Greater Springfield Chamber Job Fair coming March 22
Whether you are an employer needing to hire additional staff or someone in the market for a new job, the Greater Springfield Chamber Job Fair on March 22 is a great opportunity. Prospective employees will be coming from all over Sangamon county and central Illinois seeking full-time, part-time, or seasonal work and/or changing careers. Job seekers…
Rod Lane opens Visiting Angels in-home elder care
On March 5, Visiting Angels officially opened for business at 2800 Montvale Drive, Suite G, in Springfield. A national franchise, Visiting Angels has locations across the United States that provide in-home elder care services. The local owner and director is Rod Lane, who most recently worked for Memorial Health System as director of fund development…
2018 Golf Outings
Is your organization or non-profit planning a golf outing that is open to the public? Springfield Business Journal will have a calendar of local golf outings as part of the special section in our April issue. There is no charge to have your outing included. Please submit information to stacie@springfieldbusinessjournal.com no later than Wednesday, March…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Mar. 5, 2018 and Mar. 11, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Mar. 14 BY STACIE LEWIS Hy-Vee, Inc. obtained a commercial building permit for a seasonal garden center at 2115 S. MacArthur. The contractor is Matt’s Greenhouse and the project is valued at $100. Enos Park Development, LLC obtained a commercial building permit for remodeling work at 711 E. Enos Ave. Enos…
Visions by JDR is moving to N. Peoria Road building that formerly housed Fish Man Pet Center
Visions by JDR is preparing to move into the building at 3935 N. Peoria Road that formerly housed Fish Man Pet Center. Darlene Anderson recently purchased the Peoria Road property and is in the process of renovating it. “Mostly I sell crystals, incense, candles, jewelry, books, and music, that sort of thing,” said Anderson. “I…
Cedarhurst breaks ground on $14 million project on Old Jacksonville Road
Cedarhurst of Springfield Assisted Living and Memory Care broke ground last week at 3520 Old Jacksonville Road, located adjacent to Memorial Health System’s Koke Mill Medical Center and the Orthopedic Center of Central Illinois. The $14 million senior living community is scheduled to open in early 2019. Cedarhurst of Springfield will feature 52 assisted living…
Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. opens
The official ribbon cutting isn’t scheduled until March 29, but Buzz Bomb Brewing Company is officially open for business as of this past weekend. Located downtown at 406 E. Adams, the building that formerly housed the Oasis Bar has been extensively remodeled over the last year, with the owners doing much of the work themselves.…
Busy as bees – April 2017
Buzz Bomb Brewing Company prepares to open downtown By Patrick Yeagle What started as some friendly sword play is leading to a new brewery in downtown Springfield. Buzz Bomb Brewing Company plans to open its doors this fall at 406 E. Adams St. – formerly Oasis bar. Josh Flanders, a co-owner at Buzz Bomb Brewing,…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Feb. 26, 2018, and Mar. 4, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Mar. 7 BY STACIE LEWIS The Grain and Feed Association obtained an interior demo permit for 3521 Hollis Dr. The contractor is Michael Von Behren Builders and the project is valued at $5,000. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc. obtained a commercial building permit for the installation of above-ground storage tanks at 3415…
Prairie Analytical acquired by Peoria company
Prairie Analytical, which has an environmental testing facility located at 1210 Capital Airport Drive in Springfield as well as a location in Lake in the Hills, Illinois, has been acquired by a Peoria company. Coulter Companies, Inc. has acquired, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, PDC Laboratories, Inc., the assets of Prairie Analytical Systems, effective February 1,…
Lauren Gibson takes new job with McLean County Regional Planning Commission.
