01 Mar 2013

Rep. Smiddy Invites Community Members to Join Economic Development Advisory Committee

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) invites local residents and business leaders to share their concerns and experience of the local economic climate at a meeting of his Economic Development Advisory Committee on Monday, March 11 at 7 AM. The meeting will be hosted by the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, located at 622 19th Street in Moline, IL and is free and open to the public.

"The health and future of our state depends on our ability to create and retain good-paying jobs in our community," said Smiddy. "I am committed to finding the long-term, effective solutions we need to improve the business climate and encourage companies to invest in Illinois."

Recently appointed to the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee, Smiddy is working to shape the state's business and economic policies to help people get back to work, support small businesses as they struggle to stay afloat and to bring more opportunities to communities in the 71st District. The advisory committee allows him to meet in a small group setting with residents and business owners interested in economic issues to discuss legislative proposals and their impact.

"Advisory committees are another outlet for me to meet with residents to better understand the issues and priorities of this community," Smiddy said. "Collaboration with community leaders is a vital partnership to enable us to move forward as a stronger Illinois."

In addition to his Economic Development Advisory Committee, Smiddy has met with Advisory Committees focusing on senior citizen issues and education. He plans to form committees centering on other pertinent local issues in the coming months. He welcomes area residents to participate, or to share their concerns and questions at his full-time constituent service office, open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; from 10 AM to 6 PM on Wednesdays; and from 8 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at RepSmiddy@gmail.com, (309) 848-9098, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

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28 Feb 2013

Lt. Governor Simon reduces office budget by 12 percent over last two years

By Kara Beach

SPRINGFIELD - February 28, 2013. With the Governor's budget address set for next week, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon announced today that she is voluntarily requesting a 3 percent cut in her fiscal year 2014 budget. Simon, who voluntarily cut the current fiscal year's budget request by 9 percent, will achieve savings by reducing personnel and administrative costs.

"Illinoisans are doing more with less, and state leaders need to do the same," Simon said. "Over the past two years, I've cut my own pay and reduced the office budget by more than $250,000. We can all do our part to preserve funding for vital services such as education and public safety."

For the second consecutive year, Simon is reducing her office's headcount to achieve savings. She will continue to return one day of pay per month to the state and require her senior staff members to take four furlough days within the year. She is also eliminating her grant-making authority, which will save taxpayers up to $50,000 a year and brings her total cut to 5 percent in fiscal year 2014. 

Simon's office will continue to purchase equipment through Central Management Services (CMS) master contracts, which offer discounted prices on office supplies. Though constitutional offices are not required to follow CMS master contracts, Simon instituted the policy after her inauguration in 2011 to save taxpayer dollars. Printing and equipment expenses are also being reduced.

Despite cutting her office budget by 12 percent since fiscal year 2012, Simon continues to be a state leader in education and ethics reform. She recently released a report on game changing practices that will make college more affordable for students, and helped draft legislation that would create the strongest financial disclosure law for public servants in 40 years. Simon also chairs the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, key river and military base committees and advocates for domestic and sexual violence prevention. 

Lt. Governor Simon submitted the reduced fiscal year 2014 spending plan to Governor Pat Quinn in advance of his March 6 budget address. Simon is making the lowest appropriation request for the Office of the Lt. Governor since at least 1992.

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28 Feb 2013

Hotel Blackhawk Announces Staff Promotion, Addition

By Glenn Kass

Lindsay Thul to Sr. Sales Manager; Deanna Jensen named Assistant GM

Davenport, IA - Hotel Blackhawk is pleased to announce the following promotion and addition to its award-winning management team: Lindsay Thul advances to Senior Sales Manager while Deanna Jensen has been named to the position of Assistant General Manager.

Thul joined the staff in September, 2011 as Sales Manager. She has helped increase revenues for the property as well as assisting with various initiatives for the hotel's corporate entity Innkeeper Hospitality Services. In her new role, Thul continues individual sales efforts, will work directly with the entire sales team to help them realize their short- and long-term revenue goals and expand her knowledge in hotel marketing.

