Upcoming CFBN Events:

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• (WEBINAR) How to Innovate NOW!

  • When
    9 Apr 2020
  •  
    11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL WEBINAR)

  In a time of uncertainty, one thing is not: Organizations that are best able to quickly adapt and drive innovations forward are the ones that will emerge stronger than before. It is with this in mind that CFBN invites you to our live webinar, 

  How To Innovate Now. Led by category experts including Edlong CEO and President Laurette Rondenet, and NewEdge Innovation Strategy CEO Pam Henderson, this 60-minute online event will touch on the future of innovation and how the current climate could accelerate innovation, how your organization can drive innovation during this time, and new ways to think about opportunity in the future. Join us for an engaging conversation and don't forget to bookmark our half-day workshop event coming up in the fall (LEARN MORE)!

  Joining us for this conversation:

  Laurette Rondenet, President & CEO, The Edlong Corporation

  Laurette Rondenet is the President and CEO of Edlong, based in Elk Grove Village, IL. Today Edlong is a global leader in dairy and dairy-free flavors, committed to helping food and beverage manufacturers innovate faster, for authentic-tasting, consumer-pleasing products. Edlong is the only certified woman-owned flavor house (WBENC).

  Under Laurette’s leadership, Edlong has experienced unprecedented growth in the highly competitive flavors category. She leads the organization with a commitment to nurturing long-term, integrated relationships with both customers and employees, and in bringing value to the customer with innovative products and attentive service that truly differentiates Edlong. The company’s mission is “To Enrich the Lives of Those We Touch.” This is accomplished everyday through the foods Edlong’s flavors are in, and the people’s lives impacted. Laurette is an exceptional leader who is passionate about every employee having a voice in our work and future, and on a greater lever, feeding the world.

  Dr. Pam Henderson, Founder & CEO, NewEdge

  Pam Henderson, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of NewEdge Inc., a company that acts as a growth strategy and innovation partner. Pam pioneered Opportunity Thinking™ principles, a new approach to innovation that helps organizations create sustainable growth. This methodology has been applied across industries, transforming companies both large and small, from start-ups and non-profits to Fortune 500 companies.

  Originally on the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, Pam later worked with the national laboratory system to commercialize early stage technologies. Her book “You Can Kill an Idea…But You Can’t Kill an Opportunity!”, a Wiley publication, has been translated into Mandarin and Korean and is in its fourth printing. She publishes widely on market insight, business and innovation strategy, and design and has received recognition in the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, NPR.

  To join us for this conversation:  CLICK HERE to access the Zoom registration link.

  This is a FREE webinar brought to you in partnership with CFBN member company, The Edlong Corporation.

  
  

   

  
  

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• Marketing & Communications Event (Save the Date)

  • When
    4 Jun 2020
  •  
    4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    Bader Rutter, 401 N Michigan Ave #1900, Chicago, IL 60611

  Save the Date - more details and registration coming soon!

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• Innovation: Breakfast (Save the Date)

  • When
    11 Jun 2020
  •  
    7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Location
    Fifty Gazelles, 403 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60642

  Save the Date - more details and registration coming soon!

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• Sensory Event (Save the Date)

  • When
    25 Jun 2020
  •  
    4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    (TBA)

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• Innovation: Beverage

  • When
    9 Jul 2020
  •  
    7:00 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    Big Shoulders Coffee, 2415 w 19th Street, Chicago, IL

  Register

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• Summer Networking - Suburban Networking (Save the Date)

  • When
    23 Jul 2020
  •  
    4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    (TBA)

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• Summer Networking - Party on the Rooftop (Save the Date)

  • When
    6 Aug 2020
  •  
    4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    (TBA)

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• Innovation: Breakfast (Save the Date)

  • When
    13 Aug 2020
  •  
    7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Location
    Fifty Gazelles, 403 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60642

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• Founders Series: Bricks & Clicks - The Future of Retail

  • When
    20 Aug 2020
  •  
    5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Menu Collective, 950 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

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• Innovation: Cannabis

  • When
    10 Sep 2020
  •  
    4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    TBA

  Register

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• Science & Technology: Sustainability Conference (Save the Date)

  • When
    17 Sep 2020
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    (TBA)

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• Supply Chain Event (Save the Date)

  • When
    29 Sep 2020
  •  
    7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    (TBA)

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• Science & Technology: Recall Case Study (Save the Date)

  • When
    1 Oct 2020
  •  
    7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Location
    (TBA)

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• How to Innovate Now: Speed, Agility & Big Ideas (Rescheduled Date!)

