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"This Way to Jobs"

In Demand Jobs for 2011 and Beyond

By: Katie Morell
Contributing Writer
The Business Ledger

After three years of being hampered by a recessionary economy, job seekers are tired of guessing which positions are in demand, while hiring managers are sick of turning people away.


In an effort to help the millions of job seekers, Robert Half International (RHI), a staffing firm with a Naperville office, created a cheat sheet detailing the top 11 most sought-after positions for the coming year.

This list is based on the positions we are filling for our clients,” said Fran Liontakis, regional vice president for RHI’s Naperville office. “These are the jobs that were cut during the economic downturn. Now that businesses are seeing an uptick in business, they are not prepared to go into 2011 and are scrambling.

“These positions enable companies to save money and improve profitability. They improve efficiencies and identify revenue opportunities.”

Financial analyst
“This is a person who evaluates financial plans, assists with forecasts and budgets and identifies opportunities to boost budgets,” Liontakis said. “At first glance, they can identify an area in the company that is lagging and advise senior management on how to increase revenue flow.”
According to RHI, salaries will range from $72,750 to $95,000 per year for mid-sized companies and from $81,500 to $109,750 for large companies.
ERP technical developer
“ERP stands for enterprise resource planning, a function that enables companies to improve efficiency and cut costs by effectively managing resources,” said Liontakis, adding salaries will range from $72,250 to $109,500 per year.
“Companies are moving to ERP systems to make sure they are utilizing every piece of the business efficiently. An ERP developer is someone who customizes the system for the organization, based on the company’s needs.”
Business intelligence analyst
Next year, companies will look to pay business intelligence analysts between $82,500 and $116,250 per year, according to RHI.
“Companies really need these types of analysts to guide the decision making process,” Liontakis said. “You can think of these people sort of as consultants. They help high-level decision makers evaluate data and guide processes.
“Although this is usually on a project basis, a lot of companies haven’t looked at these decisions for a long time and need someone on a full-time basis.”
Paralegal
“Paralegals research, investigate and look up case laws,” said LaSonia Michele, a freelance paralegal based in Chicago. “Then we write a memorandum of findings for an attorney. We really support the attorneys.”
Associate degrees are required for most paralegal jobs, according to Michele.
“There are so many laws; a paralegal really needs to think like an attorney,” she said.
Why is this position in such high demand?
“Law is a growing field and it is very broad,” Michele said. “There are so many areas of law, there is always need for paralegals.”
RHI projects 2011 salaries to range from $48,250 to $62,500.

Senior administrative assistant
Liontakis said she isn’t surprised companies are in desperate need of senior administrative assistants.
“The first positions that went away during the recession was those of administrative support because they don’t impact the bottom line,” she said. “Now, managers are finding that it isn’t cost effective to do administrative work.”
According to RHI, companies are looking for individuals with technical skills and staff supervision experience. Yearly salaries are forecasted to range from $32,500 to $41,750.

Data modeler
These days, firms handling more and more data, Liontakis said, increasing the need for data modelers.
“Data modelers analyze data on various trends and process it for the needs of various parts of an organization, from purchasing to hiring,” she said, adding that compensation is expected to range from $80,750 to $11,250 per year.
Mobile applications designer/developer
With a salary ranging from $73,250 to $102,500, these positions are in top demand, said Liontakis.
“Technology didn’t stop when the economy took a dive,” she said. “Now, companies are looking to distribute content and build their brand through mobile applications, which wasn’t the case just a few years ago. This position is one that would help integrate smart phones and tablet computers into business models.”
User experience (UX) designer
A UX designer is someone who helps Web sites and software become more user friendly, according to Gabby Hon, a freelance senior UX consultant in Chicago.
“We really think about the customer’s experience. When they click on a link in a Web site, what happens?” she asks. “It involves testing where we sit people down, give them tasks and find out how difficult or easy it is to use a piece of equipment or a Web site.”
Why is this field growing?
“The recession highlighted the need for companies to focus on the customer’s experience,” Hon said. “Advertising is dead. Consumers want to be treated like people. They want their experience to be a good one, whether it is in person or on a Web site.”
Educational opportunities are hard to come by, as of now, Hon said.
“The field is so young that there are very few good programs out there for UX,” she said. “I assume that will change in the next five years as the field explodes.”
RHI projects 2011 salaries to range from $67,500 to $98,000.

Lawyer
Attorneys with at least four years of experience in the health care, bankruptcy, foreclosure and litigation law fields are in high demand, according to RHI. Projected salaries range from $106,250 to $163,250.

Staff accountant
“Companies need accountants who can do the grunt work,” Liontakis said. “This is the person who can maintain the general ledger, complete reports and get information ready for a financial analyst.”
Salaries range from $42,000 to $55,500, according to RHI.

Senior business systems analyst
A senior business systems analyst looks at existing systems and researches new ways to improve efficiency and day-to-day operations, Liontakis said.
“They specialize in researching new hardware and software to help a company,” she said.
RHI projects 2011 salaries to range from $66,500 to $85,000.

