MONDAY
MERRILLVILLE | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Mondays at A.J. Specialties, 1308 E. 85th Ave. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 a.m. For more information, contact Tony Schifino at (219) 736-0367.
VALPARAISO | The Northwest Indiana Professional Network meets from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays in the Alumni Room of the Harre Student Union, 1509 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso. For more information, contact Sandra Alvarez at the Center of Workforce Innovations at (219) 462-2940 or salvarez@innovativeworkforce.com.
TUESDAY
HAMMOND/MERRILLVILLE | A live video feed of Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s next Life Science Lunch Series seminar, “Don’t Overpay to Play: The Stimulus behind attracting top talent,” is set for 10:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 16 at the Hammond Innovation Center, 5209 Hohman Ave., Hammond, and the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Connecticut Drive., Merrillville. To register at the Hammond INnovation Center, call (219) 750-1200 or e-mail innovate@calumet.purdue.edu. To register at the Purdue Technology Center, contact Lynette Cieslak (219) 644-3680 or email ljcieslak@prf.org.
GARY | The Indiana Business Professionals Chapter of the Networking Club meets from 7:30 to 8 a.m. Tuesdays at The Baker's House upstairs meeting room, 6004 Miller Ave. For information, call Tammie Galloway at (888) 263-6926, ext 1.
HAMMOND | The North Lake Chapter of BNI (Business Networking International), which encompasses Hammond, Gary, Griffith and East Chicago, meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays at Cabela’s, 7700 Cabela Drive, in the upstairs conference center. For more information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940.
SCHERERVILLE | NWI PRO’s of Tri-Town meets Tuesdays at Tylers Tender, 350 E. U.S. 30. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 a.m. For more information, contact Twila Kaye at twila@twilakaye.com or (219) 227-8875.
VALPARAISO | Small-business operators are invited to Duneland Chapter of Business Networking International from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Strongbow Inn. For information, call Sandy Boland at (219) 926-2505.
MERRILLVILLE | Toastmasters of Southlake Club meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in Room 102 at the University of Phoenix, 8401 Ohio Street. For more information, call Shugunna S. Alexander at (219) 794-1500.
WEDNESDAY
CROWN POINT | Toastmasters meets from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Conservative Cafe, 201 N. Main St. For more information, call Dale Brooks at (219) 775-7788.
HIGHLAND | NWI PROs (Professional Referral Organization) West Lake Chapter meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Mrs. Dornberg’s 24 Carrot Cuisine, Port De L’eau Plaza, 2130 45th St. Networking before and after. For more information, call Dru Bocek at (219) 613-1125.
MERRILLVILLE | Referral Organization of Crown Point meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Café Divine, 9000 Taft St. For more information, contact Lisa Gapen at (219) 433-8544 or generate@comcast.net. The Web site is http://roinetworkinc.com.
MUNSTER | The Munster BNI (Business Networking International) business development group meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Centennial Park, 1005 S. Centennial Drive. Contact Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 for more information.
THURSDAY
HAMMOND | The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center and the Hammond INnovation Center are sponsoring a Smart Start workshop on patents from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Feb. 18 at the INnovation Center, 5209 Hohman Ave. Participants will learn what is needed to file a patent, when to move on a patent, how patents protect their inventions and where to get help. Cost is $20, which includes breakfast. Reservations and payment are required in advance. Call (219) 750-1200 or e-mail innovate@calumet.purdue.edu. Reservations can be made online by visiting nwisbdc.org, clicking on calendars, workshop, the event and following the link.
MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Noon Kiwanis Club meets from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Old Country Buffet off U.S. 30 (1634 E 80th Avenue). For more information call Aaron Yakovetz at (219) 707-5023, e-mail aaron@goiim.com, or visit www.kiwanis.org .
SCHERERVILLE | A BNI (Business Networking International) business development group meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Holiday Inn Express, 1773 Fountain Park Drive in the Fortis A Room. Call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940 for more information.
VALPARAISO | The Porter County Business League meets at 7 a.m. Thursdays at the Round-the-Clock restaurant, 217 E. Lincolnway. Contact Kim Michalski at (219) 510-3674 for more information.
