MONDAY
GARY | Donald Koliboski, director of economic development for the Northwest Indiana Forum, will speak at the Gary Chamber of Commerce's monthly membership luncheon at noon at the Buffet and Grill, 411 E. 5th Ave. Koliboski will speak about the Forum's focus on economic development in Northwest Indiana and beyond. The meeting is open to the public. Cost is $17 per person in advance and $20 at the door. Call (219) 885-7407 to reserve a seat.
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
WINFIELD | Bill Masterson Jr., publisher of the Times Media Co., will speak during the luncheon meeting of the Winfield/LOFS Chamber of Commerce. The meeting is scheduled for noon Tuesday at Lakes of the Four Seasons Clubhouse, 1029 Lake Shore Drive, Lakes of the Four Seasons. Masterson will discuss the One Region: One Vision initiative, which looks to bring together leaders of the many diverse interests of the region. His goal has been to create a conversation among the region’s leadership. For more information, contact the Winfield/LOFS Chamber office at (219) 226-0479 or visit http://www.winfieldchamber.com.
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
CHESTERTON | The Chesterton/ Duneland Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly after-hours networking After 5 Club from 5 to 7 p.m. This month, the event will be hosted by Parents As Teachers at the Chamber office, 220 Broadway. For more information, call (219) 926-5513 or visit http://www.chestertonchamber.org.
CROWN POINT | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Wednesdays at First Financial Bank, U.S 231 and Broadway. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 am. For more information, contact Lisa Gapen at (219) 433-8544 or Marsha Coleman at (219) 374-9613.
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
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.
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.
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.
