PRESIDENT'S CORNER 7% Assessment Cap is a "Mistake" by Jerry Roper In recent weeks there has been increasing debate over Cook County Assessor Houlihan's proposal to extend and expand the 7% assessment cap, a law that threatens to continue an unfair tax shift onto businesses throughout Cook County. In March, the Illinois Senate voted in favor of the proposal. But the revealing findings of a University of Illinois study showing the enormous tax shift as a result of the law have led to more intense scrutiny in the Illinois House.
YOUR MEMBERSHIP @ WORK Tap Into a $1 Trillion Market by Making Your Website Accessible for All Minor Changes to a Website's Design Respond to the Needs of People with Disabilities Having a website that is accessible for all users, including people with disabilities, is a smart business tool that offers many benefits to your business. Foremost among these is greater market exposure -- estimated to be as high as $1 trillion in annual aggregate consumer spending. There are many resources available to help you make your website as user-friendly as it can possibly be.
Revolutionary New Employment Matching System Unveiled QuietAgent.com™ Links Recruiters and Job Seekers Throughout the Region The Chicagoland Chamber is a key player in the launch of one of the most comprehensive workforce initiatives across Chicagoland -- a revolutionary and seamless online system to link job seekers with employers in a way that keeps information private until a mutual match is secured. The system is the result of the combined efforts of partners from education, government, community and business have joined together to launch. "For the last nine years, the market has been dominated by job boards that have frustrated both job seekers and employers as they do not allow for two-way matching or an anonymous exchange of real time employment information," explained Gary Scheier, CEO, StaffCV. "QuietAgent.com changes all of that."
Statement on Comprehensive Immigration Reform There is no question that the US immigration system is broken. There are an estimated 10-12 million undocumented migrants in the US, and deporting them would be the equivalent of removing the population of the state of Ohio -- not a realistic option. As a country, we are facing an aging population and a severe shortage of workers to fill essential jobs when US workers are not available. The Chicagoland Chamber and US Chamber of Commerce recognize that our immigration system is broken. To fix it, a comprehensive approach is needed because it is easier to enforce laws that make sense and are workable.
Funding Being Sought for "Virtual" College Access Center Five-Year Plan Establishes Resource to Increase Access to College The plan for the Illinois College Access Network (IllinoisCAN) Virtual College Access Center was completed and submitted to The Education Resources Institute, Inc. on March 31, and IllinoisCAN is now focused on securing sufficient funding to implement the Center Business Plan. A 13-member Task Force, including representatives from Chamber members such as The Associated Colleges of Illinois, Chase and myFootpath LLC, worked to plan a resource that would increase access to college for students who are the first-generation in their families. Chamber members, such as Catalyst Consulting Group, Microsoft and The Revere Group, provided technical consulting. The Center, online by the fall of 2006, will be a one-stop college access program-clearing house, and build the capacity of IllinoisCAN to fulfill its mission with effective service delivery. For more information, contact Wendy Jones at wjones@chicagolandchamber.org or 312-494-6739.
Get Recognized for Your Innovative People Practices The Chicagoland Chamber and Right Management Consultants are pleased to announce the 2006 Right Workplace Award applications will be available on May 15 at www.chicagolandchamber.org/rightworkplace. The Right Workplace Award recognizes companies that improve their competitive advantage by designing and implementing people practices which create workplace excellence, leading to successful business results. With new partners WGN Radio, CareerBuilder.com and the Society of Human Resource Professionals (SHRP), the 2006 Award process and winners will receive more attention and credit than ever before. Join the ranks of 2005 winners Chicago Children's Museum, Elkay Manufacturing, Foote, Cone & Belding and US Cellular in being recognized as companies that depends on their most important assets, their employees, to get ahead. Apply for the 2006 Right Workplace Award to be recognized as a leader in workplace excellence in the Chicagoland area.
Share a Car -- Save Money and the Environment Illinois Weighs Exemption to State Rental Tax Car sharing is a convenient, affordable and reliable way to access a car without having to pay for insurance, gas, repairs and monthly parking fees. Fewer cars on the road lead to less traffic, pollution and dependence on oil and a healthier environment for both businesses and residents. An Illinois legislative debate is underway to determine if car-sharing services should be exempt from the 6% state rental tax. The Chamber supports car sharing for obvious environmental and economic reasons, and supports tax policy change as a method of encouraging effective alternatives to car ownership.
FEATURED EVENT Annual Meeting of Membership Innovation - Spurring Profitability and Creating A Sustainable Competitive Edge for Chicagoland Businesses The members of the Chamber will gather for the 102nd Annual Meeting of Membership on Tuesday, June 6. The breakfast meeting will take place from 7:45 am to 9:00 am in the Chicago Ballroom at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.
Hear updates on the status of current issues and new initiatives that are quickly escalating as well as our vision and plans that will push the Chamber forward.
CHICAGOLAND ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER Opportunity in India is Knocking for Chicagoland Entrepreneurs by David Weinstein, President, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center Last November, I traveled with a group of Chicagoland business leaders to Bangalore, the center of India's exploding tech scene and a global hotspot for entrepreneurs. Through a series of meetings with some of India's tech pioneers, we began to lay the foundation for a greater connection between Chicagoland and India, and our group returned home feeling inspired by the possibilities. India is not only a place where companies can outsource their call centers; it is one of the largest emerging markets on the globe. Chicagoland entrepreneurs have the opportunity to benefit from all that the Indian market has to offer.
