson and Bill Bonner of Rhapsody Cove. Photo by
Melissa Gaug.
7 Manpower Releases Third Quarter Employment
outlook Survey Results
submitted by Beth Brosseau | Local employers relay hiring plans.
9 A Possible and Sustainable Future
by Jerry Weber | KCC President Dr. Jerry Weber discusses his institution’s commit-
ment to sustainable practices and technologies.
14 Wal-Mart illinois Embraces Local Green Vendors
by Andrew Wheeler | Sell or market a sustainable product? If so, Wal-Mart wants to
talk to you.
15 Green is Everyone’s Favorite Color
by Lindsay Gladstone | Governors State University’s commitment to our environment.
16 Zip-Pak Research Findings
Manteno manufacturer part of the solution.
17 Arctic Snow and ice Chooses Bradley Manufacturing Location
B2B staff report | Economic Alliance of Kankakee County lands Frankfort manufac-
turer.
17 Back Power and Brain Power: Both Jobs Need Education
by Nancy J. Ruda | A B2B Illinois report from the “Public Agenda for Higher Educa-
tion Summit” held at KCC in June.
18 Green…it’s the New Corporate Color
by Nancy J. Ruda | A B2B Illinois report from the June “Go Green and Learn How to
Make it Happen” event held at Moraine Valley Community College.
22 Pay Attention to Parents’ investment Strategies
by Bob Meyers | Financial advice from industry expert Bob Meyers.
22 Hiring a Business Consultant
by Reneé Perry | What to look for in a consultant.
23 Acres of Diamonds at Work
by Ron Price | According to author/consultant Ron Price, great managers look for ways
to develop each employee’s strengths rather than trying to fx weaknesses.
24 Joliet Job Market Expected to be Among Strongest in Nation
Joliet area manufacturers predict their hiring needs for Q3 2008.
25 Going Green in Will County Top Priority
by Lawrence Walsh | Green news from Will County Executive Larry Walsh.
29 The Home Energy Tipping Point (or, How Can i Save Money?)
by Tom Goodberlet | Tom Goodberlet discusses when it is cost efective to go with
green HVAC technology in your home, and in your business.
31 Green Marketing: The Same old Principles Still Apply
B2B illinois Staff Report | B2B looks at the latest in Green marketing eforts and the
balance between efective branding and ecological stewardship.
32 illinois Accessible Parking
by Dorci Schoolman | Is your business compliant with handicap parking laws?
38 What Do Gas Prices and Elder Care Have in Common?
by Joe Giunta | According to JJC training director Joe Giunta, telecommuting can be a
great way to go green, if done under a few key parameters.
tHanKs to our
inDePenDent
ContriButors:
Beth Brosseau y Manpower y 815.939.7070
Lisa Dugan y State representative, 79
th
district y
815.939.1983
Joe Giunta y Joliet Junior College y 815.280.1555
y [email protected] y www.trainingupdate.org
Lindsay Gladstone y Governors State University y
708.534.7090 y [email protected]
Bill Guertin y The 800-Pound Gorilla y
815.932.5878 y [email protected]
Michael Holtzman y SCORE Chapter 0674 y
815.427.9818
Wade LeBeau y The Daily Journal y 815.937.3332
Dr. Héctor López y BEST Solutions, Inc. y
630.910.4509 y hector.lopez@bestsolutionsinc.
com
Bob Meyers y Edward Jones y 815.939.1175
Karen McGregor y Organize It! Professional
Organizing Services y 815.936.1108 y www.
organizeitillinois.com
Dorcilla C. Schoolman y Options Center for
Independent Living y 815.936.0100 x 229
Reneé Perry y Small Business Consultant and
Coach y 815.722.0041
Edward Piatt y N.E. Senior Account Manager,
Illinois DCEO y 312.636.0739
Ron Price y 866.442.0556 ywww.Price-Associates.
com
Patrick Seaton y Innovative Management Tools,
LLC y 715.340.9606 y [email protected] y www.
innovativemanagementtools.com
Lawrence Walsh y Will County Executive y 815.
774.7480
Jerry Weber y Kankakee Community College y
815.802.8100 y [email protected]
10
COLOR
815-929-9095 office 815-929-9085 fax
Commercial · Residential · Agricultural · Property Management
275 East Court Street, Suite 202
Kankakee, Illinois 60901
Chris Curtis, Broker
Cell 815.693.4949
Joe Nugent, Broker
Cell 815.509.9005
Pamela Baron
Cell 815.955.2392
Sandy Wurster
Cell 815.274.2535
Paul Walsh
Cell 815.955.2457
Nate Henrichs
Cell 815.739.9859
Kankakee. 52,225 SF industrial facility on 5 acres.
Features include 6 interior docks, 17’ + clear height, 4,560
SF office. Can be leased 25,000-52,225 SF. MLS 190516
$1,750,000
Kankakee. 2,994 SF office/service facility for sale. 1575 SF
finished office w/ track lighting. Large, open 1395 SF area w/
12' ceiling and air conditioned. MLS 190847
$275,000
Kankakee. 7,075 SF facility. 5,000 SF clear span showroom w/
vaulted wood beam ceiling. 2,025 shop area w/ 10'x12' drive-in
door. 100% sprinklered. 750 SF mezzanine office area. MLS 190887
$265,000 $248,500
Kankakee. 9,300 sq ft cinder block building located on cor-
ner lot. Over 1.8 acres for expansion or storage. Zoned
Industrial. Many uses possible. Call Joe Nugent. MLS 190516
$375,000
Grant Park. 5,500 sq ft facility. Multiple overhead doors for
ease of use. High ceilings. Ideal for operation of business or
storage. On slightly over 1 acre. MLS 191837
$255,000
Kankakee. 18,000 - 80,000 SF for lease. 22' to 24' ceiling
heights, up to 8 docks w/ levelers and 4 drive-in doors.
480/277 volt/400 amp/3 phase power. MLS 191837
$4.50 PSF gross
Bourbonnais. Low new construction rates. Suites available
1,500 SF and larger. High visibility with large 2-story atrium
lobby entrance. Suites available for sale also. MLS 191837
$8.00 PSF NNN
Bourbonnais. For sale or lease. 4,680 SF brick & block bldg.
Great location on busy Rt. 45 in the path of progress w/ add’l
land for expansion. Many uses. MLS 191837
$700,000
Kankakee. Custom built ranch w/ full lookout bsmt. Near
Kankakee St. Pk. 4 BR, 3 BA. Kit w/brfst nook/sun rm, granite.
Mstr Suite w/ Jacuzzi, double sinks, skylight, ceram. shower.
$379,900
Bourbonnais. Spacious 3BR, 2BA brick ranch w/ open floor
plan. Kitchen updated. Good size utility/mud room off garage
with new ceramic tile. Fireplace. Shed. MLS 191616
$179,900
Bourbonnais. Ranch w/open floor plan. Kit w/stone back-
splash, granite counters, maple cabs. Bsmt w/home thea. sys.,
poss 4th BR, rec/family rm. Fenced backyard. MLS 191975
$279,900
Mokena. Wooded land located in city limits. Close to all
amenities. 2BR, 2BA, 2 car garage. Borders Hickory Creek
Forest Preserve. Call Pamela Baron. MLS 191843
$409,000
Bourbonnais, Prarie Chase Subd. New 2-story w/ 4 BR, 2.5
BA, 3 car gar & full bsmt. HW flooring. Kit w/ custom cabinets.
Master Suite w/Jacuzzi, shower & WIC. MLS 192304
$299,900
Bourbonnais, Prarie Chase Subd. New brick ranch w/ split floor
plan. 3 BR, 2 BA, 2 car gar, full bsmt. HW floors. Kit w/ custom
cabs, isl., pantry. Master Suite w/Jacuzzi, sep shower. MLS 192303
$299,900
Bourbonnais. Neutral colors & lots of space. Partial unfinished
bsmt. Completely remodeled incl: new flooring, fixtures, doors
& trim. New Maple cabinets, ceramic tile in kit. MLS 192597
$239,900
Kankakee. Well maintained 2 BR, 2 BA condo. Outside park-
ing & 1 car det. garage with storage & electric opener. Updated
kitchen. Condo fee Includes water/sewage. MLS 192579
$88,900
www.nugentcurtis.com
www.nugentcurtis.com
Real Estate makes $ense,
Let us help you turn it
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RESIDENTIAL
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LOTS AND LAND:
Manteno: 80 +/- Acres, $11,000 per acre • Manteno: 224 +/- Acres, $17,500 per acre • Bourbonnais: 75 Acres w/ Preliminary Plat, $50,000 per acre • Bourbonnais: .80 Acre lot on Rt. 45, $300,000
LOTS AND LAND:
Limestone: .70 Acre lot in River Crossing, $145,000 • Limestone: .70 Acre lot in River Crossing, $145,000 • Limestone: .78 Acre lot in River Crossing, $145,000
PRICE REDUCED!
PRICE REDUCED!
From The Editor | by andrew Wheeler
“It’s not easy being
green.”
Kermit didn’t know
how right he was. Al-
though his lamentation
was centered on the vari-
ous problems a frog pup-
pet can encounter, and the trials and tribu-
lations associated with being a pork lover,
Kermit’s words ring true for businesspeople
in today’s economy…and ecology.
Becoming “green” in your operations is no
longer a matter of if; it’s a matter of how.
Te only real way to address your com-
mitment to sound, environmentally-sus-
tainable practices is to take a hard look at
what you do, and how you do it. Is an in-
vestment in green technology ever going to
turn black dollars for my company? Is this
development in tune with our village’s com-
prehensive plan, and more importantly, does
my village’s plan address sustainability and
green space? Are we going down the right
road with all of this intermodal growth in
our area, or should we be focused on reduc-
ing the number of trucks on our roads and
invest in low emission train transportation?
Tese are all questions we, as business-
people, must ask of our industries and our
communities.
While researching this edition, I took
a hard look at the sustainable practices of
my operation, and the practices of our daily
newspaper as well. With regard to our daily
paper, all in-house paper waste is recycled
into insulation. Our newsprint is made
from 30-40 percent post consumer recycled
paper, and we use sustainable inks where
available. I was shocked to fnd that B2B Il-
linois is printed on bright white paper that
uses no recycled stock. I can fnd no mill
that produces the ideal product, so I have
begun the process of fnding a mill that
manufactures the type of paper I need,
switching to lower-end newsprint, and
exploring more dramatic options.
Tere aren’t a lot of easy answers here.
Te best, long-term decision has to bal-
ance the constraints of economics and
the accountability to our planets’ ecology.
Hopefully this edition of B2B Illinois
provides some ideas for both your ofce,
and your home.
On another note:
During the Chicago Bears training
Camp in 2007, a group of local economic
development leaders, spearheaded by
Bradley Mayor Gael Kent and the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, hosted the frst Internation-
al Trade Summit in Kankakee County.
Trade commissioners from around the
globe spent the
day visiting indus-
try in the region,
and spent an af-
ternoon at Bears
Camp. Tis year’s
event, spearheaded
by Mayors Kent,
Green, and Schore,
along with the
DCEO and Ben-
nett Commercial,
is set for the end of
July. Te Tri-Cities
Trade Summit is a
unique opportunity
for local industry to
initiate international
business opportuni-
ties, and is a much-anticipated event for the
trade commissioners themselves. Kudos to
the mayors, Jef Bennett, Ed Piatt, and all
of the summit partners for taking advantage
of a tremendous marketing opportunity for
our community and its employers.
Best,
Andrew H. Wheeler
B2B Illinois Editor
Lessons from Kermit
06300820196389
Throughout the year, The Daily Journal publishes Special
Sections and Feature Pages of the newspaper. These annual
sections target lifestyles, address specific consumer needs
and/or feature event information of national and local
importance.
Special Sections and Feature Pages can be a cost-effective
way to reach thousands of readers with a particular interest.
Plus, these sections generally have a longer shelf-life than
the daily newspaper allowing your business' message to be
seen again and again!
SPECIAL SECTIONS
Month Section Publication Date
July County Fairs Monday, July 14
Bears Extra Thursday, July 24*
The Answer Book Thursday, July 31
NEW! Regional Restaurant
& Delivery Directory July 2008
August Fall Home & Yard Thursday, Sept. 4
Sept. NEW! Constitution
Day Section Thursday, Sept. 11
Fifty Plus Thursday, Sept. 18
Weddings (Fall Edition) Thursday, Oct. 9
FEATURE PAGES
July Childcare Directory Sunday, July 27
Hire-a-Pro Thursday, July 31
August Pick the Pros Tuesday, Sept. 2
Fall Home & Yard Directory Thursday, Sept. 4
*Publication dates are subject to change.
For more information about any
of these Special Sections, contact
your Advertising Consultant or
call 815.939.6642.
GET YOUR POINT ACROSS
Weijia Wang, from China, listens as Peddinghaus Corporation owner anton Ped-
dinghaus greets the group of foreign business leaders and speaks briefy about
his company during the 2007 international trade summit.
Photo by nicholas Holstein/the Daily Journal
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Solid, Experienced, Trustworthy…
We Know Banking Like
You Know Your Business!
Kankakee • West Kankakee • Bourbonnais
815.929.4000 www.FirstTrustBankil.com
Larry Mulder, Dave West, Mark Christensen & Jeff Smith.
Come Grow With Us!
The Right Loans, Deposit
Products and Cash Manage-
ment Services for All of Your
Company’s Needs
Tis month I would like to highlight the
Department of Commerce & Economic
Opportunity’s clean energy and environ-
mentally-friendly business practices and
design assistance grants for “green” com-
mercial buildings. Tese design assistance
grants, available through the Illinois De-
partment of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, are for businesses using the
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Envi-
ronmental Design) building rating system.
LEED is a voluntary rating system pro-
moted by the U.S. Green Building Council
to allow building owners and developers to
benchmark the environmental performance
of their building relative to others. Te
LEED system considers environmental
factors such as the energy efciency of the
building, the use of renewable energy and
the use of recycled content building materi-
als, among other factors. For more informa-
tion on LEED, see www.usgbc.org.
Under the new pilot program, businesses
with commercial building construction
and renovation projects will be eligible to
apply for awards of up to $100,000 if they
meet the LEED Gold level of performance,
achieve an energy performance of at least 20
percent beyond the minimum energy code,
and incorporate best practices in solid waste
management.
“Green buildings are a high growth area,
and when Gov. Blagojevich puts his seal
of approval on green building practices by
announcing this program, it helps make
the industry real and moves us another big
step forward,” said Lois Vitt Sale of Phoe-
nix Architects and the chair of the Chi-
cago Chapter of the U.S. Green Building
Council. “Tis funding will be very helpful
to move more green building projects for-
ward.”
Green design incorporates design prac-
tices that signifcantly reduce or eliminate
the negative impact of buildings on the en-
vironment and the building occupants.
Funding for the program is made available
from two sources. Half of the funding is a
grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Com-
munity Foundation; the other half comes
from the Illinois Solid Waste Management
Fund as administered by DCEO. Because
the program brings benefts in both energy
conservation and solid waste reduction, the
program is funded through both sources.
“Te Illinois Clean Energy Commu-
nity Foundation has had a very successful
program for the past fve years to support
the design and commissioning of LEED
projects to not-for-profts and government
agencies. Te Foundation is very pleased
now to help Gov. Blagojevich make fund-
ing available to the private sector,” said Phil
Novak, chair of the Foundation. “With the
new DCEO program and the Foundation
program, funding for LEED projects will
be available to all sectors as an incentive to
develop state-of-the-art green buildings.”
Prior Foundation grants have resulted in
60 successful green schools, college build-
ings, museums and afordable housing
models in communities across Illinois.
I would also like to take this opportunity
for anyone interested in the Opportunity
Returns program or seeking business assis-
tance to contact me at 312.636.0739 or e-
mail me directly at [email protected].
Until next month, see you around the
county…
Edward Piatt is NE senior
account manager for the
Illinois Department of
Commerce & Economic
Opportunity, covering
Kankakee, Grundy and
southern Cook counties.
Iroquois County:
Paul Faraci, east-central manager
217.278.5851
E-mail: [email protected]
Will County:
Beth May, NE senior account manager
815.721.3543
E-mail: [email protected]
Around the County with the State of Illinois | by edward s. Piatt
opportunity returns:
DCEo’s “Green” Grants
Community service is essential to the
progress of our neighborhoods. I believe it
is important that we teach the signifcance
of community service to children at an early
age to help foster a genuine love and concern
for the advancement of their communities.
Tat is why I established my Community
Service Scholarship, which provides fnan-
cial assistance to community-minded high
school seniors.
It is important that I not only encourage
community service but that I am also an ex-
ample. Each year, I donate a portion of my
legislative salary to provide a scholarship
to one senior in each of the high schools
in my district. Since 2004, I have awarded
over $19,000 in scholarships. To qualify for
the $500 scholarship, students must reside
in the 79
th
Representative District, plan to
attend an Illinois college or trade school
in the fall, possess a record of community
service beyond that required of their high
school, and submit an essay describing how
they have served their communities and
how they plan to continue their eforts. I
am pleased to announce that this year I was
able to award $7,500 in Community Service
Scholarships to local students.
Tis year’s scholarship recipients are as
follows:
Amber Olbrot—Peotone High School
Ariana Dymerski—Marion Catholic High
School
Brittanny Spangler—Manteno High
School
Cameron Ohlendorf—Beecher High
School
Cornell Jones—Kankakee High School
Dane Langellier—Donovan High School
Eric Cavender—Momence High School
Erin Williams—Grant Park High School
Heather McKenna—Herscher High
School
Jenna Simmons—St. Anne Community
High School
Megan Quigley – Wilmington High
School
Nathan VanHof—Kankakee Trinity
Academy
Tifany Frugia—Crete-Monee High
School
Katelin Wilfnger—Bishop McNamara
High School
Richard Reyes—Bradley-Bourbonnais
Community High School
I am proud of these young people and
their commitment to our community. Tey
are shining examples of our bright future
and I hope their eforts encourage other
students to become more involved in their
schools and communities.
I would also like to remind you that I
have moved my local district ofce to:
Heritage Executive Centre
200 E. Court St., Suite 710
Kankakee, IL. 60901
Phone: 815.939.1983
Fax: 815.939.0081
E-mail: [email protected]
Please feel free to contact me anytime I
can be of service.
Lisa Dugan, state representa-
tive, 79
th
district.
From the Desk of Representative Dugan | by lisa Dugan
Community Service
Scholarship Recipients
Tere are many reasons why you might
want to place a value on your business. Per-
haps you’re thinking about taking on a part-
ner who will buy into the business. Before
that can happen, you both need to know
what the business is worth.
And you’ll certainly need a valuation or
appraisal if you want to sell the business.
Other reasons you might need a valuation
include divorce, spin-ofs, business disputes
and liquidation. Or how about this: You
might simply want know.
Accurately valuing a small business,
however, can be complicated. Most entre-
preneurs are capable of boosting the value
of their businesses by 40 percent simply by
paying attention to the things that make a
business valuable.
Too often, business owners brush aside
valuations, believing them necessary only if
they decide to sell. As a result, only about
one in 20 small businesses have done a for-
mal valuation, according to the National
Association of Certifed Valuation Ana-
lysts.
