Paddock family selling 120-year stake in Daily Herald to newspaper employees
Executives Robert Y. Paddock Jr. and Stuart R. Paddock III said they plan to continue to work for the company.
Ray said the action had been under consideration "for some time" and would provide significant tax benefits for the company and allow employees to become greater financial participants in its future success.
In addition to the Daily Herald, Paddock Publications operates the monthly Daily Herald Business Ledger, the weekly Reflejos Spanish-language publication, a group of small downstate newspapers throughout Illinois, a commercial publishing business and a growing list of niche publications.
"We all know the dynamics of a changing newspaper landscape, one newspaper sale after another, in some cases to investment firms, and in others to large public companies," Ray told employees. "All the while the Paddock board of directors has fostered independent newspapering and has supported a culture of community service best served by local control. This ESOP transaction is designed to continue our family-oriented legacy and importantly to build upon a successful and sustainable business model driven by employee owners."
It marks the end of an era of Paddock family ownership of the company that began in 1898 when Hosea C. Paddock, an entrepreneurial editor, bought the Palatine Enterprise and soon added weekly newspapers in Arlington Heights, Bensenville, Itasca and elsewhere. Through four generations, the company has remained in the family -- until now.
"I am nostalgic, proud of our company, and optimistic," said Robert Y. Paddock Jr., executive vice president and vice chairman. "I am happy we have an opportunity through the ESOP to continue Paddock Publications' commitment. We value journalism, community, and our employees.
"Neither my cousin Stu [Stuart R. Paddock III, senior vice president of information technologies] nor I have family members working in the paper. In these days of industry change and consolidation, we think employee ownership can in effect become the fifth generation of Paddock Publications. We think we and management will work to continue the good business and journalistic role we have in our communities, with us being two among many employee stockholders," he said.
Stuart Paddock said in a statement: "As the communities we serve have grown and prospered, so has the family business. To Bob Paddock and myself, it is most important that the culture of family ownership, the thriving standard of excellence we reach for every day and our integrity is preserved through future generations. There is no better owner we can think of to accomplish this than the very employees responsible for our historic success. While we will still come to work every day, we are proud and satisfied knowing our traditions will continue well into the future."
Ray said no changes were planned in the way the company operates -- including its board of directors and management.
"This is the plan for the future," he said in an interview. "Our readers value what we do and tell us that every day. We'll keep doing the same kind of work, and I'm confident we'll be one of the winners after this is all played out."
Calling it "one of those win-win situations in our business," Ray said of the ownership change: "I suspect it will be the envy of the industry, and certainly the employees in our industry. This is a way to continue on in the same fashion that we've been operating the business for generations.
"We are doing very well. We could not contemplate this kind of transaction if we were not doing well. I think it's a good day for Paddock Publications." Read more: Daily Herald
Sample food and wine at Geneva's Festival of the Vine
For 39 years, the Festival of the Vine has highlighted and celebrated the flavors of fall and the bountiful harvest. This year's festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7 and 8; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 in downtown Geneva.
Festival of the Vine, voted Best Festival in three different reader polls, is hosted by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce with support from the city of Geneva.
The Flavor Fare tent at North Fourth Street and Route 38, full of international and seasonal cuisine prepared by Geneva restaurateurs, will be the centerpiece of this year's celebration. Nearby, 26 wines will be sold by the glass.
Tickets, $1 each, are needed to purchase food and wine; food and wine items cost anywhere from 2 to 16 tickets apiece.
Ticket booth hours are open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. New this year, credit card payments will be accepted for ticket purchases. Look for the designated window at the Flavor Fare ticket booth.
Festivalgoers can enjoy live entertainment while sampling food and wine; main stage headliners include Majors Junction at 8 p.m. Friday, Hiline Band at 8 p.m. Saturday and Drew Clausen at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Additional wine tastings and pairings will be offered at local businesses and restaurants, including Graham's, All Chocolate Kitchen, Fiora's, Galena Cellars, Geneva Wine Cellars, SavWay, The Little Traveler and The Royal Wren.
The arts and crafts show returns to South Third and Campbell streets, showcasing arts, crafts, seasonal items, collectibles and one-of-a-kind merchandise. The event features 75-plus exhibitors from across the Midwest. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9.
Stroll down James and Third streets to discover business booths, a flower market, carriage and trolley rides. Local entertainers will play on the courthouse lawn from noon to 2 p.m. each day.
For a complete schedule of events, visit www.genevachamber.com, call (630) 232-6060 or visit the information booth at South Third and James streets at the festival.