  • When
    8 Oct 2020
  •  
    7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    Offshore, Navy Pier, 1000 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

  Register

  Join us for a breakthrough interactive experience that will show you and your team how to create an agile innovation process and get disruptive ideas into the market...right now!

  The beautiful new Offshore rooftop venue (the "world's largest rooftop") located high-atop navy pier will be our home-base for this HALF DAY interactive, workshop experience.  No selling & No pitching - just direct hands-on insights, trend take-aways, and introductions to new ideas and technologies that your innovations team will want to use.

  **Please note the NEW date...Thank you for your patience as we reschedule events impacted by COVID-19!

  Best in class innovation experts, from Edlong, New Edge, and Gastrograph are joining us to introduce new trends, new tools, new technologies, and new methodologies that enable agile, holistic, and robust ways to innovate within your organization....All before lunch!

  The Workshop will include the following programs/presentations:

  (Download the full agenda with all program descriptions HERE)

  • The State of Innovation:  an opening conversation with Laurette Rondenet, Joel Warady & Denny Moy
  • Trends in Innovation Today:  Challenging the “how” in innovation methods used today.

  • Driving Alignment:  Changing How Your Company Thinks About Opportunities to Drive Alignment for Speed & Success

  • Increasing Speed:  Leveraging New Technologies to Increase Speed to Market

  • Launching for Bigger Success:  Creating a holistic approach to ensure bigger, more successful launches
    

  • Final Thoughts:  How can you change how your company does innovation today and in the future?
  • Lunch!

  Accessing the Venue - Offshore is located at the end of Navy Pier - with easy access via valet parking or a direct drop-off location for ride-shares.  This is an all inclusive location with plenty of space for networking, taking a quick call, AND engaging with our day's event.  We know taking a HALF DAY off to join us can be tough with busy schedules - but this is a venue and event not to be missed!

  Joining us for this interactive, hands-on event...

  

  Laurette Rondenet, President & CEO, The Edlong Corporation
  

  Laurette Rondenet is the President and CEO of Edlong, based in Elk Grove Village, IL. Today Edlong is a global leader in dairy and dairy-free flavors, committed to helping food and beverage manufacturers innovate faster, for authentic-tasting, consumer-pleasing products. Edlong is the only certified woman-owned flavor house (WBENC).

  Under Laurette’s leadership, Edlong has experienced unprecedented growth in the highly competitive flavors category. She leads the organization with a commitment to nurturing long-term, integrated relationships with both customers and employees, and in bringing value to the customer with innovative products and attentive service that truly differentiates Edlong. The company’s mission is “To Enrich the Lives of Those We Touch.” This is accomplished everyday through the foods Edlong’s flavors are in, and the people’s lives impacted. Laurette is an exceptional leader who is passionate about every employee having a voice in our work and future, and on a greater lever, feeding the world.

  Joel Warady, Strategic Advisor; Frmer General Manager, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Enjoy Life Foods

  Joel Warady recently ended his tenure as General Manager, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Enjoy Life Foods, a leading brand in the North American Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly food and snack category that experienced 18 consecutive years of growth under his guidance. In 2015, Joel was part of the two-person management team that successfully negotiated an acquisition by Mondelez International.

  In the past few years, he has been ranked as one of the Top 50 CMOs on Twitter by Social Media Marketing Magazine, one of the Top 50 Most Influential CMOs on Social Media by Forbes.com, was included in Brand Quarterly magazine’s list of 50 Marketing Thought Leaders Over 50, and most recently recognized as Twitter’s Most Influential Marketers by AgencySpotter. Post-acquisition, Joel was tapped to provide valuable insights to the Mondelez management team in helping them create best practices on how best to merge the culture of emerging brands whose foundations are built on trust and transparency, while taking advantage of the global expertise that a large multinational can bring to the business. He played varying roles in Mondelez’s investments in Hu Kitchen, Perfect Snacks, and Uplift Foods.