You can determine the value of a busi-
ness in many diferent
ways, from quick and
cheap software-based
calculations you do
yourself, to full-scale,
certifed valuations
by professionals. Te
price range is enor-
mous, from as little
as $15 for the simplest
software, to thousands
of dollars for a detailed
analysis performed by
certifed pros. Busi-
ness brokers, hoping
to sell your business,
may even do them for
free.
Try to match the person or method you
use for a valuation with the reason you are
doing it. If the valuation is for loan pur-
poses, for example, look for someone who’s
done small business valuations for that pur-
pose.
Te National Association of Certifed
Valuation Analysts (NACVA) ofers a free
service online to help you fnd a business
valuation expert in your area. NACVA pro-
vides training, certifcation and support for
professional valuators in cities and towns
nationwide. Look for the “Find a Valuator
Directory” at the Web site, www.nacva.
com.
PriceYourBusiness.com ofers simple
small business valuation software you can
access online 24/7. Results are quick and
available anytime.
To learn more about valuing your small
business, contact SCORE “Counselors to
America’s Small Business.” SCORE is a
nonproft organization of more than 10,500
volunteer business counselors who provide
free, confdential business counseling and
training workshops to small business own-
ers. Call 1.800.634.0245 for the SCORE
chapter nearest you, or fnd a counselor on-
line at www.score.org.
Michael Holtzman is chairman
of the Kankakee Valley
Chapter of SCORE.
Put a Value on
Your Business
Ask SCORE | by Michael Holtzman
Manpower Releases
Third Quarter
Employment outlook
Survey Results
Kankakee County employers expect to
hire at a respectable pace during the third
quarter of 2008, according to the Manpow-
er Employment Outlook Survey. From July
to September, 20 percent of the companies
interviewed plan to hire more employees,
while none expect to reduce their payrolls,
according to Manpower spokesperson Beth
Brosseau. Another 80 percent expect to
maintain their current staf levels.
“Employer sentiment about hiring ap-
pears to be less encouraging than in the
second quarter of 2008 when 30 percent
of companies interviewed intended to add
employees, and none planned to reduce staf
levels,” said Brosseau. “Hiring activity is
expected to be stronger than one year ago
when 13 percent of companies surveyed
planned to increase staf levels and 3 per-
cent expected to cut payrolls.”
For the coming quarter, job prospects
appear best in Construction, Non-Du-
rable Goods Manufacturing, Transporta-
tion/Public Utilities and Wholesale/Retail
Trade. Hiring in Durable Goods Manu-
facturing, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate,
Education, Services and Public Adminis-
tration is expected to remain unchanged.
Nationally, U.S. employers are project-
ing a slight decline in hiring for Quarter 3
2008, according to the seasonally adjusted
survey results. Of the 14,000 U.S. employ-
ers surveyed, 26 percent expect to increase
their workforces during the July-Septem-
ber period, while 10 percent expect to scale
back their payrolls for a net employment
outlook of 16 percent (seasonally adjusted
12 percent). Fifty-eight percent expect no
change in the hiring pace, and 6 percent are
undecided about their hiring plans.
Beth Brosseau is branch
manager of Manpower’s
Bourbonnais offce.
submitted by Beth Brosseau
Employment Outlook Survey Summary Of Results For The State Of Illinois
3rd Quarter - 2008 (July/August/September)
The following table shows the percentage of employers in the state of ILLINOIS who plan to change or maintain the size of their
workforce during the indicated time period.
NET iNCREASE/
iNCREASE No CHANGE DECREASE DoN’T KNoW DECREASE
AURORA 23% 70% 7% 0% 16%
BLOOMINGTON 20% 57% 20% 3% 0%
CARBONDALE/MARION 20% 57% 20% 3% 0%
CHAMPAIGN AREA (GREATER) 19% 77% 0% 4% 19%
CHICAGO-CITY 30% 44% 26% 0% 4%
CHICAGO METRO AREA 26% 48% 23% 3% 3%
CHICAGO-NORTH SUBURBAN AREA 33% 20% 37% 10% -4%
CHICAGO-NORTHWEST SUBURBAN AREA 8% 65% 27% 0% -19%
CHICAGO-SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN AREA 27% 43% 13% 17% 14%
CHICAGO-WEST SUBURBAN AREA 37% 63% 0% 0% 37%
CHICAGO SOUTH 27% 43% 13% 17% 14%
CHICAGO-O’HARE 3% 90% 7% 0% -4%
DANVILLE 57% 23% 10% 10% 47%
DE KALB/SYCAMORE AREA 30% 63% 7% 0% 23%
DECATUR 20% 77% 3% 0% 17%
EDGAR COUNTY 17% 73% 3% 7% 14%
ELGIN 23% 63% 7% 7% 16%
ILLINOIS QUAD CITIES 27% 66% 7% 0% 20%
ILLINOIS VALLEY 17% 63% 3% 17% 14%
JOLIET 50% 40% 10% 0% 40%
KANKAKEE COUNTY 20% 80% 0% 0% 20%
LAKE COUNTY AREA 23% 77% 0% 0% 23%
LIVINGSTON COUNTY AREA 10% 87% 3% 0% 7%
MC HENRY COUNTY AREA 30% 70% 0% 0% 30%
NORTHBROOK 33% 20% 37% 10% -4%
OAKBROOK 37% 63% 0% 0% 37%
PEORIA 27% 70% 3% 0% 24%
QUINCY 30% 63% 7% 0% 23%
ROCKFORD 30% 57% 13% 0% 17%
SCHAUMBURG 14% 38% 48% 0% -34%
SPRINGFIELD AREA 27% 46% 7% 20% 20%
STATE AVERAGE: ILLINOIS 26% 60% 11% 3% 15%
COLOR
A Possible and
Sustainable Future
We are very fortunate in our region be-
cause much of the growth is yet to come.
We can watch it happen, or we can push or
drive development and growth in a way that
will make this area economically thriving
while still maintaining its natural appeal.
As energy costs rise and concerns about
environmental degradation increase, we
need to either adjust our ways of doing
business or fnd new approaches. One new
approach has been called sustainable devel-
opment. Te guiding principles of sustain-
able development are as useful in this region
as they are throughout the whole Chicago
regional area. In this area, as in all areas of
education and training, Kankakee Com-
munity College is ready to assist residents,
businesses and corporations.
Because the term ‘sustainability’ is some-
what new, it may need some defnition.
Sustainability is a term used by colleges,
universities, government agencies and many
corporations to encompass energy conser-
vation, alternative energy, environmental
issues and almost everything commonly
called “going green.”
Sustainable development is an approach
that recognizes the need for strong and con-
tinuous economic growth and development
while respecting the needs of future genera-
tions. In its simplest description, it means
designing houses, growing businesses, and
establishing policies and practices with
the needs of future generations in mind.
It means minimizing waste, efciently us-
ing energy, and, wherever possible, reusing
materials or using renewable resources. Sus-
tainable development may also mean a new
entrepreneurialism.
At Kankakee Community College, we
intend to be both an example for sustainabil-
ity and going green and a partner to assist
others. Te college will continue to promote
sustainability and sustainable development
in three ways: frst, by being a model of sus-
tainability on our campus and in our facili-
ties through energy conservation, recycling,
and environmentally-friendly practices;
second, by creating resources to assist resi-
dents, small businesses, and corporations
in understanding the latest technology for
energy efciency and in using all available
incentives for alternative energy and energy
conservation; and third, by ofering educa-
tional programs and training to produce the
workforce to move the new energy economy
forward.
Walking the Walk:
Sustainability at KCC
Te college started down this road with a
number of small steps that go back over fve
years. Our faculty and students have carried
out pilot projects with solar energy and new
electronic and biofuel technology. For one
project, the students constructed a working
electric vehicle. In our newest facility, the
Arts and Science building, we received grant
funds to create a solar array using photovol-
taic cells that are integrated into a large glass
structure on the south side of the building
Te documentation of this project is tracked
and recorded on a website at http://www.
sunnyportal.com/Templates/PublicPage-
Over view. aspx?pl ant=e38eeed6-f 986-
4157-8b13-07c2686f9f bb&splang=en-us.
Two years ago, we conducted an energy
audit of the college facilities and have be-
gun a multi-year process of making energy
efciency changes throughout the campus.
For two years now the college has hosted
a Sustainability Week bringing together
area residents and students with KCC fac-
ulty and students to look at all aspects of
sustainability. Local, regional and state pre-
senters joined our faculty in discussions of
corporate actions to the science of climate.
Because sustainability is very much about
the future, students have a natural inter-
est, and last year our Business Club created
a process to expand the college’s recycling
system.
Te college is now completing the reno-
vation of a 30,000 square foot area that will
house our health careers programs. An ap-
plication seeking certifcation at the silver
level in Leadership in Energy and Environ-
mental Design (LEED) to the US Green
Build Association was part of this project
from its inception.
Tese frst steps and pilot projects have
given way to our current approach of plan-
ning and systematic commitment. Te col-
lege’s most ambitious hopes are now being
set forth in a long-term sustainability plan.
Te plan will have measurable outcomes for
annual, multi-year and long range goals to
move the campus facilities and its program
oferings towards sustainability. While the
plan is still in draft form, our intention is to
have the entire document reviewed college-
wide and approved this fall by our Board of
Trustees, after which our college sustain-
ability committee will then move this plan
forward and continue to fnd new and cre-
ative ways to conserve energy.
Our fnal sustainability plan will assur-
edly include a process to audit our green-
house gas emissions and then take steps to
gradually reduce those emissions as close to
zero as possible over a time frame that may
extend as long as 15 to 20 years. A side ef-
fect of reducing our greenhouse gasses and
institutional carbon footprint will be greater
energy efciency. Our intention is to reduce
our energy cost and redirect those savings
to programs and instruction.
As one of our speakers for Sustainability
Week pointed out, the frst thing you want
to do is reduce your own personal usage
as much as possible. Second, you want to
reuse as much as possible, and then third,
whatever you cannot reuse, you should try
to recycle.
While being carbon-free may sound like
an ambitious goal, there are already col-
leges and universities that are making great
strides and a few have plans to be carbon
neutral within 10 years. Te good thing
about being powered by alternative sources
is that the savings are long term. Solar ar-
rays that have been put in place 30 years ago
have shown minimal need for maintenance
while providing a continuous supply of elec-
tricity over that cycle.
Replacing traditional sources of electric-
ity with solar makes sense for institutions
that expect to be in the same place for quite
a few years. One strategy we have discussed
would be to have our students install solar
panels each year as part of a program on re-
newable energy.
KCC Sustainability Center:
Resources for the Region
While taking care of our own house is
important, more important is our mission
to serve the needs of our customers, the
district residents, through education, train-
ing and services. We have expressed this for
over a decade by stating that our mission
is “enhancing the quality of life through
learning.”
By this fall, Kankakee Community Col-
lege will be starting a Sustainability Center
that will provide resources and information
on energy conservation, energy incentives
and alternative energy options for local ho-
meowners, builders, small businesses and
corporations within the region. Trough
seminars, workshops and individual con-
sultations, the center staf will demon-
strate how energy efciency can mean dol-
lars saved. For those who wonder whether
wind power or solar energy could be use-
ful at their home or business, this will be
one place to get answers. For someone who
by Dr. Jerry Weber, B2B illinois correspondent
KCC glazed the South wall of its new greenhouse with building-integrated photovoltaics
panels from Atlantis Solar. The greenhouse is located at the far West end of KCC’s Fine Arts
and Applied Technology Building.
Cor Hershbach, Deputy Consul General
from The Netherlands, and Barry Matchett,
from the Environmental Law and Policy Cen-
ter, were the featured speakers at Kankakee
Community College’s Sustainability Week
in late April. Hershbach discussed how the
Netherlands became a leader, by necessity,
in the reduction of landfll waste and Match-
ett focused on the current environmental
policies in Illinois, along with environmental
legislation currently in Springfeld.
Continued on page 39
COVER STORY
I
t seems one cannot pick up a single
publication these days without see-
ing numerous references to “go-
ing green.” A hot concept that has
practically spawned its own business sector,
the green scene and its related media buzz-
words, nonetheless, cause some skeptics to
groan, “Are we talking about this again?
How does this afect me?” Regardless of
one’s personal views on climate change and
related subjects, sustainable business prac-
tices are proving benefcial to corporate im-
age as well as the bottom line.
As forecasted in a benchmark 2006 re-
port entitled “Green Perspective from Cor-
porate America," green and green build-
ing are emerging as a prominent corporate
trend. Te study, commissioned by Siemens
Building Technologies and Siemens USA,
found that a majority of large U.S. corpora-
tions are embracing green as a part of the
foundation of their corporate philosophy.
Among those polled, 40 percent consid-
ered green and green building to be of high
importance to their organization, while
almost 60 percent agreed that green and
green building would lower operating costs.
And, three-quarters of the survey’s respon-
dents cited the escalating cost of energy as
a key driver of interest in green and green
building.
A Good Neighbor
Tesco Corp. is one of the foremost super-
market powers in the business world today.
In 2006, however, Tesco disclosed plans to
improve its image, due to growing public
concern over its methods of doing business.
Specifcally, Tesco wanted to be seen as
more “neighborhood friendly.” Revamping
operations in order to conduct business with
greater regard for the environment would be
a means to that end.
Today, Tesco
aims to conserve
energy, encourage
healthier living
among consumers
and support local
providers of pro-
duce to stimulate
the local econ-
omy. CEO Sir
Terry Leahy re-
cently was quoted
in UK-based Te
Guardian, say-
ing that he made
these modifca-
tions as “the result of changing attitudes
among shoppers, who want businesses to
be responsible, fair and honest, and good
neighbors.” Tesco is fnding that it is not
enough to care for its own interests; public
sentiments dictate that businesses become
more socially aware. In an efort to meet
that demand, Tesco has established a £100
million fund (equivalent to US$200 mil-
lion) earmarked for its stores’ green conver-
sion.
Tesco’s multifaceted green plan is ambi-
tious. Direct investment includes the incor-
poration of wind turbines, solar panels and
geothermal power. Te company also hopes
to introduce gasifcation, which produces
energy from waste material. Additionally,
Tesco also has converted all of its bags to
degradable material to prevent landfll
waste and pollution. Attendant initiatives
include a commitment to clearer food label-
ing practices to encourage consumer health.
Tesco campaigns for increased physical
activity for both proprietors and custom-
ers. It also has invested in both advertise-
ments and the localization of its stores to
promote running, bicycling and walking.
Finally, Tesco is seeing a beneft in blend-
ing with the surrounding community. Tis
is achieved by designing stores that comple-
ment, not compete with, the style and de-
sign of the neighborhood. Tey have even
coordinated truck schedules and customer
orders to reduce home deliveries and the
traf c congestion.
Showcase of Green innovation
Wal-Mart is also renovating its stores
with green-geared innovation. In 2005, the
corporation set a goal to improve ef ciency
in its existing stores by 20 percent by the
year 2009. To put this in perspective, Wal-
Mart currently operates 3,900 stores in the
United States alone, with 2,700 operating
stores abroad. Te corporation’s green ini-
tiative is focused on three key sustainabil-
ity goals for change:
n Achieving a level of 100 percent renew-
able energy
n Attaining a level of zero percent waste
output
n Producing products that are both sus-
tainable and afordable
In order to meet these goals, Wal-Mart
has opened several prototype “high ef -
ciency” (HE) stores. Te Western climate-
specifc HE.5 is the latest prototype. Ac-
cording to spokesperson Kory Lundberg,
the site “features advancements in heating,
cooling, refrigeration and lighting to con-
serve energy and reduce greenhouse gas
emission.” Te clincher: It reportedly uses
45 percent less energy than the baseline
Wal-Mart super center.
What makes this prototype unique is
the way it adapts to a particular climate.
Introduced in March 2008 in Las Vegas,
Seeing
Green
Sustainability Practices That
Can Boost Your Bottom Line
by Lisa Wogan, B2B Illinois correspondent
British retail giant tesCo offers green Clubcard Points to
its customers who reuse bags rather than taking new ones.
the store incorporates evaporative cooling
and radiant fooring techniques, utilizing
the natural surroundings to regulate the
internal environment, conserving energy
and resources. Te evaporative cooling pro-
cess frst pumps water into rooftop cool-
ing structures, then cycles it to the ground
foor. Te cooled and circulated water is said
to provide climate control on par with tradi-
tional cooling systems.
Other ecologically-minded technolo-
gies incorporated into the prototype stores
include white roofs, daylight harvesting
mechanisms, motion-sensitive light emit-
ting diodes (LEDs) in grocery and jewelry
cases, and efcient bathroom fxtures. Te
corporation also uses recycled construction
materials, requiring as much as 20 percent
fy ash or 25 percent slag in its cement mix-
es. Te steel used for structural building is
reportedly 90 percent recycled content, pro-
tecting the environment through the use of
by-products rather than raw materials. Not
only is this building method environmen-
tally friendly, but it is often economically
practical as well. Te cement/fy ash com-
position uses fewer natural resources and
ages better than traditional options, requir-
ing less frequent replacement.
While Wal-Mart is making signifcant
ecological advancements, its HE
stores are still only prototypes.
Te corporation maintains a
green orientation through its HE
stores by researching new meth-
ods of conservation, assessing the
data to see what works and what
does not, and using that informa-
tion to make its business more
environmentally friendly. Te
result is “a win-win situation,”
explains Lundberg. “It’s environ-
mentally responsible and lowers
operating costs. Lesser costs are
then passed on to customers.”
Advancing Green Mideast
Reconstruction
Green technologies are expanding well
beyond our borders. Virginia-based Geo-
Building Technologies is utilizing green
technology in order to improve the con-
struction industry in Afghanistan as well
as in other developing countries. Te frm
has created a self-powered system known
as “Te GreenMachine,” which produces
composite, exact
tongue-and-groove,
condensed earth
blocks known as
TerraBricks. Com-
posed of subsoil and
small amounts of ei-
ther cement or lime,
these blocks do not require mortar and their
production cost is said to be half that of tra-
ditional kiln-fred bricks. Te innovation
has proven to be a sound source of efciency
considering the production, installation and
maintenance costs of other building materi-
als. And, the bricks’ largely carbon-neutral
composition adds to their earth-friendly
image.
GBT’s TerraBricks have found numer-
ous applications in Afghanistan, includ-
ing a Kabul housing complex comprising a
gymnasium, an orphanage and a vocational
training institute. American University of
Afghanistan Vice Chairman and building
contractor Frederic S. Berger has comment-
ed that “Te TerraBrick concept will not
only allow rapid development of urgently
needed, high quality residential facilities
for our faculty and staf, but also refects
the long-term environmental responsibil-
ity the university must communicate to its
students.”
Yukiko Omura, executive vice president
of the World Bank Multilateral Invest-
ment Guarantee Agency adds, “Attracting
foreign direct investment is critical to the
reconstruction eforts and sustainable long-
term economic growth of Afghanistan.”
Local Green outlook
A recent open house hosted by Kanka-
kee-based Connected Community high-
lighted the green movement. A few in
attendance shared their, sometimes humor-
ous, thoughts on the history of the green
concept. One speaker, for instance, recalled
the presidency of Jimmy Carter, who advo-
cated driving no faster than 50 mph as well
as reducing total vehicles on the road, in an
efort to create safer travel and lower emis-
sion output. Another admitted that, in her
youth, “they talked about recycling, but we
never did it.” Yet, most of the businesspeo-
ple at the event expressed a genuine inter-
est in understanding how preserving their
natural surroundings and saving money can
go hand in hand.
