EO Chicago

North Shore Dinner
2024-02-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | The Barn Steakhouse, 1016 Church Street #Rear, Evanston, IL, 60201
Join your fellow EO members for a cozy winter dinner at one of the top dining venues located in the heart of downtown Evanston.
Hidden away down an alley, The Barn Steakhouse is a “meat-centric hide-a-way”. Housed in an old brick barn built in 1883 was once the home of Borden Milk’s stable housing the horses for their horse and buggy milk delivery service, the barn has not been used in over a hundred years. Maintaining the integrity of the structure and utilizing as much of the original space as possible The Barn is haven for those seeking an impeccable, yet relaxed evening out.
Parking/Valet: They may be a little tricky to find…They are located in the alley between Davis, Church, Maple and Oak Streets. The Barn is a brick structure with an old green-blue barn door that is directly next to the front entrance. Pull on up and our valet will gladly park your car.

EOA People Learning Day
2024-02-15 08:30 - 17:00 | TeamWorking by TechNexus, 20 North Wacker Drive #12th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606
Welcome to People Day! Together we’ll explore People from our perspective – as a CEO.
Prepare: Please bring the results of your recent strategy work – they are essential for your People to know, and to align with core values, culture, accountability and many other things we’ll explore together.
Bring your core values – whatever stage they are at and a
lso your questions and experiences with our core topics:

Core Values
Culture
Accountability
GWC
Feedback & shared language of ‘personal dimensions’.

We will have a fantastic panel later in the afternoon, and lively discussions all day.
A little about Lesley: For you curious souls – here is her online bio (including her TED talk on Leadership).
For those of you who love to read (like Lesley) there are three People chapters in Scaling Up worth reviewing – and we’ll share a few great books during the day that you may want to find afterward.

Scale to Sell w/ DLA Piper: How to Go About Selling Your Business
2024-02-12 11:30 - 13:30 | DLA Piper, 444 West Lake Street #900, Chicago, IL, 60606
In this Part 2 workshop we will provide a “how to” in terms of steps you can take with respect to the sale of your business, including what professional service providers you should consider engaging and how you might want to frame the process to your leadership team, other employees and customers. We will also explore common pitfalls that we have seen as a business owner is going thru the process of selling their business.
You do not have of attended Session 1 to get benefit out of this workshop. It will be full of great information for you to use today and in the years to come.
A light lunch will be served.

EO Chicago Prospect Test Drive
2024-02-12 09:00 - 11:00 | DLA Piper, 444 West Lake Street #900, Chicago, IL, 60606
EO Chicago invites you to our “Test Drive” event where prospective members can meet our members and learn more about this dynamic organization.
The Test Drive is interactive, fast-paced and focused around experience sharing. It is designed to provide potential applicants with information on the organization including benefits, expectations, and the opportunity to participate in a mini-forum experience. Forums are where EO members meet on a monthly basis with a small group of like-minded entrepreneurs.
Attending the Test Drive is the first step in the application process to join EO. This is an important part of our process, as both EO members and potential applicants have an opportunity to assess fit.
We hope to see you there!

EO Chicago Breakfast
2024-02-09 08:00 - 09:30 | Café Robey, 1616 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647
Start your day with connection and inspiration, and join your fellow EO’ers for a casual breakfast/coffee gathering to get your day started.
Bonus: Interested in AI or Large Language Models? One of our attendees knows a lot about them so come pick their brain!

Breaking the Chains: AI Empowerment in Your Business w/ Todd Brook
2024-02-06 08:45 - 11:00 | 200 W. Madison Street, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606, Chicago, IL, 60606
“Breaking the Chains: AI Empowerment in Your Business”, explores the transformative potential of AI in modern businesses. Todd will share his personal journey of how he broke free from traditional, time-consuming methods and embraced AI to elevate his business operations.
He will highlight practical examples of how AI has transformed his businesses, from automating research for sales presentations to streamlining HR processes. These real-world applications provide a clear demonstration of the transformative power of AI, moving it from a buzzword to a tangible tool for business improvement.
The presentation will also delve into the realm of mindset, discussing its pivotal role in helping employees to adopt new technologies like AI. He will detail his experience with Unchained, a service that guides clients to implement AI solutions, highlighting how this can free up employees to focus on tasks that require human ingenuity.
Lastly, he will provide an overview of AI tools available in the market, offering practical examples of how these can be utilized immediately. The discussion will also cover his approach to deploying these tools, providing attendees with valuable insights and takeaways.
Key Outcomes:
By the end of this presentation, attendees will:

