Next week is Crain’s 6th annual Small Business Week and the Network of Entrepreneurial Women is eagerly anticipating our third event in partnership with Crain’s Chicago Business. We are looking forward to an afternoon of delicious food, gentle pampering and significant inspiration and business brainstorming.

The largest educational and business development event in the region for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and those who want to join this world will host 30 programs from Monday, October 5 – Saturday, October 10, 2015. We will gather for a casual lunch at Shannon’s Irish Pub, 428 N Main St, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, on Wednesday, October 7 from noon to 5 p.m., during which we will learn about pioneering women during a keynote address.

Crain’s goal is to introduce you to organizations whose mission includes helping small businesses around the city and suburbs to choose from. NEW’s event: Meet, Munch & Mastermind: Inspiring Women to Reach Their Highest Potential is a dynamic Networking Luncheon featuring a keynote address by Barbara Joan Zeitz, followed by mastermind roundtable sessions and optional chair massages. Throughout invigorating roundtable talks designed specifically for women entrepreneurs, participants will spend time learning from experts at each table.

Author Barbara Joan Zeitz will host our keynote address: Leaning In Before Sheryl!

Barbara earned her master’s in women’s studies (Roosevelt University, Chicago) in 2003 as an adult/grandmother and launched her ‘final career’ speaking on women’s amazing historic achievements via Powerpoint programs and writing her monthly online “CountHerhistory” column. She self-published her first book in 2012 with her second to be released this year.

Roundtable Talks will include:

Obamacare 3.0 … Everything You Need to Know About Health Insurance for 2016; by Karen McCormack, Independent Insurance Broker.

Karen has been in business for more than 30 years. She started her first company in 1985 and over time transformed her small business expertise, extensive organizational knowledge and exceptional ability to develop long term business relationships into McCormack Consulting Group, Inc.

Her specialties include health insurance for the self employed, small business owners, individuals, families and seniors. She is dedicated to helping individuals and small business owners through the complex maze when making decisions. Karen partners with her clients, guiding them through the initial decision process and providing continuous service so that they are always up to date as their health insurance needs change over time.

Business Videos and How They Can Increase Your Reach & Wealth; by Chris Pierucci, Owner, Final Draft Business Support Services, Inc.

Chris  is the owner of Final Draft Business Support Services, Inc., a leading business support service specializing in Court Reporting, Legal Videography, Legal and Medical Transcription, General Transcription and Word Processing.

Final Draft Business Support Services, Inc. also offers their own in-house graphic design team, and virtual offices in their Lincoln Park location for the at-home professional. Chris is the Director of the Ruth McBride Memorial Scholarship, and on the Board of Directors for Girls in the Game. She is also a former Managing Director of eWomenNetwork Chicago, and a current Designer for KEEP Collective.

Chris is certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, as a Certified Electronic Court Transcriber by the American Association of Electronic Reporters & Transcribers and as a Certified Legal Videography Specialist by NCRA.

“PAYING YOURSELF?” The What, Why and How; by Janice M Faris, Accountant, Principal/Owner, Janice M Faris, EA.

Linking Individuals and Businesses to financial goals is achieved with solid planning. Jan’s experience as an accountant for 36 years taught her that listening is the key to finding appropriate solutions unique to each Individual or Business. Her goal is to provide education as to available options. She believes that a clear understanding is the foundation to a sound decision.

Jan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University, an Enrolled Agent Certification with the I.R.S., holds FINRA Securities Registration: Series 6, Series 7, Series 63 and Series 65, completed training in Collaborative Law and regularly attends ongoing Continuing Professional Education programs required to maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills.

She is a Member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, served for 20 years as a Member of the Board of directors and Executive Board of the Downtown Wheaton Association , is a recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award for the Downtown Wheaton Association, and co-chaired the Downtown Wheaton Association Annual Gala and Fine Art Fair for 10 years. She also received the Outstanding Service Award from the DWA from 1988-2009 and was among the 1986 Who’s Who of American Women.

Attendees will each have the opportunity to eat, learn, network and connect with women business owners from diverse backgrounds, experience and industries. They will also receive chair massages by Rebecca Sturgeon, LMT, CMLDT.

Rebecca is a graduate of the Cortiva Institute – Chicago School of Massage Therapy and holds a certification in Manual Lymphatic Drainage. She currently practices at the Heartwood Center in Evanston.

Sign up here to join lively, enlightening education and be provided opportunities for brainstorming personal concerns/questions related to the topic discussed. You can follow Crain’s Small Business Week online here.

NEW – The Network of Entrepreneurial Women is a group of Chicagoland business women who are upgrading business networking with fun and creative events that inspire attendees to work together, refer each other and most of all cheer each other on as the membership succeeds. Events rotate around various suburbs on a semimonthly basis, usually the 2nd Wednesday and 4th Thursday of the month. RSVP for our upcoming events at Meetup, or like us on Facebook and check up on the calendar there.