Passage of Police and Fire Pension Reform a Solid First Step in Addressing Crisis

Pension reform bill offers initial reforms for taxpayer relief

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. [December 2, 2010] -  The Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition, a coalition of municipalities, counties and employer groups around the state, applauds the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill 3538, which is an important first step towards meaningful police and fire pension reform.  The Senate passed the bill today after passage in the House on Tuesday and now requires urgent approval by the Governor so it can become effective on January 1, 2011.

SB 3538 will create a two-tiered system for new hires, among other modifications to the pension system, including the following changes:

·         Increase the normal retirement age to 55 from 50

·         Set a pensionable salary cap at $106,800

·         Calculate pensions using an average final salary based upon the highest 8 consecutive years out of the last 10 years

“While not a perfect bill, this legislation is a solid step in the right direction to address the burden of skyrocketing public safety pension costs,” said Ed Zabrocki, Mayor of Tinley Park. “We would like to thank the police and fire unions for taking part in these important negotiations.”

Added Karen Darch, Mayor of Barrington, “We also want in particular to thank Representative Kevin McCarthy, Representative Raymond Poe, Senator Terry Link and Senator Pam Althoff for tackling this urgent issue for Illinois communities and coming up with an initial set of reforms to start lessening the burden on taxpayers.”

“We look forward to the results of the COGFA study called for in the bill that will examine the health of all of the public safety pension funds and lay out a roadmap for recommended improvements,” said Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole. “Hopefully, the focus can then be on making the system more sustainable for the long term.”

The Coalition, however, stresses that this bill is not an end-all solution to the public safety pension crisis, despite providing some measure of current relief for taxpayers, communities and business groups.  

In particular, the Coalition is concerned that the penalty language in the bill may produce unintended consequences that will leave some towns simply unable to support public safety and other critical services.   Under the bill, the State would be allowed to divert revenue from municipalities, equaling any difference between the municipality’s contribution to the local pension fund and the required actuarial contribution.

“As it stands now, even as taxpayers have increased pension contributions, funding levels have still declined,” said Tim Davlin, Mayor of Springfield. “We are hopeful Senate Bill 3538 will lay the foundation for future comprehensive efforts in order to produce greater fiscal savings our taxpayers need. We appreciate the efforts of Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan for their leadership throughout this entire process.”

From the beginning, the Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition pushed for a comprehensive package of meaningful reforms to address the police and fire pension problems that are burdening Illinois taxpayers and placing towns on the brink of collapse.

###

For more information, please visit: www.pensionfairness.org

SB 3538 – House Amendment #3 passed the House with 95 ‘YES’ votes

Talking Points – SB 3538

·         Senate Bill 3538 accomplishes the creation of a two-tiered pension system for new hires and other modifications.  Although we may not agree on all the details, this is a first step toward meaningful reform.    For this reason, I ask you to support SB 3538.

·         However,  we want to be clear - SB 3538 is not an end-all solution to the pension crisis, despite providing some measure of current relief for taxpayers.   We still need comprehensive reform in order to produce the true fiscal savings our taxpayers need.

·         In particular, the compliance/penalty language in this bill is of great concern to municipalities with unintended consequences that will leave some towns simply unable to support public safety and other critical services.  

·         As it stands now, it is especially difficult for municipalities, particularly non-home rule municipalities, to keep up with out-of-control pension costs.  Even as taxpayers have increased pension contributions, funding levels have still declined. 

o   The focus should be on making the system more sustainable, and not on enforcement.  This includes strengthening the financial health of police and fire pension funds and the potential consolidation of these funds (similar to IMRF).

o   Without this, the system will continue to lack critical safeguards and sound management - and no amount of penalties/compliance can fix that.

·         We eagerly await the results of the COGFA studies in 2013 which we expect will provide us the information we need to better understand the true nature of the problems and a roadmap for further reforms to the public safety pension systems.

·         We also want to stress that the fiscal benefits derived from this bill will quickly disappear if future benefits enhancements are approved by the General Assembly.

·         Please make no mistake - SB 3538 will not eliminate the need for tough municipal decisions.   Many communities will continue to be forced to raise taxes and make cuts in public safety personnel and other services in order to address skyrocketing pension costs.  

·         From the beginning, the Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition pushed for a comprehensive package of meaningful reforms to address the police and fire pension problems that are burdening our taxpayers and placing our towns on the brink of collapse.

·         We hope this bill will lay the foundation for much-needed comprehensive reform in the future.  Our taxpayers deserve this. 

Fire, police pension cutback bill expected to move to House floor

By CHRIS WETTERICH

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Lawmakers are finalizing the details of a bill that would reduce pension benefits for future police officers and firefighters and are expected to move it to the House floor Tuesday.

“I believe this bill is about as agreed (to by both sides) as we’re going to get to,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park, the legislation’s chief sponsor. “This isn’t going to be the panacea … I think both sides received some things they were very happy about.”

The bill was being drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau Monday morning and wasn’t immediately available, but McCarthy described its contents to the committee.

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey said while it is time for the General Assembly to act on the issue, benefits for existing employees and retirees also will have to be changed. He wants to see everyone put into a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan.