Understand the opportunities and threats that AI presents to their businesses.
Gain practical insights from real-world examples of AI adoption in a successful agency.
Recognize the crucial role of mindset in adopting and leveraging AI.
Be familiar with a variety of AI tools on the market, along with practical examples of their use.
Understand Todd’s approach to implementing AI in businesses for improved efficiency and insights.
This presentation promises to be an engaging and enlightening journey into the world of AI, equipping business owners and leaders with the knowledge and inspiration they need to transform their own businesses.

Backstage Breakfast with EO Chicago & Special Guest, Kevin Willer
2024-02-01 08:00 - 09:30 | Valley Lo Club, 2200 Tanglewood Drive Glenview, IL, 60025, United States
Join us for an exciting morning at the Valley Lo Club in Glenview, IL! Get ready to meet and mingle with the entrepreneurial community of EO Chicago, as well as our special guest, Kevin Willer. This in-person event promises to be a fantastic opportunity to network, gain insights, and learn from a businessman who has been making his mark on Chicago . Don’t miss out on this exclusive chance to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from a seasoned entrepreneur.
Attendees: This event is open to EO Members, Strategic Alliance Partners (SAPs), Accelerators and Chicagoland business owners that revenue $250k +. Feel free to bring another entrepreneur to join you. (Please register them).
About Kevin Willer:
Kevin is a Partner at Chicago Ventures and professional sports team investor.
After graduating from Boston College in 1996, where he managed newspaper delivery on campus for the Boston Globe & The New York Times, Kevin worked a summer at the A-Bar-A dude ranch in Encampment, Wyoming. Returning to Chicago, he started his career by joining tech manufacturer, U.S. Robotics, before heading back to the east coast to help build a portfolio company of leading technology incubator, CMGI. The dot.com bust forced a new path and in 2000 he joined a fledgling venture-backed search engine, co-founding the Chicago sales office of Google Inc. As the first “Kevin” to work for the company, he spent over a decade helping to build Google’s local presence to over 400 professionals and developed relationships across Chicago’s business and tech ecosystem while also earning his MBA from Chicago Booth in 2010.
In 2011, now Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker sketched the idea for 1871 on a napkin and recruited Kevin to help make the idea a reality. As the first CEO of 1871, Kevin worked to establish Chicago’s innovation hub which became the #1 ranked private business incubator in the world. In 2013, Kevin joined Chicago Ventures as a Partner. Over the next decade, CV invested in leading Chicago companies SpotHero, G2, Project44, Cameo, and HealthJoy. In addition to his venture work, Kevin is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of manufacturing and hardtech incubator, mHub.
Passionate around all sports, especially proper football, in 2020 Kevin and his family began investing in professional soccer teams in the U.S. and abroad including the Chicago Red Stars (NWSL), Leyton Orient Football Club (EFL1), OneKnoxville Sporting Club (USL1), and Rhode Island Football Club (USLC). In 2022, he became Vice Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Red Stars, helping to lead the club through a challenging time and sales process to new ownership, led by Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts.
Kevin is a proud husband to Victoria and father of 3 amazing children residing in Winnetka, IL. After attending Loyola Academy high school, he has strived to live the Ignatian motto of “Men and Women for Others” and serves on several non-profit boards including Loyola University Chicago, Northshore University Healthsystem, the Big Shoulders Fund, the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the US Soccer Development Council.

EO Talks with Sally Lou Loveman
2024-01-30 16:00 - 19:00 | ZO Clubhouse @ CME, 10 South Wacker Drive 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606
Our very own “EO Talks” is coming to Chicago with 4 of our bold, courageous and hard working members – Cathy Genetti, Mike Nellis, Yan Pesotskiy and Ernest Swierk. These four leaders have been honing their story over the last 2-3 months with the support of our guest host/speaker, Sally Lou Loveman. They will be hitting the stage to share more about who they are, how they got to where they are today and what makes them uniquely themself.

