VA Feb 2010 - Vermilion Advantage

THE VERMILION
FEBRUARY
2010
ADVANTAGE
Health care in
our hour of need
Vicki Haugen
Vermilion Advantage
METRO
It’s a place where most life enters this world. It’s a place where loved
ones may take their last breath. It’s a place we go for urgent care that can
mean the difference between life and death. It’s a place we go when we
are physically or emotionally most vulnerable. It’s a place where lives are
saved and improved every day.
This “place” of which I refer is a community hospital. To many of us,
it is just a large building where many people are employed. We drive by
it often, but do we really understand how critical this “place” and the professionals who serve in it are until we or a loved one needs the care they
provide? In Vermilion County, we have three such facilities; Provena
United Samaritan’s Medical Center, Hoopeston Community Memorial
Hospital and the Veterans’ Affairs Illiana Health Care System.
All three of these hospital facilities are high quality institutions and
critical to our Vermilion County economy and quality of life. This article,
however, is about Provena USMC, and it is based on a very personal and
recent family experience.
One evening a couple of weeks ago, I received a call from my mom
“Health care”/Page 2
Inside this issue:
Page 3:
Page 4-5:
Page 10:
Page 11:
Summer Youth Employment Program 2010
New Member Spotlights
YPN - 2010 planning and a new coordinator
Vermilion Advantage’s Personnel and Safety Councils
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
February 2010
“Health care”
Continued from Page 1
Vicki Haugen
President & CEO
Todd Lee
Director of Business Development
and Government Relations
Machelle Dykes
Director of Business and
Community Services
Alicia Pettigrew
Part Time - Special Projects Coordinator
Kim Kuchenbrod
Workforce Development Consultant
Jo Doggett
Finance Manager
Phone 217.442.6201
Fax 217.442.6228
contact@vermilionadvantage.com
www.vermilionadvantage.com
www.442jobs.com
after dinner. She was very sick, in
severe pain and very scared. After a
call to her doctor, Naveed Sadiq, it
was agreed that she needed to get to
the hospital immediately. Thankfully,
that was a short trip. The experience
began in the Emergency Room at
about 8:00 in the evening. From the
moment she entered the door, every
ER employee was kind, gentle, caring
and professional. They got her
calmed down, reduced her pain and
then methodically began searching for
the root of the problem. Test results
indicated a need to admit her to further explore the problem.
Fear of the unknown when we or
a loved one’s well-being is at stake
may well be one of the scariest, most
vulnerable times we encounter as
adults. Whether it is a child, parent,
friend or ourselves, it is during those
moments we are totally at the mercy
of the professionals – doctors, nurses,
technicians – who are trained to deal
with the most personal health and
emotional issues we encounter. For
the next three days, every hospital
employee and medical professional
who walked into my mom’s room at
Provena was outstanding! From
housekeeping to transport and nursing
to her attending physicians, I couldn’t
have asked for better care for her. The
problem was isolated, treated and she
was released. We were blessed with a
happy ending – this time.
So what does this have to do with
the purpose of this Tabloid or
Vermilion Advantage? In reality –
everything. It’s human nature to get
caught up in the economic and political rhetoric of the day, many times
without personal experience to back
up our conversation. We all talk of the
need to bring ‘new and better’ jobs to
Vermilion County, but many also
complain about the jobs that are
already here – including those in the
medical field. So this story has everything to do with Vermilion
A d v a n t a g e ’s
purposes from
two perspectives. First,
because
healthcare, as
a whole, is one
of the leading
employers in our
county. There were
13 new physicians
that joined our major
health care providers
in 2009.
Two of
those, Dr. I Sadiq and
Dr. Wm.
Bowen,
attended to my mom
during this stay. With
demand outpacing supply
of physician talent in this country,
we cannot or should not take for
granted those professionals that have
practiced here for many years or those
who are making the conscious decision to locate here to assume a new
practice. They have many choices.
Further, there is an ongoing
demand, not only for physician talent,
but also CNA’s, nurses, technicians of
all kinds and medical clerical support.
We have a high-quality health-care
system in this county. We need to
appreciate it and support it. It’s one of
the critical underpinnings of our area’s
economy.
The second reason is just as
important. Quality, available health
care is one of the most fundamental
quality-of-life aspects any area has to
offer. It is significantly more important than any big box retailer that may
Page 2
or may not be in an area. When we
compete for new projects and continue to survive the various rounds of
elimination, when it gets down to the
finalist considerations, many times the
decision hinges on whether “Jane or
John” will live here – critical management talent that can cast
the final vote
on a community’s fate
for new or
retained
jobs. One
of the most
important, personal considerations to
answer that question
comes down to the quality
and availability of health care.
