chamber connection - Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBER connection
We promote the growth of the Pekin area through the collective efforts of our members.
7
Established in 1893
February 2012
402 Court Street
Pekin IL 61554
Phone: (309) 346-2106
Fax: (309) 346- 2104
New Members P.1, 6
Website
www.pekinchamber.com
Email
info@pekinchamber.com
Excel Expansion P.2
Upcoming Events P.3
Welcome New Members
Biz Barometer P.4
Recent Events P.5, 6
Membership
Announcements P.7
Membership Renewals
Berger Accounting & Tax Service Inc., 349 S. 4th Street, Pekin; phone: 309-642-6230; fax: 6370465; jon@bergeraccounting.com; www.bergeraccounting.com; Jon Berger, Office Manager; Bruce
West, President. Berger Accounting & Tax Service offers income tax preparation, payroll services,
sales tax preparation, electronic filing accounting & bookkeeping. Hours are Monday through
Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Kountry Nook Gift & Craft, 212 North Capitol Street, Pekin; phone: 309-353-4005;
thekountrynook@yahoo.com; Mary Haynes, Owner. Open: Monday 9:30am to 2:00pm, Tuesday Saturday 9:30am to 5:00pm. Kountry Nook has over 50 talented crafters/ vendors. They also have
unique one-of-a-kind gifts and needful items, a boutique room, and girlie stuff.
Chamber Board, and
Ambassadors P.8
First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court Street, Pekin; phone: 309-347-3155; fax: 347-1255;
pekin1st@yahoo.com; www.fumcpekin.org. Reverend Terry Edele, Pastor. The congregation of First
United Methodist Church, will be the loving people of God by reading, studying, teaching and living
the Word of God.
Ledgestone Insurance Group, 118 S. Main Street, Morton, IL 61550; phone: 309-712-2190; fax:
402-0629; jharrison@ledgestonegrp.com; www.ledgestonegrp.com; Don Endress, Owner; Johnnie
Harrison, Insurance Producer; Nate Heinold, Vice President. Ledgestone Insurance Group is a full
service independent agency dedicated to meeting your insurance and risk management needs.
Ledgestone Insurance offers a wide variety of personal as well as commercial lines of insurance.
1
Everyone Played a Role in Excel Expansion
Visit our website @
www.pekinchamber.com
Use the drop down box for
Chamber Resources
Click the Calendar
By now you’ve probably heard about Excel Foundry and
Machine’s $15 million dollar investment in their plant,
equipment and infrastructure at their Pekin facility. This will
create 100 new head-of-household jobs at Excel, plus
additional construction jobs during the expansion work. That
is on top of the 98 new jobs that were created by Excel in
2011.
Excel is a rising star in the Illinois manufacturing sector,
thanks to the leadership of their employees and
President/CEO Doug Parsons. In the last decade their
annual sales have increased from $10 million dollars to
nearly $100 million dollars. Yes, manufacturing is alive and
well right here in Pekin.
th
The January 17 announcement at the Excel facility on Wagonseller Road included
remarks by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Congressman Aaron Schock, State Senators
Dave Koehler and Darin LaHood, and State Representative Mike Unes. Also in
attendance were numerous county, township and area officials and business leaders. You
can see some picture from the announcement event at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber.
All of the speakers noted the bi-partisan support and the large number of agencies and
organizations that came together to move this project along. Prior to the start of the event,
many of those in attendance discussed and praised that cooperative effort.
At the risk of leaving someone out, the players included Cincinnati Township, Tazewell
County, City of Pekin, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Peoria/Pekin Urbanized
Area Transportation Study (PPUATS), Economic Development Council for Central Illinois,
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT), and the aforementioned congressman, state legislators and their
staffs.
And, last but not least on the list is the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. Our role in
this project was small, but important. It didn’t involve money or grants or engineering
expertise. Our role was a common one for a chamber of commerce: we provided the
forum for a group of people to come together and then move forward.
In addition to the private investment in plant and infrastructure, nearly $2.5 million
dollars will be invested in upgrades to Wagonseller Road. That will include intersection
improvements at Townline Road and Manito Blacktop, as well as improvements to
Wagonseller Road.
It was at the chamber’s Transportation Committee meeting in May of 2011 that
committee member and Cincinnati Township Road Commissioner Ron Hawkins brought
up his concerns about the deteriorating condition of Wagonseller Road. Not only did we
add Wagonseller Road to the committee’s monthly agenda, but we added it to our June
24th bus tour of local transportation projects.
It was on the bus tour that committee member John Anderson (Tazewell County’s
Engineer) was able to show business, community and legislative leaders the challenges
faced by Excel and others on Wagonseller Road.
