A monthly publication of the RiverBend Growth Association... Your Regional Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Agency RiverBend GROWTH ASSOCIATION AUGUST 2018 • Volume 16 | Issue 8 Serving Business, Encouraging Growth in Southwestern

IN THIS ISSUE Business After Hours

Small Business of the Month • Bliss Salon & Spa The RBGA would like to thank everyone that attended Business After Ambassadors Q & A Hours. A special thanks to our co-hosts • Kathy Weaver for helping put on an amazing event. • Denise Wolff • Maura Wuellner

Welcome our new members • Bee Sure Home Inspections • CBD Shop • Olin Brass • Rim Recon+

Showcase • Functional Fitness Images

RBGA Members in the News -1st MidAmerica Credit Union -Alton Parks & Recreation • Cork Tree Creative • OSF HealthCare

-Cedarhurst of Bethalto -Express Employment Professionals

RiverBend Growth Association 5800 Godfrey Road - BGM 6722 Godfrey Road Godfrey IL 62035 (618) 467-2280 -Robert Chick Fritz -Rolling Hills Golf Course -Spencer T. Olin Golf Course

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 1 Congratulations Bliss for being RBGA’s August Small Business of the Month Winner Bliss Salon & Spa, in Godfrey, for one free wig from your has been named August’s Small American Cancer Society. The Business of the Month! Bliss stylists at Bliss are available to offers salon services such as: cut and style the wig during hair, massage, skin care, hair your fitting, if desired, at no extensions, and permanent charge. Appointments are cosmetics. They are also the required. only dealer in the Riverbend To contact Bliss Salon & area to carry Bare Minerals Spa, call 618-374-6292. They makeup and skincare. Along are located at 3047 Godfrey with those services, if you are Rd. Godfrey, IL 62035. Their losing your hair due to cancer hours are: Tuesday through treatment you are eligible Thursday from 10AM-7PM, Friday 9AM-5PM, and Saturday available. Facebook: https:// 9AM-3PM. Gift Website: http:// www.facebook.com/ certificates are beblissbeautiful.com/ beblissbeautiful/?ref=br_rs

PODCAST available at http://www.growthassociation.com/page/lets-talk/

Watch this month’s video presentation http://www.growthassociation.com/page/event-videos/

RBGA Members Met their Match at Breakfast Connections

A successful Breakfast relationships. Connections was held at Best The RBGA thanks everyone Western Premier as RBGA for attending and participating. members networked with an We hope to see you for our engaging activity, “Meet Your Total Networking Luncheon Match”. that will be held on September This activity helped members 19th at Bluff City Grill. comfortably meet others at the event by using their business card which turned the room into a bridge for business