Carle, Christie, Danville
Polyclinic,
Hoopeston
and
Provena USMC, as well as the many
independent physicians, are working
together to try to ensure that our community has the kind of comprehensive
health care system that will serve
present and new citizens with quality
and affordable care. We need to
appreciate how lucky we are in the
county to have such a vast array of
services and work diligently with
them to use these services responsibly.
While there is a national debate
right now on whether quality health
care is a right or a privilege, I for one
say it is a privilege. “Quality” is more
than just the skill aptitude to do a specific job. In a field like health care,
the heart and how you deal with
human kind, is just as important in the
overall administration of care. You
cannot legislate a caring heart and a
caring environment. My experience
with Provena USMC assured me that
we have both.
February 2010
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
Summer Youth Employment
Program 2010
The Vermilion County Job
Training Partnership will kick off its
Summer
Youth
Employment
Program (SYEP) with a 2010 Future
Leaders of Vermilion County
Seminar. The seminar will provide
an overview of the application
process, overview of jobs soft skills
training and a motivational speaker
who give a presentation to youth on
how to be professional. There will
also be a question and answer session for youth and parents. The seminar will be at Bremer Conference
Center, Tuesday, March 30, 2010,
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Funding for the Summer Youth
Employment Program stems from
the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA),
which was enacted by the 111th
United States Congress and signed
into law by President Barack Obama
in February 2009. Proposals from
community organizations looking to
provide summer employment to
Vermilion County youth have been
requested, and we are looking forward to increasing the number of
worksites offered this summer. Last
year SYEP 2009 received more than
300 applications and was able to
serve 75 youth. This year SYEP
expects an increase in community
organizations providing employment
opportunities.
JTP is looking to provide an
innovative
and
collaborative
approach to provide high-quality,
meaningful, age-appropriate summer
employment and work experience
opportunities to low-income and disadvantaged youth ages 14 to 24,
helping them achieve employment
success all while combating unemployment in Vermilion County.
Participants will work in a variety of
jobs that will emphasize real-work
labor expectation and increase services offered by local communitybased organizations. SYEP will
serve income-eligible youth of
Vermilion County that have at least
one of the following barriers to
employment: has a disability, deficient in basic skills, below grade
level, drop-out, pregnant or parenting, offender, homeless or runaway,
or needs assistance completing education. Participants will work a minimum of 20 hours a week and will be
paid at least $8.00/hr. Youth will
begin placement and working on or
after June 1, 2010.
This year the SYEP will launch
an online application enabling youth
to complete the application process
from any computer with Internet
access. The online application
process will work to ease the burden
on youth and families who apply for
SYEP by requiring documentation
from only those who are selected for
interviews and employed. Last year,
employment
providers
were
Danville Area Community College
and Center for Children Services.
Center for Children Services was
awarded the ARRA WIA Summer
Youth Program Award 2009 from the
Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity.
Photo provided.
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SUPPL INC.
Page 3
7:30-4:30 Mon.-Fri. • 9-Noon Saturday
118 E. North St. Danville, IL
(217) 442-0851
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
New Member
February 2010
Spotlights
We have several new members to welcome this month. Thank you to each one for joining Vermilion
Advantage and supporting our many initiatives to grow our communities and career opportunities through
collaboration and a commitment to change for excellence.
KBA LIMITED
Owner: Keith Allen
102 N. First Avenue
Hoopeston, IL 60942
217-375-4225
217-497-4218 (Cell)
DEER CREEK MANOR
Manager: Susan DeMoss
3916 North Vermilion St.
Danville, IL 61834
217-446-0990
FLEX-N-GATE
PLASTICS
Plant Manager –
Martin (Marty) Tarter
3403 Lynch Creek Drive
Danville, IL 61832
217-477-1712
Located in Hoopeston, IL, KBA was
started in 2003 by Keith Allen after he
purchased the former Chiquita
processed foods facility. KBA has
approximately 100,000 square feet of
food-grade space being utilized to
date. KBA has other businesses uti-
lizing office space, and is constantly
renovating space for future needs.
The facility is situated on 43 acres and
has plenty of room to expand its warehousing and newly-acquired rail service that is connected to the CSX rail
line. KBA is committed to keeping
Hoopeston and northern Vermilion
County desirable for anyone looking
for opportunity in our area. It is a
clean, organized operation and customer satisfaction is their top priority.
Deer Creek Manor is a housing facility for seniors that meet the following:
1) Single person 62 years of age or
older, 2) two persons, one of whom is
62 years of age or older, 3) elderly
family and another person who is
determined, based upon a licensed
health-care professional’s certification, to be essential to an
applicant/residents’ ability to remain
in the apartment. In addition, the
family’s income must be at or below
50% of the median income for the
area. Rent is based upon 30% of a
person’s adjusted income.