Jensen brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to her position as Assistant General Manager. She comes to Hotel Blackhawk having recently served in Membership Services for the Quad Cities Chamber. Jensen has also been with the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau, worked with several hotel sales staffs and owned her own consulting firm specializing in customer service training. She began her duties on February 25th, 2013.

"Lindsay and Deanna will add to our goal every day of providing a unique guest experience," said General Manager Tim Heim. "To continue that momentum and grow our staff's knowledge and abilities is something that excites me for the future of Hotel Blackhawk."

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15th, 2010. The hotel retains its 98-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, six meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. In addition to its pending affiliation with the Autograph Collection®, the hotel is part of the Summit Hotels & Resorts group (www.summithotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org).

For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

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28 Feb 2013

How To Spot Business Opportunity In Tomorrow's Economy

By Rick Martin
Five Tips For Getting Organized To Innovate

Take a moment to consider some of today's largest, most recognizable companies?"some of them may not be around after the next several years," says G. Michael Maddock, CEO of Maddock Douglas, which advises Fortune 100 players like GE and Wal-Mart.

"Napster was a rule-breaking company that paved the way for iTunes and the complete disruption of the music industry. When someone who has no business being in your business comes along and puts you out of business, we call that a 'Napster Moment.' And Napster Moments are happening more and more often," says Maddock, coauthor of "Free the Idea Monkey," (www.freetheideamonkey.com), with Maddock Douglas president Raphael Louis Vitón.

In a recent radio interview, hit maker and former Sony CEO Tommy Mottola (think: Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Beyoncé) said that seasoned record execs saw Napster as a "mosquito unworthy of swatting," and in hindsight realized that if they had just purchased the company, they would have "beaten iTunes to the punch."

The lesson? To succeed, company leaders must not only be able to innovate, they must recognize opportunity and ensure they're poised to seize it.

Maddock offers these tips for getting there:

1. Balancing act: Wherever you find an innovative culture, you will see two primary personalities in leadership: the "Idea Monkeys," who have no shortage of great ideas but do not have the follow-through to see a project to completion, and the (Ring)leaders, who specialize in execution and managing details. Every great enterprise needs a Yin for a Yang?Walt Disney had Roy Disney; Steve Jobs had Steve Wozniak; Wilbur Wright had Orville Wright. Ideally, an innovator needs a (Ring)leader at his or her side, and vice versa. Too much of one of these personalities spells disaster for any organization. Is your leadership humble enough to understand this?

2. Outside the jar: There's a great saying in the South: "You can't read the label when you're sitting inside the jar." If you've been at the same company for longer than six months, you're likely in the jar. You'll find your response to new ideas is typically, "We've tried that and it didn't work," or "Yes, but...," or silence, or even a dumbfounded "huh?" Fortunately, there are several ways to get your head outside the jar: Accept ideas from junior personnel, seek perspectives from different departments, and switch up leadership roles, i.e., have a senior marketer switch from retail to manufacturing for a period of time and, most important, infuse perspective from outside your industry. Diversity is the key to a fresh perspective. Is your expertise killing you?

3. Laughter (more than stress relief): As a response to humor, laughter is uniquely human; as far as we know, no other living thing can laugh. In business, laughter is the antithesis of fear. It is impossible to innovate effectively if you are afraid?nothing kills great ideas like fear. Fun-loving environments where workers are free to laugh are healthy places for creativity. One more thing...if lots of people laugh at an idea, there is usually a meaningful insight there worthy of much deeper exploration. When was the last time you heard your CEO belly laugh?

4. Failing forward: History is filled with people who risked and lost much, yet went on to change the world. From religious leaders to Christopher Columbus to Winston Churchill to today's budding entrepreneurs, learning how to efficiently experiment and learn is key to innovation success. Does your company embrace risk taking or is it too afraid to fail?

