Exceptional Care & Training Center Announces Rebranding, Changes Name to Cornerstone Special Care

Sterling, Illinois — July 18, 2024 – Exceptional Care & Training Center has unveiled a new name, new logo and the construction of a new building as part of an extensive rebranding initiative.

HutsonWood Management and the Board of Directors of HutsonWood, Inc., have announced a rebranding of one of its communities. Exceptional Care & Training Center will now do business as Cornerstone Special Care.

The new name draws its inspiration from the history of, and key identifiers associated with, the city of Sterling, including consideration of the moniker, “The Hardware Capital of the World”. "Cornerstone" is a term rich in symbolism and meaning, often used metaphorically to represent something fundamental, indispensable, or essential.

The term originates from construction, where the cornerstone is the first stone laid in the construction of a foundation and typically placed at the corner of a building, serving as a reference point for aligning the other stones and ensuring stability and strength for the entire structure. It also symbolizes tradition and legacy, playing a pivotal role, and bringing people together for a common purpose.

“We want to convey these qualities, demonstrating that we are a solid and trustworthy community,” explains Doug Smith, president & CEO of HutsonWood. “Similarly, we want to emphasize the foundational importance this program provides a vulnerable segment of the population.”

Leadership and board members are quick to emphasize that, rather than representing a new direction for the community, the new name and brand more accurately represents the community’s long-established purpose and values.

“We’re only changing our address and our name. Our commitment to compassionate and loving care, along with our passion for empowering possibilities and brightening futures will remain the cornerstone of our mission,” says Smith.

HutsonWood currently owns and operates three communities in Illinois that provide assistance and service to persons with developmental disabilities: Walter Lawson Children’s Home in Loves Park; Swann Special Care in Champaign; and Cornerstone Special Care in Sterling. The organization also owns and operates 5 senior living communities in Tennessee and Indiana and 15 affordable housing communities in Tennessee and Georgia.