Those discussions led to a meeting with Hawkins, Anderson, Parsons, area legislators,
and representatives from DCEO and IDOT. That led to more meetings, a tour of Excel,
more meetings, phone calls, more meetings, etc.
The chamber’s involvement with the project was finished after that first meeting after
the bus tour. We got the ball rolling on one small part of the overall project, then fell back
into a support role.
By Bill Fleming
2
Upcoming Events
February 1 – Member Promotions Comm.
February 1 – Executive Board Meeting
February 2 – Pekin 1st Committee
February 2 – Business After Hours
February 7 – Ambassador Meeting
February 8 – Transportation Committee
February 8 – Board of Directors Meeting
February 10 – Puttin’ On Pekin Breakfast
February 15 – Marigold Festival Committee
February 28 – Business Advocacy Committee
Contact Us
402 Court Street
Pekin, Illinois 61554
Reservations
Appreciated
346-2106 or
email us at
info@pekincham
ber.com
Ph: (309) 346-2106
Fax: (309) 346-2104
E-mail: info
@pekinchamber.com
Website: www.
pekinchamber.com
Chamber Blog:
http://pekinchamber.bl
ogspot.com
Marigold Blog:
http://marigoldfestival.
blogspot.com
Avanti's Dome
February 2nd
3401 Griffin Ave.
Join us for
networking,
refreshments,
door prizes, and
more.
RSVP to 346-2106
or e-mail us at
info@pekinchamber.
com
\
February 10th
Scan to add the
Chamber to
your contacts!
Knights of Columbus Hall
715 N. 11th St., Pekin
6:45 – 8:00 am
Your Chamber Staff:
Bill Fleming,
Executive Director
Diane Sego,
Receptionist
Brittney Beal,
Office Assistant
Additional features of the breakfast include:





Door prize drawings provided by local businesses
One minute reminders
“Meet the new Chamber Member”
Spotlight on Business presentation
Program: Excel Foundry & Machine
3
Biz Barometer
Pekin’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in
November (disbursed by State in January) up 1.5% over
previous 12 month period ending in November 2010
Morton’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in
November up 6.7% over previous 12 month period
East Peoria’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in
November up 8.2% over previous 12 month period
Washington’s sales tax collected for 12 months ending in
November up 4.5% over previous 12 month period
East Peoria’s sales tax collected in October and
November up 31.2% over the same two months in 2010
Number of residential units sold in 61554 zip code in 2011
down 6.4% compared to 2010
Average sales price of residential units in Pekin
($104,808) in 2011 down 4.7% compared to 2010
Total homes sold in Pekin (427) in 2011 continued the
downward trend. Total sales were 710 in 2006 and have
dropped each year since.
Excel Foundry & Machine announced a $15 million dollar
expansion, plans to hire 100 new employees over the next
year, and nearly $2.5 million improvements to area roads
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPIU) was unchanged in December on a seasonally adjusted
basis. Over the last 12 months, the all items index
increased 3.0% before seasonal adjustments.
Sources: Illinois Department of Employment Security; Illinois
Department of Revenue; Peoria Area Association of Realtors; Bureau
of Labor Statistics
4
Recent Events
Chamber Hires Events Manager
Renna Hadsall has been named the events manager for the Pekin Area
Chamber of Commerce.
Hadsall recently served on the chamber’s
Board of Directors, and over the years has
been an active member of several chamber
committees and has participated in many of
the chamber’s events.
As events manager she will be responsible
for all of the chamber’s events including the
July 4th Fireworks, Marigold Festival, and the
R. David Tebben Community Leadership
Academy. She will work closely with many of the chamber’s committees
on these and other chamber events and functions.
Renna and her husband, John, reside in Pekin. She is active in her
church and is currently the campaign chair and acting president of the
United Way of Pekin.
2012 Leadership Academy Begins
The first class of the 2012 R. David Tebben
Community Leadership Academy met on
January 12th. This is the 14th year the
Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce has
hosted a leadership academy. The 16
students had an opportunity to get to know
each other through a "speed networking"
event. Pamela Anderson, the class
facilitator, provided an overview of the
10-week program and Bill Fleming made a
presentation on the Pekin Area Chamber of
Commerce.
5
Recent Events (cont.)