  Denny Moy, Innovation Director, Enjoy Life Foods

  Denny has spent his entire career in CPG F&D industry and most of his life obsessing with new ways to tinker & reinvent new & unique food experiences. He believes that at the heart of food are relationships and finding a new way to tell an ageless story is the essence of what ignites our love for food.  An industry veteran with marketing and innovation roles across brands and companies like Lipton®(Unilever), PillsburyTM(General Mills), Tropicana®(Pepsico), Kellogg’s® and most recently served as Director of Innovation at Enjoy Life Foods (Mondelez®), where he helped multiple award-winning new products Protein Bites & Breakfast Fruit & Oat Ovals. Within each role of his career, Denny has made it a personal & professional mission to contribute back to making a positive social and or environmental change in the industry including leading efforts with Rainforest Alliance, No Kid Hungry & Feeding America among others.

  Prior to entering the CPG side of food & beverage, Denny worked for his family restaurant business at the early age of 8 as well as starting his first LLC business in food delivery at the age of 16.  In his personal life, he is married to his loving wife Bethany and enjoys seeking new adventures with his three children Clementine, Truman & Ellis who inspires his creativity as much as they test his patience.

  

  Pam Henderson, Founder and CEO, NewEdge
  

  Pam Henderson, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of NewEdge Inc., a company that acts as a growth strategy and innovation partner. Pam pioneered Opportunity Thinking™ principles, a new approach to innovation that helps organizations create sustainable growth. This methodology has been applied across industries, transforming companies both large and small, from start-ups and non-profits to Fortune 500 companies.

  Originally on the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, Pam later worked with the national laboratory system to commercialize early stage technologies. Her book “You Can Kill an Idea…But You Can’t Kill an Opportunity!”, a Wiley publication, has been translated into Mandarin and Korean and is in its fourth printing. She publishes widely on market insight, business and innovation strategy, and design and has received recognition in the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, NPR.

  Jason Cohen, Founder & CEO, Analytical Flavor Systems/Gastrograph
  

  Before starting Analytical Flavor Systems, Jason was the Founder and Executive Director of The Tea Institute at Penn State, which oversees 20+ researchers in 5 fields of study in traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Tea. Jason did his research in sensory science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence - eventually developing the Gastrograph system after 3 1/2 years of research.  Jason is a professional coffee, tea, and beer taster, and when he is not trying new products, he enjoys rock climbing, ice climbing, and fencing.

  We appreciate the support and partnership of our member company, Edlong, in helping us to present this event: 

  
  

  
  

  
  

           
  

  
  

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• Founders Series: Driving Velocity & The Start-Up Showcase

  • When
    15 Oct 2020
  •  
    5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Amped Kitchens, 5801 W Dickens Ave, Chicago, IL 60639

  Register

  Save the Date - more details coming soon!

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• Finance Series: Fall Conference (Save the Date)

  • When
    28 Oct 2020
  •  
    8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Wells Fargo, 10 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606

  Save the Date - more details and registration coming soon!

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• (New Date!) 1st Annual Chicagoland Food Industry Career Fair

  • When
    4 Nov 2020
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Hermann Hall, Illinois Tech (Mies Campus), 3241 S Federal St, Chicago, IL 60616

  Register

  

  The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network is excited to be offering our 1st Annual Chicagoland Food Industry Career Fair, presented for students and alumni of all local university, college, and related training programs - coming this fall (Wednesday, November 4th, 2020)!

  

  How do I get involved now?

  In consideration of the current concerns over COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution, CFBN and Illinois Tech have transitioned the previously scheduled career fair to an interactive, virtual platform for April 1st!  The in-person fair will follow this fall (November 2020)!

  CLICK HERE for more information about getting involved now via:

  - Interactive Webinars (CLICK HERE for the full line-up)

  - Current job postings & internship opportunities

  - and, a Database of Student Resumes

  Stay Tuned, more information coming soon!

  Then, coming this fall:  a full-day event, co-hosted by Illinois Tech at their Herman Hall location on their Mies campus, is the best opportunity - for students - to learn about and apply for internships and jobs in the food and beverage industry, and - for Industry Companies - to meet with a diverse network of qualified students and alumni from Chicagoland universities and training programs.

  

  Who will be there?

