Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Goodwill of Central Illinois will hold the 5th Annual Recycle Your Style Contest. High school students within Goodwill’s territory are encouraged to donate their used clothing. The high school that donates the most pounds of clothing will win a SMART Board donated by Bradfield’s Computer Supply. The contest runs from October 1st through October 31st. “This has been a very successful campaign for us,” said Bob Parkhurst, Goodwill Vice President. “We are grateful for Bradfield’s Computer Supply’s donation of a SMART Board each year. That prize really heats up the competition among the high schools.” Donations of items other than clothing are encouraged, but only clothing will count toward the contest. Only high schools are eligible, but others can participate including teachers, family and school supporters. Donors need to tell the Goodwill donation attendant which high school they are supporting for their donation to be counted. Donations can be made at any of Goodwill’s nine stores o...

Gordon L. Cross, M.D., Delores M. Eagleson, and Ronald H. Miller were recently appointed to Pekin Hospital’s Board of Trustees to serve three-year terms. Dr. Cross is a radiologist with Central Illinois Radiological Associates, Ltd., and serves as Medical Director of Pekin Hospital’s Imaging Department. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He then completed a residency in General Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Kentucky-Albert B. Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. During his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Dr. Cross is a father of five children ages 13 - 28. Eagleson is a Senior Vice President and Trust Officer at Herget Bank, N.A. A certified public accountant, she began her work at The Herget National Bank of Pekin in 1987 in the Trust Department. In 1994, sh...

This summer the Illinois Legislature passed Public Act 098-0122, “an act concerning alternative treatment for serious diseases causing chronic pain and debilitating conditions.“  The short title of the act is the “Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.”   I think most citizens know and refer to it as Medical Marijuana. The law takes effect on January 1, 2014.   This is the time that employers should begin to prepare for the new law.   The Act is 211 pages long and you can download a copy of it at:   http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/98/PDF/098-0122.pdf Under the Act, registered users of medicinal marijuana will be allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 14 days from a state licensed dispensary. The Act contains specific provisions regarding the workplace and raises questions and issues for employers regarding the prescribed use of marijuana by employees while on the job.   There are two pertinen...

Business and municipal leaders in the Peoria Area (400,000) are conducting a national search for a dynamic leader to guide a revitalized economic development strategy for downstate Illinois’ largest metro. The CEO of the Economic Development Council of Central Illinois (EDC) is accountable for executing a strategy to increase the tax base, grow head-of-household jobs and wages, and attract public and private investment to a 5-County region. Principal responsibilities include recruitment, retention and expansion, quality of place development, and nurturing high growth business sectors. The preferred candidate will be a politically savvy leader possessing the highest level of integrity, passion and drive with the proven ability to lead a staff of 10 and manage an annual budget of over $1M through the implementation of an asset based development strategy. Our ideal candidate will have the following training and professional experience: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited colle...

The Pekin Women's Leadership Network empowers women to become effective leaders by providing essential skills and strategies for professional and personal growth. A variety of carefully tailored programs are designed to support women in all phases of their careers. Why is this program needed? Although women have made great strides in achieving equality, a leadership gap continues. In 2013, 20 women serve in the Senate, and only 78 women serve in the House of Representative. Overall, women hold 98, or 18.3% of the 525 seats in the 113th U.S congress. Locally, the statistics are even worse, with only 1 woman serving on the Pekin City Council. The business world does not fare much better, with only 22 women CEO's in the Fortune 500. Our focus is on helping young women develop the skills and abilities necessary to succeed and flourish in their chosen career paths. Sessions scheduled for the 2013-2014 series include: November 1st - Women in Politics - Rep. Cheri Busto...

The City of Pekin is pleased to unveil a new mascot and theme for its recycling program. “Toter Turtle” will be introduced to area schoolchildren through educational packages to be distributed this fall. Created by McDaniels Marketing of Pekin, the educational program is intended to make recycling more fun, while Toter Turtle helps children learn more about the ways they can help “Grow Marigolds, Not Landfills.” The theme, materials and logo are centered on Pekin’s “Marigold City” identity. Research indicates that one of the most effective ways to boost participation of recycling by adults is to educate their children. That’s why the City of Pekin is distributing posters and pledge cards to children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The educational packages were created to help teachers to educate and excite students about the program. What’s Involved Children will be challenged to get family members to make a “Pledge to Recycle.” Each child will take a pledge card home and enco...