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 2 Board of Directors Welcome our newest members to the RiverBend John Roberts, Chairman Roberts Motors Growth Association Rob Schwartz, Chairman Elect TheBANK of Edwardsville Bee Sure Home Olin Brass munitions, automotive, coinage, Augie Wuellner, Past Chairman Stephanie Garvey Director of and electronics/electrical Alton Securities & Asset Inspections components. Advisors Kent Hake Owner Human Resources Mike Fitzgerald, Treasurer 313 E Third Street 305 Lewis and Clark Blvd. Scheffel Boyle Alton IL 62002 East Alton IL 62024-1177 Rim Recon+ Lori Artis (618) 258-5042 Jason Arrowsmith Owner Lewis and Clark Community (618) 477-4780 College beesurehomeinspections.com 2301 East Broadway John Barnerd Alton IL 62002-6669 Simmons Hanly Conroy (618) 420-6492 Dale Blachford olinbrass.com www.rimrecon.com Liberty Bank In July, 1892, Franklin W. Olin Greg Caffey founded the equitable Powder City of Alton Doug Cobb Company on 300 acre in East Carpenters Local 664 Alton, IL the same site where Karen Cooper 20 years later he would build Illinois American Water the Brass Mill that remains the Melissa Erker centerpiece of Global Brass Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery Buying a home or business Brad Goacher is the largest financial and Copper d/b/a Olin Brass Alton Memorial Hospital investment most people make today. Olin Brass is a leading Mark Haggard in their lifetime. Bee Sure manufacturer, fabricator CNB Bank & Trust, N.A. Home Inspections can help and converter of non-ferrous Mat Hanley products, including sheet, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s you make the most informed Health Center decision possible when you’re strip, foil, tube and fabricated Pam Heepke considering the purchase of a components in North America. Raifort Commerce Park property. “Don’t get stung--call The Olin Brass Mill Products Jennifer Jackson Bee Sure!” produce 60 distinct alloys at the Helmkamp Construction Co. E. Alton Brass Mill, turning out Tim Kuebrich Lake Drive Logistics up to a million pounds or more Eric McRoy CBD Shop of finished coil every working Advantage News David Palatnik Owner day, and employs approximately Alan Meyer 2801 Homer Adams Parkway 920 people. Olin Brass’s 1st MidAmerica Credit Union Alton IL 62002-4856 products are used in five primary David Miller (314) 562-3113 St. Louis Regional Airport markets: building and housing, Stephanie Monroe cbdkratomshops.com/st-louis/ Riverbend Chiropractic Center Scott Reichmann BarberMurphy Group Don Retzlaff Argosy Casino Alton Dan St. Peters RBGA Upcoming Events St. Peters Hardware & Rental Terry Shewmake IBEW Local 649 Jim Shrader The Telegraph Cindy Smalley Cope Plastics Sam Stemm WBGZ/AltonDailyNews.com Dave Stevenson Quality Buick GMC Cadillac Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Steve Thompson Carrollton Bank September 12, 2018 September 19, 2018 October 17, 2018 Dwight Werts Riverbend Economic Issues Total Networking Luncheon Breakfast Connections Werts Welding & Tank Service Karen Wilson Post Commons Bluff City Grill Best Western Premier State Farm Insurance Denise Wolff Berkshire Hathaway Home Visit our website calendar for event details. Services Elite Properties www.GrowthAssociation.com Jess Woodman Woodman Collision Center

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 3 Ambassador Q & A

Kathy Weaver Denise Wolff Maura Wuellner

Where do you work? Where do you work? Where do you work? Investment Planners, Inc. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices United Way About how long have you been an Elite Properties About how long have you been an ambassador? About how long have you been an ambassador? 3 years ambassador? Four years What’s your favorite Riverbend Since 2006 What’s your favorite Riverbend restaurant? What’s your favorite Riverbend restaurant? Castelli’s restaurant? It’s hard to just name one, but I’d have Where do you like to visit for Too many to name to say that Gentelin’s is my favorite vacation? Where do you like to visit for Where do you like to visit for Destin, FL vacation? vacation? Name one of your most important Southwest FL Anywhere in Europe leadership skills. Name one of your most important Name one of your most important time management leadership skills. leadership skills. What do you like most about your Patience listener Listening job? What do you like most about your What do you like most about your Helping my clients reach their job? job? financial goals The variety of duties and helping our The opportunity to make a difference What are your hobbies? team in people’s lives and knowing that my Gardening and canning What are your hobbies? efforts have helped people when times are tough What is your favorite sport to Gardening and baking watch? If you were stranded on a desert What are your hobbies? I love to read baseball island, what three things would What is one of the things on your you bring? If you were stranded on a desert bucket list? Hubby, good music, good food island, what three things would you I want to go to New York and visit What is your favorite sport to bring? Wall Street watch? My kindle that will be miraculously solar charged, sunscreen, and wine to Baseball accompany my vegetable and seafood diet What one sentence would you like to hear from your boss? Amazing job

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 4 WOMEN’S SEMINAR 2018

The RBGA staff and Women’s Seminar Planning Committee would like to thank everyone that Event photo album can be viewed at helped make this year’s event possible: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ • Our RiverBend Spokeswomen RiverBendGrowthAssociationIL/ • Our RiverBend sponsors photos/?ref=page_internal • Our RiverBend attendees This year was a huge success and we are already looking forward to next year. Stay tuned for a Save the Date!