Pekin Area Business Expo '12
The Pekin Area Business Expo was held on
Saturday, January 14th at the Avanti's Dome. It
was a day full of vendors, demonstrations, door
prizes, entertainment, and family fun, plus the
YWCA's Coalition for Equality Martin Luther King
Jr. Celebration. Thanks to our sponsors: Allegra
Print & Imaging, Midwest Generation, Pekin
Insurance, CEFCU, Fun on the Run, Illinois
Collections Unlimited, Pekin Daily Times,
Comcast Spotlight, Adams Outdoor Advertising,
101.1 Jack FM, 98.5 KISS FM, 96.5 FM ESPN and 99.9 WWCT. You can see
more pictures from this and other chamber events at
http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber
Business After Hours Held
Riviera Tan hosted the January Business
After Hours and about 50 chamber members
and guests enjoyed great food, wine, and
over $500 in door prizes. Owners Yancy and
Anna Green showed off some of their recent
remodeling efforts and introduced their staff,
including massage therapists and hair stylist.
Riviera Tan is located at 2133 Court and can
be reached at 353-7917. You can see more
pictures from this and other chamber events
at: http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber
New Members (Cont.)
Springleaf Financial Services, 3564 Court Street, Pekin; phone: 309-346-3191; fax:
346-7985; www.springleaffinancial.com; Zak Ehrmantrout, Branch Manager; Nicholas
Barker, Sr. Assistant Manager; Nicole Colwell, Customer Account Specialist. Business
Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm. Springleaf Financial Services is lending made
personal. They offer Personal Loans, Auto Loans, Debt Consolidation Loans, and are
here to help with Retail Financing.
Derby Street Antiques, 282 Derby Street, Pekin, IL 61554; phone: 309-346-1818;
John Betson, Owner; JR Owens, Manager. Business Hours: Opening soon. Derby
Street Antiques has booth rentals for antiques, collectibles, crafts, and more. They
have a general store feel that makes customers welcomed.
6
Membership Announcements
For all the details regarding these announcements, visit our blog @ http://pekinchamber.blogspot.com
Pekin Hospital is pleased to
announce that Kurt
Warkenthien, M.D., recently
joined its medical staff and is
now accepting new patients at
ProHealth Family Medicine,
Suite I of Park Court Medical
Center at Pekin Hospital. For
more information please visit the
Chamber Blog at
http://pekinchamber.blogspot.co
m/2011/12/family-practicephysician-joins-pekin.html
Wolf, Tesar & Company, P.C.,
announced that, effective
December 31, Tom Tesar
retired from his role as
managing partner. He will
remain at Wolf/Tesar as an
employee but will change his
main focus from taxes to
financial planning with Tesar
Financial LLC. Aindrea Balagna,
Chris Schwartz and Leslie
Weyhrich have purchased
Tom’s interest in Wolf/Tesar and
look forward to continuing to
provide tax, accounting and
auditing services to the
Pekin/Peoria area.
Champion Fitness Physical
Therapy will be opening a new
clinic in Metamora, located at
912 W Mt. Vernon in the Mt.
Vernon Plaza across from
McDonald's. For more
information, please visit the
Chamber Blog at
http://pekinchamber.blogspot.co
m/2012/01/champion-fitness-toopen-new-metamora.html
Serve Illinois is proud to
announce the third annual
Governor's Volunteer Service
Awards. These awards
recognize individual volunteers
through a statewide award
program to highlight the
importance of volunteerism and
community service in the State
of Illinois. Nomination forms are
due to Serve Illinois by February
29, 2012. For more information
and the nomination form, please
visit www.Serve.Illinois.gov .
River 97.3 is collecting Teddy
Bears to donate to the children
at the Children's Hospital of
Illinois. Teddy Bear collection
has already begun with the
deadline for donations on
Friday, February 10th.
Donations may be dropped off
at Townsquare Media/ Radio
Peoria, 120 Eaton Street in
Peoria, (Next to the Riverplex)
during business hours: Monday
through Friday from 8am - 5pm.
All teddy bears must be new.
Thank you in advance for your
support of River 97.3 and
Children's Hospital of Illinois.
Savant Capital Management,
a nationally recognized fee-only
wealth management firm with
offices in Peoria, has been
recognized by Financial
Planning magazine as the 36th
largest Registered Investment
Advisor (RIA) firm in the United
States.
7
The Center for Prevention of
Abuse will benefit from The
Progressive Business Group’s
10th Annual Valentine’s Ball,
Saturday, February 11th. The
black tie optional affair will be
held at the Embassy Suites
Hotel in East Peoria, beginning
with a champagne reception
and hot hors d’oeuvres at 5:30
p.m. For more information
please visit the Chamber Blog at
http://pekinchamber.blogspot.co
m/2012/01/progressivebusiness-groups-annual.html
South Side Trust & Savings
Bank, at its December 2011
Board Meeting, announced the
promotions of Michele
Anderson to Vice President &
Trust Officer, William Russell
to Vice President & Investment
Officer, David Schrader to Vice
President & Loan Officer,
Emma Vandeveer to Vice
President – Marketing & Sales,
Christina Eckstein to Assistant
Vice President & Compliance
Officer, Leigh Harkless to
Assistant Vice President –
Branch Manager, and Rhonda
Litwiller to Trust Operations
Officer.