Connected Community specializes in
custom design and construction of home
entertainment systems. Founder Ron Ro-
mano calls conservation the motivating fac-
tor in how he conducts his business. “It’s in
the little things,” explains Romano, “trying
to consolidate and route vehicles to be more
fuel efcient, consecutively, instead of many
little runs.
“We take what we can and make it as
eco-friendly as possible so as to be respon-
sible in our sales and as a company.” Tis is
Continued on next page
gBt’s greenMachine producing terraBricks.
Wal-Mart’s He.5 prototype store in las vegas, nevada.
energy-conserving electronics, like these offered by Connected
Community, can be integrated into homes and businesses to control
lighting, temperature, humidity and more.
evidenced in Romano’s practice of recycling
wire as well as in his company’s specialized
lighting, heating and air control systems.
Green concepts are also employed in the
of ce. Te company’s personal lighting re-
portedly has been decreased by 6 percent,
performing ef ciently at an undetectable
lower level, thereby conserving energy.
Connected Community uses Crestron
Electronics as its primary product provider.
Founded 40 years ago, Crestron is a lead-
ing proponent of control system design. Its
control systems are said to signifcantly al-
ter the way electronics perform, integrating
sub-system control and scheduling seam-
lessly into the design of any building. Issues
of ambient light levels, season, time, occu-
pancy, temperature and humidity are coor-
dinated into a single device, meeting com-
fort requirements while conserving time
and energy. Tis technology also provides
for remote access and control, allowing an
individual to return to a lighted home with
the click of a remote control.
“From lighting and shading control to
heating and air conditioning control, we’re
[showing] just how much electronics can
have a very positive efect on the environ-
ment,” says Connected Community partner
Amanda Romano. She explains that the
frm does not use “going green” as a mere
marketing ploy. Connected Community
seeks to provide real beneft to the region;
that is part of how the business thrives.
Commitment to open Space
Rhapsody Cove is a new housing develop-
ment located at the northeast corner of 6000
N. and 4150 W. Roads, adjacent to both
Bourbonnais and Manteno. Here, develop-
ers aim to provide the best of both worlds—
nature and community. Te site is fve to 10
minutes from the Kankakee State Park, the
post of ce, the newly built Jewel store, I-57,
Olivet Nazarene University, and countless
restaurants, churches and shopping venues.
At the heart of Rhapsody Cove, however, is
its connection to the landscape.
Cove developers Bill Bonner and Mark
Johnson told B2B Illinois that they aspire
to design and engineer “one of the most
beautiful, functional and sellable land
plans.” Te development consists of 243
COVER STORY Continued from page 11
During an april presentation for the Will economic network, legat architects President/Ceo Patrick
Brosnan stated that one of the most effective ways for municipalities to address green development
is to adopt mixed-use developmental planning into their communities’ comprehensive plan.
Green Guide for Business Owners
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration
Adopting environmentally friendly and energy-efficient business practices can benefit
business owners looking to control costs, attract customers and become socially re-
sponsible. Following are steps that may be taken to implement an effective environ-
mental strategy in order to become energy efficient, compliant with environmental
regulations and a recognized “green business.”
n Step 1: Comply with Environmental Regulations
Green businesses should comply with all relevant environmental
regulations. Compliance not only protects the environment, it
protects businesses from government fines and legal
action.
n Step 2: Develop an Environmental Management Plan
Running a green business means creating an environ-
mentally friendly, energy-efficient workplace. A sound
environmental plan can help minimize a company’s eco-
footprint and encourage green business practices throughout
the organization.
n Step 3: Build Green
Those opening businesses in new or remodeled buildings may
consider building green and installing energy-efficient heating
and air conditioning systems, appliances, equipment and lighting.
n Step 4: Buy Green Products
Consider buying green products that are made from post-consumer, recycled
materials as well as those that are bio-based, non-toxic, energy-efficient rated
products, such as those with the ENERGY STAR® logo. Consider renewable and
recyclable options in addition to locally-produced variations.
n Step 5: Adopt Energy-Effcient Practices
The prudent and conservative use of energy, says the U.S. Small Business Admin-
istration, is a proven way to cut costs, increase profitability and create shareholder
value. Given the potentially high returns and minimal risk, implementing energy-ef-
ficiency practices is at the core of most environmental management strategies. An
energy audit is recommended in order to identify energy-saving options for those
opening a home-based business or moving into an existing commercial building.
n Step 6: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes
Most businesses can save a substantial amount of money by reducing waste. In
addition to lower removal costs, waste-reduction measures help cut costs on raw
materials, office supplies and equipment. Streamlining operations to reduce waste
may also enhance a company’s overall efficiency, productivity and public image.
Operational procedures may include the use of post-consumer, recycled prod-
ucts; elimination of excessive product packaging materials; optimizing the
use of paper products; and participating in recycling programs.
n Step 7: Conserve Water
By implementing a water efficiency program, businesses can not
only help conserve a precious resource, but also cut costs associ-
ated with buying, heating, treating and disposing of it. An initial water
audit may be conducted by a local water agency. Thereafter,
business owners may choose to conserve water by upgrad-
ing to newer technologies and using water-saving equipment
utilities. A related initiative involves minimizing discharges to
sewer/wastewater systems.
n Step 8: Prevent Pollution
All businesses pay to handle waste, regardless of the type or volume.
Companies actually pay twice for what they use—once when they
purchase raw materials and then when they rid themselves of any by-products. Re-
ducing waste and finding new uses for by-products will save money and improve
the environment.
n Step 9: Create a Green Marketing Strategy
Those starting a green business should properly market themselves. Adding
“green” claims and eco-labels to a marketing strategy will enhance brand im-
age and secure market share among the growing number of environmentally
concerned consumers.
n Step 10: Join industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsors a number of
industry partnership and stewardship programs that aim to reduce the impact
of industrial activities on the environment. These partnerships can be a way for
companies to forge relationships with other green business owners, as well as build
a brand that is credible.
acres, enough
space to ac-
commodate 107
single-acre home
development sites
along with 153 acres
earmarked for fshing
and boating lakes, wild-
life and pure open space.
Te balance is to be reserved
for future expansion.
Bonner and Johnson were par-
ticular in hiring design profession-
als for the Cove project. Tey say
that only the best conservation devel-
opers, wetland and prairie experts, and
specialized contracting architects were
consulted.
“Rhapsody Cove is a lot more involved
than the fnal proft margin,” notes Bonner.
“It is about the heritage of our country and
the preservation of our land.” By promot-
ing the green development, Rhapsody Cove
not only accomplishes its primary goal of
preservation, restoration, enhancement
and stewardship of Illinois’ native prairies
and wetlands for future generations. It also
achieves what developers view as a better
way of conducting business, one that ben-
efts both the proprietors and the surround-
ing community.
Seeking Energy Alternatives
Tough geothermal technologies have
been around
since the 1970s,
explains Bill
Batkiewicz of
K a n k a k e e ’ s
Home Appli-
ance, they are
seeing increased
use today as peo-
ple seek reliable
energy alterna-
tives. Te appeal
is twofold—the
fact that geo-
thermal reduces
reliance on fos-
sil fuels and its
overall energy
cost savings, which Batkiewicz calls “pretty
dramatic.” He tells of one residential cus-
tomer from Peotone who, after installing
a geothermal system, has seen his total
energy costs re-
duced to an average
of $100 per month.
Unlike changing air tempera-
tures, ground temperatures four feet to six
feet below the earth's surface remain rela-
tively moderate and consistent all year. Tat
is because the earth absorbs 47 percent of
all the heat energy that reaches its surface
from the sun. Geothermal technologies es-
sentially tap the energy stored in the earth,
and according to industry representatives,
totally eliminate the reliance on fossil fu-
els. Geothermal systems are said to save an
estimated 30 percent to 70 percent on users’
monthly utility bills as well.
Home Appliance carries EnerTech’s
Ge oComf or t
systems. Com-
pany literature
claims that a
single piece of
equipment has
the ability to
heat and cool
a home, while
providing some
or all of its hot
water as well.
B a t k i e w i c z
notes that the
heat extracted
from the house
in the summer
can be put to
use in fueling the air conditioning system.
He adds that geothermal units can com-
pletely replace or merely supplement tradi-
tional heating/cooling systems.
Local
applications
of the GeoComfort
system include the City of
Kankakee’s Willow Street Ar-
mory building, which houses fre de-
partment ofcials. Te site also serves as a
public exhibit of the technology. Home Ap-
pliance also will install a geothermal system
in an earth home application in the Minne
Monesse area.
Green is here to stay, at least for the
foreseeable future. And, going forward, a
company’s ability to harness the potential of
the green movement will likely contribute
to its overall success. Legat Architects, a
presenter at a recent Will County Economic
Network luncheon said it quite succinctly:
“Our businesses, prospects and clients are
learning about sustainability.”
“Are you prepared?”
Olivet Nazarene University intern Ashley
DeArmond contributed to this feature.
“rhapsody Cove is a lot more involved
than the fnal proft margin; it is about
the heritage of our country and the
preservation of our land.”
—Bill Bonner, developer, rhapsody Cove
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geothermal heat pumps use the stable temperatures of the
ground as a heat source to warm buildings in winters and as a
heat sink to cool them in summer. these diagrams demonstrate
the several ways that geothermal energy can be accessed and
piped into a residence.
Wal-Mart illinois
Embraces Local
Green Vendors
Wal-Mart Illinois is calling for local
vendors to supply sustainable products and
services to Wal-Mart stores across the state
and in Illinois. Te program was announced
in April at the Greater Northwest Chicago
Development Corporation Annual Meet-
ing & Environmental Panel.
Whether it’s selling products made from
recycled materials or using energy-efcient
technologies, Wal-Mart is searching for
more ways to enhance its dedication to en-
vironmental stewardship. Some examples of
vendors’ “green” products and services could
include:
n A farmer who sells organic goods
n A company that pressure-washes side-
walks using technology that captures the
water for reuse
n A landscaper who uses innovative tech-
niques to conserve water
n A recycling company that collects paint,
aerosol cans, old electronics, or other
items
“Wal-Mart has made strides to imple-
ment environmentally friendly products and
practices in our stores, and we want to work
with more local companies to take sustain-
ability to the next level,” said Todd Libbra,
Wal-Mart Regional General Manager.
“Our call to vendors will not only help us
support our commitment to protecting the
earth, but also support our local businesses
and economies.”
Wal-Mart already has identifed and is
working with local Chicagoland vendors
and looks forward to expanding those re-
lationships.
How the process works:
n A vendor contacts his or her local Wal-
Mart store manager to set up a meeting
n Te vendor meets with the store manager
and/or market manager to pitch his or her
product or service
n If the Wal-Mart managers approve the
vendor’s proposal, they provide it to the
corporate Wal-Mart ofce
n Te corporate ofce reviews the proposal
and makes the fnal decision
n If approved, the vendor provides his or
her products and services during a 6-12
month trial period; vendors may continue
to sell their goods past this time if suc-
cessful.
Building Green
Wal-Mart also is stepping up their com-
mitment to green building technologies. In
January, the retail giant opened their new
High-Efciency prototype (HE.2) store in
Romeoville, Ill. Designed to signifcantly
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use 25
percent less energy than a typical Wal-Mart
Supercenter, the Romeoville HE.2 Super-
center is the frst of four expected to open
this year.
Te HE.2 will use many of the energy
improvements from the frst generation
High-Efciency (HE.1) series as well as
introduce new and improved technologies,
such as a state-of-the art secondary loop re-
frigeration system.
“We’ve taken the most efcient prototype
in the retail industry and made it even bet-
ter by incorporating some of the most inno-
vative products in building today,” said Eric
Zorn, president, Wal-Mart Realty. “We
hope to continue making our stores even
more efcient and sharing our learnings
with the world, as we work toward a more
sustainable future for our company and our
customers.”
Te 5 percent improvement in energy ef-
fciency over the HE.1 stores comes from
a streamlined design of the water-source
heating, cooling and refrigeration system,
coupled with the new secondary refrigera-
tion loop. Tis is the frst time secondary
loop technology has been paired with a
water-source system. Te store components
include:
n 100 percent integrated water-source for-
mat heating, cooling and refrigeration
system, where water is used to heat and
cool the building
n State-of-the-art secondary refrigeration
loop that reduces refrigerant by 90 per-
cent
n Motion-activated light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) in refrigerated and freezer cases,
plus additional glass doors on deli and
dairy cases
n Optimized pump package that is 50 per-
cent smaller than the HE.1 store's and
uses even less copper piping
n Industry-leading daylight harvesting
technology
n Refective white membrane roof
n Recycled construction materials such as
fy-ash, slag, integrally colored concrete
foors, and plastic baseboards and chair
rails
n Sensor-activated low-fow bathroom fau-
cets and waterless urinals
Andrew Wheeler is the editor
of B2B Illinois.
by andrew Wheeler
www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC
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Tom Vaccaro
815/937-5674
Bourbonnais
Bob Meyers, AAMS
815/939-1175
Bradley
David Robinson, AAMS
815/932-8484
Kankakee
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WE UNDERSTAND
COMMITMENT.
Green is Everyone’s
Favorite Color
Te growing awareness of global warm-
ing and the environmental dangers it poses
have ignited action on many levels, from in-
dustry regulation to community action, and
from coordinated institutional response to
individual initiatives. Responsible citizens
of the world, be they governments, busi-
nesses, or single families, are striving to go
green, preserve green and restore green in
our lifestyle and to our environment.
“As an educational institution, Governors
State University has a responsibility to our
students and the community to make our
environmental impact as positive as pos-
sible,” said Susan Rakstang, associate vice
president for Facilities Development and
Management. “We believe we have to lead
by example.”
With more than 6,000 students and 900
employees, Governors State University rec-
ognizes the need to be a model global citi-
zen. It has been environmentally responsible
for many years. A long-standing, university-
wide recycling program elicits the partici-
pation and support of students, faculty and
staf. More than 75 tons of recyclable mate-
rials are collected annually. Additionally, the
university also recycles copper, aluminum,
oil, batteries, and construction materials as
upgrades and renovations occur. Te house-
keeping staf uses earth-friendly cleansers
and products throughout the facility.
In 2006, the university installed one of
the largest solar-thermal systems in Illinois.
Te system pre-heats water for GSU's swim-
ming pool and provides domestic hot water
for portions of the university. Trough grants
from the Illinois Clean Energy Community
Foundation, the university replaced high
wattage lamps with energy efcient lamps
that consume 154,000 less watts per year.
“Tis upgrade in light fxtures represents
a sizable amount of energy and fnancial
savings,” explained Charles DeBrizzio,
chief engineer at GSU. “We removed all of
the old lights, broke them down into their
component parts, and sold the scraps. Very
little ended up in the landfll. We recycle
everything we can and use recycled materi-
als wherever possible. Our goal is to reduce
our production of waste products and our
use of energy.”
In addition to the institutional response
to environmental issues, the university
has also responded academically, with in-
creased coursework and research on the
environment.
Within the science programs, there are
numerous opportunities to study the efects
of pollution; environmental chemistry, biol-
ogy, physiology, and toxicology; as well as
population ecology. In addition to classes,
there are also many research opportunities
in and around the GSU campus, using the
variety of natural environments that provide
an ideal laboratory. Environmental study
opportunities are also ofered in Michigan,
Belize and China.
Public Administration and Social Sci-
ences programs include a focus on urban
growth and planning, with an emphasis on
the environmental impact. Within the Col-
lege of Health Professions, courses and re-
search opportunities investigate the efects
of environmental issues on health and ac-
cess to healthcare. Additionally, GSU also
provides environmental education opportu-
nities for students learning to be teachers so
they can better teach about environmental
issues when they graduate.
“While these actions are very efective
and we are very proud of everything we do
here at GSU, we recognize that preserving
and protecting the environment is a con-
tinuous process,” adds Rakstang. “We are
always looking to take positive steps toward
energy conservation.”
Lindsay Gladstone is the assistant coordi-
nator of Public Affairs for Governors State
University.
by lindsay gladstone
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THE PROBLEM
Workplace Wellness Programs Pay Off
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Phone 815.936.3580 Fax 815.936.3583 Toll-Free 877.936.3580 www.cibcinc.com
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THE SOLUTION
solar thermal collectors on the roof of gsu’s gymnasium.
Tank you to everyone who submitted
questions for me to answer in my column
this month! Here is what was on your
minds, along with my responses.
Q: Getting out of the house in the
morning on time (and intact) is a chal-
lenge! I can never fnd what I need. Any
suggestions?
A: Organize your “landing/launching
pad”—the space in your home where every-
thing gets thrown when you “land” at home
and later “launch” yourself into the world.
Put up hooks for keys, purses, umbrellas,
backpacks and coats; provide racks or bins
for shoes; hang slots for incoming/outgoing
paperwork; add a mirror for fnal appear-
ance checks; and keep a basket or tote there
for things to take with you when you leave.
Q: I work out of my car a lot and it’s a
disaster. I lost some mail the other day
when I opened the door and it blew away
down the street. Yikes! What can I do?
A: Treat your car like any other “ofce”
space, creating zones and containerizing
where necessary. Tere are many organiz-
ing products made specifcally for vehicles:
portable hanging fle bins, back-of-the seat
hanging organizers and passenger seat
mini-desks are a few examples. Accessibil-
ity is key—keep safety while driving in the
forefront when choosing these products.
Portability may also be essential if you fre-
quently alternate between working in your
car and a stationary ofce.
Q: I hate my closet! Getting ready for
work in the morning is no fun. I can’t fnd
matching clothes quickly and always end
up frazzled. I’m tired of starting my day
this way! Something needs to give!
A: Here are a few tips specifc to closets
that may help.
Start by sorting and purging your clothes
frst. Use the hanger “fip trick” to fnd the
items you don’t ever wear. Start a season
with all clothes hangers facing the same di-
rection on the hanging rod. Once you wear
an item, “fip” the hanger around the other
way on the rod. At the end of the season,
all of the “unfipped” items are those that
didn’t get worn (and probably won’t next
summer, either!). Get rid of those items.
Separate casual from dress clothes.
Group like clothing together: short-sleeved
blouses, long-sleeved blouses, sweaters,
blazers, slacks, skirts and dresses. It is also
helpful within those categories to further
sort by color. Hang clothes shortest to lon-
gest, so that other items can be easily stored
under the short-hanging items.
Containerize where appropriate. Get
a belt rack or hanger and use decorative
boxes or hanging organizers for items like
socks, pantyhose and jewelry.
Consider redesigning your closet system
to maximize the space and make things
more accessible. Include in this plan good
lighting, especially in the bottom of the
closet where shoes usually get stored.
Q: So much of my life is disorganized
that I don’t know where to start. I’m just
no good at organizing, even though I des-
perately see the need to change. What can
I do?
A: First, know that EVERY person has
one area of his/her life that IS organized.
Take some time to think about what yours
is. Your recipes? Your music collection?
Your car care products in the garage? Once
you identify this thing, ask yourself, "why
it is so?" Often times you can transfer that
knowledge to other areas of your life. Start
small, in a high impact area, set a timer,
and see what you can accomplish in a set
amount of time. Disorganization causes
clutter to accumulate over time. Don’t ex-
pect things to reverse overnight and enlist
help if you just don’t have the focus or mo-
tivation to stay with it on your own.
NEXT MONTH: Organizing Students
for Back-to-School.
