• Sat. Sep 20th, 2008 @ 8:00am - 4:00pm
• ChicagoRuby.org
• IIT
• Address: 3201 South State Street
• Fee: $ 99.00
• http://windycityrails.org

WindyCityRails is a gathering for all who are passionate about Ruby on Rails. Developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists will interact for a full day in the Windy City. Only 150 seats are available and they are expected to sell fast. Visit http://windycityrails.org for registration and details.

Questions? Contact: http://windycityrails.org

• Sat. Aug 9th, 2008 @ 8:30am - 6:00pm
• SocialDevCampChicago
• Illinois Institute of Technology McCormick Tribune Center
• Address: 3201 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60616
• Fee: Free
• Add Name to Wiki

SocialDevCamp Chicago is an unconference for individuals passionate about social networks, web applications, platform development, new media, and any of the exciting (but messy) topics between.

Join some of the brightest minds in the Midwest for a day of fun, learning, and coding. Discussions will surround topics including Google App Engine, Data Portability, Online Trust, and mobile application development.

Please sign up and contribute to the topics list on the official BarCamp Wiki.

To add your name and contact info to the wiki, use the password \\\”c4mp\\\”

Also feel free to help us SPREAD the word by blogging, tweeting, forced coercion, word-of-mouth marketing, fortune cookie inserts, etc. Link to either this event page or the official Wiki.

BLOG, BLOG, TWEET, POWNCE, BLOG, TUMBLE, SHARE THIS…enter your social media buzzword of choice and help spread the message!

Finally, thanks to Nik Rokop and the Illinois Institute of Technology staff for helping to secure the amazing McCormick Tribune Campus Center. Don\\\’t forget to look up from your computer to enjoy the Mies van der Rohe and Rem Koolhaas designs.

(A successful SocialDevCamp East already occurred in Baltimore on May 10. The next East installment is tentatively scheduled for Fall 08).

Questions? Contact: Tim Courtney - tim at timcourtney , net

• Thu. Jul 10th, 2008 @ 6:30pm - 10:00pm
• Silicon Prairie Social
• Mullen\\\\\’s Bar & Grill
• Address: 3080 Warrenville Rd., Lisle, IL 60532
• Fee: Free
• RSVP and Business Card Required

An opportunity to connect in an informal setting with like-minded people in technology; Silicon Prairie Social is specifically for upwardly mobile tech professionals, tech executives, tech entrepreneurs, technology service providers, Internet professionals, Web 2.0 and startup companies, and the mobile industry. (Note: No professional recruiters, staffing agencies, or active job seekers permitted).



The event is free to attend, free drinks and food will be provided. RSVP is required at http://silicon-prairie-social-3.eventbrite.com.
For more information see www.siliconprairiesocial.com or contact Tim Courtney via social [at] xnet [dot] com.

Questions? Contact: Tim Courtney - 630.983.6064 or social at xnet dot com

• Tue. May 27th, 2008 @ 10:00am - 11:00am
• California Institute of Technology IRC’s Technology Marketing Center
• Pasadena
• Address: Webinar
• Fee: Free
• Register at www.technologymarketingcenter.com

When selling technology products, marketing personnel are often not technical enough and engineering does not have adequate marketing skills. In this free webinar sponsored by Caltech IRCs Technology Marketing Center on May 27, 2008, learn how Texas Instrument’s Digital Light Processing Division solved this problem by creating its unique Product Marketing Manager Development Program, a marketing bootcamp which combines classroom instruction and real-world projects to develop skills and then places technical managers in marketing job assignments.

Questions? Contact: Julie Anderson, jka@caltech.edu, 626-395-3746

• Wed. Apr 23rd, 2008 @ 11:30am - 1:10pm
• WWN
• Your browser
• Address: Online
• Fee: $ 119

Marketing to Business Owners and Top Executives: 5 Keys to Opening Doors and Closing Deals

You want their attention. You need their response.

You ardently desire their buy-in.

