InterBusiness Issues - February 2006

An Interview with Stan Browning
Sanitary District Director Keeps Peoria Clean
The Greater Peoria Sanitary District Executive Director talks with InterBusiness Issues about the behind-the-scenes work that makes modern life possible - and why you should call him instead of a plumber.

Features

Publisher's Note
EDC Strengthens Our Hand
Life is no longer lived in a vacuum. Like never before, our lives here are impacted by what happens in Decatur, Springfield, Bloomington, Chicago, etc. It’s imperative we have one strong voice as we work with those other entities.
Business Profile
Dr. Heather McLauchlan: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Physician and teacher Heather McLauchlan, MD, is a relative newcomer to Peoria, but she’s already involved in the newest thing to hit medical education in years: life-like mannequins.
Guest Editorial
The High Cost of Doing Business in Illinois
The cost of doing business: depending on your experience, that could bring to mind obvious costs like labor, materials, equipment, and utilities. A primary driver for corporate site location is the cost of doing business. The cost of doing business also is important for business retention.
Book Review
Good to Great: Great Business Book Worth Reading
How does a good company get to be great? Jim Collins' bestselling book provides some great ideas you can start implementing today—without the hype.

Columns

  • Agricultural Issues
    Chiilicothe Exhibit Chronicles "Key Ingredients"
    Patrick Kirchhofer - Peoria County Farm Bureau
  • Airport Issues
    Airport Experiences Great 2005
    Mary DeVries, Greater Peoria Regional Airport
  • Chiropractic Issues
    Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care
    Dr. Robert Zinser, Zinser Chiropractic Clinics
  • City Issues
    Heart of Peoria Commission: An Overview
    Mayor Jim Ardis - City of Peoria
  • Civic Center Issues
    Peoria Civic Center Revitalization Update
    Marc Burnett, Peoria Civic Center
  • Community Issues
    Renaissance Park
    W. Michael Bryant, Methodist Medical Center
  • County Issues
    Peoria GIS: Cooperation at Its Finest
    David Williams, Peoria County Board
  • Education Issues
    World Wide Web Founder Comes to ICC
    Dr. John Erwin, Illinois Central College
  • Ethical Issues
    Falling in Love With Ethics Documents
    Dr. John Throop, The Summit Group
  • Health Care Issues
    Suicide Prevention
    Sandy Rapp and Cassy Horack, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
  • Heartland Issues
    New Study Released by TransPORT
    Jim McConoughey, Heartland Partnership
  • HR Issues
    Independent Contractor or Employee?
    Mary Pille, Employers' Association
  • Insurance Issues
    Workers' Compensation Costs
    JR Runkel, Fortner Insurance Agency, Inc.
  • Occupational Health Issues
    Drug Screen Logistics: Part II
    Michael Davis - IWIRC Corp.
  • PACVB Issues
    Illinois River Country: A Natural Asset
    Steve Powell, Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Public Issues
    Ethics, Lobbying Reform a Must for 2006
    Congressman Ray LaHood - U.S. Congress
  • Social Issues
    Assessment Reveals New Recommendations
    Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way
  • Staffing Issues
    Errors Are Funny - Except When They're Yours
    David Smith, Manpower Professional
  • Workforce Issues
    Partnerships Key to Talent Force 21 Success
    Bashir Ali, Central Illinois Workforce Development

Also in This Issue...

Employer Liability for Actions of Independent Contractors
Fadi Rustom
Employers must hold employees, contractors, visitors, and others to appropriate standards of behavior.
Look Within Before You Spend the $29.95
Mark Moehlenkamp
It seems that I’ve been armed with the knowledge I’ve sought for years. And it's all offered here for free.
Managing Environmental Data
Meghan Krishnayya
EMIS collects data in one location to provide more than just the required regulatory reports.
Optimize Your Sales and Use Tax Position
Stephen Perenich
Several strategies provide businesses the opportunity to reduce tax liabilities and improve compliance.
Telecom Terms Made Easy
Julie Drake
In telecommunications, acronyms and industry terms get thrown around as if everyone knows them.
World Wild Web
Stephen Ferguson
Don’t want to rely on search engines to find the best pages? Check out these five categories of sites!