Lauren Gibson, who is the marketing specialist for the City of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED), has taken a new job in the Bloomington area. Her last day with the city is March 13. After that, she will be working in community planning for the McLean County Regional Planning Commission. Gibson is…
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act seminar being offered.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, commonly referred to as Tax Reform, was recently signed into law affecting all taxpayers. The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Kerber, Eck & Braeckel to offer a tax reform seminar that reviews the many changes in the TCJA that will affect small and medium-size businesses and their…
HSHS appoints Catie Sheehan as Vice President, Advocacy and Communications
Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) has announced the appointment of Catie Sheehan as HSHS Vice President, Advocacy and Communications. Sheehan succeeds Brian Reardon, HSHS Vice President, External Relations, who recently accepted a position as Vice President of Communications and Marketing with the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) in St. Louis, Missouri. Sheehan…
BRANDT: The hometown local ag company
By David Blanchette A Pleasant Plains brother and sister had big ambitions 65 years ago when they founded what became one of central Illinois’ largest agricultural businesses. “Early on I decided we wanted to be the General Motors of the fertilizer business,” said 91-year-old Glen Brandt, the co-founder of BRANDT. “But I never dreamed that…
Building homes, growing a business
Phil Zinn, of Zinn Construction in Sherman, has been building homes for 15 years BY ZACHARY ROTH When Phil Zinn takes you through his offices, there are pictures of some shiny, modern homes built with the latest and greatest in homebuilding technology. And then, there are other houses, maybe without the bells and whistles, but…
For Dale Becker, giving is a win-win-win
KEB makes giving back part of its corporate culture BY JANET SEITZ For Dale Becker, the benefits of charitable giving add up, both personally and professionally. Becker is a CPA and partner with the Springfield accounting and management consulting firm Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel (KEB). Becker became involved in charitable efforts, “almost out of the…
News from Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation
The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) has selected Helena Chemical to receive the 2017 Harold Cox Award for Industry of the Year. JREDC representatives presented the award during their annual meeting on February 15. Through the course of the last two years, Helena has created a new premier agronomy center. The project started with…
Local First will be hosting a class for local business owners.
Local First will be hosting a class for local business owners, “Business Collaboration – fostering a business ecosystem,” on March 8. At this 90-minute class, participants will learn about the benefits of working together and sharing skills. Examples of successful ecosystems that already exist in Springfield will also be given by Innovate Springfield executive director…
HSHS Medical Group welcomes two new physicians to Chatham.
HSHS Medical Group welcomes Erin Blackburn, MD, and Gopinathan Nambiar, MD, FAAP, to the Chatham community. Both pediatricians, these physicians offer patient-first care to patients from birth to 21 years of age. Blackburn earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and a bachelor’s degree from Baker University in Kansas. She…
News from the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln
The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln has elected three new members to join its board of directors in 2018. Jane Denes, Wendi Wills El-Amin and Josh Renken will each serve a four-year term as director. Jane Denes is a partner of Posegate & Denes, P.C. in Springfield. Among her many volunteer activities, Denes…
Building permit roundup – Feb 28
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Feb. 19, 2018, and Feb. 25, 2018. BY STACIE LEWIS Little Angels Child Care obtained a commercial interior demo permit for the structure at 101 E. Allen. The contractor is Carolina Contractors and Painting, Inc. and the project is valued at $4,000. The…
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…
2018 Home Expo
The 2018 Home Expo will be held from February 23-25 at the BOS Center in downtown Springfield. The Springfield Area Home Builders Association’s (SAHBA) Home Expo will be showcasing the latest trends in the home building and remodeling industry. The entire main floor of the BOS Center will be filled with booths featuring local businesses…
Sarah Graham takes new position at Illinois Bankers Association.
Sarah Graham has accepted a position as director of career services for the Illinois Bankers Association. In this role, she will oversee the day-to-day marketing activities of IBA’s nationwide talent management and job board, Bank Talent HQ, as well as manage the flagship Future Leaders Alliance program which trains bankers to become financial industry executives.…
Bumgarner and Mason Promotions
Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP and KEB Asset Management LLC has promoted Cliff Bumgarner and Justin Mason to the position of Senior Manager. Bumgarner graduated with his bachelor of science in accountancy from Millikin University and has over nine years of public accounting experience. Mason graduated with his bachelor of science in personal financial planning…
Whataburger: Fact or Fiction?
