AUGUST 2015 INSIDE THIS MONTH 217-726-6600 • [email protected] www.springfieldbusinessjournal.com Small Business Awards p. 3 At LRS, fitness is a benefit in more ways than one By Colin Patrick Brady 40 Under Forty Awards p. 4 Academy for Lifelong Learning p. 18 Goodenow Insurance p. 24 The treadmills at LRS are popular during the lunch hour. PHOTO BY GINNY LEE Story on page 11 Keefners p. 34 COMING IN SEPTEMBER NOT-FOR-PROFITS & ASSOCIATIONS THE LISTS CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE CHANGE PERMIT NO 209 NO PERMIT Associations SPRINGFIELD, IL SPRINGFIELD, Springfield, IL 62705 IL Springfield, PAID Community Service Organizations P.O. Box 398 Box P.O. U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL BUSINESS SPRINGFIELD Health & Human Service Nonprofits 2 | August 2015 | Springfield Business Journal Josh Becker of Cocoa Blue Chocolates received the New & Emerging Business Owner of the Year. Terry and Sandy Farmer of Terry Farmer Photography received the Diamond Lifetime Award. 2015 Small Business Award Winners Jodi Cole of Flea Market to Fabulous received the Ruby Award Small Business Owner of the Year. PHOTOS BY TERRY FARMER Joseph Doone of Stanley Steamer of Central Illinois, Inc., received Tiffany Simmons of Community Child Care Connection, Inc. the Emerald Award Small Business Owner of the Year. received the Not-For-Profit Business Director of the Year. Springfield Business Journal | August 2015 | 3 40 UNDER FORTY AWARDS EVENT Congratulations to all of the 40 Under Forty award recipients. PHOTOS BY GINNY LEE Joe Langfelder, Esther Seitz, John Myers, Barbara Myers and Ed Gower. Elly Mackus, Mayor Jim Langfelder and Susan Koch. On Wednesday, July 15 a ceremony was held at University of Illinois – Forty Under 40. Nearly 200 attendees enjoyedSpringfield a receptionto honor thebeforehand 2015 class with of hors d’oeuvres and drinks provided by UIS catering. Mayor Jim Langfelder, a previous Forty Under 40 recipient himself, was the keynote speaker. To learn more about this program or make a nomination for next year, visit www. click on the “awards” tab. springfieldbusinessjournal.com and Shane Harris and Amy Smith-Harris. Jeff Nevins and Adam Perschbacher. Josh Broughton with wife, Kelly, and mother, Rachel Broughton. Chancellor Susan Koch welcomes the attendees. Ossie and Midge Langfelder with daughter Julia Frevert. 4 | August 2015 | Springfield Business Journal PERSONALITY PROFILE Central Illinois native enjoying second career By Eric Woods Chris Holloway has always loved living more than two decades. He worked at the Apartment Mart into a family business. in central Illinois. Currently residing “Nine years ago I talked my son into coming in Rochester Township, he has lived in years, spent a year at Chatham Community to work with me. He is now the general Chris Holloway original Springfield Marine Bank for nine manager of all properties.” One of Holloway’s the years he has received opportunities to daughters is currently working toward Title: Owner, Apartment Mart of Springfield moveSpringfield, to Indianapolis Chatham and and Rockford Bloomington. but always Over lenderBank and and spent also another served 18as yearsbank atpresident Marine her property management degree and will Address: 1830 Prairie Vista Dr. Chatham declined. “I am just a central Illinois guy,” said Bank in Bloomington. He was a commercial continue working for the business once it is E-mail: [email protected] banking altogether in 2002 when he started completed. Holloway is excited and anxious Education: B.A. in Business Economics from but we were excited when there was an Apartmentwhile in Mart.Bloomington before leaving to see how the business will develop over the Illinois College Holloway. “I enjoyed living in Bloomington, next several years and what his children will Family: Wife – Nancy; Children – Grant, Darcy, is more home to us.” do with it. and Anna opportunityOver the to years,move backHolloway to Springfield. had several This RavenwoodIn 1998, Townhomes,while still aworking four-unit in Experience is the key to success in this Favorites – ideas regarding what career path he should Bloomington, Holloway bought into industry, according to Holloway. “In this Hobby: Reading and traveling take. Growing up he wanted to be a scientist into the construction business in 2002, so industry, there are individuals in business Restaurant: Bella Milano and even began college as a chemistry major. hebuilding left the in bankingSpringfield. world He and decided moved to back get Sports team: St. Louis Cardinals He then wanted to be a lawyer but disliked corporations, but central Illinois is more Tidbits – owner along with property and construction individual.more than Therecorporations. is a great Bigger difference cities have in Was a 3rd degree black belt in martial arts and father, who managed a fertilizer plant. “I drove to the Springfield area. He then became the the way they are run,” he said. “I want my is a former instructor