• Visitor entry system through the resident’s telephone
• Cable access
• 24-hour on-call maintenance
• Coin-operated laundry
• Community space for social programs and recreation
Flex-N-Gate Plastics is a subsidiary
of Flex-N-Gate, a privately owned
and operated Illinois-based company
since 1978 and a leading manufacturer and supplier of metal components,
assemblies and plastic parts for the
automotive industry. The Danville
facility is 52,000 square feet established in 1999. They are a plastic-
injection molding and component
assembly plant. Flex-N-Gate Plastics
supplies plastic components for the
automotive industry such as bumper
pads, front and rear fascias, lower
valances, step pads, top caps and support. Products are supplied to major
automotive manufacturers such as
GM, Ford, Dodge, Hummer and
Deer Creek is sponsored by Lutheran
Social Services of Illinois (LSSI).
There are 25 one-bedroom apartments
with a percentage designed for mobility-impaired elderly. The facility provides numerous amenities for residents including:
• Carpeted living room and bedroom
• Individually controlled heating and
cooling
Page 4
You may request an application by
contacting Susan DeMoss at 217-4460990.
Toyota. Currently, there are 76 fulltime employees that cover a 24-hour a
day, five-day week work schedule.
The Flex-N-Gate parent has over
9,500 employees in 48 facilities in the
United States, Canada, Mexico,
Argentina and Spain.
February 2010
The Schultz tradition has been alive
and well in Vermilion County for over
three generations, beginning in 1950.
Originally started by Sully Schultz to
trim and spray fruit trees, Sully was
joined by his son Larry to grow the business to the foundation established today.
Both Larry and Sully retired in 2009
SULLY SCHULTZ
turning the business over to third generNURSERY, INC.
ation Todd Schultz to continue the fami317 East 14th Street
ly business. The family has worked hard
Tilton, IL 61833
for over 60 years to create a “destination
217-442-8686
garden center.”
Products offered include high-quality plants, bulk rock, bulk mulch, garden
gift items, fountains, statuary, annuals, perennials, benches, flagstone, boulders,
brick, retaining wall stones and much more. They specialize in topiary and
grafted conifers and deciduous plants. They are well-known for carrying over
150 varieties of Hosta and over 60 varieties of Japanese maples.
Sully Schultz Nursery offers free landscape design and say “no landscape is
too big or too small.” They offer lawn care and tree and shrub care such as
organic lawn applications, aerating, thatching, reseeding, rolling, mowing, tree
and shrub trimming and spraying. They also install new lawns.
“Going green” with Schultz is easy. Each spring they have a “grand green
opening” to introduce new green products such as organic mole, deer and rabbit
repellant and other natural insecticides. They also are host to the area’s first
green roof project.
Just announced December 17, 2009,
Illini Castings, LLC is Vermilion
County’s newest manufacturing company with a unique niche specializing in
reconditioning railroad castings. The
Illini Castings, LLC
company will employ 17 people in the
An Affiliate of Mervis Industries
first year and plans to employ up to 30
John Widmer, President
individuals once it is in full operation.
1940 E. Fairchild Street
The castings the company will refurbish
Danville, IL 61832
from scrap yards or derailment sites will
217-446-6365
consist of couplers, yokes, side frames
and bolsters from retired rail cars. Illini
Castings will recondition the material and certify that refurbished parts meet
stringent quality-assurance requirements. The finished products will be sold to
Class One railroads, short lines and other railroad suppliers. The collaboration
between Mervis Industries and Illini Castings, LLC brings together two companies committed to reuse and recycling.
Page 5
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
AREA UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPARISONS FOR 2009
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
February 2010
Young Professionals
Network – 2010 planning
and a new coordinator!
By Machelle Dykes
More than 20 YPN members met on
Wednesday, January 20, to attend a wine tasting at
Sleepy Creek Vineyards, south of Oakwood, and to
plan events for 2010. They had the opportunity to
sample several wines produced locally, and this
was a great opportunity to get out on a cold night,
visit with current friends, make new friends, and
support a local business. We had lots of ideas for
2010, and a new schedule will be released soon.
YPN will have a new Coordinator in 2010 –
Vermilion Advantage is thrilled to have Alicia
Pettigrew join the Vermilion Advantage team parttime. She has come to us most recently from
Watchfire Signs by Time-O-Matic, Inc. She and
her husband, Dave, who works at NexLAN, are
very active in the community and have two beautiful little girls, ages 3 years and 1 year. Alicia and
Dave have been YPNers for some time, and Alicia
is going to take over coordination of the YPN
group. I was formerly one of the youngest members of the Vermilion Advantage team, although
past YPN age, and now with someone younger on
staff here, it only makes sense to have one of
YPN’s own “age” peers take over as Coordinator.