You - and everybody else.

Register today for this educational WWN webinar on best practices in executive-level B-to-B lead-generation. Actionable, adaptable case study details and results to be presented and discussed include: (1) How a major account acquisition program by a large health plan provider earned a 15:1 ROI (2) How a B-to-B ISP slashed their cost-per-sale by 63% (3) How a reseller of high-tech hardware generated a 5% VIP-level response — and much more, plus your individual questions. Gain fresh insights on how to GET THROUGH to, GET SEEN by and GET RESULTS from those with executive-level purchasing authority. 11:30 - 1:10 EDT

Questions? Contact: enicastro@whatsworkingnow.net

• Tue. Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 11:00am - 2:00am
• NAWBO
• Hilton
• Address: 720 South Michigan
• Fee: $ 80
• Call NAWBO at 312-609-1300 or visit the NAWBO Chicago site

Join the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and featured speaker, Kay Koplovitz, the founder of USA network and the first woman president in television history. She is the author of Bold Women, Big Ideas, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity. Koplovitz also created Springboard Enterprises, a national organization that fosters venture capital investments in women-led high growth companies.

Questions? Contact: NAWBO/312-609-1300

• Tue. Apr 8th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 2:00pm
• Technology Entrepreneur Center, University of Illinois
• Illini Center, 4th Floor,
• Address: 200 South Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: $ 12 in advance, $ 15 at the door
• Register online or call Stephanie at 217-244-3124

Please join the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigns Technology Entrepreneur Center for an Illini-TEC Forum luncheon event:

Updates and Changes in Patent Law and How They Affect Inventors and Entrepreneurs

Our distinguished speakers:

Joe Barich, Shareholder, McAndrews Held & Malloy LTD

Joe has been helping his clients develop and manage their patent portfolios, both in the U.S. and abroad, for about 10 years. He works with companies of all sizes, but takes special delight in helping small or startup companies advance to the next level. Joe is also currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois College of Law where he has taught Patent Prosecution since the Spring of 2005 and this year started a Patent Pilot Program in which he supervises third year law students as they write patent applications for innovations from the Cozad Business Plan Competition and Lemelson Innovation Competition. Joe was also recently named one of the 2008 Rising Stars on the Super Lawyers list.

Troy A/ Groetken, Shareholder, McAndrews Held & Malloy LTD

As a registered patent practitioner, Troy regularly counsels international and Fortune 100 and 500 clients and individual entrepreneurs/inventors regarding advanced patent prosecution issues (U.S. and foreign), licensing, complex transactional issues, and global portfolio management matters involving chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological technologies such as new drug (small-molecule, recombinant, combinational technologies, etc.) entities, mesenchymal stem cell therapies, amphetamine conjugate therapies, medical devices, pediatric pharmaceuticals, surfactant technologies, agricultural compositions, gellants, biocidal materials, polyols, lubricants, coatings, laundry and cleaning products, pharmaceutical supplements, personal care and cosmetic formulations, alternative fuels, and renewable energies.

Prior to practicing patent law, Troy has worked as a clinical consultant pharmacist. Troy is also the past-President and current Vice-President/Board Member to the Association of Patent Law Firms. Troy was recently selected as a Rising Star by the Illinois Super Lawyers independent survey for 2008.

Lunch will be served.

Cost: $ 12 in advance, $ 15 at the door

Register: by 5:00 PM on Monday, April 7 or at the door

Questions? www.tec.uiuc.edu or 217-244-3124

Limited seating available, so register today!

This TEC Forum is sponsored by the law firm of McAndrews Held & Malloy, Ltd. located in Chicago, Illinois . McAndrews is well known in the United States and internationally regarding its excellence and expertise in providing comprehensive intellectual property services ranging from patent prosecution to patent litigation to individuals and corporate entities. McAndrews has been recognized as one of the top 10 firms in the country for prosecuting diverse technologies such as electronics and medical devices. McAndrews has also amassed a stellar record of litigation successes including one of the top ten largest patent infringement damage awards in U.S. history. It is no wonder that McAndrews was recognized by Chambers USA as the leading intellectual property law firm in Illinois.

