JUNE 2013 INSIDE THE CORPORATE NEWS THIS MONTH REVIEW Springfield business journal (217) 726-6600 • [email protected] www.springfieldbusinessjournal.com This year’s Corporate Review “Turns the Tables” as we in- terview local news reporters in Springfield for their perspective Show’room’ and tell on our industry and more. P. 16-29 Showrooms make a statement By Betsy Butler, MULLIGAN STEW Senior Correspondent Local golf outing organizers talk about Springfield’s many A showroom can give busi- outings, fewer golfers and the nesses competitive advantage effects it has on fundraising. but it does not necessarily guar- antee a sale. P. 5 Cory Foster, store manager of Sundown One, said showrooms are the first visual impression for “THAT’S ITALIAN” the consumer. Springfield is getting several “If it’s clean, full of new and new Italian restaurants and has interesting products, and well a new Italian grocer. organized, it can make a very powerful statement,” Foster P. 12 said. “On the other hand, if it’s non-existent, bare, disorganized, dirty, or out-of-date, that can also REALTORS USE EN- create a powerful statement, just HANCED DATABASE not a good one. A showroom is a Realtors have a new tool in preview of how a company does their toolbox to help buyers business.” and sellers – Realtor Property The showroom at Sundown Resource. One is approximately 6,000 P. 13 square feet, and Foster said the financial commitment to the showroom and its upkeep is large. EARLY ENERGY Continued on Page 11, ADOPTOR The City of Springfield is one of Showrooms Sundown One the first in converting vehicles to a propane full system in a pilot program focused on cost Recession’s effects linger in Illinois say that this simply is savings and environmental By Ashley Caldwell, not the case in the Prairie State. concerns. Homebuilding Correspondent “Illinois is not following the P. 33 trends of the rest of the United Illinois has been bucking the States,” stated Bill Ward, execu- industry woes national trend in homebuild- tive vice president and director ing, and not in a good way as of Governmental Affairs for the A BRIGHT IDEA the number of new homes being Home Builders Association of Il- As the cost of photovoltaic built has fallen well below the linois. “We are still in a housing panels and systems continue national average in recent years. depression and we don’t see any to tumble down, it can often In the past decade, the hous- signs that we are picking up.” be far cheaper for a business to ing market in the United States, According to Ward, while na- simply replace their lighting. including the homebuilding tional survey information shows P. 35 industry, has been all over the that the overall home construc- board. In 2006, according to tion rates are currently 40 to 50 information presented by the percent of the normal national National Association of Home average, the Illinois market is MINORITY BUSINESS Builders (NAHB), the number of only at 20 to 30 percent of the Local columnist Pete Reeves new homes being built each year normal rates for the state. discusses House Bill 924 and began a steady decline across the “The last few years home- how it presents a problem country. building has really suffered,” for minorities who have been Recently, national surveys said Michael von Behren, owner excluded from construction have shown the number of new of Michael von Behren Builder, industry jobs. home starts beginning to rise P. 36 again; unfortunately, members Continued on Page 10, HBAI offices of the homebuilding industry Homebuilding QUOTE OF THE COMING NEXT MONTH... MONTH – P. 49 “While all of this officially takes effect on Jan. 1, 2014, CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE CHANGE employers are PERMIT NO 209 NO PERMIT being forced SPRINGFIELD IL SPRINGFIELD CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE CHANGE to address all PERMIT NO 209 NO PERMIT Springfield, Ill. 62791 Ill. Springfield, PAID SPRINGFIELD IL SPRINGFIELD of the financial implications of U.S. POSTAGE U.S. P.O. Box 9798 Box P.O. PAID Springfield, Ill. 62791 Ill. Springfield, their health benefit decisions.” U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT P.O. Box 9798 Box P.O. SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL BUSINESS SPRINGFIELD PRSRT STD PRSRT Douglas L. Whitley, president SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL BUSINESS SPRINGFIELD Make your nomination – springfieldbusinessjournal.com and CEO of Illinois Chamber 2 • June 2013 • Springfield Business Journal Springfield Business Journal • June 2013 • 3 • the rookery Your Success Story Begins with DirectBuy “Two States” set for June 6 LRS acquires Capella Former Gov. Jim Edgar will be the Technologies keynote speaker at “The Two States of Il- Levi Ray & Shoup, Inc. announced linois,” a free event on Thursday, June 6 at the acquisition Capella Technologies Inc. 7 p.m. in the Brookens Auditorium at the After more than a decade of collaboration, University of Illinois