“We’re debating about what’s going to happen with future employees when we’re not doing any hiring,” Morrissey said. “What about all the existing employees and existing retirees?

Morrissey said there is warfare between citizens who don’t want a tax increase to fund oversized benefits and existing employees and retirees.

“We’re not doing the job we need to do as trustees … for them if we’re suggesting that somehow this bill, if it passes, is going to deal with all of our problems. It’s not,” Morrissey said. “We’re going to have to deal with the fact that we have a system for the existing employees and the existing retirees that’s not sustainable.”

Morrissey told the committee the legislature should realize that barring a vast improvement in the economy, some of the systems will go bankrupt and cities will end up in court. Public officials need to have a plan to reorganize those funds, he said.

“This is a problem nationwide,” Morrissey said.

Pat Devaney, president of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, said most of the fiscal problems in the state’s 636 police and fire pension funds stem from cities underfunding them. Devaney said his group is waiting until the bill’s final language is drafted before taking a position. Who’s to blame for the shortfall in some of the systems is a major flashpoint, with the mayors blaming overly generous benefits passed by the General Assembly.

Devaney said he was “incredulous” that Morrissey did not think the bill went far enough.

“They’re solving it (pension problems) on the backs of benefits for future police officers and firefighters,” Devaney said. “Without question, it’s (changing benefits for current employees and retirees) unconstitutional.”

Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin said there probably are “things in there both sides feel are despicable” but said the bill is “a good start where we’re at today.”

Davlin said the coalition of cities seeking the changes would not seek to change benefits for existing police and firefighters. But he hoped the General Assembly would consider legislation aimed at finding more efficiencies in the systems in the spring.

Although no specific figures were available, the city of Springfield could realize savings quickly because the number of police and fire it employs is so low, it will have to hire new employees who would fall under the new system, Davlin said.

“We’re going to reap the benefits faster than any other community,” Davlin said. “We’re going to be doing more hiring than anybody else.”

Chris Wetterich can be reached at 788-1523.

What Senate Bill 3538 does:

-- Changes the standard retirement age for police and firefighters from age 50 to age 55

-- Allows police and firefighters to retire early at age 50, with a 6 percent reduction in their pension for each year they retire before age 55.

-- Leaves intact current provisions allowing firefighters and police to retire with maximum pension benefits of 75 percent of their salaries after 30 years of service. Police will continue to contribute 9.91 percent of their salaries and firefighters will continue to contribute 9.45 percent of their salaries.

-- Caps the maximum salary upon which a pension can be based at $106,800. That number will increase annually at half the urban consumer-price index.

-- Seeks to end the “spiking” of salaries through late-career raises and promotions by basing pensions on the employee’s final average salary, which will be calculated by using an employee’s highest paying eight years out of the last 10 years they worked. Today, police and fire pensions are based on the employee’s salary on their last day of work.

-- Cost of living increases will be based on 3 percent or half the urban consumer-price index, whichever is less. Today, COLAs are an automatic 3 percent.

-- Requires cities to have the systems 90 percent funded by 2041.

-- Starting in 2015, it allows the pension funds to petition the state comptroller to subtract funds from tax money owed to the cities by the state if a city does not make complete payments to the system.

-- Requires the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to assess the status of the 636 police and fire pension funds. It will also study the feasibility and desirability of pooling those funds together. Mayors believe that the pension funds would be more solvent if they were combined into one or two funds, similar to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which provides pensions for non-public safety workers in local governments. COGFA’s report is due Jan. 1, 2013.

An Opportunity to Reform Workers’ Compensation

If someone wrenches his back while hanging holiday lights at home, should his employer be forced to pay compensation just because he aggravated that same injury while at work?

And, is it logical that a state arbitrator’s opinion about the severity of a workers’ compensation injury is more influential than a medical doctor’s opinion and guidelines approved by the American Medical Association?
Of course not.
However, those two scenarios reflect the reality of a broken, biased and needlessly expensive Illinois workers’ compensation system that is overdue for reform.
Finally, some legislators – who have heard the Illinois Chamber’s call for workers’ compensation reform and seen the steady exodus of companies and jobs to states where business costs are lower – are willing to demonstrate leadership in addressing employers’ concerns.
Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) announced last week that he has formed a bipartisan committee, the Special Committee on Workers’ Compensation Reform, which is an important first step in pursuit of meaningful legislation.
The group will conduct two hearings – Nov. 29 in Springfield and Dec. 8 in Chicago – before drafting legislation. The stated intention is to pass legislation out of the Senate before the close of the current General Assembly the first week of January.
It’s vital for the Illinois Chamber and our members to educate the six Senators on the committee – Cullerton, Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), William Haine (D-Alton), Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) and Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) – about why strong workers’ compensation reform is absolutely essential for Illinois.
What You Can Do
Now is the time to tell your stories about how a costly workers’ compensation system filled with fraud and subjective decision-making has driven up costs for many businesses and compelled others to relocate out of state.
Until state leaders hear from employers like you, they will assume that the campaign to reform workers’ compensation isn’t a widespread concern. Your letters and e-mails directed to Senators Cullerton and Rodogno are extremely effective ways to build momentum toward real reform.
When you talk with legislators to let them know about your company’s struggles with workers’ compensation, remind them that Illinois has the third-highest workers’ compensation costs in the country, according to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services’ national benchmarking study. Just four years ago, Illinois was 20th, according to the study. In those four years, Illinois’ workers’ compensation costs have jumped 15 percent while the national average has plunged 20 percent.
You can find more information about the Chamber’s battle for  workers’ compensation reforms in the Employment Law Council’s paper “A Case for Workers’ Compensation Reform in Illinois.”