Karen McGregor is a
professional home and
business organizer and
public speaker for Organize
It!
Organize It! | by Karen Mcgregor
Ask The organizer
Zip-Pak
Research Findings
sustainability of Flexible Packaging for
Deli Meat and Cereal applications
Zip-Pak, a world leader in diferentiating
brands with resealable packaging technolo-
gy, announces its latest research fndings on
the relationship between fexible packaging
and sustainability. Te life cycle inventory
(LCI), conducted by Franklin Associates,
an independent third party research frm,
demonstrates the smaller environmental
footprint of fexible resealable packaging as
compared to rigid alternatives.
Te study included eight packaging
systems consisting of six deli meat pack-
ages and two breakfast cereal packages. Te
packages included both fexible packaging
formats with resealable closures as well as
rigid packaging formats. Key fndings of
the LCI include that products packaged
in fexible pouches with resealable clo-
sures had lower energy consumption, solid
waste generation and greenhouse gas emis-
sions than the rigid systems included in the
analysis. Further, although transportation
energy accounted for less than 17 percent of
total energy for all systems, the results show
that transportation energy requirements for
the reusable rigid containers are higher than
those for the fexible packaging systems.
Te study concluded that resealable fex-
ible packaging is a more sustainable option
when compared to rigid packaging. Tis
conclusion is bolstered by the superior prod-
uct-to-package ratio, lower energy foot-
print, lower solid waste footprint and lower
greenhouse gas emissions throughout the
life-cycle of resealable fexible packages.
“Inspired by the packaging industry’s
commitment to a greener future, Zip-Pak
is likewise dedicated to the issue of sustain-
ability and is mindful of its own environ-
mental footprint. Trough this research,
Zip-Pak has become a more educated re-
source in sustainability so we may help our
customers reduce their own environmental
footprint,” says Bob Hogan, director of
international sales and marketing of Zip-
Pak. “Te conclusions of the Franklin As-
sociates study further encourage Zip-Pak to
aggressively pursue future developments to
help reduce the environmental footprint of
packaging, including packaging that incor-
porates next generation materials, flms and
closures.”
About Zip-Pak
Zip-Pak, celebrating over 20 years of
resealable packaging innovations, ofers
seven distinct technologies that provide the
framework for more than 200 patented zip-
per profles. A global leader for resealable
packaging solutions, Zip-Pak is an Illinois
Tool Works (ITW) Company. World head-
quarters are located in Manteno, Ill., USA.
Zip-Pak is a proud member of the Sustain-
able Packaging Coalition.
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Arctic Snow and ice
Chooses Bradley
Manufacturing Location
Back Power and
Brain Power: Both Jobs
Need Education
At a May press conference, area econom-
ic development leaders formally welcomed
Arctic Snow & Ice Control to the Kanka-
kee River Valley. Te Economic Alliance
of Kankakee County announced the intent
of the Frankfort-based snowplow manufac-
turer to occupy nearly 60,000 square feet
of manufacturing space in the Ken Hayes
Industrial Park.
According to Te Alliance, the operation
is expected to produce a $4 million invest-
ment at the site, and Arctic Snow and Ice
will manufacture their plow on-site. Owner
Randy Strait anticipates that approximately
40 new employees will be required once the
operation is running at full capacity, 15 to
20 of which will be hired in the start-up
phase.
“We are very pleased that Arctic Snow
has chosen the Ken Hayes Industrial Park
to expand its business,” remarked Econom-
ic Alliance President Mike Van Mill. “Te
move clearly illustrates that our community
is a desirable manufacturing locale. And,
considering Arctic Snow’s innovative snow
plow design, the company’s growth poten-
tial is truly limitless.”
Part of the manufacturing space Arctic
intends on occupying is the space formerly
occupied by the Tree Source order fulfll-
ment center, and the space formerly occu-
pied by now defunct furniture manufacturer
Abitare, Inc. Te Kankakee County Eco-
nomic Development Association, a private
economic development organization which
supplies seven members to the board of the
Economic Alliance of Kankakee County,
manages the Ken Hayes Industrial Park.
Te message at the Public Agenda for
Illinois Higher Education summit held at
KCC in June was loud and clear: If you
build an educated workforce, businesses
and industries that ofer high-paying jobs
will come to the state. A fact that explains
the education/economic development di-
lemma in Illinois: an increase in the num-
ber of individuals without high school
diplomas and in jobs that do not require
higher education.
How can the state increase its education
potential so that it is more appealing to the
businesses and industries that can jumpstart
its economy?
Te National Center for Higher Educa-
tion Management Systems is on a fact-fnd-
ing mission to study the state’s challenges/
opportunities facing higher education,
workforce needs, demographic trends and
funding, and to develop a plan that will
allocate government resources to address
these needs.
NCHEMS divided the state into 10 Eco-
nomic Development Regions. Kankakee,
Will and Grundy Counties are grouped in
the Northeast Region.
Northeast Region
n Te largest and most diverse economic
area in the state
n Two levels of dramatic population
growth:
•Adults,age65+
•Latinos
“Te success rate of the current popu-
lation faces a major challenge,” Aims
McGuinness Jr., NCHEMS, said. “It has a
large number of individuals entering the job
market without high school diplomas who
are taking lower-paying jobs. But, this is
where they are staying.
“To earn a living wage in Illinois, you
must have the minimum of a high school
education and some college. Tis is not hap-
pening; hence, the lack of signifcant busi-
nesses and industries looking for employees
with higher educations. Te result is lack of
economic development.”
He used the following information for the
Northeast Region to demonstrate his point.
Top 5 Occupations with the Most Aver-
age Annual Openings
n Retail Salespersons
n Laborers/Stock Movers
n Cashiers
n Waiters/Waitresses
n Food Prep/Fast Food
But, there are sectors of higher-education
employment across the state that are expe-
riencing the opposite—more demand than
supply.
Nursing
n Secondary/Vocational Education
n Computer Engineering
n Special Education
n Computer Systems
Te cost of higher education in Illinois
certainly contributes to the spiral. Te na-
tional percentage of income needed to pay
for four-year college expenses is 31 percent.
In Illinois, higher education requires 35
percent of one’s income.
Nationally, students borrow $3,619 each
year for college expenses. In Illinois, they
borrow $3,770—almost 10 percent more
annually.
McGuinness drew these conclusions.
n While the Northeast Region has the fast-
est growing population in the state over-
all, it is attributed to individuals without
higher educations.
n Te state needs to produce the educated
population that business and industry are
looking for today.
B2B staff report
by nancy J. ruda, B2B illinois correspondent
“(arctic’s) move clearly illustrates
that our community is a desirable
manufacturing locale.”
— Mike van Mill, economic alliance president
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Green…it’s the
New Corporate Color
It doesn’t matter if you’re responsible for
the heating and air conditioning system, for
ofce supplies, for information technology,
or for just getting to work on time, you’d have
to be living under your desk if you haven’t
heard about the importance of “going green”
in the workplace. Across America, employ-
ers and business owners are looking earnest-
ly at the external and internal make-ups of
their buildings and work sites for innovative
solutions through sustainable practices.
And, it’s a commitment that everyone in
the boardroom to the mailroom takes seri-
ously. Guided by principles of integrity and
compliance, operations are being managed
with a trained eye on environmental pro-
tection, social responsibility, and economi-
cal soundness. In other words, protecting
the environment and the health and safety
of employees, customers, contractors, and
the public by learning how to make green
happen.
Several leaders in environmental services
gathered on April 17 for a panel discussion
on the business of going green. Here is a
synopsis of the topics that were presented.
Tony Holub, AIA LEED AP, Demonica
Del Muro Associates, LLC
“Environmental conscientiousness is not
a new concept. It is simply re-understand-
ing and relearning how to be good stewards
of our health and of our world.”
Holub called special emphasis to the im-
portance of the words “re-understanding
and relearning” because while the corpo-
rate world knows what it should be doing
to conserve energy and to curb pollution is
not necessarily what it is doing. “No mat-
ter when, the focus is always on the bottom
line. Te diference between then and now
is how safely we get there.”
He refers to today’s spreadsheet number
as a “triple bottom line” or as a reinforc-
ing combination of people, the planet, and
prosperity that are guided and mentored by
nature. Te core of these three components
is sustainability or fnding a better way to
“build green.”
In construction, he says, the key is to
start early—to “think green” from the out-
set. “Conservation should not be an af-
terthought because the price of ‘ building
green’ reduces the overall costs of employee
absenteeism, maintenance, site longevity,
and operations. Te return on investment
can be as high as 25 to 45 percent with a
three- to fve-year payback in increased
productivity and sales.”
Buildings and construction are responsi-
ble for almost half of all the greenhouse gas
emissions and energy that is consumed in
the U.S. each year. Tis fgure includes the
energy that is used in the production and
transportation of materials to work sites and
what is used to operate the building itself.
“Te importance of designing sustain-
able, high-performance or LEED®-based
green buildings cannot be overstated in
their ability to reduce overall energy use and
to improve indoor air quality and comfort.”
He concluded, “Te question shouldn’t be
how much will it cost to build green…but
how much will it cost not to build green?
It’s important for builders to lead in sustain-
ability—not to wait for others to act and
then to follow.”
Stan Robinson, Executive Director of
Environmental Services, University of
Chicago Medical Center
“Waste is a measure of inefciency. If you
are not reducing, reusing, and recycling, you
are operating inefciently at all levels.”
While the University of Chicago Medi-
cal Center is “at the forefront of medicine,”
Robinson says that it is “at the forefront of
being green” in the healthcare industry as
well. In the past three years, the system has
upped the amount of its recyclables from 2
to 25 percent and has targeted 40 percent
as its goal.
“It’s one thing to ‘think green.’ It’s anoth-
er thing to actually do it. Without a doubt,
going green saves green.” Here are some of
the endeavors that Robinson initiated at the
medical center and in other buildings on its
campus.
n Replaced chemical-heavy cleaning prod-
ucts with clean-air ones wherever pos-
sible. In one instance, Robinson nixed six
commercial cleaning products with a sin-
gle earth-friendly alternative. “Te new
green product is all six of the old products
in one healthy cleaner. It’s an all-around
winner for our patients, our workers, and
the atmosphere.”
n Began buying green. “Green purchasing”
means using recycled-content products,
environmentally preferable products and
services, bio-based products, energy- and
water-efcient products, alternate-fuel
vehicles, and alternatives to hazardous or
toxic chemicals.
n Invested in a baler to recycle all corrugat-
ed cardboard. Rather than incur the cost
of disposal and the discomfort of sending
its cardboard to landflls, the healthcare
center is now sending $2,000 in savings
per month to its bottom line thanks to
corrugated recycling.
n Recycling plastics, construction prod-
ucts, metals, aluminum, and electronics
for scrap.
n Sending old furniture to third world
countries in need
Robinson believes that companies and
businesses should make sure that their com-
munities and government leaders are aware
of what they’re doing to protect the environ-
ment. He said it shows that you care about
the future and that you value their support.
“When we take care of the environment,
we take care of our patients. It has been and
always will be the right thing to do.”
William Haas, Energy Division Repre-
sentative, Illinois Department of Com-
merce and Economic Opportunity
“A holistic energy plan that identifes op-
portunities for saving money should be part
of every corporate strategy.”
While Illinois’ new Energy Efciency
programs were not available until June,
Haas pointed out that there are plenty of
steps that every business can take to become
more energy efcient and to prepare for par-
ticipation in the programs.
by nancy J. ruda, B2B illinois correspondent
Panelists at the “go green and How to Make it Happen” program listen to remarks from Mary Beth Hearn, 1
st
vice president, eDCss. From left to right: stan rob-
inson, executive director of environmental services, university of Chicago Medical Center; tony Holub, aia leeD aP, Demonica Del Muro associates, llC; and
William Haas, energy Division representative, illinois Department of Commerce and economic opportunity. Photo by nancy J. ruda.
n Review past energy audits.
n Assess performance with these tools.
n ComEd Building Energy Analysis Tool:
ComEdCARE.com helps participants
understand how they use energy to run
their businesses, and it provides tips for
better management usage.
n Energy Star Benchmarking and Portfolio
Manager: energystar.gov/buildings
n DCEO-LEAP Program: Tis Depart-
ment of Commerce and Economic Op-
portunity program targets clients that
have energy costs greater than $500,000
per year and provides rebates of 50 per-
cent (up to $10,000 each) for the cost of
developing an energy-efciency action
plan and for a technical assessment.
n Consult a technical expert.
n Find an “energy engineer” at energystar.
gov/index.cfm or research the Smart En-
ergy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC)
at sedac.org.
n Learn about available energy efciency
grants from the Illinois Clean En-
ergy Community Foundation at illi-
noiscleanenergy.org.
n Learn about best practices.
n Building Operator Certifcation: boccen-
tral.org
n Federal Energy Management Program:
eere.energy.gov/femp
n American Council for an Energy Ef-
cient Economy: aceee.org
n ComEd Energy Essentials: ComE-
dCARE.com
n Smart Returns Program: A “load re-
sponse” program from ComEd that pays
fnancial incentives to business customers
for reducing their electricity usage during
times when ComEd’s distribution system
is experiencing high levels of demand.
Label-Watching
Watch for building and maintenance
products and companies that bear these
certifed earth-friendly labels.
Energy Star
Established by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, Energy Star products per-
form as well as their traditional counterparts
while using up to 75 percent less energy.
Products include appliances, electronics,
and light bulbs.
FSC
Te FSC logo signifes that paper and
wood products (such as furniture and foor-
ing) have been harvested using certifed
sustainable standards. It was developed by
the Forest Stewardship Council.
Green Building Initiative
Te mission of the Green Building Initia-
tive is to accelerate the adoption of practices
that result in energy-efcient, healthier,
and environmentally sustainable buildings
by promotion credible and practical green-
building approaches for commercial and
residential construction.
Green Seal
Products like cleaners, paints, and paper
earn a Green Seal certifcation if they have
a low impact on the environment through-
out their life cycles, from manufacturing to
disposal.
GreenSpec® Listed
Tis database includes over 2,100 green
building products, specifcations, and prac-
tices for use by architects and construc-
tion professionals. It was developed by the
editors of Environmental Building News,
an independently published and advertise-
ment-free newsletter.
LEED®
Te Leadership in Energy and Environ-
mental Design (LEED®) Green building
Rating system™ is a nationally accepted
benchmark for the design, construction,
and operations of high-performance green
buildings. LEED was developed by the
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC),
a nonproft organization working to trans-
form the building industry to sustainable
practices. It is the industry standard for
green building specifcations.
Oikos Product Directory
Tis directory is the most comprehen-
sive listing of products and services for en-
ergy-efcient, environmentally responsible
building construction.
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
SBIC members and partners share the
common goal of delivering buildings that
provide long-term value and performance;
that reduce operating costs; that keep oc-
cupants safe, comfortable, and healthy; and
that protect the natural environment.
Te “Go Green and Learn How to Make
It Happen” program was presented and
sponsored by the Economic Development
Council for the Southwest Suburbs (EDC-
SS), Moraine Valley Community College,
Great Lakes Bank of Choice, Workforce
Development and Community Services,
the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity, the Southwest
Conference of Mayors, and the Economic
Development Council for the Southwest
Suburbs. More than 200 persons from a di-
verse range of companies attended.
Entertalnment - Envlronment - Electronlcs - Englneerlng
lnnovators ln Home Technology and Entertalnment Systems Slnce 2001
815-935-9960
www.connectedcommunityonline.com
ije Preserved Communlty ln Harmony wlth Nature.
Call íor your "Muddy Tlre Tour."
815-929-0500
www.rhapsodycove.com
“Man shapes himself through decisions that shape his environment.”
René Dubos
Phapsody Cove at Pocl Creel ls an oasls oí natural beauty. ijls one-oí-a-llnd development íeatures 107
estate home sltes, 21-acre sportsman's lale, 20 acres oí íederally protected wetlands, a 17-acre íamlly parl,
seven íully-stocled Ņshlng lales and Ņve mlles oí recreatlonal tralls.
Connected Communlty ls the leader ln automated llghtlng, cllmate control, home theater and audlo
technology. ijelr deslgns and technologles are geared to mlnlmlze energy consumptlon and maxlmlze your
íamlly's comíort.
Rhapsody Cove and Connected Community: Providing Sustainable Solutions for Chicago’s Southland.
Entertalnment - Envlronment - Electronlcs - Englneerlng
lnnovators ln Home Technology and Entertalnment Systems Slnce 2001
815-935-9960
www.connectedcommunityonline.com
ije Preserved Communlty ln Harmony wlth Nature.
Call íor your "Muddy Tlre Tour."
815-929-0500
www.rhapsodycove.com
“Man shapes himself through decisions that shape his environment.”
René Dubos
Phapsody Cove at Pocl Creel ls an oasls oí natural beauty. ijls one-oí-a-llnd development íeatures 107
estate home sltes, 21-acre sportsman's lale, 20 acres oí íederally protected wetlands, a 17-acre íamlly parl,
seven íully-stocled Ņshlng lales and Ņve mlles oí recreatlonal tralls.
Connected Communlty ls the leader ln automated llghtlng, cllmate control, home theater and audlo
technology. ijelr deslgns and technologles are geared to mlnlmlze energy consumptlon and maxlmlze your
íamlly's comíort.
Rhapsody Cove and Connected Community: Providing Sustainable Solutions for Chicago’s Southland.
Pay attention to
Parents’ investment
Strategies
If your parents are getting older, you may
have to assist them in various aspects of
daily life—one of which may be their in-
vestment strategies. And by being “proac-
tive,” you may be able to make things much
easier for Mom and Dad in their retirement
years.
One of the best things you can do for your
parents is to fnd out if they are investing in
a way that’s appropriate for their situation.
When many people get older, they tend to
get more fnancially conservative, choosing
investments that ofer signifcant preser-
vation of principal, such as certifcates of
deposit (CDs) and U.S. Treasury securi-
ties. And of course, this is understandable,
because your parents, like many people at
their stage of life, probably don’t want to
take too many fnancial risks. And yet, by
“taking no chances” with their money, they
could actually be taking on more risk than
they think.
Why? Because by investing too
conservatively, they might not be able to
aford the lifestyle they’ve chosen, given the
importance of two factors: longevity and
infation.
Let’s consider longevity frst. Te aver-
age 65-year-old man is expected to live 16.5
more years, while the average 65-year-old
woman has 19.1 more years of life expec-
tancy, according to the Social Security Ad-
ministration. And these fgures, as noted,
are averages, which means that half of all
men and half of all women can expect to
live longer than 81.5 years and 84.1 years,
respectively.
Consequently, your parents could easily
spend two or three decades in retirement.
And if they’re investing predominantly in
fxed-income vehicles, their returns may not
even keep up with infation. For example,
suppose your parents’ total cost of living
is currently $80,000 per year. If infation
were to average 3 percent annually over the
next 20 years, your parents would then need
more than $144,000 per year just to main-
tain the same standard of living that they
enjoy today.
So, given the possibility of a long retire-
ment combined with the cumulative efects
of infation, your parents will likely need at
least some growth potential in their invest-
ment portfolio. A reasonable percentage of
quality stocks may be able to provide them
with that potential, but their mix of invest-
ments really depends on their individual
needs, lifestyle choices and risk tolerance.
