October 2015 Inside This Month
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OCTOBER 2015 INSIDE THIS MONTH 217-726-6600 • [email protected] www.springfieldbusinessjournal.com KEYNOTE SPEAKER MARITA ZURAITIS The Avenue p. 3 Marita Zuraitis is director, president and chief executive Educators Corporation. officer of Horace Mann Mann in 2013, she wasPrior presidentto joining ofHorace the Property and Casualty with responsibilities for both personal and Companies, of the Hanover Insurance Group commercial lines representing $3 billion in Music therapy p. 5 annual premium. She was also a member of seniorHanover’s management executive positionsleadership at Theteam. St. Paul/Prior to joining The Hanover in 2004, she served in and Casualty. TravelersZuraitis Companies, is a proven USF&G leader inand the Aetna property Life and casualty industry, and her 30-year career includes leadership positions in both home nicheoffice throughand field several environments. family members She has who a arestrong teachers. connection to Horace Mann’s educator IWIL Women’s Symposium p. 6 Zuraitis hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, and has RECEPTION & CEREMONY Whartoncompleted School the Advanced of Business. Executive Education ProgramZuraitis at andthe herUniversity husband, of Jim,Pennsylvania’s have three WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7, 2015 Reception 5:30 p.m. | Ceremony 6:15 p.m. grown children. They reside in Springfield. United Community Bank | 1900 West Iles THE 2015 SELECTEES RSVP to [email protected] or 726-6600 x139 O3 Internet Consulting Az-T-Ca Mexican Grill By Michelle Higginbotham, with 15 or fewer employees are selected Bath Planet associate publisher for this award. They must also be located in Capital City CrossFit Young professionals p. 11 Sangamon or Morgan county and have been Chatham Dental Center Small businesses have a large impact on the CherryBerry Springfield economy, and while they may not be as high selectees range from a home-based business Curry’s Family Pharmacy toin businessseveral with for atvisible least retailtwo years. locations. This year’sWhat they all have in common is that they were Dr. Donald Staten profile as more familiar company names, they nominated by someone who felt they were Farmland Solutions estimatesare collectively that asmall significant businesses economic represent driver. deserving of recognition. Gypsy Soul moreThe U.S.than Small98 percent Business of all Administrationemployers and UCB will host a reception at their Kyle Killebrew & Co. employ nearly half of the private-sector labor Montvale branch to honor the selectees, and L & M Gymnastics Phoenix Collision force. As the state workforce continues to Marita Zuraitis of Horace Mann will be the The Chiropractors at Springfield Wellness Center shrink, small businesses become even more thekeynote “15 Underspeaker Fifteen” for the in awardsthis issue ceremony. and will withcritical Springfield to Springfield’s Business economic Journal stability. since 2003 We hope you enjoy reading the profiles of Zelle Title to honorUnited outstandingCommunity smallBank hasbusinesses partnered in PROFILES ON PAGES 21-27 our community. Each year, 15 businesses itjoin possible us in recognizing to celebrate them. these Thank local businesses. you to our Papa Frank’s p. 30 sponsor, United Community Bank, for making COMING IN NOVEMBER BOOK OF CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE CHANGE PERMIT NO 209 NO PERMIT SPRINGFIELD, IL SPRINGFIELD, Springfield, IL 62705 IL Springfield, LISTS PAID P.O. Box 398 Box P.O. U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL BUSINESS SPRINGFIELD 2 | October 2015 | Springfield Business Journal ASSOCIATION The Avenue North Grand Improvement Association launches branding effort by Job Conger long-term leadership-building process On Sept. 17, organizers of The Avenue A more formal, focused organizing and North Grand Improvement Association held a first public meeting at the relocated began to come together at the Sept. 24 introduceoffices of Goodenow the organization Insurance atand 700 Northinvite meeting at the new Goodenow offices greaterGrand Ave. participation E. The purpose in a process was to intendedformally on North Grand, former home of Lincoln to lead to a formally organized enterprise. wasLibrary’s informed north and branch. more “Wecould didn’t participate want Monthly meetings of a small start-up to make big decisions before the area group which had begun last May led to this invitation aimed to get people involved, but in the process,” he said. An earlier email recruitment began in September. “The hope Brandon Damm, The Avenue coordinator. PHOTO BY JOB CONGER mid-September kick-off. Brandon Damm, the membership’s more dedicated member association.marketing coordinator