J U N E 2 0 2 0

Partnering for Success

IN THIS

ISSUE:

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

PAGE 10

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 2

June

Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Directors & Staff

Executive Committee President: Lance Buser

First Vice President: Claudia Sauer Second Vice President: Sheila Martinez

Treasurer: Brian Hawkins Past President: Mike Loos

Board of Directors

Terms Ends January 31, 2021 Brian Hawkins, Hawkins-Cassens Insurance

David Knie, Knie Appliance & T.V. Tim Determan, Pinney Printing

Steve Munson, The Medicine Shoppe Lance Buser, Walmart D.C. #7024

Ryan Olson, Ward Murray Pace & Johnson

Term Ends January 31, 2022 Jim Cesarek, RE/MAX Sauk Valley

Claudia Sauer, CGH Medical Center Rebecca Munoz-Ripley, YWCA of the Sauk Valley

Josh Johnson, Whiteside Area Career Center Jon Mandrell, Sauk Valley Community College

Term Ends January 31, 2023

Mike Loos, Edward Jones Investments Sheila Martinez, U.S. Bank

Rick Turnroth, Turnroth Sign Company Pam Fluck, Sauk Valley Bank

Staff

Executive Director ~ Kris Noble Marketing Coordinator ~ Dallas Knack

June 4 Executive Board

June 9 Board of Directors

June 11 Ambassadors

June 16 Ag

June 17 PWN

June 18 HBLC

*Meetings will be held virtually.

As we continue to address the impact of COVID 19 on our community, the SVACC works to provide valuable resources and guidance as we move into Phase 3.

Following are some resources that may be of assistance to you.

State of Illinois Restore Illinois Phase 3 Reopening Guidance

US Chamber of Commerce Reopening Business Resource Center: https://www.uschamber.com/reopening-business

US Chamber of Commerce Reopening Additional Tools and Resources: https://www.uschamber.com/reopening-business#resources

US Chamber of Commerce Ready to Reopen: A Playbook for Your Small Business: https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/uschamber_reopen_guide.pdf

US Chamber of Commerce Industry Sector Guidance:

https://www.uschamber.com/reopening-business#sector

Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce COVID 19 resource site:

https://www.saukvalleyareachamber.com/covid-19-resources

Stay Well

A Message from the Director

Member Update June 2020

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 3

We would like to give special recognition to the following groups who provide extra support to the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. This extra effort and support is truly appreciated. If you have the opportunity to express your sincere appreciation to these members, please do so!

Investing over $1000 in Dues

CGH Medical Center Community State Bank Farmers National Bank - Morrison Midland States Bank Sauk Valley Bank Select Employees Credit Union Sterling Federal Bank US Bank Wahl Clipper Corp. Wal-Mart DC #7024 Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson

Allstate Insurance Agency Amazing Grace of Sterling D & E Furniture Green Bee Energy Efficiency Happy Tails Humane Society Illinois American Water Lance's Plumbing Linnea & Wolf Koch Mattox Insurance Agency McDonald’s

Moore Monument & Granite Co. Plainwell Brass Sterling Commercial Roofing Sterling Moose Family Center Sterling Rock Falls Child Care The Spa At Central Park Twin Cities Homeless Shelter-PADS Wiggins Communication Technology

150% Club Members

Bargain Exterminators Blue Appraisals, LLC Brown Construction Company Cassens Drainage Central Heating & Cooling Compeer Financial Dennis Electric of Tampico, Inc. Hawkins-Cassens Insurance, LLC

Jim Prescott’s BBQ Shop Kiwanis Club of Sterling Melton Seed & Service LLC Potthoff Tax & Accounting Rock River Ready Mix Sauk Valley Foodbank Scholl Insurance Agency Schuneman Insurance Agency

Servicemaster of Sterling/Rock Falls Showplace Antiques & Treasures St. Mary's School St. Vincent DePaul Society Sterling Chevrolet Sterling Optimist Club The Cornerstone Agency, Inc. Wendler Engineering Services, Inc.

110% Club Members

MEMBER RENEWALS

Amazing Grace American Legion Post 296 Astec Mobile Screens, Inc. Avonlea Cottage Bethel Reformed Church Bollman Auto Center Brent’s Upholstery & Auto Accessories Brown Construction Company Carry On Range, Inc. City of Sterling CIVIL Constructors, Inc. Dennis Electric of Tampico, Inc. Fifth Third Bank Good Circle Insurance Agency Midwest Green Bee Energy Efficiency

Happy Tails Animal Shelter Peabudy’s Inc. Polo Rehabilitation &Health Care Rock River Hospice & Home Rock River HR Professional Assoc. RRCA Accounts Management, Inc. Showplace Antiques & Treasures Slim-N-Hank’s Auto Body Shop, Inc Sterling Hearing Aid Center Sterling Moose Family Center Sterling Public Library Supreme Cleaners US Bank Wendler Engineering Services Willy’s Restaurant

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 4

This segment of the newsletter usually contains Workforce Development information. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are inserting information that we believe will be beneficial to help our community as we work to understand and navigate this uncertain, confusing, and somewhat overwhelming time of our lives.

