September - Riverbend Growth Association
Transcription
September - Riverbend Growth Association
A monthly publication of the RiverBend Growth Association... Your Regional Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Agency SEPTEMBER 2015 Volume 13 | Issue 9 IN THIS ISSUE Small Business of the Month page 2 • Route 3 Films Mayor Report - Wood River page 3 Meet Your Ambassadors page 4 Alton Motorboat Club and Chez Marilyn hosted Business After Hours Thank-you to the members of the Alton Motorboat Club and Chez Marilyn for hosting the Business After Hours networking event on Thursday, September 17, 2015. The members of the club and Chez Marilyn hosted a themed event mimicking the 70’s/80’s TV show, The Love Boat. Several Alton Motorboat Club members came dressed as Captain Stubing and cruise director Julie McCoy. Delicious food and beverages were provided by the club and Chez Marilyn. A live band provided entertaining music. A night of networking and comradery were enjoyed by all attendees. The Alton Motorboat Club is a membership based organization that offers boat slips for boaters and much more. The club has its own kitchen to provide delicious food and beverages, a recreation area for kids that include a swing set, basketball hoop and vast land to play, and offers members a place to host family functions. They have activities all year for adults and children, such as poker runs for the adults, trick or treating for the kids and more. For more information on the Alton Motorboat Club and for membership details, call 618-4662142. • Marlene Lewis • Stacey Noble Loveland • Lee McRaven Ribbon Cuttings page 3, 5, 7 • King Air Conditioning and Heating • Morrison’s Irish Pub • Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic • Alton Regional MultiModal Transportation Center Hosts of the September BAH: Members of the Alton Motorboat Club and Chez Marilyn Jeff Lauritzen of Country Financial and Mike Ferrell of Helmkamp Construction RBGA Volunteers Cara Pascal of Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic, Dick Propes, Karen Baker-Brncic of Alton Marina and Jenna Andres of Scheffel Boyle Jacinda Gust of Atrium Hotel & Conference Center, Bemis Wilderman Chiropractic: Chrissy Linenfelser, Terri Bryant, Ryan Bemis and Chris Wilderman; and Lori Nikonovich and Erin Prott of Grafton Winery & Brewhaus Welcome our newest members page 6 • Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Elite Properties • Bliss • Eliot Gray Construction • JCH Healthcare • Prestige Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning • Wirtz Beverage 5800 Godfrey Road - BGM | Godfrey, Illinois 62035 Phone 618-467-2280 | [email protected] | www.growthassociation.com Business Edge page 2 | September 2015 Route 3 Films named September 2015 Small Business of the Month Congratulations to owner Ryan Hanlon of Route 3 Films on being selected as the September 2015 Small Business of the Month. Route 3 Films is a business that revolves around video storytelling. Route 3 Films is about helping people, telling great stories and bringing high quality filmmaking to the Riverbend community. Ryan can help people grow their business by letting them tell their own story and produce a great film. Some of Ryan’s productions are with King Air Conditioning & Heating, Lewis & Clark Community College, Marquette Catholic High School and Riverbend Head Start & Family Services. Visit route3films.com to see firsthand how Route 3 Films can impact your business with your story. Contact Ryan at ryan@ route3films.com. Celebrating with Route 3 Films owner Ryan Hanlon are Jeremy Plank of CJ Schlosser, Pat Schwarte of Riverbender.com, President of the RBGA Monica Bristow, Kathy Weaver of Investment Planners and Martha Schultz of First Clover Leaf Bank. State of Riverbend Luncheon is October 29 Celebrate with the RBGA at the Annual State of the Riverbend luncheon on Thursday, October 29, 2015 in the Commons of Lewis & Clark Community College from 11am to 1pm. Six RBGA members have been selected as the Captain of the Riverbend award winners: Alton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, Argosy Casino Alton, Challenge Unlimited, Med Resources, Scheffel Boyle and St. Louis Regional Airport. This luncheon is a celebration of the successes in our Riverbend communities for community involvement and economic enhancement. Attendees will hear about the enhancements from these six RBGA members, as well as hear updates on successes from our Riverbend communities. A sponsorship opportunity is available at $600 and individual tickets are $45 each. Contact Joell at 618-4672280 or [email protected] to reserve your spot at the State of the Riverbend luncheon. 