• Paula Schmidt, Geneva Chamber of Commerce, contributed to this report. Read more: Daily Herald
The Prairie du Chien Community Guide
The Prairie du Chien Chamberr of Commerce Community Guide is available today at the Chamber of Commerce! Thank you to Bob Moses and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town Square Publications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Greater Bloomington Chamber Pushes Convention Center Collaboration
The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is calling on city and county leaders to move forward on an expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. The chamber says, now that a food and beverage tax to support the project has passed, the city and county should work to find common ground and re-open the search for a developer partner.
The organization says it has pushed an expansion of the Monroe Convention Center for several years as part of its Local Public Policy Agenda. Chief Executive Officer Erin Predmore says many of its members are impacted by the project, and is calling for transparency as city and county leaders continue discussions to make sure "the best possible project gets funded by our tax dollars."
Last year, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton spoke out in favor of the project as well as the food and beverage tax to fund it. The 24,000 square-foot facility can accommodate about 800 people, according to its website. Last year's resolution from the city supporting the project said the convention center's limited size prevented 40 groups from holding events in the city.
In April 2017, the county released a Request For Qualifications for a full-service hotel and convention center expansion. But, the chamber says, with limited notice and vague requirements, only two companies submitted pitches. Predmore says the chamber wants city and county leaders to re-open the process to gauge interest and feasibility of the project. Inside Indiana Business
Cedarburg Delight: Small Non-Profit And Hundreds Of Volunteers Bring Annual Wine & Harvest Festival To Life!
(Cedarburg, WI) -- Join in the fun in historic downtown Cedarburg during the 46th annual Wine & Harvest Festival, a free, action-packed weekend full of family fun, Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 10am-6pm and Sunday, September 16, 2018 from 10am to 5pm.
“Art on the Avenue,” located all along Washington Avenue, will have more than 300 juried artists available. Organized by the Cedarburg Garden Club, Cedarburg Cultural Center, Cedarburg Art Museum and Ozaukee Art Center, Washington Avenue will be full of unique and handmade wares to purchase. Be sure to stop in and peruse the Cedarburg Artists’ Guild’s annual juried Fall Show, located at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts for their special exhibits.
Located next to the Community Center, the Festival Food Court will showcase a wide variety of delicious, festival-friendly food options. Grilled corn, BBQ, gyros, seafood, noodles, fried brats, burgers and many more delicious culinary options will be available. Be sure to sample the new Harvest Apple Brat Corndog and Cinnamon Sugar Apple Nachos as well as our traditional Harvest Apple Brat and Cranberry Turkey Wraps, available only at the Official Festival Food Booth. Enjoy live music all over town including a variety of different bands at the Gruber Law Office Main Stage, which can be found behind the Food Court. Enjoy live music until 8:30pm at the Main Stage during extended festivals hours on Saturday night.
New this year to the Wine and Harvest Festival is the #CedarburgLoves Fun Run/Walk, which helps support the Wine & Harvest Festival and Cedarburg Parks & Recreation and celebrates Cedarburg as a community of understanding, respect, appreciation and inclusion. The run will be held at 8am on Saturday, September 15, beginning at the Cedar Creek Park. Also new to Wine & Harvest Festival is the “Nail It or Fail It” cupcake decorating contest at Delicately Delicious, where brave fest-goers compete against each other to recreate a cupcake masterpiece in 60 seconds.
The Cedar Creek Settlement will bring back their Courtyard Grill. On the menu you can find an abundance of delicious grilled items as well as select specialty beers. Live music will be performing daily located right next to the tent. Visit the Cedar Creek Winery to sample and purchase their award-winning wines, both available by the glass or the case.
You won’t want to miss the traditional Adult and Kids Grape Stomp competition either! This crowd favorite happens twice each day next to the Anvil Pub & Grille. In addition, the hilarious Giant Pumpkin Charity Regatta will take place on Sunday where massive floatable pumpkins, navigated by seasoned paddlers, attempt to cross the Cedar Creek in an effort to win cash for their favorite charity.
On Saturday from 11am - 4pm, check out the 7th annual Great Pumpkin Growers Weigh-Off presented by Port Washington State Bank in their parking lot at Mill Street and Washington
Avenue. See pumpkins weighing over 1,000 pounds as well as large scale watermelons, tomatoes, gourds and other giants that will amaze you. Visit Ashley’s Candyland for Kids where children’s entertainment such as Popcorn the Clown, a bounce house, coloring tables and pumpkin painting can be found.
There’s a cornucopia of fall produce at the Farmer’s Market on Columbia Avenue, along with three Marketplaces located at Turner Street, Mill Street and Cleveland Street where fest-goers can find more locally produced items such as honey, syrup, cheese, sausage and jellies. For a quick shuttle around the festival, hop on a tractor-pulled hayride provided by Country Aire Rides and sponsored by Habush, Habush and Rottier, S.C.
