Conklin named CFO, executive VP at Horace Mann
Springfield-based Horace Mann Educators Corporation has named Bret Conklin executive vice president and chief financial officer. Conklin, who started working at Horace Mann 15 years ago, has served as acting CFO since January due to the hospitalization and passing of Horace Mann’s former CFO, Dwayne Hallman. Conklin previously served as senior vice president, controller and…
Coopers opening new restaurant at King Pin Lanes
The owners of Cooper’s StrEATside Bistro, a popular food truck in Springfield, are opening a new permanent location. The new Cooper’s Alleyside is opening at King Pin Lanes, 3115 E. Sangamon Ave., on April 20. Kendra Cooper, who runs the food truck with her husband Justin, says a brick-and-mortar restaurant has always been their goal. They…
Fehr Graham relocating Springfield office
Engineering firm Fehr Graham is relocating its Springfield office this week. The company, which handles a variety of areas like environmental, structural and transportation engineering, is moving on April 21 from its current location at 755 South Grand Avenue West to an office at 2060 W. Iles Ave. Tara Cormier, a project assistant at Fehr…
McCaffrey Family Health Center planning expansion
A holistic health clinic in Springfield is planning an expansion to it space and its services this summer. McCaffrey Family Health Center plans to add about 2,000 square feet of space to its existing facility at 3330 Hedley Road in Springfield. The new space will be used to offer additional laboratory services, patient education and…
DaVita to relocate dialysis center from Rutledge to North Grand
A healthcare company which operates dialysis centers in several countries is relocating one of its centers in Springfield. Denver-based DaVita Inc. has obtained a permit to build DaVita Dialysis Springfield Central, a new dialysis center to be located at 600 North Grand Avenue West. Davita’s existing location at 932 N. Rutledge St. will relocate to…
What are those teal ribbons downtown for?
By Patrick Yeagle Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault is responsible for the appearance of teal ribbons in part of downtown Springfield this month. The ribbons, tied to light poles, trees and parking meters in a five-block area between the Old State Capitol and the current Illinois Statehouse, are meant to raise awareness of sexual assault…
City hopes to use TIF for home rehab, first responder grants in Enos Park
The City of Springfield wants to establish a pair of programs in Enos Park using TIF funds for exterior home rehabilitation and grants to police and firemen who choose live in the neighborhood. The Enos Park Exterior Rehabilitation Program would provide up to $15,000 to owner-occupied properties in the TIF district covering the Enos Park…
Developer seeks TIF approval to buy former surveying museum downtown
A Springfield developer is hoping to buy the downtown building that formerly housed the National Museum of Surveying, using $120,000 in TIF funds. Chris Nickell’s 521 East LLC seeks to access TIF money for the purchase of 521 E. Washington St. The City of Springfield sought to buy the building with $425,000 in TIF funds…
MJ’s Fish and Chicken planning move to Enos Park with TIF help
By Patrick Yeagle A popular Springfield eatery is hoping to establish a more permanent home with help from TIF funds. MJ’s Fish and Chicken Express is seeking $55,000 in TIF money to relocate to Enos Park. The money would fund half of the purchase price for 716 E. Enos St., the former site of Susie…
Ryan budget threatens federal tax credit for historic preservation
By Monica Stabile In 1981, President Ronald Reagan signed the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit into law as part of the Economic Recovery Act. Since then, the credits have been used to repurpose more than 40,000 historic buildings across the nation, including 253 such buildings in Illinois and several in Springfield. “Our historic tax credits have…
Springfield Clock Shop moving downtown as Mekong Cafe plans ‘big changes’
By Patrick Yeagle A longtime Springfield clock retailer is moving downtown, clearing the way for changes at a neighboring restaurant. Springfield Clock Shop, formerly located at the intersection of South Grand Avenue and Second Street, is moving downtown to 629 E. Washington Ave. Ben McCormick, an employee at Springfield Clock Shop and brother of owner…
Atlantis Pools closed Springfield location
By Patrick Yeagle Swimming pool owners in Springfield have one fewer option this season, following the closure of a pool store. Atlantis Pools, headquartered in Alton, closed its Springfield location at 3041 Montvale Drive on Dec. 1. “We just decided to close it,” said an employee at the Alton store. “It just wasn’t showing the numbers…
More than half of business travelers used Springfield airport last year, Chamber survey says
By Patrick Yeagle A survey of business travelers in Springfield shows more than half used the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport last year. Commissioned by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the survey found that nearly 77 percent rated their experience at the Springfield airport better than average. The results come after the airport reported that…
New Businesses Listings – April 2017
Capital City Home Improvement LLC 7460 Rolling Oaks Drive, Riverton 414-2304 Owner: Shannon C. Hessler House of Bouncers 8150 Cascade Rd., Rochester 306-3561 Owner: Zac Geist, Aaron Geist KLC Turf Pro 5438 Forrest Lane, Sherman 299-7727 Owner: Pamela Kent Rainbow Massage Spa 348 Williams Lane, Chatham 481-6769 Owner: Miaomiao Liu Just the Basics Catering II…