The Illinois Chamber wants to hear about your frustrations with workers’ compensation and collect opinions regarding what you believe should be our priorities for reform legislation. Please send your stories and comments to jaydeeshattuck@gmail.comso the Chamber can share your workers’ compensation experiences with state leaders, the media and others.

 

Tell us about your most egregious examples of workers’ compensation judgments that have little basis in logic and hurt your business. Talk to us about how much your workers’ compensation insurance has gone up. We are especially eager to have comparative data and practical examples of disparities companies have experienced when comparing Illinois locations with those in other states.

Your input will help make it impossible for political leaders to ignore the need for significant changes in Illinois workers’ compensation statutes.
What Reform Looks Like
The Chamber’s goal is to persuade legislators to draft legislation that reduces workers’ compensation costs. Legislators should put these reforms at the top of the list when they’re considering changes:
In Illinois, employees can claim workers’ compensation if their injury was aggravated in any way by work, even if the injury took place somewhere else.
Therefore, we demand that the workplace must be more than 50 percent responsible for the cause of an injury before a workers’ compensation claim is approved. In fact, when Missouri changed to this standard recently, the workers’ compensation costs for businesses dropped significantly.
The Illinois workers’ compensation system does not follow the AMA guidelines but instead allows an arbitrator to conjure up numbers that are not as medically informed. We must incorporate the American Medical Association’s guidelines for disability, which are the standard for workers’ compensation claims in most states.
The 2005 law authorizing utilization review was designed to prevent the use of unnecessary medical procedures.  However, costly procedures and treatments in workers’ compensation cases continue to be a problem because utilization review is inconsistently applied in Commission rulings. California’s experience has proven mandatory utilization review is a better way to control costs.
Wage differential claims create tremendous abuse. It is reasonable to allow changes in wage differential cases for changes in economic circumstances, provide credit for previous wage differential claims and cap benefits to retirement age instead of providing awards for a lifetime.
Illinois law should acknowledge that workers have a responsibility to be alcohol and drug-free in workplaces. Impaired workers are a danger not only to themselves and property, but also to their fellow workers. A number of states, including Missouri, eliminate or dramatically reduce workers’ compensation benefits when injuries are caused by intoxication.
Employers should be able to initially direct choice in physician selections by an injured worker. Employer-directed care helps assure that quality care is provided and that the employee returns to work in a timely fashion.

Now is Our Chance

Businesses are well aware that the Illinois workers’ compensation system has been stacked against employers for far too long. For example, insurance companies often choose to settle cases rather than spend the resources to fight the system, even when employers are eager to challenge the claim. Meanwhile, insurance rates continue to rise and insurance companies continue to exit the state market altogether because they can’t make adequate margin on sales.
It is well known that employers have left the state or have declined to relocate to or expand in Illinois because of the high cost of doing business. Those businesses, and others, might think it logical to have a defeatist attitude when it comes to Springfield politics, and assume that no real reform will take place. To the contrary, the Chamber sees this potential legislation as a genuine opportunity to educate state leaders about the runaway costs associated with workers’ compensation in Illinois and to achieve meaningful change.

Our task is to make sure this round of reforms achieves significant bottom line savings. The last time the state addressed workers’ compensation was in 2005, but those changes proved inadequate and did not lower costs. Meanwhile, our neighboring states offer much lower costs and are successfully luring employers.

 

We hope you’ll join the campaign to fix a broken system and restore the prospects for job growth in Illinois.

 

Employers are encouraged to attend the Senate hearings and listen to the proceedings.  The first session will be at 1 p.m. next Monday, November 29 in Room 212 of the Illinois Statehouse. The Chamber staff also will provide a briefing for members that day at 11 a.m. at our offices at 215 E. Adams in Springfield.

 

10 Things the HR Department Won't Tell You

If everything’s going smoothly, you probably won’t interact with the folks in human resources much between the day you’re hired and your last day with the company. But every day in between, it’s their responsibility to make sure you’re doing your job well. Which means they know a lot more than you might think. We checked in with human resources experts to see what your current employer is keeping tabs on—and how your next employer could be judging you based on a whole lot more than the résumé you submitted.(read more)

Employees Will Shop Less Online But Take Bigger Risks During 2010 Holiday Season

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Employees in the US plan to spend less time shopping online from a work-supplied computer this holiday season than they did a year ago, but more of them are engaging in risky online behavior (read more)

Workers’ Compensation Updates, Conference, and Initiatives

It’s all about jobs.

The challenge for Illinois’ future is to create, keep and grow jobs and employment opportunity even though the state has achieved a reputation for having an anti-business political climate.