  Join us to network with over 75+ representatives from all major food and beverage industry companies for jobs and internships in all company sectors, including (but not limited to):

  • Food Science

  • Nutrition

  • Marketing, Market Research & Insights

  • Innovation & Growth

  • Product Design

  • Entrepreneurship

  • Human Resources

  • Sales & Business Development

  • Supply Chain/Value Chain

  • Distribution/Buyer

  • Venture & Finance

  • and related fields

  

  Event Agenda:

  • Doors Open at 9 am for the Exhibitor Floor

  • Exhibitor Floor Open 9 am - 4 pm

  • Job Spotlight Presentations 10 am - 3 pm

  • Final registrations will be at 3:00 pm!

  

  STUDENT/ALUMNI (ATTENDEE) INFORMATION:

  This is a never-before seen opportunity for industry access - come to speak directly with hiring representatives from over 75+ major food brands, manufacturers, start-up organizations and related industry companies, and many more about AVAILABLE jobs and internships in our industry.

  Bring your resume and don’t miss the opportunity to network and find your next opportunity!

  Admission includes:

  • All-day access to the full exhibitor floor with over 75 companies and partner organizations in attendance

  • Ability to upload your resume and information for sharing with all contributing companies, partners, and sponsors.

  • All-day access to “Job Spotlight” presentations - shared by contributing companies to highlight upcoming job opportunities, unique occupations, and sectors that are growing and in demand!

  • Snacks and more shared by our exhibiting companies!

  STUDENTS:  FREE admission is open to all currently enrolled students (undergraduate or graduate level programs) of any university, college, community college, city college, or job-training or industry-training program or curriculum.   To register, choose the Student (General Admission Pass - FREE) registration type.

  If you need assistance with registration, please email us for help.  *Please note, you must have a valid email associated with a university, college, or related job or industry training program - or be able to verify participation in these programs to access FREE admission.

  ALUMNI:  All alumni of local academic programs are welcome to attend!  FREE admission is available to alumni of participating university/educational programs.  You can email us or contact your career services department to see if they are participating and receive the discount code!  Otherwise, admission is $5.

  Once registered:  please complete an Attendee Profile and email a copy of your resume (pdf formats ONLY) to info@chicagolandfood.org.  All attendees must complete a profile in advance of the event - thank you for your assistance with this.

  

  INDUSTRY COMPANY (EXHIBITOR) INFORMATION:

  This is a great opportunity for access to over 400+ potential candidates - come help support the growth, development, and diversity of the food and beverage industry in the greater Chicagoland area! 

  This opportunity is open to hiring representatives from major food brands, manufacturers, start-up organizations, related industry companies, recruiting firms, suppliers/provider companies to the industry, and many more!

  Exhibitor Package includes:

  • All-day access to the full exhibitor floor with over 400+ students/alumni in attendance

  • One exhibit table (6') on the main exhibit floor

  • Ability to access uploaded student profiles + resumes from all registered attendees

  • Access to networking with 75+ industry companies, organizations and related groups

  • Option to share a “Job Spotlight” presentation to highlight upcoming job opportunities/internships, unique occupations, and sectors that are growing and in demand!

  • (4) passes for your team to attend the fair programming

  • (4) passes for your team to attend the post-fair Networking Reception for partners, exhibitors, and sponsors

  CLICK HERE for exhibitor information sheet with all pricing and offerings.

  CLICK HERE to complete an Exhibitor Request form and reserve your spot.

  CLICK HERE if you are with a university, college, or job-training or industry-training program and want to share with your students and alumni?  Here is a little more information on partnering with us for this career fair...or, email us and we are excited to get you involved!

  CLICK HERE if you are with a local non-profit, governmental agency, workforce group, or other supporting industry organization and would like more information on getting involved in our program!  Or, email us and we are excited to have your support!

  
  

  Primary Event contact:  Andrea Carbine (CFBN)

  This event is being presented in partnership with:

  
  

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• Founders Series: Growth Capital - Series Finale

  • When
    5 Nov 2020
  •  
    5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    RXBar, 412 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

  Save the Date - more details coming soon!

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• Innovation: The Finale Event (Better For You & Plant Based)

  • When
    12 Nov 2020
  •  
    7:00 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    ADM, 77 W Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601

  Register

  Save the Date - more details and registration coming soon!

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• End of Year Networking Event (Save the Date)

  • When
    3 Dec 2020
  •  
    4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    (TBA)

  Save the Date - more details and registration coming soon!

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