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| EVENTS COMING SOON! | |
Jan. 11, 2011
Jan. 20, 2011
Jan. 27, 2011
8am Operations Business Round Table
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NORTHWEST SIDE ALDERMANIC M/WBE FORUM-Recap | |
At the request of Alderman Margie Laurino, Chair of the Economic Development Committee for the Chicago City Council, on November 16th, the Alliance coordinated a forum on Minority and Women Business Enterprise Certification with other local economic development, chambers and business organizations. Read more |
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International Strategic Planning Seminar Recap | |
On November 18, the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing hosted the International Strategic Planning Seminar presented by Fabrice Bonvoisin of FB International. This is the 2nd time that Mr. Bonvoisin has given this very informative and interactive seminar. Utilizing a real-life case study, the audience is tasked with counseling a foreign company on how to enter the US market. Read More |
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Crain's Chicago Business Manufacturers Breakfast Recap | |
On Wednesday Dec. 8th, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago Crain's Chicago Businesshosted its first Manufacturers Breakfast . Titled "High-Performance Growth Strategies for 2011 and Beyond". The breakfast featured a panel of local business leaders that included Selim Bassoul, chairman and CEO of Middleby Corp.; James Bodman, chairman and CEO of Vienna Beef Ltd.; Janice Christiansen, president and CEO of J. C. Schultz Enterprises Inc./The FlagSource, and Joseph James Slawek, founder, president and CEO of FONA International.
The event was well attended and proved that Manufacturing in Chicago is alive and craving information and resources. |
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Current 2011 Public Workshops Schedule | |  The Alliance is co-hosting a series of management training workshops, view schedule |
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City of Chicago Minority/Women Business Enterprise Certification | | |
 If you currently have a M/WBE or DBE certification with the City of Chicago, you will be receiving a new form from the Office of Compliance in the mail. This is an Affidavit which requests that you validate to the City that your company is eligible and in compliance with City Certification laws and regulations. This additional verification appears to be the result of a recent issue with a minority contractor that was doing work at the airport. Please make sure that you complete and return this form so your certification will remain current.
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Coming soon... | | |
In 2011 the Alliance will have a new website. Stay tuned.... |
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City of Chicago Workshops | | |
The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) continues to offer FREE Business Education Workshops in 2011 every Wednesday and Friday at City Hall.
Click here to view Workshop Calendar. |
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ComEd
Advanced lighting Retrofits
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Presenting faculty: Stan Walerczyk
On January 25th, 2011
ComEd Commercial Center - Auditorium
1919 Swift Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523-1850
(near I-290 & I-294 interchange)
8 a.m. Regisration
8:30-4:30pm
(Program, lunch provided)
Standard Fee: $169
Discounted Fee: $69
(eligible ComEd Trade Allies) |
| MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: | |
FUNK LINKO - CRAIN'S FOCUS: MANUFACTURING The December 6, 2010 issue of Crain's Focus on Manufacturing - "Home Sweet Home" which highlighted various local manufacturers that are the beneficiaries of bringing production back to the U.S., specifically from China. Nine different local manufacturers were profiled, including Alliance Board Member Vicky Linko. Her article focused on receiving incentives to retool for wind and low-emission and high-speed locomotives. Funk Linko recently received a $5M grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to retool their equipment. "The green economy is the way of the future, and we wanted to get in on that," Ms. Linko says. The company expects to hire 25 workers by yearend.
"2010 Best Places to Work"
Board Member Walt Fawcett CEO and Plexus Groupe, was selected by Business Insurance as one of the insurance industry's "2010 Best Places to Work". This designation was achieved through employee responses in a benchmarked, confidential, independent survey.
Additionally, Plexus was also selected as a "Best Practices Agency" award winner by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. The Best Practices Study compiles and compares the operating statistics of the country's leading agents and brokers. To be considered, and agency must first be nominated by an insurance carrier or an IIABA state affiliated association. The agency must then submit detailed financial and operational information which is ranked versus the agency's peer group.
J.D. NORMAN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Former Alliance Board Member, Justin Norman, President of J.D. Norman Industries was also honored by Crain's this month as one of the 40 Under 40 success stories. Justin has grown his business through strategic acquisitions.
 40th ANNIVERSARY - STERLING ENGINEERING
Alliance Service Provider Partner, Sterling Engineering celebrated it's 40th Anniversary. Their focus is to assist with the demand for technical staffing and engineering project management expertise in manufacturing and design companies.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOR THESE RECOGNITIONS! |
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There was a quote years ago during the political season which stated, "It's the economy, Stupid!" What we are all seeing and feeling in our businesses is just that. And the measure of the economy is two things, jobs and money. So as we view the new year in 2011, we should be thinking of three things that affect the economy - federal, state and local budgets. Budgets, budgets, budgets. Unfortunately, in all three budget categories we see a challenging new budget cycle. Whether we like it or not and whether we believe that it's a solution or not, the only way to "dig" out of budget deficits as large as we are experiencing is reduced spending and increased (hopefully diversified) revenues. This most likely means some form of increased taxes both personal and corporate. There is also the other "stealth" type of taxes which manifest as "fees" assessed on everything from equipment to licenses and increased fines for various transgressions. Our job in this economy is to be informed and aware and attempt to weigh in on these issues so we are protecting our business base in the Chicagoland area. Now more than ever, we need to have a voice in government because the actions of government translate into financial impacts on our businesses. Read More  |
Why JOIN...
The Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing you with the tools you need to grow and strengthen your company. Through our 3 step 'Alliance Assessment Program', an Alliance representative will assess your business, identify government incentives, and professional services that meet your needs. All at no cost to you!
For a small minimum annual membership fee of $500, The Alliance will manage, vet, and obtain the resources for your company. The results from our members are our proof of performance.
