the March 2025 | Volume 38 | No. 3
AI FOR SMALL BUSINESS
THE GIFT OF DELEGATION
TIFFANY INGRAM
STACEY CURRY LEE
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of the greater rockford business community
Q1 SURVEY RESULTS The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) Q1 Business Sentiment Survey closed on Feb. 14. Thank you to the GRCC members and other local business leaders who participated in this assessment of our regional economy and business environment.
Passion, people and good food Lessons from Paul Sletten’s entrepreneurial journey
Results of the Q1 survey are expected to be released the first week of April and will compare and contrast portions of our regional results with national data collected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over the same time period.
By Christine Hand, managing editor
It’s often said that if you do what you love, then success will follow. Sounds simple, right? However, simple doesn’t necessarily mean easy. Chasing your dreams can be a tale of setbacks, thwarted hopes, and maximum effort with little reward. But Paul Sletten proves that the payoff is there for entrepreneurs with the tenacity, resilience, and adaptability to overcome obstacles and make their
The results will include important information on: • The overall health of local businesses. dreams a reality. His journey from a young dishwasher to a celebrated Rockford restaurateur is a hometown success story of passion and persistence. Founder and owner of Abreo, Social Urban Bar & Restaurant, Disco Chicken, Bad Humor Ice Cream, and other mobile food ventures, Sletten has built a thriving enterprise, and he feels strongly about sharing his success with his employees, his community, and his industry. The entrepreneurial journey
Sletten’s entry into the restaurant industry was a mix of happenstance and passion. His first job as a dishwasher
sparked his interest in the restaurant industry and cooking. By the time Sletten was 17, he knew he had found his career path. He recognized early on that the restaurant industry was more than just a job—it was a craft that required dedication, creativity, and resilience. “I was excited about it, and I loved what I was doing,” Sletten said. “I knew that I wanted to pursue the culinary arts. It wasn’t just about cooking; it was more about creating. So, I enrolled in the culinary program at Blackhawk Tech in Janesville.” (continued on page 8)
Workforce development in our region Collaboration and cooperation create sustainable solutions By Gina Caronna, The Workforce Connection
THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY
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The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com
In our region, we take a collaborative, holistic approach to workforce development. Collectively, we strive to address not only the immediate needs of businesses but to also prepare individuals and employers for the workforce of tomorrow. We embrace cooperation and create sustainable solutions, even in the midst of inevitable and sometimes difficult changes. As a testament to our region’s commitment to collaboration, I recently joined the board of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) to more closely align regional efforts in workforce development. GRCC’s five-year strategic plan includes a key initiative to “partner with GoRockford and The Workforce Connection to address members’ current and future workforce needs.” This
openness in collaborating vs. duplicating strengthens our region by eliminating costs and confusion amongst the many players with a stake in this demanding job market. One of the ways we’re meeting the demands of today’s job market is through partnerships between our post-secondary schools, K-12 districts, area training programs, and employers. Together, they provide skills training in high-demand sectors and work to integrate more technical skills training into our high school curriculums. Through initiatives like K-12 Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, students can earn industry-recognized certifications before they even graduate. This not only gives students a competitive (continued on page 6)
• Business leaders’ perceptions of the U.S. economy. • Business leaders’ perceptions of our local economy. • Feedback on regulation and compliance burdens. • Staffing and growth projections for local companies. • Barriers to business growth. • Barriers to recruiting and retaining employees. This was the first in an ongoing series of quarterly surveys GRCC will administer as part of our promise to be a memberdriven organization. Your continued engagement with these surveys will make GRCC more responsive, efficient, and focused on what truly matters to grow your business and strengthen our economy. Q2 SURVEY LAUNCHES APRIL 1 The Q2 Business Sentiment Survey will launch April 1 and run through April 15. We encourage everyone who receives the link to take five minutes to complete the survey. The higher our response rate, the clearer the picture will be of what local leaders want and need from GRCC. If you wish to be added to the survey email list, please send a message to info@ rockfordchamber.com.