Illinois Central College (ICC) is please to announce their new Alumni Association and an exciting opportunity for local businesses to get involved in partnering with the program. Recent data shows that over 80 percent of ICC students remain in the college district to live and work.  ICC's Alumni Association is interested in partnering with local businesses, as they honor their mission to connect or reconnect with this group of former students and offer them social, educational, wellness and networking opportunities. One way ICC stays connected with alumni is to offer them special benefits for becoming a member of the Alumni Association.  Toward that end, chamber members are invited to join with the ICC Alumni Association as a participating partner.  By participating in the program, your business can offer ICC alumni a discount or special incentive when they use their alumni card while patronizing your business. Here is how the program works: 1.  Your bus...

The United States Department of Justice / Federal Bureau of Prisons will hold a Career Fair on September 26 from 9:00am to 2:00pm at FCI Pekin, 2600 South 2nd Street.  Veterans and the general public are welcomed and encouraged to attend and meet with employment specialist from various cities, federal and state agencies.     The Bureau of Prisons is continuously hiring nationwide for correctional officers and medical staff.  Recruiters and members of the Affirmative Action Committee will be available to assist with the application process and to answer questions.     For more information contact Lt. Jason Haynes at 309-346-8588 x 1301

Download the full flyer & registration:  www.pekinchamber.com/2013/2013Trivia.pdf Registration & Sponsorship Deadline:  October 30th  

Pekin Hospital is pleased to announce that two new nurse midwives have joined ProHealth Medical Group. Janey Hitch, MSN, CNM, and Natalie Wipert, MSN, CNM, are now accepting new patients at Premier Obstetrics and Gynecology located at 2401 Broadway, Suite B in Pekin. A midwife for 26 years, Hitch received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. She then received her Master of Science in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky. She most recently served as a labor and delivery nurse at West Houston Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, Wipert earned an Associate degree in Nursing from Central Florida Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. She then received a Masters in Nursing, Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky. She has 14 years of labor and delivery experience, most recently at W...

Representatives from the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed one of their newest members with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  Peggy Grace, the manager of OSF Center for Occupational Health, Jacquie Kaufman, Assistant Manager, and Eric Myers, Account Rep, were joined by other employees for the ribbon cutting.  Located at 100 N.E. Randolph Avenue in Peoria, OSF Center for Occupational Health and Wellness focuses on all aspects of health, safety, and wellness in the employee workplace. Their goal is to work with employers in the area to prevent hazards and promote a healthier workplace. OSF's staff has years of experience in occupational health medicine. They offer preemployment physicals, drug screenings, worker's comp., wellness programs, educational opportunities, case management services and more.  They can be reached at (309) 624-8653 or www.osfsaintfrancis.org/services/OutpatientServices/occupational-health 

Senator Bill Brady 2203 Eastland Drive, Suite 3, Bloomington, IL 61204 (309)664-4440 http://brady.senategop.org Bill Brady , Senator Government-Elected Official Other key members: Abby Walsh , chief of staff

Simple Steps for Growing Your Business Is Your Business in need of a Boost? This 4-part series of workshops is designed for small business owners and managers who want to reach the next level of growth and who are looking for targeted assistance and directions in key areas of business management. ·         Gain the knowledge and tools needed to analyze and assess your business ·         Discover potential growth areas ·         Develop customized strategies to implement growth   When?     Thursday mornings, October 17, October 24, October 31 and November 7,                 8:00 am – 10: am. Where?   Pekin Public Library Community Room                  301 S. 4 th Street ...

Community leaders and elected officials gathered for a ribbon cutting today to celebrate the opening of another section of Veterans Drive.  The 0.8 miles of new 5-lane road plus shoulders runs between Broadway and Sheridan.  This section of the road has been under construction for about the past year.  The $6.3 million extension was paid for with $4.8 million included in the last federal transportation bill, and the City of Pekin's local gasoline tax.  The federal transportation money was made possible with the efforts of then Senator Barack Obama and then Congressman Ray LaHood. Pekin Mayor Laurie Barra acknowledged the leadership of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, previous City Councils, and the state and federal elected officials.  Congressman Aaron Schock praised the city for their foresight instituting a local gas tax which has paid for a large share of the project. When completed Veterans Drive will begin at Route 29...

