Member Feature:

www.peoriachamber.orgA publication of the

Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Report

January 2015

Vol. 23 Issue 1

Inside:The 2014 State of the Schools

Upcoming Events

New Members

Page

2

Maurer Mold Testing (A)3911 W Cedar Hills Dr., Dunlap, IL 61525P: 309.645.9820www.maurermold.comMaurer Mold provides home mold testing and commercial testing. Maurer Mold Testing collaborates with a fully-accredited testing laboratory, AIHA-LAP accredited in environmental microbiology. The laboratory also has certifications from the international association of certified indoor-air consultants.

The Chef And The Baker (A)1122 E. McClure Ave., Peoria, IL 61603P: 309.767.0220www.thechefandthebaker.comWe are a family owned small business that values the importance of providing the very best culinary treats to our customers that we can. What started out as a dream turned into a reality for two culinarians who have dedicated their careers to providing quality food to their patrons. Whether it be homemade sweets, gourmet box lunches, or catering deliveries we take special care to make sure everyone’s appetite is satisfied. We take great pride in offering only the freshest foods and maintaining the highest quality ingredients.

Chatham Marketing (A)4408 N Rockwood Dr., Ste. 233, Peoria, IL 61615P: 309.282.7496www.chathammarketing.comTo design lasting relationships, the experience that a customer or potential customer has with your business should be carefully designed at each point of interaction. This includes your web site, social media, traditional advertising, a customer service call, or a visit to your business. By integrating web design and Internet marketing with traditional media and customer experience design, we can not only track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, but also increase ROI and sales for our clients. With big-agency talent, small-agency responsiveness, and highly competitive pricing, our Peoria marketing agency partners with local and national clients to develop powerful brand messaging, and innovative, effective marketing

Best Buddies Illinois (A)1717 W Candletree Dr., Unit C, Peoria, IL 61614P: 309.966.4146www.bestbuddiesillinois.orgBest Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Welcome!New Chamber Members

Employee Size Code - (number of full-time equivalent employees in the tri-county area): (A) 1-10 (B) 11-25 (C) 26-75 (D) 76-150 (E) 151-300 (F) 300+

Peoria Brewing Company (A)8012 N. Hale Ave., Peoria IL 61615P: 309.839.0945www.peoriabrewingcompany.comIn 2012, Todd and Christian started running to ward off the inevitable calorie creep brought on by home brewing. As they trained their aging bodies to run at a pace just faster than a walk, they started talking about how to share Todd’s craft beers with the community. By the next year, the enthusiastic reactions of taste-testing friends and other willing subjects left the two confident that Peoria would embrace Todd’s beers. So, Todd and Christian formed Peoria Brewing Company. Today, Todd doesn’t just brew beer. He brews “liquid awesome.” From his wicked light ale, “Naked Jane,” to the big “Yippy IPA,” Todd brews each beer with the precision and passion that’s expected within in the craft beer industry.

Aurelio’s Pizza (A)3821 N Sterling Ave., Peoria, IL 61615P: 309.645.5480www.aureliospizza.comIn 1959, Joe Aurelio Jr., at age 26 opened a small 4 table restaurant on Ridge Road in Homewood, Illinois. Joe decided to take a gamble and purchase a 12,000 square foot warehouse to relocate his pizzeria. A year of construction, a heart attack and a million dollars later, the world’s largest pizzeria opened in January, 1977. Through the years Joe’s commitment to the quality of his product and generosity to the community provided to be the perfect combination for success. Of the 40 locations in 6 states, Peoria is the 40th location.

Summer & Associates Insurance (A)121 N. Main St., Washington, IL 61571P: 309.444.3171www.rwtroxell.com/summer-and-associatesRW Troxell is the largest independent agency in downstate Illinois. We provide our clients unmatched products and services at competitive prices and in-house claims support.

Illinois Valley Glass (A)3300 NE Adams St., Peoria, IL 61603P: 309.682.6603www.illinoisvalleyglass.comFamily owned since 1951, Illinois Valley Glass is the source for all of your residential, commercial, and industrial glass and aluminum system needs. We also carry a full line of decorative house items, replacement windows, and an automation division with motorized window treatments, door access controls, and surveillance solutions.

