If you would like to place a flyer insert into our December issue of Inside Vermilion County, please bring 550 copies to Vermilion Advantage. Due to Thanksgiving, the cutoff date will be November 22.
Vermilion Advantage Events
Thursday, December 1
Danville Country Club
More details to come!
I Am, You Are, We Are!
Carl Ankerbrand
If you have someone you would like to share we have an online form here;
or contact Nicole Van Hyfte
nvanhyfte@vermilionadvantage.com or Ashton Greer agreer@cityofdanville.org
Jennifer Hess is raising the bar for the Danville Public Library with a standard of continuous improvement, something she learned during her time in Orange County, Florida as a Disney employee. She was born and raised here, graduated from Danville High School, spent two years at DACC and finished out her bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre at Eastern Illinois University. She immediately started an internship at Disney and then spent nearly 5 years on staff at the world-renowned theme park in various roles, but she says her favorite was being a costuming manager.
Reflecting, Jennifer says it was just amazing to see the iconic costumes in person. She had the funniest experiences, “brushing out chipmunks, running out of Eeyores because too many of the costumes were sent to the wash…” However, the most valuable lesson she learned from her theme park employment is that an immersive experience is important. She says, “Here at the Danville Public Library we want people to meet the characters they read about. We often read a book, watch the movie, and then stop there. We want to take it a step further with an immersive experience through events at the library. We want to build a bridge away from the screen and back to the books.” If you are lucky, you may have been able to witness the magic that the library has created under Jennifer’s leadership through events like Stranger Things and Potterfest, events that draw several thousand people through the doors.
Jennifer is focused on improving the library but keeping our local flavor. Growing up here, she always loved the library and knew it was where she wanted to end up, so when she returned to Danville in 2012 she accepted a job at the DACC library and studied Library Science at the University of Illinois simultaneously, graduating with her Master’s in 2018. The Library has made several major improvements since Jennifer came on board in 2017, just before her graduation. The library has upgraded the security tagging system for faster processing and self-checkout options, developed a phone app, updated their website, added wireless printing for visitors, updated their meeting rooms, and they now have a memory lab that allows people to digitize content captured with older technology. Their next big project is digitizing their genealogy records to preserve them and prevent decay. For 2022, The Danville Public Library received an award for number one in Customer Service for Danville!
Beyond the library, Jennifer has been very involved in local theatre companies such as Danville Light Opera and Dark Horse Theatre Company. She has directed and performed in dozens of shows locally. Jennifer resides in Danville proper with her husband, Colin, and their daughter. She says, “This is our home. Our family is here. Our community is supportive. We love our neighborhood and feel like we live in an enchanted forest with deer walking through, hummingbirds and chipmunks all around… it is cozy and homey.”
Jennifer, we are so glad you are here. Thank you for breathing new life into the Danville Public Library and for leading progressively with imagination and creativity.
Vermilion Advantage News
BIGG Tip
How to Win Over a Person You Don’t Click With
Dr. Robert Cialdini, author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, suggests a simple technique to break the ice. Tell the person why you like them. What do you admire about this person? What do you find commendable about them? The key is to give them honest compliments, without going overboard. Build people up and you’ll win them over. It leads to BIGG success!Get more tips from BIGG Success here.
Community Tours
We can help with your Professional Recruitment and/or Short- or Long-Term Rental Needs – Vermilion Advantage can help our members with professional recruitment by taking your new employees or employment candidates on a (free) Community Tour. We can also help your current or new employees with rental referrals – we keep a word-of-mouth list of available home and apartment rentals, also including some furnished short-term corporate rentals, that the public may not be aware of through other channels. In addition, we have some lovely extended-stay hotel suite options. And, if you have professional rental properties coming available, make sure Nicole has your property on her list! Questions? Call Nicole at 217-442-6201 or email her at nvanhyfte@vermilionadvantage.com.
APPI Energy
Data-Driven Procurement and Consulting For 23 years, APPI Energy has remained a trusted name as the preferred provider of energy consulting services for 158 trade associations and chambers of commerce including Vermilion Advantage. We provide our clients with recommendations designed to save time, reduce expenses, and create budget certainty during the energy procurement process. Find out more at www.appienergy.com.
Jobs
The City of Danville is soliciting qualifications from consultants to perform an irrigation study – see news release here
Illinois Angel Investment Tax Credit – see news release here
Vermilion Advantage Job Board – For current, local job opportunities posted directly by employers, please see the Vermilion County Jobs Board at www.vermilionadvantage.com/job-board – Vermilion Advantage is Vermilion County, Illinois’ electronic resource for career and occupational opportunities, employer profiles, career information, K-16 education programs and partnerships in our area. Learn more about local training through Danville Area Community College and other local training resources. It’s all here. If you need help to be set up as a user on our Vermilion County Jobs Board page to post job openings, please contact Vermilion Advantage at 217-442-6201.