Our political leaders can start to turn around Illinois’ economic condition and political reputation by reducing the cost of doing business in this state. Workers’ compensation is one of the fundamental issues that elected officials must address if we are to improve competitiveness and successfully restore jobs.

Yes, there were legislative changes adopted in 2005, but the changes have not lowered costs and are not worthy of being characterized as “reform.” If Illinois’ rankings are to improve significantly, nibbling at the edges and adopting only marginal adjustments are simply not enough.

That’s why the Illinois Chamber has taken the lead in pushing for workers’ compensation reform.

Already, the Chamber has:

Successfully fought the government’s imposition of excessive fees to fund the state’s Workers Compensation CommissionOrganized a conference this month that will give business leaders vital information about the newest workers’ compensation issues.Planned a workers’ compensation reform campaign, which will kick off at the conference and be focused on next session of the Illinois General Assembly.

The Chamber would like your feedback to help us achieve workers’ compensation reform in this state. Let us know about outrageous workers’ compensation cases. Give us guidance on what should be changed at the Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Let’s work together to make Illinois a better place to do business.

Litigation Settlement

Illinois businesses will save millions in assessments and benefit from operational improvements at the Worker’s Compensation Commission in the coming years as a result of the Chamber’s legal victory.

The most immediate benefit for employers and insurers is that the Commission will skip the next three assessments for the Rate Adjustment Fund (RAF) beginning January 2011. This will save businesses about $27 million over the next 18 months.

The court’s settlement order also instructs the Workers’ Compensation Commission to spend $30 million to improve transparency, efficiency and operations. The court retains control of the funds and must approve the state’s requests to withdraw funds. The Illinois Chamber has authority to monitor the use of the funds and has already initiated conversations with the Commission to begin the implementation process, which will occur over many months.

Chamber members are encouraged to offer ideas that would result in more efficient Commission operations. All comments are welcome, but you should know the primary focus of improvements will be directed at modernization of information technology capabilities. The existing systems are obsolete, inefficient and lack modern online functionality.

Workers’ Compensation Conference

Business owners, CFOs, HR professionals and risk managers can stay current with cost, fraud, legal and liability issues at the Illinois Chamber’s second annual fall conference on workers’ compensation. The event will take place Oct. 28 at the Marriott Chicago Oak Brook Hotel, 1401 West 22nd St. , Oak Brook, Illinois. The cost is $199 for members and $249 for non-members. You may register online at www.ilchamber.org.

At this conference, the Chamber will announce the campaign for worker’s compensation reforms that will be pursued during the next session of the Illinois General Assembly. We will:

Make the case for why the next round of workers’ compensation reforms must move forward.Introduce components of the Chamber’s WC Action Agenda.Solicit the input and commitment from conference attendees to help build a compelling case for legislative and governmental action aimed at reducing workers’ compensation costs in Illinois.

Why Reform is Important

Numerous multi-state comparative rankings that measure economic performance have consistently shown Illinois to have low standing when compared with high-growth states.

Chief Executive Magazine ranked Illinois’ business climate 46th in the country in 2010. The ALEC-Laffler State Competitive Index of 2010 ranked Illinois 48th in economic performance and 48th in job creation from 1998 to 2008, trailing only Ohio and Michigan. Only New York and California had more outward population migration than Illinois during the same period, suggesting that 640,000 people envisioned greater economic opportunity existed elsewhere.

Until we enact meaningful reform, the states that border Illinois will continue to flaunt their lower workers’ compensation costs.

For example:

In 2005, Missouri lawmakers enacted reforms and have since seen their costs drop more than 20 percent. Since 2006 the total average increase in Illinois workers’ compensation rates was 16.4 percent, and 6.3 percent in 2009 alone. During the same period, average rates for workers’ compensation across the country decreased 17.1 percent.Thirty states saw average rate reductions in 2008-2009, while Illinois joined only four other states that had an average recommended rate increase, according to NCCI Illinois State Advisory Forums.Indiana (2nd), Wisconsin (14th), Iowa (15th) and Missouri (31st) all ranked higher than Illinois (38th) in the 2008 Actuarial & Technical Solutions, Inc. State Rankings of Workers’ Compensation Comparative Costs for Manufacturers. This is another example of how neighboring states can tout their workers’ compensation cost advantage to Illinois employers and businesses that are planning job expansions in the region.

A number of states that compete with Illinois have addressed or are addressing their workers’ compensation cost issues and employers in those states are experiencing significant reductions in costs. Florida’s workers’ compensation rates fell more than 18 percent in 2009. Florida businesses have seen an average decrease in workers’ compensation costs of more than 65 percent since 2006. Colorado businesses experienced a 16 percent reduction for workers’ compensation in 2009, will see an additional 9.7 percent decrease in 2010 and have seen a 36.2 percent reduction since 2006. Arkansas workers’ compensation rates decreased nearly 20 percent the past two years and Pennsylvania has experienced a 19 percent reduction since 2006 as well.

Economists predict there will be a slow recovery to the current recession, but the economy will turn positive over the next two years. Thus, it is critical for Illinois political leaders to undertake the necessary changes that will position our state to be cost competitive when the recovery occurs.

