Business Capsules appears in every edition of The Business Ledger. If you have information on a new business or your company expands, relocates or wins an award, send your news to Mark Thomton, news editor, The Business Ledger, 1260 Iroquois Ave., Suite 200, Naperville, Ill. 60563 or e-mail it to mthomton@thebusinessledger.com.

Aires expands
BATAVIA—Aires Consulting Group, LLC has expanded to include an office in Oklahoma City. Aires now operates in three states as a full service health, safety, and design/construction consulting corporation.

Bison Gear honored
ST. CHARLES--Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. has received the Business Leadership Award from the Aurora-based River Valley Workforce Investment Board. Bison Gear was nominated for the Business Leadership Award for its outstanding contribution to workforce development during the past year.

Rhea and Kaiser recognized
NAPERVILLE--Rhea and Kaiser Marketing Communications has received the best of show Platinum Award at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers annual Publications in Construction and Agriculture awards in Las Vegas. This is the second time in three years that the firm has received this honor. Overall, R&K received five “Measures of Success in Communications” awards for its efforts on behalf of Caterpillar General Construction and Medium Wheel Loaders.

Roosevelt University offers new degree
SCHAUMBURG--Roosevelt University has launched a weekend graduate Integrated Marketing Communications program to address the demands of professionals and companies for a marketing communications program that does not intrude on the workweek. The program, which begins in the fall, offers successful students a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications degree that can be completed in 16 months.

Aurora Chamber recognized
AURORA--The Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce has been awarded the 4-STAR Accreditation by the United States Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has been recognized for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community.

KemperSports honored
NORTHBROOK--KemperSports Marketing & Communications has received a Silver Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago for its work in 2006 with the nation’s premier early-season college basketball tournament, the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. The award recognizes distinguished achievement in public relations.

Sikich forms subsidiary
AURORA—Sikich LLP has announced the formation of Sikich Retirement Plan Services LLC. The subsidiary company will specialize in providing custom retirement plan solutions for small and mid-sized corporate retirement plans.

SynNet introduces new Web platform
ELMHURST--Synergistic Networks, Inc. has announced the introduction of a new Web Platform. The Synergy Web Platform is a content management system built on a modular structure. This product is introduced to meet the increasing demand by website managers to have direct control over the content management of their Web sites.

Hinsdale Furriers has been honored
HINSDALE-- Hinsdale Furriers, Inc., has received the 2007 Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year from the United States Small Business Administration in partnership with SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Small Business Development Center Network. The award honors a family-owned and operated business which has been passed on from one generation to another. The owner must also serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with at least a 15-year track record.

WDSRA recognized
CAROL STREAM—The Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United Sates and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report. The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The WDSRA is the first special recreation association to receive the distinction.

OPENING

WHEATON-- Northern Trust has opened at 101 S. Cross Street. The financial services firm now has 85 locations in 18 states; the company's office locations now total more than any other private bank serving the affluent. This new location offers a full complement of personal financial services including private banking, investment management, financial planning, and trust and estate planning services.

LOMBARD—Ra Sushi has opened at The Shops on Butterfield at Yorktown Center.

ST. CHARLES—Expert Auto Sounds, Inc. has opened a car audio and video facility at 602 Sidwell Court, Unit R.

HINSDALE—Off the Vine specialty wine boutique and lounge has opened at 5823 S. Madison Street.

WHEATON--Keffer Financial Planning has opened at 511 West Wesley Street. The firm serves middle-income consumers with hourly, as-needed financial planning. Keffer Financial will offer retirement and investment plans to families, individuals and in the workplace

ST. CHARLES--Paul Hemmer Companies has opened a 72-acre industrial, office and retail center in The Legacy Business Center of St. Charles on Kirk Road, one mile south of North Avenue (Rt. 64).