#OurRiverbend

TITLE SPONSOR • Baptist University • Marathon Pipe Line LLC • Raifort Commerce Park • Nautilus Fitness Center • Chiropractic - Dr. Stephanie Monroe MENTOR SPONSOR • Riverbend Family • 1st MidAmerica Credit Ministries Union • Simmons Hanly Conroy • Advantage News • St. Peters Hardware & • Arrow Signs & Outdoor LEADERSHIP Rental Advertising SPONSOR • TheBANK of Edwardsville • Bemis, Dr. Frank C., & Associates, Chiropractor • Alton Memorial Hospital • Best Western Premier • Claywell Asset BUSINESS (BOOTH) • Bickle Electric Contracting Management SPONSOR Co., Inc. • Midwest Members Credit • Alton Physical Therapy • Cedarhurst of Bethalto Union • Altonized Comm. Federal • Challenge Unlimited, Inc. • OSF HealthCare Saint Credit Union • Gent Funeral Home, Inc. Anthony’s Health Center • Bliss Salon & Spa • Great Rivers Tap & Grill • State Representative • Helmkamp Construction Co. • Old Bakery Beer Company COMMUNITY • Community Hope Center SPONSOR • Rosewood Care Center • George’s Photography • Scott Credit Union • 1st MidAmerica Credit • Integrity Healthcare of Union Godfrey • Challenge Unlimited, Inc. • Kuddes Advertising Specialties

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 5 Your Fitness Path with Functional Fitness Images Chad Campbell has been on open up new opportunities throughout the his own fitness path since high to serve clients is proof of his week more and school. From playing just about desire to help all achieve their more people every sport in high school that physical fitness goals. It also came to donate had a uniform to receiving his shows his entrepreneurial to the Oasis Certificate of Personal Trainer spirit to expand his horizons,” Women’s Center. in 2010. His journey did not said John Keller, President They also do a happen without setback and of the RiverBend Growth Thanksgiving Day struggles, but he was able to Association. This will allow early morning discover himself and learned Chad to know what specific group workout that it is not something you do exercises the golfer needs in where they Owner Chad Campbell is pictured with Adam Stutz, with a deadline, but instead a order to improve. Functional gather non- RBGA Ambassador. way of life you must choose to Fitness Images plans to use this perishable food commit. info and a specialized items to donate Early this year in January workout package for the to the Oasis Chad opened Functional person. They will focus on Women’s Center. Fitness Images. It is his certain things at a time, and Along with the mission to help others in their break them into increments Oasis, Functional fitness journey. Through his and sessions. “The new golf Fitness Images own fitness journey, Chad tech is an excellent addition to also is involved fully believes in a having Functional Fitness Images. I am with the Boys experienced mentors; those looking forward to trying out and Girls Club of A workout room at Functional Fitness Images people who have achieved the system,” remarked Adam Alton’s Annual success in their lives and are Stutz from WBGZ, and an Golf Tournament, willing to teach others how to ambassador for the RiverBend Alton Area Animal Aid Functional Fitness Images properly create a realistic plan. Growth Association. Association (5A’s), and the Chad Campbell He was able to learn about Functional Fitness Images Metro East Humane Society. functionalfitnessimages.com exercise mechanics, program also focuses on group exercise. Functional Fitness Images 618-365-1427 designs, and that nutrition They set up two “lanes” for also carries IDLife products like their page on Facebook was just as, if not more than, people to complete certain which offer a wide range of important for all of it from his exercises. After completing products to support your Mondays mentors. Now at Functional these a couple times you health and wellness plans. 5 AM Group Training Fitness Images, he wants to move onto the next “lane” Some of their products include 6:30 PM Functional Group mentor others and teach them that has different exercises. IDLife HYDRATE which is like Training the important information They focus on low-impact, full Gatorade but with no grams Tuesdays and Thursdays needed for their own fitness body exercises that depends of sugar and only 10 calories. 6 AM suspension training journey. on the skill level of the group. If you would like to learn more 6:30 PM Group Class Right now Functional Functional Fitness Images about these products visit Wednesdays Fitness Images is in the believes in working out safely; functionalfitnessimages.idlife. 6:30 PM Functional Group process to work with a Titleist they focus on not allowing com. Training Performance Institute certified anyone to exhaust and injure Fridays golf instructor that would not themselves. This truly is a 5 AM Group Training only help players with their place where anyone, no matter Saturdays game but help them learn where they are on their fitness 8 AM Group Training what part of their body they journey, to come and get the need to work out in order workout they need. All these classes are $5 drop-in to improve their golf game. As a proud member of the except on Saturdays when it is $10. There will be a television, a Riverbend community, Chad For more information on laptop, a tablet, a simulator, believes in helping those in personal training contact and other technology that need. Early this year Functional Functional Fitness Images. will allow them to do this. It Fitness Images raised $600 and will tell the golfer more about donated two full SUV’s full of The RiverBend Growth Association supports their swinging posture, their clothes and non-perishable Functional Fitness Images and its members by rotation, and if they are putting foods to Oasis Women’s offering a Showcase to member businesses. Please too much weight on a certain Center. The day of the event visit http://www.growthassociation.com/page/ member-benefits if you would like to know more foot as well as other things. 18 people came to the group about this member benefit. “Chad’s use of technology to workout and donated, but