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 5

Chamber Ambassadors Allie Johnston – University of Illinois Extension

Amy Tessman — Frary Lumber

Angie Delhotal— Sauk Valley College Foundation

Angie Smith – Hawkins-Cassens Insurance Agency

Beau Ebenezer—Regency Care of Sterling

Cassandra Salmon – Sauk Valley Bank

Chandra Meyer – Re/Max Sauk Valley

Christina Bystry—House in the Country

Jerry Binder—Whiteside Area Career Center

Jon Byar – Midland States Bank

Justin Wiggins—Wiggins Computing, LLC

Karen Voss – Rock River Hospice and Home

Mary White – Community State Bank

Melissa Ryan-Bergstrom – Candlelight Inn

Nick Krumbholz – Sterling Federal Bank

Nicole Bollman - CGH Medical Center

Pam Fluck – Sauk Valley Bank

Roy Dern – State Farm

Scott Sandrock—Ward Murray Pace & Johnson

Sheila Martinez – U.S. Bank

Sherry DeWalt – CGH Health Foundation

Nicole Bolman—CGH Medical Center

Nicole Bollman is a Marketing Specialist for CGH Medical Center. She works closely with the CGH Marketing team on various marketing projects for the hospital and its 16 outlying clinics. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, CGH Medical Center’s top priority has been the health and safety of our staff, physicians and patients, while continuing to provide safe, high-quality healthcare to all of the communities we serve. For the latest and most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit cghmc.com/covid19 or follow CGH Medical Center on Facebook. Nicole has been a Chamber Ambassador since 2006. She is co-chair of the Professional Women’s Network committee and loves planning events to provide professional women in the area. She is also a member of the Golf committee and past Ambassador co-chair. Nicole and her husband Jeremy, have two children, Jeremiah, 9, and Jadon, 3. Besides being a mom,

working for CGH and volunteering for the Chamber, Nicole loves making delicious gourmet coffee.

Amy Tessman—Frary Lumber Amy has been a Kitchen & Bath Designer at Frary Lumber since June of 2017. One of the best parts of working at Frary is meeting new people and helping them update and redesign their living spaces. You can view some great before and after pictures of renovated kitchens and baths on Frary’s Facebook page. Amy has been volunteering as a SVACC Ambassador and serving in this way for one year. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about new and existing

businesses and about the community. Originally from Kansas City she moved to Sterling in 2016. She is an Alumni of The University of Missouri, and has acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Design & Minor in Art. Her professional experience includes being a commercial designer for Fluor Daniel in Greenville, SC. In addition to being a mom of 3 boys, designing for Frary Lumber, and volunteering for the Chamber, Amy enjoys attending many of the Sterling High School sporting events and exploring the surrounding area.

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 6

2020 Scholarship Recipients

Clayton Johnson Prophetstown High School University of Illinois Ag Scholarship

Kathleen Smith Illinois State University Ag Scholarship

Brett Buhrow Ashton Franklin Center University of Illinois Ag Scholarship

Connor Erbsen Iowa State University Ag Scholarship

Molly Biggs Dixon High School Kansas State University Ag Scholarship

Emma Frank Sterling High School Blackhawk Community College Ag 2-Year Scholarship

Spencer Schutz Rock Falls High School Blackhawk Community College Ag 2-Year Scholarship

Lauren Moeller Rock Falls High School Southern Illinois University Farnham Scholarship

Erin Porter Rock Falls High School Oral Roberts University Farnham Scholarship

Gabrielle Gillen Sterling High School Morrison Tech Manufacturing Scholarship

Kyle Winebrenner Sterling High School Morrison Tech Manufacturing Scholarship

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 7

Congratulations to Bard Optical

for receiving the Customer Service Award!

Thank you for providing quality care to our community members!

Call 815-626-6006.

In the past month, Sauk Valley Community Leadership Program cohorts had 2 occasions to join Zoom meetings and receive updates from various industries. Guests included Dave Schreiner, KSB Hospital; Kim Ewoldsen, Sauk Valley Community College; Dan Payette, Blackhawk Hills Regional Council; and Keri Olson, United Way, Lee County, with community updates from Bethany Bland, Rock Falls Chamber, and Kris Noble, Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. Each session was also an opportunity to check in on the participants’ well-being during this COVID disruption. The SVCLP class of 2020 is known for asking great questions and having thoughtful conversations. This month was no exception, covering topics from home-schooling and time management to professional leadership and managing personal opinions. The Zoom meeting selfie has become far too common as a signature of our time together. We look forward to a final July meeting where we will hear cohorts’ presentations and enjoy a celebratory, socially distanced, dinner.

