july 2015 volume 13 | issue 7 business after hours...

A monthly publication of the RiverBend Growth Association...Your Regional Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Agency

JULY 2015Volume 13 | Issue 7

IN THIS ISSUE

Small Business of the Month

page 8• Precision Electrical and Lighting

Meet Your Ambassadorspage 4

• Gary Hoggatt• Trish Holmes• David Knowles

Ribbon Cuttingspage 3, 5, 6

• Absolute Audiology• Factory Connection• Hansen Meat Co.• Jeni J’s• Party on Broadway

Mayor Report - Roxanapage 7

5800 Godfrey Road - BGM | Godfrey, Illinois 62035Phone 618-467-2280 | Fax 618-466-8289 | [email protected] | www.growthassociation.com

Business After Hours Fun...Thank-you to our July BAH hosts for an evening of networking, entertainment and delicious food and beverages: Absolute Health Care, Alton Marina, Alton Materials, CNB Bank &Trust and Gentelin’s on Broadway.

More than 200 RBGA members and guests stopped in throughout the evening to enjoy

July BAH hosts: Larry Franklin of CNB Bank & Trust, Ryan Gentelin of Gentelin’s on Broadway, Karen Baker-Brncic of Alton Marina, Miles Lynch of Alton Materials and Debra Ross of Absolute Health Care.

RBGA volunteers greeting guests were Mitch Cannell of LogoIt, Lee McRaven of OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, Jenna Andres of Scheffel Boyle and Gary Hoggatt of 1st MidAmerica Credit Union

the festivities and took advantage of seeing the beautiful marina and making new professional relationships from various leaders of our community.

Mark your calendar for the upcoming August BAH on Thursday, August 20th at the Wood River Aquatic Center.

Felicia Voelkel of SNIP Alliance, Jamie Ruyle of C.J. Schlosser and Pat Schwarte of Riverbender.com

The team of Village of East Alton with Joe Springman of Village of Godfrey

The new owners of State Street Market, Beau and Terri Beaubien.

| July 2015 Business Edge

Congratulations to owners Deb and Mike Webb on being selected as the July 2015 Small Business of the Month.

Precision Electrical & Lighting Supply, located at 502 E. Bethalto Drive in Bethalto, is a family-owned, locally owned business that offers a wide range of electrical and lighting supplies for residential and commercial projects. They have the only dedicated lighting and ceiling fan showroom in the Riverbend area and offer lamp repair and they specialize in hard to find light bulbs.

Precision Electrical & Lighting Supply is an Ameren Act on Energy partner and is committed to working with customers to convert existing lighting to energy efficient alternatives.

For more information on Precision Electrical & Lighting Supply, visit precisioninbethalto.com or call 618-377-6413.

RBGA leaders awarded owners Mike and Debbie Webb as the July 2015 Small Business of the Month: Karen McAtee of the Village of Godfrey, Matt Kotzamanis of TheBANK of Edwardsville, Pat Schwarte of Riverbender.com, Nancy Bivens of WBGZ, Lisa Shain of Shell Community Federal Credit Union, Martha Schultz of First Clover Leaf Bank, Lee McRaven of OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, Sarah Bolyard, Jerry Gibson of Kiwanis and Matt Labertew of Axis Spinal Care.

Precision Electrical & Lighting Supply named July 2015 Small Business of the Month

The RBGA has recently added a section to our website with Employment Opportunities. It’s located at

http://www.growthassociation.com/page/employment-opportunities/. It can also be accessed from the header of any page throughout the site.

Members can post their job openings on this page. Here’s the link: http://www.growthassociation.com/page/create-employment-ad/

RiverBend Growth Association July 2015 | page 3

2015Board of Directors

Karen Cooper, ChairmanJohn Keller, Past Chairman

Karen Wilson, Chairman ElectMike Fitzgerald, Treasurer

Jeff AllsmanTom Berry

Dale BlachfordJake Bodi

David BraaschStephanie Dykstra

Melissa ErkerMike Farrell

Kevin HamiltonPam Heepke

Jennifer JacobsenCharles Linnemeyer

Alan MeyerDave Miller

Scott ReichmannCindy Roth

Ed RyrieKent Scheffel

Diane SchuetteRob SchwartzCindy SmalleySam Stemm

Dave StevensonDan St. Peters

Steve ThompsonDenise Wolff

Jess WoodmanAugie WuellnerCharlie Yancey

Ex-Officio DirectorsMayor Fred Akers

Supervisor William AmbroseSupervisor Mike Babcock

Mayor Kenny BeasleyMayor Cy BuntingDr. Dale Chapman

Jesse HopkinsSupervisor Don Huber

Jack JacobyWilliam Kessler

Debra KreutztragerMayor Mike McCormick

Supervisor Doug MuellerMayor Paul Oller

John PearsonMayor Joe SilkwoodMayor James Spann

Ken SpellsBrett Stawar

Charles StegallMayor Tom Thompson

Mayor Brant WalkerMayor Alan Winslow

Networking events are an effective way to develop professional relationships with businesses and organizations within the Riverbend community. The RBGA hosts a networking event on the third Wednesday of every month. Attendees enjoy and benefit from top of mind awareness participation activities, presentations focused on leadership, sales and motivation and opportunities to showcase themselves and their respective businesses and

