the
PURPOSE OVER PAYCHECK
THE EMPLOYER BRAND
TABATHA DOUGHERTY
MERCEDES BRAIN
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September 2025 | Volume 38 | No. 9 of the greater rockford business community
Recruitment and retention in the Rockford Region
GRCC’S 40 UNDER 40 Every thriving community is powered by people who bring vision, creativity, and determination to their work. This year’s 40 Under 40 honorees represent the very
Meeting the moment with strategy,
best of that spirit. These young
partnership, and purpose
executives, nonprofit leaders,
professionals are entrepreneurs, and innovators who are not only
By Nicole Koblesky, Rockford Area SHRM
excelling in their careers but also reshaping the way business is done.
I’ve been in the HR profession for over 20 years, and while I don’t love aging myself in print, I think we’d all agree that the past five years have been the most dramatic in terms of change. Our need to adapt, stay resilient, and lead with empathy has never been greater. Workplace challenges aren’t new. We’ve always had to hire great talent, navigate change, foster positive work environments, hold teams accountable, and develop leaders. That’s the course of doing business. What is new is the scale
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What sets this group apart is not just their professional success but the breadth of their impact. They are building companies that create jobs, advancing technologies that make industries more efficient, and championing causes that and speed of disruption—starting with the pandemic; followed by the Great Resignation; historic labor shortages; remote/hybrid work; heightened mental health concerns; social, economic, and political unrest; and now, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). At the national level, conversations around these challenges continue. I had the opportunity to attend the SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) National Conferences in 2024 and 2025. Both carried similar themes: instability, incivility, worker displacement, and a powerful call to action to “Rise Up.” Keynotes and sessions focused on the future of work,
AI’s integration with human intelligence (HI), inclusion, leadership, civility, and the need for HR to lead with courage, vision, and clarity. Locally, we’ve felt the impact of these challenges, and in my experience, the Rockford Region has shown an amazing ability to adapt, shift, and keep our momentum. Our business community has stayed the course, supporting workforce development, embracing flexibility, and investing in our people. Organizations like the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, GoRockford, Rockford Promise, RAMP, Youth Build Rockford, RPS 205, Rockford University, NIU Rockford,
strengthen our communities. They balance bottom-line results with a commitment to service, proving that leadership is about more than titles—it’s about making a difference. 40 UNDER 40 RECEPTION Tuesday, Sept. 16, 3 p.m. Prairie Street Brewing 200 Prairie St, Rockford Please join us for a complimentary dessert and champagne reception
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as we raise a glass to the Greater
Midwest Aerospace Conference happening Oct. 23
Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Hosted by the Rockford Area Aerospace Network
Reception attendees will receive
By David Forward, Rockford Area Aerospace Network and Woodward
magazine profiling the 40 Under 40
The Rockford Area Aerospace Network (RAAN), a committee of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, is gearing up to host its annual Midwest Aerospace Conference (MAC2025), Oct. 23, at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in downtown Rockford. This highlyanticipated event promises to deliver a full day of valuable insights, networking opportunities, and actionable takeaways for attendees. This year’s conference is designed to empower small aerospace and defense manufacturing businesses by focusing on two key themes: business growth and operational efficiency. The growth sessions will explore pressing topics, such as current market trends, reshoring
strategies, Department of Defense (DoD) business opportunities, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Meanwhile, the operational efficiency sessions will dive into strategies for improving business outcomes through advanced tools and technologies, including data analytics, enterprise resource planning systems, manufacturing execution systems, and automation concepts. A unique highlight of the conference is the matchmaking session, where small and mid-sized businesses can connect directly with major aerospace primes (aka elite contractors) and tier ones to explore potential partnerships and business opportunities. Companies, (continued on page 6)
2025 40 Under 40 honorees. Cash bar will also be available.
an advance copy of GRCC’s One honorees. Last day to register is Sept. 9.
Registration will not be available the day of the event. Presented by