Johnson new CEO at Vibra Hospital
Vibra Hospital of Springfield announced a new CEO this week. Brett Johnson comes to Vibra from Ohio, where he most recently served as CEO of Regency Hospital in Sylvania. Johnson has served more than 20 years in administration of skilled nursing facilities. “It is an honor and a privilege for me to lead a hospital…
City funding for Springfield PGA event narrowly approved
The Springfield City Council narrowly approved $30,000 in funding this week to help promote a PGA event in Springfield. Mayor Jim Langfelder cast the deciding vote after aldermen deadlocked on the proposal. Lincoln Land Charity Championship requested the money for marketing and promotion of the Web.com Tour event scheduled for June 19-25, 2017, as part…
Gabala joins Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes
Springfield law firm Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C. announced this month the hiring of attorney John M. Gabala. Formerly serving as a law clerk at the Illinois Appellate Court, Gabala joins the firm to practice civil and criminal appeals. He has previously also handled business and commercial litigation along with copyright and trademark protection.…
City council approves change to large scale development oversight
Developers in Springfield will face fewer hurdles for project approval following a city council vote Tuesday that changed the definition of what constitutes a large scale development. Under city ordinance, the Springfield City Council must approve large scale developments, and Tuesday’s vote developments will be considered large scale when taking place on at least 12…
City council approves three TIF requests totaling $305,000
The Springfield City Council approved three requests for TIF funds totaling $305,000 on Tuesday. Approval of the requests paves the way for a restaurant to open in Enos Park and for a spa and a long-awaited children’s museum to open downtown. Jerome Taylor, owner of MJ’s Fish & Chicken, requested $55,000 in TIF funds from…
Victoria’s Secret moving, adding PINK storefront at White Oaks
Lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret is moving to a larger spot within White Oaks Mall this summer and adding a separate storefront dedicated to the brand’s PINK line. Victoria’s Secret will open in August in its new larger spot with 9,547 square feet of space on the upper level of the wing housing Dick’s Sporting Goods.…
Prairie Heart Institute and HSHS St. John’s Hospital donate cardiac cath lab to Damoh, India
For heart patients in Damoh, India, the closest cardiac center is seven hours away by car. That will change soon, as Prairie Heart Institute and HSHS St. John’s Hospital donate a cardiac catherization lab to be set up in Damoh, which has a metro area of several million people. Cath labs allow doctors to use…
Philly Pretzel Factory expanding to Springfield
A pretzel retailer based in Pennsylvania is expanding to Springfield. Philly Pretzel Factory, which sells ready-to-eat pretzels and related foods, is seeking franchise operators to open stores in Springfield. The company has 167 franchises open in 19 states. Tom Monaghan, chief development officer for Philly Pretzel Factory, says most of the company’s stores are in…
SIU to hold Alzheimer’s trials, launches Nurse-Family Partnership
SIU School of Medicine is seeking patients and care partners for clinical trials testing the effectiveness of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. The school’s Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) is helping to coordinate four separate studies of treatments for memory loss. Two of the trials test existing treatments for patients…
Rebound opens new addiction recovery center
Rebound Health Care Systems opened a new facility in Springfield this week. The addiction recovery company cut the ribbon on its new center at 435. W. Washington St. on May 8. Owner Michael Reeves is a licensed clinical social worker and certified drug and alcohol counselor with a master’s degree in social work. In a…
SIU names new ortho chief
SIU School of Medicine named a new chief in the Division of Orthopedic Surgery on May 3. Dr. Ryan Pate, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, joined SIU’s faculty last week as Ortho chief and will also serve as an assistant professor of surgery. Pate specializes in hip and knee reconstruction and shoulder arthroscopy. Pate comes to…
Panda Express planned for North Dirksen – Building permit roundup
A new Panda Express Chinese Kitchen is planned for North Dirksen Parkway, according to a building permit issued by the City of Springfield on May 5. The restaurant will be new construction, following the demolition of the closed Royal Buffet at 2730 N. Dirksen Parkway. The contractors on the project are Prather Plumbing and Heating…
Can co-working work in Springfield?
