cain
Cindy Wojdyla Cain biography
Cindy Wojdyla Cain covers business and Will County government and politics for The Herald-News.
She also writes On Business, a local business column, and …
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Cain: Economic VP believes Will County ripe for rebound
A few years ago, Will County was among the fastest-growing counties in the nation. That growth slowed dramatically when the housing bubble burst. But at least one new economic development official believes the pace is about to pick up. “That’s what attracted me to working …Read More
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Cain: From boys to men, one more slice of life
Back in the 1980s and ’90s, Herald-News staffers were encouraged to write for the newspaper’s “Slice of Life” column. I was a feature writer and a new mom back then, so it was a good fit. I have a different news beat now, covering business …Read More
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Cain: Local civil engineer is a sharp guy who’s all wet
Water has fascinated Howard Hamilton since he was a boy playing with a garden hose in his backyard sandbox. “It’s what I do,” he said of his 28-year-career in Joliet as a civil/environmental engineer who specializes in wastewater treatment. Hamilton, 50, of Plainfield, said he …Read More
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Cain: Double-digit job numbers disappoint
I’m tired of seeing double digits this year. Double-digit unemployment has been reported in Will, Grundy and Kendall counties for the first three months of 2013. Last week, the Illinois Department of Employment Security released the March averages and Will County unemployment was 10 percent. …
Cain: The outlet maul: It’s about plugging in
Everywhere I go these days, I’m hunting for electrical outlets. My new affliction is so bad, I was scouring my mother’s hospital room recently to see where I could plug in to do some work. The only plugs available were behind her bed, and they …
Cain: Former IT guy flips career to flip homes
Jeff Vickery worked in information technology for about 15 years. The 33-year-old Joliet resident always has been good with computers and the field came naturally to him. But something happened in 2011 that caused him to make a big career change. His mom died suddenly …
Cain: Social Security questions loom for aging baby boomers
When I married my husband, our 11-year age difference didn’t faze me in the least. For the past 25 years, it’s been soulmate city. The fact that he liked Barry Manilow and I was more of a Ramones girl when we met has only provided …
Cain: Work where they didn’t expect it — retail
During high school and college I worked in retail, but my goal was to enter a profession where I didn’t have to stand on my feet all day. Retail was hard: A never-ending stream of customers needing help. Cash registers that wouldn’t balance. Credit cards …
Thayer’s 158 North staying downtown
Thayer’s 158 North is staying put in downtown Joliet. Owner Rick Thayer, of Joliet’s famous Thayer family, told me last week that he had considered moving the restaurant, which opened in 2009, but decided not to. He signed a new lease with building owner Mike …
Cain: Black Friday? It’s now Black Thursday for many
Thanksgiving was once a holiday set aside for family and food, and Black Friday was designed for people who viewed shopping as a contact sport. But the line between the two is getting fuzzy, not unlike forgotten turkey leftovers.
Despite election, businesses keep churning along
While the election was sucking the energy out of politicians, reporters and voters alike, the local business scene kept churning along. Here are some recent business developments: Big Lots ribbon cutting LOCKPORT — Columbia, Ohio-based Big Lots, a closeout retailer, is opening six new stores …
Numbers to consider when adding up who to vote for
Politicians all over the country are counting key precincts and potential votes to see if their numbers add up for Nov. 6. But voters are crunching numbers, too. They’re looking at unemployment rates, foreclosure rates, home sale statistics and the price of gas, to name a few. So I thought it would be a good time to update the latest figures for the Joliet area. It’s up to voters to decide who will take the stats in the right direction going forward.
Billions more needed to keep Metra trains rolling
On my fourth trip to the Big Apple, my oldest son, who is living in Brooklyn, urged me to buy a subway pass instead of taking taxis around town. I must admit, I was afraid. Growing up in Oak Lawn, the preferred mode of transportation …
Joliet Pattern owner returned to Joliet, and glad he did
I am always fascinated by how people wind up in their jobs. For Andy Wood, president of Joliet Pattern, which now is making the Rawlings Gold Glove awards, the journey was a long and interesting one and his career fate was hinged to his eyesight. …
Cain: A run-in with riot police
When I agreed to become business reporter for The Herald-News, the biggest fear I had was that I would forget to order a vegetarian option at a chamber luncheon. I never dreamed my new beat would lead to possible chemical annihilation. But that’s what happened …
Kanellakes hanging up his stethoscope
Fifty-two years ago, a Greek immigrant sat his son down in a booth at the family’s Harvey diner for a talk that would change the course of the teen’s life. Theodore Kanellakes had been partying in high school and his grades were sub-par. His dad, …
We’re not so hard to find
Every day I hear the same thing over and over as I sit at my corner desk next to a window tapping out stories for The Herald-News. “I finally found you!” people exclaim as they approach our help desk to start a subscription, pay a …
Tough to pin down who’s responsible for warehouse workers
While warehouse worker complaints have been simmering in Will County for the past three years, they’re boiling over in Southern California. The fact that two warehouse workers’ rights groups have sprung up 2,000 miles apart, indicates something is wrong in this industry. Warehouse Workers for …
Stay in school for jobs of the future
If you’re waiting for thousands of manufacturing jobs to migrate back to the United States, don’t hold your breath, warned Lewis University economics professor Lawrence Hill. Because of advances in technology and robotics, for every six jobs that went overseas only one will return as …
Collins Street gets independent pharmacy
JOLIET — For pharmacist Phadi Mmutle, the people she serves are just as important as the pills she dispenses. Mmutle worked in large area retail pharmacies for several years, but she wasn’t happy because the work pace was too fast to interact with customers. Then, …