For More information call, 773-594-9292 ext 6802
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 The Alliance and NORBIC celebrated our annual Holiday Party December 8, 2010. Over 70 guests enjoyed networking and holiday cheer celebrating the end of a difficult economic year. Our event sponsor was US Bank, a special thank you to Andrea Corso and her team. Our dessert sponsor was Eli's Cheesecake who provided an array of their famous Chicago cheesecakes for all to enjoy. A highlight of a "mini-bidding" war in our silent auction was two woks made by Century Metal Spinning and some great tickets to the Cubs/ Cardinals night game, donated by Board Member Dean Stork from American Chartered Bank. Shure donated a great set of head phones for the auction. The cold weather did not deter our guests from celebrating the end of the year and enthusiasm for a better 2011.
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| Economic Forecast | |
 On January 20, Jack A. Ablin, the Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Harris Private Bank, will present his economic forecast on the current financial environment. Mr. Ablin is responsible for establishing investment policy and strategy within the Personal Investment Management Group of Harris Private Bank.
Mr. Ablin also serves on the Asset Allocation Committee, which determines the strategy for investment portfolios for Harris Private Bank. Mr. Ablin joined Harris in 2001 and has more than 20 years of experience in financial services.
Also on the agenda is the, Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC) discussing:
Preparing for Economic Recovery  IMEC Business Development Manager Mike Johnston will do a short diagnostic assessment to identify performance gaps that could impact the ability of a manufacturer to respond quickly to business opportunities that are emerging as the economy recovers.
Date: January 20, 2011
Time: 11:30am to 2:00pm
Location: Cafe La Cave
2777 Mannheim Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60018
To register call Helen Hardimon
773-504-9292 ext. 6800
Members: $60.00
Table of 12 $600
Non-Members:$70
Table of 12 $720 Don't miss this opportunity to hear this leading expert share his insights on how the economy may impact your business.
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ALLIANCE BOARD MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Farm of the Child | | |
 C&L Supreme President and Alliance Board Member Tom Hacker and his wife Kathie began an amazing journey seven years ago when they began sponsoring a child in Honduras. This July, with a group of 14 other volunteers they traveled to Honduras as part of the Farm of the Child program to provide labor for projects at the Farm. The little girl, Nelsy that they sponsored when she was three years old, weighing only 12 pounds, was able to celebrate her 10th birthday with Tom and Katie during their volunteer trip. The full report and pictures for their trip is in the Newsletter, Friends of the Farm, for the Farm of the Child in Trujillo, Honduras.
For more information, click here
This is just another way that our amazing Board of Directors contributes not only locally, but in areas of great need internationally. |
TEMPORARY REPRIEVE ON FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD CHANGE | |
This Fall we advised you that the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was proposing amendments relative to loss contingencies from withdrawal from a multi employer defined benefit pension plan. As signatories to collective bargaining agreements ( defined benefits pension plans) the impact on your businesses if required to list your estimated unfunded pension liability on your financial statements could have been devastating. The changes would impact a company's potential net worth, have a negative effect on your ability to bond and have an adverse effect on investors wishing to purchase a company signatory to a collective bargaining agreement.
With the response from construction and manufacturing companies during the comment period on the amendment, FASB delayed implementation of the proposed amendment. We will need to watch this issue closely next year. |
| ComEd | |
Need Help Getting Started?
Smart Ideas trade allies are participating, independent contractors who have the experience and training to help with your Smart Ideas incentive paperwork and help you manage your energy efficiency project. Visit ComEd for a list of Smart Ideas trade allies who are ready to help you get started.
By retrofitting your old T12 lighting system with new, energy efficient lamps and ballasts, you can immediately begin saving energy and reducing operating costs.
Now through April 30, 2011, ComEd's Smart Ideas for Your Business® program has increased incentives for most T12 retrofit measures by $1 per unit. Smart Ideas has also increased the incentive for occupancy sensors to 15 cents per watt controlled, that's a 45 percent increase from 9 cents per watt controlled.
Occupancy sensors turn lights on when they detect motion, and then turn lights off when no one is in the area. When installed in low-traffic areas such as storage rooms, meeting rooms and stairwells, sensors can reduce energy use as much as 40 percent.
To take advantage of these incentives, visit ComEd or call 888-806-2273. But hurry, this offer is only available through April 30, 2011. |
| Manager or Leader | |  For many people in industry, obtaining a Master's Degree in Business Administration has been instrumental in their career achievements but most MBA curriculums teach people how to be managers but don't teach them how to be leaders. The problem is that almost all continuous improvement (CI) efforts require leaders, not managers.
What's the difference? Managers are taught how to manage things like cash, capital investments, inventory, production schedules, new product development, distribution channels, sales and marketing plans, etc. Leaders are that rare breed that knows how to work with a team of people to achieve great things, often requiring people to make changes and do things that are outside their comfort zone. Think about professional sports and the coaches that direct the teams. Are they managers or leaders? Read more |
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A New Year...
by Abacus Business Leaders | | |
Economists tell us the Great Recession has ended. Many businesses have survived but where do we go from here? The beginning of the New Year is a perfect time to work on strategy with your management team. At the core of business strategy is a plan for growth.
Such plans must be for a period longer than a one year budget which most successful businesses prepare in the fourth quarter. We suggest a time horizon of three years. Objectives or large goals take time to achieve and have the power to change a business in constructive ways. A brief and clear statement of purpose of the business and its central promise to customers can become a rallying cry for the business and an important filter to test opportunities against. The problem of deciding which opportunities get management attention, capital funding, product development priority and marketing and sales commitment can be simplified by using the clear statement of purpose as a decision tool to quickly determine alignment with strategy. Read More |
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