Business calendar

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 or John Vurpillat at 219-669-6804.

PORTAGE | The Northwest Indiana Professional Network meets from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays at Portage Work One, Ameriplex Commercial Park, 1575 Adler Circle, Suite A. For more information, contact Sandra Alvarez at the Center of Workforce Innovations at (219) 462-2940 or salvarez@innovativeworkforce.com .

TUESDAY 

The Indiana Small Business Development Center network is partnering with the National Association for the Self-Employed to offer free tax webinars. The three-part series launches with "Top 5 Tax Questions for the Self-Employed" from 11 a.m. to noon. To register for the free event, visit www1.gotomeeting.com/register/851795504 . For more information, contact the NWI SBDC at (219) 644-3513 or visit www.nwisbdc.org .

MERRILLVILLE | The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center is offering its business feasibility workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Purdue University Calumet Academic Learning Center, 9900 Connecticut Drive, in Room 246. The cost is $25 and registration and payment are required in advance. To register, contact the NWI SBDC at (219) 644-3513 or register online at http://isbdc.ecenterdirect.com , click on training events, choose Northwest under centers and follow the instructions. For more information, visit www.nwisbdc.org .

HAMMOND | The Rotary Club of Hammond meets from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays in the Student Union Library Building at Purdue Calumet, 2200 169th St. For more information, call (219)513-0549, or visit www.hammondrotary.org .

MERRILLVILLE | Southshore Business Networking, will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month Cafe Divine, 9000 Taft St. Call Rick Gosser at (219) 808-9888 or visit http://www.southshorebusinessnetworking.com .

HIGHLAND | BNI, Business Networking International will meet from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays at Harry's Grill, 9400 Indianapolis Blvd. Contact Michael Pelz at (815) 370-2940.

WEDNESDAY

CALUMET CITY | Jim Garrett, president/CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau will be the guest speaker at the  Calumet City Chamber of Commerce Membership meeting at 11:45 a.m. at Tom's Restaurant, 894 Burnham Ave. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $15 for members and $18 for nonmembers. For reservations, call Chamber Program Director Chris Martin at (708) 862-3737.

MERRILLVILLE | The Northwest chapter of the Indiana Workers Compensation Institute will feature a 2012 Worker's Compensation refresher for its February Luncheon. Mike Pelz, Director of Operations, Comprehensive Care, will be presenting on the topic of: Work Comp 101 (Infrastructure & Case Management). IWCI Northwest luncheon meetings are held every fourth Wednesday of the month, at 11 a.m. at Gamba's Restaurant, 455 E. 84th Drive. Cost is $25 for lunch. RSVP to rspanburg@acceleratedrehab.com.

CROWN POINT | BNI, Business Network International, meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Schoop's, 1124 N. Main St. For information, call Michael Pelz at (219) 427-5933 or (815) 370-2940.

CROWN POINT | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets Wednesdays at Fahrenheit 212, 10805 Broadway. Networking starts at 7:15 a.m.; meetings start at 7:30 am. For more information, visit http://roinetworkinc.com .

MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Chapter of BNI, Business Networking International, will meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Innsbrook Country Club, 6701 Taft St. Contact Michael Pelz at (815) 370-2940.

VALPARAISO | BNI, Business Network International, meets from 7 to 8:30 am at The Hampton Inn, 1451 Silhavy Road. For information call Beckie Guffin at (219) 462-2771.

THURSDAY

MERRILLVILLE |  Merrillville Breakfast Kiwanis meets from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at Petro's Restaurant,  6190 Broadway Ave. For more information, please contact Mary Jane DiMichele at (219) 934-6318 ext. 239 or visit www.MerrillvilleBreakfastKiwanis.com .

MERRILLVILLE | The Merrillville Noon Kiwanis Club meets from noon to 1 p.m., Thursdays at Petro's Restaurant,  6190 Broadway Ave. For more information call Bruce Woods at (219) 794-1259 over visit www.merrillvillenoonkiwanis.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. Call Michael Pelz at (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. For more information, visit http://www.portercounty.com .

VALPARAISO | The Referral Organization of Indiana (ROI) Business Networking Group meets at 8 a.m. Thursdays at Regional Federal Credit Union, 2801 Boilermaker Court (behind Menards). For more information contact Kealah Parkinson at (708) 955-5131.

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 meets at 7:15 a.m. Fridays at either Cafe Divine (Inside Living Hope Church, 9000 Taft St.) or AJ Specialties (1308 East 85th Ave.) Check the website for location, http://nwinetworking.org/events.php. Contact Carl Watroba at carl@compdrinc.com or (219) 776-7423 for more information.

SATURDAY and FEB. 26

CROWN POINT | The Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce Antique & Collectibles Show will be Feb. 25 and 26 in the Industrial Arts Building at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 26. For more information, call (219) 769-8180.

Feb. 28 and 29

CHESTERTON | Westchester Public Library, 100 W. Indiana Ave., will offer a free two-day workshop for those interested in creating a new resume or polishing an existing one, plus learning valuable tips on making a great first impression on potential employers during an interview. The workshops will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28 and 5 to 8 Feb. 29. Visit www.wpl.lib.in.us .

Feb. 29

Three local business advisers are offering a business improvement full-day webinar, "Focus on the Customer," on Feb. 29. The webinar will be presented by Ursula Saqui, of Saqui Research, Kathy Sipple, of My Social Media Coach, and Larry Galler, small business coach and Times columnist. The cost is $79 for registrations before Feb. 22 and $129.00 thereafter. For a schedule of presentations and to register, visit http://2012businessleap.eventbrite.com/ . For more information, call (219) 464-9463.

MARCH 1 and 6

Vogelsang Asset Management LLC will host "Family Legacy Seminar - planning and providing for your financial legacy" at 6:30 p.m. March 1, 2012 at Strongbow Inn, 2405 U.S. 30, Valparaiso and at 6:30 p.m. March 6 at Pottawattomie Country Club, 1900 Springland Ave., Michigan City. For more information or to make a reservation, call (219) 462-0110 or email tcolosino@wfafinet.com.

MARCH 20

VALPARAISO | The Association of Fundraising Professionals IN. Northwest Chapter will present a workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ivy Tech Community College, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive. The workshop is open to the public and is designed to benefit fundraising professionals at all levels. Registration with payment is due March 13. Cost is $75 for members, $95 for nonmembers. Call (219) 252-6223 or email andreapb@giving .

May 30

MERRILLVILLE | The Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the 2012 annual Best of the Northwest Regional Expo "Improving Your Health, Business & Home Starts Here" from 2 to 5 pm at the Radisson Star Plaza in Merrillville. Admission is a recommended donation of $5, proceeds to benefit Meals on Wheels. For more information, contact Farren at (219) 769-8180, or farren@crossroadschamber.org .

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 matt.saltanovitz@nwi.com, or fax to (219) 933-3249.