ILLINOIS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

SBA Small Business Awards Monday, May 2 Tuesday, May 3 9:00 am – 10:30 am 8:00 am - 11:00 am , , IL SBA Certification and Services The Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Program Community College Presents: “The Big Where: 2525 Cabot Drive, College of Idea: Marketing Workshop” ($52.69) May 6, 2016 DuPage, Lisle, IL 60532 Featuring: Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz Contact: [email protected] Where: Waubonsee Community College (312) 353-3962 Aurora Campus, Event Room 160, 18 S River St, Aurora Link: https://goo.gl/pkhDoW Monday, May 2 Illinois Small Business Awards Luncheon 9:00 am – 10:00 am Tuesday, May 3 Webinar: SBA One Loan Processing - 9:00 am - 10:30 am Join us to recognize the Small Business Person of the year, Loan Origination System (LOS) for “Code with business purpose, and Lenders avoid waste: An overview of the SCRUM Small Business Exporter of the year Award, and SBA Lender Contact: [email protected] framework” Presented by the Illinois Award. Winners at our luncheon and awards ceremony (312) 353-5060 SBDC at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 2 Where: 1871 - 222 W Merchandise Mart 9:30 am – 10:30 am Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654 Affordable Care Act Webinar Link: Tech Tuesday Small Business Resource Fair (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Where: (888) 858-2144 Access Code: 8183112 Tuesday, May 3 Single point of access to broad range of small business resources http://tinyurl.com/qbl6wc2 9:30 am – 12:00 pm including Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women’s Contact: [email protected] Veterans: Doing Business with (312) 353-4003 the Federal Government Business Development Center, Procurement Technical Assistance Where: SBA Illinois District Office Centers, Veteran Business Outreach Center and 500 W. Madison, Suite 1150 Monday, May 2 Contact: [email protected] SBA lending partners. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (312) 353-7076 Information on SBA Illinois Programs Services and Business Tuesday, May 3 Lenders Summit Resources 10:00 am – 11:00 am Where: , Harold Webinar: Starting your Business in Join SBA lenders for a day of informative workshops about SBA’s Washington Center, 400 S. State, Illinois; Kankakee, Bourbonnais, latest programs followed by an awards luncheon. Main Floor Chicago, IL Contact: Momence [email protected] Where: (888)-858-2144 Lender program runs from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (312) 353-4003 Access Code:5292351# http://tinyurl.com/oo6hnn9 Keynote Speaker Douglas Kramer, Contact: [email protected] SBA Deputy Administrator (312) 353-4519 Monday, May 2 10:00 am – 11:00 am Tuesday, May 3 Webinar: Starting Your Business in SBA Midwest Export Lender Roundtable 10:00 am – 11:00 am Oregon, Byron and Rochelle, IL Webinar: Taking Your Business Global Where: (888) 858-2144 Join fellow lenders to learn how Where: (888) 858-2144 Access Code: 8183112 Access Code: 8183112 SBA’s export finance products can http://tinyurl.com/qbl6wc2 http://tinyurl.com/qbl6wc2 Contact: [email protected] improve your bottom-line. Export program Contact: [email protected] (312) 353-4003 (312) 353-4003 runs from 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register Here Monday, May 2 Tuesday, May 3 11:00 am – 12:00 pm 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Webinar: Taking Your Business Global SBA Resources Workshop Program Registration 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Where: (888) 858-2144 Where: Mt. Prospect Public Library, Access Code: 8183112 10 S Emerson Street, Mount Prospect, IL Luncheon\Keynote 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. http://tinyurl.com/qbl6wc2 Contact: Steve Konkle Contact: [email protected] (312) 886-4208 (312) 353-4003 [email protected] Lunch tickets and registration

Monday, May 2 Tuesday, May 3 for all events available 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 11:30 am – 12:15 pm at scorechicago.org Introduction to SBA Programs and Federal Employees: Starting a Business after Services Retirement. Learn the basic requirements to Featuring: IL SBDC at the Joseph Center start your dream business after retirement. Where: Hillside Public Library, 405 Where: Metcalf Building, 77 W Jackson Street, Hillside Avenue, Hillside , IL 60162 Chicago Illinois 60604 Contact: [email protected] Contact: [email protected] (312) 353-4519 (312) 353-1825 ILLINOIS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

