What’s new for 2016?
By Sarah Delano Pavlik Although we still don’t have a budget, you may be surprised to learn that the Illinois legislature and the governor have passed many new laws for 2016. Here are some highlights. Child Custody. The words “custody” and “visitation” are being removed from Illinois statutes. Instead of awarding custody and visitation, a…
How does Springfield stack up with other cities?
Guest editorial By Mike Waldinger American Institute of Architects The above is a question that comes up often, as I have the good fortune of working for the American Institute of Architects, which shares exemplary community development work driven by design firms far and wide. The impetus for these projects isn’t just for show. Civic…
Hy-Vee Market Grille
By Thomas C. Pavlik, Jr. I’d guess that when most people think of a grocery store it’s not as a dining destination, but rather a place to get food to make meals elsewhere. And despite having multiple business lunches there since Hy-Vee opened, I never thought about reviewing it – after all, it’s just a…
New business listings
Gatsby Hair Boutique 120 N 1st Street, Sherman 502-4024 Owner: Jessica Gatschenberger Half Moon Yoga Fit 315 Chatham Rd., Suite 106 725-0140 Owner: Majeeda Tatum-Anderson L & N Cleaning Services 1616 E Jackson 971-7532 Owners: Nicole Dineen, Lincoln James MotherDaughterMosaic 2929 S. Douglas Ave. 801-3189 Owners: Lauren Gleason, Paula Collier Dina Payne MSW LCSW 917…
Medical news
Memorial Medical Center launches Advanced Hernia Center, partners with SIU HealthCare and Springfield Clinic Memorial Medical Center has launched the Memorial Advanced Hernia Center to assist patients facing complex hernia cases. Dr. John Mellinger, a surgeon with SIU HealthCare, and Dr. James Fullerton, a surgeon with Springfield Clinic, serve as co-medical directors of the Memorial…
Business news
Illinois Stewardship Alliance awards Golden Beets to pioneering local food practitioners Illinois Stewardship Alliance is pleased to announce the 2015 Golden Beet Award winners. The Golden Beets, now in their 5th year, are a series of awards created by the Alliance in order to highlight progressive local food practices and recognize the people who are…
Sangamon CEO to swim with sharks
By Brant Mackey The 2015-2016 Sangamon CEO program is pleased to announce Sangamon CEO versus Sharks, a showcase of small group businesses that CEO students have been working on during the fall semester. In seven different groups, the Sangamon CEO students will present a business pitch of their ideas to local business investors from the…
Honeypot or not?
Boutique store to accompany cannabis dispensary By Colin Patrick Brady [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Chris Stone is chief executive and spokesman of Health Care Illinois Alternatives (HCI), which is slated to open a medical cannabis dispensary…
The future of our past: the business of historic preservation
By Catherine O’Connor [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] This is the final segment of Springfield Business Journal’s critical look at historic preservation as a community revitalization tool, and it reveals a positive direction for the future.…
Engineering affordable utilities
By Eric Woods [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] When he was growing up in Morrisonville, Doug Brown’s parents owned a bar where he was able to watch and learn about hard work and dedication – the…
Veenstra & Kim acquires Allen Henderson and Associates
By Scott Faingold [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Springfield engineering and consulting firm Allen Henderson and Associates, Inc. was founded in 1976. On July 1, the firm was purchased by Veenstra & Kimm, Inc., a company…
Building Springfield into a beautiful community
By Eric Woods [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] With the exception of a five year period in Chicago, John Shafer has lived his entire life in Springfield. He returned 30 years ago and likes the size…
Fehr Graham continues to expand
Acquires Coombe-Bloxdorf By Eric Woods [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Fehr Graham, an engineering firm started in 1973, has announced the acquisition of Coombe-Bloxdorf, a Springfield-based civil and structural engineering and land-surveying firm. The two companies…
Questioning ourselves:
Is redevelopment of north mansion / Y block a job for outside experts? By Catherine O’ Connor [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] In part two of our series about the power of historic preservation as a…
Homegrown engineers
By Roberta Codemo Springfield Southeast High School junior Maurice Johnson wanted to be a pharmacist, until he met Kevin Seals, chief environmental scientist at Hanson Professional Services, Inc. and the coordinator for the Grow Our Own Minority Participation program. “Three years ago I had no idea what engineering was,” Johnson said, until he attended an…
Business 72: Springfield’s next economic engine
By David A. Kelm Perhaps it is part of our collective consciousness even for those of us not fortunate to take the Great Family Road Trip as a kid. Regardless, there is an image in our mind’s eye – a truly American image of Mom, Dad, kids, dog, luggage and a cooler of sandwiches and…
It’s all about the kids
The 100th anniversary of shrine giving By Catherine O’Connor 2015 has marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Ansar Shrine, one of five temples in Illinois which serve as regional headquarters in Rockford, Chicago, Peoria, Springfield and East St. Louis. The Springfield Shriners chose the name Ansar and received a charter in 1915…
Two great tastes
By Gabe House Pease’s at Bunn Gourmet has a little something for everyone. Incredibly Delicious quiche and Bean Counter coffee are available for breakfast. Children have their own play and lounge area. Or at the end of a long day, perhaps a glass of wine paired with Pease’s confections in front of a crackling fireplace…
Perfecting the art of the print
By Eric Woods Born in Indiana, Miles Parkhill moved with his family to Springfield when he was five years old. With the exception of a few summers spent in Florida, Parkhill has primarily lived in the Illinois capital. “It has a very affordable cost of living,” he said, regarding why he enjoys living in Springfield.…
Meet Lisa Clemmons Stott
Executive director, Downtown Springfield, Inc. By Shannon O’Brien As a senior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Lisa Clemmons Stott co-wrote a documentary called “Whatever Happened to Saturday Night,” about the demise of downtowns when malls became more popular. As the new executive director of Downtown Springfield Inc. (DSI), the documentary seems prescient. “I’m trying…
Best Places to Work 2016
Springfield Business Journal and United Community Bank are pleased to sponsor this year’s “Best Places to Work,” recognizing outstanding businesses in central Illinois. The program is open to any business in Sangamon or Morgan county with 35 or more employees. Many of the nominations were submitted by the employees themselves, in other cases someone who…
Soaring interest in “drones” – Surge in popularity brings success to hobby shop
by Job Conger During the early evolution of internal combustion gasoline engines, it didn’t take long for inventors to hang one on a bicycle, resulting in the first motorcycle. Similarly, about three years ago, when the first multi-rotor and quad toy helicopters zoomed skyward from fertile minds, it didn’t take long for someone to hang…
Strategic Hourglass Systems – Is time on your side?
By Colin Patrick Brady Maureen E. Williams of Strategic Hourglass Systems provides an essential service out of her Chatham headquarters. But it is one for which, she says, “tragedy was the catalyst.” When Williams received news that her nephew, Shayne, had died at age 32 in a house fire, he had none of the essential…
Cultural shift: Wardrobe brings social consciousness back into fashion
By Catherine O’Connor The Wardrobe may be one of Springfield’s best kept secrets. Tucked away in a quaint former neighborhood gas station that was transformed in the 1960s into a cozy gallery-like shop, the store is an outstanding example of building adaptive reuse. A step inside reveals a quiet, understated microcosm of the boutique universe…