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 6 RBGA Members IN THE NEWS

OSF HealthCare Named Best Employer Cork Tree Creative, Inc. Receives in Illinois by Forbes Multiple Awards for Metro-East

OSF HealthCare has been at least 1,000 employees. Marketing Initiative and Design named one of the best The surveys are anonymous Cork Tree Creative, Inc., employers in the country for and ask respondents to rank an integrated marketing 2018 by Forbes magazine, and how likely they would be to and public relations firm was the highest ranked Illinois- recommend their employer located in downtown based company earning the to others on a scale of zero Edwardsville announced distinction. to 10. They were also able it was awarded two OSF HealthCare is ranked to nominate organizations in Communicator Awards of 46th out of 500 large industries outside their own. Distinction for an integrated companies (those with 5,000+ The final list ranks the 500 campaign and outdoor Know m.e. campaign,” shared employees). The Peoria, Illinois- large and midsize (1,000-5,000 advertising and an APEX Jan Carpenter, co-owner of based integrated health system employees) that receive the Award of Excellence in the Cork Tree Creative. “We are is owned and operated by The most recommendations. Special Purpose Campaigns, lucky to work with a campaign Sisters of the Third Order of OSF was the top Illinois Programs and Plans category. that improves the perception St. Francis. OSF HealthCare employer out of the 33 that The awards were given for the of the Metro East area. We all employs nearly 21,000 Mission made the list. All but three work the firm has done on the know how amazing this area is Partners (employees) in 126 were from the area. Get to Know m.e. campaign, so it is rewarding to be a part locations, including 13 hospitals OSF HealthCare was the fifth a regional campaign aimed of something that helps shine throughout Illinois and highest ranked healthcare at raising awareness of the a spotlight on the Metro-East Michigan. provider out of 25 that made Metro-East. and all it has to offer families “Being recognized as number the list. The Communicator Awards and businesses.” one in a state as large as Illinois CEO Bob Sehring hopes honor creative excellence “Get to Know m.e. – The with as many fine organizations people see the recognition as among communications Metro-East. I live here. I love it” is really quite rewarding,” testament to the efforts by professionals and agencies. The campaign was created to bring said Bob Sehring, CEO, OSF OSF HealthCare employees yearly competition receives the Metro-East communities HealthCare. “Being recognized to engage the communities countless submissions each together, embracing the by a national magazine such as it has been called to serve in year from across the globe and people who live and work Forbes really is confirmation transforming healthcare. is judged by the Academy of here and the many attractions of all of the hard work of “We are, as an organization, Interactive and Visual Arts. that we all share and enjoy. our supervisors, managers, we spread far and wide within APEX stands for the Annual It also showcases the many directors, VPs and above Illinois but also up to Escanaba, Awards for Publication attractions and lifestyle the who really work every day in Michigan. That is one of the Excellence Competition. Metro-East has to offer for connecting with our Mission particular challenges for The competition recognizes those who live outside of this Partners to ensure that they are organizations of our size is how excellence and is sponsored by area. To stay up-to-date on the well connected to the Mission, do you communicate across Communications Concepts, Inc. campaign’s projects and what to the work that’s at hand, that that broad-spectrum, how – a consulting and education is happening in the Metro-East, we communicate with them do you communicate from agency for communications you can follow Get to know about strategy. So really it is a inpatient to ambulatory to professionals. wonderful confirmation of all of home care. And how do you “A lot has changed over the the impact that that hard work connect it, not only to engaging years, but our commitment to has had.” the Mission Partners which is our clients certainly has not. To come up with the list, vitally important, but also to We are proud to be recognized Forbes partners with market patient satisfaction. And, again, for our work on the Get to research company Statista to our Mission Partners across identify the companies liked those broad communities really best by employees. Statista have just done a wonderful job surveys 30,000 Americans in both areas.” working for companies with

