Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

The Pekin Insurance® Board of Directors has approved the promotion of Kimberly Remmert, PHR, to Vice President – Human Resources. The announcement was made at the meeting held on May 12, 2015. Kimberly began her career at Pekin Insurance as director of human resources with Staff Management status on April 12, 2010. Kimberly has nearly 22 years of experience in the Human Resources industry with a professional background that includes consultation, workforce management, and learning and development. She specializes in total rewards, employee relations, and implementing Human Resources Best Practices.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Illinois State University.  Kimberly has been a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1996 and currently holds the PHR (Professional in Human Resources) designation.  

Sunday, May 31, 6:00 PM Mineral Springs Park Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing will be touring throughout the Midwest this spring, bringing Shakespeare in the Park to communities for free this May and early June and for the first time ever will be bringing the tour through Pekin, IL. The troupe will perform on Sunday, May 31 at Mineral Springs Park, next to the Pavilion on the Lagoon, at 6:00 PM in partnership with the Pekin Park District.  In case of rain, the performance will take place inside the Pavilion. Tour director, Jeri Frederickson (Chicago) is setting this year’s performance in a punk world filled with rock ‘n’ roll, miscommunication and rash emotions. Jeri Frederickson joins Stone Soup Shakespeare from Chicago and brings with her expertise in Shakespeare, poetry and new play development. She is excited to bring Much Ado About Nothing claiming “it delights and tickles my funny bone while also showing me just how outrageous perfectly rational people can be....

It seems a bit quiet here this week but behind the scenes we are preparing for some exciting upcoming events! June 5th is First Friday! Mark your calendars to come. Kaci Osborn from the Peoria Visitors Bureau will be filming a Kaci's Places to Play in Peoria video here to help us promote our First Fridays! We have a lot booked here or you can jump on the shuttle bus and check out Wheel Art Pottery in Peoria ! Come see us and enjoy the Nathan See Jazz Quartet on stage at 7! $5 cover after 7PM for the performer

See Stone Soup Shakespeare tour Free Shakespeare Stone Soup Shakespeare presents: Much Ado About Nothing Sunday, May 31, 6:00 PM Mineral Springs Park Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing will be touring throughout the Midwest this spring, bringing Shakespeare in the Park to communities for free this May and early June and for the first time ever will be bringing the tour through Pekin, IL. The troupe will perform on Sunday, May 31 at Mineral Springs Park, next to the Pavilion on the Lagoon, at 6:00 PM in partnership with the Pekin Park District.  In case of rain, the performance will take place inside the Pavilion. Tour director, Jeri Frederickson (Chicago) is setting this year’s performance in a punk world filled with rock ‘n’ roll, miscommunication and rash emotions. Jeri Frederickson joins Stone Soup Shakespeare from Chicago and brings with her expertise in Shakespeare, poetry and new play development. She is excited to bring Much Ado About Nothin...

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Goodwill of Central Illinois will hold a Patriots Weekend in September of 2015. Two events will be dedicated to honoring and serving our veterans. Goodwill will hold its second annual Reception of Honor at Goodwill Commons on Friday, September 11. The event will honor the memory of General Wayne A. Downing and recognize local military personnel, veterans, family members and supporting organizations. On Saturday, September 12, Goodwill’s Forward March & Run will be held on the Peoria Riverfront. The event gives people of all fitness levels a chance to run or walk alongside veterans, active military members and their families. The race begins at the Gateway Building and features a unique opening ceremony and post race celebration. Participants can choose from a two-mile march, a four-mile run or an eight-mile run. For details, course information or to register, visit www.forwardmarchrun.com. For further information about Goodwill or Forward March and Run sponsorship opportunitie...

Artist of the Week! Check out all the exciting events going on by visiting pekinacademyoffinearts.com Isabelle Janssen Isabelle is a recent graduate of Pekin Community High School, and is currently interning at the Pekin Academy of Fine Arts. She has completed every art class offered at the high school, including an independent art study, and currently plans on going to ICC for an art major.  Growing up, Isabella struggled a lot with describing how she felt. She began to use art to cope for this as she got older. Her main artistic focus is painting, drawing, and two dimensional work. Her work has an emphasis on light and colors that she thinks other people don't exactly see.  Isabella is very enthusiastic to help out with whatever is needed here at The Speakeasy Art Center. Whether it be cla...

Pekin Hospital is offering a three-day workshop on diabetes education June 8-10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The interactive sessions will take place in the 4 South Education Classroom on the hospital’s campus at 600 South 13 th Street. Workshop topics will include nutrition, monitoring, medications, exercise and healthy habits. The registration fee is $75, and class sizes are limited. Registration is required by calling 309-353-0719 no later than June 1. Part of Progressive Health Systems, Pekin Hospital offers the diabetes workshop as part of its ongoing commitment to community health. For more information visit pekinhospital.org . 

