Innovation DuPage Member Survey
On Tuesday, we sent out our FY2024 Annual Survey to measure the collective growth of our Innovation DuPage members. Please take 5 minutes to complete this confidential survey - your progress is our priority! To access the survey, click here.

LinkedIn Badges
Enhance your professional profile by adding Innovation DuPage to LinkedIn!

• Members can add "Innovation DuPage Member" under the "Experience" tab
• Mentors can showcase their contributions under "Volunteering."
• Owner-2-CEO Program graduates can add their achievement under "Licenses & Certifications."

Updating your profile helps tell your unique ID story while connecting with our dynamic community.

NIU MBA Capstone Program
Three days left to apply to Northern Illinois University's MBA Capstone Program! Under the guidance of Professor Ed Buckley, NIU Executive MBA Student Teams integrate their expertise in sales, marketing, finance, operations, and technology to create value for participating organizations. If your company is interested in having an MBA team develop a business plan, please contact Ed Buckley by February 15th at ed.buckley@allqualityinc.com or (847) 778-6960.

Coming up:

• Member Meetup, 02.19: Don't miss our next Member Meetup featuring Jules Wilhelm, founder of EQ-Niversity and Owner-2-CEO graduate presenting as our Member Spotlight, along with Demetri Koroyanis and Kristen Ceiling of Synegen presenting as our Member Resource on technology consulting and enterprise solutions.
• ID Workshop: Practical Ideas to Solve Business Problems, 02.19: Join us at 5:30 p.m. at Innovation DuPage, where Susanna Watson, mentor with SCORE Fox Valley, will share practical approaches for solving business challenges. Drawing from her decade of experience as a business transformation leader, Susanna will share actionable strategies to bring more value to customers, eliminate waste in work, and make data-driven decisions. Get realistic recommendations you can immediately incorporate into your business routine. To learn more and register, click here. 
• WGN Radio, Your Money Matters: Sophisticated Press and Bill Cartwright, 02.19: Tune in to Your Money Matters with Jon Hansen on WGN Radio 720 AM, February 19th at 6:30 p.m., to hear Innovation DuPage member Renetta Gunn-Stevens discuss publishing NBA legend Bill Cartwright's biography "Living Life at The Center." Both Renetta and Bill will join Dan Facchini for a conversation about bringing this inspiring story to print.
• NaperLaunch Academy - Growing a Business, 02.26: Hosted by the Naperville Public Library, this four-week series is focused on growing your business. In this program, you will learn the essentials of writing a business plan and a strategic marketing plan, utilizing library resources specifically designed to support your entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, you'll discover six fundamental professional selling skills and how to effectively apply them in sales transactions. To maximize your learning experience, participants are expected to attend all four sessions and complete homework assignments outside of class. This program is offered via Zoom. To learn more and register, click here. 
• Fundraising Roundtable, 03.04: Join our quarterly Fundraising Roundtable, exclusively for Innovation DuPage members, designed to assist you in securing capital for your business. In this next session, Entrepreneur In Residence Melissa Villanueva will guide you through leveraging the Illinois Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program. With up to $245,000 in non-matching funds available, you'll learn how to craft a standout application for facility expansion, infrastructure improvements, or property acquisition. Network with fellow entrepreneurs, gain insider tips on navigating the application process, and receive direct feedback on your growth plans.
• 2nd Annual Government Contracting Summit, 03.11, 03.12: The Illinois APEX Accelerator presents its 2nd Annual Government Contracting Summit on March 11-12, 2025, at 7600 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, IL 60130. This two-day event runs 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Day 1 (doors open 8:00 a.m.) and 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Day 2. The summit brings together key government agencies including the Department of Defense and NASA, major prime contractors like Walsh Federal and Caterpillar, local municipalities, and innovation hubs. Interested exhibitors and sponsors can register here.

Sign up to present at an upcoming Member Meetup 
Showcase your business at a Member Meetup! We're looking for members to present as our Member Spotlight, ID Member Resource, or host a Problem Solving session. This is your chance to present your work, share your achievements, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs. Sign up here.

Let us help you share your success with the ID community!
Share a win from this week – big or small. It could be featured in our next letter! Email your accomplishment to: IDmaceyh@innovationdupage.org

Reminder: Innovation DuPage is open for members as a coworking space 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Many thanks, and have a great week,

Dan Facchini,
Managing Director,
Innovation DuPage