By Emily Jankauski Starting a business can be expensive. Startup costs alone threaten a business’ potential growth and future success. Co-working spaces offer a professional, low-cost shared environment for startup companies, small businesses, creators and entrepreneurs. Equipped with amenities and a professional atmosphere, co-working spaces supply business professionals with a collaborative working space that suits…
Illinois Senate advances update to ‘genetic privacy’ law
By Monica Stabile Legislation that protects employees from having to disclose their genetic testing information to employers was unanimously approved Tuesday by the Illinois Senate. An update to Illinois’ Genetic Information Privacy Act was passed this week, in direct response to controversial legislation in Congress which would allow companies to penalize workers who refuse to…
A new vision for an old block
BY PATRICK YEAGLE Dan Senftner practically bursts with excitement when talking about Main Street Square, the public space he helped develop nearly a decade ago in Rapid City, South Dakota. “It’s been over the top – far more than we ever dreamed,” he said. Senftner is president and CEO of Destination Rapid City, a combination…
Trane to establish offices in central Illinois
HVAC system manufacturer Trane is establishing offices in Springfield and other central Illinois cities. Mike Rolfes, Trane’s district leader for Springfield, says the move represents a change from independent agents to company-owned offices and parts centers. Trane, one of a handful of brands owned by parent company Ingersoll Rand, has long offered service in Springfield…
2017 Women of Influence
Security Bank and Springfield Business Journal are proud to bring you the 14th annual Women of Influence. This program honors local women for their contributions to the Springfield area community. Selected by their peers through submitted nominations, all have made important contributions to the community at large. You are invited to join us in celebrating…
Home builders protest tax on repair service
By Monica Stabile The Home Builders Association of Illinois spoke out Tuesday against service tax legislation which they say would cause a loss of more than 500 jobs and almost $8 million in state revenue. Meanwhile, the bill’s sponsor says she would change the proposal if other lawmakers would agree. The proposal being considered by…
Women of Influence – M.T. Vann
BY PATRICK YEAGLE She grew up the only girl with five brothers. Maybe that was where Mary Therese Vann first learned to hold her own. Known as M.T. to many, Mary Therese Vann of Springfield died Dec. 31, 2016, leaving a respected legacy of making her own way in the worlds of business and social…
Women of Influence – Dr. Tracey Smith
BY COURTNEY ENLOW HALL As the director of population health and community outreach for the SIU Center for Family Medicine, Dr. Tracey Smith has devoted her professional life to providing access and equity to people in vulnerable situations. “When I look at something, I always look at it in terms of a system,” she said.…
Women of Influence – Rasha Said
BY COURTNEY ENLOW HALL Necessity is the mother of invention, and Rasha Said is a mother whose invention was born out of necessity. When her young son started to lose his vision, Said began to realize how important it was for him to remain independent. On a family trip to Disney World, she found herself…
Bachrach closing store at White Oaks Mall after filing for bankruptcy.
Men’s clothing retailer Bachrach is closing its location at White Oaks Mall in Springfield. The closure comes as the company seeks bankruptcy restructuring. Bradley Lipman, director of planning and allocation at Bachrach, says the Springfield location employs five to 10 people and will likely be closed in about three months. Lipman said about 13 Bachrach…
Women of Influence – Margaret “Boony” Luparell
BY ROBERTA CODEMO The odds were stacked against Margaret “Boony” Luparell of Dawson from day one. Born on the south side of Chicago, her family moved to Springfield when she was about four years old. She grew up on Springfield’s north side, the youngest of five children. “I come from very humble beginnings,” she said.…
Women of Influence – Dr. Susan Koch
BY ROBERTA CODEMO Dr. Susan J. Koch always looked up to her mother, who worked full-time while raising five children in a rural South Dakota town. “She was a very courageous and dedicated person,” Koch said. “She had high expectations for us. I didn’t want to disappoint her.” Whenever she left the house, Koch’s mother…
Women of Influence – Molly Berendt
BY COURTNEY ENLOW HALL Molly Berendt was 23 years old when she started the program that would change both her life and the lives of Springfield’s homeless children. Beginning as a ministry at Douglas Avenue Methodist Church, the Compass program – now Compass for Kids – sought to support homeless children at Dubois Middle School.…