Sangamon Reclaimed relocating in May
By Patrick Yeagle A popular Springfield business that repurposes old wood is moving to a new location in May. Brian Frieze, owner of Sangamon Reclaimed, says he is closing the current location of his business at 2710 S. 13th St. on April 24. The new location at 1315 Ottis St. is expected to open on…
Senate Republicans offer budget plan without new revenue
By Monica Stabile Illinois Republican senators called for an immediate state government spending cap and a 10 percent spending cut to all government agencies in a new state budget plan unveiled Tuesday. The plan comes after Republicans scuttled a “grand bargain” budget plan last month, to the frustration of Democrats in the chamber and Senate…
Women of Influence 2017 awardees announced
Security Bank announced today the awardees for the 2017 Women of Influence program. Women of Influence honors local women for their contributions to the community in and around Springfield. The 2017 awardees are: Dr. Susan J. Koch, chancellor of University of Illinois Springfield Molly Berendt, executive director of Compass for Kids Margaret “Boony” Luparell, owner…
Carmody sells Home Instead Senior Care franchise
Laura Carmody, former owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Springfield, completed the sale of the franchise this week to her cousin, Amy Best. Best cofounded the franchise with Carmody in 2011 and served there as HR director – a role she continues to fill as owner. Home Instead Senior Care is a network of…
Klickna to retire as IEA president
By Patrick Yeagle When Cinda Klickna first started teaching in 1973, it was a yearly event for teachers to be pulled out of their classrooms in April, handed a pink slip and told to continue teaching until the end of the year. “We waited all summer to know whether we were going to be rehired,”…
Kuchar joins Springfield Reprographics with sale of All About Signs
By Patrick Yeagle Business printing firm Springfield Reprographics announced this week the purchase of All About Signs, another Springfield printing company. Steve Wakefield, owner of Springfield Reprographics, said his company’s signage and graphics division is absorbing All About Signs and its owner, Jim Kuchar. “Jim’s 30-plus years of experience in the signage industry allows Springfield Reprographics…
Crazy 8 children’s store relocates within White Oaks Mall
Crazy 8 children’s store celebrated its sixth anniversary at White Oaks Mall this week by moving to a new location within the mall and changing to a boutique-style store. The shop, which sells children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, opened its new location on April 3 in the wing of White Oaks Mall anchored by Dick’s…
Springfield physician at SIU to lead national doctor’s group
By Patrick Yeagle A Springfield doctor was named last week to lead a nationwide group of internal medicine specialists. Dr. Susan Thompson Hingle, professor and internal medicine specialist at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, was chosen as chair of the Board of Regents for the American College of Physicians at the group’s annual conference…
Pudenz named VP at H.D. Smith
By Patrick Yeagle Springfield pharmaceutical wholesaler H.D. Smith recently named Kyle Pudenz corporate vice president of supply chain management. Pudenz joined H.D. Smith in 2014 and most recently served there as senior director of purchasing. In his new role on H.D. Smith’s executive leadership team, Pudenz oversees the direction of category management and buying procurement,…
Long Nine Junction restaurant opens downtown
By Patrick Yeagle A new “chef-driven” restaurant opened downtown on Monday. Long 9 Junction is a gourmet eatery on Springfield’s Old State Capitol Plaza, offering fresh bread and roasted meat as part of its menu of New American cuisine. Chef and owner Corey Faucon, an Athens native who trained at Chicago’s Le Cordon Bleu culinary…
Whalen Trucking buys Boesdorfer Trucking
By Patrick Yeagle Dennis Boesdorfer says trucking is all he’s ever known. His father, Roland Boesdorfer, started Boesdorfer Trucking Inc. in Pleasant Plains in 1955, and Dennis Boesdorfer has been running the company with his wife, Monica, since the 1970s – almost as long as they’ve been married. Now, he says it’s time to step…
Not-so-risky business
By Patrick Yeagle Chris Stone knew from the start that it would all work out. And even if it didn’t, he wasn’t afraid to fail. Stone is part owner of HCI Alternatives, Springfield’s first medical cannabis dispensary, which marked its first year in business this month. Opening the shop was a risk, Stone says, but…
Charter schools could see expansion
By Monica Stabile A comparison of standardized testing results by the Springfield Business Journal shows traditional public schools outperformed charter schools on average in the 2014-2015 school year. Meanwhile, charter schools and school choice programs nationwide may see a boost in funding if President Donald Trump’s budget is approved by Congress. The push to expand…
Reaching the next generation of givers
By Patrick Yeagle For all the talk about the Millennial generation, one thing is clear: young people’s participation in philanthropy is crucial to the well being of nonprofits. Nowhere in Springfield is that better understood than at The Hope Institute for Children and Families, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year with a new campaign…
