Member Profiles - Vermilion Advantage

Inside this issue:
Page 2:
Member Profiles
Page 6:
Welcome Home,
Welcome Here
Page 7:
Career Corner
Page 10:
County Connections
JANUARY 2016
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
Vermilion Advantage, through membership value,
provides strategic leadership on critical business issues -
leading economic & workforce development, anticipating
and responding to members’ needs, addressing quality of
life issues and providing a network of information &
business contacts – advocating the pursuit of
Vicki L. Haugen
President & CEO
opportunities to strengthen the local economy and
business environment.
Tinisha Shade-Spain
Economic Development Director
Machelle Dykes
Membership Resource Manager/
Career Network Administrator
Jo Doggett
Data and Finance Manager
Lauren Wonderlin
Professional Services
Coordinator
Rachel Haun
Administrative Assistant
Kim Kuchenbrod
Workforce Development
Consultant
Logan Cronk
Rural Community Development
Coordinator
Phone 217.442.6201
Fax 217.442.6228
[email protected]
www.vermilionadvantage.com
www.vermilionadvantage.com/job-board
ON THE COVER:
Rossville - Alvin High School
N E W S
&
V I E W S
Introducing
All A’s
We are pleased to share some good news
– a whole section of good news, in fact.
Beginning this month, Vermilion
Advantage is launching “All A’s,” a page
devoted to celebrating the good things
happening in our area. We will share
Awards, Achievements and Accolades
that have occurred in area businesses and
organizations. To be included, please send
your information to Machelle Dykes at
[email protected]
Join the Vermilion Advantage team in
congratulating these businesses and
employees on their Awards,
Achievements, and Accolades!
Tracy Billings of C2 Engineers recently earned her B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of
Illinois. Tracy completed the degree while working nearly full-time and commuting between Danville and Champaign. She
has been with C2 Engineers since June 2015.
Perry Jaynes Financial Services is celebrating:
• Progressive Insurance elevated the office to Platinum Level, one of 16 in the state of Illinois.
• Perry Jaynes achieved “Court of the Table” level with the Million Dollar Round Table, the Premier Association of
Financial Professionals.
• Perry Jaynes again qualified for the Preferred Broker with Health Alliance Medical Plans.
• The office hired two additional licensed brokers for their team.
• The Perry Jaynes Financial Team signed on with four more companies, bringing their total number of carriers to 21.
Schomburg and Schomburg Construction Inc. was named “Best of the United States” by US Builders Review. The award
recognizes construction and building companies from across the country that have committed their enterprises to success,
satisfied employees, and superior products and service. This year, 22 winners were selected from nearly 500 eligible featured
companies for their industry contributions and forward-thinking nature.
Springfield Electric Supply Company of Danville won the “Community Involvement Award” for the second year in a row.
The local team was selected from among the company’s 17 branches. The award was given in recognition of the Danville
office’s community involvement including: AMBUCS Christmas parties, Salvation Army bell ringing, Danville Public
Library book sale assistance, helping with First United Methodist Church community dinners, purchasing and delivering food
to Crosspoint Women’s Shelter, serving food at the Westville American Legion children’s Christmas party and volunteering at
Festival of Trees. The Danville associates’ volunteer efforts were acknowledged with a luncheon.
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V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
Member Profiles
YMCA Corporate
Wellness Program a
Huge Benefit to
Local Employers and
Employees
For employers interested in encouraging
the healthy New Year’s resolutions of
their employees, the Danville YMCA
now offers a Corporate Wellness
Program.
The program aligns with companies
looking to improve the well being of
their employees, and in turn their overall
business.
“Corporate Wellness is one of the
most vital investments that a company
can make in their employees,” says
YMCA Health and Wellness Director
Nicole East. “Businesses that partner
with the YMCA for their Corporate
Wellness programs are not only
investing in the physical wellness,
safety, and mental health of their
employees, but they are also taking
preventative measures by creating a
healthier environment.”
This is not the first time the YMCA
has offered the Corporate Wellness
program, but East hopes recent changes
will help broaden its impact.
“The Danville Family YMCA
Corporate Wellness Program does more
than provide membership cards,” East
says. “The Y offers programs and
services to support every individual and
family on their quest to adopt a healthy
and active lifestyle. When businesses
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partner with the Y, their employees are
eligible to receive 20% off of their
monthly membership dues in addition to
having the joiner fee waived.”
East knows that promoting healthy
lifestyles is an essential step in
maintaining the well being of both the
business and its employees.
“A corporate wellness program can
improve employee health and
productivity while also containing
health care costs,” she says. “When
businesses partner with us, they are
encouraging healthier lifestyles which
lead to employees that work more
diligently and miss fewer days of work
due to illness.”
The YMCA goes beyond the
traditional role of a health center and
seeks to improve the vitality of their
members and the Vermilion County
community.
“We are more than just a gym; we
are a cause,” East says. “In addition to
the heart-pumping workouts you may
know us for, the Y offers heart-filled
help as a nonprofit focused on
strengthening community. We help
children, adults and families from all
walks of life reach their goals and
contribute to solutions that improve
communities.”
The Benefits of Corporate Wellness
• Reduce Absenteeism—Employee
wellness programs reduce the stress,
depression, injury or illness that
employees are experiencing in the
workplace, causing them to spend fewer
days away from work.
• Decrease Healthcare Costs – Healthier
employees translates to fewer
healthcare claims.
• Improve Productivity-More time on the
job and fewer injuries affect the
bottom line.
• Reduce Injuries—Healthy employees are
at lower risk for injury than those who
are unhealthy with multiple risk factors.
• Improve Employee Morale and
Retention—Companies that sponsor an
employee wellness program send a
clear message to their employees that
executive leadership values their overall
well-being.
Did you know . . .combined workplace health
enhancement and risk management
intervention strategies focused on healthy
lifestyle behavior change have been shown
to yield a $3 to $6 Return on Investment for
each dollar invested in 2 to 5 years?
