February 2016 Inside This Month
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FEBRUARY 2016 INSIDE THIS MONTH 217-726-6600 • [email protected] www.springfieldbusinessjournal.com Ram Talluri p. 7 A force awakens in Lincoln By Catherine O’Connor Story on page 20 Best Places to Work Event p. 8 Nudo p. 16 Medical District p. 32 The opening of the newly expanded Lincoln Grand 8 theater, a modern “first run” cinema and what will soon be an adjoining restaurant in the old Sandel’s corner service station, coincided with the premiere of the newly released Star Wars film. Casa Real Cocina Mexicana p. 36 PHOTO BY STACIE LEWIS COMING IN MARCH RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Real Estate Agencies Home Builders & Remodelers THE LISTS: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE CHANGE • REAL ESTATE FIRMS PERMIT NO 209 NO PERMIT SPRINGFIELD, IL SPRINGFIELD, • HOME BUILDERS AND REMODELERS eld, IL 62705 IL eld, Springfi PAID P.O. Box 398 Box P.O. U.S. POSTAGE U.S. • APPRAISERS PRSRT STD PRSRT SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL BUSINESS SPRINGFIELD 2 | February 2016 | Springield Business Journal PHOTO BY TERRY FARMER Meet Dennis Minick Business manager, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 965 By Eric Woods As a child, Dennis Minick used to admire job,” he said. He has served as a journeyman, crane operator. The more versatile you was on the team. heavy machinery and knew someday he been in the ield as an operator and also acted are on equipment, the more employment Minick has come a long way since working would be a heavy equipment operator. “I as an instructor at the training site in 2004. “I opportunities you will have.” his irst job as a paper boy. He is quite proud would see those big pieces of equipment was an organizer, then a ield representative, Although he grew up in Lincoln, Minick has to have spent so many years with Local 965 when we were driving down the road a dispatcher and have been on the executive lived in Atlanta, Illinois, for the past 20 years. and his goal going forward is to maintain and thought it looked fun,” he said. After board. When Mike Zahn retired He is married to Carmen and the standards of the International Union of graduating from Lincoln Community High last July, I became the business has two children as well as four Operating Engineers. “A proper work ethic School in 1974, Minick actually got to live out manager.” His new duties grandchildren, and his hobbies opens a lot of doors for you,” he said. Minick this dream when he spent four years in the involve negotiating contracts, “A proper work include landscaping. In fact, he does have a retirement plan and wants to Air Force as an equipment operator. overseeing the day-to-day owned a landscaping business travel, ish and just enjoy life. His daughter is Upon returning from the Air Force, operations of the Local 965, ethic opens in Lincoln for ive years. He also currently on a mission in Africa where she will Minick worked as a laborer before getting and directing the business has various projects going on be for the next several years, so Minick may be an apprenticeship through the International representatives and their a lot of doors around his house. “I just put in going there once he decides to call it quits. Union of Operating Engineers. According duties. a water garden and coy pond,” “When I retire, I want to be that guy in to Minick, anyone who wants to become an Minick is ardent about for you.” he said. There are also plans for sandals, knee high socks and plaid shorts, just apprentice must go through 6,000 hours of his members learning the a potting shed and greenhouse laughing at people,” he said jokingly. “Maybe I on-the-job training and complete 10 classes craft and would like to see all for his wife. “She gives me a lot will just dress up like that one time and see while working as an apprentice. “It usually members utilize the training of projects,” he said. Minick is what happens.” takes anywhere from four to six years to get offered by the union. “Training to our also a big fan of the Fighting Illini basketball through the program,” he said. members is free through our training site,” team. He started following them in the early Eric Woods is a freelance writer Minick has been very active with Local he said. “You can get everything from CPR part of the millennium when fellow Lincoln from Springield. He can be reached 965 ever since. “I have had just about every and irst aid training to becoming a certiied Community High School graduate Brian Cook at [email protected]. Springield Business Journal | February 2016 | 3 PHILANTHROPY The business of caring Disaster headquarters in Springfield manages Red Cross flood response By Catherine O’Connor Many people know that the Red Cross works relief supplies and food. To compound matters, the ield communicating with headquarters continues to raise awareness and funds with partners such as local, state