Member FeatureGreater Peoria Family Y: Greater Good, Greater Place

TherearemanythingsthatmaketheGreaterPeoriaFamilyYMCAacommunitycenter:aplaceformultipletypesofexer-cises; a place for all types of people; a place for all age groups; and a place where members will likely run into friends. Blendedin57acresofwoodedpropertyoffofWillowKnollsRoad,betweenAllenRoadandUniversityAvenue,theGreaterPeoriaFamilyYMCAoffersopportunitiesthatotherfacilitiesdon’t.Thenon-profitorganizationreachesinto,andserves,ourcom-munitythroughon-andoff-sitechildcareservices,specializedyouthfitnessandsportsprogramming,andteenoutreachprogram-ming.Communitymembersandnonmemberscanbenefitfromno-costcommunityswimlessons.

“Supporting the Peoria community at large is simply a need that wemeet,” said Daniel Chonowski, President and CEO. “We see that children need a safeplacetogoafterschool,whentheremaybenoonewhentheyarrivehomefromschool.Weserveseniorswhoneednot justafitness routine,butasocialoutlet.ToknowthatthePeoriaYcancelebrateallages,ethnicities,andeconomicbackgroundsdifferentiatesusfromfitnessclubsandcommunitycenters.” “TheGreaterPeoriaFamilyYMCAismorethanafitnessfacility–butaplacetofeelcomfortable,whateveryourageoractivity level. Greatermeansacommunityenvironmentwhereyoudon’tjustseepeople,yougettoknowpeople.Greater means your membership does more than get you in the door, it helps fund essentialprograms–fromteachingteenstobeleaders,tocaringforchildren,tolifelong learning,” Chonowski said.

FacilitymembersenjoytheOlympic-size50meteroutdoorpool,openfromMemorialDaytoLaborDayweekends.Thepoolhostsaquaticgroupfitnessclasses,comprehensiveswimlessonsforallages,andacompetitiveswimteam.TheYoffersadouble-courtgymnasium,walkingtrack,extensivefitnesscenter,andotherrecreationalactivities.Duringthesummer,schoolagechildrencanattendacamp;andduringmostdayswhenschoolsareclosed,schoolagechildrenareinprogramsatourmaincampus. TheGreaterPeoriaFamilyYMCAissomethingdifferent.BelongtosomethingGreater.

COMING THIS SUMMER

DINOSAURS IN MOTION is a new interactive and engaging STEAM (science, technology, en-gineering, arts and math) exhibition for visitors of all ages.

Jul 11-Oct 4, 2015

Jan 31-May 25, 2015

Humans have long felt the urge to collect and organize items from the world around us. This exhibition gives visitors a glimpse into the history of collecting beginning with a recreation of a typical early cabinet of curiosities. Witness examples of natural history collections, ethnographic collections, and fine & folk art collections and investigate how, what, and why we collect today.

The Art of Collecting

RiverfrontMuseum.orgFor hours & more information visit

Business BriefsAdvanced Correctional Healthcare is excited to announce the addition of three new Regional Nurse Managers: Christina Dziuk, Dawn Hallacy, and Denell Clark.

Central States Media wel-comes Melissa Diggle as Marketing Project Coordi-nator to the team.

Children’s Hospital of Illi-nois is pleased to welcome two new members to its Community Advisory Board, joining the Community Ad-visory Board are Richard

business movesEngberg, Vice President & General Manager of WMBD-TV/WYZZ-TV and Michael Weber, Agency Manager – COUNTRY Financial.

Greater Peoria Mass Tran-sit Districts’ (CityLink) Tom Lucek, General Manager, retired after seven years at the public system, and John Anderson, Assistant Gen-eral Manager, has been ap-pointed Interim General Manager. Long-term Greater Peoria Mass Transit District Board Trustee, Don Shay, has stepped down after 14 years of service on the board and

Daily Laboratories, Division of Mobilab, Inc. had their bi-ennial state inspection; they had no deviations and were commended on their “dedica-tion to excellence and the ef-fort to generate quality data”.

Mendota Community Hospi-tal will become OSF Saint Paul Medical Center when it joins the OSF Healthcare System in the spring of 2015.

The Peoria Area Chamber

news

of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 40th An-nual Community Leadership School is underway. This pro-gram educates future leaders on issues and challenges fac-ing the Peoria community.

The Peoria International Air-port (PIA) announced that United Airlines will launch new nonstop daily United Express service to Houston, Texas (IAH) beginning in early March 2015. The new route will operate once daily, and will enhance PIA’s list of nonstop routes for business and leisure travelers alike. United is the largest car-rier at IAH and serves as the airline’s principal gateway to Latin America, with service to 51 destinations across Latin America and Caribbean.

