Intercom February 2013

SHBA – Where Business Works

Thursday, February 28, 201311:30 am To 1:00 pm

CommuniTy CenTer 501 e. 170Th sT., souTh holland, il

lunCh by: WingsTop

Business Luncheon

Terrence Hill

represenTing office of Judy Baar Topinka,

compTroller, sTaTe of illinois

speaker

Lunch: Members, $7 / Non-Members, $10. Reservations requestedRSVP online at www.shba.org

febRuaRy 2013

p r o g r a m

MBE – WBE – DBEHow To oBTain cerTificaTion

2 South Holland Business AssociationFebruary 2013

Don’t be the ‘Best Kept Secret!’

(Above column first appeared in Northwest Indiana Times Business Marketing Column 2/3/13.)

Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, “Front Lines with Larry Galler” Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com

Guest Columnist Larry Galler

Live interaction still matters. Teachers, meetings, pre-sentations, one-on-one brainstorms–they can lead to real change. The listener has nearly as big a responsibility as the speaker does, though. And yet, Google reports four times as many matches for “how to speak” as “how to listen.” It’s not a passive act, not if you want to do it right.

If listening better leads to better speaking, then it becomes a competitive advantage.

Ask an entrepreneur leaving the office of a great VC like Fred Wilson. She’ll tell you that she gave the best pitch of her career–largely because of the audience. The hardest step in better listening is the first one: do it on purpose. Make the effort to actually be good at it.

Don’t worry so much about taking notes. Notes can be summarized in a memo (or a book) later.

Pay back the person who’s speaking with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm shown by the expression on your face, in

your posture, in your questions.

Play back what you hear but in your own words, using your own situation. Don’t ask questions as much as make statements, building on what you just heard but mak-ing it your own. Take what you heard and make it the foundation for what you are trying on as your next idea.

If you disagree, wait a few beats, let the thought fin-ish, and then explain why. Don’t challenge the speaker, challenge the idea.

The best way to honor someone who has said some-thing smart and useful is to say something back that is smart and useful. The other way to honor them is to go do something with what you learned.

T h i n kabouT iT!

Seth Godin Blog (2/5/13)http://sethgodin.typepad.com

How to listen

The philosophical thought question, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” has been stumping people and causing discussion since it was first asked over 300 years ago. In the business world, surpris-ingly, this very same topic comes up far too often. Whenever I hear someone say, “Our company is the “Best Kept Secret” in our community or our industry” I immediately think I hear a tree about to fall in the forest. Businesses have expertise and solve problems every day. Many of these solutions would make a great story, interesting to a properly targeted market and if that properly targeted market was made aware of the problem and solution, the story would enhance the brand, the reputation, and add to the marketing effort which, of course, would add to the bottom line. Well written success stories engage readers in a “problem / solution strategy / results” format. These stories can be sent to clients and prospects in newsletters, memos, updates, etc. by either email or by regular mail. They can be put into Press Release format and sent to this paper and all the other media outlets and, if an editor finds the story engaging or interesting enough, it might very well get expanded into a sizable article. Think back to your business activity of the past few days.

Did a customer have a problem you solved or a challenge you overcame? From your customer’s perspective it was probably a unique, extraordinary experience but to you, a professional in your field, it was probably a regular occurrence, nothing extraordinary or unique about it. So put on your “Public Relations hat” for a moment. Consider how you can tell your customer’s story of “problem / solution strategy / results” in an interesting, engaging manner. When your customers and prospects in your database read it they will be more knowledgeable of your expertise and profes-sionalism and, if the general public sees it, they will become aware of you and in time you won’t be “the Best Kept Secret” any longer.

February 2011 3The Intercom February 2013

Coming up .....

– SET ASIDE THE DATE –

Friday, March 15, 2013

CHICAGO WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

South Suburban College15800 So. State St.

South Holland, Illinois

Break-Out SessionsKeynote Speaker: Monique Carradine

Fee: $15

Contact:Allen Abariaz

708-596-2000, Ext. 2522

SHBA LUNCHEON MEETINGMarch 28, 2013

Mayor Don DeGraff will speakon South Holland’s 10-year strategic plan for the future

vibrancy of the village: Vision 2022!

bReaKfaST WITH bCI WORKSHOP SeRIeS:“COMMuNICaTING WITH THe fOuR GeNeRaTIONS”

Oak Forest, IL– The South Suburban College Business

& Career Institute (BCI) presents a Breakfast with BCI

Workshop titled “Communicating with the Four Gen-

erations,” facilitated by Mary Erlain, President of Peak

Development Strategies. This event will take place at

the University & College Center (UCC), Room 5230, on

Tuesday, March 5th from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., with a

check-in time of 8:15 a.m.