5. Be ruthless: Ultimately, the buck stops with leadership, and managers get the team they deserve. Most well-adjusted people do not like firing employees; however, people stuck in the "victim" mindset are incapable of innovation. Why? Because they are always looking for fault or blame instead of possibility. Do you have a team of creators or do you have a team of victims?

About G. Michael Maddock

G. Michael Maddock is the founding partner and CEO of the leading innovation agency Maddock Douglas, which has helped more than 25 percent of Fortune 100 companies invent, brand and launch new products, services and business models. A serial entrepreneur, Maddock has launched four successful businesses and cochairs the Gathering of Titans Entrepreneurial Conclave at MIT. He is a featured columnist for Forbes.

28 Feb 2013

Loebsack, Bustos Meet with Key Army Leadership for the Arsenal

By Vonnie Hampel

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-2) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today met with senior Army leaders, including General Dennis Via, Commanding General of Army Materiel Command which oversees Army arsenals, ammunition plans, and depots. The attendees included two commanders from Rock Island Arsenal, Brigadier General John Wharton, Commanding General, Army Sustainment Command and Brigadier General Kevin O'Connell, Commanding General, Joint Munitions Command. Lieutenant General Patricia McQuistion, former Commanding General of Army Sustainment Command and current Deputy Commanding General, Army Material Command also attended. They discussed sequestration and the importance of maintaining a strong industrial base at the Rock Island Arsenal.  The senior Army leaders joined a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders at a breakfast hosted by the House Military Depot, Arsenal, Ammunition Plant and Industrial Facilities Caucus.  Loebsack serves as a Co-Chairman of the Caucus.

"I was pleased to be able to host these key Army leaders this morning to continue our discussion about how to best position the Rock Island Arsenal and its critical role in equipping our troops and spurring economic development in the Quad Cities region, especially in the face of sequestration.  I will continue to advocate for the Arsenal and its workforce with Army leaders and continue to work with my good friend Congresswoman Bustos to strengthen its future and address the threat of sequestration," said Congressman Loebsack.

"Nothing is more important to me than fighting for the people of our region.  That is why I was so pleased to meet with representatives from the Rock Island Arsenal this morning to discuss protecting the Arsenal, and the jobs it provides, from the potentially damaging impact of sequestration," said Congresswoman Bustos.  "I look forward to continuing to work towards a common sense solution to avert the sequester and to continue fighting on behalf of the Arsenal and the entire Quad Cities region with my friend and neighbor, Congressman Loebsack."
28 Feb 2013

Middle Class, Working Class will be the First Impacted by the Sequester

By Veronica Resa
Statement Released by Transportation Equity Network Director Laura Barrett, part of the Gamaliel Network.  Laura Barrett has helped organizations win millions in public transportation funding, and has negotiated community benefit agreements and positive workforce development policies at the local, state, and federal levels of government. She holds a Master's in Social Work from Washington University and lives in Missouri

(St. Louis, MO.)  --Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is right to bring up the effect that a sequester would have on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and air traffic safety in this country.  But the untold story is more serious because cuts to transit, bus and train service will first impact low income people on their way to work.

Indeed, low-income people will be hurt by cuts to human services programs like Medicaid, but cuts to Amtrak, the New Starts  program, which funds public transit projects and TIGER --the groundbreaking program that funds important sustainable transportation initiatives --will hurt working people, forcing many to skip work, pay for taxis out of limited budgets or lose their jobs altogether because of absenteeism or tardiness.

In addition, nearly $1 billion of the $8 billion added to the highway trust fund in 2013 will be cut - impacting job-creating highway programs.  When we look ahead to 2014, these bone-chilling cuts will be extended to all transit programs as well as highway programs.

