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Table of Contents
From the Desk of
Laura Crawford
From the Chairman of
the Board
A Simple Step to
Ease Oil Prices
Legislative Update -
The Illinois Tollway
Recruiting Top
Talent in a Difficult Economy
Shine This Summer
with Chamber Advertising
Thank You!
Members in the News
From the
Desk of Laura Crawford...
The Downers Grove Area Chamber of
Commerce is excited and proud to introduce a brand new
version of our Membership Directory. This year, our
Members will be featured in a full color, 9” x 12”
lifestyle magazine. This high quality piece will
contain articles and information about Downers Grove and
be distributed to every homeowner, new residents,
Chamber Members, hotels, medical buildings, fitness and
recreation centers and even the public library.
With 20,000 copies being printed,
your business name will reach thousands of potential
customers! By showcasing Downers Grove with a
content-rich, inviting color piece, this magazine will
be the first point of contact for families and
businesses interested in relocating to Downers Grove.
It is also a valuable keepsake and resource for longtime
residents and tourists.
This publication has such a broad
range of advertising opportunities - every Member will
be able to participate! All of our Executive Partners
and advertisers will be highlighted and extra copies
provided. Don’t miss this chance! We’ll be selling
advertising for a limited time in order to produce and
distribute this Downers Grove publication before the
holiday season.
Take
pride in Downers Grove and participate. Feel free to
contact me for more information and be sure to take the
call, when our salesperson calls on you!
lcrawford@downersgrove.org
630-968-4050 x14
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From the
Chairman of the Board
As summer kicks off, the Chamber is already in full
swing planning our fall event, the D3 Financial
Counselors Black & White Ball on September 20, 2008 at
the Esplanade Lakes in Downers Grove. The centerpiece
of this annual gala celebration is the presentation of
the Citizen of the Year Award. This prestigious award is
unique in that candidates are nominated by their peers.
The judging panel is composed of past Citizen of the
Year winners who rigorously analyze candidates for their
contributions to the community, volunteerism, integrity,
ethics, and leadership.
Past award winners include Tom Sisul, Jim Russ Sr.,
Grace and Gregg Beggs, Tim McJoynt, Phil Cullen, Marc
Hausmann, and Gordon Goodman. I urge our Members to
think about people you know who have contributed greatly
to the Village of Downers Grove. This is the time to
reward that friend, colleague, or neighbor that
tirelessly gives of their time, talent, and abilities to
make Downers Grove a richer community.
You can find the nomination form on
downersgrove.org or by calling the Chamber at
630-968-4050. Nominations are due in by Friday,
August 8th. Please take the time to
consider submitting a nomination! There are many
wonderful citizens that make Downers Grove special.
Let’s say thank you by honoring them with this important
award.
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A Simple
Step to Ease Oil Prices
By Thomas J. Donohue, President
and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Sky-high oil and gas prices are socking Americans right
in their wallets. The average price for a gallon of
gasoline is more than $3.60. Oil prices are hovering
around a record $120 a barrel. Many of the elderly and
the poor are being forced to choose between filling
their tanks with gas or their cupboards with food. It
also means slower economic growth and higher consumer
prices at a time when our country can least afford them.
It's time for Congress to stop
wringing its hands and start acting. If Congress is
serious about increasing supply, easing pressure on
prices, and reducing our dependence on foreign energy,
it can take one simple step--allow energy explorers to
tap into America's huge reserves of oil and natural gas
in an environmentally responsible way.
Over the years, Congress has locked
away vast untapped domestic energy resources offshore,
on federal lands, and in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. These restrictions have been imposed by
politicians who frequently call for "energy
independence." Federal lands hold an estimated 635
trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, enough
to meet the natural gas needs of 60 million homes for
140 years.
Federal lands also hold an
estimated 112 billion barrels of recoverable oil, enough
to produce gasoline for 60 million cars and fuel oil for
25 million homes for 60 years. Opening up these
resources will also give us a cushion as existing oil
and gas deposits are exhausted.
Of course, there are many other steps we must take to
decrease demand, such as improving efficiency, building
modern and safe nuclear plants, and investing in
renewables and other alternative fuels—we need to do all
of them. But increasing domestic production is something
we can do now with proven technologies. We can do it in
a way that protects the environment. We can do it in a
way that provides real relief to Americans who are
hurting economically. And we can create thousands of
new, good-paying jobs in the process. Instead of sending
billions of dollars to foreign oil producers, wouldn't
it be better to take control of our energy future and
keep our money at home?
It's time to unlock America's
natural energy resources. It's time to give our citizens
a real energy plan that will deliver real results. It's
time to take control of our energy future.
The U.S. Chamber's Institute for
21st Energy is devising a plan to do just that and will
present it to the presidential candidates this June.
Stay tuned ...
Originally published 6 May 2008. Reprinted by
permission, uschamber.com, May 2008.
Copyright©
2008, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
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Legislative Update - The Illinois Tollway
Laura Crawford, President & CEO
The Legislative Committee recently welcomed Brian
McPartlin, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway
Authority (ITA). He presented the Tollway’s Congestion
Relief Plan, took questions and addressed concerns.
Two themes were very apparent during the presentation.
The first was that we now have an Executive Director for
all of Illinois’ tollway system, who considers customer
service a primary part of his business. The second
theme was ‘short term pain, long term gain’ – a nice
phrase to describe Brian’s and our reality when on the
roadways.
When asked who ITA considers a customer, Brian made it
very clear that it was anyone who uses the tollways.
This is a system that welcomes 1.4 million users a day!
That number puts some of our jobs in
perspective, doesn’t it? The Illinois
Tollway Authority also employs 715 people right here in
Downers Grove!