Spark 2024 with Vision Board Magic!
2024-01-09 18:00 - 21:00 | IL
Unleash your creativity, set intentions, and manifest a stellar year ahead at our Vision Board Party – where dreams come to life in a burst of color and positive energy!
As we gear up for a brand-new year in 2024, let’s kick things off with a burst of creativity and positive vibes! 🎉✨

Holiday Lights: Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Gardens
2023-12-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Chicago Botanic Gardens, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022
Bask in the glow of thousands of twinkling lights in favorites like the Winter Cathedral and new delights you’ve never seen before.

Holiday Lights: Illumination - Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum
2023-12-20 18:00 - 21:00 | The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL, 60532
Celebrate the holidays and marvel at how light transforms a magnificent landscape. Explore 50 acres of the Arboretum’s majestic trees during this one-of-a-kind spectacle of color, light, and sound.

SAP Luncheon With Meghan and Michelle
2023-12-14 11:30 - 13:00 | Beatnik On The River, 180 North Wacker Drive, IL, 60606
Join Michelle & Meghan for a Special SAP Lunch!
Let’s take a break from work and enjoy some quality time together. We want to get to know you better so we can improve our communication and collaboration skills. Tell us about your experiences and share your needs and wants.

Intimate Dinner at The Elm
2023-12-13 18:30 - 21:00 | The Elm, 23 West Harris Avenue, LaGrange,, IL, 60525, United States
Join us for an intimate dinner at The Elm where we will enjoy exceptional American and seafood fare, deep conversation, and warm hospitality.

EO Women's Holiday High Tea at The Ritz-Carlton
2023-12-07 13:00 - 15:00 | The Ritz Carlton, 160 E Pearson Street at Water Tower Place, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
Women of EO please join us for an intimate holiday High Tea experience. Take a break from your day and spend the afternoon with us…don’t worry, your work will still be there tomorrow!

SLP Exclusive Event - Double Good Private Tour and Holiday Dinner
2023-12-06 16:30 - 21:00 | Double Good, 16W030 83rd St., Burr Ridge, IL, 60527
Get Ready for another fun EO SLP Experience! Touring the Double Good Popcorn Factory floor will delight and excite you. You’ll experience the taste and smell of our delicious popcorn flavors being made fresh! Following the tour, we invite you to join our vibrant SLP community for a delightful dinner.

Business Marketing w/Tim Padgett
2023-12-06 11:00 - 15:00 | 8th Light LLC, 25 East Washington Street #suite 509, Chicago, IL, 60602
Join Tim Padgett to learn about results-driven marketing tools.
When EO Chicago launched our Accelerator program, he was one of the first mentors. Tim will share some of his experiences and philosophies on how to market yourself, your company, products and services. Bring questions regarding your marketing challenges!

EO Chicago Holiday Party - Old Chicago
2023-12-02 18:00 - 23:00 | Stan Mansion, 2408 N Kedzie Blvd., Chicago, IL, 60647, United States
Sweet home Chicago! Join us for an evening celebrating our great city and the holiday season with your fellow EO members.

November 2023 Moderator Dinner
2023-11-15 18:00 - 21:00 | Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, 1401 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
Please join us for the quarterly Moderator dinner. If you can not attend, please send your Moderator-Elect in your place.

EO/EOA/Kellogg Cohort 136 Diwali Mashup
2023-11-11 19:00 - 22:00 | Emporium Arcade Bar, 839 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL, 60607
Come celebrate Diwali with Chicago Entrepreneurs Organization.