David Weinstein Honored With 2006 CityLIGHTS Award CEC President Recognized for Contributions to Growth of IT Industry Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center President David Weinstein has been awarded the 2006 CityLIGHTS award by the Illinois IT Association (ITA). ITA's CityLIGHTS award celebrates the best and brightest in Illinois technology. The CityLIGHTS award recognizes a business, education, media or government leader whose relentless efforts on behalf of the information technology industry have best promoted its growth and/or awareness of its vitality in Illinois to a range of audiences and raised the stature of the Illinois technology industry.
BUSINESS 411 PRESENTED BY HUDSON Many Workers Are Job Searching on Their Employers' Dime According to a new survey by Hudson, one-quarter (23%) of US workers who use a computer at work admit to having searched for a new job on their companies' time and resources. On top of that, three in ten send and receive personal e-mails at work on most days, if not every day. Another 28% say they do so occasionally. In a related story, the Hudson Employment Index for Chicago workers fell over two points to 95.9 in March.
SPOTLIGHT ON MEMBERSHIP Welcome New Members We'd like to welcome new members to the Chamber and encourage you to visit their websites by clicking on the company name. Remember to shop members first.
Member News The Chicagoland Chamber congratulates the following members for their accomplishments and recent market successes.
The official debut of the State Street Studio of ABC 7 Chicago occurred on April 10. Mayor Richard Daley cut the ribbon with Chicagoland Chamber Board member Emily Barr, President and General Manager. Make sure you take a walk on State Street, between Lake and Randolph, to see the new studio.
Aramark, Healthcare Management Services, represented by Chicagoland Chamber Board member Martin Turnowchyk, CFO & VP of Finance, was awarded "Best Onsite Caterer in Illinois" by Illinois Meetings and Events magazine.
The John Buck Company was named 2005 Developer of the Year at the Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards. Chicagoland Chamber Board member Paul Heinen is the company's head of Asset Management/Principal.
Avis LaVelle, President, A. LaVelle Consulting Services, was recently honored by the Chicago Women of Concern. MEMBER PROFILES Right at Home Private Duty In-Home Care and Assistance Agency Right at Home is a private duty in-home care and assistance agency. The firm provides trained, insured and bonded caregivers for a variety of care-giving needs, including services to seniors, people with disabilities, individuals recovering from a hospital stay and others in their homes or in facilities. Right at Home caregivers can help with everyday tasks including assistance with personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, transportation and medication reminders. Right at Home's mission is to improve the quality of life for those that they serve.
Sittercity Childcare Solutions for Individuals and Corporations Sittercity.com is America's largest, most easily-accessible database for babysitters and nannies. With over 150,000 caregivers nationwide, Sittercity is the web's best way for parents and caregivers to contact each other and set-up childcare jobs. Beyond its online activities, Sittercity also offers a corporate program, SpeedSitting events, a book series, a library and a CD series. Sittercity's Corporate Program allows companies to purchase a bulk number of registrations to the website for a fraction of the normal price -- providing parents (employees) with an instant community of thousands of caregivers.
BUSINESS 411 It's Not About the Free Food, Networking is the Key to Advancement by Kathleen McEntee, Executive Management Strategist, Kathleen McEntee and Associates, Ltd. You know that networking is crucial to new business development. You understand that every business event is a chance to make new contacts and build your reputation. Why, then, do you dread the networking breakfast, the power lunch schmoozing and after hours mingling? Is it the bland chicken dinner? Have you never mastered the art of balancing your wine glass in one hand and a plate of hors d'oeuvres in the other while offering your card? Or is it just a simple case of business networking burnout? It's time to re-tool your approach and brush up on basic skills to make networking productive again.
Help Your Employees Learn How to Manage Their Finances For Free May 1–6 Is Money Smart Week More than 150 local organizations will participate May 1-6 in Chicago's fifth annual Money Smart Week, a week-long event scheduled to feature more than 250 free seminars on personal finance topics. The Chamber encourages you help your employees access these free money management seminars. Events are taking place throughout the Loop and the Chicago suburbs. A complete calendar of events for this year's Money Smart Week is now available on the Chicago Fed's website at www.chicagofed.org/moneysmart.
Donate Your Idle Computer Time -- Help Serve Society Chamber's Experience with World Community Grid Demonstrates That it is Easy, Safe Last year, the Chicagoland Chamber became a partner of World Community Grid (WCG), joining the IBM Corporation and a group of leading foundations, public organizations and academic institutions. Whenever a Chamber computer is idle, it requests data from WCG's server. The computer then performs computations using this data, sends the results back to the WCG server and prompts it for a new piece of work. Grid technology joins together many individual computers, creating a large system with massive computational power that exceeds the power of a few supercomputers. WCG uses the technology to help solve problems plaguing humanity, like smallpox and AIDS.
Attention IL Veterans: Full Scholarships Available for U of I MBA Program Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans Should Apply The College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is awarding all-inclusive scholarships for its Executive MBA Program to Illinois service members who have served or are serving, especially in the Global War on Terror. Valued at $74,000, the 20-month Executive MBA Program scholarship covers tuition, mandatory fees, books, meals, lodging and a trip to China (all tuition and program costs are waived). As many as 110 full academic scholarships are available. The Executive MBA Program consists primarily of classes that meet every other weekend (Fridays/Saturdays) at the Illini Center in downtown Chicago and is targeted towards mid- to senior-level managers and professionals. For applications, eligibility details and "Quick Admit" information on the Executive MBA Program, visit www.mba.illinois.edu/veterans or contact Robert van der Hooning at 312-575-7905.
Tax Fraud: Identity Theft Strikes Again Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan Offers Tips on Dealing with Identity Theft Although identity theft can strike at any time, tax season gives rise to special concerns. Some consumers may find that someone has already filed a return using their Social Security number; others may experience difficulty obtaining their refund because of identity theft. The full story provides some common questions and answers regarding identity theft and taxes.