Here’s one other investment-related ques-
tion you may want to raise with your par-
ents: How much should they take out each
year from their 401(k) and IRA? It’s essen-
tial that they neither withdraw so much that
they deplete their accounts nor so little that
they can’t aford the things they enjoy. Yet,
because the ideal withdrawal rate depends
on several factors—investment mix, risk
tolerance, life expectancy, other sources of
income—it’s not always easy to determine
the appropriate amount.
You might not have the expertise to help
your parents address these two issues—
choosing the right investments during their
retirement years and taking out the right
amounts from their 401(k) and IRA. And
that’s why you may want to encourage your
parents to work with a professional fnancial
advisor, if they don’t already have one. At
their stage of life, they really need to make
the right moves.
Bob Meyers is a fnancial
advisor with Edward Jones in
Kankakee.
by Bob Meyers
When I was starting my consulting/
coaching business, I struggled to call myself
a consultant. Business consultants are not
created equal. It seems as if everyone likes
to call themselves a consultant these days.
Some consultants are very good, while oth-
ers just know the right things to say. If you
are thinking of hiring one, I would suggest
talking to them about their background and
their services ofered to see if it’s a great
match with you and your business, and se-
riously consider the amount of money they
are charging. I have met really good consul-
tants who do not charge an arm and a leg or
insist on taking your frst born child.
Quite a few years ago, when we were ex-
periencing some major growing pains, we
had a big consulting frm contact us. I had
heard of some bigger companies in our area
using this frm, so I thought I’d at least en-
tertain the idea. Tey sent a fellow who was
very bright and said things that made me
feel as if he could “fx” our business. He was
basically sent to analyze our business and
then they would send two others to actually
show us how to bring in a lot more proft.
He was a great salesman. I agreed to hire
this company with the knowledge that I
could only fre them in the frst four hours.
Needless to say, we fred them within the
four hour period.
My biggest lesson learned is that no one
knows your business better than you do, nor
should they. You should build your busi-
ness with your vision and ideas. No stranger
is going to have that magic formula that
would allow you to miraculously make tons
of money and have the business of your
dreams. It’s important to be true to your
passion, to your mission, and to be aligned
with your values, which is what business
coaching helps you develop.
Tere is defnitely a place for a good busi-
ness consultant to help business owners/
entrepreneurs get through issues they just
seem unable to overcome by themselves in
an efcient manner. Business consultants
should have at least owned their own suc-
cessful business at some point. I person-
ally believe there’s more to being successful
than just the mechanics of a business. It’s
important to run your business well and to
maintain balance in three parts: 1) physical-
ly—the processes of your business, 2) emo-
tionally—having your values in place, and
3) spiritually—having a vision statement.
Finally, don’t ask a banker about how to
run your business, unless it relates to actual
banking issues. You wouldn’t ask an accoun-
tant for legal advice, and so on. You need to
rely on your instincts when taking advice,
and to consider the source of information,
as well as the possible agenda of others.
Reneé Perry is a small business consultant
and coach in Joliet.
Hiring a Business
Consultant
by reneé Perry
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Tere is an old story about a fellow in the
ancient world who, upon learning about di-
amonds, sold his successful farm and spent
his fortune traveling the world in search of
the gems. Several years after he died, hav-
ing never found the diamonds he sought;
others discovered the largest diamond mine
ever found in Africa—on the farm he sold
to begin his quest.
Just for a moment, let’s pretend there was
a special machine that took a retina scan of
every employee in your business and, based
on this scan, it could tell you exactly what
each employee was capable of becoming in
the future. You could then create a custom-
ized development program that resulted in
the most proftable and fulflling use of ev-
ery employee in your business. Would you
use such a machine, if it were available?
Business leaders often discover an internal
confict between taking care of the immedi-
ate concerns of the business and a longing to
“do it right” and manage more strategically
for long-term success. Beleaguered execu-
tives often confess that even if they did have
a perfectly clear picture of the best way to
develop and manage their people, current
circumstances wouldn’t allow it.
Research has revealed that mediocre su-
pervisors work under the assumptions that,
everyone should be able to learn how to do
a job with training; and the greatest em-
ployee growth is realized by focusing on the
employee’s areas of weakness.
In contrast, exceptional supervisors as-
sume that, everyone has unique and endur-
ing talents; and, a person’s greatest potential
lies in developing their areas of strength.
Great managers constantly look for ways
to develop and leverage each employee’s
strengths rather than getting trapped in
trying to fx weaknesses.
Business leaders serious about identify-
ing, developing and deploying talent under-
stand that in today’s world getting the right
people doing the right things is the most
important diferentiator in any successful
business. How they understand and manage
people should come before thinking about
how they will efectively compete in the
marketplace. For most business leaders, this
is a difcult shift in mindset to make. After
all, business leaders are normally measured
by annual revenue,
stock value,
earnings, or
the organiza-
tion’s credit rating—all
“hard” fnancial measures of success. Tese
“hard metrics” are easy for business leaders
to think they can control and manipulate
through decision-making and the priori-
ties they establish for their organizations.
On the other hand, understanding and de-
ploying talent is much more difcult and
it requires more humility—it doesn’t ft
the “alpha male” concept of many leaders.
How can we balance the scales by creating
equally compelling measurements for iden-
tifying, hiring, developing and optimizing
talent?
Tere isn’t a retina scan that measures
potential and illuminates the most efective
pathway to success. But it’s getting closer.
Te convergence of psychometrics with job
benchmarking is opening up new methods
to identify deeper reservoirs of potential
in people. Exceptional leaders have expe-
rienced breakthroughs in performance by
asking three simple questions:
n What talent patterns is this job asking
for in order to achieve superior per-
formance? Tere are specifc activities,
rewards and evaluative judgment
patterns that result in superior
performance for every job.
By defning these in detail,
business leaders can de-
velop a profound clarity
that will lead to su-
perior performance.
Tis picture of what
the job wants can be
used to improve the
hiring process, cre-
ate highly custom-
ized training and
development strate-
gies, and pinpoint
the most important
performance manage-
ment issues for continu-
ous improvement.
n What natural talent
patterns does this person bring
to the job and how should we lever-
age this talent? Every individual brings
a unique combination of behavioral ten-
dencies, motivational biases and evalua-
tive judgment inclinations to their work.
When these fall in relative alignment
with what the job is asking for, superior
performance is practically inevitable (we
call them, “a natural for the position”).
When there is mis-alignment between
these talent patterns and what the job is
asking for, it doesn’t matter what edu-
cation or past experience the employee
brings, there will always be a struggle
to perform at a superior level. Tis is the
hard work of managing others—to un-
derstand and leverage the strengths and
to work around or neutralize the weak-
nesses.
n What is the most efective way to de-
velop and focus each person’s talent for
success based on the alignment between
the job and the person? Diagnosis is 90
percent of the cure. If business leaders
can develop a laser-like focus of what a
job is asking for and how natural talent
patterns relate to the job, then learn how
to apply this knowledge to leveraging
strengths and neutralizing weaknesses,
they will begin to understand that their
people represent one of the greatest unde-
rutilized resources in the organization.
Most leaders think they are efective at
identifying opportunities. Tey pride them-
selves in their ability to understand the dy-
namics of the marketplace, to develop prod-
ucts and services that create future wealth,
to build a loyal customer base, and to man-
age the fnancial statements for increased
net worth and cash fow. As savvy as these
leaders may be when it comes to markets,
products, customers and assets, they con-
tinually miss the greatest treasure of all.
As a result, they forfeit their own “acres of
diamonds.”
Ron Price is the founder and
CEO of Price Associates, a
company dedicated to
helping business leaders and
entrepreneurs solve problems,
identify solutions and
implement change in strategy and
performance. Ron is also the author of
“Finding Hidden Treasures,” a series of
essays with action steps to aid readers in
mining their own inner talents. As the
former president of the AIM Companies,
Ron directed the strategic, marketing,
compensation and incentive planning, as
well as feld training and operations.
Acres of Diamonds
at Work
by ron Price
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Joliet area employers expect to hire at a
brisk pace during the third quarter of 2008,
according to the Manpower Employment
Outlook Survey. Among survey partici-
pants, the Joliet area employment outlook
is the tenth best in the nation. From July
to September, 50 percent of the companies
interviewed plans to hire more employees,
while 10 percent expect to reduce their pay-
rolls, according to Manpower spokesperson
Suzanne Cosme. Another 40 percent expect
to maintain their current staf levels.
“Employer sentiment about hiring ap-
pears to be more encouraging than in the
second quarter of 2008 when 34 percent of
companies interviewed intended to add em-
ployees, and 10 percent planned to reduce
staf levels,” said Cosme. “Hiring activity is
expected to be stronger than one year ago
when 23 percent of companies surveyed
planned to increase staf levels and none ex-
pected to cut payrolls.”
For the coming quarter, job prospects ap-
pear best in Durable Goods Manufacturing,
Transportation/Public Utilities, Services
and Public Administration. Employers in
Construction plan to reduce stafng levels,
while those in Non-Durable Goods Manu-
facturing and Wholesale/Retail Trade voice
mixed hiring intentions. Hiring in Finance/
Insurance/Real Estate and Education is ex-
pected to remain unchanged.
Nationally, U.S. employers are project-
ing a slight decline in hiring for Quarter 3
2008, according to the seasonally adjusted
survey results. Of the 14,000 U.S. employ-
ers surveyed, 26 percent expect to increase
their workforces during the July-September
period, while 10 percent expect to scale back
their payrolls for a net employment outlook
of 16 percent (seasonally adjusted 12 per-
cent). Fifty-eight percent expect no change
in the hiring pace, and 6 percent are unde-
cided about their hiring plans.
(See page 7 for a summary of all Illinois
Survey Results.)
Joliet Job Market
Expected to be Among
Strongest in Nation
from press release
Gwen Hopkins
President
Lori Hopson
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With greater awareness to environmen-
tal issues, Will County is committed to
continuing the dialogue and eforts for a
healthier environment throughout the year.
Recently, the Will County Waste Services
Division of the Land Use Department
made a big diference in the environment by
hosting various recycling and waste collec-
tion events, along with educating hundreds
of school children and members of the com-
munity on how to Go Green.
Environmental Awards for
Local Schools
At their recent annual Environmental
Awards program, the County group hosted
35 local schools and recognized students for
their contributions to the environment. Held
at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, the
students were heralded for collecting over
716 tons of paper for recycling. Former coun-
ty environmental educator, Joan O’Keefe of
Lockport was also honored for being Will
County’s frst environmental educator, as
well as for her numerous contributions.
“I am so proud of what we have done in
Will County to not only educate others on
the importance of a healthy environment,
but to actually walk the walk as well,” said
Will County Executive Larry Walsh, who
personally handed out the awards to the
schools. “We have come a long way in the
last few years when it comes to going green
as a County. It is a top priority.”
Medication Take-Back
Program
A healthy environment also means pro-
tecting water resources, while reducing
materials going into local landflls. Te
County’s Medication Take-Back Program
is one way to stop the fushing of unwanted
medications down the drain. With this new
program, residents can drop-of medica-
tions, personal care products and other
medical items to local pharmacies. Last
year, the County established Take-Back
partnerships at all four Basinger Pharmacy
locations in Joliet. Tis month, the Waste
Services group held grand-openings for
fve new partnerships with Doc’s Drugs in
Beecher, Braidwood, Peotone, Monee and
Wilmington.
“I’m so pleased that this new program is
clearly making a diference—and it’s im-
portant to thank both pharmacies for their
interest in and dedication to the environ-
ment,” said Marta Keane, Will County
Recycle Program specialist. “It is estimated
that over 4,600 tons of pharmaceuticals
and personal care products enter the waste
stream yearly—and many pharmaceuticals
are making their way into the drinking wa-
ter. So these partnerships are very impor-
tant to have.”
Shoe Collection and
Special Events
Another recent event included a county-
wide shoe collection bringing in nearly 8,000
shoes for recycling or reuse. Te County also
held household hazardous waste (HHW)
events in Romeoville and Beecher and an
electronic collection event in Manhattan.
Over 49,000 pounds of hazardous waste
were collected at the Romeoville HHW
event, nearly 300 participated at Beecher,
and over 58,000 pounds of electronics were
recycled from the Manhattan event.
Electronics Recycling
Will County and Waste Services staf
also continue an aggressive approach to
recycling and the environment throughout
the year with programs and events, includ-
ing the appropriate disposal of tires, house-
hold hazardous waste, books and electron-
ics. In the past year, the County established
partnerships with the Village of Boling-
brook, Channahon, Plainfeld and Troy
Townships, and Washington Township/
Village of Beecher for electronics and/or
traditional recycling materials. And more
partnerships are being developed. Dean
Olson, Waste Services manager, estimates
that over $57,000 has been spent for recy-
cling through these local partnerships over
the past 10 months, collecting over 330,000
pounds of electronics and an estimated
98,000 lbs of other recyclables.
Te County also expects to receive as
much $146,000 in grants for its enforce-
ment program with the Illinois Environ-
mental Protection Agency (IEPA), a re-
imbursement of $137,000 from the IEPA
for cleanup of the Brownfeld site in Crete
Township, and a reimbursement grant of
as much as $51,000 from the Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
(DCEO) for the expansion of the Will
County Ofces recycling program. In 2007,
over 22,000 tires were collected at an event
with the IEPA, saving the County thou-
sands of dollars.
Household Hazardous Waste
One future project that the Waste Servic-
es Division hopes to accomplish is the build-
ing of a new permanent household hazard-
ous waste facility for Will County residents.
Household hazardous waste includes clean-
ers, chemicals, old gasoline, solvents and
other potentially harmful items such as oil-
based paint and batteries. Te Division has
had contracts with the City of Naperville
for seven years to partner with the Naper-
ville Fire Station HHW to dispose of haz-
ardous waste for area residents, mostly from
DuPage, Kane and Will County residents.
Te last one contract was in 2006.
“While the Naperville site is important to
the proper disposal of household hazardous
waste in the area, a new Will County fa-
cility would be a huge beneft to even more
County residents—however cost estimates
aren’t in yet.” added Olson.
Te proposed Will County Household
Hazardous Waste site will be located near
Route 52 and Laraway -Road just south of
the County’s Highway Department.
upcoming Events
HHW collections are also held through-
out the County, including the one set at Jo-
liet Junior College. Residents can also look
forward to a Waste Tire Collection with the
IEPA on September 19 and 20 in Univer-
sity Park, a Book Collection on September
12, 13 and 14, at Pilcher Park in Joliet, and
a Household Hazardous Waste collection
event in New Lenox on September 13.
“Residents can be assured that a main
focus of Will County is the environment,
including recycling – and we continue to do
all we can do to make life better and health-
ier for them,” said Olson. “We’ve not only
received great support from County Execu-
tive Walsh, but by so many countywide. We
are certainly proud of all we’ve done and all
we hope to do.”
Lawrence Walsh is the Will
County Executive.
Going Green in
Will County Top Priority
by lawrence Walsh
With the help of local schoolchildren, a county-wide shoe collection effort yielded nearly 8,000 shoes.
the Medication take-Back Program, here being implemented at Doc’s Drugs in
Peotone, keeps unwanted or expired medications out of our drinking water.
the village of Bolingbrook recently began its electronic recycling program with a
ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Today’s business networks are compli-
cated. Tere are data packets fying around,
cables, routers, switches, and of course, the
Internet. Businesses now demand more
bandwidth for daily operations. To ensure
even bandwidth distribution and stabilizing
users, business owners need a simple tool:
bandwidth management.
Tis is a long-run process that can help
you save money, better plan for future net-
work upgrades, and help determine future
bandwidth needs and costs. On a wider
scale, bandwidth management can help
with remote locations, warehouses and of-
fces anywhere in the world. In some cases,
bandwidth management has saved com-
panies signifcant dollars by determining
problems, acting as a stop agent, and pro-
viding resolutions based on reports and sta-
tistics.
One of the key elements in maximizing
your investment in technology is by utiliz-
ing your Internet broadband connection to
the fullest. With the evolution of higher
broadband standards, we see the need for
more consumption for both data and voice
information. Recently, we have found a
product that is plug-and-play and desig-
nates utilization of broadband evenly: the
NetEqualizer.
As shown below in our network evalu-
ation, the NetEqualizer NE2000 is a 1U
(14 inches deep) unit that connects to your
network. Te basic functions are tracking
bandwidth and equalizing the network so
all sessions are equal, thus improving speed
and efcient use of your company’s data in-
frastructure.
NetEqualizer is one of the most cost-ef-
fective management units on the market,
and we found the unit easy to install—right
out of the box. We made three setting
changes to match our network using the web
(browser) interface, connected the unit, and
right away trafc shaping started, about 10-
minutes total setup time. Te unit has two
Ethernet ports as shown above, one port
toward your user network, the other ports
toward your broadband connection/server
if applicable. A couple of simple clicks and
you can see reporting live as it happens. In
testing, we ran our unit for 30-days and saw
our broadband reports stabilize and our us-
ers receiving the same slices of broadband
access. With the NetEqualizer, there is no
burden of extensive policies to manage.
How the unit works
Te NetEqualizer is based in your broad-
band connection. Te unit is rule based
(similar to IPTables in Linux) to dynami-
cally control trafc by user on the network
and then fairly distribute the available band-
width. Installation requires no network
changes, and the unit runs in transparent
mode. For you techie’s out there, you will
notice the command line interface (shell) is
Unix. You can also access it using an SSH
connection.
Te NetEqualizer is a nice tool to add
to any network of any size. Businesses can
see how important the Internet is and how
hungry users can be for information. In local
networks, there are congestion issues and, at
times, issues with the utilization of network
resources. By using this unit, network ad-
ministrators now have tools to manage all of
these network issues. IPTables adds frewall
capacities to the NetEqualizer, which is yet
another option with these types of units.
One last word on frewalls and protecting
your network—the NetEqualizer has con-
nection limits which can help protect your
network from malicious activities like vi-
ruses, trojan horses and worms.
unit specifcs
Of course, bandwidth limiting and dis-
tribution top the list of desired unit capa-
bilities. Te equal bandwidth distribution
process includes those that are regulated for
more bandwidth usage based on Host, Sub-
net, MAC Address, port or VLAN.
Te NetEqualizer is available in a
range of confgurations from 2Mbps up to
300Mbps. It provides a host of reporting
features based on your needs. Te reports
are browser-based in real-time and can be
saved and kept as log fles.
More information about the NetEqual-
izer can be found at http://netequalizer.
com.
Wade LeBeau is the network
operations director for The
Daily Journal and a WiFi
Kankakee, LLC board member.
Leveling Your
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Similar to last month’s column, I’d like
to focus this month’s message to those who
have already launched their lean eforts in
the last two years. To some people, making
any forward progress with lean or moving
into a more proactive mode is considered a
success. To others, making small advance-
ments isn’t enough, so they consider the
progress as a failure.
By reducing implementation “setbacks”
you will reduce the pool of naysayers.
Here’s a great example of what not to do:
I was asked into a small (35 employees)
plastic injection-molding manufacturer to
do some “Lean Kick-Of” work. Tey had
been talking about lean for about four years,
but never got anything going. Te company
is privately held. Te general manager and
the plant manager are brothers-in-law.
During my frst meeting with the general
manager, he told me that he had two priori-
ties—reduce set-up time and install robots
on the production lines. I asked if I could
interview the employees in groups to hear
what their priorities were. He agreed and I
took a few hours to interview the people.