organizations.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 19th for the Breakfast Connections networking event at Atrium Hotel & Conference Center. The Breakfast Connections networking event will engage you with an interactive participation activity as well as plenty of time for one-on-one networking.

Networking Events that Help Develop Your Business

Attorney Kathy Smith and Michael Balding of Partners Insurance Agency

Michelle Blackwood, Director of Training and Development at Challenge Unlimited, was the presenter on the topic of leadership styles.

Congratulations to Party on Broadway owner, Vicki Hopkins, on the grand opening of her shop located at 302 E. Broadway in Alton, IL.

Party on Broadway is a store about creating memories - putting creative ideas into a decorative piece such as a painted canvas. Party on Broadway is a place to get

together with loved ones, family, friends, and social groups to have fun and create memories.

So gather your friends and make an appointment with Vicki to create your next memory by calling 314-795-9003 or by visiting them on Facebook at Party on Broadway.

Party on Broadway Showcases Talents

Create your next memory with Party on Broadway. Thank-you to the family, friends and business leaders for celebrating with owner Vicki Hopkins - David Knowles of Atrium Hotel, Kathy and Kari Weaver of Investment Planners, Michelle Blackwood of Challenge Unlimited, Jenna Andres of Scheffel Boyle, Stephanie Tate of the Alton CVB, Dick Propes, Nancy Bivens of WBGZ, Tom Hoechst of CNB Bank & Trust, Martha Schultz of First Clover Leaf Bank, Kim Mosby of Partners Insurance, Mayor Brant Walker and Matt Asselmeier of the City of Alton, Andrea Abbott and Haley Hopkins.


AmbAssAdor spotlightGary Hoggatt, Jr.

1st MidAmerica Credit UnionDavid Knowles

Atrium Hotel & Conference CenterTrish Holmes

CNB Bank & Trust, N.A.Gary Hoggatt, Jr. joined

the RBGA ambassador committee in January 2007. Hoggatt served as Chair of the Ambassador committee from 2009 to 2011. He was honored as Ambassador of the year in 2007. He is also actively involved with the RBGA Promotions Committee.

Hoggatt has been in the financial industry since 1987, beginning his career as a part-time teller. He has managed various banking centers for 16 of those years. He also spent 3 years as a small business lender and as a relationship manager. Currently he is the Assistant Vice-President of Mortgage Lending at 1st MidAmerica Credit Union. He is responsible for the oversight of residential mortgage origination and servicing. “We are in the business of exceeding member expectations,” said Hoggatt. “I make sure our department gives the best service possible starting at the application process and closing of a new loan through the entire servicing of that loan. We take great pride in making a stress free process for all applicants,” Hoggatt continues, “We put a priority on closing loans in a timely manner.”

Hoggatt graduated from Mississippi Valley Christian School in Alton in 1983 and attended Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. He has also attended Missouri Baptist College, Lewis and Clark Community College and the Center for Financial Education focusing on Accounting, Business Law and Commercial Lending. In July 2009, Hoggatt completed the Community Bankers School and graduated with honors.

Outside of the banking world, Hoggatt serves on the Board of Directors at the Ed/Glen Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the School Board for Mississippi Valley Christian School. In addition, Hoggatt is an active member at Faith Baptist Church in Godfrey, IL; where he serves on the Deacon Board, sings in the choir, and teaches a Homebuilders class for young married couples.

Hoggatt grew up in the Bethalto area and is currently living in Alton with his wife of 23 years, Donna, and their two children, Ellianna and Micah. In his spare time Hoggatt likes to do things with his family, read, exercise, and enjoy outdoor activities when possible.

Trish Holmes is a proud employee of a locally-owned community bank, CNB Bank & Trust. She has been with the company for 4 years. One part of her job she loves and enjoys is organizing community events. Before joining the bank she was in employed in the retail industry during her college years.

Trish is a lifelong resident of the Alton, Illinois community. She attended Alton High School and continued her education earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Trish has been an Ambassador with Riverbend Growth Association for 2 years and also has been honored to sit on the Young Adults Committee with RBGA. Through her few years of experience with both groups, she has built great relationships with local business owners, met new people, and has had the opportunity and the pleasure of working with and giving back to non-profits in her own community.