If your company is interested in partnering
with the Danville Family YMCA, they may
request an informational brochure and
pricing information from Nicole East, Health
and Wellness Director, or Sarah Jones,
Membership and Marketing Director.
N E W S
&
V I E W S
Media One Visual
Arts Celebrates
25 Years in
Vermilion County
This year is a special year for Media One
Visual Arts as it celebrates twenty-five
years of business in the Vermilion County
area. Jeff Summers, owner of the company,
says, “I am grateful and humbled by the
support Media One has enjoyed over the
years, and I look forward to serving businesses in this area for many years to come.”
Media One Visual Arts is primarily a
graphic design firm, specializing in logo design and print design. It has been serving
the Vermilion County area since 1991, with
a client roster that includes international
businesses, small businesses, education establishments, political campaigns, and nonprofit organizations. In the past twenty-five
years, Media One has worked on everything
from brochures, annual reports, magazine
advertising, posters, vehicle graphics, outdoor advertising, packing design, and more.
In addition to print design, Media One provides illustration, web design, corporate
video production, and project photography.
According to Jeff Summers, most people would be surprised to learn that they see
his work on a daily basis while driving
around Vermilion County and even in other
parts of the country. From billboards, to
signs displaying business logos, to the vehicle graphics on buses or company vehicles,
to water towers, or even the “Welcome to
Danville” signs coming into town, Media
One’s expertise is displayed all over the
area. They may also see his work in the
magazines or newspapers they open, or in
Jeff Summers, Owner
Media One Visual Arts
commercials they see on television.
In the twenty-five years Media One has
been a company, graphic design has
changed drastically. Originally, all design
was done on a drafting table with t-squares,
triangles, Rapidograph pens, and line tape.
Multiple people would work on each project, whether setting type, cutting and past-
“I am grateful and humbled by the
support Media One has enjoyed
over the years, and I look forward
to serving businesses in this area
for many years to come.”
ing, separating color transparencies, or
photographing. When Summers started his
career, a single person could not have created a press-ready print project alone; it
took an entire team. Furthermore, the
process took a great deal of space; a copy
camera alone could take up two rooms.
As technology improved over the years,
it became easier and easier to create an entire, press-ready file completely in-house
and by a single person. Digital cameras,
scanners, and desktop publishing software
decreased the equipment and space needed
to create a graphic design project. In 2010,
Summers realized that he was actually not
using the office space as he once was, and
he moved his business to a home office.
One of Media One’s strengths is that
every client works directly with the designer, which eliminates miscommunication
and establishes a solid working relationship.
Also, as Media One’s overhead is low, the
company can offer very competitive pricing.
Jeff Summers’ main advice to local businesses in terms of graphic design coincides
with Media One’s slogan: “In a competitive
market, image is everything.” Remember
that in many cases, the only way your customers know you is by the brochure, letterhead, or business card they are holding or
by the website they are browsing. Lessthan-professional material creates the perception of a less-than-professional
company. With that being said, a true
graphic designer is an artist in every sense
of the word and has the design sensibilities
and understanding of good composition that
not everyone possesses. They know how to
lead the eye. They understand the art of typography and know how to adjust leading
and kerning correctly so that words become
part of the design, and are not just words.
While desktop publishing has allowed anyone to access the tools used by graphic designers, those are only tools; quality design
comes from within. Media One Visual Arts
has the skill and artistry to create quality
graphic design products for anyone in the
Vermilion County area.
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A D V A N T A G E
Presence Health Continues to Find Ways
to Serve More Residents
of East Central Illinois
Vermilion County has the privilege of being
one of the locations for a Presence Health
hospital. Presence Health is the largest
Catholic health system based in Illinois
with more than 150 sites of care, 20,000 associates, and 4,000 medical professionals.
Presence Health offers care for people
through every stage of life.
Adding Iroquois Memorial Hospital
In 2012, Iroquois Memorial Hospital began
looking for a partner to ensure the sustainability of local access to high quality health
care for the residents of the communities
served by IMH and maintain jobs at the facility. At the end of 2013, Iroquois Memorial Hospital became an independent partner
of Presence Health. Iroquois Memorial will
have been operating for one hundred years
as of February 28, 2016. It is an acute care
facility with a 35 bed nursing home attached to the hospital. There are five satellite clinics located in four communities, a
home health agency, and a hospice service.
An outpatient rehab facility is also included
offering physical therapy, occupational
therapy, and speech therapy. IMH has a
strong commitment to technology, as well.
As an independent partner, IMH participates in the many benefits of being a member of a comprehensive health system.
Presence Health is contracted to provide
management services to Iroquois Memorial
Hospital, and as a result, Presence provides
the CEO and COO at the hospital as well as
the Resident Home Administrator/Risk and
Nurse Lead at the resident home and the director of Home Care. In addition, management services including clinical, financial,
facility management, regulatory, and additional support services are available to
IMH. Presence Covenant in Urbana and
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Presence United Samaritans Medical Center
serve as the key resource for providing supporting management services. This shared
management expertise extends local administrative capacity which allows IMH to
focus on local health care delivery issues
versus the energy-consuming regulatory
business of health care.
Partnership Benefits
In addition to benefitting hospital faculty and staff, patients benefit from the
partnership as well. As part of Presence
Health, the patients who frequent IMH have
access to valuable medical technology, including telestroke, which provides immediate access to endovascular neurology
specialists in Joliet without ever having to
leave town. They also have access to additional specialists, such as Dr. Stephen Ambrose, who is a maternal fetal medicine
specialist, as well as access to a dermatology clinic and vascular surgeons. In addition to the medical specialists, patients also
have access to all the area resources that are
part of Presence Health ministries (hospitals).
The partnership between Iroquois Memorial Hospital and Presence Health provides expertise in many areas, including
management, leaders in compliance and
regulatory requirements associated with
The Joint Commission and Public Health,
human resources, financial oversight, outside consultants, marketing, advertising, onsite specialists, additional provider choices,
and information technology.