There are four generations currently employed in the

American workforce, each with a set of differing experi-

ences and styles that at times, can be in conflict. This

workshop also encourages employees to explore ways

to improve their communication by taking into account

the generational diversity that exists in business today.

It will focus on modes of communication, management,

work ethic, technology, buying styles, and advertising.

The objective of this workshop is to move people away

from a “one size fits all” mentality when working with

employees, vendors, and customers.

The cost of the event and continental breakfast is $15 per

person, or $10 per person if three or more individuals from

the same company attend. To register, please call (708)

596-2000, ext. 2346 or email [email protected]. The

UCC is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois.


S H B A S N A P S H O T S

January LuncheonSouth Suburban College and John Marshall Law School shared a joint panel at SHBA’s January luncheon. The topic was on how small businesses can benefit by bringing on an Intern to assist them and reap the benefits on their return on investment. To take advantage of working with an Intern, please call SHBA at 708/596-0065 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

Photos by Larry Burrows, Burrowsphotography.com


Seton HoStS BAH

708-895-1600 2045 East 170th St.

South Holland, IL 60473

www.seniorhousing.net/ad/ardencourtsholland

Alzheimer’s Assisted Living

Residential living for early to middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease and

related memory impairments.

We also offer short term respite stays.

Seton Academy recently held it’s first Business After Hours in the Atrium at Seton Hall located 16100 Seton Drive, in South Holland. A representative of John Marshall Law School spoke, and many businesses were able to get some great information, and networked, too.


Roosevelt Equity CorporationLarry W. DeYoung

Agency Vice Pres. & Supervising Principal

900 E. 162nd Street South Holland, IL 60473

(708) 339-4535 Main (708) 542-4535 Mobile

(708) 339-0199 Fax [email protected]

Securities offered through Roosevelt Equity Corp.

MADIGAN URGES BUSINESSES TO PROTECT CONSUMER INFORMATION

Attorney General Issues Annual Information Security Prevention Guide.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan has re-leased a 2012 guide for Illinois businesses to better protect consumers’ personal in-formation and help prevent identity theft.

“Illinoisans are vulnerable to identity theft and fraud when security breaches occur,” Madigan said. That’s why busi-nesses that collect personal information have an obligation to comply with Illinois law to avoid breaches and take action to inform consumers when breaches occur. Today, I’m providing guidance to Illinois businesses and government agencies on how to prevent, prepare for and respond to security breaches appropriately.”

More than 550 breaches involving more than 30 million records occurred in 2011, according to the Privacy Rights Clearing-house. Many of the breaches involved sophisticated computer hackers who ac-cessed networks through highly technical means. While protecting against network

intrusions and hacking is important, Madi-gan said businesses and government agen-cies should also focus efforts to protect against low-tech breaches. When docu-ments containing personal information are discarded in public, identity thieves have easy access to the information they need to commit fraud.

In releasing her Information Security & Security Breach Response Guide, Madi-gan encouraged businesses and govern-ment agencies to establish an Information Security Program to understand the scope of the personal information they collect and to train employees how to properly maintain and handle information to pre-vent security breaches, which in turn can help prevent identity theft. The guide can be found on the Attorney General’s web-site at: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/Security_Breach_Notifi-cation_Guidance.pdf

Madigan also noted that a new state law aims to reduce the threat of low-tech identity theft. As of Jan. 1, the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act requires entities to dispose of materi-als containing personal information in a manner that renders the information unreadable, unusable and indecipherable. This includes redacting, burning, pulver-izing or shredding paper documents, and destroying or erasing electronic media so that personal information cannot be read or reconstructed.

While entities that suffer security breaches have been obligated under Illinois law to notify affected individuals since 2006, the law now requires specific information to be included in the breach notification let-ter. Under the recent amendments to the Personal Information Protection Act, the notification must now include:

•Toll-free numbers and addresses for consumer reporting agencies, •Toll-free number, address and website for the Federal Trade Commission, and •Statement that the individual can obtain information from these sources about fraud alerts and security freezes.

