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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
Marc Burnett
Peoria 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
by Sarah Cash
CEFCU and Methodist Medical Center of Illinois were recently selected as winners of the 2007 Best Places to Work in Illinois competition.
Green Building Makes Dollars and Sense
Don Forrest
Farnsworth Group, Inc.
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.
How Central American Trade Can Benefit Your Growing Business
Tim Stewart
RSM McGladrey
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
Pete Simpson
Lincoln Office
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.
Publisher's Note
The Spirit of Cooperation
by Jan Wright, Publisher
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.

Also in this issue...

Business Bulletins
The latest in business news in central Illinois.
Measuring Website Effectiveness
Michelle Lefebvre
DLA Creative, Inc.
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!
Caution for Gifts of S-Corp Stock
Bethany Hearn, CPA/ABV
Clifton Gunderson LLP
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.
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.

Columns

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