About Presence
Not only is Presence Health wellequipped to handle patients, but they also
have been recognized numerous times na-
Dr. Jared Rogers
Leslie Cottrell, RN MSN
tionally. All hospitals are designated Primary Stroke Centers, recognizing their ability to rapidly diagnose, treat, and in some
cases, stop a stroke. Additionally, Presence
Health has been recognized for their quality
heart care, including high ratings for open
heart surgery. In 2014, Presence’s Home
Care was named to the 2014 HomeCare
EliteTM, an annual ranking of the top 25%
in-home care providers in the nation. Furthermore, the Presence Hospitals were
ranked as one of U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 Best Hospitals for Common
Care list.
N E W S
About Presence United Samaritans
Medical Center
Presence United Samaritan’s Medical
Center in Danville is just one of the eleven
hospitals in the Presence Health system. It
provides the latest technology with a full
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V I E W S
range of inpatient and outpatient services to
residents in East Central Illinois and Western Indiana, in addition to providing numerous community programs to help people
maintain healthier lifestyles. PUSMC is
known for its accredited, comprehensive
cancer care program, progressive women’s
health center, and maternity care with
home-like birthing suites, as well as being a
Primary Stroke Center with telestroke.
Profile - Danville Tennis Club/Tennis Center
Manager, Cathy Simpson
We recently caught up with the Director of
Tennis/Club Manager Cathy Simpson,
USTPA (United States Professional Tennis
Association) Tennis Professional.
Tell us about the Tennis Club.
The Danville Tennis Club has been serving
Danville’s tennis needs since 1947! We
have 4 indoor courts and 6 outdoor courts.
We have a long history with the Danville
High School Tennis Teams. They have their
practices and their home matches here. We
also have great participation from Western
Indiana. We have a long list of players that
have continued on to play college tennis,
and many have gone on to be Teaching
Pro’s.
What does your job entail?
I have been the Director of Tennis/Club
Manager since 2007, and have been em-
ployed for approximately 23 years. I run
tournaments, leagues, drills, clinics, camps;
give private lessons; and host special events
such as college matches and interclubs.
“We have people playing from
ages 3 to almost 90 years old!
We have an active Senior
Group that plays 3 times
per week.”
Are we too old to play?
We have people playing from ages 3 to almost 90 years old! We have an active Senior Group that plays 3 times per week. We
have leagues for both men and women, and
a coed league.
What do people love most?
Our most popular program is Drills. This is
a drop in, year round, fun activity that all
levels can enjoy. We have beginners to very
advanced players that participate. It is offered four times per week. It is a great
work out and many former athletes that
have never tried tennis get started this way.
What do you offer for younger players?
We just finished our 26th season of Junior
Team Tennis, with 56 juniors participating.
This is a league that is held on the weekends. It is made up of juniors just starting
to serve from the baseline, to the top area
high school players.
We offer a free Boy’s and Girl’s Club
Camp, a free AMBUCS Camp, and many
scholarships to juniors that need financial
assistance.
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V E R M I L I O N
What can visitors expect the first time
they come?
In the last 7 years we have re-surfaced all
10 courts, installed new indoor energy efficient lighting, and remodeled the clubhouse.
We have a very family friendly atmosphere and we look forward to providing the
tennis community in the Danville Area with
A D V A N T A G E
one of the best indoor/outdoor facilities in
downstate Illinois for many more years to
come!
What do we need to know about
membership?
We are a VERY affordable Tennis Center in
large part due to the tremendous support
from our past and current members. Guests
can play up to 6 times before deciding to
join. We have four USPTA Pro’s available
to give lessons and a Pro Shop with a certified racquet stringer.
For more information, please visit danvilletenniscenter.com.
Welcome Home, Welcome Here
Trillium
Staffing Names
Betsy Strader
as New Branch
Manager
Betsy Strader has been named the new
Branch Manager for Trillium Staffing located at 304 N. Gilbert in Danville. Betsy
has worked for Trillium since June of 2004.
For the past two years she has focused on
Professional contract and direct-hire orders.
She also has nearly 12 years of recruiting
experience with Trillium in light industrial
and office/administrative recruiting. Betsy is
a graduate of Illinois State University with a
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She also returned to school to earn
an Associate’s degree in Accounting from
Danville Area Community College; this
gave Betsy a strong understanding of accounting positions and helped her to work
with many area accounting firms and ac-
6
counting departments to fill key positions.
Betsy currently serves as Programming
Chair on the Board of Executive Club and
has previously held the positions of Treasurer and Secretary. She also serves on the
Danville Area Community College Accounting Advisory Board. Betsy lives in
Danville and is married to Chris; they have
two adult children, Carley and Brock.
Trillium Staffing purchased the former
Opportunity Specialists (OSI) in October
2005 making 2016 the 39th consecutive
year of doing business in Danville. The
local branch serves Vermilion and Champaign Counties and the surrounding areas of
East Central IL and West Central IN. The
staff places temporary, contract-to-hire, and
direct-hire employees in a multitude of occupations and industries including light industrial, production, distribution,
manufacturing, clerical, administrative, accounting, Human Resources, IT, Engineering, supervisory and management roles.
Trillium has more than 75 branches nationwide and employs more than 7500 people
on a weekly basis. In addition to local orders, the Danville staff also works on orders
nation-wide. Trillium is also home to several other divisions specializing in specific
job placement: Trillium Drivers, Trillium
Construction, and Trillium Environmental
to name a few.
Congratulations Betsy!
N E W S
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Career Corner
Meet Haliee Powell-Eltzeroth: 18
Year-Old High School Senior and
College Sophomore
Hailee Powell-Eltzeroth began her college
career as a freshman at Schlarman Academy.
“I have been taking dual credits through
Danville Area Community College since I
was a freshman,” she says. “The first class I
took was over the summer and was the
DACC Fitness Center.”
Over the following three years, Eltzeroth
expanded her course-load to include biology,
psychology, and a host of other general education classes. By the time she graduates
from Schlarman Academy in the spring, she
will have 42 college credits.