All A’s/Achievements
Rotary Club Vocational Service Person of the Year Under 40 Award 2022 – see nomination form here
Share Your Stories & “All A’s” – These Member Announcements & the Inside Vermilion County magazine are here to help you share your stories & your “Awards, Achievements, and Accolades” for your business or your employees. Everyone has a story – successes, challenges, great employees, there are good stories about every one of your businesses that you can share with the community. Please tell us your story by email at contact@vermilionadvantage.com or contact us at 217-442-6201.
Education Announcements
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee is now accepting applications until December 9th for the MLK Scholarship – see news release here
SBCD Upcoming Classes & Training Events – see news release here
November 3rd Workshop on The Great Resignation, Burnout vs Balance – see flyer here
DACC Free GED and ESL Classes – see news release here
DACC Announces 8 New Programs – see news release here
The Trep School Announces Free Business Classes, Coaching and Funding for 2022 – see news release here
November 19th- The Trep School Pitch Contest! $10,000 in prizes! See press release here
Health Care Announcements
Crosspoint Human Services Offers Mental Health & Psychiatric Services – see news release here
Rosecrance “On You Radar” Podcast – See Destigmatizing Mental Illness episode here
Rosecrance Lunch and Learn Series – see flyer here
Vermilion County Mental Health 708 Board is offering Mental Health First Aid Trainings
Game Room Bar: Now open with live music every Friday Night in June, July, & August – see news release here. See full menu at www.112wine.com.
November 24: Free Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway from 10:00am – Noon. The menu for the day is Turkey Tetrazzini, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roll and a cookie. Meals are available to anyone – all meals will be passed out curb side.
Big Thorn Farm & Brewery:
Bar Hours: Friday 3:00-9:00PM, Saturday Noon-9:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM–4:00PM
November 23: Thanksgiving Eve join us for a special Wednesday Opening of the Greenhouse bar.
November 25: Mad Friday – Beer is better than shopping! Come drink fresh Mad Coffee Beers at the brewery.
All Mad Coffee beers are fermented with on fresh beans from our friends at Mad Goat Roastery in Danville. Also try our Mad Pork Sandwich from the Truck
Danville Boat Club:
Tuesdays: Members & Invited Guests Big Burger Tuesdays, Doors open at 5:00PM, Food orders begin at 5:30PM. Big burgers with fries $10 several burger, shrimp and chicken options. Junior Burger with chips $8. Hot bar $10 Goulash, Broccoli and bread/butter
November 10: Thursday Lunch by the Lake Open to to the Public. See flyer here
Danville V.F.W. Post #728:
Sundays: Bingo at 2:00PM.
Downtown Danville First Friday Events:
December 2: Night of Lights Parade
Learn more about First Fridays here; See Sponsorship opportunities here; see 2023 schedule here
Friday Night Cook: cheeseburgers/hamburgers, chicken strips, pork fritters, and hot dogs.
All meals come with 2 sides: fries, onion rings, coleslaw, and beans. Service time 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Dixie Flyer will be playing in the hall from 7:00PM-9:00PM
Sleepy Creek Vineyards:
Mondays: Yoga & Wine with Linda every Monday; Doors open at 5:30PM Class begins at 6:00PM, Cost is $10
Tuesdays: Yoga & Wine with Mandy every Tuesday; Doors open at 5:30PM Class begins at 6:00PM, Cost is $10.
November 12: Murder Mystery Dinner 6:30PM-9:30 PM $45 per person
November 14: Holiday Candle Making Party with Fire Doll $45 per person
November 16: Ladies Night Live Music with Jordan & Jill 6:00PM-8:00PM
November 18: Live Music Series with Turning Stones 6:30PM-8:30PM
November 23: Thanksgiving Eve – Music & Wine 6:30PM-9:30PM
November 25: Black Friday Wine Down 2022 12:00PM-10:00PM
November 26: Howl2Go Dueling Piano Holiday Show $35 per person
Sundays: Winey Mary Bar Every Sunday Noon-6:00PM
Sleepy Creek Hours: Sunday-Tuesday Noon-6:00PM; Wednesday-Thursday-Saturday Noon-7:00PM & Friday Noon-9:00PM. Please visit our Facebook page at Sleepy Creek Vineyards or online at www.sleepycreekvineyards.com for updates
Turtle Run:
Wednesdays: Queen of Hearts Drawing – see info here & see the winning pot each week on Facebook.
Westville American Legion Post 51:
Wednesdays: Queen of Hearts Drawing at 7:00PM. Tickets $1.00.
Thursdays: Tacos/Nachos with Bob Schifo from 5:30-7:30PM
November 19: Drag Show – Doors open at 7:00PM show starts at 9:000PM
$10 Tickets must be 21 or older to enter – purchase at the legion or by phone 217-267-2342
American Legion Post 210:
Friday Dinner served 5:00PM-7:00PM with options of beer battered fish, shrimp, and a variety of sandwiches