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Schneidewind still hooked on job at Will County Farm Bureau

JOLIET — Mark Schneidewind has a long metal hook in his office. The hook, Schneidewind explained, was his grandmother’s. She used it to catch the feet of chickens that ran past her on the family’s farm in New Athens, Ill. Schneidewind, 49, grew up working …

Cindy Cain: Debit cards for meters a fine idea

I am partly responsible for the city of Joliet’s deficit reduction. My $10 parking ticket got “lost” in my briefcase for several weeks and it quickly mushroomed to $40. But I paid up so the city wouldn’t haul me off to jail. Odds are I …

Cain: Time to ditch the long driving trip

I love spring, but not because of the beautiful weather, tulips blooming and growing sunshine. To heck with all of that! I love it because this is when I usually map out my getaways for the year on the blank newsroom vacation schedule. The possibilities …

Cain: Panel discusses sexual harassment in the workplace

More than 100 people turned out for a hearing on sexual harassment earlier this month that was sponsored by Warehouse Workers for Justice. At the hearing, WWJ highlighted the plight of women who say they are groped, propositioned and leered at while at work. When …

Be prepared before picking tax preparer

Do you hear that noise? It’s the clock ticking. The tax deadline is creeping closer. But before you hire a tax preparer, the Better Business Bureau has a few warnings for consumers: Ask around: Get referrals from friends and family or check with BBB at …

In surgical field, da Vinci paints a prettier picture

Machines eat our debit cards, they withhold our snacks and they cause our cars to malfunction. Those were the frantic thoughts filtering through my brain last month as I was about to be operated on by a robot. As I was wheeled into surgery I …

Home Depot warehouse is different

My ears perked up when I heard that the big Home Depot Warehouse that opened in Joliet earlier this month actually employs its own workers. Could this be an example of a “good” warehouse that treats employees fairly, I wondered? After a couple of years …

CED makes changes to focus on jobs

The Will County Center for Economic Development is switching gears. Last week, the CED eliminated one position, senior vice president for investor relations, to free up money for a vice president for economic development, said CEO and President John Greuling. “It’s a very strategic move,” …

Titans of Joliet’s past shaped business today

If you recognize the names Bill Lipsey, Fred Emich Jr. and Shale Baskin, you probably remember a time when downtown Joliet was the only game in town. It was the 1950s, and many of the men who had gone off to fight in World War …

Fresh offerings: Southern eats and seafood

For today’s business page, I wrote about the new Hoof & Fin Roadhouse on Route 6. In recent weeks, I’ve featured Linda’s Pizza’s longevity, Truth’s locally grown veggies and Joliet’s downtown restaurants’ appetizer crawl. The recession was tough on many restaurants. But I love the …

Interview questions hide personality quiz

Perhaps the most feared part of a job search is the interview. And the scariest part of an interview can be the questions potential employers spring on candidates. I was chatting with a friend of mine about this topic last week when she repeated an …

Linda’s Pizza a Joliet success story

Sometimes it seems a fancy new restaurant will no sooner open than word trickles in that the place has closed. That’s why I was intrigued when I heard Linda’s Pizza in Joliet was celebrating its 30th anniversary in Joliet this year. Owner Mark Berman must …

  • Global company to make local impact

    John Mueller says he runs a quiet company that makes boring products. So why are Will County officials elated that Mueller’s G&W Electric is moving from Blue Island to Bolingbrook? Because the global company is anything but boring. Company chairman and owner Mueller proved that …Read More

    • Local experts predict 2012 economy

    First came the Great Recession. It went off like a bomb, destroying middle-class lives and further widening the gap between rich and poor. Then came a kind of economic limbo. So what will 2012 have in store for us? Are we teetering on the brink …

  • So far, so good  for Will County  retailers in 2011

    It remains to be seen how retailers will fare this holiday season. But the first half of the year went well for Will County businesses if a midyear retail sales report is any indication. According to Chicago-based Melaniphy & Associates, retail sales in Will County …Read More

    • Cain: Missing money restored for unemployed Joliet man

    Matt Richards has been unemployed for 14 months. The 41-year-old Joliet man knew it was going to be a tough Christmas, but he still thought he could squeeze some money out of his unemployment checks to buy presents for his 6- and 10-year-old sons. About …

  • Bankers are  suffering, too

    Airlines charge fees for everything from checked bags to movie headphones. So why is it so different when a bank announces a new fee? Linda Koch doesn’t know the answer to that question. But the widespread animosity toward banks troubles her. It’s her job to …Read More

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