2015 Captain of the Riverbend Award Winners RiverBend Growth Association 2015 Board of Directors Karen Cooper, Chairman John Keller, Past Chairman Karen Wilson, Chairman Elect Mike Fitzgerald, Treasurer Jeff Allsman Tom Berry Dale Blachford Jake Bodi David Braasch Stephanie Dykstra Melissa Erker Mike Farrell Kevin Hamilton Pam Heepke Jennifer Jacobsen Charles Linnemeyer Alan Meyer Dave Miller Scott Reichmann Cindy Roth Ed Ryrie Kent Scheffel Diane Schuette Rob Schwartz Cindy Smalley Sam Stemm Dave Stevenson Dan St. Peters Steve Thompson Denise Wolff Jess Woodman Augie Wuellner Charlie Yancey Ex-Officio Directors Mayor Fred Akers Supervisor William Ambrose Supervisor Mike Babcock Mayor Kenny Beasley Mayor Cy Bunting Dr. Dale Chapman Jesse Hopkins Supervisor Don Huber Jack Jacoby William Kessler Debra Kreutztrager Mayor Mike McCormick Supervisor Doug Mueller Mayor Paul Oller John Pearson Mayor Joe Silkwood Mayor James Spann Ken Spells Brett Stawar Charles Stegall Mayor Tom Thompson Mayor Brant Walker Mayor Alan Winslow September 2015 | page 3 King Air Conditioning and Heating and Bush Refrigeration celebrate new location King Air Conditioning and Heating and Bush Refrigeration are now located under one roof at 7020 Ingham Lane in Godfrey. They celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony to showcase their new facility on August 27, 2015. King Air Conditioning and Heating has served homeowners and businesses in the Metro East area for more than 35 years. King Air Conditioning and Heating offers free estimates, emergency service, custom sheet metal, flat rate repair costs, factory authorized Bryant dealer and financing options. Bush Refrigeration has served the Riverbend community for more than 20 years. Bush Refrigeration staff are specialists of commercial refrigeration and residential heating and cooling. They Several RBGA members joined the ribbon cutting celebration with the King Air Conditioning & Heating and Bush Refrigeration team of Mike and Karen Edwards, Kyle Edwards and JoEllen Bush: Amy Schaake of The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Nancy Bivens of WBGZ Radio, Jerry Gibson of Kiwanis, Cara Pascal of Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic, Trish Holmes of CNB Bank & Trust, Therese Kuddes of Kuddes Advertising Specialties, Pat Schwarte of Riverbender.com, Jeremy Plank of C.J. Schlosser and Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick. provide service, sale and installation on all makes of equipment. For more information on King Air Conditioning & Heating, call 618-466-7574, or Bush Refrigeration, call 618467-0177. Mayor Report - Frank Akers, City of Wood River A proud partner in the Riverbend, we are pleased by the number of businesses that are choosing to locate and expand in Wood River. City government stands willing to assist any firm that is seeking new or additional locations. More than 20 new businesses have opened throughout the City in the past year and several others are expanding. The multi-million dollar move by Jack Schmitt Chevrolet is the largest expansion. Among others in growth mode are Werts Welding, The Pump House, Dairy Queen and Pro Automotive, which will nearly double in size. New construction is also taking place at Advanced Auto Parts on Edwardsville Road. Many firms have renovated existing buildings including Vibratim Fatigue Laboratory, Sports Clips, Good Knight Cupcakes and Cookies, Guardian Graphics, Maid to Shine, 143 Corner Café, The Clever Cobbler, Cricket Wireless and Caldieraro Family Dentistry, among others. We invite any business considering Wood River to test the marketing metrics within a 10-mile radius. You will find that Wood River, with its excellent intermodal transportation network and proximity to our wonderful Riverbend neighbors and the St. Louis region will spur your business to exciting growth. For more information, please call City Hall at 251-3100. Business Edge page 4 | September 2015 Ambassador Spotlight Marlene Lewis Alton Memorial Hospital My name is Marlene Lewis and I am the manager of Foundation and Development at Alton Memorial Hospital. My career with BJC began in 1993 as event coordinator at Christian Hospital. In 1999, I accepted a position at Alton Memorial Hospital as Senior Coordinator of Community Relations and Development. As the hospital began the Building the Best Care Close to Home capital campaign in 2005, I moved into the full-time development role. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership at Greenville College in 2008. In September 2011, I achieved another long-time goal by becoming a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). I’ve been an ambassador with the Growth Association for about 10 years – it’s a wonderful organization that offers many opportunities to meet and interact with members of the business community. My husband Dale and I live in a 120-year-old house in the historic Christian Hill neighborhood. I enjoy antiquing, collecting local ghost stories and boating on the Mississippi River. Stacey Noble Loveland Lee McRaven Foxes Grove Supportive Living Community OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center My name is Stacey Noble Loveland and I have been an Ambassador with the RiverBend Growth Association for six years. As an Ambassador I have enjoyed many opportunities to be involved personally and professionally with the Riverbend area. The Riverbend area is a wonderful place to work and live. I am an Alton native and very proud to see the continued growth and opportunities here in our community. Along with being an Ambassador for the RBGA, I am involved with my Church (Resurrection Lutheran), Board President of Alton Main Street, Inc., a member of the Parent Advisory Board for the Riverbender.com Community Center, a volunteer with the Alton School District’s ROAR (reach out and read) program, and I am also privileged to be a part of the RBGA’s Young Adults Leadership program in which I am a mentor to some outstanding young future leaders from our area high schools. In addition to all of that, I am the very proud mother of my 17 year old son, Ty, who is a senior at Alton High School. I have a Master’s degree in Gerontology and am the Executive Director of Foxes Grove in Wood River. Foxes Grove is a supportive living facility for Seniors 65 and older. As an Ambassador I have been able to use the resources of the Riverbend Growth Association to help promote Foxes Grove and all of the wonderful services we offer for Seniors. I love working with Seniors and helping them make Foxes Grove their home! The Riverbend area is alive with growth and changes and it is my pleasure to be a part of it. Lee McRaven is a proud Mission Partner with the Saint Anthony’s Foundation. In her role as development specialist, she is able to do the things she loves – coordinate events, fundraise and help the community. She originally started foundation work for Pride, Incorporated, where she served, among other positions, as executive director. It was through Pride, that she discovered her passion for working with others for the betterment of the River Bend. When the opportunity at the Saint Anthony’s Foundation became available, it was a natural fit. In her first year, the Foundation has already raised over $100,000 for Saint Anthony’s Cancer Center of Excellence. And she is looking forward to the added resources that the merger between Saint Anthony’s and OSF HealthCare will bring to the community. Lee grew up and currently lives in Godfrey with her two children. She is a graduate of Alton High School and Lewis & Clark Community College. RiverBend G R O W T H A S S O C I AT I O N Serving Business, Encouraging Growth in Southwestern Illinois www.GrowthAssociation.com RiverBend Growth Association Morrison’s Irish Pub celebrates grand opening Congratulations to owners Lisa Morrison and May VanKirk on their new business, Morrison’s Irish Pub, located at 200 State Street in downtown Alton. Morrison’s Irish Pub is just that, an Irish pub with all the Irish offerings: craft beers, Irish whiskeys, Irish food and Irish décor. Morrison’s Irish Pub offers live music on occasion to their guests. The team at Morrison’s Irish Pub has formulated a menu with food that is a hit: lamb burgers, cottage pie, whiskey glazed salmon, corned beef briskets, Irish-style sausages, an Irish wrap and much more. One of the things served with their hamburgers and lamb burgers is Guinness potato chips, which are imported from the UK and taste like Guinness. The pub features fresh beers and one beer made locally for Morrison’s, an Irish Red. There are also Irish whiskeys available and a variety of fresh beers on tap, several locally brewed. The owners said they wanted to support others in the area who are brewing beer, plus offer some others people would want. There are six local brews on tap and six imported. The tables inside the new restaurant/pub are handcrafted and help carry the Irish ambiance. Stop into Morrison’s Irish Pub at 200 State Street in downtown Alton or call 618-433-8900 for more information. September 2015 | page 5 Congratulations to owners Lisa Morrison and Mary VanKirk, along with Katey and George Thayer, on the opening of Morrison’s Irish Pub. Several RBGA members celebrated with their staff on September 9 at the ribbon cutting celebration: Kathy Weaver of Investment Planners, Stephanie Tate of the Alton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, Matt Asselmeier of the City of Alton, Kurt Ferguson of The Telegraph, RBGA President Monica Bristow, Mitch Cannel of LogoIt, Tom Hoechst of CNB Bank & Trust, Pat Schwarte of Riverbender.com, Dick Propes, Michelle Blackwood of Challenge Unlimited, Robert Diaz of Edward Jones and Alton Mayor Brant Walker. Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic showcases new name and new ultrasound machine The team at Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic was excited to showcase their new name and their partnership with local Knights of Columbus organizations at their ribbon cutting ceremony on September 3, 2015. Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic is led by Executive Director Trudy Bodenbach, Advancement Director Cara Pascal and Lori Sanders, along with many volunteers. The local Knights of Columbus rallied to raise $12,500 for the purchase of a new ultrasound machine. Once they raised the $12,500, their national Knights of Columbus chapter matched it with an additional $12,500, for a total of $25,000 donation! The mission of Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic is to be the first choice for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. They provide free, safe and confidential services, including options education, lab quality pregnancy testing, STD testing and limited OB ultrasounds. For more information on Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic, visit Options-Now.com or call 618-467-2857. Thank-you to the Knights of Columbus for generous support of Options Now Medical Pregnancy Clinic. Pictured are Jeremy Plank of CJ Schlosser, Grand Knight Greg Mattingly, Father Steve Pohlman, Grand Knight Marcellus Tebbe, Max Heinz of the Knights of Columbus, Options Now staff Trudy Bodenbach, Cara Pascal and Lori Sanders, State Senator William Haine, RBGA President Monica Bristow, Congressman John Shimkus, State Representative Dan Beiser, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick, Alton Mayor Brant Walker and Options Now Board President David Dugan. Business Edge page 6 | September 2015 Welcome our newest members to the RiverBend Growth Association Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Elite Properties Denise Wolff, Development / Operations Manager 1012 Plummer Dr., Suite 301 Edwardsville IL 62025 (618) 655-4100 bhhsEliteProperties.com Collection program for highend listings. “These resources combined with our agents’ strong service ethic continue to help us be the very best for our clients,” said Plummer Lading. Elite Properties serves greater Edwardsville, IL with two offices and 60 agents. The brokerage is independently owned and operated. Bliss Kaysee Johnson, Owner 3047 Godfrey Road Godfrey IL 62035 (618) 374-6292 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Elite Properties is a full-service brokerage and is known for its professionalism and market expertise. Founded in 1986 as Realty Centre of Edwardsville, its agents are well-trained and many carry additional designations in relocation, technology, and graduate studies. Julie Plummer Lading, Vice President for Elite Properties, recently reflected on the many changes the company has seen over the last few years. “While the market has been continuing to improve, we went through a very exciting change in the third quarter of 2014, transitioning from our former Prudential One brand to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. We continue to grow our excitement of bringing Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices to Southwestern Illinois,” she explained. “The brand’s namesake is one of the world’s most trusted and respected corporations, and it now stands for quality service, excellence and integrity in real estate.” With that transition last year, Elite Properties agents gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ Global Network Platform – a robust suite of real estate tools and resources – plus professional education, business consultation, marketing support and the exclusive Luxury Bliss is a quaint salon & spa located at 3047 Godfrey Rd. Our goal is to make sure you have the best spa experience possible. We have a genuine desire to take care of our guests. All of our treatments are given by licensed professionals who take pride in delivering personalized, dedicated services. We offer massage, skincare, nails, and hair services to all who want to be relaxed and pampered. Currently we are partnered with American Cancer Society to offer wigs to anyone going through cancer treatment, at no charge. Our staff also specializes in safe spa treatments for cancer patients and survivors. Please give us a call to make your appointment at 618-3746292 or find us on FB under Bliss Massage and Skincare Center. Eliot Gray Construction Morrison’s Irish Pub Eliot Gray, Owner 3228 Terpening Lane Brighton IL 62012 (618) 372-8781 Having been in business since 1984, Eliot Gray Construction works primarily in new residential construction. His newest subdivision project is The Oaks at Greystone, off Pierce Lane in Godfrey. The construction firm also does home remodeling. JCH Healthcare Jen Bell, Dir. of Community Relations 400 Maple Summit Rd. Jerseyville IL 62052 (619) 498-6402 jch.org JCH Healthcare continues to provide patients with the highest quality of healthcare in the Midwestern part of Illinois. Counting physicians, staff and volunteers, there are nearly 500 people forming the team to provide you quality care. We are honored by the community support that has allowed Jersey Community Hospital to grow and advance since its origin in 1954. JCH is