The Peoria Medical Society and Alliance Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc., is now accepting requests for application for the 2015/2016 Medical School and Allied Health Professional Scholar-ships. Scholarship awards will be made on the basis of merit and need, up to $3,000.

Princeville State Bank Invest-ments offers free financial consultations to help individ-uals evaluate their financial situation and develop per-sonalized solutions that will help them build wealth and manage risks while achieving their financial goals.

Running Central was voted to be among the top running stores by trade and consumer publications, Running Insight and Competitor Magazine.

awards & recognition

nine years as Chairman.

Heartland Community Health Clinic welcomes James Kerns, M.D. to their active medical staff.

OSF Saint Francis Medi-cal Center would like to an-nounce Debbie Trau as Di-rector of Emergency Services and Patient Experience. She will provide oversight to the Emergency Department, Clin-ical Decision Support Unit, Trauma Services, EMS, Emer-gency Department Physician Practice, and Patient Experi-ence.

Princeville State Bank is pleased to announce that Amy Thornton has recently assumed the role of Lead Mortgage Loan Officer.

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria named Marcelo Bento Soares, Ph.D., the Senior Associate Dean for Research.

Business Briefs TheBusinessBriefsareanexcellentmarketingopportunityofferedtoChambermembers.Submititemsofinteresttotheeditortoeditor@peoriachamber.org. Informationmustbereceivedbythe10th of the monthtobeincludedinnextmonth’sissue.Allcontentsubjecttoeditorialreview.

Wayne

awards & recognition

The Chamber Report (USPS-097-250) is the official publication of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. It is published monthly at 100 SW Water Street, Peoria, IL 61602, phone: 309.495.5900. An annual subscription is $10. Periodical postage paid in Peoria, Illinois 61601 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER - Send address changes to: The Chamber Report, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, 100 SW Water Street, Peoria, Illinois 61602.

Advanced Correctional Health-care is proud to announce their “Of the Year” recipients for 2014: Joe Boeh, Salesman of the Year; Art Rose, Program Consul-tant of the Year; Karen Krucek, Regional Nurse Manager of the Year; Dr. Karen Butler, Prescriber of the Year; and Zbigniew Ba-sinski, Qualified Mental Health Professional of the Year. The in-augural P.I.C. (Professionalism, Integrity, and Commitment) Award, was awarded to Sherri Miller, President and COO, nom-inated by her peers.

City of Peoria’s City Council-man Chuck Weaver and his organization “Leaders Change Peoria”, are pleased to award a grant to “Gifts in the Moment” to establish an urban garden training and mentoring pro-gram for high school students.

Heddington Oaks, a senior care facility in Peoria was re-cently recognized with a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and En-vironmental Design) Gold cer-tification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center would like to announce Kaleigh Stone from Mackinaw, a Patient Care Tech as June 2014 Sunflower Award recipi-ent and the August 2014 Sun-flower Award was presented to Kaitlan Raschert from Mor-ton, a Patient Care Tech in the Pediatric Intermediate Unit at Children’s Hospital of Illinois.Through a collaboration of

Peoria County and an Integrat-ed Project Delivery team, the facility was constructed with sustainability and cost control as key components.

Senior Care Network is pleased to announce that Kim Brooks-Miller of Healthy Cells Maga-zine received the Member of the Year Award for 2014.

South Side Trust & Savings Bank is excited to win First Place Best Commercial Float in the 127th Santa Claus Parade with their float entry, “Wrap-ping Up Christmas”.

The Unland Companies’ Jim Bremner was recently present-ed the “You’re a Hero” award, which recognizes people that go the extra mile for their com-munity, family, or customers.

Renowned journalist Charles Krauthammertospeak at the 117th Annual George Washington Banquet