VALPARAISO | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. at Regional Federal Credit Union, 2801 Boilermaker Court (behind Menards). For more information contact Cindy Zromkoski at (219) 741-7963.
HOMEWOOD | The Homewood-Flossmoor Toastmasters meets from 8 to 10 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays each month at the Sylvan Learning Center in Park Place Plaza, 17936 S. Halsted. For more information, call Julie at (708) 903-0692.
FRIDAY
HAMMOND | Free business counseling services are available through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) from 9 and 10 a.m. Fridays at the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, 5246 Hohman Ave. If you are starting a business, or having problems in business, call (219) 931-1000 for an appointment.
MERRILLVILLE | Northwest Indiana Networking Professionals meet at 7:15 a.m. Fridays at Towne Center Retirement Community, 7250 Arthur Blvd. (73rd Avenue, east of Taft). Contact Beverley Steinman at catchbev@sbcglobal.net or (219) 730-1262. More info at www.nwinetworking.org.
FEB. 23
CROWN POINT | The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center is hosting a workshop for prospective entrepreneurs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Room 277 at the Purdue Academic Learning Center, 9900 Connecticut Drive. Cost is $25 and registration and payment are required in advance. To register, contact the NWI SBDC office at (219) 644-3513 or visit http://www.nwisbdc.org, click on calendars, workshops, the event and follow the link.
FEB. 24
PORTAGE | Senior citizens who want to work can learn if they qualify for Experience Works from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Portage Work One office, Ameriplex Commercial Park, 1575 Adler Circle, Suite A. Experience Works is nonprofit charitable organization that offers training and employment opportunities for low-income seniors age 55 and above. For more information call (616) 808-1800, or visit experienceworks.org.
FEB. 25
PORTAGE | 1st Source Bank and Insphere Insurance Solutions present a free seminar, "Top 9 Ways to Save on Health Care" at 5:30 p.m. at the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce, 262 Eleanor St. The seminar is aimed for small business owners, individuals, families and the self-employed. Call (219) 246-7369 to reserve a spot.
MARCH 6
ST. JOHN | G&K Development is conducting a free home building seminar at 9421 Joliet St. Free continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m.; presentation starts at 9 a.m. Learn the steps of building a new home, picking a lot, financing, the construction process and the dos and don'ts of building a new home. RSVP by Feb. 25 to (219) 365-6846. For more information, visit www.gk-development.com.
MARCH 11 and 12
VALPARAISO | The 11th Annual International Golden Spike Seminar will take place at the Harre Union at Valparaiso University. The seminar is the longest continuous discussion on 21st century transportation in the United States. For information, contact Dennis Hodges at (219) 887-1351 or wdh.2016@att.net.
MARCH 16
HAMMOND | The Joy of Connecting, an organization supporting women entrepreneurs, business owners and other professional women, will meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 7416 California Ave. For more information, contact Pam Csikos at (219) 406-8340 or PCsikos5167@aol.com.
MARCH 18
WHITING | The Calumet College of St. Joseph will host its annual Spring 2010 Career Fair from 3 to 6 p.m. March 18 on the second floor of the main campus, 2400 New York Ave. Employer profiles and contact information will be available on the college Web site after March 10. For more information, contact the Career Services Office at (219) 473-4341 or cpeek@ccsj.edu or visit ccsj.edu.
MARCH 23
PORTAGE | 1st Source Bank and Insphere Insurance Solutions present a free seminar, "Top 9 Ways to Save on Health Care" at 5:30 p.m. at 1st Source Bank, 800 Indian Boundary Road. The seminar is aimed for small business owners, individuals, families and the self-employed. Call (219) 246-7369 to reserve a spot.
MAY 21
DYER | The second INsight Design Conference is scheduled at Faith Church, 100 – 81st Ave. The strategy workshop for freelance creative designers has several education components throughout the session including a portfolio review. A non-profit case study is also on the agenda. The focus of the event is to bring the talent pool of NWI graphic designers together with local businesses. Suggested donation of $10 benefits the Faith Church Community Arts Center. For more information, visit http://www.insightdesignconference.com.
To read more calendar, visit http://www.nwi.com/business. To include an item in the local business calendar, send event information, time, date, cost and location to: business@nwitimes.com or fax to (219) 933-3249.