Full-time college students typically enroll
in 15 credit hours per semester, which means
Eltzeroth will be nearing her fourth semester
as a college student before the end of her
high school career.
The benefits of the Dual Enrollment program are not lost on Powell, who is aware of
how far ahead she is, both academically and
financially.
“I have pride in knowing all of my hard
work has been worth it,” she says. “Taking
on extra classes, giving up my summers, and
spending my weekends studying has put me
two years ahead of everyone else. As of January 2016, I have 32 DACC dual enrollment
credits. This has saved me $3,680.00 at
DACC. If I were to go to Southern Illinois
University Edwardsville, my credits would
have saved me $19,808.30.”
Next fall, Eltzeroth will continue her
coursework at DACC, but this time as an official Nursing student.
“I plan to pursue a career in Nursing,”
she says. “I have completed several courses
that are required for the Nursing Program at
DACC. This allows me to go straight into the
Nursing Program in the fall of 2016 to earn
my Associates in Applied Sciences. I will
graduate with my Associates in 2018 and
then will transfer somewhere for my Bachelors of Science in Nursing.”
She hopes all students will consider Dual
Enrollment at DACC.
“I encourage anyone who has the option
of taking dual enrollment classes at their high
school,” says Eltzeroth. “If you do not have
the option of on campus classes then explore
the options of going to DACC not only during the school year but also over summer vacation. Many people are not willing to give
up their summers for school but classes are
not everyday and they are only a few hours.
It will require a little bit of dedication and
willpower but the end result is something
you will not regret!”
Parents - Want to know more
about Dual Enrollment?
Data, Desserts, and Decisions - for the
parents of area high school sophomores
February 17 6-8:30 pm
February 18 6-8:30 pm
February 22 6-8:30 pm
Hoopeston
Higher Learning
Center
DACC
Georgetown
Fairgrounds
Pavilion Bldg.
This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to
hear about the upcoming dual credit opportunities available to their children when they
become Juniors.
DACC offers Dual Enrollment
programs in conjunction with
most area high schools, often at
no charge to the student.
When a student completes a course,
after receiving approval from their
guidance counselor, they receive
credit for the class that can be used
for both high school and college. The
program is open to juniors and seniors, and can save a student nearly
$300 for an equivalent class at a community college or $1,000 at a state university, per credit.
The following area high schools currently participate in Dual Enrollment
with DACC:
Illinois Public High Schools:
• Danville High School
• Hoopeston Area High School
• Bismarck-Henning High School
• Armstrong High School
• Milford High School
• Oakwood High School
• Salt Fork High School
• Westville High School
• Georgetown-Ridge Farm
High School
• Chrisman High School
• Shiloh High School
Illinois Parochial High Schools:
• First Baptist Christian High School
• Schlarman Academy
• Danville Christian Academy
Indiana Public High Schools:
• North Vermillion High School
• Covington High School
• Seeger Memorial High School
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A D V A N T A G E
Hoopeston Area Middle School
Adds New Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math Lab
Hoopeston Area Middle School students
just received a big boost towards future
achievement. The school recently added a
Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) lab.
Annie Burton, the school’s Principal,
hopes introducing the lab to the students’
curriculum will prepare them for long-term
academic and professional success.
“The STEM lab is key to preparing our
students for college and career readiness,”
Burton says. “The fastest growing career
opportunities are STEM related. Students
need to collaborate and be problem-solvers.
The lab is a place to simulate real-world situations.”
Housed in a renovated Home Economics classroom, the lab allows teachers to
move away from a traditional lecture and
note-taking class and engage with students
through interactive learning modules.
“The STEM lab will provide additional
collaborative activities and allow students
to explore Science, Technology, Engineer-
8
ing, and Math through hands-on, real-world
experiences,” she says. “The lab can physically be modified to provide unique learning experiences. It is a place to take
learning beyond textbooks, worksheets, and
“All of our seventh and eighth
grade students, almost 200, will
benefit from the lab,” she says.
“The creation of the STEM lab took
time and collaboration by many
individuals in different career roles.
Hoopeston Area continues to look
for innovative ways to engage our
students for 21st century learning.”
lectures. The goal is to build on students’
curiosities and allow them to enhance their
knowledge through innovation, technology,
and global awareness.”
Instructors will use a combination of experiments and collaborative projects to
teach students, and help them develop an
understanding of STEM related careers.
“There will be four stocked labs for experiments,” Burton says. “Our students will
have the opportunity to collaborate and
share data in the lab through our 1:1
Chromebook initiative. One of the second
semester Encore classes will build a robot
and continue to explore coding. During the
fourth quarter, a Genius Hour will be offered as an encore. Students will decide on
a topic of interest for the nine-week course.
They will create a plan and present their
topic at the end of the quarter. Additional
activities are mousetrap races and engineering challenges beginning with a leprechaun
trap.”
The lab can pique a student’s interest in
STEM, but outside the classroom the responsibility falls on parents to foster those
interests and create a strong work ethic.
“I would advise parents to help their
child explore STEM careers and the possibilities of coursework in high school,” she
N E W S
says. “Many of the careers these students
will be applying for do not exist yet. The
best way to prepare is to build student’s soft
skills and work habits. Good attendance at
school, completing homework, and displaying good manners are stepping stones to the
future. Parents can encourage their child to
explore interests, connect with people, and
&
V I E W S
effectively work in a group/team.”
Burton recognizes the value the lab has
for her students, and views it as another
step forward for Hoopeston Area Middle
School.
“All of our seventh and eighth grade
students, almost 200, will benefit from the
lab,” she says. “The creation of the STEM
lab took time and collaboration by many individuals in different career roles. Hoopeston Area continues to look for innovative
ways to engage our students for 21st century learning.”