Springfield. Capella will become a division of LRS, The event is presented by the American which specializes in enterprise software Society of Public Administration and the for output management. Capella manage- Engaged Citizenship Common Experience ment and staff will continue to operate Speaker Series. their business and service their traditional Some argue that Illinois may be ungov- customers, markets, and partners. ernable due to the demographic, economic, “We’ve been working with Capella and social differences that divide those since 2002, sharing market knowledge and living in the northeastern part of the state technologies,” said John Howerter, LRS and those living outside of it. senior vice president of Product Marketing. This upstate vs. downstate split is “LRS and Capella are compatible in many demonstrated in voting patterns, but it is ways including our company’s cultures, also demonstrated in difficulties in reach- technical skillsets, and the markets we ing agreements on such matters as public pursue. Both companies are excited about DirectBuy is targeting Central Illinois pension reform, gun control, economic the things we can do together.” as an excellent Franchise Opportunity. development and school funding. DirectBuy is the largest, most successful private buying service in This session will explore how this divi- sion of Illinois is affecting state leadership Staab teams up with local North America. Members save hundreds, even thousands off the national and decision making, public perceptions of restaurants average on furniture, cabinetry, flooring, lighting, appliances and more when governmental effectiveness, and political Staab Funeral Home is partnering with they buy direct from more than 700 brand-name manufacturers. and social operations. In addition to Edgar, area restaurants to extend its hospitality other panelists include Illinois Public Radio services in a new program called Sweet As a DirectBuy franchise owner, you can expect a business with: Statehouse Reporter Amanda Vinicky, Rich Memories. * A compelling and highly marketable * No upfront inventory costs Miller of the Chicago Sun-Times and Randy A certificate will be given to family service - a service that appeals to * Quality marketing support Blankenhorn of the Chicago Metropolitan members and their guests who have come virtually EVERY consumer! Agency for Planning. to Staab to say goodbye to their loved one. * Comprehensive sales, service and * Ongoing business consulting They can then present that certificate at operations training and support one of several local restaurants to receive * A manageable staff size with * A business with significant CFLL schedules events financial potential The Community Foundation of Land up to a 15 percent bereavement courtesy low labor costs of Lincoln has two events in June. on food service. Participating restaurants include On June 12 it will have the ninth an- Let us show you how investing in DirectBuy is a great way to help fuel a talented nual Scholarship Reception from 5:00 Saputo’s Italian Restaurant, Westwoods owner/operator’s passion and can reward you personally and professionally. p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Illinois National Lodge Pub & Grill, Clay’s Popeye’s BBQ, Bank Conference Center at 431 S. Fourth The Dublin Pub, Fritz’s Wagon Wheel, Street. More than $80,000 will be awarded Mariah’s Restaurant, Lake Pointe Grill and Call Julie Fletcher, Director of Franchise Development this year to more than 40 students from Chesapeake Seafood House. 800-454-0018 / franchise.directbuy.com across Sangamon County. The certificates are valid for one full On June 20 CFLL will host its Young year. Philanthropists’ annual kick-off from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Isringhausen New Salem Summer Festival BMW Center, 200 E. Madison Street. June 8 and 9 The activities of a 1830s village will LLCC accepting registrations for greet visitors during the Summer Festival MotorSports Show on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9, at The Lincoln Land Community College Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site. MotorSports Club is hosting its 10th an- The pioneer village will be open from nual MotorSports Show on June 28 and 29 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with residents performing at LLCC-Springfield, 5250 Shepherd Road. activities reminiscent of life when Abraham Registrations are being accepted now. Lincoln called New Salem home. On June 28, a free “park ‘n’ peek” is Period demonstrations of crafts and being held from 5 to 10 p.m. trades throughout the village will feature On June 29, the show runs from 8 a.m. fiber arts such as quilting, spinning and to 3:30 p.m. This year’s event features weaving, as well as activities and crafts for more than 35 classes, including a new children throughout the frontier village. semi-truck class. Awards are being given The Museum Store and Gift/Book Store to the top three in each category.