These cuts promise to be draconian in nature and will hurt working families and the middle class first.
26 Feb 2013

Congressman Bruce Braley and Coach Paul Rhoads Show Support for Iowa Credit Unions

By Emily Caropreso

Des Moines, Iowa–The Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) held its annual Legislative and Regulatory Conference on February 19-20 in Des Moines. More than 100 Iowa credit union representatives convened to learn more about the legislative issues affecting the credit union industry and interact with their legislators.

Congressman Bruce Braley kicked off the conference speaking about the importance of member business lending (MBL). Braley supported Iowa credit unions by saying "I believe that the work you do matters. The people you serve are an important part of our state." He said he believes in the value of member business lending and thinks there should be enough room for all parties involved "to me, there should be plenty of room at the table for lenders doing commercial and business lending."

Head Iowa State football coach, Paul Rhoads, spoke to the importance of building a team with mental toughness, willingness to continuously improve and that have a commitment to teamwork. He explained that "Credit unions have a similarity in the building blocks I use for my team. Smart decision makers. Be accountable. Trust." Rhoads went on to explain that "You can't accomplish anything without people - especially in credit unions and the work they do for their members."

Attendees also heard from Bill Hampel, Chief Economist of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), Ed Wallace, Deputy Director of Workforce Development and Amy Hudson, Director of Business Development for CoOportunity Health

About the Iowa Credit Union League

The Iowa Credit Union League is the trade association that represents the interests of Iowa credit unions and their more than one million members. Credit unions are not-for-profit, financial cooperatives owned and operated by their members. Iowans use their credit union membership to receive higher interest rates on savings and lower interest rates on loans. For more information on ICUL and Iowa credit unions, visit www.IowaCreditUnions.com. Follow ICUL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icul or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowacreditunions.

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26 Feb 2013

Explore Advanced Leadership Concepts at Lunch & Learn Event

By Jim Vana
IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - "Everybody in your organization benefits when you delegate responsibilities that fall outside your core competency. Thoughtful delegation will allow someone else in your organization to shine. Your weakness is someone's opportunity."
That compelling quote on leadership comes from Andy Stanley, a renowned leadership communicator, author, pastor, and the founder of North Point Ministries, Inc. Each month, well over a million people worldwide enjoy Stanley's teaching content via TV, radio, podcasts, and live streaming. Stanley's books include The Next Generation Leader, Visioneering, Enemies of the Heart, and The Principle of the Path.
Stanley was a speaker at the national leadership event, Leadercast 2012, and a video of his presentation will be shown at the March Chick-fil-A Leadercast Recap Lunch & Learn event, sponsored by Results Marketing and St. Ambrose University.
The Lunch & Learn event will be held noon to 1 p.m., Friday, March 1, at the St. Ambrose University Downtown Education Center, located in the New Ventures Center at 331 W. 3rd St., Davenport, IA 52801. Cost to attend is $15 per session and includes lunch from Chick-fil-A.
A limited number of seats are available at the Lunch & Learn event, so be sure to register early. Another Lunch & Learn event featuring best-selling author Patrick Lencioni will be held April 5.
For the past three years, Results Marketing and select sponsors have been bringing simulcasts of the Chick-fil-A Leadercast to the Quad-Cities area. Each year, Leadercast is broadcast live from Atlanta, Georgia, to audiences in metro areas worldwide.
"The speakers who present at Leadercast each year are acclaimed leadership experts," said Todd Ashby, Managing Partner of Results Marketing. "At our Lunch & Learn events, attendees can watch enlightening videos of the speakers and discuss their content with other area professionals." Each Lunch & Learn session is facilitated by a St. Ambrose faculty member.
"We will be hosting a new day-long QC Leadercast event on May 10, 2013 at the i wireless Center," Ashby said, "so anyone thinking of attending the May event should attend these Lunch & Learn events to get a feel for the topics to be discussed. Also, all of our Leadercast events offer excellent networking opportunities."
To register for the Lunch & Learn events or for more information, call Marcia Brandt of Results Marketing at 563-322-2065 or email Marcia@resultsimc.com. Feel free to befriend Leadercast Quad Cities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/qcleadercast.
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22 Feb 2013

Loebsack Applauds CITE Designation at Rock Island Arsenal

By Joe Hand

Provision written by Loebsack allows for today's announcement

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the U.S. Army announced that the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center has been designated a Center of Industrial Excellence (CITE) for Foundry operations.  The designation comes as a result of a provision Loebsack authored and worked to pass as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.   This certification recognizes RIA-JMTC's unique Foundry capabilities and will allow RIA-JMTC to enter into public-private partnerships to perform work, which will enhance its operations.

