MONDAY

HAMMOND | The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Calumet Chapter 112 will sponsor a plant tour of Tri State Industries, 4923 Columbia Ave., at 6 p.m. Dinner will follow. Cost for the tour and dinner is $15. Reservations are required. Register by visiting www.smechapter112.org or call Jeff Hill at (708) 269-8128. Tri-State Industries is an outsource specialists engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of metal fabricated products.

VALPARAISO | Northwest Indiana Professional Networking meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Mondays at the South Bend Chocolate Cafe, 57 Franklin St. NIPN members meet to network and chat with others who are in career transition. There is no fee. For information, call (219) 464-4861 or e-mail nipn@kvworks.org.

TUESDAY

WINFIELD | The Windfield/LOFS Chamber of Commerce hosts Tim Shurr of Shurr Success from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the River Pointe Country Club (U.S. 30 to Randolph Street, then north 2 miles). The event is free to chamber members or $25 for nonmembers. For more information, call (219) 226-0479.

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.

GARY | Managers, business owners and sales professionals are invited to the Indiana Business Professionals Chapter of the Networking Club 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) meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the Chops Room at Majestic Start Casino's hotel. For more information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 or (815) 370-2940.

VALPARAISO | Business professionals are invited to the Business to Business Development Group from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. Tuesdays downstairs at the Fifth Third Bank building, 56 Washington St. For more information, call Jack Kinsey at (219) 531-5331.

WEDNESDAY

STEGER | Professional Women's Network will host the next Chicago Southland Chamber Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. at Vida Talandis n Bon Appetit, 3238 Lewis Drive. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided. Admission is free. RSVP your attendance to the Chicago Southland Chamber at (708) 957-6950. For more information visit www.chicagosouthland.com.

VALPARAISO | A "Business Educating Business Workshop'' will be presented by business development adviser and columnist Larry Galler from 8 to 11:30 a.m. March 19 at the second floor conference room of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Office, 162 W. Lincolnway. Cost is $25 for chamber members is $25 ($30 at the door) and $35 for nonmembers. Call (219) 462-1105.

SCHERERVILLE | The Highland-Griffith chapter of Leads Club meets at 8:15 a.m. Wednesdays at St. John Township Community Center, 1515 U.S. 30. Call Luba Petryna Balacky at (219) 201-6874 or visit www.leadsclub.com.

CROWN POINT | Indiana Business Professionals chapter of the Leads Club meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Schoop's Restaurant, 1124 N. Main St. Call Michelle Frey at (219) 662-9729 or e-mail mkmfrey@yahoo.com or visit www.leadsclub.com.

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso chapter of Leads Club meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Fifth Third Bank, 56 S. Washington St. (on the Courthouse square). Call Barbara Rivera at (219) 759=4274 or e-mail efnbarb@aol.com or visit www.valpoleads.com.

THURSDAY

SCHERERVILLE | A BNI (Business Networking International) business development group meets at 7 a.m. Thursdays at the Paragon Restaurant at 1545 W. U.S. 30. Call Michael Pelz at (219) 977-2090 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.

FRIDAY

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. Info: www.nwinetworking.org.

MARCH 28

SCHERERVILLE | Retired judge and professor Linda Chezem, Youth Development and Agriculture Education, College of Agriculture, Purdue University, presents "Planning for Pandemic n Strengthening Our Communities" at the monthly meeting of the Lake County Advancement Committee at noon at Tiebel's Restaurant, U.S. 30 and 41. To make reservations, e-mail Nick Zivanovic at nzivanovic@ccsj.edu or call (219) 473-4303 by March 21. Guests are welcome.

APRIL 3

TINLEY PARK | The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce will host its 23rd annual expo and conference from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Tinley Park Convention Center, located at Interstate 80 and Harlem Avenue. Booths will be sold at a discounted rate until Feb. 21. Admission to the expo is free with a business card. Cost for the keynote breakfast and networking luncheon is $25 each for members and $35 each for non-members. Contact the Southland Chamber at (708) 957-6950 for more information.

APRIL 10

MERRILLVILLE | The Northwest Indiana Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Managers annual conference, "HR for the Next Generation/Bridging the Talent Gap" will be at 7:30 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel. Cost is $95 for members and $135 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.shrmnwi.org.

APRIL 11

CROWN POINT | Farmer's market vendors, growers, producers and food entrepreneurs are invited to "Operating an Efficient Farmer's Market: A Workshop for Market Masters and Vendors" from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Purdue University Extension office, 880 E. 99th Court. (1/2 mile east of the Purdue Calumet Academic Learning Center off 101st Avenue and Georgia Street). Cost is $25. Call Brad Clinehens at (219) 755-3240 for more information.

APRIL 23

MERRILLVILLE | The fourth annual NWI Housing Summit Conference will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, 800 E. 81st Ave. Cost for the public is $40 ($50 after April 11). Cost for real estate agents and attorneys is $50 ($60 after April 11). Lunch tables and booths are available. For more information, call Sharron Liggins at (219) 881-5075 or Brenda Scott-Henry at (219) 883-4151 or visit www.nwihsc.net.

APRIL 24

PORTAGE | Business professionals are invited to the fifth annual BON (Business Opportunity Night) on from 4 to 7 p.m at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. This networking opportunity is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce at (219) 762-3300.

To read more calendar, visit www.nwitimes.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.