Goodwill of Central Illinois and Bergner’s will hold their semi-annual donation drive beginning Thursday, September 19 through Saturday, October 5. During the drive, every item donated to Goodwill will earn the donor a 25% off coupon from Bergner’s. Donors can earn additional coupons during Triple Coupon Days. Beginning on the opening day of the sale, September 19, donors will receive triple coupons. For every one item donated, they will receive three coupons. On that day, Goodwill will have a truck at the Bergner’s at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie. The goal is to “Stuff the Truck” with donations. Triple Coupon Days will take place September 19 through September 22 and again October 3 through October 5. Donations can be made at any Goodwill or Bergner’s location. Discount coupons can be used on items not normally on sale, such as fragrances, cosmetics and electronics. The sale of these donated items provides the funding Goodwill needs to provide free programs and services to the peo...

Pekin-Peoria Yellow Checker Cab is pleased to announce the arrival of NexTaxi. The free smartphone app that allows customers to order, track and pay for their ride. The Pekin-Peoria area joins 50 other cities across the U.S. and Canada now supporting the app.  NexTaxi is available on both the Android and iPhone operating systems and in the app store today.

Please join OSF for their first annual educational seminar at the Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center, on the campus of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Designed to help your organization prepare for the changing landscape of Employee Health & Wellness, this seminar will cover a broad range of topics vital to today's workplace. Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Time: 7:30am - 11:30am - a light breakfast will be served Location: Jump Trading Center 1306 N Berkeley Ave Peoria, IL 61603 (Park in OSF North Parking Deck) Cost: FREE Space is limited to first 125 Attendees Register Today at: http://2013osfocchealthseminar.eventzilla.net Seminar topics include: How New Legislation Affects Your Workplace: Medical Marijuana, ADA, DOT An Introduction to Health Management Identifying Signs of Substance Abuse Healthy Employees are Happy Employees And More... Featured Speakers: Edward Moody, MD MSE MS, Board Certified in Occupational Medicine Certified a...

In the United States alone, cancer impacts the lives of thousands of children every year. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, about 11,630 children in the United States under the age 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2013. The statistics are met with both hopeful outcomes and a dire need for more funding and research. Cancer is a disease caused by cellular reproduction gone haywire. The body begins to create cells that attack healthy cells. These cells are referred to as “tumors." There is no single cause for those inflicted with the disease; however, a number of genetic mutations within a cell can lead to that cell becoming cancerous. In some cases, a child may be born with a genetic predisposition as a result of a DNA mutation. The good news is that the survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer has greatly improved over the past 40 years. Significant treatment advances have increased the survival rate from 58.1 percent in 1975 to 79.6 percent in 2003, acc...

Savant Capital Management , a nationally recognized fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL with an office in Peoria, announced today it has been named by Barron’s magazine as one of the 100 best independent financial advisors in the country. Savant ranked 56, moving up eight spots from last year. Additionally, Savant ranked 4th in Illinois. Savant Capital Management has ranked on this list since its inception in 2007 – one of only two Illinois firms to earn this recognition consistently. Throughout the last seven years Savant has increased its assets over 2 billion. In 2012 it combined with The Monitor Group, a nationally recognized financial planning firm in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and now the company manages more than $3.2 billion in assets. “It is a complete honor for Savant to be named a top financial advisor for the seventh consecutive year,” said Brent Brodeski, CEO of Savant. “This recognition speaks volumes about our talented team of ...

WANTED:  individuals who want to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. No experience necessary; all that is needed is a willingness and passion to make a difference. Now is the time for individuals and teams to register for the 10 th Annual Tazewell County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The event will be held Thursday, Sept. 26 th , at Mineral Springs Lagoon, Pekin. “ Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research and it is a fantastic opportunity to support the Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s,” says Teresa Tucker, Tazewell County Walk Chairperson and member of the Central Illinois Chapter board of directors. “Attendees at our walks report feeling a sense of fellowship with others who have experienced the tragedy of Alzheimer’s. Walkers can get information about the Association’s programs and services, research and clinical trial enrollment , and...

The Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, IPMR, has been serving the central Illinois community with the IPMR Driving Evaluation and Training program for 22 years. IPMR is pleased to announce the addition of a new state of the art driving simulator. Over 200 driving scenarios and 39 lessons are possible on the new simulator. The new simulator was made possible with a gift to the Rehabilitation Foundation of IPMR from the Peoria Independent (Trusted Choice®) Insurance Agents Association. Enjoy tours, refreshments and prizes at the IPMR open house event at 6501 N Sheridan Rd on Friday, September 20 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. A ribbon cutting will take place at 10:00 AM. The IPMR Driving Evaluation and Training program promotes safety on the road. Age, health issues, injury and disability may cause concerns about safe driving. A driver may experience vision difficulties, range of motion limitations, endurance limitations or delays in reaction time. A condition like ADHD may ca...