Affordable Shred expanding to records storage
Affordable Shred specializes in destroying documents. However, it will soon be able to securely store documents, as well. Based in Buffalo, Affordable Shred is expanding its services and its footprint by reusing the former Victory Hall Bingo building at 750 N. 19th St. as a secure records storage location. The company, which operates mobile shredding…
Elston moving State Farm office after 28 years
Jeff Elston. Photo courtesy of State Farm. Jeff Elston started his career selling insurance with State Farm 28 years ago, and his office has been located at 1405 Stevenson Dr. ever since. Now, Elston is moving. His office’s new location will be the former Kloever & Son Jewelry building at 2657 S. Fifth St. Easton…
Hunt and Shugart named partners at KEB
Starting this week, Springfield accounting firm Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP has two new partners. CPAs Danielle Hunt and Josh Shugart were announced as partners at KEB last week, effective May 1. Hunt joined the company in 2001 and has served in KEB’s Springfield and St. Louis offices. She focuses on financial institutions, nonprofits, closely-held…
Fire and Ale sold to new owners
A popular restaurant in Sherman has been sold to new owners. Paul Evans opened Fire and Ale in 2012 at 135 Illini Blvd. in Sherman. For Evans, it was a longtime goal to start a restaurant from the ground up. “I started bartending after college,” he said, “so the bar and restaurant business was always…
Illinois considers entrepreneur ‘learner’s permit’
By Monica Stabile Legislation to provide financial incentives for first-time business owners was approved Wednesday by the Illinois Senate. Dubbed the “Entrepreneur Learner’s Permit,” the pilot program hopes to boost small business growth by reimbursing some licensing and permit costs to first-time business owners. Entrepreneurs who qualify for the program include new information services, biotechnology and…
West Lake Animal Hospital prepares to build new clinic
West Lake Animal Hospital in Springfield is preparing to build a new clinic. The veterinarian office obtained a building permit last week to begin construction its new 5,200-square-foot facility to be located at 3220 Horizon Drive. It is currently located at 125 West Lake Dr. Custom Structures Inc. is the general contractor on the project.…
GenHkids relocates from downtown
GenHkids is moving to a new location after vacating its downtown office. The group, which focuses on encouraging healthy lifestyles for children, was located at 305 S. Fourth St. until the week of April 14, when movers packed up the office. Effective, May 1, the group’s new location will be 3171 Greenhead Dr.
Imax coming to Springfield
A popular format for films is coming to Springfield as AMC Showplace Springfield 12 gets an upgrade to Imax. The Springfield Department of Public Works has approved a building permit for a 4,000-square-foot remodel of Auditorium 8 at Showplace 12, located at 3141 Mercantile Dr. The remodel includes a new projection system, speakers, seating, wall…
Legalized recreational marijuana could boost state revenue
By Monica Stabile State lawmakers are exploring the possibility of a budding industry to create an additional revenue source for Illinois by legalizing recreational marijuana. Chicago Democrats Sen. Heather Steans and Rep. Kelly Cassidy have proposed a measure that would allow adults aged 21 and older to possess, grow and purchase marijuana as long as…
U-Haul planning expansion of Bruns Lane facility
U-Haul Moving & Storage at 410 Bruns Lane in Springfield is planning a major expansion to its facility. The plans include adding at least six buildings for storage units and RV storage. The new development would be located east of the existing building which faces Bruns Lane. A baseball diamond and part of a parking…
Second Dunkin’ Donuts franchise planned for Springfield
A second franchise of Dunkin’ Donuts is in the works for Springfield. Nick Bhatt, owner of the existing Dunkin’ Donuts franchise at 102 Chatham Road, says he has been working to establish a second franchise for about three years. Bhatt, who opened the first franchise in 2014, is seeking approval to develop a piece of…
Bill would claw back tax breaks for businesses leaving Illinois
By Monica Stabile Illinois House Democrats passed legislation on Monday that would require businesses which move all or part of their operations out-of-state to repay money from tax breaks. The Keep Illinois Business Act would preserve taxpayer’s money by preventing companies from “abusing” Illinois tax incentives and hurting economic development, said Rep. Michael Halpin, the…