One priority that came through in each
group was a revamp of their scheduling pro-
cess. Te line supervisors and set-up people
were extremely frustrated with a schedule
that changes daily, sometimes hourly. Even
more frustrating to them was that the sched-
ule was changed in the computer, but not
all afected employees receive the changes.
Tey spent many hours a week setting up
a mold and the production run only to fnd
out that the schedule had just been changed
and they needed to change the set-up.
Another priority that came up related to
materials management in a small fve-per-
son department. Teir biggest challenge is
that they run out of glue. Yes, I said glue.
Tey use a costly glue that afxes labels
extremely well, and it needs to be refriger-
ated until use. Amazingly, the refrigerator
is not in their department. It is in the plant
manger’s ofce and the employees don’t like
to bother him, so they wait until he is out of
his ofce and then go in and get the glue.
Sometimes they go in to get glue and they
are out of stock because they didn’t tell the
manager to order more the last time. Tey
have pulled the parts, collected the labels,
set the jigs, and then went to get the glue.
To get more glue takes up to fve days, so
they put everything back and wait for the
glue to arrive.
I wanted to share this story with you be-
cause having a disconnect between what
management believes is important, and
what employees believe to be important, is
one of the top fve drivers of lean implemen-
tation setbacks. Te top fve list follows.
Lack of Management Support
It starts at the top. If management isn’t
fully on board with lean, it will show in the
areas under that person. Management needs
to eat, live and breathe the lean principles
and show the employees that everybody will
be expected to embrace lean, be held to the
same standards, and make decisions in the
lean spirit.
If there is no Lean Champion in the
company to help guide, train and measure,
implementation will stagnate down the
road because nobody is watching the prog-
ress and holding people accountable.
If management doesn’t recognize eforts
at all levels of the organization, or allow su-
pervisors and managers to recognize people,
there will be less and less efort put into lean
initiatives.
Lack of Management Focus
If your management team doesn’t have
a vision or direction for the company, how
can the employees move the company for-
ward toward its goals? Management needs
to be very clear on what is to be accom-
plished and why.
Don’t create activity just for the sake of
being able to say that you are “doing lean.”
Have a purpose and goals. I heard of one
company that was in their third year of 5S
(cleaning and organizing work areas). Tey
had no clue why they were doing 5S be-
cause it wasn’t tied to their strategic busi-
ness plan. In fact, they didn’t even have a
business plan. Tey wanted to be able to say
that they were “going lean” and 5S seemed
like an easy place to start. Tat is true, but
activity needs to have a purpose.
Waste reduction is a process that will
positively impact the bottom line, it pro-
vides a clear focus to team members, and it
will send a very clear message to the em-
ployees that they and their time are valuable
to the company. It also frees up their time
to consider the larger change projects that
management might have in mind.
Lack of Empowerment,
Responsibility, Accountability,
Expectations and Recognition
Alright, I know I threw many items in
this group, but they are all so important and
closely related. If employees are empow-
ered to make decisions and changes, lean
initiatives will fourish. Lean is top down
in vision and direction and bottom up in
changes and behaviors. It takes both to get
long-term, world-class results.
However, before you can empower em-
ployees, they need to know their area(s) of
responsibility and how they will be held ac-
countable for their decisions and action. If
you allow lean to be everybody’s job implic-
itly and nobody’s job explicitly, your lean
initiatives will have setbacks down the road.
And please don’t forget to set clear expecta-
tions for people.
Last, but not least, make sure there is a
recognition program in place to show your
appreciation for the work that people do.
People will repeat those actions that get
positive attention.
Too Much at once
Te big ideas are great, but remember that
people have daily tasks and responsibilities.
When companies try to do too much all at
once, it’s just too much for the people to
manage on top of their daily responsibili-
ties. Very often the same key people become
overloaded with too many projects at the
same time and not enough time to get ev-
erything done. Tis is especially common in
smaller companies where the resource pool
is limited. Instead, focus on smaller, key
improvements that will drive other results.
Too Much Management-
Centric Focus
As we saw in the plastics company story,
it is important to keep a perspective on what
the employees feel is important to change.
Tey have their challenges to overcome and
are looking for somebody to help them re-
solve their problems. Te company could
have pushed forward with robots, but they
would still run out of glue—only at a faster
pace potentially. Management could have
continually measured and cracked down
on reducing set-up times, but as long as the
scheduling problem existed, set-up times
would sufer. Te morale of the plastics
company story is to have management-cen-
tric ideas (big picture, strategically-moti-
vated ideas) in mind, but frst address the
employees’ day-to-day challenges. Employ-
ees will have little to no time to devote to
big projects/changes as long as their daily
routines pose challenges to them.
Final Thoughts on Lean
Lean is 20 percent equipment and tech-
nology and 80 percent people. Getting peo-
ple to change old habits, behaviors and ac-
tions is not easy. Employees will be cynical,
mistrusting and scared at frst. Tat's why
management needs to really step up to the
plate and build trust through actions, not
speech. If you can identify your “people”
people, tap into them to help drive lean.
Patrick Seaton, Innovative
Management Tools LLC.
Innovative Management Solutions | by Patrick seaton
going lean, Part 6:
Avoiding implementation
Setbacks
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Commercial real estate; Jerry Balthazor, City of Bradley trustee; Lucas and Randy Strait,
arctic snow & ice Control; state representative Lisa Dugan; Mike Van Mill, economic alli-
ance president; Jeff Bennett, Bennett Commercial real estate at the Ken Hayes industrial
Park in Bradley. (submitted photo)
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referral; norm strasma, executive Director of the Community Foundation of the Kanka-
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Workman, president of KCar; Connie Legris, executive offcer for both Kankakee and
iroquois associations; and Sarah Powers, president-elect of KCar, in Washington, D.C.
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815.935.0192.
Going Green: these words have infltrat-
ed our culture like wildfre. Energy has been
and always will be a major issue, especially
when we deal with non-renewable natural
resources. What is good for us? What can
we do to save money? And what can we do
to decrease our energy bills in our home and
businesses?
With so many options, ideas, and higher
costs involved, what is the right answer for
you? As an energy and indoor comfort con-
sultant, let me make this statement frst:
Our energy and gas prices will continue to
rise. Our only choices today include higher
efciency systems, using renewable resourc-
es and reducing usage. A natural by-prod-
uct of these practices and technologies is a
reduction in your costs.
Your home and business buildings are a
system. Everything works together; from
the basement, to the walls and windows,
attic, lighting, and heating and cooling sys-
tem. Most of us will start the energy saving
process with an upgrade of our furnaces and
air conditioners, but energy use and cost can
be lowered in other areas of your “system.”
Electrically, look at your lights. Changing
to fuorescents and low-voltage lighting will
make a big diference in electrical cost. In-
stalling a programmable thermostat saves
on both gas and electricity, while adding
insulation or upgrading windows reduces
air infltration and keeps the drafts and the
amount of energy you use inside the home
instead of allowing for its escape. Sealing
and insulating forced air duct work is a
big energy saver. Insulating your hot water
pipes, turning your hot water heater down,
along with upgrading your home appliances
with newer models will all make your home
more efcient.
Te biggest energy and money saver is
avoiding energy scams. Spending money
on things that don’t work is probably the
biggest form of energy waste. Every energy
contractor should be able to provide you
with a ROI (Return on Investment).
At today’s prices of gas and electricity,
purchasing new energy saving systems will
give you an average ROI that surpasses any
stock fund or bond on the market. So what
do we look for and what should we be pur-
chasing?
Te answer is the highest efcient system
that you can aford and that will give you
the best ROI.
Heating and cooling systems allow for
numerous choices. Te biggest key in pur-
chasing a system is getting the right size.
Proper installation and making sure the
system is right for your home or business are
crucial, and a wrong decision can consume
more energy than what your current system
uses. Go to www.energystar.gov and it will
guide you through what to look for in a
heating and cooling contractor.
Many homeowners are now purchasing a
geo-thermal system to heat and cool their
homes. Tese systems are use ground wa-
ter or a ground loop for heating and cooling
and, mainly run by electricity, these systems
have a slightly higher price to install than
conventional systems. However, ROI or en-
ergy payback is very quick. With the new
technology, these systems are gaining pop-
ularity with many consumers and are being
installed not only in country homes but also
in urban area homes and businesses.
Solar heating is starting to make a come-
back in the form of hot water heating, space
heating, and in attic ventilation. Although
we are not in the best climate to maximize
the full potential of solar, it is still a very at-
tractive supplemental system if your home
or business is positioned to attract enough
sunlight.
Going green and saving energy is also
related to indoor air quality. Open any
magazine, newspaper, or listen to a radio
talk show and everyone is talking about air
quality. Who do you believe? Consumers
should believe in the people who deal with
air fltration, air conditioning and ventila-
tion every day. Quality heating and cooling
contractors are experts in indoor air and
are trained to give you the proper answers
regarding your home’s problems. A typical
home will produce about 40 pounds of dust
a year and up to 72 trillion allergens will
fnd their way into your home. Currently
indoor air is 80 percent more polluted than
outdoor air. We are what we breathe, so by
cleaning and fltering our air and generat-
ing controls over humidity, our families will
stay healthier and our homes cleaner and
more comfortable. For more information
on indoor air qualities go to www.health-
house.org or the American Lung Associa-
tion at www.lungusa.org.
Going green and saving energy dollars
is not always inexpensive, but it is the right
thing to do. If everyone does just a little at
a time, we can reduce our carbon footprint
both at home and in the ofce.
Tom Goodberlet is president of Goodberlet
Heating & Air Conditioning.
The Home Energy
Tipping Point
(or, How Can i save Money?)
by tom goodberlet
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Hospitals, medical centers, doctor’s visits
and other healthcare providers are requiring
more and more use of competent Spanish
interpreters (other languages are less in de-
mand). Tese non-English speaking patients
are insurance card holders, citizens and legal
residents, too. Often times this patient pop-
ulation are the spouses and extended family
members who require a variety of services.
Tese services range from hospital care,
surgery and childbirth to treatment for oc-
cupational injuries. As recent arrivals, many
of these non-English speaking residents
hold dangerous jobs and sufer occupational
injuries to their limbs. Tey sufer from
back problems
in dispropor-
tionate num-
bers when
compared to
similar work
groups in the
U.S.
An inter-
preter is of-
ten required
to help medical personnel communicate
with their patients. Te questions asked
by the nurses and doctors require medical
knowledge both in English and in Spanish.
Common everyday language is used, but
additional healthcare-specifc vocabulary
demands that the interpreter understands
the subtleties in language usage. Tus the
interpreter serves as a vital link between the
healthcare provider and the patient.
Medical interpretation
Telephone Line Services
Some medical centers opt for a
telephone language service that
ofers a plethora of language-
trained interpreters. Tis service
provides language assistance to
hospitals that have a minimal and/
or occasional need for a second lan-
guage interpreter. Using a sensitive
speaker phone, the health care team
communicates with the patient via
the phone service. For minor patient
services this works fne and both the
medical staf and patient are usually satis-
fed. However,
this type of
service does
have its obvi-
ous drawbacks
and limita-
tions. Te frst
drawback is
that the tele-
phone line
must be made
available throughout the whole patient/doc-
tor visit. Secondly, the phone interpreter
cannot see or more importantly hear what is
being said by secondary sources if the phone
speaker is not sensitive enough to pick up
other conversations that may aid the medi-
cal staf. Even if the microphone is sensi-
tive, the interpreter may only hear gibberish
or garbled speech and not be able to inter-
pret the language being spoken. Even more
importantly, the phone interpreter may
ignore this background “noise” altogether,
as the telephone interpreter is required
to interpret only what is said directly into
the microphone. As long as this is not the
case, both the medical team and patient are
served. However, sometimes patients may
minimize their illness, making it necessary
for the spouse or another family member to
inform the medical staf of any other ill-
nesses the patient has. Tis additional in-
formation may be important for the medical
staf to be aware of as part of the patient’s
treatment.
Medical interpreter on Staff at
Hospitals
Most of the major hospitals in large ur-
ban centers have full-time interpreters on
staf and on-call 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. Tese hospitals usually have access
to language services via phone as well and
ofer a variety of language services. Next to
Spanish, Polish is very popular, followed by
several dialects of Chinese and eastern Eu-
ropean languages. Te interpreter is paged
and reports to the hospital when requested.
Te interpreter greets that patient and in-
forms him of his/her services and proceeds
to interpret the whole conversation, while
interacting with the patient. Doctors and
nurses report feeling very comfortable with
this procedure, as the
patient and fam-
ily are always
kept informed
and patients can add
information as needed
to help the medical staf ad-
dress the needs of the patient.
A competent medical interpreter
can help the medical staf make a treat-
ment plan that helps the patient through
this emergency and or treatment. Te fow
of the conversation is quick and efcient.
Te interpreter can help clarify any confu-
sion immediately by simply saying, for ex-
ample, “Te patient appears to want to add
something...” Physicians report that this
helps them administer proper care, speeds
up the process, and keeps the patient in-
formed as to what’s going on.
An additional beneft of having a person
conduct the interpretation is the “people
interaction.” Visual contact aids the inter-
pretation process and helps medical staf
and patients communicate more efciently
and efectively. Interpreters are not permit-
ted to help patients fll out forms directly,
however. Family members can help their
language-challenged family member com-
plete the required forms.
Training for Medical
interpreters
Several local and Chicago area colleges
ofer extensive oral interpretation pro-
grams. All program participants must be
completely bilingual in both languages. Te
usual length of each training program var-
ies from 100 to 160 hours of direct instruc-
tion. To learn more about healthcare/medi-
cal interpretation training, visit your local
college, or you may also contact me for more
information.
Dr. Héctor D. López, BEST
Solutions, Inc.
Spanish Language Training | by Dr. Héctor lópez
Medical interpretation
for Health Care Providers
the interpreter greets that
patient and informs him of his/
her services and proceeds to
interpret the whole conversation,
while interacting with the
patient.
Green Marketing:
the same old Principles still apply
Marketing a business can be a challenge.
How about marketing a green business? A
green business is one that believes in main-
taining the quality of our natural environ-
ment, while also providing their products
and services. When a business begins to
go green, the philosophy is incorporated
into their daily habits. It may start with en-
couraging employees to recycle within your
of ce, using solar energy to power the top
foor of your of ce building, fnding ways
to reduce your carbon footprint, or even
serving organic produce to your employees
for breakfast or lunch. Externally, there
are many efective practices that can help
a green business utilize media to promote
their brand, and their image.
Accessing the media to promote your
business is best when using some funda-
mental guidelines. Targeted advertising is
always a great way to reach potential cus-
tomers. Just make sure that the media you
utilize best refects the demographic you are
looking to address. Publicity is also a major
proven method of marketing a business. As
long as it is “good” press, having an article
published about you and your business is a
good thing. When trying to capture the at-
tention of the gatekeepers, it is important
to have something newsworthy. Newswor-
thiness is the major determining factor in
whether an editor or station manager will
give your business the attention you de-
sire. A good example of newsworthy
information could be a green business
receiving a certifcation, and sending
a press release to their local paper.
Sending in a press release about your
new showroom hours is a bad example
of newsworthiness.
LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Envi-
ronmental Design)
is a program created
by the U.S. Green
Building Council.
Teir online bro-
chure reads that
LEED “encourag-
es and accelerates
global adoption
of sustainable green
building and development
practices”. Receiving and
publicizing this certifcation
will attract the attention of
other business owners and
consumers who admire and
search out green businesses
to spend money with. As
the result of a 2007 Illinois
law, all state construction
grants now include a require-
ment that contractors and designs be LEED
certifed, at a minimum.
Green media is primarily based online,
but many traditional print media providers
utilize sustainable practices in the materials
they use. Green media is focused on sus-
tainable lifestyles, including what we eat,
drive, wear and take when we are ill. Until
people evolve from their documented pref-
erence to a tactile approach in consuming
the written word, rather than reading from
a screen, there will always be printed books,
magazines and newspapers. Interestingly,
there have been rumblings about a potential
“Do Not Mail” list, notably in New York,
citing wasted paper and ink in landflls as a
major reasoning behind the legislation. Di-
rect marketers are quite fearful of this type
of shift in policy, and are taking the legisla-
tion head-on.
One of the most interesting ways of ac-
cessing Internet media is the blog. Te blog
is a fairly recent creation on the Internet and
is a major communication tool. A blog is in-
teractive, which is ALWAYS better than
static web pages. Te blog writers also add
videos, photos, links, podcasts and more.
Tese are all great ways to generate a buzz
about your business. Sending a press release
to one, or being interviewed by one will at-
tract the attention that you are looking for.
Here’s the rub: the consumer has to be
local. If the blog is national, there
are maybe only 100 individuals
within your area that potentially
could take advantage of what you
are ofering. Te key to all mar-
keting, especially in a local mar-
ket, is reaching as many potential
consumers as possible with
a recognizable and posi-
tive brand. If you just
invented a car that
runs on water, a blog
may be the way to
go. But if you are
“Hometown Oil
Change, Inc.” and
you want to pub-
licize your recla-
mation and disposal
program, you should
probably focus on media
that penetrates deep into
the consumer segment.
Sometimes “free” is good,
but targeted marketing is
ALWAYS best.
Johnny Coleman, II con-
tributed to this article.
B2B illinois staff report
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KANKAKEE COUNTY
Positive growth leadership Breakfast
the Positive growth leadership Breakfast was held on May 29, 2008 and sponsored by
HBaK, KCar, Kankakee regional Chamber of Commerce, Bradley Bourbonnais regional
Chamber of Commerce and Manteno Chamber of Commerce. left to right: andy Czako,
sarah Powers and Cherie schmidt. (Photo by Cary turner)
sandy Workman, Melissa Cunha and sally schmidt. (Photo by Cary turner)
Bill yohnka, Connie legris and Jaclyn Dugan-roof. (Photo by Cary turner)
nSend B2B illinois your press releases, business briefs, event photos (with individual
identifcations), and business-related events. E-mail to [email protected] or fax to
815.935.0192.
illinois
Accessible Parking:
let’s Make 2008 the year We Work to
Make our Community More accessible
You may have heard that people with dis-
abilities are the single largest minority in
the United States today. According to the
U.S. Bureau of Census, 51.2 million people*
living in the United States report having
some level of disability. Tese persons with
disabilities would like to shop, eat, seek en-
tertainment, do business and see medical
professionals—all locally.
Stated simply: Your business will not be
able to access the largest buying minority in
the nation if they cannot access your busi-
ness.
Te following addresses the most com-
mon questions surrounding accessible park-
ing laws in Illinois:
Who is required to provide
accessible parking?
Any facility ofering parking for employ-
ees or visitors must provide accessible park-
ing spaces for people with disabilities. It is
important to note that the entire parking
space must be kept clear of obstructions at
all times, including ice, snow, shopping cart
corrals, trash cans, seasonal garden displays
and bicycle racks.
Where should accessible
parking be located?
Te Illinois Accessibility Code requires
that accessible parking spaces serving a
particular building shall be located on the
shortest accessible route of travel from adja-
cent parking to an accessible entrance.
What are the sizes and
markings required for
accessible parking spaces?
Te Illinois Accessibility Code requires
that each accessible space, except on street
spaces, shall be 16 feet wide, with either
an 8-foot or a 5-foot accessible aisle. (Tis
means the total width of the parking place
must be 16 feet wide includ-
ing the access aisle.) Te ac-
cess aisle can be located on
either side of the vehicle
portion of the parking place.