and federal a massive power outage affecting thousands about how many and what they need. to help serve our communities as they agencies to supply meals and shelter to those of households hit during the holiday weekend, Meanwhile, staff in Springield recruit transition from response to recovery mode. affected by emergencies, catastrophic disasters resulting in nine deaths in central and southern volunteers from the closest regions and then In areas throughout the region a Multi-Agency and even small house ires. But those of us Illinois, along with the need for mass care open their search to other regions, depending Resource Center, which is a joint effort between who have been occasional volunteers may not shelters and supplies to provide help until on the need for those with speciic skills and the Red Cross and numerous community know how the massive job of coordinating and power was restored. training, like medical and mental health partners, provides a “one-stop shop” to help managing disaster operations takes place. On the ground in locations from Woodford specialties. residents access disaster recovery resources, Beginning in late December, during to Clinton counties and from Scott to Vermillion Donations are the monetary engine to which can link to replacement housing and the latest round of looding in the region, counties, Red Cross caseworkers came to the fund all of this work. “We are so grateful to other community resources. the American Red Cross opened a disaster aid of affected families and those who were the public, along with our partners like local Studies have shown that roughly 50 response operations headquarters in evacuated, helping in the form of emergency irst responders and government oficials percent of businesses never recover after Springield to coordinate a strategic response housing, food, necessities and cleanup supplies. and the media, who get the story out to help experiencing a major disaster, according to the unfolding situation. The Red Cross works Behind the front lines, teams of Red Cross us reach the public. Often it takes being to Valerie Goodwin, Red Cross disaster with irst responders and government oficials case managers – ranging from trained health personally affected by a disaster for those in program specialist. Vital steps in developing a to ensure displaced people and other victims care professionals to communications and the community to see irsthand the need for preparedness program include management, receive the help they need. supply specialists – carried out the hands-on donations and volunteers,” said Bryan Soady, planning, implementation, testing and The headquarters is located on the second work of assessing client needs and ensuring ARCSSCI executive director. evaluation. Disasters can include natural loor of the American Red Cross Serving South resources are used eficiently in the region, Major gift oficer Catie Franks has hazards such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, Central Illinois (ARCSSCI) ofice located at 1045 which shares territory along the Illinois- been pleased with the response from the earthquakes or widespread serious illness, Outer Park Dr. Information technology experts Missouri state lines. In just the irst three community. Financial support has included human-caused hazards, accidents, acts of set up equipment and computers to keep weeks of the response to the power outage signiicant recent donations from Blue Cross/ violence or terrorism, as well as technology- this center in constant communication with and looding, nearly 40,000 meals and snacks Blue Shield of Illinois; AT&T Foundation; related hazards or malfunction of systems, disaster monitors in key locations throughout were served, 142 vehicle trips were taken, Papa John’s Pizza, which has pledged to equipment or software. Businesses which the affected area, as well as local, regional, state more than 4,500 cleanup kits and more than donate a portion of their sales for an entire need to create, improve or update a plan to and federal organizations. 14,000 bulk items (including rakes, shovels, year; and SIU School of Medicine, which is maintain normal operations and provide After rivers rose during unprecedented sanitizer, brooms, mops and other items that giving the proceeds of an upcoming casual resilience during a disruption, can develop a rainfall in late December, ields and streams become vital necessities) were distributed to day fundraiser to help support regional disaster plan at www.readyrating.org. and eventually roads, businesses and homes those affected. Red Cross disaster relief; all in addition It can be easy for people to forget about began to lood. Throughout the region, more Logistical organization of volunteers, to contributions from numerous other the Red Cross after a disaster, during what than 100 Red Cross workers arrived to staff case workers and staff, mass care and bulk organizations, businesses and individuals.