SBA Illinois – Small Business Person of the Year 2016 Thursday, May 5 Friday, May 6 Dwayne Jackson, Software Tech Enterprises (STE), Inc. 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm “Starting Your Business in Illinois,” “Entrepreneurship for the Hosted by the Illinois SBDC at Disabled” Presented by the Software Tech Enterprises (STE) is an innovative Information technology solutions and services Waubonsee Community College Illinois SBDC at NORBIC provider, supporting federal agencies and companies in the public and private sectors. Under Where: 18 South River Street, Room 223, Where: Department of Disability Aurora, Illinois and Human Development, Dwayne Jackson’s leadership, STE has established itself as a premier IT company. He attributes Cost: $35 University of Illinois Chicago, 1640 STE’s sustainable growth to the SBA, its 8(a) Business Development program and its cadre of Call to register: 630-906-4143 West Roosevelt Rd. (MC 626) resource partners that have provided Mr. Jackson with the guidance needed that compliments his Chicago, Illinois 60608 Friday, May 6 Seating is very limited. For more 25 years of experience in the industry. STE is the recipient of the 2015 DHS Small Business 8:30 am - 10:30 am information contact Achievement Award. This minority-owned information technology firm headquartered in Matteson, “Think Like Private Equity: How Small Andrew Fogaty at 773-594-9292 Businesses Can Growth via Acquisition” Ext: 110 IL merits the top honors for Illinois 2016 Small Business of the year award due to Mr. Jackson’s Presented by the Illinois SBDC at IHCC outstanding contributions to the small business community and STE’s innovative Radiation Portal Where: Dignitas, 111 E Upper Wacker Monitor technology used to protect U.S. Ports of Entry from terrorist attacks. “Dwayne Jackson Drive, Suite 2606, Chicago, IL 60601 Friday, May 6 Link: Finance Friday 1.30 pm – 3:00 pm embodies qualities commonly found in successful entrepreneurs: a keen vision of what can be, a How to Develop a Business Plan strong commitment to business and community and a willingness to take risks necessary to move Friday, May 6 Where: Illinois District Office 9:00 am forward,” said Robert Steiner, SBA Illinois District Director. 500 West Madison, Chicago, IL “Intro to Exporting” Presented by the Contact: [email protected], Illinois SBDC International Trade Center Wednesday, May 4 (312) 353-4519 Tuesday, May 3 at NORBIC 10:00 am - 11:00 am 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Where: 8420 W. Bryn Mawr Ave Chicago, Webinar: Business Benchmarking, Small Business Week Workshops IL 60631, 1st Floor Conference center Planning and Market Research Thursday, May 5 Friday, May 6 Belleville SCORE, Southern Illinois Cost: Free Tools to target the right markets. 8:30 am - 4:30 pm 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm University/Edwardsville SBDC, Chambers Call to register: 773-594-9292 Where: (888) 858-2144 “Small Business Success in Lake “Look Great in the Inbox” of Commerce from Belleville, Access Code: 8183112 County,” Hosted by the Illinois Hosted by the Illinois SBDC at Troy, O’Fallon, Collinsville, and Friday, May 6 http://tinyurl.com/qbl6wc2 SBDC at the College of Lake County the University of Illinois at Swansea/Fairview Heights 9:30 am – 3:00 pm Contact: [email protected] Where: Holiday Inn Gurnee Chicago Where: Lindenwood University, 1101 SBA Illinois Lender Summit and (312) 353-4003 Convention Center, 6161 West Grand Where: Illinois SBDC at UIC, 815 Eastport Plaza Dr., Collinsville, IL Avenue, Gurnee, Illinois 60031 Awards, SBA Illinois Small West Van Buren Street, Suite 400, Wednesday, May 4 Contact: Val Ross, [email protected], Link: http://goo.gl/e3okfi Business Person and Exporter of Chicago, Illinois, 60607 217/793-5020 10:00 am – 11:00 am the Year, and SBA Internal Trade Free Register Now Webinar: Financing for Rural Entities Events. Tuesday, May 3 in Galesburg, Pontiac, Streator, Where: Willis Tower, 233 South Thursday, May 5 12:00 pm - 1:00pm Morris Il Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 8:30 am - 10:00 am “Advertising Your Business on Google,” Where: (888) 858-2144 www.sba.gov/il (312) 353-4528 “How to Best Promote Your Company Presented by the Illinois SBDC at the Access