Te law also calls for the use
of high quality yellow paint
designated by the manufac-
turer to be used for pavement
striping. Finally, accessible
parking spaces should be
level with the surface slopes
not exceeding 1:50 (2 percent
grade) in all directions. We
should also note here that the
Illinois Accessibility Code
prohibits the use of curb
ramps that protrude into or
interfere with the diagonally
striped access aisle of acces-
sible parking.
What are the
required signs for
accessible parking?
A United States Depart-
ment of Transportation
R7-8 and an R7-I101 ($250
fne) must be permanently
mounted in the center of the
16-foot wide accessible park-
ing space. Te signs must
be placed no more than fve feet from the
front of the parking space and must be high
enough so that they are visible over a parked
car. At minimum the bottom of the fne sign
must be four feet from the pavement.
How many spaces are
businesses required to
provide for people with
disabilities?
Number of
Accessible Parking
Total of Parking Spaces Required by
Spaces Provided Law
1-25 1
26-50 2
51-75 3
76-100 4
101-150 5
151-200 6
201-300 7
301-400 8
401-500 9
501-1000 2 percent of total
Over 1000 20 plus 1 for each
100 over 1000
Medical Facilities specializing in treat-
ment of persons with mobility impair-
ments: 20 percent of total parking
Outpatient Medical Facilities: 10 percent
of total parking
What constitutes improper
use of Disabled License plates
or placards?
Under Illinois law disabled license plates,
disabled veterans plates, and placards are not
transferable. Te authorized holder must be
present in the motor vehicle and must enter
or exit the vehicle at the time parking privi-
leges are being used. Unauthorized use of
plates and/or a placard can result in a $500
fne, driver’s license suspension and suspen-
sion or revocation of the plate or placard by
the Illinois Secretary of State.
It’s in the best interests of each and ev-
ery employer, landlord and business owner
to take the time to do a self-evaluation of
their parking to make certain that it is in
compliance with Illinois law. Parking that is
in compliance with Illinois law will help to
assure that the largest minority population
can gain access to your facility to do busi-
ness with you.
*(See http://www.census.gov/Press-Re-
lease/www/releases/archives/facts_for_fea-
tures_special_editions/010102.html for
more details)
Dorcilla Schoolman is operations manager
for Options Center for Independent Living.
by Dorci schoolman
698 Armour Rd., Bourbonnais
Toll-free: 888-935-2220
(815) 935-7977 • Fax: (815) 935-7974
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.securecareusa.com
SUPPORT SERVICES:
• Sales & Consulting
• Employee Counseling
• Enrollment Support
• Claim Assistance
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incentives to you and your employees
■ Health savings accounts, using pre-tax money
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expenses
Let us share with you some money-saving
ideas for maintaining quality health
insurance benefits for your organization.
Brian walks into a deli at 11:15 a.m. and
orders the lunch special he heard advertised
on the radio just a few moments ago. Te
young girl behind the counter has no idea
what he’s talking about.
“We don’t have a special on the Italian
Hero,” she says.
“Yes, you do,” he insists. “I just heard it
on 101.3”
“Well, nobody told ME about any spe-
cial!” she snaps back. “I can’t do that unless
my boss tells me, and he won’t be here until
11:30.”
Te advertising did its job. Brian’s there,
mouth watering, money in hand. Only one
thing stands between the deli owner and
success: the person behind the counter.
If only someone in charge had told the
young lady what was being advertised, there
would be a seamless and positive experience.
Instead, Brian’s probably going to leave an-
gry, the young lady still doesn’t know the
special, and someone else is bound to come
in fve minutes later and ask for the same
thing.
Where’s the knowledge gap? Where does
it start, and what happened along the way?
Advertising does work. It’s the commu-
nication dysfunction inside a business that
can kill of a great ad campaign, slowly and
silently.
As an advertising rep in the Joliet area
many years ago, I worked with a local fre-
place and gas grill store to create a Father’s
Day grill campaign. Te ads were good, he
ran them in several local media, and I was
looking forward to hearing about the results
he was bound to receive.
After the ads ran, he told me it was a fop.
“I didn’t sell nearly the number of grills I
had projected. Tose ads you created didn’t
work.” It wasn’t until days later that I learned
of four separate people that had come into
the store during the campaign. Tree of them
waited several minutes, and walked out be-
cause no one had bothered to help them. Te
fourth left because the poor young salesper-
son on the foor didn’t know anything about
the products and their features.
If four people that I knew walked out
without a grill (and felt like they wasted
their time!), how many others had the very
same experience? We’ll never know.
If only the deli and the grill store would
have clued their people in as to what was
on sale, how it was being advertised, and
why people should be excited about it, the
ads would have paid of many times over for
them.
Te most important sale you’ll ever make
is inside your own building. Te key is know-
ing what to do and how to get it done.
Selling Te Inside™ is a process Andrew
Corbus and I developed and detailed in our
book, Reality Sells. It’s a regular system of
communicating important details to your
staf that goes beyond traditional training;
it actually helps them to be an active part of
the company’s success.
It’s important for a number of reasons:
Poor service is everywhere, and training
is expensive. People are quick to say it’s the
younger generation that’s at fault, but we
fnd that the problem is often a simple lack
of applied focus on the part of the business
owner to excite the employee about deliver-
ing value to each customer. It’s a diferent
story when each team member knows ex-
actly what each is contributing to the suc-
cess of the organization.
Your staf may not see or hear the ads you
run. Many business owners and managers
assume that their employees read, watch
and listen to the same things as their cus-
tomers. Te problem is that employees often
have very diferent lifestyles than those they
serve. By making sure your people see and
hear all of your advertising messages, they
can deliver the promises the ads are mak-
ing, whether they see them in the market-
place or not.
Employees don’t like to feel stupid. In
our deli example above, the girl behind the
counter probably feels under-educated, out
of touch and frustrated because she doesn’t
know about the special of the day. Employ-
ees who feel like they’re up to speed on the
latest information about their work are gen-
erally more satisfed, more engaged and de-
liver more value to your customers.
Customer expectations are higher than
ever. We are the fussiest, most demand-
ing generation of consumers in history. At
the same time, every business category now
has several competitors fghting to be king
of the hill. Service has become one of the
most important diferentiators in the battle
for business, and having a system in place
allows you to compete with much bigger
players.
In a nutshell, the Selling Te Inside™
system involves seven distinct steps:
n Showcasing your current advertising to
your staf
n Discussing the features and benefts of
the advertised products
n Giving your staf some talking points on
those products
n Reviewing the performance of the staf
since your last session
n Rewarding that performance
n Setting a new short-term goal
n Conducting a brief training session on
a fundamental service skill, such as eye
contact, greeting or handling upset cus-
tomers.
When done properly, Selling Te In-
side™ delivers a higher return on invest-
ment from your advertising, because it clos-
es the knowledge gap between management
and front-line staf, which allows everyone
to serve customers best—and close more
business.
In today’s challenging economic climate,
it’s more important than ever.
Bill Guertin is an in-demand
speaker, author, and chief
enthusiasm offcer (CEO) of
The 800-Pound Gorilla,
helping companies develop
leaders in sales performance,
service excellence and creative marketing
techniques. He is the co-author of “Reality
Sells: How To Bring Customers Back Again
and Again By Marketing Your Genuine
Story.” Bill travels to deliver many work-
shops, seminars, retreats and keynote
presentations each year.
How’s Business? | by Bill guertin
The Most important
Sale You’ll Ever Make
B2B illinois DIRECT CONNECTIONS
KANKAKEE COUNTY
Continued on page 36
aWarDs
n Steve Lemner of Lemner’s Soo
Bahk Do Studio in Bradley recently
was named Region Five’s presidents vi-
sion team regional chairman and now
oversees the Midwest region. Master
instructor David Cooper, of Bourbon-
nais, has been made regional treasurer,
and is now also a certifed master in-
structor.
Debbie Bond
Debbie Bond re-
ceived the River-
side Medical Cen-
ter “Volunteer of
the Year Award” at
Riverside’s Volun-
teer Appreciation
Dinner April 29.
President and CEO
Phil Kambic, Vice
President for Human Resources Becky
Hinrichs and Debbie’s husband, Harry
Bond, presented the award. Bond has
served more than 700 volunteer hours
at Riverside and continues to devote
her time. Her primary role is in River-
side’s Central Waiting and at the Pavil-
ion information desk.
n Rick Otto, sales manager for Coach
House Garages of Dwight presented
salesman Matt Foster with the Cop-
per Award for excellence in sales.
n Manpower has been named to the
second World’s Most Ethical Com-
panies list by the Ethisphere Institute,
a think tank dedicated to the research
and promotion of proftable best prac-
tices in global governance, business
ethics and corporate responsibility,
according to Beth Brosseau, Bourbon-
nais branch manager for Manpower.
Te organization reviewed more than
10,000 companies around the world to
prepare its 2008 list.
n Te U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency has honored Rohm and
Haas of Kankakee—a manufacturer
of specialty chemicals—with an En-
vironmental Performances Award, ac-
cording to an EPA press release. Rohm
and Haas was one of four companies
to receive the award that recognizes
“progress toward achieving environ-
mental performance goals.” Rohm and
Haas belongs to the agency’s National
Environmental Performance Track. To
become a performance track member,
companies must work toward reduc-
ing their environmental footprint and
demonstrate environmental steward-
ship, according to the EPA.
Joe armenise, Jr.
Joe Armenise Jr.,
district sales repre-
sentative, was rec-
ognized with the
Performance Food
Group Chairman’s
Award for his out-
standing achieve-
ments in sales with
Toms Proestler
Company, according to a company
press release.
n Coach House Garages, a garage
manufacturer, bestowed the Chairman’s
Award on Matt Foster, Coach House
of Dwight, recently. Te achievement
was based on sales volume and excel-
lence in customer service in the Dwight
area for the year 2007, according to a
company press release.
Jody Meyer
Jody Meyer is the
2008 recipient of
the Virginia M.
Long Scholarship.
Jody currently at-
tends Kankakee
Community Col-
lege and works as
an LPN at Provena
St. Mary’s Hospi-
tal. Scholarship recipients must em-
body Mrs. Long’s character qualities of
integrity, knowledge, strength and
compassion. Tey must also be enrolled
in the Kankakee Community College
(KCC) registered nurse or LPN transi-
tion program, must be returning to
school for a second career in nursing,
and must commit to two years of em-
ployment at Provena St. Mary’s.
n Freddie Mac named HomeStar
Bank a 2007 Tier One Gold Servicer.
Te Tier One Platinum & Gold re-
cipients represent the top two percent
of all Freddie Mac service providers.
Servicers are ranked against monthly
performance benchmarks for investor
reporting, minimizing credit losses,
and helping delinquent borrowers
avoid foreclosure. HomeStar Bank is a
state-chartered community bank head-
quartered in Manteno, Illinois, with six
of ces in Kankakee and Will Counties
and over $1 billion in assets.
n McColly Real Estate is proud to
announce that it has once again been
named to RISMedia’s 20
th
Annual
Power Broker Report & survey. Mc-
Colly Real Estate ranked 87
th
in the
nation in closed transaction sides in the
Power Broker Report, which identifes
and ranks America’s largest residen-
tial real estate brokerage companies
by transaction sides and sales volume.
McColly Real Estate was the only frm
headquartered in Northwest Indiana to
rank among the Top 100 and ranked
4th in the state of Indiana, only behind
three large companies based in India-
napolis. McColly’s ranking position
improved from number 95 in 2006.
Business
n Te Ashkum branch of Centrue
Bank closed June 27, Tomas A.
Daiber, Centrue Financial Corp., an-
nounced in the company’s frst quarter
earnings statement recently. Te bank,
located at Main Street and U.S. Route
45, is one of eight of ces the company
sold or closed by the end of June, reduc-
ing the total number of bank branches
to 28. Te Ashkum branch has three
employees who have been ofered posi-
tions at other Centrue locations, Daiber
said. Te closest Centrue branch for
Ashkum residents is in Kankakee.
n ComEd is nearing completion of
more than $3.4 million in improve-
ments in Bourbonnais, according to
a company press release. Te work in-
cludes installation of a new 40-mega-
watt transformer at the Bourbonnais
substation on 6000N Road, west of
U.S. Route 45. Te new transformer
will increase the available local capacity
by 10 percent, or the equivalent needed
to serve more than 8,000 additional
residential customers.
n Printec Press, Crouse Printing and
Custom Color Graphics, all commer-
cial printers based in Champaign, have
merged to form Premier Print Group.
Te new organization will operate as
three divisions totaling more than $12
million in annual sales. Jef Rufner
has represented Printec Press in the
Kankakee area for over a year.
n In early June, PetSmart held a
grand opening celebration at its new
store in the Water Tower Plaza, Route
50 North in Bourbonnais (near Mar-
shall’s). Te store will have cats avail-
able for adoption at all times.
n MainSource Bank in Kankakee
has opened a fnancial services of ce at
1521 N. Convent St., Suite 300, Bour-
bonnais. Te of ce will house Jerry
Alessi, commercial lending; Mimi
Barnes, mortgage lending; and Janet
Lundy, mortgage underwriting.
n Annalee Moutrey has opened a new
photo studio, Photographic Memo-
ries, in Bradley. Moutrey specializes
in maternity, babies, children, families,
engagement, pets and special events.

n Hogan Walker, a John Deere dealer
with stores in Dwight, Manteno, So-
monauk, Morris and Watseka, has
purchased the John Deere dealership,
Ehlers Lawn & Recreation, in Elburn.
Te transition date was June 10. Hogan
Walker LLC was formed in December
1997 after the merger of Hogan Imple-
ment Company and Walker Sales Inc.
Both of the former companies were
founded in 1973.
Dr. rosemary Johnsen
Dr. Rosemary Er-
ickson Johnsen, as-
sistant professor of
English in the Col-
lege of Arts and
Sciences at Gover-
nors State Univer-
sity, was appointed
recently to the
Modern Language
Association’s Committee on the Status
of Women in the Profession. Johnsen, of
Steger, was appointed to the nine-mem-
ber committee for a three-year term.
PeoPle
n Angela Haggard will chair the
development committee at Provena
Intergenerational Center. Tis com-
mittee is responsible for all fundrais-
ing activities for Provena Fortin Villa
Child Care Learning Center and
Provena Adult Center.
tammy lambert
Agente Staffi ng
announces the ad-
dition of Tammy
Lambert to the or-
ganization. Her ex-
perience includes
the areas of occupa-
tional health and
safety and human
Geothermal Advantages
Energy Savings: Reduce heating and
cooling bills up to 60%.
Clean and Safe: No burning of fossil fuels,
no fumes and no flue.
Flexibility: Fit any home—new
construction or existing, large or small.
Smart: Cuts down on the use of foreign oil.
Bill Batkieicz Jeremy Sharpe Mike Ader
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Afun, safe and stimulating environment for your children.
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B2B illinois DIRECT CONNECTIONS
resources. Her responsibilities as an ac-
count executive include working with
existing client employers to meet their
staf ng and recruitment needs, as well
as establishing new client employers.
n Te medical of ce of Dr. Misba-
huddin Ahmed has met all criteria for
laboratory accreditation by COLA,
a national healthcare accreditation or-
ganization. Accreditation is given to
laboratories that apply rigid standards
of quality in day-to-day operations,
demonstrate continued accuracy in
the performance of profciency testing
and pass a rigorous on-site survey.
steve Freeman Marilyn graf
Cognis Corp. has named its May and
June employees of the month. Steve
Freeman is May employee of the
month for his “strong work ethic,” ac-
cording to a company press release.
Marilyn Graf was named June em-
ployee of the month for her “dedica-
tion to controlling inventory,” accord-
ing to a press release.
Monique Howery
Te Daily Journal
and the Small
N e w s p a p e r
Group Internet
Innovations an-
nounced that Mo-
nique B. Howery
has accepted the
position of online
sales consultant
for Te Daily Journal. Her frst day at
Te Daily Journal was June 9.
n Te Illinois Department of Em-
ployment Security announced the
addition of Evelina Tainer Loescher
to the agency as the division manager
for economic information and analy-
sis. Te division is responsible for the
collection, analysis, compilation, pub-
lication and distribution of Illinois
workforce, career resource and labor
market information. Loescher began
her position on June 2.
n Frito-Lay North America sales
representative Raymond Tovo, of
Manteno, will be honored this week as
one of PepsiCo’s top salesmen world-
wide with induction into the compa-
ny’s “President’s Ring of Honor.” Tovo
was chosen from among more than
85,000 global sales reps for the honor,
according to a company press release.
n Chris and Kelly Knobloch, of
Herscher, have joined the American
Angus Association, according to
John Crouch, chief executive of cer of
the national breed registry organiza-
tion in St. Joseph, Mo.
susan Fisher
Coldwell Banker
Residential Bro-
kerage and Mary
Jane Cleeland
announce the top
producers for
April 2008: Su-
san Fisher, Mar-
lena Tarnish,
Michelle Roth,
Sarah Powers, Jerry Kern, Frank
Tripodi, Cindy Schimmel, Randy
McCurry, Tonya Woods and Sandy
Lackey.
Berry McCracken
Roland Rosen-
boom of Rosen-
boom Realty re-
cently announced
the agency’s top
producers for
April: Berry Mc-
Cracken, Mary
Murphy, Pam
Cordes, Rich
Hansen, Sandy Girard, Jennifer
Bilthuis, Francis Ciaccio, Lil Girard,
Mary Lou Knecht and Maria Pia-
centi. He also recently announced the
agency’s top producers for May: Berry
McCracken, broker, GRI; Mary
Murphy; Pam Cordes-Redding,
ABR; Leah Henrichs; Betty Hofbau-
er; Rich Hansen, broker, ABR; Sue
Miller; Jennifer Bilthuis; Mary Lou
Knecht, broker, gen. mgr; Fran Mar-
tin, broker; and Stephen Schroeder.
Tese realtors are all members of either
the Kankakee County Association of
Realtors or the Iroquois Ford Associa-
tion of Realtors, as well as the Illinois
and National Associations, the North-
ern MLSNI and the Kankakee Iro-
quois Ford Multiple Listing Service.
n Carle Clinic in Champaign-Ur-
bana named registered nurse Nikia
Tomas, of Bourbonnais, an “exem-
plary nurse” recently because “she
manages to instill a sense of conf-
dence in those who work with her,”
according to a company press release.
n Claudiu Dumitrescu, Psy.D., is
now providing clinical and consult-
ing services in neuropsychology at
Provena St. Mary’s Hospital. Dr.
Dumitrescu is a fellowship-trained
neuropsychologist with extensive ex-
perience in assessing general medical,
neurological and psychiatric disorders.
He received his postdoctoral training
at Northwestern University Hospital
in Chicago, where he provided con-
sultation to the departments of inter-
nal medicine, neurology, neurosur-
gery and psychiatry. Dr. Dumitrescu
completed his internship at the VA
Medical Center/University of Michi-
gan Medical Center with an emphasis
in geropsychology-neuropsychology.
He fulflled his practicum training at
the University of Chicago Hospital,
specializing in pediatric/developmen-
tal and adult neuropsychology.
tina Franklin
Bennett Homes
announced its top
producers for the
month of May
2008 in the resi-
dential division.