Women in Leadership of Central Illinois (WIL) will present “Leading in the Lipstick Jungle” on Thursday, June 11 from 11:00 am - 5:30 pm at the Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria. This conference will focus on the skills women need to enhance and leverage their relationships to achieve greater success in both their personal and professional lives. The event will begin with WIL's annual awards luncheon and feature a keynote address by Jane Hight McMurry, best-selling author and professional speaker. McMurry will answer the question, “What else do women with competitive education and technical skills, guaranteed equal rights under the law, need to do to get what they want in the corporate jungle?” McMurry fills the gap in knowledge to help close the gap in pay. This informative and entertaining presentation will offer the 21st century woman a guide to learn how to get what she wants, needs, and deserves within the current competitive business environment. Other educational session...

Representatives of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed their newest member with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  Blissful Images, owned by Jenni Williams, is a full service mobile portrait studio specializing in newborn, family and children's photography in central Illinois.  Blissful Images provides clients with beautiful photographic prints to be shared for generations.  You can find on Facebook and at www.BlissfulImages.com .

At CEFCU’s recent Annual Meeting, the Credit Union reported outstanding achievements for 2014.  At the end of the year, assets were more than $5 billion, which is an increase of over 1.9% compared to 2013.  Savings deposits and loans outstanding were at historic levels.  And, total membership for 2014 grew by over 7,700 members.                 CEFCU also distributed a record $40 million Extraordinary to Credit Union member/owners.  The amount each member received was determined by dividends earned and interest paid during the first 11 months of the year, as of November 30, 2014.                At the Annual Meeting, Brad Arnold, 2014 Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated, “…CEFCU is one of the strongest financial institutions in the country.  This strength is the result of nearly 80 years of both solid bu...

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / airdone Many years ago I was given the book “Heart of a Leader.”  It’s a very small book, the kind of thing you can read quickly. I have used that book for the past 17 years, and as small as it is, I learn something every time I open it.  It’s a very good book for business owners and I wanted to share some things I’ve learned from the book. Each of the following quotes was taken from it. “When you stop learning you stop growing” This was a good one to start with. Every day I learn something, and I love it. Whether it is something on the computer, Facebook, Twitter, or from the many books that I read, I love to learn something new. In today’s business climate, you have to keep learning because things are changing so rapidly. If you’re not staying current with technology and the methods of communication, you are quickly losing your competitive edge. When you stop learning you’re done. Norman Vincent Peale once said, “When I stop learnin...

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© Can Stock Photo Inc. / harishmarnad I’ve compiled some of the most valuable leadership lessons I’ve learned over my career and I wanted to share them with you. Communicate All that You Know The best place to start is “communicate all that you know.” In my lifetime I have seen two types of leaders; one keeps all his knowledge to himself, and in turn doesn’t want the team to leave him, and doesn’t encourage them to go to the next level. The second, and I hope I was this type of leader, communicates all he knows. The biggest thrill in my life was to see people get promoted. I am happy to say that many assistant managers on my Wal-Mart team went on to become store managers. At the chamber the same thing has happened, many of our folks have gone on to great jobs, and although I really wanted them to stay, I was very proud that they were taking the next step to a better career. Love Your Work If you love your work, you’ll be out there every day trying to do it the best...

Thanks to the following employers and individuals who recently renewed their annual investment in the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce   4-STAR MVP Peoria Limousine   Classic Members Associated Bank Adams Outdoor Advertising Bridgeway Debbie Fornoff Interior Design & Draperies Farmers Insurance - Tatlock Agency Jimmy Johns Kyle's Care at Home Laserpro of Peoria, Inc. Pekin Prescription Laboratory, Inc. Seico Security Systems Individual Member Steve Saal

Image via: morgueFile / flashbuddy “I want to go into business.” I hear that all the time, and I get excited when someone wants to invest in the community. So here’s my best advice on starting a business. Location, Location, Location First you need to consider location. I remember reading that the three most important things in opening a business are location, location and location. Make sure you do your homework and pick the best spot. Years ago, I was a part owner in a men’s store on Main Street, and it was a perfect location, plenty of foot traffic, high visibility, in the center of it all. Know Your Business (Plan) Next is a business plan. This is very important to being successful. With all the information available on the internet you should be able to get all the data that you need to put together a plan, or you can contact the Small Business Development Center at your local college or university. Most are happy to assist you in putting together a busine...