owned by the residents of Jersey County and shared by the residents of Greene, Calhoun and other surrounding counties. The trust that people place in us has enabled us to grow Centers of Excellence, like the JCH Wellness Center, and Orthopedics while keeping traditional services strong. This year we were able to expand our service area and operate 13 different clinics with over 30 providers in the JCH Medical Group. Survival Flight, an emergency medical helicopter transport company, is now operating and located on the JCH Medical Campus. Every day we continue to provide excellent care to our patients making sure that the right choice is right here. Lisa Morrison and Mary VanKirk, Owner 200 State Street Alton IL 62002 (618) 433-8900 Morrison’s Irish Pub is a family owned and operated restaurant and bar offering a unique menu of Irish-American Cuisine and an array of specialty cocktails. Serving only premium liquors with a large selection of Irish whiskey’s on hand. Morrison’s has many craft bottled and canned beers to choose from and 12 different beers tapped directly from the cooler. Morrison’s also only uses Irish butter and imports many Irish fares like bangers, Irish bacon and Guinness chips. Morrison’s also utilizes local Alton businesses like LuciAnna’s Pastries, Duke’s Bakery, Templar Brewery, and Old Bakery Brewery. Morrison’s Irish Pub is located in the Historic district of Alton, 200 State Street at the corner State and Broadway. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable with the primary decor being made up of wood and brick. The Irish décor is prominent throughout and is sure to continue to expand over time. The hours of business are Tuesday through Sunday 11am to 1am; food is served from 11 am to 10 pm. Prestige Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, Inc. Mary Terry, Co-Owner 124 Valleywood Court Bethalto IL 62010 (618) 377-1710 prestigecarpetcleaning-il.com Prestige Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning started in November continued on page 7 Business Edge page 7 | September 2015 newest members (continued from page 6) of 1983. John Terry is the owner and operator along with his wife, Mary Terry. The method of cleaning is steam cleaning, hot water extraction. The process involves PreTreating, Steam Cleaning and Deodorizing. All products used by Prestige are children and pet friendly. Prestige Carpet Cleaning is able to do a complete job of moving and replacing furniture, to clean where dust may hide. Many customers may prefer just to have the traffic areas cleaned and that is not a problem, you can still have your closets and along your baseboards cleaned. Prestige Carpet Cleaning is able to do flood jobs. John has many years’ experience of cleaning up after carpets have been affected by some sort of flood. You are able to save your carpets and have them cleaned up from mildew, germs or musty odors. They are equipped with dehumidifiers and air blowers to complete the drying process. John is certified with the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration. He keeps up his certification by attending training in the St Louis area. The focus of the business has been to clean carpets and upholstery but they have added TILE and GROUT CLEANING in the last seven years. Not only do they clean residential but also commercial businesses. Many churches in the area have been cleaned by Prestige Carpet Cleaning. Wirtz Beverage Illinois Belleville Hamilton Callison, Director of Operations 4 Premier Drive Belleville IL 62220 (618) 277-4300 wirtzbev.com Started in 1933 in East St. Louis Illinois by Olin H Callison, Wirtz Beverage of Belleville serves a 47 county area of Southern Illinois the Callison Family and Wirtz Belleville are very proud to serve the Riverbend and Madison County community. that includes the Metro East. In 1977, the company moved its headquarters to Belleville from East St. Louis. The Callison family then became partners with Wirtz Beverage in 1998. Today Olin’s grandson, Ed Callison, serves as the President of the company and Olin’s greatgrandson, Hamilton serves as the Director of Operations. Wirtz Beverage of Belleville is the exclusive distributor for DIAGEO, Brown Forman, Bacardi USA, Sazerac, Remy Martin, William Grant, Kendall Jackson, Banfi and several other key wine and spirits suppliers in the Metro East. With over 80 years of experience in the market, Ground broken for Alton Regional Multi-Modal Transportation Center Monica Bristow, President of the RBGA, emceed the gathering of local elected officials and business leaders at the Alton Regional MultiModal Transportation Center (RMTC) Groundbreaking Event. The Center will create a new surface transportation hub at the passenger rail gateway in the northern portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area. It creates a seamless transfer between passenger rail service, regional transit, bicycle trails and pedestrian