The Official Festival Merchandise booth will be located at Columbia and Washington Avenue. A variety of clothing items will be available to purchase. Don’t miss out on a chance to bring home a souvenir from Wine & Harvest Festival.
What Can You Buy With $5 Nowadays?
By Diane Middleton
Register here so you can sail through check-in at the program and get right to the networking and coffee!
WakeUp! Midland is chock-full of information, updates, networking and a good breakfast.
While you’re at it, why not try to stretch your marketing budget by taking advantage of our
Five To Go Live opportunity? Simply let our staff know when you check-in that you want to get in on Five To Go Live.
We’ll take your $5 and add it into a drawing that will take place at about 8:15 a.m., right before the networking break. But, be ready... if your card is drawn, be prepared to take the stage and microphone and give your 30-second business elevator pitch, in front of 200—250 attendees. That’s a pretty sweet deal for just $5, and we’re proud to offer it to our members.
WakeUp! Midland is just one of the many programs and events we ratchet up as we head into (gulp!) the autumn months. We’re not crazy about the cooler weather, but we are so excited to bring you plenty of programs to help you and your business network, market, and be truly engaged in the Midland community.
Hope to see you at WakeUp! Midland this Friday. The staff and Ambassadors will be there, and we can’t wait to welcome you back!
Diane Middleton is the Executive Director of the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce. Diane can be reached at dmiddleton@macc.org.
Women’s Foundation announces Cathy Northington as one of the 2018 Women of Vision
The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi, a grantmaking and advocacy organization hold its “Women of Vision” event Oct. 15 and honor four women who have been innovators and visionaries in their respective fields:
Willie Jones – President/CEO at Dependable Source Corp. of MS
Ellen Langford – Artist, Community Activist, Educator
Cathy Northington – Chief Operating Officer for the Mississippi Economic Council, State Chamber of Commerce
Carol Todd Puckett – Founder of Everyday Gourmet & Everyday Gardener, Community Activist Read more: Mississippi Business Journal
Loudoun Chamber Announces Congressional Debate
“On behalf of our partners, I want to thank Congresswoman Comstock and Senator Wexton for agreeing to join our region’s leading business organizations for this debate,” said Chamber President and CEO Tony Howard. “We look forward to hearing Congresswoman Comstock and State Senator Wexton share their thoughts on how they would improve the economic climate and quality of life for their constituents and for all Americans.”
The questions to the candidates will draw exclusively from the issues and proposed solutions in the Loudoun Chamber’s 2018 Public Policy Positions and will not be shared in advance. They will be asked by a panel of local business leaders.
The debate is to be held in partnership with the Dulles Regional, Greater McLean, Greater Reston, Northern Virginia, and Tysons Regional chambers of commerce, the Northern Virginia Technology Council and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.
Tickets can be purchased online at LoudounChamber.org. A breakfast buffet will be served prior to the debate. Read more: Loudoun Chamber
Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Community Map
The Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Community Map is available at the Cary Grove Chamber today! Thanks to Lynn Caccavallo and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
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| Cary Grove Area Chamber map |
Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Mississippi Firm hired to recruit businesses to downtown Bowling Green
A Mississippi-based company has been hired to recruit retail businesses to downtown Bowling Green.
The Warren County Downtown Economic Development Authority on Thursday agreed to pay $20,000 to The Retail Coach LLC for the recruitment effort. The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is putting up the other half of the $40,000 annual contract for the Tupelo, Miss.-based company.
A task force representing the authority, chamber, city and county issued a request for proposals for the recruitment services, with three responses.
Retail Coach “did a little more homework” than the other companies, said Jeff Meisel, Bowling Green city manager and authority member who was also a member of the task force.
“They have extensive experience throughout the country,” authority Chairman Doug Gorman said.
The company is tasked with “recruiting additional business downtown ... we have some open spaces,” Gorman said.
Using a data-driven approach, the company will identify and recruit national businesses that would be a good fit for the downtown Bowling Green area, Gorman said.
He noted that several large apartment developments are opening this fall in the downtown area, bringing a major influx of residential development. Read more: Bowling Green Daily News
Women’s Foundation announces MEC's Cathy Northington as one of the 2018 Women of Vision
The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi, a grantmaking and advocacy organization hold its “Women of Vision” event Oct. 15 and honor four women who have been innovators and visionaries in their respective fields:
Willie Jones – President/CEO at Dependable Source Corp. of MS
Ellen Langford – Artist, Community Activist, Educator
Cathy Northington – Chief Operating Officer for the Mississippi Economic Council, State Chamber of Commerce
Carol Todd Puckett – Founder of Everyday Gourmet & Everyday Gardener, Community Activist Read more: Mississippi Business Journal
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.
Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications
Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, contact Town Square Chamber Proposal
