InterBusiness Issues - January 2008

Joe Crowe
Illinois Department of Transportation

Joe Crowe, the Deputy Director of Highways in Region Three of the Illinois Department of Transportation, began his career with IDOT at the Collinsville District in June 1984. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and has held several positions within IDOT as he worked his way up the ladder. In his current position as Deputy Director of Highways, Crowe is responsible for the operations and maintenance of all state highways in 19 counties, consisting of 3,162 miles of highways and 1,469 bridges. Combined, these highways support more than 19 million miles of travel daily. The region employs 700 full-time personnel and an additional 80 to 200 temporary employees to accomplish its mission. Crowe is a Registered Professional Engineer in Illinois and Missouri and a graduate of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Management Institute at the University of Indiana. He is a member of the Illinois Association of Highway Engineers, the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the American Public Works Association. He currently serves on the Civil Engineering and Construction Advisory Board at Bradley University.

Features

Publisher's Note
A Lot to Accomplish in '08
In 2008, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We don’t have any more time to lose.
Hanson Professional Services
Hanson Professional Services, Inc. took its first steps toward becoming an award-winning civil engineering firm over 50 years ago.
Illinois Goes Smoke-Free
The Smoke Free Illinois Act (SFIA) will affect nearly every entry of every business and place of employment and will also supersede any local smoke-free ordinances that are less restrictive.
Manufacturing Impact of the Renewable Fuel Boom
Subsequent to President Bush’s 2005 State of the Union Address and the Energy Policy Act of 2005—which set an aggressive renewable fuel standard—ethanol plants were built left and right.
High Schools Struggle with the Global Economy
Students are graduating from high school, and even college, with a lack of educational preparation for global-level work.
Fighting for Health Care for All
On November 14th, more than 300 current and future leaders in the health care arena attended a special public policy symposium entitled “Health Care for ALL Americans—Building a Bipartisan Coalition for Real Change.”

Columns

  • Agricultural Issues
    Policy Updates at Annual Meeting
    Patrick Kirchhofer - Peoria County Farm Bureau
  • Business Banking Issues
    The Benefits of Trust Departments
    Rich Firebaugh, South Side Bank
  • City Issues
    Start the New Year Off Right
    Mayor Jim Ardis - City of Peoria
  • Community Issues
    Promoting Museum Square
    W. Michael Bryant, Methodist Medical Center
  • Ethical Issues
    Ethical New Year's Resolutions
    Dr. John Throop - The Summit Group
  • Healthcare Issues
    Competitive, Collaborative Healthcare
    Keith Steffen, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
  • Heartland Issues
    A New Year's Resolution for the Business Community
    Roberta Parks - Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
  • HR Issues
    Employees Who Call in "Sick" Probably Aren't
    Mary Pille - Employers' Association
  • Information Management Issues
    The 10 Deadly Sins of a Corporate Retention
    Greg Dickerson, Iron Mountain
  • Investment Issues
    An Onslaught of the Year-End Financial Reviews
    Scott Elger - Robert W. Baird & Co.
  • Legislative Issues
    The Fight for Adequate Health Care in Illinois
    State Sen. David Koehler, 46th District
  • Manufacturing Issues
    Balancing Sales Growth and Cost Reduction
    Tucker Kennedy, IMEC
  • Occupational Health Issues
    Should I Still Get a Flu Shot?
    Dr. Dru Hauter, IWIRC
  • Public Issues
    Much Work to be Done in Final Year
    Congressman Ray LaHood - U.S. Congress
  • Social Issues
    Nonprofit Doesn't Have to Mean No Profit
    Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way
  • Staffing Issues
    Recommended Reading for the Job Seeker
    David Smith - Manpower Professional
  • Workforce Issues
    2007 State of the Workforce
    Bashir Ali - Central Illinois Workforce Network

Also in This Issue...

Business Bulletins
The latest in business news in central Illinois.
Leading Change
by Dr. Chuck Stoner
There is nothing strange or bizarre about resistance to change. For many people, caught in the rapid pace of their daily lives, holding change at arm’s length is a reasonable way to cope and a logical way to survive.
Technology Used to Control Water System Costs
by Gary W. Davis
What can be done to assure water systems are being maintained to provide a reliable supply to homes, businesses, institutions and fire protection systems?