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A D V A N T A G E
County Connections
Kickapoo Rail
Trail Moves
Closer to Reality
Kickapoo Overview Map
If you’ve ever driven U.S. Route 150 from
Danville to Champaign, you’ve seen the
beautiful countryside that blends both counties together. Soon, there will be a new way
for people to explore that beauty with the
Kickapoo Rail Trail. The Kickapoo Rail
Trail will be a 24.5 mile trail that will run
from Weaver Park on the east side of Urbana to the Vermilion County Fairgrounds
and Kickapoo State Park. It will follow the
retired Con Rail/CSX rail line, which was
purchased by the Vermilion County Conservation District and the Champaign County
Forest Preserve District in 2013.
This trail will be a recreational multiuse trail for walkers, bicyclists, and joggers.
Along the trail, the VCCD is trying to keep
the right-of way in its beautiful natural state
as well as possible. This includes keeping
the trees and preserving prairie remnants.
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Prairie grasses will be planted in the disturbed sites. Additionally, the trestle bridge
over the Middle Fork National Scenic River
will be a major tourist attraction, further
making the most of the amazing scenery
Vermilion County has to offer.
Currently, if the state releases the final
funding, construction will begin on each
side of the trail this spring, which is Phase
I. This phase should take about ten weeks to
complete. Phase I includes creating the trail
from the Vermilion County Fairgrounds to
Oakwood (3.5 miles) and Urbana to St.
Joseph (6.5 miles). The final design has already been completed, but the construction
of Phases II and III will be yet to come,
which will connect and finish the trail.
According to Ken Konsis, Executive
Director of the Vermilion County Conservation District, the Kickapoo Rail Trail is
Ken Konsis
truly a team effort. Not only between both
Champaign and Vermilion Counties, but
also the IDNR, IDOT, and the affected villages are working together to make this
dream a reality. The Champaign County
Forest Preserve District is writing grants administered by the IDOT and working out
fundraising scenarios. Additionally, a
N E W S
&
V I E W S
fundraising committee is working diligently
to procure private funds.
If all goes well, Vermilion County residents should be able to see the finished
Phase I later this spring. Until then, updates
and information can be seen on www.kickpoorailtrail.org.
Kickapoo Trestle East
Profile – Georgetown
ings needed to get things completed in the
community. And he works hard to make
things better for community residents and
businesses.
Readnour’s part-time role is made a bit
easier by having his home and operating his
landscaping business across the street from
City Hall.
Darin Readnour never aspired to hold a
mayoral position. But the new mayor of
Georgetown found himself saying yes to
the role when former mayor Kay Sanders
developed serious health issues that kept
her from completing her term. She ultimately passed away last year.
Since May of 2015, Readnour has been
learning the duties of mayor of this southern Vermilion County community.
“I would never have run for office,” he
says. “But when Kay asked me to fill in, I
knew I had to help out. For the last few
months, I’ve been adapting and learning the
job. I’m beginning to feel more comfortable.”
In his role, he works closely with the Police
Chief, the Treasurer and the team of other
city employees. He attends the two village
meetings per month and many other meet-
A community of friendly people
“I think we have a community of a lot of
nice people,” he says. “People are really
friendly. When there are community events
there is always plenty of help.”
One recent community project involves
an area near the dam. Jim Chandler, a retired community resident, is spearheading
efforts to clean up the area that is just south
of town. “He took it upon himself to do this
and people have really been helping,”
Readnour says. “When it is finished it will
be a place where people can go to fish and
picnic. There have been no taxpayer dollars
involved – it is all volunteer donations and
a grant from Keep Vermilion County
Clean.”
Events
Georgetown may be best known for its annual Georgetown Fair which draws thousands of people to the week-long event. The
first official fair was held in 1938 and the
event and the grounds have grown steadily
over the years. The event includes headline
entertainment, a demolition derby, a truck
and tractor pull, carnival rides, a talent contest, scholarships, the queen pageant and
many other activities.
A lesser known but popular event is the
Holiday Gathering. For two weekends in
November, hundreds of people visit shops,
churches and private homes to shop for
unique holiday treasures.
The community also hosts 4th of July fireworks and parades for Homecoming and
Christmas.
New this year will be an event to coincide with the new hot air balloon festival in
Danville. The event, tentatively set July 2,
may include an ice cream social and events
for kids. A team of community residents
and the planning commission are currently
working on the details.
Doing Business
Readnour says the community is served by
a number of local companies ranging from
Bahr’s Noodles to the town’s many restaurants. There are also a number of small
businesses that offer services and products
to the surrounding communities.
The Future
The future looks bright for this small town.
“We’d love to see more businesses locate
here,” Readnour adds. “It is a good community to live and work.”
Mark Your
Calendar
Georgetown Fair
August 6-13, 2016
11
JANUARY 2016
V E R M I L I O N
A D V A N T A G E
Events
Need More
Information
About the
March 15, 2016
Primary?
Will Nesbitt, Executive Director of the Danville Election
Commission, shares some tips.
What times are the polling places open?
Polling places are open from 6:00 am-7:00 pm.
Where can we find a list of polling places?
Danville polling places are on our website www.danvillevotes.com
and Vermilion County polling places are at www.vercounty.org
Who are the candidates in each race?
You can find a complete list at this link.
http://www.vercounty.org/eleccomm_files/Candidates list 2016 for
City of Danville.pdf
Where can people find more information about
the candidates?
They can search Facebook to see if any candidates have
Facebook pages or they can check to see if any candidates
have a website.
12
Be sure to vote!
N E W S
&
V I E W S
Vermilion Advantage Members
in Good Standing, January, 2016
Product or Service by Category
AUTOMOTIVE:
Carmack Car Capitol
Courtesy Ford Lincoln Mercury Dodge
Heritage Petroleum, LLC
Hoopeston Star Chrysler
NAPA Auto & Truck Parts Superstore
Pilot Travel Center
Shutes’ Auto & Frey Tire
Toyota of Danville
Vermilion Chevrolet
Wilson’s Auto & Transmission Service, Inc.
CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTORS:
A&R Mechanical Contractors
Anderson Electric, Inc.