for State Farm (201 want to be members. We will offer annual N. Grand W.) is coordinator for the new membershipsis that every business to individuals on North living Grand anywhere will Damm said that representatives from everyone involved.” alongState withFarm, neighborhood Alf Insurance, associations Goodenow in providingand to businesses impetus located for forming on North the Grand.” new bring it back, and in doing so, to benefit want to be a 501(C)3 (type of not-for-profit Insurance and Noonan True Value Hardware association.No specific Near-term properties goals were are to cited begin as a committees as volunteers and resources are thecorporation)?” association and, eventually, to help pay Plans are to establish officers and Dues will be used to fund marketing of Lincoln Park, Enos Park and Oak Ridge revitalization, more green space, improved before the end of the year, but the leadership were all involved from the start. Recently, “branding” of the area, beautification and willidentified be determined and committed. by those “I expect who electionswant to for beautification. “With winter coming in, aldermen Doris Turner (Ward 3), Andrew beautification will likely wait until spring,” constituencies,Proctor (Ward came 5) aboardand asJim well. Donelan feltfacades a sense and oflooking family,” into he thesaid. formation “We want of to a made during this phase. For example, do we Damm said. “We wantcontinued owners onto page take 4 (Ward 9), all of whom serve North Grand TIF District. “For decades, businesses here make the effort. Major decisions will be care of their businesses. It is essential for Springfield Business Journal | October 2015 | 3 ASSOCIATION Jim Leach leads a discussion during the first Avenue Association meeting. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AVENUE continued from page 3 addition to an established local clientele. now settling into the extensively renovated former library, said the completion of the renovatingattracting new a structure businesses.” on West Retention Wabash,” is also he happens to be Carriere’s son-in-law, plans said.important. “We hope “Casa they Real will (301 remain N. Grand on W.)North is to make improvements soon. “We heard withHe has his successfound theand sensethat of ofthe community businesses 2011 came faster than expected. “We had moreabout asthe things first develop,”public meeting she said. through the somewhat lacking, but is very satisfied renovation of the building he acquired in grapevine and look forward to learning regularly,” he said. Grand as well.” on eitherProximity side ofto histhe shop. evolving “We talk nearby fairly thea lot greater of encouragement visibility for fromhis business City Hall, on and the ShopGloria moved Carriere from isthe very northwest satisfied corner with East Side Marine (2525 North Grand medical district, contiguous to North the timing is right,” he said. He appreciates ofthe Walnutupturn inat trafficJefferson since to Avenue 830 NorthThrift siteAve. hasE.) hasoperated been aas fixture a boat on shop the Northsince Grand curve for the past 20 years. The north side of “the avenue” and easy parking Pharmacy, helping to create one of the forGrand, a residentialis expected development to be a factor at thein thanks to the cooperation of Noonan’s True Grand Ave. E., home of the last Watt Bros. Ownerthe 1960s Steve (although Poe was theynot awareare quick of theto the association’s future. “Plans are Value Hardware, a few doors east. Jason Stuebs relocated three years ago this point out that they do not sell canoes). At present, public input is invited during busiest intersections in Springfield. Owner in being a “north ender.” The location, corner of Walnut and North Grand for the monthly meetings at Goodenow Insurance a real visibility problem at the old location. new association, but said he takes pride significantmedical residential boost for ouruses,” interests.” Damm said. and through the asssociation’s Facebook site: Bysummer. the time “It’s people been great,” saw us, she it said. was “Wetoo hadlate “Implementation of those plans could be a Facebook.com/avenueassociation.Job Conger can be reached at 544-6122 relatively close to Lake Springfield and or [email protected]. nearby I-55, has allowed development of Don Goodenow, owner of Goodenow to turn into the parking lot.” Stuebs, who his market north into the 309 area code in Insurance, formerly of Eighth Street but 4 | October 2015 | Springfield Business Journal MUSIC Rachel Rambach performs during a music therapy session. PHOTO BY ANN FARRAR The great equalizer Connecting through music By Ann Farrar When you enter Music Therapy Connections, justin St. as Louis, they Rambachhad gotten had a grantthe good for afortune music dottedyou can’t with help signs but thatfeel theproclaim, cheery “Welcome!”