truckslaw school. and deliveredHis first job supplies was working to farmers for hisin who had businesses like this,” he said. “I liked daughter to learn new ways, not just what Enjoys historical novels and biographies Pike County,” said Holloway. While in college, themanager. business “I had model met and people wanted in toBloomington move back she sees here.” Has visited all but four states in the country he worked for a collections company and Looking ahead, Holloway recently began made enough money to put himself through school. Although he considers that job his oneto Springfield.” in Chatham. Apartment Mart currently Cardinal Ridge in Chatham. “This will be a in Apartment Mart. “My kids laugh when I least favorite, being able to pay for college operatesHolloway three is notlocations as involved in Springfield with the day-and newa five-year 304-unit apartment complex,” heproject said. “Weknown do notas mention retirement,” he said. “I will eventually and graduate with no student debt is one of to-day activities anymore, but he does still his greatest achievements. “I worked full time come out whenever there is a call about an well with it.” Holloway is excited by this new I will never be away completely.” and had some school scholarships. I graduated issue. He also still enjoys showing apartments additionhave final as approval it will add yet, more but sizewe areand doingprice be handing the reigns over to my children. But with a savings account and not debt.” to people from time to time. “I thoroughly choices for people looking for an apartment. Eric Woods is a freelance writer from Holloway eventually found his niche in enjoy this business,” he said. Over the last Although he has taken a step back, Springfield. He can be reached the banking world and was a banker for several years, Holloway has been turning at [email protected]. Holloway still finds himself heavily involved Springfield Business Journal | August 2015 | 5 TRANSPORTATION SMTD: A service in transition By Roberta Codemo According to the recent 2015 Sangamon approximately 31 are part-time and the County Citizens Survey, bus ridership in remaining are full-time. There are 21 paratransit bus operators. of the 576 respondents surveyed report Squires will have been the managing Sangamon County is low. Only five percent director for three years this September and earns around $103,000 annually. Previously reportusing the “never” Springfield using theMass system. Transit District at he worked in the investigations unit for leastA oncesmall or percentage twice a week of respondents while 85 percent report improvements to bus service was a priority, with one-third reporting improvements asDepartment board trustee of Corrections. chairman. He has served were needed “a lot.” Of these, African- on the“I pretty SMTD muchboard knowfor 15 theyears; district the last inside five Americans were 54 percent more likely than Frank Squires, SMTD managing director. and out,” said Squires, when asked if a whites (at 25 percent) to decry the need for transportation background was necessary improvements. in his position. Squires said no one said anything. “The According to the anonymous driver, said ridership numbers are up 4.4 percent route changes were made purely for better after the last round of contract negotiations, as ofFrank May Squires, and have SMTD been managing steadily director, rising. service,” he said. “We are always looking for Squires received a pay raise and bonuses ways to maximize resources to create new simultaneous with funding cuts. When low ridership routes, including the Historic, ridership.” asked about this, Squires said he received an Squires said the district is always looking As of July 1, SMTD eliminated a number of annual raise as did all employees and denied at expanding routes and recently hired a The Historic route accounted for two receiving a bonus. planning and marketing person. “We have SMTD operates 18 routes; 58 buses run percentSouthwind, of the Park total Tower service. and IDOT routes. routes. There are eight 30-foot 20-passenger a little bit of weakness on the west side,” he fixed routes and 18 buses run paratransit One driver, who spoke on condition of buses and 49 35-foot 40-passener buses. All said. When asked about expanding service anonymity, said the route changes occurred are handicapped accessible. questionThe fiscal pending year 2014legislative budget action.was $14.8 As west and south, he said many roads will not because of funding cuts. “Removing routes Some routes report increased ridership, Squiresmillion; theexplained fiscal yearit, 622015 percent budget comes is in support the weight of a 12-ton bus or are doesn’t make the system better,” he said. while others report declining or stable outside the district. “We’re still running the same 1930s routes. ridership. The best performing are the North property taxes, 10 percent comes from the The district is looking at expanding He thinks everything’s kosher.” Ninth and East Cook routes.