InterBusiness Issues - July 2007

Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard
Fixing "Broken Windows" in the Community
Peoria’s Chief of Police talks extensively about his career in law enforcement, the “broken windows” theory of fighting crime and what we can do to make our community safer.

Features

A Milestone Year for the Civic Center
This year will be remembered as a milestone year for the Peoria Civic Center. Not only did the venue celebrate a $55 million upgrade and expansion, it also celebrated its 25th anniversary as the place to be for live entertainment in central Illinois.
Best Places to Work in Illinois
CEFCU and Methodist Medical Center of Illinois were recently selected as winners of the 2007 Best Places to Work in Illinois competition.
Publisher's Note
The Spirit of Cooperation
One of the most commendable things about life in Peoria is the strong sense of cooperation and collaboration that we see every day among local businesses and organizations.
How Central American Trade Can Benefit Your Growing Business
U.S. companies now sell about $15 billion in products to CAFTA-DR signatories, making it a larger export market than Russia and Indonesia combined.
Planning Effective Workspaces as Strategic Assets
Today, it’s necessary to look at workspaces in terms of the return on investment and the realization that planning and managing these spaces strategically can generate greater productivity and efficiency.
Green Building Makes Dollars and Sense
This is the single most compelling and well-documented motivation for building green: Sustainable design and construction provides ongoing, long-term financial benefits that conventional, to-code buildings cannot.

Columns

  • Agricultural Issues
    Racing for Change with Ethanol
    Patrick Kirchhofer - Peoria County Farm Bureau
  • City Issues
    Making Progress on Education
    Mayor Jim Ardis - City of Peoria
  • Community Issues
    Peoria Civic Federation Update
    W. Michael Bryant, Methodist Medical Center
  • County Issues
    Local Business Grows the Economy
    William Prather, Peoria County Board
  • Ethical Issues
    Ethics and Workplace Marriages
    Dr. John Throop, The Summit Group
  • Healthcare Issues
    The Nursing Faculty Shortage
    Lois Hamilton Ph.D., Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
  • Heartland Issues
    Bringing High Tech to Peoria
    Jim McConoughey - Heartland Partnership
  • HR Issues
    Do You Have a Carrot Culture?
    Mary Pille, Employers' Association
  • Investment Issues
    The Benefits of Gifting to Charities
    Scott Elger, Robert W. Baird & Co.
  • Legislative Issues
    Electric Rate Relief: Is It Coming in Time for August?
    State Sen. David Koehler, 46th District
  • Manufacturing Issues
    Developing Manufacturing Leaders
    Bob Weinstein, IMEC
  • Occupational Health Issues
    Cut Down the Stress
    Michael Davis - IWIRC Corp.
  • Social Issues
    Families and Communities
    Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way
  • Staffing Issues
    Advice for Job Seekers
    David Smith, Manpower Professional
  • Workforce Issues
    The Future of Workforce Development
    Bashir Ali - Central Illinois Workforce Network

Also in This Issue...

Business Bulletins
The latest in business news in central Illinois.
Caution for Gifts of S-Corp Stock
Bethany Hearn, CPA/ABV
If gifting an S-Corporation stock is part of your estate plan, proceed with caution. The appraisal of the stock must properly address the tax affecting issue. If the appraiser fails to properly address this issue, the gift may be appraised at a value greater than you expect.
Measuring Website Effectiveness
Michelle Lefebvre
There are many ways web analytics can help you evaluate the effectiveness of your current site, plan for an updated site and measure your marketing efforts. When business owners combine their expertise with the skills of professional website marketers, it’s a recipe for great success!
Positive Job Market Expected For Peoria
Peoria area employers expect to hire at a steady pace during the third quarter of 2007, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.