Member Input and Engagement is Imperative

In order to build the case for reform, the Illinois Chamber needs employers to weigh in with examples of the most egregious workers compensation cases they have experienced. The objective is to establish a substantial record that demonstrates the irrational ills of a workers’ compensation system that has lost touch with common sense and caused employers to despair.

We also need employers with multi-state operations to provide good comparative data on costs, as well as sharing contrasting experiences that demonstrate how Illinois' workers' compensation operations can be streamlined, improved or made more efficient from the employers’ point of view. Contact us via e-mail through the Illinois Chamber’s Employment Law Council at sarahlynnseiz@gmail.com or by regular mail to: Jay Shattuck, Illinois Chamber Employment Law Council, 600 S. Second St. Suite 101, Springfield, Illinois 62704.

Featured Member - ONFX ~ Rudy Espinosa

How would you describe your line of work?

I like to help small business owners present and market their business online. Every business, small or large, should have a website. It is just as necessary as a business card these days. Your business must have these in place to operate and gain additional clients.

I recently sent out my first newsletter through the Lombard Chamber. I informed members that I now offer small business online marketing or SEO. SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization. If you want your website to appear in Google when someone searches for a specific set of words, I can help you!

If you need assistance marketing to the Latino community, I can help you too. Spanish is my native language. You may want to contact me soon. I have been told on forums recently by the SEO experts that my 2^nd language will present opportunities with low competition. I may become too expensive soon and will walk around with my nose in the air. Just kidding!

How did you become interested in this line of work?

I reserved my first domain name and setup my first website in the mid 90’s. As a kid, I loved to draw. My parents gave me my first computer in the 80’s. So, when I discovered that I could create something online and anyone with a computer (and the internet) could instantly see it --- I was hooked!

What is your favorite part of your job?

Showing off the new website to a client is cool. The only thing better, is the emotional reward when someone expresses their gratitude and appreciation for helping present their business online.

What is your least favorite part of your job?

I sincerely provide more than a client expects. I know it is a business but I take great pride in my work and my relationship with the client. I understand that small business owners have a tight budget. So, it is hard for me to tell someone that I can only provide X amount of services for X amount of dollars.

What does a day in the life of “Rudy Espinosa @ ONFX” consist of?

Wake up

Drink a protein shake

Start work

Eat

Work

Work out

Eat

Work

Eat

Finish work

What would you like your fellow Chamber members to know about you?

I am preparing for “2012”! LOL!

That was a joke (though I am probably the only one laughing), but I do feel like I am training for the so called “2012” event! I have been lifting weights for several years. A few years ago I built a solid 25 pounds of muscle. But 5 meals a day plus 3 protein shakes was too much work. So, I lost 25 pounds since then. My new goal is a six pack. I once tried the Adkins diet, but I gave up after 1 hour. I love bread and I especially love tortillas! For that reason, I do cardio just to look average, LOL! About a year ago, I took up jump roping and I am known as the “jump rope guy” at the gym. Twice a week, I try to play pool volleyball. About 5 months ago, I began Yin Yoga. If there is only 1 thing I could tell my fellow chamber members, it would be to try yoga. It helps many aspects of your life; physically and mentally. It helped me finally break my bench press plateau. I firmly believe it will help me regain the full split that I used to show off when I was a break dancer in the 80’s, LOL! I also read recently in my Esquire magazine, that certain poses help your stature and even help you appear taller. I am barely average height, so I need all the help I can get, LOL! More importantly, I have discovered that I will maintain a healthy back. I am in my mid 40’s and in the best shape of my life thanks to yoga. I urge everyone to try yoga.

Visit the website at www.onfx.com

Featured Member - Mr. Appliance

It Takes Two To Repair

Chicago Father, Son Open New Appliance Repair Business

Father, son duo, Leroy and Nicholas Litzhoff announce the startup of their full-service appliance repair business, Mr. Appliance® of the West and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. With each other’s support, the pair plans on becoming the community appliance repair expert.

“Mr. Appliance of the West and Northwest Chicago Suburbs will have the personal touch of a locally owned operation,” Leory Litzhoff said. “The technology and systems in place at Mr. Appliance will help us deliver faster, more reliable service.”

Upon purchasing the business, the Litzhoff’s attended a five-day training course on the latest technology and customer service techniques. They plan to create jobs and generate business for their community, as well as provide great service to their customers.

“We follow a professional system at Mr. Appliance. Our service professionals wear shoe covers inside homes and use a menu pricing guide so there are no surprises,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance Corp. “We’re delighted that Leroy and Nicholas have joined us, and we believe their business will be successful because we all operate under the same core values.”

The Litzhoff’s wanted to have a business founded on quality systems and customer services. The way they treat customers is unsurpassed.

“When we started researching for our own business, we wanted something that would give us the opportunity to capitalize on my mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills,” Litzhoff said. “When we found Mr. Appliance, we knew it was the right business for us.”

Mr. Appliance of the West and the Northwest Chicago Suburbs serves Cook, Du Page and Will counties.

