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 | 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.
HAMMOND/MERRILLVILLE | A live video feed of Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s next Life Science Lunch Series seminar, “Point/Counterpoint: Are Human Genes Patentable?,” is set for 10:30 a.m. to noon March 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.
MERRILLVILLE | e Engaging NWI Business Women are hosting "Building a Sound Financial House" from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn, 7775 Mississippi St. RSVP for this free event by emailing chighsmi@centier.com. For more information, visit www.engagingNWIbusinesswomen.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
HAMMOND | The NWI Society of Human Resource Managers Diversity Advisory Committee is holding a repeat of “Disabilities: Real or Perceived." This session is a regularly scheduled NWI-SHRM membership meeting and will be at 11:30 a.m., at Dynasty Banquet Hall, 4125 Calumet Ave. For more information or to register go to www.shrmnwi.org
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.
MERRILLVILLE | Toastmasters meets from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. 81st Ave. For more information, call Dale Brooks at (219) 775-7788.
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
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.
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.
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.
MARCH 24
MERRILLVILLE | A new chapter of Business Networking International will meet 11:30 a.m. at T.J. Maloney’s, located inside the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, 800 E. 81st Ave. BNI provides a forum to network, enhance business development skills and address how to attack the current economic environment. For more information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 427-5933.
APRIL 7
CROWN POINT | First Financial Bank’s Morning Business series presents “Top 8 Marketing Mistakes that Small and Medium Sized Businesses Make and How to Overcome Them” from 8 to 9 a.m. at the bank's office at U.S. 231 and Broadway. RSVP by contacting Judith Mariola at (219) 226-2066 or Judith.mariola@bankatfirst.com.
APRIL 14
MERRILLVILLE | The Northwest Indiana Society of Human Resource Managers is having its 12th Annual Human Resources Conference, "Connecting Leaders…Solving Tomorrow’s Challenges and Creating Opportunities Now!" at the Avalon Manor, 3550 E. U.S. 30 Continuing Education Units are available. To register and for more information go to www.shrmnwi.org.
MAY 6
MERRILLVILLE | Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob will deliver opening remarks for the annual Build Indiana Summit from 7 a.m. to noon at The Avalon Manor, 3550 U.S. 30. Presentations and panel discussions will focus on regional finance, logistics, real estate and green development. For more information and to register, visit buildindianaconference.com.
MAY 14
MERRILLVILLE | The annual Northwest Indiana Construction Awards Banquet, which feature the safety awards presented by the Construction Advancement Foundation and the Northwest Indiana Business Roundtable, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Avalon Manor, 3550 U.S. 30. Tickets are $85, or $800 for a table for 10. Limited sponsorships are also available. To register for sponsorships, visit buildingindiananews.com/cafnwibrt.php.
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 nonprofit 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.