Tina Franklin
was the top Agent
for the month
with over $1.8
million in total transactions. Other
top producers were Dawn Olson, Su-
san Schreffl er, Debra Foulks and
Andy Czako. All fve agents are
members of the Kankakee County
Association of Realtors, the National
Association of Realtors, and the Illi-
nois Association of Realtors.
greg leutloff
Bennett Com-
mercial an-
nounced its top
producer for the
month of May
2008 in the com-
mercial division.
Greg Leutlof
was the top agent
of the month with
over $2.6 million in transactions.
Greg is a member of the Kankakee
County Association of Realtors, Na-
tional Association of Realtors, and
the Illinois Association of Realtors.
Frank tripodi
Coldwell Banker
Residential Bro-
kerage and Mary
Jane Cleeland,
managing broker
are pleased to an-
nounce that
Frank Tripodi
has recently re-
ceived his broker-
age license after completing 75 hours
of courses. Tripodi has been in real
estate sales for over 16 years and is a
consistent top producer.
n Jessica Houde and J. R. Deuel
of the Coldwell Banker Residential
Brokerage Bradley of ce recently
completed the company’s “Fast Start”
program. Fast Start is a two-week
program ofered by Coldwell Banker
Residential Brokerage’s full-time ed-
ucation department that includes ex-
tensive coverage of the preparation of
contracts, review of real estate law and
other education that is covered in the
basic license training class. Tese two
agents also completed the frst course
toward (GRI) Graduate REALTOR
Institution designation.
tristara Diaz
TrisTara Diaz of
Kankakee recent-
ly became an in-
dependent con-
sultant with
Usborne Books
at Home, a na-
tional direct-sales
company featur-
ing high quality,
educational children’s books that
make reading and learning FUN. As
a consultant, TrisTara markets books
to schools, libraries, individuals, on
the web and by conducting home
bookstores, as well as coordinating a
variety of fundraisers.
azza tawfk
McColly Real
Estate recently
recognized Azza
Tawfk of their
Bourbonnais of-
fce for having
achieved top list-
ing and top sales
status for the
months of April
and May 2008. Vern Hanvey and
Bob Kuta each had over one-half mil-
lion dollars in production for the
KANKAKEE COUNTY ContinueD FroM Page 34
B2B illinois DIRECT CONNECTIONS
month of May. Tese agents are all
members of both the Kankakee-Iro-
quois-Ford Multiple Listing Service
and the Northern Illinois Multiple
Listing Service.
n Realtor Sandy Workman, presi-
dent of the Kankakee County As-
sociation of Realtors, President-elect
Sarah Powers, Realtor Sandy Boyer,
president-elect of the Iroquois Ford
Association of Realtors, and KCAR
Executive Of cer Connie Legris
were among the more than 9,000 real-
tors attending the National Associa-
tion of Realtors’ midyear legislative
meetings and trade expo in May. Tis
year’s meetings marked 100 years of
NAR’s presence and infuence in the
real estate industry. Te Association
was founded in May 1908. KCAR
leadership visited Capitol Hill to meet
with their senators and representa-
tives and to press their concerns on a
variety of issues afecting homeown-
ers, potential homebuyers and real es-
tate in general. Among top concerns
are mortgage reform, homebuyer tax
credits, afordable and accessible prop-
erty, casualty and food insurance, and
small business health insurance.
Hal thinglum
Provena St.
Mary’s Hospital
is pleased to wel-
come Hal Tin-
glum as the new
S p e e c h - L a n -
guage Patholo-
gist. He attended
the University of
Illinois in Urbana
Champaign and obtained his Ph.D.
He received his undergraduate and
graduate level degrees from Northern
Michigan University in Marquette.
Hal is celebrating his 36
th
year as a
Speech-Language Pathologist.
amanda armer-irps
Speckman Real-
ty, GMAC, an-
nounced their top
producers for the
month of May:
Amanda Armer-
Irps, Banner:
Over 2.3 million;
Sandy Boyer,
ABR, ASP,
RMM, QSC, Banner: Over 2.3 mil-
lion; Lori Naese, GRI, QSC,
SRMM, Banner: Over 1 million;
Lisa Sanford, ABR, BKR, CRS,
GRI, SRMM, Banner: Over 1 mil-
lion; Amanda Fedrow, ABR, GRI,
SRMM; Marilyn Roy, ABR, GRI,
SRMM; Tressie Clemans, ABR;
Brian Hoots, BKR, ECO; Rose
Mary Alberts, ABR, GRI, RMM;
Keith Lewis, GRI; Dusty Contreras;
and Brenda Dirks.
events
7/5/2008
Member Appreciation/4th of July
1
st
Annual “Ice Cream Social”
BBRCC Of ce, 6 p.m.
RSVP required.
BBRCC: 815.932.2222
7/9/2008
Chamber Meeting
First Community Bank & Trust,
8:30 a.m.
Peotone Chamber: 708.258.9450
7/15/2008
Business After Hours
Of ce Depot, 5 - 8 p.m.
BBRCC: 815.932.2222
7/17/2008
Mayor’s Panel Breakfast
Quality Inn & Suites, 8 - 9:30 a.m.
Connie Legris: 815.937.5551
7/17/2008
Ribbon Cutting &
Business After Hours
Dinner by Design: 5 - 7 p.m.
BBRCC: 815.932.2222
7/24/2008
Business After Hours
Vernon & Maz, Inc., 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
BBRCC: 815.932.2222
7/28/2008
Herscher Chamber Meeting
Herscher Legion Community Cen-
ter, 7 p.m.
Herscher Chamber of Commerce:
815.426.2131
PeoPle
James glasgow
Will County
State’s Attorney
James Glasgow
has been named
State’s Attorney
of the Year. He
was honored in
June at the orga-
nization’s 12
th
an-
nual awards din-
ner. Tis is the second time in his
career as Will County’s top prosecutor
that Glasgow has received the honor
from the Illinois State Crime Com-
mission, the frst time being in 1996.
In naming him State’s Attorney of the
Year for 2008, the Crime Commis-
sion acknowledged Glasgow’s long
and distinguished career, during
which he has implemented initiatives
to investigate, prosecute and prevent
crime. Glasgow received his Juris
Doctor from the Northern Illinois
University Law School and has been
practicing law since 1981.
Bryan Hanson
Braidwood Sta-
tion site vice pres-
ident Bryan Han-
son was elected to
the board of di-
rectors of the Will
County Center
for Economic
De vel opment .
Te center is a
nonproft organization whose purpose
is to attract and retain jobs and busi-
nesses in the county.
n Deon Pillard of Joliet has been
hired as the new homeland secu-
rity manager for Will County’s
Emergency Management Agency
(EMA). In this position, Pillard will
be responsible for the implementa-
tion, maintenance and monitoring of
homeland security-related prepared-
ness activities for Will County. Te
new position helps to insure that
Will County is prepared for and can
adequately respond to incidents of
terrorism. Pillard came to EMA af-
ter leading the County’s Health De-
partment Emergency Preparedness
and Response Program since 2002.
In that position, she developed pub-
lic health emergency plans which en-
compassed bioterrorism preparedness
to pandemic infuenza. Pillard holds
a Bachelor of Science degree from
the University of Iowa and a Master
of Science degree from Northern Il-
linois University. She also holds cer-
tifcates in incident management and
emergency planning from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and
has lectured extensively across the
County and the State.

n Will County Executive Larry
Walsh restructured EMA last year,
promoting Harold Damron, long
time emergency management agency
staf member, to director (October
2007). With over 23 years of emergen-
cy management credentials, Damron
created the Homeland Security Pro-
gram. With the integration of the new
Homeland Security eforts into the
mission, Damron continues to grow
the agency and its services. Te core
mission of the agency is to coordinate
emergency and disaster mitigation,
preparedness, response and recovery
eforts of the County. Damron has a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Gover-
nors State University and is currently
pursuing a Master of Arts degree
from American Military University.
He holds certifcations as an Illinois
Professional Emergency Manager,
Certifed Floodplain Manager and
Emergency Number Professional.
Damron has also attended training at
the Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s Emergency Management
Institute and was awarded the Inter-
national Association of Emergency
Managers’ Certifed Emergency
Manager designation in 1993.

Dr. ellen Foster Curtis
Governors State
University re-
cently announced
the appointment
of Dr. Ellen Fos-
ter Curtis as dean
of the university’s
College of Busi-
ness and Public
Administration,
efective July 1. Curtis most recently
served as academic division head for
the management division at the Penn
State Great Valley School of Graduate
Professional Studies. In that
position, she led in the university’s ac-
creditation from Te Association for
the Advancement of Collegiate
KANKAKEE COUNTY ContinueD WILL COUNTY
Continued on page 39
Full Service Event Planning
PEGGY MAYER
1100 W. Calista, Kankakee, IL 60901
ph: 815-932-7092 • fax: 815-932-7094
[email protected]
Meetings & Events
What Do Gas Prices
and Elder Care Have
in Common?
I would like you to meet Fran. She is
about 50 years old and has a mother who
lives alone and requires moderate medical
attention. Unfortunately, Fran cannot af-
ford to pay for in-home nursing care.
Now I would like you to picture gas pric-
es at $6 a gallon. Many people will be forced
to leave their jobs to work at places
closer to home. Tis could create
major problems for employers.
What do gas prices and Fran have
in common? Tey could both beneft
from telecommuting. While that
may be true, many employers are
not comfortable with the telework
option.
In a recent survey of 100 human
resource executives conducted by
the global outplacement consultan-
cy Challenger, Gray & Christmas,
Inc., more than 57 percent said their
companies ofered some type of re-
lief to ease the fnancial burden of
higher gas prices to employees. Only
fourteen percent, however, said they
were expanding their telecommut-
ing opportunities.
“Telecommuting may be the best
solution, but it is going to be a tough
sell when business conditions are as
weak as they are now,” said Chief
Executive Ofcer John A. Chal-
lenger.
According to WorldatWork, an associa-
tion of human resource professionals, more
than 28 million Americans work at least
one day per month from home. Tey esti-
mate that 100 million will be teleworking
by 2010.
In spite of these numbers, however, the
organization noted in a recent article posted
on its website (www.workingfromanywhere.
org) that the biggest obstacle to continued
expansion is that most managers have only
been trained to work with employees who
are physically present.
“Managers may have to learn how,” said
Challenger, “because telecommuting may
not only prove to be the most efective way
to attract and retain the best talent, but it
may be the key to reducing our dependency
on foreign oil.”
Another study by independent research-
ers Kate Lister and Tom Harnish reported
that 40 percent of Americans have jobs that
can be done at home, yet only four percent
of the workforce telecommute. If that 40
percent worked at home, they concluded, it
would save 625 million barrels of oil, reduce
greenhouse gas pollution by 107 million
tons of CO2, and save almost $43 billion
at the pumps.
It is apparent that the positive benefts of
telecommuting should be a strong incentive
for employers. Perhaps rising gas prices will
be the catalyst for change.
What about Fran?
Surprisingly, Congress may help her.
Since the passage of the Telework En-
hancement Act of 2007, Congress has been
looking at all the potential benefts of tele-
commuting for both workers and federal
agencies.
Te General Service Administration
(GSA) highlighted one of those benefts in
a 2006 report that linked telecommuting
with dependent care.
“A key beneft commonly associated with
telework,” said the report, “is its potential
for assisting employees with a disabled
spouse on a regular medication routine, or
providing a presence for an elder. Yet, many
organizations do not support the use of tele-
work to assist employees with dependent
care. However reasonable this exclusion
may seem at face value, the reality is that it
is based on out-dated opinion as opposed to
empirically tested fact and practice.”
is Telecommuting a Real
Solution?
Yes. Te trick is knowing which
jobs to convert to telecommuting
and how to supervise those workers.
Up until now, managers had few re-
sources to turn to.
One of those resources is Debra
A. Dinnocenzo’s excellent book on
telecommuting called 101 Tips for
Telecommuters. Dinnocenzo is presi-
dent of ALLearnatives®, a company
specializing in the development of
resources for telecommuters, tele-
managers, and other home-based
workers.
Another more recent resource
is coming this fall at Joliet Junior
College in Joliet and Illinois Val-
ley Community College in Oglesby.
Both schools are ofering courses to
help teleworkers and telemanagers
prepare for the virtual workplace.
Look for them in their fall catalogs.
While the push to conserve en-
ergy and the need for workers to care for a
disabled or elder family member is coming
together to drive business to expand tele-
commuting opportunities, it is important to
remember that not all jobs lend themselves
to telecommuting. Some require workers to
be at the job site. Nevertheless, millions of
jobs can be done at home—even one or two
days a week. Each business should explore
the telework option to determine what is
best for them.
Joe Giunta is a contract
training manager for Joliet
Junior College’s Corporate
and Community Services
division.
by Joseph P. Giunta
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B2B illinois DIRECT CONNECTIONS
Schools of Business (AACSB), the
premier accrediting agency for degree
programs in business administration
and accounting. Curtis’ experience
also includes faculty positions at
Northeastern University’s College of
Business Administration and the Col-
lege of Management at the University
of Massachusetts Lowell, where she
served concurrently as associate pro-
fessor of management and director of
graduate programs. Prior to joining
Penn State, Curtis was a performance
consultant specializing in manage-
ment and leadership development for
the fnancial services, operations and
systems division of Merrill Lynch.
Curtis earned her bachelor’s degree in
French and Germanic Studies from
Indiana University, graduating Phi
Beta Kappa. She holds a Master of
Business Administration degree,
graduating Beta Gamma Sigma, and
a Doctor of Business Administration
degree from the Kelley School of
Business at Indiana University.
Drs. Crossan and griffn
Paul D. Crossan, MD, and Vivian
Griffi n, MD, will be joining the phy-
sicians currently on staf at Provena
Saint Joseph Medical Center. Dr.
Crossan attended Loyola University
Stritch School of Medicine and served
his residency at the school’s Depart-
ment of Radiation Oncology. He
served elective rotations at the Uni-
versity of Washington and the Puget
Sound Veterans Administration Hos-
pital in Prostate Brachytherapy. He
also served at St. Jude’s Children’s
Hospital in the Radiation Oncology
Department. Dr. Crossan is a board
certifed Radiologist and is currently
involved in a research project involv-
ing CT-based 3D evaluation of inter-
fraction organ variation in HDR
brachytherapy of the cervix. He is a
member of several organizations in-
cluding the American Society for
Terapeutic Radiology and Oncology,
the Illinois Radiological Society and
the Chicago Radiological Society.
Paul Pawlak, president and Ceo of silver Cross
Hospital; 45-year service awardee Joann schi-
fer, surgery recovery room; 40-year service
awardee gwen ulmer, community relations;
and Mary Bakken, chief operating offcer of
silver Cross.
During National Hospital Week, Sil-
ver Cross Hospital honored employ-
ees who reached milestones of 5 to 45
years of service. Over 85 employees
with 10 or more years were honored at
a special dinner held in May. Employ-
ees with fve years of service received a
gift of their choice.
n Andrea Ramirez-Justin was re-
cently promoted to vice president at
Old Plank Trail Community Bank in
Mokena. Justin served as the assistant
vice president since joining the bank
in March 2007 and has more than 25
years of banking experience. She also
serves on the executive board of the
Frankfort Chamber of Commerce and
the ambassador board of the Cancer
Support Center in Mokena.
n Bobbie Reed, “Mrs. Bobbie,” has
recently retired from Bobbie Noon-
an’s Child Care in Homer Glen after
27 years.
Dr. Daniel gutierrez
Daniel Gutierr-
ez, M.D., an in-
ternal medicine
physician and for-
mer medical di-
rector of the Will
County Commu-
nity Health Cen-
ter, has joined the
Sanitas Medical
Group in Joliet. Partnering with Drs.
Jose Penaherrera and Diana Jaime, Dr.
Gutierrez is now seeing patients in the
Hershman Medical Arts Building on
the Silver Cross Hospital campus on
Monday and Tursday afternoons.
n McColly Real Estate recently rec-
ognized sales professionals who have
achieved top listing and/or sales status
for the month of April 2008: Michelle
Boicken—top listings and top sales,
Beecher; Sharon Patrick—top list-
ing, Crete; Don-
na Hanrahan—
top sales, Crete;
Nancy McCa-
be—top listings,
Shorewood; Mike
Roche top sales,
Shorewood; Don
Moore—top list-
ing, Tinley Park;
and Kelly Ryan—top sales, Tinley
Park. McCOLLY Real Estate was es-
tablished in 1974 and has grown to be
the largest residential real estate frm
in Northwest Indiana and the Chi-
cago Southland with over 800 sales
professionals.
events
7/8/2008
Monthly Membership Luncheon
Prairie Bluf Golf Club, Crest Hill
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Romeoville Chamber: 815.886.2076
7/15/2008
Business AFTER 5
Back to Basics Health Center,
5 - 7 p.m.
Romeoville Chamber: 815.886.2076
7/18/2008
Manhattan Chamber Annual Golf
Outing
Woodbine Golf Course, Homer Glen
Manhattan Chamber: 815.478.3811
7/19/2008
1
st
Annual Romeoville Job Fair
Romeoville Recreation Center,
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Doris Mann: 815.886.7209
7/23/2008
Society of Human Resource Man-
agers meeting
JJC Business and Technology Center,
8 - 9 a.m.
Derek Wright: 815.744.0111
7/24/2008
Business After Hours
City of Joliet, 5 - 7 p.m.
Joliet Region Chamber: 815.727.5371
7/25/2008
Annual Golf Outing to beneft
Lamb’s Fold Center for Women and
Children
Green Garden Country Club.
7:30 a.m. registration; 9:30 a.m. shot-
gun
Lindsey Savant: 815.723.5262
WILL COUNTY ContinueD
wants help calculating the pay back period
for extra insulation or energy star applianc-
es, we will be able to assist or show how to
fnd the answer. And, as ComEd creates its
portfolio of energy conservation incentives,
the center will provide resources to explain
how to access these incentives.
As we develop this concept we plan to
have more information on just how the cen-
ter will operate and what parts will be vir-
tual and what parts physical.
Educational Programs and
Training to Produce a New
Energy Workforce
One of the benefts of sustainability and
alternative energy will be the increased jobs
related to the new ways we produce and dis-
tribute energy and bring conservation and
sustainability to business practices. While
we are not exactly sure what these future
green jobs will look like, studies indicate
that the number of workers in green energy
jobs may double over our current conven-
tional carbon-based systems that rely on
coal, oil, and natural gas.
To provide opportunities in this emerg-
ing employment market, this fall we plan to
add courses to our electronics curricula that
will train technicians for the new energy
systems. Tese green jobs are likely to in-
volve skilled technicians who are well com-
pensated. In our region and the Chicago
area, there will be local employment in the
installation of solar energy and both in the
installation and maintenance of wind gen-
erators. Likewise, the ability to do energy
audits and retro commissioning of HVAC
systems as well as a host of other jobs and
skills are likely to emerge.
Working Together
KCC continually strives to support eco-
nomic growth and provide education and
training for area business and industry
workforce needs. Te college also stands
ready to bring new technology and new ef-
fciency to give our companies the competi-
tive edge. Tere will be a number of oppor-
tunities to lower operating energy costs, as
KCC itself plans to do. However, the long
range opportunity of sustainable develop-
ment will be to operate our economy so that
we maintain the attractive features of this
region for decades from now.
Jerry Weber, president,
Kankakee Community College
A Possible and
Sustainable Future
Continued from page 9
Michelle Boicken
BACK COVER