We invite you to call us directly (312-775-8000) or visit our website at http://www.mcandrews-ip.com/.

Questions? Contact: call Stephanie at 217-244-3124 or email at larson42@ad.uiuc.edu

• Fri. Dec 14th, 2007 @ 9:00am - Sun. Dec 16th, 2007 @ 5:00pm
• Windy City Perl Mongers
• Hostel International
• Address: 29 E. Congress, Chicago
• Fee: free
• RSVP website

Join local Perl hackers for three days of informal group work on various Perl topics. Volunteer to help other people on their projects, get people to work on your project, or just work alone while hanging out with other Perl programmers.

If you are coming from out-of-town and would like to stay at the hostel, we’ve reserved some beds. See the wiki for reservation details.

Questions? Contact: joshua.mcadams@gmail.com

This sounds like a super cool event! — Ed.

• Thu. Dec 6th, 2007 @ 6:00pm - 11:00pm
• Ignite Chicago
• Goose Island Wrigleyville
• Address: 3535 North Clark St
• Fee: $ 0
• RSVP at upcoming.org

If you had five minutes on stage what would you say? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds? Around the world geeks have been putting together Ignite nights to show their answers.

For more information check out http://ignite-chicago.org

Questions? Contact: harper dot sean at gmail dot com

• Fri. Sep 28th, 2007 @ 7:00pm - Sat. Sep 29th, 2007 @ 5:00pm
• SilverlightDevCampChicago Wiki
• Clarity Consulting
• Address: 1 N Franklin Suite 3400 Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: Free
• Add your name to the attendees list on the Wiki

SilverlightDevCampChicago is an upcoming gathering, inspired by BarCamp, to build Silverlight applications, It is organized by volunteers & Silverlight enthusiasts, with attendance free to all. It is the same weekend as Adobe MAX, but Adobe MAX costs $ 1,495. This is free to attend. Plus you can help plan it or lead sessions with a simple edit of the event wiki page.

While similar to iPhoneDevCamp this event is focused on a singular technology, we would like offer some diverse sessions like using PHP to generate Silverlight content, IronRuby/IronPython & the DLR or Moonlight on Linux.

Attendees will include web designers, developers, testers, all working together over the weekend to build Silverlight applications, share experiences, ask questions, and push the limits of web application design. If you are interested in Silverlight, but have not had time to learn, this is your chance to get up to speed. Plus you will be able network with other developers in the Chicago area who are interested in Silverlight.

In the barcamp spirit, this is a community event driven by developers around the area. If you have ideas for topics or you want to show off some Silverlight applications you have built, please add it to SilverlightDevCampChicagoSessions

Questions? Contact: silverlightdevcamp@gmail.com

• Tue. Sep 25th, 2007 @ 5:30pm - 7:30pm
• Business Network Chicago
• Midtown Kitchen & Bar
• Address: 203 N. LaSalle (in the loop, just North of State of IL building)
• Fee: 17.00
• register online

Please join us for the next gathering of the BNC IT Group. This month Robert Harney will be our guest speaker. Robert is the president of RHS Telecom (www.rhstelecom.com). The presentation is called ‘Pay Close Attention to What is Behind the Curtain’. Robert will be talking about all the things you need to consider when choosing a telecommunications service for your company.

You will notice that with this event there are some differences: 1) it is an early evening/after work event, 2) it is scheduled to last 2 hours, 3) the first 30 minutes will be used for mingling and 4) there will be a cash bar. At 6:00 pm, we will have the 15 minute presentation from Robert Harney and then we will begin our speed networking table rotations.

All attendees will be charged a fee of $ 17.00 which covers the cost of some appetizers and the room. Because we will have a cash bar, you will be responsible for paying for your own drinks. The registration fee will be collected on line at http://sept07bncitgroup.eventbrite.com. Once you have paid the registration fee, you will receive an email confirming your RSVP.

