InterBusiness Issues - April 2007

John Ginder
Maximizing the Real Estate Market

The chief operating officer and president of RE/MAX Unlimited, John Ginder understands the power of the Internet in the housing market, but he also knows the importance of personal service. In this interview, Ginder forecasts the commercial real estate market in central Illinois in the next five years. The father of three was raised on a farm near Jacksonville, remaining there until he began college at Bradley University in 1963. While there, he met his wife Cyndi, now a physical therapist, and they were married in 1969. The couple has three children—Alyssa, Rex and Zachary—who are now living on their own. Alyssa is a speech pathologist, Rex is a jet pilot and Zachary is pursuing his master’s degree in social work at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Ginder and his wife currently live in Peoria.

Features

Publisher's Note
Election Will Determine Future Direction
And then there were 10. That would be 10 candidates for the upcoming Peoria City Council race, whittled down from the group of 14 who ran in the February 27th primary.
Business Profile
Firefly Energy
Firefly Energy is one of the Peoria area’s great success stories of recent years. The company's work is helping to revolutionize the industry of lead-acid batteries.
Government Profile
West Peoria Mayor James R. Dillon
The Mayor of West Peoria discusses various municipal issues and the need for regional collaboration in this month's issue.
Employee Stock
An Attractive Option for Owners and Employees
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) offer many attractive benefits to corporations and their owners. At the same time, ESOPs are strictly regulated to protect employees.
Hydropower
Clean, Renewable Energy Technology for the 21st Century
With 80,000 megawatts of generating capacity, hydroelectric power, or hydropower, is by far the nation’s largest renewable energy source.
Mild Job Market Expected for Peoria
Peoria area employers expect to hire at a modest pace during the second quarter of 2007, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

Columns

  • Agricultural Issues
    The Dirt on the Gross Receipts Tax
    Patrick Kirchhofer - Peoria County Farm Bureau
  • Airport Issues
    More Vegas, More Fun and More Sun!
    Ken Spirito, Greater Peoria Regional Airport
  • City Issues
    A Wish List for World-Class Education
    Mayor Jim Ardis - City of Peoria
  • County Issues
    Nurturing Tomorrow's Leaders
    William Prather, Peoria County Board
  • Education Issues
    The Peoria Promise: A Valuable Opportunity
    Dr. John Erwin, Illinois Central College
  • Ethical Issues
    Ethics of Public Office
    Dr. John Throop, The Summit Group
  • Healthcare Issues
    The Rewards of Volunteering
    Keith Steffen, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
  • Heartland Issues
    Progressive Peoria PAC Endorsements
    Mike Wiesehan, Progressive Peoria PAC
  • HR Issues
    Teens and Summer Employment
    Mary Pille, Employers' Association
  • Insurance Issues
    Driver’s Education Changes
    JR Runkel - Fortner Insurance Agency, Inc.
  • Investment Issues
    The Barbell: A Weighty Strategy
    Scott Elger, Robert W. Baird & Co.
  • Legislative Issues
    Gross Receipts Tax: A Fatal Blow
    State Rep. Aaron Schock, 92nd District
  • Manufacturing Issues
    Technology and Small Manufacturers
    Tucker Kennedy, IMEC
  • Occupational Health Issues
    Workplace Drug Testing: What Am I Testing For?
    Michael Davis - IWIRC Corp.
  • Public Issues
    Give Iraq Policy Time to Work
    Congressman Ray LaHood - U.S. Congress
  • Social Issues
    Celebrating Volunteers
    Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way
  • Staffing Issues
    The War for Professional Talent
    David Smith, Manpower Professional
  • Tourism Issues
    Tournaments a Boon to Peoria Economy
    Brent Lonteen, Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Workforce Issues
    Tough Choices or Tough Times, Part Three
    Bashir Ali - Central Illinois Workforce Network

Also in This Issue...

Are You Green?
Duffy Armstrong
Whether you believe in global warming or not, we human beings produce and leave an imprint on the earth that is not particularly attractive.
My Word!
Edith Barnard
Words have power. Speaking gives us an opportunity to dip a bucket into our creative well and haul out the perfect life-giving words for that moment.
Put Your SOX On
Fontaine Chapman
While compliance with the new standards from the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) continues to be neither cheap nor easy, experts say savvy growing businesses should consider how various SOX provisions might serve as a springboard for substantial business improvements.
The Final Frontier
Becky Wood
In medicine, "Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice." The same is true in advertising.