Cornett Roofing Services
Creative Construction By Design
Curry Construction
Danville Bldg. & Constr. Trades Council
Danville NECA-IBEW Electrical JATC
Eagle Mechanical, Inc.
ERH Enterprises, Inc.
ERVIN construction
Freeman General Contracting
Glesco Electric, Inc.
Illinois Chapter of National Electrical
Contractors Association, Inc.
Lipa Enterprises, Inc.
McDowell Builders, Inc.
Myers Flooring Center, Inc. d/b/a Myers
Carpet Weavers
Patten Painting
River Bottom Farms Screened Topsoil
Rodman Plumbing
Schomburg & Schomburg Construction, Inc.
Sentry Roofing, Inc.
Shortz Family Farms, Inc.
Terminix Co. (for insulation)
Th Snyder Co.
Venture Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
White Construction, Inc.
DISTRIBUTION:
AutoZone Distribution
Central States Distribution Service
Dawson Logistics
McLane Midwest Company, Inc.
NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc.
Orange & Blue Distributing
Pepsi-Cola C-U Bottling Co.
Sunrise Coal, LLC
The Sygma Network
EDUCATION:
Bismarck-Henning CUSD #1
CAERT, Inc.
Catlin CUSD #5
Danville Area Community College
Danville Area Community College/C&CE
Danville Area Community College Foundation
Danville Christian Academy
Danville District #118
Danville High School
Danville Public School Foundation
Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4
Hoopeston Area CUSD #11
Lakeview College of Nursing
Oakwood CUSD No. 76
Olivet Nazarene University
Schlarman Academy
Vermilion County Elementary Schools
Principal's Assn.
Westville School Dist. #2
First Midwest Bank of Danville
First National Bank of Catlin
First National Bank of Georgetown
First Savings Bank of Danville
FLP Wealth Advisors of Raymond James
Iroquois Federal
Jenna Wirth State Farm
Landmark Credit Union
McLaughlin Asset Management
McMurray Insurance Agency
MidWest America Federal Credit Union
The Myers Group of Morgan Stanley
Old National Bank
Owen Financial Services
Perry Jaynes Financial Services
Personal Finance Co.
Prudential Financial
Shore Wealth Management
ENTERTAINMENT/ RECREATION:
Danville Riverhawks
Danville Tennis Center
David S. Palmer Arena
Illini Skateland, Inc.
Lincoln Lanes, Inc.
Lucky’s Landing
Red Mask Players, Inc.
Turtle Run Golf Club
Vermilion County Fair and Expo
GOVERNMENT:
Citizens for Rauner, Inc.
City of Danville
City of Hoopeston
Danville Housing Authority
Grant Township
Newell Township
Senator Scott Bennett
State Representative Chad Hays
Vermilion County Conservation District
Vermilion County Government
Vermilion County Airport Authority
Village of Bismarck
Village of Catlin
Village of Oakwood
Village of Potomac
Village of Rossville
FINANCIAL:
Busey Bank
Country Financial
Danville Bell Credit Union
Education Personnel Federal Credit Union
Edward Jones – Marcus Provost
First Farmers Bank & Trust – Danville,
Hoopeston, and Oakwood
First Financial Bank – Danville
First Financial Bank – Ridge Farm
First Illinois Credit Union
HEALTH CARE:
Alpha-Care Health Professionals, LLC
Alpha & Omega Transit Network, Inc.
Randal Ashton, DDS
Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center
Beltone Hearing Aid Service
Carle
Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center
Carle Medical Supply
Chittick Family Eye Care
Christie Clinic Management Co, Inc.
Danville Care Center/New Focus
Achievement Center
DaVita Dialysis
Delta Safety Services
Dept. of Vet. Affairs Illiana Health Care System
Dillman Eye Care Associates
Michael L. Fuesting, DMD
Gailey Eye Clinic
Gardenview Manor
Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services/
Family Health Care of Hoopeston
Health Alliance Medical Plans
Helping Hands Medical Clinic
Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care Hoopeston
Informed Decisions
Medix Emergency Medical Service
North Vermilion Family Dental
Prairie Center Health Systems, Inc.
Presence United Sam. Medical Center
Robinson Chiropractic, Ltd.
Vermilion County Health Dept.
Dr. George Zundo General Dentistry
HOME BASED / STUDENT / RETIREE:
AdvoCare Independent Distributor –
Jill Poggendorf
Charles Drude
Dr. David L. Fields
Hobz Enterprizes, Inc.
John Mason, Jr., M.D. (Ret.)
Judge John P. O’Rourke (Ret.)
Bob Swires (Ret.)
Jim Wood
HOTEL/ MOTEL:
Danville Days Hotel & Conference Center
Hampton Inn & Suites
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
Red Roof Inn & Suites
Sleep Inn & Suites
HOUSING:
Bowman Estates
Brunswick Apartments
Danville Area Board of REALTORS
Deer Creek Manor
Heartland Properties, Inc.
13
JANUARY 2016
Hispanic Housing Development Corp.
Immanuel Senior Residences
JAC Property Management, LLC
Lake Forest Apartments
Liberty Village
Ramshaw Real Estate
Townway Place, LLC
Vermilion House
Wolford Apartments
INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL /
NOT FOR PROFIT / CLUBS
AMBUCS
Amy S. Marchant, Mediator
Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center
Better Business Bureau - Central Illinois
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermilion County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Danville
CASA of Vermilion County
Central Christian Church
Challenge Youth of Today
Community Living Options, Inc.
CRIS Healthy Aging Center
CRIS Rural Mass Transit
DACC Foundation, Inc.
Danville Area Convention & Visitors’ Bureau
Danville Area Labor Mngmnt. Council
Danville Area Landlords Association
Danville Boat Club
Danville Elks Lodge #332
Danville Family YMCA
Danville Foundation for Industrial Growth
Danville Knights of Columbus
Danville Public Library
Danville Public School Foundation
Danville Symphony Orchestra
Danville Tennis Center
Danville Youth Hockey Association
Douglas Discovery Garden, Inc.
