Workshops and Events

This 8-week leadership program is crafted specifically for new or emerging supervisors, providing a foundational toolkit to guide them through the unique responsibilities of their roles. Meeting once a week for three hours over eight weeks, the curriculum emphasizes the essential skills and mindset shifts needed to lead with confidence and purpose. Participants will explore the supervisor’s role in team dynamics, learning how to manage not only their own responsibilities but also foster the growth and productivity of their teams. With a focus on practical management competencies, the program also introduces strategies for aligning team goals with organizational objectives, effective delegation, and planning techniques that maximize productivity.

Beyond technical skills, the program offers in-depth modules on leadership styles, emotional intelligence, and effective communication, all of which contribute to creating a positive, motivating work environment. Supervisors will also learn how to navigate complex team dynamics, handle conflict, and resolve issues with empathy and clarity. Additionally, participants will acquire critical human resources knowledge—from performance management to stress recognition—that helps them support team members’ well-being and professional development. By completing this program, supervisors will feel equipped not only to manage but to inspire their teams, leading with adaptability, resilience, and a commitment to organizational success.

Please note: This offering of the program will be delivered entirely in Spanish.

Presenter: Joanne Ruiz, Technical Specialist

Cost: $1725.00 per person

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

This 8-week leadership program is crafted specifically for new or emerging supervisors, providing a foundational toolkit to guide them through the unique responsibilities of their roles. Meeting once a week for three hours over eight weeks, the curriculum emphasizes the essential skills and mindset shifts needed to lead with confidence and purpose. Participants will explore the supervisor’s role in team dynamics, learning how to manage not only their own responsibilities but also foster the growth and productivity of their teams. With a focus on practical management competencies, the program also introduces strategies for aligning team goals with organizational objectives, effective delegation, and planning techniques that maximize productivity.

Beyond technical skills, the program offers in-depth modules on leadership styles, emotional intelligence, and effective communication, all of which contribute to creating a positive, motivating work environment. Supervisors will also learn how to navigate complex team dynamics, handle conflict, and resolve issues with empathy and clarity. Additionally, participants will acquire critical human resources knowledge from performance management to stress recognition that helps them support team members’ well-being and professional development. By completing this program, supervisors will feel equipped not only to manage but to inspire their teams, leading with adaptability, resilience, and a commitment to organizational success.

Presenter: Paola Velasquez, Director of Organizational Culture

Cost: $1725 per person

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Presented by Innovation DuPage and College of DuPage.

Join us for the Second Annual Midwest Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit where we will celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation that defines the Midwest.

For generations, the Midwest has been known for rolling up its sleeves and getting things done. From the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 to today’s breakthroughs, Chicagoland has stood as a hub of enterprise and entrepreneurship. With abundant resources, strong infrastructure, reliable energy, world‑class universities, and a talented workforce, our region is now at the forefront of quantum, AI, big data, and beyond.

Join Intel, Lenovo, Apple, and more as we celebrate this legacy of innovation and hard work at the second annual Midwest Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit.

Featured Sessions:

• AI and the Future of Work
• Building Your Entrepreneurial Team
• Fund and Friendraising
• Emerging Markets: Quantum, Fintech, Advanced Manufacturing, and Clean Energy

Cocktails & networking to follow

New to generative AI or already playing with tools like Microsoft Copilot? This in-person Connect DuPage event is for you.

Attendees will leave with:

• Practical small business AI use cases
• A live Copilot demo tailored to your work
• A hands-on exercise to build your own AI solution

Join us and start shaping the future of small business – one prompt at a time!

Please bring your fully charged laptop to this session.

Presenter:
Nisaini Rexach
Public Affairs | Techspark
Microsoft

Navigating health insurance as a solopreneur or small business owner can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re exploring coverage for yourself or considering benefits for your first employees, understanding your options can help you make smarter, more confident decisions.

In this webinar, our expert presenters will break down everything you need to know about health insurance as a small business. You’ll learn how to compare coverage types, understand key terms, and find trusted brokers or agents who can guide you through the process so you can focus on running your business with clarity and confidence.

You’ll learn how to:

• Understand the benefits of offering health insurance to employees
• Compare common types of coverage and what they mean for your business
• Navigate the health insurance marketplace with confidence
• Identify reputable brokers or agents to help you choose a plan
• Decode key health insurance terms and concepts

Einstein reminded us that old thinking won’t solve new problems. There are three proven rules that can help your organization stay ready for the future, break performance barriers, sharpen marketing impact, uncover hidden growth opportunities, and leverage human behavior.