The Alzheimer's Association-Central Illinois Chapter will present a program entitled “ The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s” from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 th , at the Tremont Public Library, 215 S. Sampson, Tremont. Chapter Education Specialist Tim Klobe will present the program. Participants will learn about symptoms, causes and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, how Alzheimer’s affects the brain, the benefits of early detection, stages of the disease, treatment options, and ways the Association can help.  Cost is $5 for materials. Registration is required by Sept. 17 by calling the Central Illinois Chapter office toll free at 800.272.3900 or 309.681.1100. Information is also available on the agency website at http://www.alz.org/illinoiscentral/ .

Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center presents their Annual Life Banquet featuring Gigi Graham, daughter of the Reverend Billy and Ruth Graham, Tuesday, October 8th, 2013, 7:00-9:00PM at Stoney Creek Inn in East Peoria IL. Gigi Graham, has been given a platform to encourage the pro-life message through her personal experience. Her story will encourage and inspire everyone that hears it!  There is no cost to attend this dinner event; an opportunity to make a financial gift to the ministry will be extended. Please make reservations by October 1st, 2013 by calling (309) 620-9227 or e-mailing tazewell@hopeforafuture.com

A very large crowd of chamber members attended the September Business After Hours hosted by Unland Companies and Kouri's Pub.  The guests enjoyed great food, drink and door prizes.  You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Pekin Hospital is pleased to offer an adult diabetes education workshop on October 14, 15, and 16. The series of three classes will be held from 2 – 5 p.m. in the 4 South Education Classroom at Pekin Hospital. The classes are designed to provide information on managing adult diabetes and to help diabetics learn and develop the skills of self-management of diabetes therapy. Topics covered in the sessions will include:  the importance of diabetes control and the factors that influence this control  how to plan meals according to food selections and serving size  the possible complications associated with diabetes  why exercise will benefit your health and make you feel good Workshop speakers will include a Certified Diabetes Educator, Registered Dietitian, Registered Nurse, Registered Pharmacist, and Registered Medical Technician. Class fees are $70 per person (one guest may accompany the registrant at no extra cost). The $70 includes all three classes. Clas...

Representatives from the City of Pekin, the Avanti's Dome, and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting today to officially open the Griffin Avenue extension. The cost of the road was just over $1 million dollars and paid for by the City of Pekin and the Avanti's Dome.  The extension runs from the dome to Veterans Drive. It will provide improved access to the dome, and create development opportunities near the intersection with Veterans Drive.  You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Pekin Hospital is pleased to announce that family practice physician Lindsay B. Tate, M.D., has recently joined ProHealth Medical Group. Dr. Tate is accepting new patients at the Family Health Center of Pekin located at 19 Olt Avenue in Pekin. Originally from East Peoria, Dr. Tate began her medical career when she received her medical degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman Island, BWI. She then completed an internship in General Surgery at Orlando Regional Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Following that, she was a Physician Assistant at OBGYN Associates in Kissimmee, Florida. She most recently completed her Family Practice training at Greenville Hospital System in Greenville, South Carolina. Her areas of interest include women’s health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tate, please call (309) 353-6301. ProHealth Medical Group operates primary care and specialty practices in Pekin, Illinois. ProHealth is part of Progressive Health Systems, which inc...

Pekin Hospital is pleased to announce that family practice physician Lindsay B. Tate, M.D., has recently joined ProHealth Medical Group. Dr. Tate is accepting new patients at the Family Health Center of Pekin located at 19 Olt Avenue in Pekin. Originally from East Peoria, Dr. Tate began her medical career when she received her medical degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman Island, BWI. She then completed an internship in General Surgery at Orlando Regional Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Following that, she was a Physician Assistant at OBGYN Associates in Kissimmee, Florida. She most recently completed her Family Practice training at Greenville Hospital System in Greenville, South Carolina. Her areas of interest include women’s health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tate, please call (309) 353-6301. ProHealth Medical Group operates primary care and specialty practices in Pekin, Illinois. ProHealth is part of Progressive Health Systems, which inc...