Downtown Danville, Inc.
E. Central IL Community Action Agency
First Church of the Nazarene
First Presbyterian Church
GAO Grotto/Denmark Park Corp.
HELP Ministries, Inc., d/b/a Women’s
Care Clinic
Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation
Humane Society of Danville, Inc.
Keep Vermilion Co. Beautiful, Inc.
Kent Nelson, AFLAC Independent Associate
Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Inc.
Life Building Institute of Success
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Informed Decisions
March of Dimes Foundation
New Directions Treatment Center
Project Success of Vermilion Co., Inc.
14
V E R M I L I O N
Red Mask Players, Inc.
Roland Lim Photography
Second Church of Christ
Senator Scott Bennett
SIGNPROgrammers, Inc.
Spring Hill Cemetery
St. James United Methodist Church
State Representative Chad Hays
The Center for Youth and Family Solutions
The Salvation Army
Turtle Run Golf & Banquet Center/Snapper’s
Bar & Grill
United States Postal Service
United Way of Danville Area
Univ. of IL Extension, Vermilion County
Vermilion County Conservation District
Foundation
Vermilion County Fair and Expo
Vermilion County Farm Bureau
Vermilion County Museum Society
Vermilion County Rape Crisis Center
Vermilion County War Museum
Vermilion Healthcare Foundation
Westville American Legion Post 51
Workforce Investment Board
WorkSource enterprises
Zindars Property Management, LLC
INSURANCE OR REAL ESTATE:
Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc.
C.H. Smith Insurance Agency
Classic Homes Realty
Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell
Country Financial
Crose Insurance
Cunningham Rentals
Danville Area Board of REALTORS
Danville Town Centre, LLC
Dimond Bros. Insurance Agency
Dougherty Group
Edward Jones – Marcus Provost
Gary C. Erickson Agency
Harris Agency, Inc.
Health Alliance Medical Plans
Heartland Properties, Inc.
Heritage Development Services Co.
JAC Property Management, LLC
Jenna Wirth State Farm
KBA Limited
Kent Nelson, AFLAC Independent Associate
Lipa Enterprises, Inc.
McMurray Insurance Agency
Old National Insurance
Owen Financial Services
Perry Jaynes Financial Services
Prudential Financial
Shore Wealth Management
A D V A N T A G E
Trans-Continental Insurance Brokers, Inc.
Vermilion County Title, Inc.
Vermilion Development, Inc.
Village Mall Shopping Center
W & T Enterprises
Zindars Property Management, LLC
MANUFACTURING:
ALCOA, Inc. - Danville
American Pavilion
Automation International, Inc.
Bose
Bryant Industries, Inc.
Bunge Milling, Inc.
Danville Metal Stamping Co., Inc.
Dines Machine & Mfg.
DynaChem, Inc.
Envelope Product Group, LLC
A Division of Cenveo Corporation
EnvirOx, LLC
Fiberteq, LLC
Flex-N-Gate / Master Guard
Flex-N-Gate Plastics
Freight Car Services, Inc.
Full-Fill Industries, LLC
Furry, Inc.
Georgetown Wood & Pallet Co., Inc.
Greenwood Plastics Industries
Honeywell International, Inc.
Illini Castings, LLC
Jameson Steel Fabrication, Inc.
KIK Custom Products
Kurland Steel Company
Leatherneck Hardware, Inc.
Lebanon Seaboard Corporation
McEnglevan Industrial Furnace Mfg.
Mervis Industries, Inc.
MT Systems, Inc.
Quaker Oats Co.
Ramshaw Real Estate
REG Danville, LLC
Steel Grip
StramaNCT, LLC
Teasdale Foods
Thermo Techniques, Inc.
ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft Company
ThyssenKrupp Presta Danville, LLC
Towne Machine Tool Co., Inc.
Tridan International, Inc.
Viscofan USA, Inc. (formerly Teepak)
Watchfire Signs by Time-O-Matic, Inc.
MEDIA:
Commercial-News
Neuhoff Broadcasting, Inc.
The News-Gazette
WCIA-Nexstar Broadcasting
WITY-Illiana Communications, LLC
OFFICE:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc.
Genpact
PRG-Schultz
Walgreens-Danville Accounting Center
OTHER:
Anytime Fitness
Bill Clutter Investigations, Inc.
Danville Riverhawks
DC Fitness
Hoopeston Coin Laundry
J & R Used Tires
Lucky’s Landing
Occupational Risk Management
River Bottom Farms Screened Topsoil
Sand Rats, Inc.
Shortz Family Farms, Inc.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING:
Lamar Outdoor Advertising
PUBLISHERS & PRINTERS
Apparel Unlimited, Inc.
Commercial-News
Faulstich Printing Company
hibu, Inc. (formerly YellowBook)
Progressive Black News
The News-Gazette
RESTAURANTS/ BARS/ VENDING/ CATERING:
Applewood Foods
B & K Investments, Inc. (Wendy's)
The Beef House
Buffalo Wild Wings
Charlotte’s
Covington Foods/County Markets
Culver’s
Dairy Queen
Danville Boat Club
Danville Country Club
Hobz Enterprises, Inc. (Jimmy John’s)
Integrity Vending
Jocko’s Depot
McDonald’s c/o DND Witzel Enterprises, Inc.
Papa Murphy’s Pizza
Pepsi-Cola C-U Bottling Co.
Pilot Travel Center
Rich’s Deluxe (Danville)
Rich’s Family Restaurant (Tilton)
Royal Donut
Turtle Run Golf & Banquet Center/Snapper’s
Bar & Grill
N E W S
RETAIL:
Aaron’s Sales & Lease
Aldi, Inc.
Apparel Unlimited, Inc.
Arnold’s Office Supply, Inc.
Berry’s Garden Center
Big R Stores
Bratland's Prescription Shop, Inc.
Bud's Car Stereo & Theatre
California Tanning Salon
Carle Medical Supply
Covington Foods/County Markets
Cycles Plus
Danville Gardens, Inc.