facilities. The center will increase the competitiveness of multimodal travel and will support a more regionally and modally balanced transportation system. The project includes the construction of a 9,000 sq. ft. train station, boarding platforms, Madison County Transit bus terminal and parking facilities with 225 spaces. Roadway improvements include the construction of a new access road, realignment of Golf Road and intersection improvements along Homer Adams Parkway at Golf Road and Buckmaster Lane. Additional site amenities include extensive landscaping, bicycle/pedestrian trails, bicycle storage lockers, Call-forAssistance (CFA) devices and site surveillance. This 24 million dollar project is funded in part by a $13.8 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the Federal Railroad Administration. The Illinois Department of Transportation is contributing approx. $6.5 million in funding towards the project. The remaining project costs are the required local match of the City of Alton with anticipated contributions from Madison County Transit. It takes of team to make a project of this magnitude happen and the event consisted of comments by Alton Mayor Brant Walker, Madison County Chairman Alan Dunstan, Sen. Dick Durbin’s representative Cameron Joost, Senator Bill Haine, Representative Dan Beiser and Congressman Mike Bost. page 8 | September 2015 Business Edge Annual women’s seminar was a success More than two hundred RiverBend Growth Association women filled the Atrium Hotel & members for supporting this COUNTRY Financial Jeff Lauritzen, Conference Center on Wednesday, seminar: Dr. Katie Drake and Dr. Kristina September 16, 2015 at the annual Major Sponsor: Argosy Casino Bemis, Foxes Grove Supportive women’s seminar hosted by the Alton Living Community, Imaging Center RBGA. The 2015 seminar, Bet on Folder sponsor: Alton Memorial Yourself…Bet on a Winner, with of Alton, Integrative Body Work, Hospital major sponsor Argosy Casino Alton, Integrity Healthcare Communities, Speaker sponsor: Cope Plastics, energized these 200 + women Integrity Healthcare Communities, Kathy Smith Attorney, New York Life with motivational and educational Shell Community Federal Credit Insurance - Rochelle Freeman, Party speakers, fabulous attendance gifts Union, TheBANK of Edwardsville on Broadway, Scott Credit Union, and door prizes, endless networking Printing sponsor: The Telegraph SCORE, Southwestern Illinois Small opportunities and delicious food Refreshment Sponsors: Atrium Business Development Center and beverages. Hotel & Conference Center, Good Bag Stuffer sponsors: Angela Everyone who attends this Knight Cupcakes and Cookies McDowell Counseling Services, event knows how important the Ameren, JR Keller of Chapel & Keller Nametag sponsor: OSF Saint atmosphere is and the event is Dentistry Partnership, Nautilus Anthony’s Health Center st themed out every year. This year Fitness Center and Prestige Carpet Meal sponsor: 1 MidAmerica was no different and Atrium Hotel & Upholstery Cleaning Credit Union & Conference Center was maxed Sound system sponsor: Jim Centerpiece sponsor: Raifort out in a casino theme…attendees Claywell of Edward Jones Properties saw casino, heard casino and tasted Door prize donors: Andy’s, Angela Decoration sponsors: Baxter’s casino! McDowell Counseling Service, Distributing, Missouri Baptist The event opened with Atrium Hotel & Conference Center, University speaker Joelle Shearin, General Country Financial Jeff Lauritzen, Jim Major prize sponsors: LogoIt, Manager of Argosy Casino Alton, Claywell of Edward Jones, Lewis welcoming the 200+ attendees and Argosy Casino Alton & Clark Community College, Scott Booth sponsors: 1904 General welcoming them to the casino for Credit Union, Sheppard Morgan & Store, Altonized Community entertainment fun: casino action Schwaab, St. Louis Regional Airport, Federal Credit Union, Andy’s and food and beverages. Tan Islands, Wirtz Beverage Speakers for the event were Karen Auto Body & Car Care, Beverly Farm, Bliss, CNB Bank & Trust, Wilson of State Farm Insurance & Financial Services, Richard Avdoian of Midwest Business Institute, Jennifer Meckles of KSDK Mark NewsChannel 5 and Alton your Police Officer Emily Hejna. calendars The attendees were wined for next and dined with delicious refreshments and beverages, year’s women’s seminar on sponsored by 1st MidAmerica Wednesday, Credit Union, Atrium Hotel September & Conference Center, Good 21, 2016. Knight Cupcakes and Cookies and TheBANK of Edwardsville. The continued success of this Thank-you to each of the committee members for their involvement in making this seminar is made possible by the event a success: Joell Aguirre of the RBGA, Beth Tucker of Andy’s Auto Body & Car Care, Chris Corby of Missouri Baptist University, Geri Mathews of LogoIt, Angela McDowell of support of our sponsors and door Angela McDowell Counseling Services, Alice Bunjan of LCCC, Mary Blotna of