Cover Story
2022 Women of Influence
Click link below to view the 2022 Women of Influence WOI_2022
Building Permits – May 9 – May 15, 2022
Springfield 264, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for 2951 S. Normandy Road, #2. The contractor is Ridge Renovation and the project is valued at $8,500. GE Financial Trust obtained a commercial accessory structure permit for 2001 W. Monroe St. Buckley’s Prairie Landscaping is the contractor and the project is valued at $65,500. Sasa Nails…
Dr. Will Putman purchases dental practice from Dr. Robert Burris
Dr. Will Putman has returned to Springfield, and along with his fiancé, Dr. Taylor Johnson, purchased a dental practice from Dr. Robert Burris. “Dr. Burris has been a family friend, and he reached out that he was planning to retire,” said Putman. “Springfield is a slower pace and a really good city to raise a…
Aviatori Coffeehouse opens in historic house on North Logan
Aviatori Coffeehouse has opened at 311 N. Logan Ave., with both the name and décor reflecting the owners’ love of flying. Joe Coppick and Juliana Turchetti Coppick have backgrounds in aviation. “We are both pilots; we used to be crop dusters and got a job in Astoria. I fell in love with a historic house…
Steve Koch announces retirement, sells financial planning practice to Jennifer Sylvia
After 36 years of helping clients plan for their financial goals and prepare for retirement, Steve Koch is making a transition of his own. He has sold his financial planning practice, Koch, Sylvia and Associates, 2621 Montega Drive, to Jennifer Sylvia. “I began working with my business partner 14 years ago in anticipation of this…
Best Places to Work awards program
The business community is invited to a ceremony honoring the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Best Places to Work winners, sponsored by United Community Bank and Springfield Business Journal. Please join us on Thursday, May 19, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the United Community Bank on Montvale Drive for a reception and awards program honoring these outstanding…
The annual State of the City luncheon
Mayor Jim Langfelder will provide a status report for the City of Springfield at the annual State of the City luncheon, hosted by the Greater Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. He will review accomplishments and challenges of the past year, outline priorities for the upcoming months and provide the administration’s perspective on the city’s outlook.…
Building Permits – May 2 – May 8, 2022
U.S. Bank Corp Real Estate in care of Ryan Pts Dept. 908 obtained a commercial remodel permit for 205 S. Fifth St. the contractor is not known and the project is valued at $250,000. Fu Ga Xing, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for work at 2100 W. White Oaks Drive. The contractor is not…
Memorial Wellness Center relocates, expands services
Memorial Wellness Center is now offering expanded services in its new downtown Springfield location, including a culinary medicine program that is the first of its kind in central Illinois. The center opened May 9 at 320 E. Carpenter St. “Our program is unique in this region as patients benefit from health care professionals being involved…
Elodie Grace Boutique to open brick-and-mortar location
A women’s clothing boutique that began as an online-only side hustle is expanding to a brick-and-mortar retail location. “I started Elodie Grace Boutique in the fall of 2017,” said owner Meghan Ramirez. “I was working a full-time job in accounting, so it was online-only at first. Fashion has always been a huge hobby of mine,…
Animal Emergency Clinic moving to building on Durkin Drive
The Animal Emergency Clinic of Springfield is preparing to move to a significantly larger space to accommodate a growing case load. “I’ve been the AEC manager since 2017,” said Dr. Tom Antonini. “At that time, we had 4,000 cases a year, and our case load has gone up tremendously since then. Now it’s closer to…
Building permit roundup – April 25 – May 1, 2022
St. John’s Hospital, etal, obtained a commercial building permit for a new child care facility at 419 N. Sixth St. The contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $6,840. 0097. Depend-A-Bull Motors, Inc. obtained a commercial remodel permit for 2905B E. Cook St. Repair Masters Construction is the contractor and the project…
Haley Wilson joins the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.
Haley Wilson has joined the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln as director of communications. She was most recently director of membership and communications for the Illinois Association of Community and Action Agencies, where she had worked since 2016. “As a Springfield native, I am truly grateful and honored to work for an organization…
Giffin Winning law firm to leave downtown
The law firm of Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes has been located in the downtown area since its inception more than a century ago, but that is about to change. As of May 9, the historic law firm is moving to the former Illinois Press Association building at 900 Community Dr. The IPA relocated to…
Heartland Healing Arts Center to relocate, Growing Metta to launch
Heartland Healing Arts Center is preparing to nearly double its space with a move to a new west-side location, and one of the practitioners is launching her own business, Growing Metta. “The word ‘metta’ means ‘loving and kindness’” said Jenn Wikoff, who has been a massage therapist for almost nine years. “I’m finishing up my…
The Outlet purchases former St. Joseph’s Home property
The Outlet, a young men’s mentoring center based in Springfield, has purchased the property that was the former St. Joseph’s Home of Springfield. The new property will become The Outlet’s regional home base for central Illinois. Since June 2015, The Outlet’s home has been a 3,600-square-foot facility at 2525 S. 12th Street. This mainly one-room…
Kelsey Hinckley joins President Abraham Lincoln Springfield – a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel.
Kelsey Hinckley has joined the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield – a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel as event manager. Hinckley previously worked as the event manager for the Alzheimer’s Association and managed Walk to End Alzheimer’s events around central Illinois. She also served as the development manager for the American Lung Association and most recently worked…
Building permit roundup – April 18 – April 24, 2022
Anthony Karakas obtained a commercial remodel permit for 1200 E. Bunn Ave. The contractor is Dave Coleman and the project is valued at $7,000. Hae’s, Inc. obtained a commercial building permit for a new coffee shop at 917 W. Jefferson St. The owner is the contractor and the project is valued at $300,000. TC Investment…
UIS Good as Gold Ceremony honors more than 40 local volunteers, businesses and organizations
The University of Illinois Springfield, Junior League of Springfield and the United Way of Central Illinois honored more than 40 Sangamon County volunteers, businesses and organizations during the 14th annual Good as Gold Ceremony on April 25, 2022 in the UIS Student Union. The Good as Gold Ceremony was started in 2008 to honor people,…
$5 million renovation project planned for Springfield Electric property
Springfield Electric Supply Company’s Springfield headquarters will be undergoing significant renovations, and the property owners are seeking TIF assistance from the city of Springfield. Springfield Electric’s location at 700 N. Ninth St. will be impacted by the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, and construction on Usable Segment Six, between Carpenter Street and Ridgely Avenue, is expected…
It’s not about the money
By Holly A. Whisler There has been a shift in workforce dynamics since the pandemic shook life up a couple years ago. Job seekers have a renewed sense of confidence — they know their priorities and the value they bring to the table. Surveys conducted in 2021 show that those actively seeking employment are looking…
Family Service Center relocates, building sold to Springfield Clinic
Family Service Center, a nonprofit that provides foster care, adoption and counseling services, has moved to a new location as of April 18. The agency had occupied the former United Way building at 730 E. Vine for about two decades, according to executive director Karen Cox. “The building has seen better days, and we were…
Pasfield House to reopen under new ownership
Molly Frey wanted to follow in her family’s footsteps by investing in real estate, but it ultimately led to a career change. Frey moved to Springfield in 2009 to work as a pharmacist, but more recently, she decided to invest in real estate. “I really wanted to get into property investment – my entire family…
Building permit roundup – April 11 – April 17, 2022
Clean as a Whistle, LLC obtained a commercial building permit for work at 3105 W. Great Northern Drive. Nicholas Torres is the contractor and the project is valued at $56,000. Memorial Health System obtained a commercial roofing permit for 701 N. First St. The contractor is Roofing Associates, LLC and the project is valued at…