FEBRUARY 23, 2015at the Peoria Civic Center

456 Fulton Street, Peoria 61602

NamedbyTheFinancialTimesasthemostinfluentialcommentatorinAmerica,CharlesKrauthammerwritesasyndicated column for The Washington Post which appears in more than 400 newspapers worldwide and for which he wonthePulitzerPrize.KrauthammerisacontributortoFOXNews,appearingnightlyonFOX’seveningnewsprogram,Special Report with Bret Baier. His latest book, Things That Matter:ThreeDecadesofPassions,PastimesandPolitics,is a #1 New York Times bestseller. As of August, it has sold more than one million copies. Born in New York City and raised on Montreal, KrauthammerwaseducatedatMcGilluniversity(B.A.1970),OxfordUniversity(CommonwealthScholarinPolitics)andHarvard(M.D.1975).WhileservingasachiefresidentinpsychiatryatMassachusettsGeneralHospital,hepublishedseveralscientificpapers,includingthediscoveryofaformofbipolardiseasewhichcontinuestobe cited in psychiatric literature. In 1978, he quit medical practiceandcametoWashingtontohelpdirectplanninginpsychiatricresearchintheCarteradministration.In1980, he served as a speechwriter to Vice President Walter Mondale. He joined The New Republic as a writer and editor in 1981. Three years later his New Republic essayswonthe1984NationalMagazineAwardforEssaysandCriticism,thehighestawardinmagazinejournalism.From2001to2006,heservedonthePresident’sCouncilonBioethics.HeispresidentofTheKrauthammerFoundationandchairmanofProMusicaHebraica,anorganizationdedicatedtotherecoveryandperformanceof lost classical Jewish music. He is also a member of the Chess Journalists of America.

For ticket information, please contact Wendy Mitchell at 309.672.2267, or email info@crevecoeurclub.org.

On Wednesday, December 10, 2014, members of the community gatheredatthePeoriaMarriottPereMarquetteHoteltohearthe2014Stateof the Schools address by Dr. Grenita Lathan, Peoria Public Schools District

150 Superintendent. Also present were representatives from severalPeoria public schools, including the JROTC from Richwoods High School, who performed the presentationof colors and Pledge of Allegiance. The Peoria High School Orchestra provided music before the event, and ambassadors of Franklin Primary School’s AVID Program served asgreeters. “It’s about education, it’s about the kids,” said Chamber president JeffGriffin.“Wewereextremelygratefultohavethembeapartofourprogram.” TheprogrambeganwithanintroductionbyBrentEichelberger,presidentofCommerce Bank. Dr. Lathan then shared valuable insights and updates on the past fouryearsofacademicachievements inheraddress,which shetitled“ThePast isPrologue for Remarkable Times.” She detailed the various programs that had been implemented in thepast fouryears, including theAVIDprogram, the International

Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and Parent University. Looking ahead to the future, Dr. Lathan announced the joint resolutionbetween Peoria Public School District 150, the City of Peoria, the Chamber, CEO Council, and several others for the Peoria Pathways to Prosperity Initiative, which seeks to ensurethat many more youth complete high school and more high school graduates are college and career ready. The goal is to develop a six-year (grades 9-14) pathway for studentsto take from high school through community college, and into the workforce. She concluded by sharing her concerns about the upcoming fiscal year, which show a decline in publicschool funding, and implored the community tocontributetotheeducationalsuccessofitsgrowingmembers.“Everyday,ourstaffismakinganimpactonourstudents,theirfamilies,andourcommunity...youhavethatsamepower,andtogether,wecanmakeasignificantimpactonthefutureofPeoriaanditscitizens.” ConcludingthepresentationwasTerranceWilliamson,seniorandspeechteamcaptainatManualAcademy,withatouchingspoken-wordperformanceofAadilMalik’s“Education.”FormorephotosandinformationontheStateoftheSchoolsaddress, visit www.PeoriaChamber.org.

Chamber NewsThe 2014 State of the Schools Address highlights past and future for Peoria public schools

Dr. Grenita Lathan, Peoria Public School District 150 Superintendent

Terrance Williamson, Speech Captain, Manual Academy

Successful Student Placemats decorated the tables in the Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette ballroom, created by Franklin Primary School students as a part of the AVID Program, which aims to prepare young students for college and the workforce.

Save the date!

February 124:30 - 6:30 PMLimelightEventplex8201 N University St.,Peoria, IL 61615

BusinessAfterHours

State of the City Address

February 4, 201511:45 - 1:00 PMPeoria Civic Center201SWJeffersonAve.Peoria, IL 61602

January 277:45 - 9:00 AMEP!C Peoria1913 Townline Rd.Peoria, 61615

Business Before Hours

The 2014 State of the Schools Address highlights past and future for Peoria public schools

Register today at www.PeoriaChamber.org

January 155:00 - 7:00 PMEmbassy Suites100 Conference Center Dr.East Peoria, 61611

BusinessAfterHours:Joint Event with East Peoria Chamber of Commerceand Morton Community Bank!

100 SW Water St. Peoria, Illinois 61602

Contact us! Please notify the Chamber at 309.495.5900 or

editor@peoriachamber.org of nameand address changes or additions.

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