Major events like the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, trade shows, and community markets can give your business rare access to new customers and boost sales quickly. But success depends on selecting events that align with your business and planning your participation strategically so your time and resources generate real ROI.

In this webinar, you’ll learn a practical framework for deciding which events are worth your investment and how your business should take part once you choose one. We’ll cover how to identify opportunities, evaluate whether an event aligns with your audience and goals, and develop a participation plan to maximize ROI.

By the end of this webinar, you’ll know how to choose events with confidence and plan your involvement for measurable results.

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify which upcoming events are strategically worth it for your business
• Evaluate opportunities based on goals, audience fit, and value
• Decide whether to participate as a vendor, sponsor or partner to maximize ROI
• Recognize early warning signs of mismatched events
• Positioning your business for the event audience

Designed for employers new to internships, this presentation outlines how businesses and non-profits benefit from hosting college interns and how to partner with College of DuPage and other institutions to recruit, support, and engage student talent.

Want to write stronger proposals and increase your win rate? Join us for a Connect DuPage webinar and learn how to:

•  Decide which RFPs are worth pursuing
•  Read requirements like an evaluator
•  Structure high-scoring, compliant responses
•  Avoid common disqualifying mistakes
•  Use tools and templates to save time

This practical session will give you actionable tips you can apply right away.

Presenter:
Rita Haake
Senior Vice President
Choose DuPage

Learn how to use census data to understand your customers and grow your business. We'll demonstrate the Census Business Builder and how to us it in easy, practical ways.

The Illinois APEX Accelerator is hosting the 3rd Annual Government Contracting Summit on March 17, 2026, in the Chicagoland area (7600 Roosevelt Rd, Forest Park, IL). This in-person event is designed to help small businesses navigate government contracting and connect directly with key procurement decision-makers.

Attendees will learn about new 2026 federal, state, and local contracting opportunities, hear from experts, and network with industry leaders. A major highlight is the Matchmaking and Reverse Matchmaking sessions, offering one-on-one meetings with federal agencies and major prime contractors.

Participating organizations include:

• Federal agencies such as the Department of Defense (all branches), DOE, VA, NASA, HHS, FAA, and others
• Major prime contractors including Walsh Federal, Caterpillar, Accenture, Deloitte, Parsons, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and more
• State of Illinois small business and diversity supplier programs
• Municipal governments (e.g., Cook, Will, Lake, DuPage Counties, and the City of Chicago)
• Financing partners, including SBA, private financing, and DoD venture programs
• Innovation hubs like DEFENSEWERX, UIUC FAST Center, Innovation DuPage, and ARI

Agenda highlights:

• Registration: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
• Summit Kickoff: 8:30 – 9:30 AM
• Exhibitor Booths Open: 9:00 AM
• Local Government Contracting Panel: 9:30 – 11:00 AM
• SBA Mentor-Protégé Lunch & Learn: 12:30 – 1:30 PM
• DoD Government Contracting Panel: 2:30 – 3:30 PM
• Reverse Matchmaking: 2:00 – 4:00 PM (pre-registration required)
• Event concludes: 4:30 PM

A Networking Reception is open to exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, VIP attendees, and invited guests.
Organizations can register as Sponsors, Exhibitors, or Attendees.

Innovation DuPage members are invited to an exclusive, investor‑led workshop designed to strengthen the business and financial acumen every fundable founder needs. The 7 Investor Secrets Every Fundable Startup Gets Right reveals the core conditions that determine whether a startup can build a viable product, reach customers, generate revenue, and grow sustainably in the real world.

This interactive session is especially valuable for founders building capital‑intensive or first‑of‑a‑kind clean energy technologies—where strong business judgment is just as essential as technical innovation. This is the first in our Clean Energy Incubator Program workshop series.

What You’ll Gain

• A deeper understanding of how investors evaluate opportunities
• The ability to think holistically about product, markets, operations, economics, and capital
• Tools to make smarter decisions, evaluate tradeoffs, and lead with long‑term clarity

The 7 Investor Secrets

1. Identifying a real, urgent problem in a large enough market
2. Articulating a 10X solution and competitive advantage
3. Building a product with a clear path to revenue
4. Designing a credible go‑to‑market strategy
5. Mastering unit economics and long‑term profitability
6. Planning operations and a scalable growth blueprint
7. Aligning capital strategy with timing, risk, and business needs

This workshop equips founders with the often‑invisible but essential capability of an effective CEO: the ability to connect all parts of the business into a coherent, durable strategy.