Jim Grube, a Commercial REALTOR w/RE/MAX Unlimited in Peoria, recently completed a five-day course presented by the CCIM Institute in Chicago.  In order to pass "User-Decision Analysis for Commercial Investment Real Estate," he successfully passed a three-hour exam.  The course gives Grube interest-based negotiation skills indispensable for making the most of every deal and taught him how to approach real estate problems from the perspective of the user/occupant.  He also learned how to:  apply key occupancy decision-making skills, such as comparative lease vs. purchase analysis, lease buyout analysis, and sale-leaseback analysis to optimize user space decisions; determine how financial reporting requirements for real estate influences user decisions; and integrate negotiation skills with financial analysis skills to maximize user outcomes. 

Famous for there wide variety of signature ButterBurgers, Culver's has launched the Ultimate ButterBurger build-Off Contest.  Culver's restaurants in the East Peoria-area are challenging community fans and guests to create a new burger masterpiece for a chance to win the Ultimate Culver's experience.  Although the actual ButterBurger will never change, the toppings and creativity are all up for grabs.  The contest runs through June 30th.  The website, http://contest.culvers.com not only collects guests' ButterBurger creations but also opens the decision up to a public vote to help determine the finalists.  Culver's ButterBurger experts, Craig Culver and Executive Chef Jim Doak, will select the winner from the top 50 vote-getters. 

CEFCU announces the 2010 Board of Directors.

Front Row (l to r):  Joseph Needham, Therese Peck-Recording Secretary, Nancy Medendorp, Thea robinson, Helen J. Young, Patricia Hampton.  Back Row (l to r):  Bruce Dimler, Richard Hermann, Erec Montgomery, Robert Metzinger, Mark Spenny, Doug Hanley, Reed Stuedemann, James Gleich (Not pictured: Dave Koehler)

At CEFCU's recent Annual Meeting, the Credit Union reported record achievements for 2009!  At the end of the year, Assets were over $4.1 billion, which is an increase of 10% over 2008.  Savings deposits increased over 10% from last year, and loans outstanding grew 7%.  At the Annual Meeting, Reed Stuedemann, 2009 Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated, "...the continued support of you, the member/owner, along with the commitment to providing quality member service from your volunteer Board and professional Staff, resulted in a year of incredible growth for your Credit Union."   Construction on the new Sheridan Village Member Center was completed in late March of this year.  the new Member Center includes five drive-up lanes, a new eSevices area, and four Fast Track Teller machines available 24 hours a day.  Land has been purchased in Chillicothe for a new Member Center; and the first "green" or LEED-Certified CEFCU Member Center will be build in Springfield, opening in early 2011.  With assets totaling nearly $4.4 billion, CEFCU serves 270,000 members.

The Peoria Chiefs have chosen Pearl Technology as their comprehensive IT provider.  Pear Technology's world-class serivce team now oversees the Chiefs' entire IT network and will handle everything from maintenance and resolving PC issues, email hosting, and monitoring and creating network efficiencies.  "I'm confident pearl's experienced team of technology professionals are uniquely positioned to take on this challenge for the Chiefs," notes Rocky Vonachen President of the Peoria Chiefs.  "We are looking forward to the stability that Pearl Technology can bring to our business."  Pearl Technology is a part of Pearl Companies, a privately held, multi-faceted organization located in Peoria Heights, IL. 

According to U.S. sales in 2009 and the May issue of Vision Monday, a leading industry publication, Bard Optical raised its rank among the Top 50 U.S. Optical Retailers in 2009. Operating 18 locations in central and southern Illinois, Bard Optical went from #41 to #37 out of 50.

From the medical community...

Children's Hospital of Illinois is pleased to welcome Seth Davis, vice President Internal Audit for RLI Corporation, to the Children's Hospital of Illinois Community Advisory Board.  Davis lives in Peoria with his wife, Sylvia, and three sons.  He is a graduate of Illinois State University and received his MBS from the University of Chicago. 

Children's Hospital of Illinois held the Community Advocacy Awards on June 3rd at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria.  Award recipients were:  Kristin Anderson was presented the Christine Zak-Edmonds Volunteer Award,  Ron Tyler was presented the Bill Houlihan Award, Shannon Strader was presented the Joey Stowell Youth Award, The Center for Prevention of Abuse was presented the Group Award. 

The Methodist Medical Center Mobile Mammography Van is scheduled for the month of June 2010.  Methodist now features all digital mammography equipment providing improved, faster and more comfortable exams. Click here for the schedule.  There is no need for a doctor’s order for a screening mammogram if you’re 40 or over. If you are uninsured or underinsured, let them know when you call for an appointment. You may qualify for a free mammogram.   Call for an appointment at 671-8282.

The Methodist Wellmobile will be offering free PSA tests for Peoria County residents on June 15th at the Methodist Medical Group at Princeville, 223 E. Main from 8:30-11:30 a.m.  They will also offer free blood pressure and cholesterol screening.  Register by going to www.mymethodist.net/events or by calling 672-5900.