When Trish is not at work you will most likely find her at Nautilus Fitness Center either instructing a Les Mills Body Pump class or working out herself. She loves to help others achieve fitness and health goals through motivation. She also admires her niece and nephews and spends time with them as much as possible.

I am the Catering Director at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center and recently joined the ambassador committee. The Atrium HoteI has been a member of the Growth Association as long as I can remember and we like to take full advantage of all of the networking opportunities offered by this organization. I also have been on the board for Alton Memorial Hospital White Cross Auxiliary for the past 8 years, Altonized Community Federal Credit Union for 4 years, Pride Incorporated for the last year, and also act as a volunteer with several other non-profit organizations.

I have worked for Holiday Inn Alton/Atrium hotel for the last 16 years and have had the opportunity to work with many of the people in the Riverbend community. The best part of my job is working with so many repeat guests and being able to develop relationships with people. It is so rewarding to be able to work with a family who is holding their 3rd daughter’s wedding reception here or to be able to have a corporate client call me and say “Hey David, just set my meeting up the same way we did last time.” The hotel is going through major renovation over the next few months and a new brand will be announced soon. I look forward to all of the exciting new changes. I was born in St. Louis but raised in the Riverbend area since the age of 5. I’ve been married for the last 22 years to my wife, Mary, who was born and raised in Alton. We have 2 children, Andrew, a college student and Anna, a student At St. Mary’s. I enjoy running at 4:30am with the girls (my faithful running mates) and when I am not working I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I invite everyone to stop by the hotel to see the changes as they take place and enjoy a cold beverage or bite to eat from our fantastic Franco’s Restaurant or Lily’s Lounge. If you ever have any hotel, banquet or meeting needs please call me and I look forward to meeting everyone.

Serving Business, Encouraging Growth in Southwestern Illinois

RiverBendG R O W T H A S S O C I AT I O N

www.GrowthAssociation.com


Jeni J’s Celebrates 10 Years in Business!

Factory Connection is Newest Retailer in Godfrey!

Congratulations to Nancy Jo Wilson, owner of Jeni J’s in Grafton, IL, on the celebration of 10 years in business.

Jeni J’s, located at 214 W. Main Street in Grafton, IL, is a boutique gift shop and guest cottage, housing five cottages.

The boutique gift shop offers several lines of unique women’s clothing, trendy handbags, artisan jewelry and stylish scarves. The adjoining IceHouse Winery features private label wines, award-winning wines from the Midwest and imported varietals from abroad.

The guest cottages have undergone complete remodeling and offer central air & heat systems in each

of the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom guest cottages. Each cottage has its own individual charm, offering a unique setting for get-togethers and picturesque weddings. Not only are the interiors elegant, but the accompanying scenic river provides an experience appropriate for almost any function!

Jeni J’s, nestled high on stone terraces overlooking the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, is located in the heart of Grafton’s Wine and Entertainment District on the Great River Road.

For more information on Jeni J’s, visit jenij.com or call 618-786-2737.

Pictured for the ribbon cutting ceremony are Tom Hoechst of CNB Bank & Trust, Carla Luken of Luken Agency, Jeni J’s owners Mike and Nancy Jo Wilson, Karen and Andy Jackson of Captain Andy’s Parasail, Grafton Mayor Tom Thompson and Lori Nikonovich of Grafton Winery & Brewhaus.

Factory Connection is a new retailer to the Riverbend community and they celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 15, 2015.

Factory Connection is located at 5735 Godfrey Road in Godfrey, directly across from Lewis & Clark Community College in Monticello Plaza. The store offers a wide selection of brand name fashions for juniors, misses, plus sizes, men’s and young men’s, with accessories and shoes. Factory Connection buys from the industry’s leading fashion

manufacturers which allows them to offer prices that are 25%-70% below regular retail.

Factory Connection has a membership that includes the following benefits: free membership, exclusive coupons, special birthday savings, member-only events, advance notice of sales and other special product hold privileges.

For more information on Factory Connection, visit factory-connection.com or call 618-433-8245.

Congratulations to Factory Connection on their grand opening! Several business joined in the welcome including Matt Kotzamanis of TheBANK of Edwardsville, RBGA President Monica Bristow, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick, Store Manager Vernica Jenklins, District Manager Michelle Alumbaugh, part time worker Danielle Churchich, Linda Funk of Regions Bank, Susie Sweetman of Nautilus Fitness Center, Stephanie Tate of Alton CVB, assistant store manager Nadia Crumer, part time worker Allison Ehler, Dick Propes, Augie Wuellner of Alton Securities Group and Pat Schwarte of Riverbender.com.