Contact information

The Tenaska Clean Coal Project-The Devil is in the Details

It is expected that the General Assembly will be asked during the November Veto Session to green-light the construction of a power plant in Taylorville, Illinois, being proposed by Omaha-based Tenaska Inc.

Normally, a decision by a private investor to build a power plant in a competitive market doesn’t require the input, review and approval of the Legislature. But in this case, Tenaska Inc. has said it won’t build the plant unless a state law is passed that guarantees Illinois consumers will buy their power – at above-market prices – for the next 30 years.

A few months ago the Chamber Foundation released a study about the benefits of building cleaner-coal technology in Illinois – projects much like the one proposed by Tenaska. In several forward-looking scenarios, the economic benefits of the construction of cleaner coal plants and their operations were very significant – especially when you consider many of the jobs would be created in areas across the state with some of the highest unemployment rates.

Nevertheless, we have decided to oppose the legislation that would enable the facility to go forward. Some people may perceive this as a confusing, contradictory stance since the Illinois Chamber is an outspoken advocate for Illinois coal and champion of energy production facilities. But when they look more closely at the situation, we believe they’ll agree that we’re striking the right balance.

What is at stake
Tenaska represents a throwback to guaranteed rate of return utility policies that Illinois abandoned more than a decade ago in favor of a more deregulated competitive market. A state guaranteed market for Tenaska’s energy production distorts the price of electricity and discriminates against employers. The law would force unnecessarily higher prices on business and governmental customers than on residential customers. It would clearly demonstrate that the state’s political establishment continues to embrace an anti-business bias by disregarding the cost of doing business. This action would likely chill what has been a robust and openly competitive marketplace for electricity because it would show that the political environment is once again unpredictable and unreliable. This special legislation opens the door for more political meddling and mischief.

Progress, but not at any price
We truly believe in the potential for Illinois coal in general and cleaner coal projects specifically. However, the state cannot afford to support cleaner coal projects (or other energy projects for that matter) at any cost to consumers – especially business consumers.

Recently the Illinois Commerce Commission came to the same answer. They gave the Legislature a report on the proposed economics of the facility and came away unimpressed, at best. Key findings for the ICC report include:

Higher electric rates for all – “the cost associated with electricity generated by the [Tenaska plant] is substantially higher than that which is associated with other types of generation facilities.” Who would pay for these higher costs? Illinois consumers would. They would pay through unnecessarily higher rates. Information from the STOP Coalition – which is a group of businesses and business organizations (including the Illinois Chamber) that opposes the legislation – shows that even if the project were built on time and on budget it could cost Illinois electricity customers $286 million more per year. That’s a total cost of more than $8 billion over the 30 years. But it is very likely the costs could be greater. If the expense of building and operating the TEC project are higher than expected, and if certain revenues are lower, Illinois electricity customers could pay much more.

Businesses and government agencies take the brunt of the burden – Because the proposed law would establish a two percent cap on the costs that can be imposed on residential consumers, most of the burden of increased rates would fall on businesses and therefore have a cascading consequence on the Illinois economy. It’s not just the private sector employers that would be affected. Governmental agencies are major energy consumers, and thus all taxpayers – including individuals – would also suffer unnecessary annual increases worth millions.

Crippling Illinois’ competitive electricity market – The ICC’s report also points out that the proposed project “could have a significant adverse impact on the retail competition model adopted by the General Assembly in 1997.” Today, more and more Illinois electric consumers enjoy the benefits of free market pricing and being able to shop among a number of competing alternative retail electric suppliers (ARES) to find the best rates, products and services to meet their electricity needs. Over half of all electricity consumed in Illinois is bought from someone other than the traditional utilities that were historically the sole providers.

The Tenaska project seeks a legislative mandate to force ARES to enter 30-year contracts for wholesale power. Such a requirement would turn the entire competitive electric market paradigm on its head. It would send Illinois back to a cost-plus form of generation investment and likely affect customer choice by chilling what has been a robust competitive market. One of the hallmarks of Illinois's current electric energy marketplace is that retail suppliers are able to purchase the power at the best prices they can find in the wholesale market. Reversing this principle could result in a death spiral for the Illinois retail marketplace as customers attempt to avoid the “Taylorville surcharge.”

It’s more about stable policy than the price
The Chamber is not naïve enough to think that electricity prices will not go up in the next 30 years. Whether the Tenaska plant is built or not, most experts predict that electricity prices will increase as a response to supply and demand factors as well as the potential cost increases associated with government imposed future carbon regulations.

We object to a government mandate to buy Tenaska’s product for 30 years at an established price, no matter what that market says that price should be.

In any event, building Tenaska under this proposal locks the state into a 30-year agreement and directs the burden of higher, uncapped rates on the business community. It’s simply not a good deal for commercial and industrial users, state and local governments, or our members. Perhaps most significantly, if the General Assembly and Governor decide to coddle Tenaska with a throwback to government guaranteed rate of return on investment financing, the “Taylorville Surchage” will undermine a decade of gains achieved by opening the market to competition.