Heneghan and prize donors. Thank-you to these Associates, Margot Huber of Real Deals on Home Decor, Attorney Kathy Smith and Lori Kuithe of LCCC. Not pictured Jacinda Gust of Atrium Hotel & Conference Center. page 9 | September 2015 Business Edge RBGA members Stacey Mitchell of Brickhouse Cardio Club and Vicki Hopkins of Party on Broadway participated as a vendor booth sponsor at Bet on Yourself…Bet on a Winner. RBGA member Chris Velloff of 1904 General Store was a vendor at the seminar. Karen Wilson of State Farm Insurance & Financial Services was one of the four speakers at Bet on Yourself…Bet on a Winner. Argosy Casino Alton was the major sponsor of Bet on Yourself…Bet on a Winner. Argosy Casino Alton’s team of women joined the seminar, led by General Manger Joelle Shearin and Director of Finance Jennifer Jacobsen. Good Knight Cupcakes and Cookies was a refreshment sponsor at the seminar. They showcased cupcakes, cookies and chocolate strawberries. They are located at 1490 B E. Edwardsville Road in Wood River. page 10 | September 2015 Business Edge Business Edge page 11 | September 2015 Jersey State Bank provides tips to protect your identity October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft has topped its list of consumer complaints every year for the last 15-years. Identity theft occurs when a criminal obtains and misuses someone’s personal information without permission, typically for economic gain. For many victims, it can result in drained bank accounts, poor credit and a damaged reputation. “Jersey State Bank recognizes the devastation this can cause to an individual and is here to help reduce the chance it can happen to you” said Jim Hoefert, President/CEO. “Our goal is to equip our customers with knowledge on how to protect their personal information to reduce this unfortunate situation from happening to them.” In honor of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Jersey State Bank offers the following tips to help customers protect themselves from becoming a victim of identity theft: Don’t share your personal information – Don’t provide your social security number or account information to anyone who contacts you online or over the phone. Protect your PIN’s and passwords and don’t share them with anyone. Use a combination of letters and numbers for your passwords and change them periodically. Don’t reveal sensitive or personal information on social networking sites. Shred sensitive papers – Shred receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away. Keep an eye out for missing mail – Fraudsters look for monthly bank or credit card statements or other mail containing your financial information. Consider enrolling in online banking and e-statements to reduce the likelihood of paper statements being stolen. Also, don’t mail bills from your own mailbox with the flag up. Use online banking to protect yourself – Monitor your financial account balances regularly for fraudulent transactions. Sign up for text or email alerts from your bank for certain types of transactions, such as online purchases or transactions of more than $100. Monitor your credit report – Order a free copy of your credit report every four months from one of the three credit reporting agencies at annualcreditreport. com. Protect your computer – Make sure the virus protection software on your computer is active and up to date. When conducting business online, make sure your browser’s padlock or key icon is active. Also look for an “s” after the “http” to be sure the website is secure. Protect your mobile device – Use the passcode lock on your smartphone and other devices. This will make it more difficult for thieves to access your information if your device is lost or stolen. Before you donate, sell or trade your mobile device, be sure to wipe it using specialized software or using the manufacturer’s recommended technique. Some software allows you to wipe your device remotely if it is lost or stolen. Use caution when downloading apps, as they may contain malware and avoid opening links and attachments – especially from senders you don’t know. Report any suspected fraud to your bank immediately – The quicker you inform your bank, the faster we can help to minimize any potential loss. Jersey State Bank, the only locally owned Bank in Jersey County, has a long history as a trusted provider of financial products and services to Jersey County and the surrounding area. Established in 1903, the Bank has assets in excess of $140 million and currently two offices to serve its customers in Jerseyville and Grafton. The RBGA has recently added a section to our website with Employment Opportunities. It’s located at http://www.growthassociation.com/page/employment-opportunities/. It can also be accessed from the header of any page throughout the site. Members can post their job openings on this page. Here’s the link: http://www.growthassociation.com/page/ create-employment-ad/