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The Peoria Woman - April 2007

The Peoria Woman
Brenda Coates
Calling Peoria Home
Since last August, Brenda Coates has been the executive director for the Peoria Housing Authority (PHA). During her 18 years of public housing experience, she has held various positions within the agency. She was deputy executive director for nine years before being promoted to executive director in August 2006. In 2001, she was selected to receive the Women of Achievement Award from Women in Management. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Augustana College and is also a 1996 graduate of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School. Currently, the Peoria resident serves as a board member for the Peoria Area Labor Management, Women in Leadership and Women’s Advisory for Financial Literacy and is a member of the Rotary Club of Peoria.

Features

Peoria Profile

Lori McCombs
Jennifer Burns
As the president and owner of Leaves-N-Beans Roasting Co., Lori McCombs doesn’t just drink coffee—she lives and breathes it.

Publisher's Note

The Peoria Woman Redesigned
by Jan Wright Vergon, Publisher
A new book by futurists Marian Salzman and Ira Matathia suggests 10 trends that will affect women in 2007.

Finding a Cure for Hair Care

Jennifer Burns
When a woman looks her best, she can also feel her best. One local salon owner is helping women look and feel their best during a very difficult time—facing cancer.

Career

Business Showcase Highlights

by Mary Ardapple, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
On Monday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 27, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce will launch the newly-labeled Business Showcase, formerly known as the Area Business Connection.

Culture Counts...Access Your Audience!

Cyndi Maxey
Maxey Creative Inc.
An understanding of culture is priceless for the stellar presenter. When you understand the culture of your potential audience, you have an edge on influence.

Living in Denial

by Katrina Taraska, Vonachen, Lawless, Trager and Slevin
Recent media attention on the staggering number of insurance claims denied in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, has given many consumers pause to ask, “Am I really insured?”

The Features of Vista

by Shari Tripp, Illinois Central College
Last month we looked at the hardware needed to run Windows Vista. Now we’ll look at some of the features it has to offer.

Whose Job is it Anyway?

by Christine Corelli, Christine Corelli & Associates
In an ideal world, motivation would come exclusively from within. More often than not, however, it’s up to management to maintain employee morale.

Health

Gestational Diabetes

Jeri Yee
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Gestational diabetes affects between 2 and 14 percent of all pregnancies, making it one of the most common problems of pregnancy.

Get it Straight

by Kate Jones, Kramer Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center
Many people neglect the most important part of the child’s healthcare program: regular spinal and nervous system checkups.

Women and Gambling: No Glamour and Glitz

Coleen Moore
Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery
It’s estimated that 5 percent of the general population are compulsive gamblers. Of those, according to the New Jersey Council on Problem Gambling, one-third are women.

Lifestyle

Do You Eat to Live or Live to Eat?

Amy Forsberg
The Antioch Group, Inc.
Food seems to have an ever-increasing power over many people. Is it simply the nourishment our bodies require to sustain life? This relationship with food is one that can quickly spiral out of control and become unhealthy.

Plant Yourself in Spring Fashion

Jennifer Burns
Put away your heavy sweaters and wool pants—spring fashion is here!

Senior Moments

by Bugs
Don't dwell on this, but from the moment we are born, we start aging.

Finance

Saying "I Do" to Money Matters

by Sandra Beneventi, Commerce Bank
Massive amounts of time are spent on planning for a wedding and sometimes little attention is spent on planning for what happens after the wedding— the actual marriage. One largely neglected area is money matters.

The Cost of Health Insurance

by Jeanne Buysee, American Family Insurance
Most people take health insurance for granted. Some people can’t aspire to fully-insured status because of the cost and a large group of people cannot even purchase coverage because of pre-existing conditions.