Of course, I will do everything I can to help Alicia
with a smooth transition and will continue to work
with her for awhile and be her backup if there’s an
event she is unable to attend.
I will truly miss seeing and communicating
with the YPN members on a regular basis. So, my
best to all of you, and thank you for making my
time with you so enjoyable! Alicia will do a great
job with YPN! And if you haven’t joined YPN yet,
please do so – they’re a great group!
If you are a young professional, age 21-39,
and you would like to find out more about the
Young Professionals Network (YPN), please contact Alicia Pettigrew at apettigrew@vermilionadvantage.com , at 217-442-6201, or go to www.vermilionadvantage.com and click on “Initiatives,”
then “Young Professionals Network.”
Photo provided.
Page 6
V E R M I L I O N
February 2010
A D V A N T A G E
Vermilion Advantage’s
Personnel and Safety Councils
Our Personnel and Safety Councils met jointly
for a lunch meeting at the Danville Area
Community College’s Bremer Conference Center
on Thursday, January 28 at noon for their annual
update from Mayor Scott Eisenhauer. We had
forty of our members attend.
Among topics addressed, the Mayor discussed
projects, the demolition program, business retention, the budget, and what he sees for coming up
for Danville. He also discussed the state of the
economy and how local businesses are affected,
including the City of Danville as an employer.
However, the Mayor asks us to remember that our
area is not alone in a down economy and to keep
our eyes on the future and the improvements and
progress that we can work together to make.
After a Question and Answer period, the
Mayor invited anyone to contact him directly if
they would like to talk about any issues and to clarify what they “hear on the street,” so that he can
dispel rumors. We thank the Mayor for taking time
out of his schedule to speak at our meeting.
TO JOIN OUR COUNCILS
For our members, please contact Machelle
Dykes at 217-442-6201 or mdykes@vermilionadvantage.com if you would like to receive meeting
notifications for either or both the Safety or
Personnel Councils – we hope to see you there!
Photo provided.
Be a part of something bigger!
If you’re a farmer, agribusiness professional,
or simply someone who loves to eat, you are
part of agriculture! Because farming touches
virtually every aspect of our lives, it is
important to support the industry. That’s
why we are asking you to join us.
Vermilion County Farm Bureau is a
voluntary membership organization of
citizens from all walks of life. Your
membership supports the work of the Farm
Bureau in your county, and at the state and
national levels. (When you join your county
Farm Bureau, you are automatically a
member in Illinois Farm Bureau® and
American Farm Bureau® Federation, too.)
It’s Membership
for Your Lifestyle
If you’re a horse lover or just love horsing
around at the county fair...if you’re an ag
lender at the bank or involved in your local
food bank...if you plant fields or gardens...
there is something in your membership to fit
you’re unique needs.
Visit www.vcfb.info and discover what
member-only benefits fit your lifestyle:
• Discounts for home, farm, health & travel
• Advocacy and information
• Leadership programs for all ages
• Community outreach
• And so much more
Vermilion County Farm Bureau
1905-C U.S. Route 150 • Danville, IL • 217-442-8713
Page 7
®
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
February 2010
STOP!!!
DID YOU KNOW THAT:
• Central States Distribution Service’s warehouse is the biggest and best food-grade facility
in Vermilion County? (American Institute of Baking Certification rated SUPERIOR)
• Central States Distribution Service is both ISO 9001:2000 Certified and a U.S. EPA
“Smart-Way Transportation Partner”? (Certification issued February, 2009)
Central States is “Lean, Clean and Green.”
• Central States warehouse is 300,000 square feet, UNDER ONE ROOF, with 25 dock doors,
CSXT rail served, and accommodates containers, vans and flatbeds?
We have the know-how to handle high volumes and sudden demand.
• On-time arrival of your in-bound commodities will NEVER result in costly detention
or demurrage charges to you?
• Central States Warehouse is computer driven using radio frequency data collection and
provides each customer with real-time, internet inventory access, unequalled in the industry?
Our seasoned employees guarantee safe, fast and accurate handling of your product.
Every time!
• You can use our superior services on a month-to-month, as needed basis?
DON’T get caught up in a long, costly lease agreement just to get far less service!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW, GO!
Call or email us today for a no-obligation, no high-pressure
discussion of your distribution needs. Better yet, schedule a
visit and see for yourself why YOU need to be HERE and why
Central States is the place that gets it DONE! RIGHT! NOW!
3401 Lynch Creek Drive • Danville, Illinois 61834
Call Joe Mollica at 1-866-678-0887 or email Joe@cs-dist.com
to discuss your needs and tailor a logistics plan for YOU!
Visit our website: www.cs-dist.com
Page 8
Joe Mollica
Director Business Development