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 8

For more information on CEO email Le Hartman at lhartman@wacc.cc

Written by: Nathan Ottens, Sterling High School

Over and over again we were asked “why did you take CEO” and in the beginning I thought to myself I want to make a lot of money some day, maybe retire by the time I'm 45. Enough to live comfortably the rest of my life. Its always been a goal of mine to provide the best life for my future family and I feel this CEO class has really opened up my opportunities to reach that goal. I came into the class timid and malleable and by the end I could go up to anyone and shake their hand, start a conversation, and have meaning behind it. I still remember the first day, all I knew were my friends from Sterling, a couple kids from Prophetstown because of family and that was it. Now I consider everyone in our class a friend of mine. I’ve made so many connections with arcade owners, lawyers, doctors, managers, principals, advisors, small and large business owners, trainers, and so many other varieties of people. I feel like I'm ready for the real world. Everyday I was challenged. Whether it be how to make a connection, how to communicate effectively, how to collaborate, critical think, and even be on time. This class didn’t just teach me business rules it taught me life rules that I’ll carry for the rest of my life. I firmly believe that this has been my best decision of my life and it has completely changed the way I think and look at the world and I just hope CEO can continue to grow and shed light on future students.

2020-2021 CEO Students: Keagan Magness—Erie High School Grace Jakobs—Milledgeville High School Nick Smith—Milledgeville High School Elliot Noble—Newman High School Nate Neubauer—Newman High School Ryan McGinn—Newman High School Shannon Kelly—Newman High School Will Rude—Newman High School Emily Brooks—Prophetstown High School Makenzie Glassburn—Prophetstown High School Sydney Minssen - Prophetstown High School Autumn Nelson—Rock Falls High School Brooklyn Reynolds—Rock Falls High School Cadence Stonitsch—Rock Falls High School Ellie Wasson—Rock Falls High School Emma Watts—Rock Falls High School

Katie Witherow—Rock Falls High School Marco Lopez—Rock Falls High School Meg Frank—Rock Falls High School Rosalinda Reyes - Rock Falls High School Sydney Reyes—Rock Falls High School Daxtun Heier—Sterling High School Estella Gardner—Sterling High School Jesse Arians—Sterling High School Rebecca Riley—Sterling High School Ashley Crawford—Dixon High School Dominic Lozano - Dixon High School Grace Smith—Dixon High School Jack Boss—Dixon High School Joseph Dukes—Dixon High School Lauren Fagan—Dixon High School Connor Hummel—Home school Brooklyn Lachat - Oregon High School Lucas Stevens—Oregon High School

Happy May Day! SVACC Director, Kris Noble, spread a little cheer on May 1st with May Day bags. Here she is with some of our awesome members! Katy Selmi at Country Insurance and Financial Services; Amy Williamson, Holiday Inn and Suites Rock Falls; Chris Mitchell at Sauk Valley Bank, and the staff of United Way of Whiteside County.

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 9

GUEST EDITORIAL

THE ILLINOIS CHAMBER IS NOW OFFERING AN ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING RECORDING FOR PURCHASE! Illinois has enacted changes in legislation to fight sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition to the Workplace Transparency Act, amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Victims’ Economic Secu-rity and Safety Act, the Sexual Harassment Victim Representation Act and the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act have all been signed. These new regulations mean huge changes for all employers, varying from who is an employer in Illinois to disallowing nondisclosure agreements for claims of harassment or discrimi-nation. Beginning on January 1, 2020, all Illinois employers will be required to provide sexual harassment training to all employees on an annual basis. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is offering training that meets the minimum requirements from the Illi-nois Department of Human Rights. Price $299.00 Per Recording The recording is available in both English and Spanish! Contact Illinois Chamber of Commerce to purchase the training today! Please contact Kirsten Constant at kconstant@ilchamber.org or 217-522-5512 ext 227. ***Additional requirements are needed for bars and restaurants in Illinois. Contact Kirsten for more infor-mation***

Other virtual resources from Illinois Chamber of Commerce: Full details and registration can be found at https://ilchamber.org/3/events/ 6/2 Back to Work in Real Life: Getting Employees Heads back in the Game in an Office (Webinar) 6/4 In the Eye of the COVID-19 Crisis: Coping Mechanisms and Ways to Reduce Stress (Webinar) 6/5 Insurance Coverage for Loss Caused by Disruption of Your Business Due to the Pandemic (Webinar) 6/9 Administrative Rulemaking in Illinois - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You (Webinar) 6/16 The Anatomy of an Event and 8 Steps You can Take Right Now to Prepare (Webinar) 6/18 Data Privacy Challenges: Recent Developments and Upcoming Concerns (Webinar)

Government Affairs Update

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 10

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 11

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 12

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 13

Complete the Census! https://2020census.gov/en.html

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 14

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S U C C E S S 15