Thanks to the following members who recently renewed their investment in the Pekin
Area Chamber of Commerce:
Allegra Print & Imaging ~ Art's Ads ~ Bard Optical ~ Brewers Distributing Company ~ Brookmeadow Apartments
Carney's Insurance Store ~ Clanahan Chiropractic ~ Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell ~ Comcast Business Services
Dr. Robert Ehrich, DDS ~ Excel Foundry & Machine ~ Facet Technologies ~ Flowers by Florence ~ Rich Gafford
Goodwill Industries ~ Greenhouse Flower Shoppe ~ Heartland Bank & Trust Company ~ Illinois American Water
JMP Radio Group ~ Johnson Mechanical Service ~ Knights of Columbus ~ Dr. David Kuban, DDS ~ Kuhfuss & Proehl, P.C.
Laborer's Local #231 ~ McDaniels Marketing Communications ~ McDonald's ~ Monge, Crouch & Mahoney
Otto Baum Company ~ Pekin Animal Hospital ~ Pekin Community High School ~ Pekin Insurance ~ Pekin Manor
Pekin Moose Family Center, Lodge # 916 ~ Pekin Public Library ~ Pekin Public Schools #108 ~ Pekin Riding Club
Pet Supplies Plus ~ Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory ~ R.A. Cullinan & Sons ~ Ruskusky Foot & Ankle Clinic
Schwartz & Miller Family Dentistry ~ Sonic America's Drive-In ~ Subway ~ Taco Bell ~ TAPS Animal Shelter
Tazewell County School Employees Credit Union ~ Tazewell Machine Works ~ TCRC ~ Timbercreek Rehab & Health Care
Total Dental Care ~ Tractor Supply Company ~ Udry Jewelers ~ United Way Of Pekin ~ Unland Companies
Vonderheide Floor Coverings ~ Willock & Warning ~ Wolf, Tesar & Company ~ World Wide Travel ~ YWCA of Pekin
Board of Directors
Ambassadors
President
Skip Schermerhorn, Herget Bank

President Elect
Drew Leman, Leman Property Management



















Vice President
Tom Hornstein, Excalibur Seasoning Company
Treasurer
Aindrea Balagna, Wolf Tesar & Company
Past President
Althea Geiser, B'Ribboned, Etc.
Board of Directors
 Kevin Andrews, Pekin Hospital
 Courtney Antonini, Tazewell County
 Denise Comerford, Sound Choice Hearing Clinic
 Daryl Dagit, Savant Capital Management
 Paula Davis, Pekin Community High School
District #303
 John Dennison, Ray Dennison Chevrolet
 John Franks III, Pekin-Peoria Yellow Checker
Cab
 Yancy Green, Riviera Tan
 Greg Henderson, Henderson Funeral Home
 Neal Johnson, Ameren Illinois Utilities
 Scott Kriegsman, Elliff, Keyser, Oberle &
Dancey
 Brent Morgan, Timbercreek Rehab & Health
Care
 Paul Scherer, Associated Bank
 Diane Steiner, Pekin Insurance
 Laurie Barra, Mayor, City of Pekin


8
John Abel, Preston Hanley Funeral Homes
and Crematory
Angie Atherton, McDaniels Marketing
Communications
Beau Austin, Enviro-Dry
Daryl Dagit, Savant Capital Management
Amy Darling, Pekin Insurance
Brittany Dorf, Pekin Community Bank
Arlene Heine-Meyer, World Wide Travel
David Homerin, Advanced Media Partners
Cathy Lusch, Herget Bank
Rose Melz, Illinois Collections Unlimited
Stacey Mutchler, Harbor Light Hospice
Christie Perry, Pekin Hospital
Amanda Rogy, Amanda’s Closet
Les Rosiere, Jim Maloof Realtor
Paul Scherer, Associated Bank
Bill Shock, Unland Companies
Diane Steiner, Pekin Insurance
Kim Tarpley, Morton Villa / Terrace
Robin Thomas, Chemtura Agrosolutions
Teresa Ann Tucker, Avon Independent
Representative
David Vaupel, Preston Hanley Funeral
Homes and Crematory
Milissa Welborn, Busey Bank