Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Have you ever wondered what’s inside of that BIG building along I-155? It’s the Precision Planting Global Operations Center! Join us for a walking tour to see how we’re improving farmers' operations worldwide. We’ve been a part of the Morton community for years, and we're excited to share our facility with you. Seats are limited, so pick a date to come visit us!Thursday, October 3, 2024
The goal in life is not to make others like us but to learn to understand our differences. Join us for highly interactive and engaging huddles that focus on the essential skills needed to become a successful team. Huddles are designed to promote curiosity, continuous growth, and collaboration. Participants will benefit from collaborating with others during discussions and various group activities.Building Trust October 3 | 9-11 am @ Morton Chamber Board Room
Description: We often judge the world by what we would do in a particular situation. Different does not mean wrong. We will learn how to see things from other perspectives, how both nature and nurture influence our behavior, and how our unique attributes help to achieve our team goals. Trust is foundational to teamwork. We will look at different ways to build trust and what a leader's role is in trust building. Building trust is never complete, it must be maintained over time.
Register @ JReebConsulting.com
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship and Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Bradley University invites you to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with us as we highlight Hispanic and Latino owned small businesses right hereStarting a business is not easy, and Latino and Hispanic entrepreneurs face unique challenges. Let us recognize and visit with several who are finding their way to success. We are excited to feature a panel of four local entrepreneurs in a discussion led by our moderator. This in-person event is offered at no cost.
Hear about the entrepreneurial journeys from four local Hispanic business owners:
What inspired them to start their businesses?
What obstacles have they overcome?
What challenges remain?
What resources have they discovered along the way?
What sets them apart from their competitors?
What innovation or impact makes them most proud of their business?
What are they working on next?
Additional questions from the audience
Who should attend?
New or prospective small business owners of all backgrounds
Entrepreneurs seeking to network with other entrepreneurs and resource partners
Everyone who wants to learn about and celebrate the success of Hispanic and Latino small business owners!
Attendees will gain a perspective on entrepreneurship in our community that is often overlooked. Together we will learn about challenges that exist and ways these small business owners have worked over, around, or through various obstacles on their way to business success.
Moderator
Diana Alfaro, Latinx Business Development Manager, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Ms. Alfaro serves the State of Illinois as the chief strategist and advocate for Latin@/e/x and Hispanic owned businesses. She has spent her time at the state supporting and empowering marginalized owned businesses such as minorities, women, persons with disabilities, veterans, Arab/MENA, and LGBTQIA+, positioned with a strong focus on Latin@/e/x and Hispanic owned businesses.
Panelists: Several local Hispanic & Latino entrepreneurs sharing their experience.
Informal networking reception to follow the discussion.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of our panelists and network with other entrepreneurs and collaborators. Light refreshments will be served. In order to plan refreshments, registration is requested by COB October 1, 2024. Space is limited, register now!
in Central Illinois.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Slip on your sassy stilettos or your fabulous flats - Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Illinois will be hosting their second Wine Women & Shoes event at the Embassy Suites - 100 Conference Center Dr, East Peoria, IL 61611 on Thursday, October 10th from 6P-9P.
A blend of fashion-forward styles and compassionate hearts coming together for a night that's as fabulous as it is meaningful. WW&S events are all about putting the “fun” in fundraising. They give women the opportunity to get glamorous with their girlfriends while enjoying incredible varietals from top winemakers - all for a good cause.
The Wine Women & Shoes event will feature delicious wine, a shoppable multi-designer marketplace, and charming Shoe Guys™ serving up this season’s must-haves on silver platters - all signature attractions that make WW&S fundraisers such a swirlin’-and-stylin’ success.
In addition to shopping peep-toes while sipping Pinots, guests will enjoy local and national jewelry and fashion vendors, wine tasting, culinary delights, and opportunities to walk away with fabulous goodies. After shopping we invite our guests to watch a live fashion show, bid on incredible and one-of-a-kind live auction items.
Tickets are $125 with all proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois, which provides a supportive place for families to stay while their child is receiving medical care and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.
Founded in Napa Valley in 2005, WW&S is a national fashion forward fundraising event series that lets women put their best shoe forward, sip to their hearts’ content, and make a difference with every stride. (Talk about a positively good time!) With events in over 200 cities - and counting - it has helped net over $100 million for various causes across the country.
For more information, please e-mail Abby at ak@rmhc-centralillinois.org, or to purchase tickets, visit https://rmhccentralillinois.ejoinme.org/WWSTickets.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
The goal in life is not to make others like us but to learn to understand our differences. Join us for highly interactive and engaging huddles that focus on the essential skills needed to become a successful team. Huddles are designed to promote curiosity, continuous growth, and collaboration. Participants will benefit from collaborating with others during discussions and various group activities.Huddle 2: Effective Communication October 17 | 9-11 am @ Morton Chamber of Commerce
Description: Communication skills are key to building stronger teams. We will recognize communication patterns and preferences, appreciate differences, clear up communication challenges and maximize your personal and professional effectiveness.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
If you had a box that contained the tools needed to grow your business and increase your profits, wouldn’t you open it? The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) can give you those tools – and help make your export business successful.The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship and Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University are presenting a no-cost webinar focusing on foreign receivables insurance and financing with EXIM Bank - the official export credit agency of the US Federal Government.
Join us for a conversation with Mariel Huasanga, Regional Director of EXIM Bank, who will provide a deeper dive into the various tools EXIM has available for exporters. In this webinar, you'll learn how to:
- Protect your business against buyer nonpayment
- Extend competitive open account credit terms to international buyers
- Unlock cash flow to fulfill sales orders and take on new business abroad
- When private-sector lenders are unable or unwilling to provide financing, EXIM fills in the gap for American businesses by equipping them with the financing tools necessary to compete for global sales. In doing so, the agency levels the playing field for U.S. goods and services going up against foreign competition in overseas markets, so that American companies can create more American jobs.
- Using the SBA funded I-STEP grant program to reimburse 50% of the EXIM bank insurance costs.
Also speaking will be Marshall Girtman, Domestic and International Connector Sales Director for Special Mine Services Inc. in West Frankfort, IL. Mr. Girtman will discuss their export journey and how they have leveraged EXIM Bank services to support their very successful international expansion.
SPEAKER:
Mariel Huasanga, is the Regional Director for EXIM Bank covering Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas and Missouri. She has extensive experience in trade finance, international business intelligence, and international logistics. Mariel received her MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) credential from NASBITE International. Mariel speaks multiple languages fluently, including Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Cosponsors: Illinois SBDC at Champaign County EDC, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)
Thursday, October 24, 2024
The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics celebrate businesses and nonprofits that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to ethics and integrity in all their business interactions. The program not only emphasizes the importance of building trust but also recognizes the efforts of outstanding organizations in contributing to an honorable marketplace. 
Thursday, October 31, 2024
The goal in life is not to make others like us but to learn to understand our differences. Join us for highly interactive and engaging huddles that focus on the essential skills needed to become a successful team. Huddles are designed to promote curiosity, continuous growth, and collaboration. Participants will benefit from collaborating with others during discussions and various group activities.Thriving Amid Stress October 31 | 9-11 am
Description: Not all stress is bad. We need stress in our lives as it builds resiliency. Come join us as we identify stressors, recognize signs of stress, and investigate factors that alleviate stress while giving you the tools you need to live in freedom, gain competency, be responsible and cultivate stronger relationships in both your personal and professional lives. Let's thrive!