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 7 Resources Smart Owners Use To Build Their Businesses UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTINGS Today even well-established • Offers innovative, practical business owners are exploring techniques and solutions September 13 | 6:00 p.m. new resources and practices to maintain viable and Tucker's Automotive & Tire to endure these challenging profitable businesses. 124 Northport Drive, Alton times. Increasingly, they are • Opportunity to adapt seeking business coaches and to new responsibilities 62002 consultants to shed new light reduces destructive on the challenges they face. behaviors, enhance September 27 | 11:00 a.m. teamwork and support Successful business owners organizational changes. Madison County Child are securing the services Advocacy Center of business coaches and 101 E. Edwardsville Rd, Wood River 62095 consultants and are willing to: Business Consultant • Take off the rose-colored The right business consultant October 5 | 4:00 p.m. glasses and see the with the right expertise company as it actually is. can save money and time State Farm Steve Tassinari in the long term by helping 2709 Godfrey Road, Godfrey 62035 • Recognize their role or streamline operations, cut lack of role in the present costs, negotiate better deals condition of the company. with vendors and improve company morale. Hiring a All members are invited! • Recognize that they don’t consultant is something to know everything, and consider when making a large be willing to implement purchase decision; creating new techniques and buzz around a product release ideas even if they are or other event; or even UPCOMING EVENT uncomfortable. performing damage control around negative social media • Invest in ongoing PR, an unfortunate mishap or professional training for customer complaints. themselves and their employees. Remember that hiring a consultant or coach will not Business Coach be a quick fix but rather a Business owners rarely receive long-term investment in your enough candid feedback or business and professional and they are told what they expect personal development. to hear instead of what they © Richard J. Avdoian, MS, need to hear. Coaching is a MSW, CSP (2009) SAVE THE DATE proven, effective process that Richard J. Avdoian, is the helps business owners move to Founder & CEO of Midwest the next level of success. Based Business Institute, Inc. a Thursday on assessment, feedback and business coaching and ongoing support, this process consulting firm located in October 25, 2018 revitalizes and re-energizes Metro St. Louis. Richard works individuals. with businesses committed LCCC Commons Benefits: to training and retaining highly motivated productive • Objective, reliable insights employees. Richard can about personal and be reached at Richard@ professional strengths RichardAvdoian.com and improvement opportunities.

www.GrowthAssociation.com BUSINESS EDGE August 2018 | page 8