Workshops and Events

A Sustainable DuPage Webinar

Join us for a free webinar and learn how a local manufacturer, Chicago Glue and Machine, successfully achieved Illinois Green Business Certification with the help of Sustainable DuPage.

In this webinar, Chicago Glue and Machine will share their journey—from their initial Sustainable DuPage assessment to implementing cost‑saving improvements and ultimately earning statewide green certification.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore sustainability or looking for a proven path to certification, this webinar offers actionable insights from a business that’s already done it—right here in DuPage County.

This webinar is free to attend, and registration is required.

Are you interested in exploring safer, PFAS-free disposable foodware for your customers and community?

Join the EnergySense Resilience Center, Illinois Green Business Association, Bright Beat, Takeout 25, and Seven Generations Ahead for a free in-person workshop focused on helping businesses transition to PFAS-free foodware.

“Using Safer, Sustainable Food Packaging,” is a free in-person workshop.

Traditional single-use foodware, such as plastic takeout containers, can contain coatings that leach harmful chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into our food and beverages, potentially causing adverse health effects.

This workshop is designed to help food business owners address PFAS risks in food packaging and provide resources to navigate the transition to sustainable alternatives.

Participants will learn:

• How to identify and purchase PFAS-free options, while gaining information on the most cost-effective options
• Insight from businesses that have begun the transition to safer alternatives
• Available resources to communicate their transition with customers and suppliers
• Free food packaging samples …and more!

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.

Starting a business means making important legal and financial choices. This webinar explains the most common types of business structures—sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations—and how each one works. You’ll learn how ownership, liability protection, and taxes can affect your decision. Designed for new and early-stage business owners, this session will help you choose the business structure that best fits your goals now and as your business grows.

Please note: This program is being offered by SCORE and you will need to register with them and provide them with your email address in order to attend. You will have the option to opt out of their mailing list when you register. Upon registration with the library, you will be sent the link to register with SCORE. The Zoom link for this program will come directly from SCORE. Upon registration with SCORE, every individual will receive a unique Zoom Link for the workshop. Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Thank you.

Content marketing is a powerful tool for attracting and engaging your ideal audience, but success requires a clear strategy. From planning and creation to distribution and measurement, every step plays a role in driving results.

In this webinar, digital marketing expert Nicole McCullum will walk you through the key elements of an effective content marketing strategy, how to produce engaging content and how to measure performance to enhance your tactics.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role of content marketing in your digital marketing strategy
• Learn how to develop a content marketing plan
• Explore key content formats and how to leverage them effectively
• Discover how to measure content performance

This session explores how small and medium-sized manufacturers can apply Lean principles to non-production areas—such as scheduling, purchasing, inventory control, and customer service—to improve operational efficiency across the entire value stream.

Major topics will include:

• How to identify and eliminate waste in administrative and support workflows
• Visual tools to improve coordination between office and production teams
• Adapting core Lean methods like 5S and value stream mapping to non-manufacturing processes
• Real-world examples of Lean success in SMB manufacturing environments

Call to Action/Takeaway: Attendees will gain a practical framework for extending Lean into office and support functions and get the same resulting waste reduction, flow improvement, and smoother communication they’ve experienced through shopfloor application.

An entrepreneurial event designed for the founders, operators, and creators building what is next in our communities.

Join us for an evening of connection, insight, and real conversations with people building impactful brands and businesses. This edition of Makers & Shakers features three live case studies exploring how founders scaled their ideas into multi-million dollar companies - breaking down the strategies, pivots, branding, operations, and decisions that made growth possible.

Through an interactive format, industry experts will unpack the strongest takeaways and actionable strategies with your own business and goals in mind. Whether you're launching something new, growing an existing brand, or looking to connect with like-minded people, this event is designed to leave you inspired and equipped.

Your ticket includes:

• Live founder case studies & strategy discussions
• Networking with founders, operators, and creatives
• Professional headshots by Headshot Haus
• Curated gifts
• Delicious food & drinks
• Live onsite DJ experience

This is a curated ticketed experience focused on education, authentic connection, and community-building.

Manufacturing today faces major workforce challenges from the loss of legacy knowledge and disengaged employees to a shrinking pipeline of candidates. At the root of these issues is a common problem: A lack of training standards.

Implementing standardized training practices, supported by a Learning Management System (LMS) and a dedicated training manager, can bring consistency and measurable success to your organization’s learning efforts.

This webinar is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to better understand training standardization and how to begin the journey.

Key Takeaways:

• The essential role of a training manager in creating and maintaining standards
• How a training manager works with leaders and stakeholders to solve performance-related problems and drive organizational impact
• What a Learning Management System (LMS) is and what it does
• How an LMS can support training standardization and supplement existing training programs
• Key features to look for when selecting an LMS
• Practical tips to help you get started

Join us to learn how you can move from training chaos to clarity, and start building a foundation for long-term workforce success.