InterBusiness Issues - July 2008

Col. William P. Robertson
182d Airlift Wing
As Commander of the 182d Airlift Wing, Colonel William P. Robertson is responsible for over 1,200 Illinois Air National Guardsmen. He maintains the combat-readiness of the Wing and ensures that all units can fulfill state and federal missions as directed. The Colonel is a Peoria native through and through, having attended Peoria High School, Illinois Central College and Bradley University.

Features

Publisher's Note
Still Proud to be an American
Sadly, for many, it will be a bit more difficult to sing along with Lee Greenwood this July 4th.
Business Profile
At the Centre of It All
Metro Centre offers a small-town, Main Street feel to your shopping experience, where you know the person behind the register and they know you.
Making the Tough Calls
Supervising a Troubled Employee
True or false: What an employee does on his/her own time, away from the job, is not a supervisor’s concern.
Promising Changes, Challenging Times
The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria has made significant progress towards the redevelopment of its infrastructure at the Greater Peoria Regional and Mt. Hawley airports.
How Do I Know When It’s Time to Sell My Company?
Unlike us, it can live for generations—though the time will come when it must change hands.
Achieve Optimum Health Through Wellness Planning
Over the past 10 years, worksite wellness has become an increasingly vital topic in HR meetings, executive offices and corporate boardrooms alike.
Financial Market Headlines Getting You Down?
Headlines sweep the media outlets on a daily basis, alerting us to the unsettled state of financial markets.

Columns

  • Agricultural Issues
    Crops Playing Catch-Up
    Patrick Kirchhofer - Peoria County Farm Bureau
  • Business Banking Issues
    How to Pick the Right Bank
    Jeffrey W. Ward, South Side Trust & Savings Bank
  • City Issues
    Due Diligence: A Cornerstone of Good Government
    Mayor Jim Ardis - City of Peoria
  • County Issues
    Enhancing Equity for MBEs
    William Prather, Peoria County Board
  • Ethical Issues
    Raising Ethical Teens
    Dr. John Throop - The Summit Group
  • Guest Editorial
    Where Remarkable Happens Every Day
    Dr. Cynthia Fischer, District 150
  • Healthcare Issues
    Leading the Way to Healthier Lives
    Keith Steffen, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
  • Heartland Issues
    The H-P Relocates to the Riverfront
    Jim McConoughey - Heartland Partnership
  • HR Issues
    Pain At the Pump: How Employers Can Help
    Mary Pille - Employers' Association
  • Investment Issues
    Plan Decisions Have Lasting Impact
    Scott Elger - Robert W. Baird & Co.
  • Legislative Issues
    Capital Plan Needed Now, Not Later
    State Sen. David Koehler, 46th District
  • Manufacturing Issues
    Big Growth Ideas: An Interview with Doug Hall
    Mike Waight, IMEC
  • Occupational Health Issues
    Fitness For Duty Exams a Valuable Tool
    Michael Davis - IWIRC Corp.
  • Social Issues
    Healthcare and the Uninsured
    Michael Stephan - Heart of Illinois United Way
  • Staffing Issues
    All Questions are Positive Opportunities
    David Smith - Manpower Professional
  • Tourism Issues
    Tourism is Good for the Economy and Your Health
    Brent Lonteen, Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Also in This Issue...

Getting At the Heart of Leadership
by Cal Rychener
Integrity gaps, not skill deficiencies, initiate the fall of leaders.
Gainsharing
Tying Pay to Performance
by Dr. Woodruff Imberman
Two low-tech Illinois companies—one a job shop coater in Chicago and the other a galvanizer headquartered in Joliet—have established a track record proving low-tech is live and well in Illinois.
Caterpillar Announces Expansion Plan for Illinois Operations
Despite a sluggish economy in the United States, the company remains committed to investing in major Illinois plants to keep them competitive for the long run.
Research Credits—Are You Claiming Them?
by Jay Wadkins
Whether or not you have a separate research and development (R&D) department, chances are your company regularly engages in R&D activities.
Solid Job Market Expected for Peoria
Peoria area employers expect to hire at a strong pace during the third quarter of 2008, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.