Upcoming CFBN Events:

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• Bigger Table Volunteer Event

  • When
    12 Dec 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Imbibe, 7400 N. Croname Rd., Niles, IL 60714​
  • Spaces left
    16

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  As the holiday season approaches, it's both a time of celebration and a moment to count the blessings in our lives. However, many in our community are facing food insecurity, a challenge that can be particularly difficult as the year ends.

  To address this pressing need, Bigger Table has been busy this year working with generous ingredient donors to make smoothie mix.  While another 400,000+ servings of this high protein, high fiber, and delicious product are being sent to food banks this month, Bigger Table volunteers will have an opportunity to get involved and make a difference in their own communities.

  Bring your friends, your family, or your work team! This event is limited to 40 volunteers, and you must register in advance.  Not sure where to donate?  Don’t worry -- we have some great partner charities we can connect you to.  Don’t forget to bring your vehicle so we can load the cases of smoothie mix you would like to donate.

  Every action―big or small―is one step closer to a Chicagoland where no one is hungry. When people are fed, futures are nourished, and we can all reach our full potential.  Join us and make a difference in Chicagoland. 

  Breakfast and beverages will be provided.
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  This event is in collaboration with:

  
  

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• Making The Most of Your Membership: Networking Best Practices

  • When
    9 Jan 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Webinar

  Register

  

  Learn how to leverage CFBN’s resources to become an expert networker. Following networking best practices (and using CFBN’s Member Tools & Perks) can help you improve your communication skills, grow your business, and build your career. 

  Having the right connections can be a big advantage – that’s why networking is such an important skill, and why CFBN exists. In general, building up your networking skill set takes time and practice. Unsure how to get started?  Don’t worry –  CFBN’s list of best practices will set you on the path to networking success. The more you apply these simple guidelines to your networking efforts, the better your results will be.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• The Latino Advantage: Unlocking Grocery’s Next Big Opportunity

  • When
    16 Jan 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Webinar

  Register

  
  

  Latino consumers are not just a growing demographic—they’re a powerful force reshaping the future of grocery. As we head into 2026, brands and retailers that understand and authentically engage this audience will be best positioned to drive meaningful revenue growth.

  In this webinar, Diana Leza Sheehan, founder of PDG Insights, will dive into exclusive insights from the US Diverse Consumer Pulse study to reveal what motivates Latino grocery shoppers, how their behaviors are evolving, and where the biggest opportunities lie. You’ll learn how to move from data to action with brand and retail strategies that resonate—and convert.

  What you’ll gain:

  • A fresh look at Latino consumer sentiment, values, and shopping habits
  • Proven brand and retail execution tactics that build loyalty and drive sales
  • Real-world examples of what works—and what doesn’t—in Latino engagement
  • A strategic roadmap to fuel growth in 2026 and beyond

  Whether you're in marketing, merchandising, innovation, or retail operations, this session will help you turn cultural insight into competitive advantage.

  
  

  Speaker

  

  DIANA LEZA SHEEHAN

  CEO

  PDG Insights

  
  

  Diana Leza Sheehan serves CEO and Principal Consultant for PDG Insights. She founded her company to help emerging brands and independent retailers unleash the power of their existing data and discover budget-friendly avenues for customized consumer insights. This enables them to weave more compelling sales narratives and make strategic marketing decisions that truly hit the mark. Drawing from an extensive career spanning nearly 25 years, Diana boasts a unique perspective gained from roles across the spectrum: field sales, consumer and shopper insights, category strategy, and retail insights. To delve into her approach of making insights accessible to all, visit her website and explore her vision.

  
  

  This webinar is in collaboration with:

  
  

  
  

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• M&A Update: Opportunities in the Food & Beverage Sector

  • When
    28 Jan 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    CoLaboratory, 1210 W. Lake St. Chicago IL 60607
  • Spaces left
    92

  Register

  
  

  Join the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network for an in-depth M&A Update. Drawing on recent market analysis, our expert panel will explore why, even in a cautious economic climate, strategic dealmaking in the food and beverage industry is far from slowing down. We’ll delve into the key trends shaping the landscape, including a shift toward larger, more targeted investments and how evolving trade dynamics are prompting companies to re-evaluate their supply chains.

  Our panelists will provide critical insights into this rapidly changing market, discussing how new tax rules could impact transactions and the continued role of private equity in driving growth. This is your opportunity to understand the forces at play in the current M&A environment.

  Network with industry leaders over cocktails and appetizers. Secure your spot to gain a competitive edge and make valuable connections in the Chicagoland food and beverage community.

  
  

  AGENDA

  5:00 PM Doors Open/Check-In

  5:30 PM Panel Discussion and Q&A

  6:45 PM Networking

  8:00 PM Event Ends

  
  

  SPEAKERS

  

  THOMAS DeMINICO

  Director

  BMO Middle Market M&A

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  STEVE GAITHER

  Chief Officer Marketing

  PURA

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  HELANA ROBBINS HUDDLESTON, CIRA 

  Partner, Transactional Advisory Services

  Manufacturing and Distribution Industry - Co-Leader

  Cohn Reznick

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  KEVIN SLAUGHTER

  Partner in and Leader of the Corporate Practice Group

  Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  More Speakers To Be Announced......

  
  

  This event is in collaboration with:

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Making The Most of Your Membership: Networking Best Practices

  • When
    6 Feb 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Webinar

  Register

  

  Learn how to leverage CFBN’s resources to become an expert networker. Following networking best practices (and using CFBN’s Member Tools & Perks) can help you improve your communication skills, grow your business, and build your career. 

  Having the right connections can be a big advantage – that’s why networking is such an important skill, and why CFBN exists. In general, building up your networking skill set takes time and practice. Unsure how to get started?  Don’t worry –  CFBN’s list of best practices will set you on the path to networking success. The more you apply these simple guidelines to your networking efforts, the better your results will be.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Making The Most of Your Membership: Networking Best Practices

  • When
    6 Mar 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Webinar

  Register

  

  Learn how to leverage CFBN’s resources to become an expert networker. Following networking best practices (and using CFBN’s Member Tools & Perks) can help you improve your communication skills, grow your business, and build your career. 

  Having the right connections can be a big advantage – that’s why networking is such an important skill, and why CFBN exists. In general, building up your networking skill set takes time and practice. Unsure how to get started?  Don’t worry –  CFBN’s list of best practices will set you on the path to networking success. The more you apply these simple guidelines to your networking efforts, the better your results will be.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details