Designer Concepts Hosts Networking Event at The Christian Center

I am a member of a business networking group called Peoria Business Boosters.   We have approximately 25 community and business leaders that meet twice per month to discuss business and community events.   Today was my turn to host the meeting and I wanted to feature a charitable organization that I have been a part of since I moved to Peoria in the mid-90's.

Chad Bailey and Phil Newton of the Christian Center address the Peoria Business Boosters at a meeting hosted by Designer Concepts.

 The Christian Center has brought Christ-centered recreation to central Illinois for 70 years.  It boasts a family friendly bowling alley and old-school game center that includes billiards, table tennis, and coin operated arcade games.  The Christian Center also provides youth sports programs all year long, including basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer. 

I was a soccer coach and my girls have both played in Christian Center leagues.  We love spending family nights at the bowling alley and game room.  It is truly one of Peoria's hidden gems.   To learn more call 685-4217 or  go to www.thechristiancenter.cc.

My family has been a part of the Christian Center for many years.  Can you find my girls?

Designer Concepts Celebrates the Season and Recognizes Staff

Last Saturday we took time to celebrate the 2018 season.  Fall Finale, our version of a holiday party, was celebrated at the Holiday Inn Ballroom in East Peoria.  Fall Finale is what we have called our end of season gala since the company was founded.  Rather than waiting for Christmas or New Year's to thank staff for their hard work, we like to get together just before we wrap up the season to celebrate victories and recognize milestones.

Staff, spouses and special guests gathered for a delicious meal and escape room type games that led to an Indiana Jones-like "Search for the Golden Shovel". Each table solved clues and unlocked treasure chests to move on to the next round. 

All staff members were recognized for their years of service and were presented with a photo album of projects completed this year.

Kevin Warning crossed a significant milestone with DCLA, marking his 10th season.

Smiles and laughter filled the room as we enjoyed being together as a family. There is still a lot of work to be done this year, but we like hosting this event while we are still working shoulder to shoulder.  Thanks for our hard work, team!

Designer Concepts Supports Eagle Scout Project and Local Church

Volunteers plant trees as a part of a local boy's Eagle Scout Project.

Fall is a great time to plant trees, and a Peoria church was the beneficiary of a local boy's effort to complete his Eagle Scout Training.  Matthew Moorman chose to plant six native trees at Bethany Baptist Church, his home church.  Matthew is a long time friend of my daughter Makayla, so when he asked if I could help him with his scouting project, I was happy to do whatever I could. 

You see, an Eagle Scout Project is a culmination of over a decade's worth of training and preparation for the Boy Scout's highest member rank.  Matthew had a lot of help over the 12 months he spent preparing for the project.  Leaders from his church provided planning guidance and a place to do the project.  His mom prepared food and offered logistical support.  Matthew and I spent several meeting discussing species selection, proper planting of trees and timing for the work.  Over 20 volunteers came together to make the project a reality.

Volunteers helped Matthew plant the trees.

Matthew Moorman and his mom on planting day.

I love working with groups like this.  It gives me an opportunity to share the knowledge and experience I have gained over my career.  "Relationships" is one of our Core Values at Designer Concepts.  We love the opportunity to give back to a community we serve.  But more than that, you never know when an event like this will inspire someone to find their career.  That is exactly what happened to me way back in 1993 while studying at the University of Illinois.  On a volunteer weekend in East St. Louis, we helped turn a vacant lot into a neighborhood park.  I discovered how I could keep my hands in the earth and do fun, creative design things at the same time.  That was my first glimpse of my current profession, Landscape Architecture, and it truly changed my life forever.

A much younger me back when I first discovered landscape architecture.