EO Breakfast: The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago
2023-11-09 08:00 | IL

EOA Strategy Learning Day
2023-11-08 08:00 - 17:00 | TeamWorking by TechNexus, 20 North Wacker Drive #12th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606

Brave Leadership w/Speech Thomas, The Grace Network and YPO Windy City
2023-11-02 17:30 - 21:30 | RPM Seafood, 317 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60654
We are beyond thrilled to invite you to a special event, a night that promises to be not just enjoyable, but also deeply inspiring. We are partnering with YPO Windy City, to broaden our reach, connect with fellow business leaders, and foster a stronger community in our local area.
We will be joined with the presence of a music industry legend, a revolutionary spirit, and a man whose very life epitomizes the concept of Brave Leadership. We have with us Speech Thomas, a 2x Grammy Award Winning founder and lead singer of the 4X PLATINUM hip-hop collective, Arrested Development.
Speech Thomas is no ordinary artist. He has consistently pushed the boundaries of artistry and social awareness, combining both in a way that transforms mere entertainment into an enlightening experience. His keynotes, when combined with his musical performances, form a symphony of insight and inspiration that leaves a lasting impression.
Speech Thomas and Arrested Development are the embodiment of Brave Leadership. They exemplify the potential of what can be achieved when we dare to be different, when we collaborate, when we break away from the mold, and choose to DO DIFFERENTLY.
The Grace Network, a Chicago based non profit, will also be joining us to share their mission and how they are making their mark on Chicago inner city schools and students . If we want to see equity and diversity within our universities and workplaces, we need to start supporting students facing adversity at a basic level, as early as possible. Navigating adolescence is difficult for all, but even more challenging for those facing adversity at no fault of their own. The Grace Network’s mission is simple – to ensure that all Chicago students start their school day with dignity and grace . They do this by providing basic health and hygiene items to students lacking access to basic necessities.
So, come join us in this extraordinary evening of music, inspiration, philanthropy and camaraderie. Let’s unite to grow, learn, and be moved by the electrifying presence and profound wisdom of Speech Thomas.
Let’s not just be part of the audience. Let’s be part of the movement.
Let’s be brave, let’s be different, let’s DO DIFFERENTLY.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
This event is open to members, SAPs and a few spots for SLP. First come first serve. We will be implementing a 24 hour cancellation policy. All no shows or cancellations within 24 hours of this event will be billed a $100 cancellation fee. Event attendance will be on hold until all invoices are paid.

November Launchpad Forum
2023-11-01 12:00 - 16:30 | IL
Launchpad Forum (A Space for all Members Not in a Formal Forum to go 5%)

Launchpad forum is for EO members who..
(a) have yet to be placed,
(b) are no longer in forum but looking to join another
(c) have chosen to go forum-less but miss the experience
(d) love forum so much they want more of it!
Our agenda with updates will follow the current norm, running from 12:00 to 4:30 with lunch at the onset and optional dinner afterwards.
Hosted in the same space every (6) weeks, we’ll confirm with attendees (3) days prior. If we have less than (5) confirmed attendees, we’ll cancel until the following date.

Backstage Breakfast w/ Mark Agnew
2023-10-26 08:00 - 09:30 | Valley Lo Club, 2200 Tanglewood Drive Glenview, IL, 60025, United States
Come learn about EO Chicago and hear from local entrepreneur, Mark Agnew.
Mark is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship through Acquisition @ Booth, Former CEO of Lou Malnati’s and Co-Founder of Pickles Group.
Breakfast Starts at 8:00am.
Presentation will start at 8:20am.

EOS Session 1 w/Dan Heuertz and Kevin Hundal: Companies That Are New To EOS
2023-10-25 09:30 - 13:30 | IL
Many of the most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders work longer hours and get less return on their investments of time and money.
Maybe you grapple with some of these challenges:
•Lack of control over time, markets, or your company.
• People who don’t listen, understand, or follow through.
* Profit that’s inconsistent and/or there’s not enough.
• Growth is happening, but you can’t break through to the next level.
Quick fixes that come and go, bringing little change with continued frustrations.