Rumors have been flying about the fate of the former Denny’s restaurant on Wabash Avenue after the social media site 217 Memes posted last week that a Whataburger would be opening at that location, citing unnamed sources. However, Whataburger’s corporate office later commented on the post with this statement: “This post is a hoax and…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Feb. 12, 2018, and Feb. 18, 2018.
Phoenix Center obtained a commercial remodeling permit for interior and exterior renovations at 109 E. Lawrence. The contractor is Pankey Builders and the project is valued at $70,000. KB Properties and Rentals obtained a commercial remodeling permit for 510 Apple Orchard Road for an interior remodel. Karl Backs is the contractor and the project is…
Best Places to Work Reception
Members of the local business community are invited to attend the Best Places to Work reception and awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 7 from 5:30-7p.m. at the United Community Bank location at 1900 West Iles Avenue in Springfield. Please RSVP to michelle@springfieldbusinessjournal.com. The recipients of the 2018 “Best Places to Work,” sponsored by Springfield Business…
Website content management systems webinar offered by LRS Web Solutions
On February 7, LRS® Web Solutions will host a technical learning session on an essential online tool called the content management system (CMS). This free online seminar will help businesses learn how to keep websites relevant and engaging with the latest technology to keep visitors returning on a regular basis. Business owners and marketing professionals…
Springfield Airport Authority buys former Newman-Alton building
Commercial contracting company Newman-Alton, Inc. closed its doors last fall after owners Patrick Newman and Steve Alton both retired. The non-union general contractors had been in business since 1992 and had 25 full time employees. Their office and warehouse was located at 719 Estill Drive, adjacent to the perimeter of the runway for Abraham Lincoln…
Rich Riedesel moves on to Illini County Club
Rich Riedesel, who has been with the Sangamo Club for 24 years, has accepted a position with Illini Country Club. He currently serves as the assistant general manager for Sangamo Club and his last day will be February 24. Riedesel, who is originally from Springfield, was involved in the opening of the Renaissance Hotel (now…
SIU Medicine opens two new office locations
SIU Medicine has opened a new cosmetic clinic at 2201 W. White Oaks Dr. in Springfield. The building is also the location of Pure Synergy, which is made up of four separate businesses: Ahh Yoga, Body Symmetry, Physiotherapy Professionals and PureSynergy Massage. The SIU clinic will offer cash-based services, including wrinkle fillers, BOTOX® injections, spider…
Building permit roundup – Jan 31
BY NAN KORDING Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Jan. 22, 2018 and Jan. 28, 2018. BB Properties LLC has obtained a commercial demolition permit for 1800 E. Washington. The permit covers the non-structural interior demolition of walls, ceiling and floor. The contractor is Decatur-based Jones & Sullivan Enterprises,…
Fast-growing Senergy Electric has big plans
With small-town roots, specializing in health care and security systems BY ZACHARY ROTH Many businesses, whether they are local or national, had humble beginnings. For Matt Giacomini, Brandon Keafer and Senergy Electric, it was no different. “We waited three months for the phone to ring,” said Giacomini, Senergy’s president. “The first year was pretty slow.…
Best places to work 2018
Balance of freedom and control BY SCOTT FAINGOLD “Working here is far different than any sales structure I had ever been in,” said Greg Pacelli, senior account executive, who has been working in sales for Midwest Family Broadcasting for five years. “I’m allowed to take care of my clients and do what I need to…
Strong roots help LRS grow
Private ownership allows long-term attention to meeting customer needs BY DAVID BLANCHETTE LRS turns 39 years old this year and is going stronger than ever, with operations on five continents and the ongoing expansion of its world headquarters in Springfield. But the global leader of information technology solutions remains firmly rooted in the Springfield community…
The proud history of architecture in Illinois
For the bicentennial, recognizing 200 great places BY MIKE WALDINGER Illinois could use a reminder of what we are capable of as well as something to look forward to. The bicentennial taking place in 2018 is the perfect occasion to find perspective and purpose. From an architectural point of view, there’s a lot to be…
