InterBusiness Issues - April 2006

An Interview with Jeff Kolbus

The Traders Realty Corp. President talks with InterBusiness Issues about what homeowners want today, whether the housing boom is over in central Illinois, and doing business using the Golden Rule.

Features

Business Profile

Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame

The Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame is celebrating its 25th anniversary this spring, marking the occasion with an augmented version of its annual induction ceremony.

Government Profile

Peoria Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken

Councilwoman Van Auken answers a dozen questions about her life as a Peoria City Council member.

Guest Editorial

Market Development Bureau: The Illinois Advantage

Tony Rolando, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

The Homeland Security Market Development Bureau in the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity was created to attract, support, and engage businesses in the industry.

Whether you’re making decisions for business or pleasure, the IBI List will be a valuable resource. In its second installment, the List surveyed marketing/advertising agencies throughout central Illinois.

Local Update

Prosperous Job Market Predicted for Peoria

Peoria area employers expect to hire at a brisk pace during the second quarter of 2006.

Publisher's Note

Government is a Business - Run it Like One

Jan Wright, Publisher

Commonplace anymore are newspaper stories that detail the excesses in governmental employee travel expenses at all levels. How often do you look at those stories and say to yourself, “If I ran my business that way…”

Also in this issue...

Affordable Enterprise Security For Smaller Businesses

Grant Wince

STL Technology Partners

Aggressive and potentially damaging security threats are especially critical for small to medium businesses where IT budgets and personnel are in short supply.

Communication Makes the Difference in Employee Retirement Planning

William O'Malley

RSM McGladrey

By promoting the importance of retirement planning and providing customized resources, an employer can showcase its retirement program as a competitive advantage and recruitment tool.

Pet Owners Welcome a Dog-Gone Good Law

Roni VanAusdall

Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White, & Frederick, P.C.

Your pet has provided you with years of faithful companionship. Now Illinois law allows you to ensure you don’t leave your friend stranded, even in death.

The Newest Marketing Tool

Stephen Ferguson

SpyderHost.net, Inc.

A web site is a true marketing tool—and your customers expect you to have a beautiful, functional, and usuable site on the Internet.

Vibrations: How Much is Too Much?

Bernie Hertlein

STS Consultants, Ltd.

When construction or demolition activity is under way, people in adjacent buildings often feel vibrations and become concerned about property damage.

Columns

Agricultural Issues

Trip May Provide Solutions For U.S. Agriculture

Patrick Kirchhofer - Peoria County Farm Bureau

Airport Issues

New Leadership, New Plans

Ken Spirito, Greater Peoria Regional Airport

Chiropractic Issues

Auto Safety: The Occupant

Dr. Robert Zinser, Zinser Chiropractic Clinics

City Issues

City Goal-Setting Session Scheduled this Month

Mayor Jim Ardis - City of Peoria

Community Issues

Renaissance Park: Very Livable

W. Michael Bryant, Methodist Medical Center

Consulting Issues

India: The Next Automobile Giant

Aditya Nath, CGN & Associates

County Issues

Celebrate the County

David Williams, Peoria County Board

Education Issues

Delivering on Democracy

Dr. John Erwin, Illinois Central College

Ethical Issues

Ethics of Handling E-Mail

Dr. John Throop, The Summit Group

Health Care Issues

Impact of Illinois House Bills on the Uninsured

Daniel Baker, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center

Heartland Issues

Creating Through Collaboration

Jim McConoughey, Heartland Partnership

HR Issues

SMART Goal Setting: Getting Back to Basics

Mary Pille, Employers' Association

Investment Issues

Taxing Consequences of a Large IRA

Scott Elger, Morgan Stanley

Manufacturing Issues

Eliminate Inefficient Pre-Manufacturing Functions

Laura Lee Rose, Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center

Occupational Health Issues

Workers' Compensation: A Numbers Update

Michael Davis - IWIRC Corp.

PACVB Issues

Make It An Experience To Remember

Steve Powell, Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Social Issues

Volunteerism: The Key to a Successful Community

Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way

Staffing Issues

Most Admired Companies List Hits Close to Home

David Smith, Manpower Professional

Workforce Issues

Aligning Workers to the Emerging Economy: Part 2

Bashir Ali, Central Illinois Workforce Development

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InterBusiness Issues - April 2006