We all grumble about potholes and construction – it’s
one of our favorite summer pastimes. The potholes I can
live without, but I love to see construction because it
means improvement of infrastructure and job growth.
There are 3500 workers just on I-294 everyday.
I was happy to learn that the Illinois Tollway Authority
is partnering with the IllinoisWorks coalition to get a
capital bill passed. They are considering some very
conventional (taxes) and some creative ways to pay for
infrastructure improvements. Some ideas are a little
out of the ordinary, but you can be certain that there
will be change. Just like the tollway construction, we
may have some short term pain for long term gain.
The Legislative Committee will continue to monitor the
capital projects in the region. This committee meets on
the third Monday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the
Chamber conference room. Please consider joining us.
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Recruiting Top Talent in a Difficult Economy
by Lauren Soderstrom, Training Specialist, The
Management Association
After years of a booming economy and the corresponding
struggle to find talent, the softening economy will
finally have those stellar candidates pounding down our
door, right? As you may know, it is not as simple as
that. The softening economy may bring more resumes to
your organization, but top talent remains elusive.
Indicators of a soft labor economy are ubiquitous. The
Leading Indicators of National Employment (LINE) report
from SHRM/Rutgers points toward a soft June market
evidenced by far fewer hires in both the service and
manufacturing industry and flat new hire compensation.
Additionally, May job cuts were up 46% from a year ago
according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a private
placement firm. With even more job losses expected from
the financial, auto and airline industries, there is
little doubt that more candidates are available.
However, a larger pool of candidates doesn't always
translate to more quality hires. Organizations try not
to lay off their best and brightest. Therefore, many of
the job seekers are "B" or "C" level workers. Top
talent remains difficult to recruit for in a down
economy - perhaps even more so than in booming times.
Why more difficult? The highly coveted worker reads the
same news we do about the uncertainty in the economy.
Based on this, they are often less likely to leave their
comfort zone to take a risk on a new organization. Is
this potential employer financially sound? Will this
job be here in 3 years? If it is, will I be able to get
anything done with reduced staff and budgets?
Additional concerns can surround job satisfaction
itself. If the new job doesn't turn out to be what they
hoped, it is more difficult to simply find a new role.
Even if their current job isn't perfect, a potential
organization has to make a pretty compelling case that
their position is a better fit. Finally, if a candidate
requires relocation, the housing market may have them
turning a blind eye to anything that isn't local.
So what is HR to do? Here are a few tips to keep your
organization filled with great talent.
Address Their Concerns Directly
Do not dance around the topic. Disclose financial
positioning. Share your growth plan. Ask pointed
questions about what concerns they may have. Share the
good news as often as possible with candidates. The
fact that you are hiring is a good sign! Walking
candidates through your business plan and how
their position would fit in may put them at ease.
Recruiting Starts at Home
Now is the time to leverage your Employee Referral
Program. The current employee can vouch for your
organization which a candidate will often take more
seriously. Also, since employees understand your
culture and what it takes to be successful, employee
referrals are a great source for successful candidates.
Speaking of current employees, what talent is currently
available? Do not overlook your bench strength. If
someone is almost ready for promotion or showing great
potential, can you train, coach, or mentor them to get
to that next level?
Get Them Early
Now is a great time for those high potential
employees. Use college recruiting or look to those who
may have fewer years of experience than is desirable but
possess the ideal traits or competencies. Remember,
every great employee had a company or person that took a
chance on their inexperience!
Build Relationships
Even after all your efforts, you may find
an excellent candidate that is too hesitant to take the
plunge now. Do not let them go! Keep them close. Call
to check in once in awhile. Invite them to company
events or open houses. As they grow to know your
business, they will increase their comfort level and the
prospect of joining your team will seem like less of a
risk.
Continue to flaunt your organization's strengths,
consider your current talent, be willing to develop high
potentials and build relationships to have exceptional
talent through any economy!
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Shine This Summer with Chamber Advertising
Set your business apart this summer with targeted
Chamber marketing. Many advertising opportunities
are available for every budget including:
-
Website banner ads - reach out to businesses
and consumers with an ad on downersgrove.org!
Many levels available.
-
Info@downersgrove.org - shine in full color
in our new mailer! Discounts available for six
or year-long commitments
-
BizWord newsletter - feature your business as
a banner or medallion ad
-
Member2Member Update - highlight an offer,
showcase an event in this weekly email piece.
Discounts available for six or more ad commitments.
These are just a few of the many ways you can have your
business featured with the Chamber. Visit
HERE to see the complete list or contact Jane
Abe at 630-968-4050 x11.
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Thank You!
Zed451 for hosting the May Business After Hours.
Patrick Evans for delivering a fun and interactive
luncheon presentation in May.
Ambassadors Committee and the Board of
Directors for welcoming warmly our new Members at
the New Member Orientation. Leads Organization of
Downers Grove Executives for hosting and Events
by Tommy R's for providing a terrific breakfast.
Kwik Kopy Business Center, Clemens Mailing
Service and ScotPress Printing for sponsoring
postcards for the June Business After Hours for
prospective members.
Office Depot for sponsoring the New Business
Greeter Program.
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Members in the News
David Fieldman, Deputy Village Manager has been
named Acting Village Manager for the Village of
Downers Grove.
Naperville Country Club has named Brian
Wallace as club manager, Bo Hurley as
executive chef and Megan Clark as
catering/banquet manager.
Joe Malas has accepted the promotion to Director
of Financial Services at Advocate Good Samaritan
Hospital.
Sean O'Kane and Tim McGraw joined the
staff at Exit Real Estate Partners.
Midwestern University presented Shridhar Andurkar
with the Littlejohn Award, the university's most
prestigious award.
Do you have news, announcements, awards, or new
staff? Send items to Heather Prince at
hprince@downersgrove.org.
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