"Today's announcement by the Army is great news for the Arsenal, JMTC and the hard working men and women of the Quad City region," said Loebsack.  "I was proud to successfully work to ensure Rock Island Arsenal can receive CITE designations like this one.  It is a recognition of the unique Foundry capabilities at JMTC and the highly skilled workforce there.  It will further improve the Arsenal's ability to enter into public-private partnerships, provide for our men and women in combat, advance core skills and manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen JMTC's future as a unique facility within the Army."

Loebsack worked on a bipartisan basis to get this provision signed into law in the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act to allow arsenals to receive CITE designations for manufacturing capabilities.  CITE designations allow facilities to enter into public-private partnerships and improve the core capabilities that the facility provides for the Army.

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19 Feb 2013

Governor Quinn Opens Critical Roadway To Major New Community Development

By Leslie Wertheimer

Governor Quinn Opens Critical Roadway To Major New Community Development

$4.6 Million Investment Created 300 Construction Jobs; Supports more than 1,400 Additional Jobs When Pullman Park Development Opens

CHICAGO - February 18, 2013. As part of his commitment to create jobs and support economic growth, Governor Pat Quinn was joined today by community and business leaders to reopen a critical roadway to the Pullman Park development on Chicago's South Side. Funded by a $4.6 million investment through the federal "IKE" Disaster Recovery Program, construction of the new road created 300 construction jobs. An additional 400 construction and 1,000 permanent retail jobs are expected when the Pullman Park development is completed.

"Today is a great day for everyone who lives and works in Pullman Park," Governor Quinn said. "Infrastructure improvements like this support communities as they grow by putting people back to work and laying the foundation for economic development for years to come."

The state's award helped fund road and infrastructure improvements to Woodlawn/Doty Avenue between 103rd Street and 106th Street, parts of which have deteriorated since flooding in 2008. The project includes incorporate sewer and water main improvements that will help prevent damage from future flooding.

The retail phase of the project is currently underway and will be anchored by Wal-Mart, Ross Dress for Less and Planet Fitness. The new Wal-Mart store will provide grocery services to an area currently classified as a "food desert" for its inaccessibility to fresh foods. Other plans for the 180-acre, mixed use development include affordable housing and park and recreation space.

"The reconstruction of this section of Doty Avenue represents an important step forward in the recovery and transformation of Pullman," David Doig, president of Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives said. "Without the vital contribution made by the state of Illinois, this milestone would be extremely difficult to achieve in today's challenging economic environment. We thank Governor Quinn for his dedication to economic growth and job creation, particularly in underserved communities like Pullman."

The project's economic development assistance comes from the state's IKE-Disaster Recovery Program named for Hurricane Ike, the 2008 disaster that ranks among the costliest hurricanes to make landfall in the United States. Illinois received a total of $193.7 million in federal disaster funds under the program to aid communities in 41 Illinois counties.

"The investments we're making through the IKE program are providing much needed relief in communities throughout the state by helping address limitations to economic growth and future recovery," DCEO Acting Director Adam Pollet said.

The IKE-ED program is part of the governor's continuing commitment to providing essential resources for Illinois' small and mid-sized communities as they strengthen their economies. Projects approved for IKE-Economic Development assistance support both permanent and construction job creation through funding improvements to local infrastructure, company equipment costs and other assistance that will attract or support private companies in locating or remaining in an affected area.

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