At their May meeting the Board of Directors of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce approved the following statement on diversity: The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is a progressive organization that recognizes the fundamental equality of all individuals and thus strives to ensure equality of opportunity for all. The Chamber welcomes people of varied backgrounds and their contributions to our organization – an organization made stronger by the presence of diversity . The statement is based on, and similar to, the City of Pekin's statement on diversity.  It was created by the City's Human Rights Committee. 

At their May meeting the Board of Directors of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce approved a new strategic plan for the organization.  The plan sets the direction for the organization for the next 3 to 5 years.  Part of that plan includes new vision and mission statements: Our Vision (Our preferred view of the future) Pekin, Illinois: The community of choice for home, business, and recreation. Our Mission (What we do, why we do it, and for whom we do it) To foster and promote a vibrant business environment that improves the quality of life in the Pekin area .

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NASDAQ Awards Heartland Bank the Innovation in Financial Education Award  Heartland Bank and Trust Company was recently honored with the Innovation in Financial Education Award presented by NASDAQ and EverFi.  The award recognizes its significant efforts to improve the financial capability of young Americans. Twenty-five financial institutions were honored with this distinction at a ceremony hosted at NASDAQ’s Marketsite headquarters in New York City. Honorees were selected based on a set of criteria that included the scale and reach of their financial education initiatives, the duration of their commitment, and unique employee volunteering activities that supplement their programs. “NASDAQ is committed to fostering innovation and economic growth, and the institutions we’re recognizing here today have led exceptional efforts to rethink how financial education is taught in our nation’s schools,” said NASDAQ Executive Vice President Nelson Griggs. “Our global compe...

CEFCU is pleased to announce that members have the ability to access Apple Pay, a new category of service that will transform mobile payments with an easy, secure, and private way to pay.  Any CEFCU Debit MasterCard or Credit MasterCard, may be used with Apple Pay.  Cardholders will enroll in Apple Pay directly on their Apple compatible device. Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. When you add a credit or debit card with Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted, and securely stored in the Secure Element on your device. Each transaction is authorized with a one-time unique dynamic security code, instead of using the security code from the back of your card. Denise Ghere, CEFCU Vice President, states, “CEFCU is very excited to offer Apple Pay to members.  It’s just another secure, fast, and convenient way to pay for purchases.”   I...

Thursday Night is Girls Night Out. Bring a bottle of wine to share and come hang with us while you shop for the latest trends from local vendors! Its going to be great so bring a friend

The Hopedale Medical Complex celebrated their 60th anniversary with a ribbon cutting and a hospital re-dedication for the recently completed addition.  The public enjoyed tours and refreshments prior to the ceremony. Monsignor Timothy Nolan gave an invocation and blessing before the ribbon cutting by the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce.  Speakers during the program included Mark Rossi, COO; Dr. Alfred N. Rossi, MD, CEO; Mrs. Lorayne Rossi; Dr. Casey J. Graybeal, MD; Hopedale Mayor Ace Eilts, and State Senators Bill Brady and Darin LaHood. The $10.25 million addition added 35,000 square feet, including 6 new patient rooms, 6 outpatient surgery suites, 3 ER suites, new ICU, and a helipad.  More photos are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Thanks to Good Shepherd Lutheran School - the host of the May 7th Business After Hours.  Chamber members learned about the school by visiting with teachers and staff in their classrooms.  They also enjoyed refreshments and a door prize drawing.  You can see more pictures from this event at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that daytime lane closures on I-474 at the Shade-Lohmann Bridge over the Illinois River will take place during the next two weeks. May 11-May 15 · One lane of eastbound I-474 will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily May 18-May 22 · One lane of westbound I-474 will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily The lane closures are necessary for crews to complete a routine inspection of the bridge. Please slow down and use extreme caution while driving through all work zones. For IDOT District 4 updates on Twitter, follow us at https://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict4 . For updated traffic information and views from dozens of traffic cameras in Peoria and surrounding areas, visit http://www.gettingaroundpeoria.com/ .

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Check out all the exciting events coming up, along with class schedules at  http://www.pekinacademyoffinearts.com/ 

Illinois American Water announced today that several local volunteer fire departments will have the opportunity to earn funds through a Company sponsored social media photo contest. The contest is being launched during National Drinking Water Week, May 3-9, 2015 to highlight the role drinking water plays in critical fire protection.   The social media contest supports this year’s National Drinking Water Week’s theme, “What do you know about H 2 O?” because it brings awareness to the role drinking water plays in fire protection. According to Illinois American Water President, Bruce Hauk, customers may be surprised to learn that Illinois American Water tests and maintains every fire hydrant – over 29,000 – across the Illinois American Water system.   Hauk said, “We are proud of the role our team plays in ensuring public safety and we value the partnerships we have with local firefighters.  This contest is another opportunity to give back to our local heroes.” The p...