By developing a comprehensive data secu-rity policy, businesses will be better suited to respond to the discovery of a security breach. Madigan encouraged businesses and consumers to contact her office’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-866-999-5630 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-866-999-5630 FREE end_of_the_skype_high-lighting to learn how to better protect personal information.

Data Privacy Day (January 28) aims to unite businesses, individuals, government agencies, nonprofit groups and academics in a dialogue about how personal data should be collected, used and stored.

Notice from attorney General Lisa Madigan

ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE NEwS


VaN DRuNeN HeaTING & aIR CONDITIONING

(708) 339-6444

168th & Van Dam Road South Holland, IL 60473

FAX (708) 339-6450vandrunenheating.com

email: [email protected]

58 W. 162nd Street, South Holland, IL [email protected] • 708/210-5763

Dr. Jasper J. Gulotta Dr. Gene Ossello

708/333-4444Optometry

833-835 E. 162nd St., South Holland

Since 1942

611 East 170th Street • South Holland, Illinois 60473708.339.6010 • Fax 708.339.6022

Email: [email protected]

Cheryl R. Kirkland, Agency Owner1034 E 162nd Street, South Holland, IL 60473 office: 708-893-0000 fax: 708-825-1686

[email protected]

providencebank.com

IL – South Holland • Elmhurst • Frankfort • WheatonIN – Dyer • Munster • Schererville

Convenient Offices Serving You –

People Who Listen. Products That Deliver.

• Checking & Savings• Cash Management• Faith-Focused Banking• Remote Deposit Capture• Mobile & Online Banking

888-9-BELONG(888-923-5664)

42250 SHBA AD_Layout 1 5/17/12 4:58 PM Page 1

Phone: (708)215-0095 Fax: (708)913-4012

A local South Holland company serving the community with 20 years of plumbing experience.

Free estimates – 24 hr. emergency service.

Blueberry FieldPANCAKE HOUSE AND RESTAURANT

Your Hosts:Patte, Nikki &Christy Haras

Phone (708) 225-1982Fax (708) 225-1246

Mon-Sat 6:00 am - 3:00 pmSunday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

558 E. 162nd St., So.Holland, IL 60473

Photography byLarry burrowsPhotography byLarry burrowsPhone: 708.308.6583email: [email protected]: www.burrowsphotography.com

family events, Golf Outings, Special events & More!

Phone: 708.308.6583email: [email protected]: www.burrowsphotography.com

family events, Golf Outings, Special events & More!

PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSouth Holland, IL

Permit 214

P.O. Box 334South Holland, IL 60473

Attn: BUSINESS OWNER, or

A D V E R T I S E R I N D E x

SHBA members are encouraged to contribute articles to the IntercomIntercom News Deadline: 1st Week of the Month

Send news to: P.O. Box 334, South Holland, IL 60473 ([email protected])

S O U T H H O L L A N D B U S I N E S S A S S O C I A T I O N

For information on advertising call 596-0065

Scan here to visit us online.

• Abbott Printing• Allstate Insurance• Arden Courts• Blueberry Field• Burrows Photography

• Business & Career Institute, South Suburban College

• CR Plumbing• Eye Site

• Illiana Financial• Jimmy John’s• Lagestee-Mulder• MB Financial Bank

• Providence Bank• Roeda Signs• Roosevelt Equity Corp.• Sandrick Law Firm• VanDrunen Heating & A/C

- ExECUTIVE COMMITTEE -Donald Grimwood (President) .........Trinity Environmental SystemsOkeycha Pettigrew (Vice-President) ................EduFun Play CenterLynn Toi Lawson (Secretary) ... Christian Community Health CenterLeonard boos (Treasurer) .................. Illiana Financial Credit Union

blevian Moore ... Executive Director

- BOARD OF DIRECTORS -alexandra Glumac ......................Business & Career Institute, SSCfelicia Houston ........................... Ingalls Behavioral Health CenterMargaret Organ ..............................................................WalgreensLarry Powell .............................................................Insurance ProsRuth Ramirez ....................................................Ramirez Law Officebrian Tennis .................................South Suburban Memorials, Inc.Clyde Wells .................................................Haines-Craft InsuranceTim Woloszyn .....................................................MB Financial Bank

Michael abbott... Immediate Past President

Documents

Intercom February 2013