The Central Illinois Customer Service Association (CILCSA) is hosting a workshop on “The Intangible It,” featuring Jack Stahlmann, on Thursday, Oct. 5. Stahlmann, also known as the “don’t flinch guy,” inspires organizations by sharing the lessons he has learned in Los Angeles as an actor, producer, director, and of course, a waiter. By sharing humorous […]
Michelle Ownbey
Michelle Ownbey is the publisher of Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times.
Posted inColumns
Three Twigs Bakery branches out again
By Michelle Ownbey Despite the business interruptions resulting from recent stay-at-home orders, Emily Lewis has not been slowing down over last few months. She and her husband, Tim, the owners of Three Twigs Bakery at 1370 Toronto Rd., kept that location operational with deliveries and pickup orders and moved forward with opening a new café […]
Posted inArticles
Three Twigs branches out
By Michelle Ownbey Three Twigs Bakery reopened Jan. 7 after a week-long holiday break which also allowed time for remodeling the interior of the store. It’s been a whirlwind year for Emily Lewis, who relocated to the former Free Press Coffee space at 1370 Toronto Road last January after previously occupying part of Custom Cup […]
Posted inColumns
Construction for new downtown YMCA to begin on July 22
By Michelle Ownbey The groundbreaking held in March for the new YMCA facility at Fourth and Carpenter streets involved golden shovels and photo ops, but the actual construction work is now set to begin on Monday, July 22. Mike Sunley, senior project manager with O’Shea Builders, said he anticipates the project will create 210 direct […]
Posted inColumns
Eric Hoogland proposes redevelopment project on MacArthur
By Michelle Ownbey A major redevelopment project may be occurring soon on MacArthur Boulevard in Springfield, one that Ward 7 Alderman Joe McMenamin says would be along the lines of the HyVee and MacArthur Park Apartments projects in terms of investment and impact. “I think this would be in the top five redevelopment efforts I’ve […]
Posted inColumns
A family business changes families
When you think of a family business, McDonald’s probably isn’t what comes to mind. But for Steve and Karen Jeffers, they’ve built their careers and their families on more than four decades of working for McDonald’s. “We met when we were 15 years old, when we both worked at the McDonald’s on Jefferson Street,” said […]
Posted inArticles
Fact or Fiction: What’s really happening at Legacy Pointe?
By Michelle Ownbey Several weeks ago, new signs at Legacy Pointe appeared announcing 2019 openings for The Outlets at Springfield and Springhill Suites by Marriott. On March 19, Fox Run Restaurant & Lounge shared photos of the signs on Facebook and said, “Getting some new neighbors soon.” The images are now widely circulating on social […]
Posted inArticles
The Goddard School is opening a Springfield location
By Michelle Ownbey The Goddard School, a private preschool with nearly 500 locations nationwide, will be opening a location in Springfield later this year. Located in 37 different states, Goddard School serves 65,000 children ages six weeks through six years old. Barbara Burrows, the local franchisee, has operated the Goddard School in Edwardsville for the […]
Posted inColumns
Blue Cross Blue Shield is moving back into previous location
BY MICHELLE OWNBEY Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is expanding its office space in Springfield. A representative for the company confirmed today (Jan. 17) that they are finalizing a lease for approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of space at 3200 Robbins Road to accommodate about 200 employees. BCBSIL previously leased space at the […]
Posted inArticles
2018 ‘Best Places to Work’ recipients announced
BY MICHELLE OWNBEY Springfield Business Journal and United Community Bank have announced the recipients of the 2018 “Best Places to Work.” Midwest Family Broadcasting, Resource One and Staab Funeral Home are being honored with awards this year, and Lincoln Land Community College and Orthopedic Center of Illinois, both prior recipients, are receiving awards in the […]
Posted inColumns
Former Atlantis Pools building sold
BY MICHELLE OWNBEY Atlantis Pools, based out of Alton, Illinois, closed their Springfield location in December 2016, citing poor sales in the local market. The freestanding building at 3014 Montvale Dr. has been vacant since, and was listed for sale for nearly a year at $299,000. Kyle Killebrew, a broker with The Real Estate Group, […]
Posted inArticles
Athens Bancorp, Inc., NBP Financial Services consolidate holding companies, banks
BY MICHELLE OWNBEY The board of directors of Athens Bancorp, Inc., parent company of the Athens State Bank, and the board of directors of NBP Financial Services, parent company of the National Bank of Petersburg, have announced that the parties have signed a letter of intent outlining the terms of a consolidation of the two […]