Code: 8183112 Through Media,” Presented by the University of Illinois at Chicago http://tinyurl.com/qbl6wc2 Friday, May 6 Illinois SBDC at SIU-Carbondale Where: Illinois SBDC at UIC, 815 W Van Contact: [email protected] 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Where: Illinois SBDC at SIU-C, 1740 Buren St, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60607 (312) 353-4003 “Accelerate Your Cash-flow: Innovation Drive, Carbondale, Illinois 62901 Free Register now at: Tips on Cash Management” Call to Register: 618-536-2424 bit.do/ILSBDCUIC0503 Wednesday, May 4 by the Illinois SBDC at the 10:00 am – 11:30 am Women’s Business Tuesday, May 3 Government Contracting 101 Development Center 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm How to do business with the Federal Thursday, May 5 Where: WBDC Illinois SBDC at McHenry County government. . 11:00 pm – 12:30 pm Link: http://bit.ly/22i6uro College Presents “Starting Your Where: Joliet Junior College, Open House: Chicagoland Business in Illinois” 1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431 SBDC’s, WBDC, SCORE and Where: Shah Center, 4100 West Shamrock Contact: [email protected], Illinois SBA District Office Lane, McHenry, Illinois (312) 353-3962 Where: 500 West Madison, 2nd floor SBA Illinois District – Exporter of the Year 2016 Cost: $35 Wednesday, May 4 Concourse, Sophia Fouzia Leaquedi, AMEROC EXPORT, Inc. Call to Register: 815-455-6098 3:30 pm - 5:00pm Contact: [email protected], Illinois SBDC at IHCC Presents: “Design (312)-353-5037 Wednesday, May 4 a Dynamic Sales Management System Sophia Leaguedi launched Ameroc Export, Inc. (AEI) in 9:00 am - 12:00 pm with GrowthWheel.” Lender Forum Hosted by the Illinois 2011. She believed that Chicago was the perfect Where: 1871 – 222 W. Merchandise Mart Thursday, May 5 SBDC at William Rainey Harper College Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm international city that provided opportunity to export U.S. Where: Harper Professional Center, 650 E. Link: StartUp Wednesday “Webinar: Access Your Higgins Road, Suit 18N, Schaumburg, goods and services abroad. As a native Moroccan, Business: Introduction to the Illinois 60173 Thursday, May 5 Sophia honed her skills exporting various goods to GrowthWheel Tools,” Cost: Free 7:45 am – 9:00 am Presented by the Illinois SBDC Morocco. As she continued to position AEI for growth, Register Now: http://goo.gl/XO5qYF SBW Awards Breakfast Illinois SBDC at at the WBDC Danville Area CC($15.00) Sophia found export sales opportunities in countries that Cost: Free Wednesday, May 4 Where: Danville Country Club, 2718 Link: http://bit.ly/1PYL8It signed free trade agreements with the United States. 9:30 am - 11:00 am Denmark Rd., Danville, IL 61834 Strategies for Doing Business with GSA Registration Email: [email protected] Praised for her business acumen and her passion to Where: Illinois District Office Contact: Val Ross (217) 793-5020 x108 promote and export U.S. products abroad, Sophia has 500 West Madison, Suite 1150 Chicago, IL [email protected] Thursday, May 5 been able to show other U.S. companies how to export Contact: [email protected] 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (312)-353-5037 Thursday, May 5 products and services and translate those exporting “Starting Your Business in 8:00 am - 10:00 am Illinois,” Hosted by the Illinois opportunities into millions of dollars. Working closely Wednesday, May 4 “Creating the Right Culture for SBDC at Lincoln Land with the United States Small Business Administration, 10:00 am – 12 noon Innovation and Growth,” Presented by Community College 8(a) Program Workshop the Illinois SBDC at Elgin Community the United States Export Assistance Center, and the Where: LLCC Capital City Learn how your business can benefit from College Training Center, 130 West Illinois International Trade Center at Governors State SBA’s 8(a) Program Where: Elgin Community College, 1700 Mason Street, Springfield, Illinois Where: Blue Island Library, 2433 York Street, Spartan Drive, Building E, Room E108, University, Sophia was able to increase AEI’s market Cost: Free Blue Island, IL 60406 Elgin, Illinois 60123 Cost: Free share in 12 other countries by reducing risks, identifying Call to Register: 217-544-7232 Contact: [email protected] Please contact Linda Hofstedt at 847-214- potential issues, and spotting sales opportunities. (312) 353-5850 7488 to register by 4/28/16