Meet Kara Rapacz – Q and A with SHG’s first lay principal
On March 13, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School named Kara Rapacz as its next principal and its first lay principal. Katherine O’Connor, president and interim principal of SHG, said the school examined several qualified candidates from around the nation, but Rapacz, who currently serves as assistant principal, was clearly the best fit. “This is an exciting…
Heartland Credit Union to open new location
Heartland Credit Union announced this week plans to open a new Springfield branch this fall. We’re excited to announce we will be opening a new branch this fall on the South side of Springfield! #watchusgrow #heartlandCU #5locations pic.twitter.com/hyi0eQNITt — Heartland CU (@Heartland_CU) March 28, 2017 The new branch, which will be located at 610 E.…
Habitat for Humanity contracts with city for large item pickup
By Patrick Yeagle Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County will assume large item pickup service in April under a new agreement with the City of Springfield. The Springfield City Council approved a contract for the service with Habitat for Humanity on March 21. Lance Morgan, director of Habitat’s ReStore, says the organization already has box trucks…
Apartment complex proposed near Wells Fargo
A prominent Springfield developer is proposing a new apartment complex on the city’s west side. Courtney Joyner, owner of Joyner Construction Services Inc., is seeking approval for a 204-unit development to be named Pleasant Park Apartments. The development would be located at 4700 Ash Grove Drive and include 17 apartment buildings with 12 units each.…
Charter school legislation passes House committee
By Monica Stabile New legislation calling for a halt to new charter schools in areas that have closed traditional public schools in the past decade passed a House committee in the Illinois statehouse Tuesday. The bill is one of several in the Illinois General Assembly dealing with charter schools amid increased attention to the issue…
INB selling Piper Glen Golf Course after foreclosure
By Patrick Yeagle Piper Glen Golf Course is in the process of being sold to a new owner, following a foreclosure in 2015. Current owner Illinois National Bank says a contract on the course is “moving ahead.” “We are working with the buyer’s broker to finalize plans,” says Joshua Ishmael, general counsel with INB, “and…
Diner serving all-day breakfast opens on Durkin Drive
A new restaurant serving breakfast all day opened this week on Springfield’s west side. Nico Scaduto opened Nico’s Homestyle on March 27 at 751 S. Durkin Drive, offering traditional diner fare and all-day breakfast. Manager Hailey Hurst says Scaduto opened the restaurant after a poor restaurant experience last year on Father’s Day. “We thought opening…
Kerber, Eck & Braeckel moving to Robbins Road
By Patrick Yeagle Accounting firm Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP is moving its Springfield location to the former Blue Cross and Blue Shield building on Robbins Road in July. The firm will leave its current office in the Myers Building downtown. Phil Capps, partner-in-charge with Kerber, Eck & Braeckel, says the move is part of…
City asks for new proposals for North Mansion Block
By Patrick Yeagle The City of Springfield is asking for another round of proposals for the North Mansion Block in downtown Springfield, following the demolition of the historic YWCA building and a developer backing out of proposed housing on the block. The block has long been a source of controversy downtown, with multiple attempts to…
Chamber conducting Economic Outlook Survey
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is conducting its biannual Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey with help from the Survey Research Office at the University of Illinois Springfield. Matthew Case, interim director of the Survey Research Office, says the poll gives decision makers a snapshot of business leaders’ perceptions about the economy. “It tells them…
Cusumano to have expanded role at HSHS
By Patrick Yeagle Erica Cusumano owes her life to the neonatal intensive care unit at HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital in Springfield, so working for Hospital Sisters Health System was a natural fit. Now, Cusumano is taking on a new role for the regional health provider with a promotion to communications manager for HSHS’ Central…
Housing homeless vets
By Patrick Yeagle It pains Chris Schaller to see those he considers his brothers living on the street or in homeless shelters, and he wants to do something about it. “They’ve been failed by the system,” he said. Schaller, who served as an engineer in the U.S. Army Reserve in Iraq during 2003 and 2004,…
Daisy Jane’s to hold grand opening downtown
By Patrick Yeagle A new gift shop featuring original art is holding its grand opening this month. Daisy Jane’s is set to officially open on March 28 at 424 E. Monroe St. The shop carries art from local and international artists. Julia Johnson, owner of Daisy Jane’s, says the shop was open for a few…
Island Bay Yacht Club hires Bo Oliver as executive chef
By Patrick Yeagle Island Bay Yacht Club has a new executive chef in James “Bo” Oliver. A Springfield native, Oliver previously served as a sous chef at Illini Country Club and received his training from the Culinary Institute of America, located in Hyde Park, New York. The club announced Oliver as its new chef on…