Opportunities in Conflict with Lynn Cohn
2023-10-18 09:00 - 13:00 | ZO Clubhouse @ CME, 10 South Wacker Drive 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606
Not all conflict is bad. Healthy conflict can be beneficial to a highly effective team. Join one of Chicago’s top educators on mediation, Lynn Cohn, for a 3 hour workshop on how to navigate conflict in the workplace, home and life. She will help us explore how our actions and reactions can turn conflict into an opportunity.
Walk away with tools implement immediately with your team and family.
Light lunch following workshop.
About Lynn Cohn:
Lynn P. Cohn is a Clinical Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She has developed and taught courses in negotiation, mediation, mediation advocacy and problem solving. Professor Cohn received the student-voted Outstanding Professor of a Small Class Award in 2008 and the Dean’s Teaching Award in 2011-12 and 2012-13. She has been elected to the Leading Lawyers Network in the categories of ADR Commercial and ADR Employment, and to the National Association of Distinguished Neutrals.
Professor Cohn has trained lawyers, real estate professionals, management and union representatives, government employees, community groups and corporate employees in effective negotiation, mediation, conflict management and arbitration techniques. Clients include the National Association of Realtors, Covington & Burling, Edelman, the American Orthopedic Association, the Illinois Commerce Commission, Mesirow Financial, American Airlines, Kirkland & Ellis, Sidley & Austin, Mayer Brown, Katten Muchin & Rosenman, the Illinois Colleges Association, the City of Chicago and Lovells.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
24 hours notice or $100 fine.

2023 All Board 2Q Summit
2023-10-12 09:00 - 17:00 | The Arbory, 2219 West Grand Avenue Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Our whole board will spend the day working together to set our chapter up for a successful Q2. Mark your calendars! We hope everyone can make it. The success of our chapter is only as good as the collaboration of all of us together. More details to come soon.

Stronger Together: Women's Entrepreneur Summit
2023-10-11 09:30 - 14:00 | Fulton Market Kitchen, 311 North Sangamon Street, Chicago, IL 60607, Chicago, IL, 60607, US
Join the Women of EO Chicago in a special event to bring together local women who are kicking ass through entrepreneurship.

Join the Women of EO Chicago in a special event to bring together local women who are paving the way through entrepreneurship. Not only will we have dedicated time for mindfulness and connection, we will also have the opportunity to deep dive into what makes female leaders so powerful. And, we are delighted to welcome Casey Harrity as our keynote, who will take us on a deep dive into the importance of feminine leadership and intuition in business.
About Casey Harrity:
After nearly 15 years working in deep conflict zones, including Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, Casey has learned first hand how to lead – and how not to lead! – through crises big and small. As we continue our entrepreneurial journeys, we will inevitably be called on to navigate crisis situations that warrant a specific leadership style and approach, from personal crises for a colleague, crises in our communities, or crises within our businesses. She will share her moving stories and key lessons and takeaways that we can all apply as leaders.
Doors open at 9:30am and programming will kick off promptly at 10:00am. Lunch will be served.
If you are a woman business owner in the Chicagoland area, we invite you to join us for this FREE event as our guest. Capacity is limited so register soon!

New Member Welcome Dinner
2023-10-05 18:00 - 20:30 | momotaro, 820 W Lake St, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
This is also a night to introduce your spouse (or significant other) to the organization. We welcome all members that joined within the last two years.
What’s great about EO is that we have resources to help you grow in all aspects of your life. Whether it’s direct peer-to-peer learning and networking, connections to experts or once-in-a-lifetime experiences, EO can help you reach your goals. This dinner is designed to discuss your EO Membership and how you can best utilize EO’s resources to help you grow. We will review various committees, the forum placement process, events, tools and offer insight into how EO is structured so you get the most out of the next 30, 60, 90 days and beyond.
We look forward to connecting with you!

Soccer Time!! Chicago Fire vs. Inter Miami
2023-10-04 18:30 - 21:30 | Soldier Field at The Stadium Green, 1410 Special Olympics Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, Chicago, IL, 60605, US
Two boxes have been reserved for the Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami game in October.
This event is open for EO Members to bring ONE family guest (includes children or spouse/SLP). Additional details regarding the event will be sent separately, once the guest list is finalized.
CANCELLATION POLICY – PLEASE READ
Due to the expected popularity of this event, we will be instituting a 48-hour cancelation policy. If you register and then cannot attend, you will need to notify Meghan Johnson @ meghan@eochicago.org up to 48 hours before the event. Failure to do so, will result in a $250 per ticket fine.