If adopted our political leaders will have once again demonstrated an anti-business bias by telling competitive electricity sellers who have been in this market or contemplate entering the market that Illinois is an unpredictable and unreliable place to do business. The message to business owners who will be forced to pay unnecessarily higher electric bills is that Illinois legislators are insensitive to the fundamental costs of doing business and do not hesitate to impose laws that increase business costs while insulating residential consumers from similar treatment.

Tenaska is working on another coal project in Texas called Trailblazer, which does not rely on billions of dollars in subsidies from government mandated, above market pricing of electricity. Tenaska expects to sell electricity at market prices in the Texas competitive market. But here Tenaska wants the Legislature to require the Illinois Power Authority, a government agency, to purchase its output. What’s good for Texas should be good for Illinois.

What about the jobs?
There are certainly jobs that will be created as a result of the plant. Tenaska’s own estimation is about 2,500 temporary construction jobs and “hundreds” of permanent jobs. But Tenaska has only examined the gross impacts to build and run the plant, not the net impact on jobs statewide. What is often overlooked is the negative job impact of increases in electricity rates. It is an established economic fact that when you increase the expenses of running a business, jobs are lost. Legislators should not be threatening jobs by working to increase the costs of doing business in Illinois.

Hope for the future
No one hopes more than I do that cleaner coal plants find the technological, economic and environmental sweet spot to assure viable operation in our state. Ultimately I believe it will happen. But Illinois government should not be giving a single private company a long-term financial guarantee without regard for the thousands of businesses that use electricity and deserve the benefit of competitive pricing.

Email Doug Whitley: dwhitley@ilchamber.org

Baseball and Chamber Membership

Did you hear about the father who signed up his son for Little League? He went through the registration process, bought the uniform and equipment needed, and everyone was very excited. But, for some reason, the father never took his son to any of the practices or any of the games. He was then overheard complaining to another father that his son was never given the opportunity to play.

Hmmm.....as unfortunate as this little tale is, it can be a familiar story for members of Chambers of Commerce. Don't let this be your story. Your chamber membership is a great value to your business, and there are weekly updates, text alerts and multiple opportunities to network and make yourself known. Have you taken advantage of any of the following Member Benefits?

Monthly Luncheons
Business After Hours
Educational Seminars
AM Networking (brand new - starts Sept 10)
Business Expo (Oct. 28 - Yorktown Center)
Golf Outing
Lilac Ball
Lilac Time Art and Craft Fair
Multi-Chamber Events
Ribbon Cuttings
Eblasts
Sidebar
Monthly Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook
"This Just In" Blog
Featured Member
Hot Deals
Website Event Listings

Many of these items listed have been made FREE for our members - it's up to you to "pick up the baseball, put on your mitt, and join the game".

If you have any questions about any of these benefits, or your membership in general, please contact us. "Your Business is Our Business"!!

Yvonne Invergo
Executive Director
Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry
yvonne@lombardchamber.com
630-627-5040
www.lombardchamber.com

Innovative Illinois Competition

Small Businesses Encouraged to Pitch Entrepreneurial Ideas in 2010 Innovate Illinois Competition

State Joins Chicagoland Chamber to Reward Projects with Market Potential

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today launched the sixth annual Innovate Illinois competition. Innovate Illinois is designed to recognize high-growth businesses in Illinois that have launched or plan to launch an innovative product or service. The four top companies will win a total of $80,000 in cash prizes. The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC), an affiliate of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, will be facilitating this year’s program. Applications for the program are due on Friday, September 10.

“Small businesses play a vital role in Illinois’ economy by creating jobs and supporting their local communities,” said DCEO Director Warren Ribley. “The Innovate Illinois competition gives entrepreneurs a leg up in bringing new products and services to market while further promoting innovation in the state.”

Companies interested in applying for the competition must fill out and complete the online application at www.innovateillinois.org. Each application will be reviewed by the Innovate Illinois application committee, and the 16 top scoring companies in each of the three competition areas will be invited to participate in the area semifinals. Applicants will be notified by October 1, 2010 whether or not they are selected as area semifinalists.

The area semifinals competitions will be half day long events held in Carbondale, Peoria, and Chicago. Each semifinalist company will have seven minutes to present their businesses and innovations to a panel of judges in a fast pitch format. The winners of the semifinals will be announced the same day as the pitches. Four companies in each area, two for the early stage and two for the later stage, will move on to the statewide finals which will be held in Chicago in December 2010.

The area semifinals will occur on the following days:

Southern Area Competition– Carbondale, October 13, 2010

Central Area Competition – Peoria, October 20, 2010

Northern Area Competition – Chicago, October 27, 2010

Companies selected for the finals will present for seven minutes before a new panel of judges representing both the entrepreneurial and investment communities at a competition on December 16, 2010. The winners will be announced that evening at the closing reception. There will be one winner and one runner-up awarded for each track. The winners will each be awarded a $30,000 cash prize, while the runner-ups will each be awarded $10,000 cash prizes.

The application deadline for Innovate Illinois is Friday, September 10, 2010. Applicants that move to the semifinals round will be notified by October 1, 2010. For more information about the program, or to access an application, visit www.innovateillinois.org.