Where were you born and raised, and what was your career experience before joining AIA Illinois? I was born and raised in Quincy and went to Quincy University. I worked in retail management and sales, then I worked for an association management company running five to seven associations on a daily basis. What made you […]
Newsletter – This Month SBJ
Posted inArticles
Best Places to Work alumni spotlight: B&B Electric
Named one of the Best Places to Work in 2020, B&B Electric, a licensed electrical contractor that delivers electrical solutions to commercial, institutional or industrial projects, is unique in that it has been a family-owned and operated business for four generations. Tim Brinkman, partner and executive vice president, is a member of the fourth generation […]
Posted inColumns
New Year’s resolutions for a stronger business
The start of a new year can be filled with a sense of optimism about what’s to come, but for some entrepreneurs it can also be a time of high anxiety, not knowing what might happen in the months ahead. This year will surely bring a few surprises, but you don’t have to wait and […]
Posted inColumns
100+ Who Care in Springfield
Members of the 100+ Who Care in Springfield play a bit of a numbers game. The group’s intent is to recruit at least 100 people who will donate $100 each with the goal of voting for and awarding $10,000 to a local nonprofit, all in under 100 minutes. Jenny Vaughn, board president, summed up the […]
Posted inColumns
Lake Springfield Tavern
Given my fondness for tavern fare, I was surprised I had never been to Lake Springfield Tavern. I’ve driven by hundreds of times, and I don’t think I even recognized that it was a tavern. Folks tell me that Lake Springfield Tavern has been around since Stevenson Drive was a dirt road. And, from exterior […]
Posted inArticles
Notable engineering and construction projects of 2023
Engineering the future: moving Springfield forward The work of Moving Pillsbury Forward, the nonprofit created to take ownership of the former Pillsbury flour mill complex at 1525 E Phillips St., is to prepare for environmental cleanup and future redevelopment and is key to the story of the biggest engineering project in Springfield, spanning more than […]
Posted inArticles
Q&A with Steven Koch
After 36 years of helping clients plan for their financial goals and prepare for retirement, Steve Koch made a transition of his own last year when he sold his financial planning practice, Koch, Sylvia and Associates, to a longtime business partner. Koch is also known for his extensive community involvement, and says he plans to […]
Posted inArticles
Higher interest rates and fewer deposits
Inflation is the name of the game in 2023, with higher prices for consumers and the Federal Reserve continuing to increase interest rates in hopes of countering rising costs. “In order to get inflation under wraps, the need to increase interest rates has become problematic,” said Joel Oschwald, market president at First Bankers Trust Company. […]
Posted inArticles
Going cashless is costing small businesses
Think about the last time you bought a drink at your local coffee shop – how did you pay? Did you hesitate before pulling out your debit card? Or, maybe you used your smartphone’s mobile wallet to quickly tap and go. Whatever the case, the odds aren’t high you paid with cash. The digitalization of […]
Posted inArticles
Generational wealth: How to build a legacy
It’s being called the great wealth transfer – the amount of generational wealth being passed from the baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, to the millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996. According to a 2022 study conducted by Cerulli Associates, a research firm that provides data for the financial services industry, $84.4 […]
Posted inColumns
Mandatory retirement plans and more
The state of Illinois employs more than 76,000 people, the governor’s office has 157 staff members and every senator and representative has several staff members. I assume most of these people have no idea what it is like to run a small business, but they love to pile on the requirements for those of you […]
Posted inColumns
Ginna’s Cafe
I’ve been to SCHEELS, and knew that somewhere in the back of my mind the store served soda, coffee and fudge. What I didn’t know is that Ginna’s Café & Coffee at SCHEELS offers a full menu. Indeed, I visited Ginna’s Café & Coffee with a group of friends that goes out for chili once […]