Absolute Audiology Celebrates Grand Opening

Hansen Meat Company Celebrates Grand Opening

Congratulations to owner Aaron Gingrich of Absolute Audiology on the grand opening of his store located at 5520A Godfrey Road in Godfrey.

Absolute Audiology is all about hearing aids. They offer services of hearing aid evaluations, fittings and repair. Other services are offering musicians earplugs, ear molds and ear plugs, industrial hearing screenings and tinnitus treatments.

For more information about hearing aids and/or Absolute Audiology, visit absoluteaudiology.com or call 618-467-8889.

Several Riverbend leaders were in attendance at Absolute Audiology’s ribbon cutting including Amy Schaake of Edwardsville Intelligencer, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick, Absolute Audiology staff Karen Schroeder, Aaron Gingrich and Karen Rose, RBGA President Monica Bristow, Linda Funk of Regions Bank, Jerry Gibson of Kiwanis, Dick Propes, Pat Schwarte of Riverbender.com, Regina Harbison of The Telegraph, Kim Mosby of Partners Insurance Agency, Michelle Blackwood of Challenge Unlimited, Martha Schultz of First Clover Leaf Bank, Cara Pascal of Options Now, Lee McRaven of OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, and Tom Hoechst and Kathy Smith and Allison Amburg of 1st MidAmerica Credit Union.

Congratulations to owners Beth Arrowsmith and her brother Ryan Hansen on the opening of the Hansen Meat Company in downtown Alton, IL.

Hansen Meat Company opened their Alton location earlier this summer and recently showcased its retail store with a grand opening on Friday, July 24, 2015. For nearly 60 years and three generations, Hansen Packing Company & Good Buddy’s Meat Market, have been providing the freshest meats possible to restaurants, meat packing plants, grocery stores, bar & grills and individual retailers.

The site at 450 Landmarks in Alton is that retail space for all of your meat selection wants and needs: favorite cuts of beef, U.S.D.A steaks and roasts, famous kabobs, champion brats, beef patties, seasoned chicken breasts, sausages and more.

For more information on Hansen Meat Company at 450 Landmarks in Alton, visit hansenpackingmeats.com or call 618-465-4400.

Many Riverbend businesses welcomed Hansen Meat Company to their Alton location at 450 Landmarks on Friday, July 24, 2015. Joining co-owner and President Ryan Hansen and co-owner and vice president Beth Arrowsmith were family, employees and friends, as well as representatives from the following businesses: Alton Mayor Brant Walker, RBGA President Monica Bristow and businesses Regions Bank, Foxes Grove, First Clover Leaf Bank, CNB Bank & Trust, Scheffel Boyle, Kiwanis, Alton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, Investment Planners, TheBANK of Edwardsville, LogoIt, Riverbender.com, 1st MidAmerica Credit Union, Toddle Towne Learning Center, State Street Market, Alton Securities Group and Williams Office Products.


MAYOR’S REPORT – Paul Oller, Village of Roxana

The time arrives when each local

government must invest in itself in order to maintain services to its citizen’s and plan for the future needs of the community. Last year, Roxana started two major construction projects, made some major equipment purchases, and added personnel to enhance and maintain the services we provide to our corporate citizens.

We recently purchased a new fire truck and it went into service with our fire department last fall. The Village replaced a truck that was 23 years old with a new state of the art firefighting vehicle. This new vehicle has modernized our fire department and will improve our ability to protect and serve not only our community, but other locations in the RiverBend, if Roxana is

called to assist with fire protection needs.

The Village is proud to announce that we have added two new police officers to our police force. Adding these new officers brings our police department staffing to a full complement of officers. This is another example of our Village Administration doing all we can to meet the needs of our community.

We are constructing a new Street Department Center that will be completed this fall. The new 14,000 square foot center will allow us to conduct our operations and equipment maintenance out of one central location and provide more indoor storage space for all of our village needs.

The expansion of our water treatment plant is more than halfway completed and we are recoating our elevated water tower this summer as part of the expansion project. We have selected a new color

and paint scheme for the water tower and we are anxious to see the finished product. Once the entire project is completed we will be able to produce more water and use less chemicals, which will help reduce the operating costs of our water department and help keep our water rates some of the lowest in the area.

I am proud to report that we are accomplishing all of our projects and purchases and operations of the Village while maintaining our lowest corporate tax in the last 35 years. We are working hard to ensure the Village of Roxana continues to be a great place to live! I wish a safe and happy summer to all!

RespectfullyPaul OllerMayor, Village of Roxana


Bet on Yourself…Bet on a Winner is the theme of the annual Women’s Seminar

july 2015 volume 13 | issue 7 business after hours...

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