Nine nurses at Methodist Medical Center have recently completed special training for nurse specialty certifications:  Kelly Knepp, Ron Brown, and Amanda Behrends successfully completed their Certified Emergency Nurse exam.  Cari Burk passed her Advance Operating Room Nurse certification. Kelly Peterson passed both her Wound and Ostomy exams.  Denise durrell successfully completed both the Cardiovasccular exam and the PCCN (progressive care) exam.  Jonathan Mooney received his certification in Psychiatric and mental Health Nursing.  Barb Svendsen and Liz Corwin both passed the Nurse Manager Leader certification exam. 

The Service League of Methodist Medical Center presented the hospital with the keys to a new mobile mammography van on Monday, May 24th.  Funds to purchase the van, which cost in excess of $500,000, were raised by Service League members through various activities including operation of the hospital's gift shop.  The new van will allow Methodist Medical Center to continue to offer breast health screening services to underserved rural areas in Central Illinois, as well as taking services directly to neighborhoods and health fairs, making screening mammography accessible, available, and non-threatening.  Since first beginning mobile mammography services in 1987, Methodist mobile mammography has completed nearly 47,000 screening mammograms. 

The HR Certification Institute has awarded Martha Diebold, Director of Organizational Excellence at Methodist Medical Center with a certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. 

Five nurses at Methodist Medical Center have recently completed special training for nurse specialty certifications.  McKinzie and Pat Rice both received their Trauma Nurse Specialist (TNS) certification.  Brooke Shaffer passed her CCRN (Critical Care) certification.  Iris Kirchgessner passed her PCCN (Progressive Care) certification.  Denise Koetter passed her Nurse Manager Leader Certification.

Methodist Medical Center has announced the June, 2010 Employees of the Month.  The three selected were:  Annie Kantz, RN; Marcos Garza, Information Technology; Ruthie Cox, Patient Care.   All three will be honored at a hospital reception on June 16th.  Congratulations to all!

OSF HealthCare and Caterpillar recently received a three-year agreement that will take effect July 1, 2010.  Employees, retirees and their dependents who participate in the Caterpillar PPO may continue to seek care at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center (Peoria), OSF St. Joseph Medical Center (Bloomington), OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center (Pontiac), OSF St. Mary Medical Center (Galesburg), and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center (Rockford) at in-network rates. 

Jill Crawford, RN, MSN, CNA-BC has been named Director of Professional Devleopment at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.  Crawford started working at OSF Saint Francis in 1992 and prior to accepting her new position was the patient Care Manager of the Cardio-Thoracic Stepdown Unit.  Crawford has also served as Adjunct Faculty, Clinical Instructor at the Saint Francis College of Nursing. 

Ashley Simper, MS, RD, LDN, community/outpatient dietitian at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, has been named the 2010 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the Illinois Dietetic Association.  Simper was nominated by the Central Illinois Dietetic Association, where she serves as membership chair. 

 James Mormann has been selected to serve as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of OSF Healthcare System.  Jim will provide leadership and direction to OSF healthCare's Internal Management Information Systems (MIS) Division service organization and lead the many key relationships with external vendors that together work to support OSF.  His role will serve as a key leader in developing instrumental technology strategies that support the ongoing Vision and Mission of the System and the Sisters. 

The Family Maternity Center at Proctor Hospital offers an array of classes for everyone in the family including moms, dads, siblings and grandparents. Most classes are free.  To register for classes please call (309) 691-1053.  For more information call the Family Maternity Center at (309) 691-1099.

Newborn Care (free) July 1

Lamaze ($60 per couple) July 7-28

Breastfeeding ($10) July 8

Epidural Anesthesia (free) July 14

The Stork Club is a program designed specifically to include the parents and siblings and includes tours and a special class for children. (free) July 19

Proctor Hospital is offering health screenings to help keep you healthy and fit.  The low-cost health screenings are head at the Hult Health Education Center, 5215 N. Knoxville, on the campus of Proctor Hospital each Thursday morning.  Call (309) 692-9595 to make your appointment for any of the following tests:  HEALTH CHECK, HEART CHECK, OSTEO CHECK, PSA TESTING, PAD, CBC & COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PROFILE, AND LIPID PROFILE.           

Proctor's Employee of the Month for May:  Congratulations to Angie Heitman, Human Resources Assistant, recipient of the May 2010 PEP Award.  The Proctor Employee Personified (PEP) Award is presented monthly to employees that demonstrate outstanding efforts in quality and leadership.  

Proctor Hospital and the Hult Center for Health Education are sponsoring Safe Sitter classes Thursday, July 15 & Friday, July 16 at the Center.  Call (309) 692-6650 for more information. 

Proctor Hospital, in association with BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois' Services in the Neighborhood program, offers a free Medicare Help Desk the fourth Wednesday of every month, from 9-11 a.m. in the lobby at Proctor Hospital.  The next scheduled Medicare Help desk will be Wednesday, July 28th. 

The Anger management Group of the Counseling Center at Proctor Hospital will begin meeting on Wednesday, July 14.  Participants of the eight-week course will meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. at the Counseling Center located at 5409 N. Knoxville Ave. on the campus of Proctor Hospital.