Danville Towne Centre, LLC
Discount Tobacco Ware House
2 Stores – Vermilion St. & Georgetown Rd.
Escape An Aveda Hair & Body Spa, LLC
Fancy That Bridal
Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Inc.
Meijer
Myers Flooring Center, Inc. d/b/a Myers
Carpet Weavers
Olympic Hardware
Pilot Travel Center
Rabbittown Antiques and Artisans
Red Wing Shoes
Shick School & Office Supply
Shoe Sensation
Shutes’ Auto & Frey Tire
Sleepy Creek Vineyards
Studio 31 Salon & Spa, Inc.
Sully Schultz Nursery, Inc.
Sugar Shack Antiques
Timothy-Dann’s Salon
Turk Furniture
Village Mall Shopping Center
Walmart Supercenter
Wireless Stores, Inc.
SERVICES – ACCOUNTING:
CliftonLarsonAllen
Crowder CPA's, Ltd.
Daughhetee & Parks Mgmt. Consulting
Genpact
SERVICES – AUDITING:
Daughhetee & Parks Mgmt. Consulting
PRG-Schultz
SERVICES –CLEANING/ LAUNDRY:
Hoopeston Coin Laundry
Newton’s Cleaning & Restoration, LLC
ServPro of Vermilion County
&
V I E W S
SERVICES – COMPUTER/ NETWORK/
WEB SUPPORT:
Beamsco
CliftonLarsonAllen
Midwest Communications Group, Inc.
Woodard's Computing Services
SERVICES – LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE/
PEST CONTROL:
Berry’s Garden Center, Inc.
River Bottom Farms Screened Topsoil
Sully Schultz Nursery, Inc.
Terminix Company
SERVICES – CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
Curry Construction
River Group Architecture, P.C.
SERVICES – LEGAL:
Acton & Snyder
Davis and Delanois, PC
Kesler, Nelson, Garman, Brougher, Townsley
& Perkins, PC
Terrance R. Miles, Attorney at Law
SERVICES – CONSULTING/TRAINING:
Amy S. Marchant, Mediator
Bigg Success
Dale Carnegie Training
Danville Area Community College/C&CE
Fehr-Graham
Illinois Small Business Development Center
Life Building Institute of Success
Occupational Risk Management
SERVICES – ENGINEERING/ ARCHITECTS:
Berns, Clancy & Associates, P. C.
C2 Engineers, LLP
Curry Construction
Farnsworth Group
Fehr-Graham
Hartke Engineering & Surveying
Midwest Engineering and Testing, Inc.
River Group Architecture, P.C.
StramaNCT, LLC
SERVICES – EQUIPMENT/ EQUIPMENT REPAIR:
Bodine Electric
Rahn Equipment Company
SERVICES – FITNESS/HEALTH CLUBS:
Anytime Fitness
DC Fitness
SERVICES – FUNERAL:
Spring Hill Cemetery
Sunset Funeral Home, Memorial Park &
Cremation Center
SERVICES – GARBAGE/
DOCUMENT DISPOSAL:
Republic Services (formerly Allied Waste)
SERVICES – INTERNET
Cellular One of East Central Illinois
NewWave Communications
SERVICES – MARKETING:
Media One Visual Arts
WhiteSmith Marketing Group, Inc.
SERVICES – OFFICE EQUIPMENT/ COPIER
SUPPLIES:
CDS Office Technologies
DTI Office Solutions
SERVICES – OTHER:
Amy S. Marchant, Mediator
Anytime Fitness
Bill Clutter Investigations, Inc.
Bryant Industries, Inc.
CAERT, Inc.
DC Fitness
D.I. Fire & Safety, Inc.
Goodwine Agricultural Services
Kurland Steel Company
River Bottom Farms Screened Topsoil
Small Business Development Center
SERVICES – PHOTOGRAPHY:
Chuck Cannady Photography
Roland Lim Photography
Wayne’s World of Photography
SERVICES – RECYCLING:
Bryant Industries, Inc.
J & R Used Tires
Mervis Industries, Inc.
SERVICES – SECURITY:
F.E. Moran Security Solutions
SERVICES – SPA/ BEAUTY
California Tanning Salon
Escape An Aveda Hair & Body Spa, LLC
Studio 31 Salon & Spa, Inc.
Timothy-Dann’s Salon
SERVICES – TELECOMMUNICATIONS/
CABLE/ COMMUNICATIONS:
Cellular One of East Central Illinois
Comcast Spotlight
Midwest Communications Group, Inc.
Neuhoff Broadcasting, Inc.
NewWave Communications
WCIA-Nexstar Broadcasting
Wireless Stores, Inc.
SERVICES – TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT
CONTRACTORS:
Employment Plus
Express Employment Professionals
Kelly Services
Resource MFG
Trillium Staffing
Unique Personnel Consultants
SERVICES – VETERINARY:
Cooper East Lake Animal Hospital
Fairchild Animal Hospital
SERVICES – WEB/ GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Beamsco
Media One Visual Arts
SIGNPROgrammers, Inc.
WhiteSmith Marketing Group, Inc.
SUPPLIERS:
Bodine Electric
Danville Paper & Supply
Depke Gases & Welding Supplies
ERH Enterprises, Inc.
Industrial Supply Company
International Greenhouse Company
Kirby Risk Supply
Pepsi-Cola C-U Bottling Co.
Ray O'Herron Co., Inc.
River Bottom Farms Screened Topsoil
Springfield Electric Supply Co.
Sunrise Coal, LLC
Tilton Energy, LLC
Vermilion Valley Produce Co., Inc.
TRANSPORTATION:
Alpha & Omega Transit Network, Inc.
Shortz Family Farms, Inc.
UTILITIES:
AmerenIP
Aqua Illinois, Inc.
AT&T Illinois
Danville Sanitary District
Tilton Energy, LLC
SERVICES – INVESTIGATIONS:
Bill Clutter Investigations, Inc.
15
Georgetown United Methodist Church