RSVPs will be required in order to attend the event. Midtown Kitchen & Bar requires a guaranteed head count by Friday, Sept 21, at noon. Therefore, no reservations will be accepted after Friday, Sept 21st at 11:00am CST.

Space is limited so make your reservation early. Once all seats are filled, you must send me an email to have your name put on the wait list. If space opens up, you will be sent an email or I will call you to tell you how to submit your registration fee and receive your RSVP confirmation.

Please bring your business cards and/or hand bills which you can share with the other attendees when you move from table to table. An attendee list will be included in the handouts packet which is distributed to all attendees.

To contact me:
Call: 312-431-8335
Email: jpic333@hotmail.com

We actually had to turn people away at our last event. Our group is growing. I am starting out with 36 spaces this time. However, I expect that the space will be filled quickly so don’t wait until the last minute. Sign-up early to make sure you can attend our first evening networking event.

See you there,
Jean Pickering President The Tektite Group, LLC

• Thu. Sep 20th, 2007 @ 6:30pm - 10:00pm
• Silicon Prairie Social
• Mullens Bar and Grill
• Address: 3080 Warrenville Rd., Lisle, IL 60532
• Fee: Free
• RSVP Required

Silicon Prairie Social is a great opportunity to connect in an informal setting with likeminded individuals in technology; whether you are an upwardly mobile professional, an entrepreneur, an established service provider, or a VC. We welcome everyone; IT workers, e-commerce companies, Internet and Web 2.0 startups, mobile and mobile marketing, B2B service providers, and more.

The event will be held at Mullens Bar and Grill in Lisle immediately off of I-88 and Naperville Rd. Mullens is centrally located in the suburbs, and easy to get to from Chicago as well as the tech corridors of I-88, I-355, and I-90.

Questions? Contact: Tim Courtney - tim (at) siliconprairiesocial [d-o-t] com

• Tue. Aug 28th, 2007 @ 9:00am - 4:00pm
• Apple, Inc
• The Allerton Hotel
• Fee: Free, need to sign up online
• Sign up online

Web 2.0 Applications. Meet iPhone.

Hear from the experts as they offer in-depth technical information on how to optimize your Web 2.0 application and content to take advantage of the features and capabilities of iPhone. Select a city and register today.

Bring your notebook, your code, and your iPhone

After a morning of in-depth presentations and demonstrations, you’ll work with the experts to design, code, debug and test your solutions on iPhone. Access to your code is required.

• Mon. Aug 27th, 2007 @ 9:00am - Tue. Aug 28th, 2007 @ 4:30pm
• An Event Apart - Chicago 2007
• Chicago Marriott Downtown
• Address: 540 North Michigan Avenue
• Fee: $ 795 through July 27 ($ 895 after)
• RSVP website

A fantastic conference dealing with Web development - CSS, DOM Scripting, information architecture and way more. Speakers include Dan Cederholm, Liz Danzico, Jim Coudal, Derek Featherstone, Eric Meyer, Jeremy Keith, Luke Wroblewski, Jason Santa Maria and Jeffrey Zeldman.

• Mon. Apr 9th, 2007 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm
• The Midwest Entrepreneurs Forum
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Address: 565 W. Adams, Chicago
• Fee: Free to members, $ 20.00 for non-members

In an ongoing effort to provide our members with the tools they need to successfully develop their businesses, we are presenting another educational presentation, entitled: “Shared Experiences from the Trenches and Things That Worked for Me” Session 2

Sometimes it’s a principle; sometimes it’s a quote/advice from a mentor, friend, or book. We’ve asked three very experienced entrepreneurs, to share with us their favorite lessons they’ve learned that have helped them succeed, or even just survive.

One thing all three of these entrepreneurs know is that to be a success, you must be passionate about your work. Half-hearted enthusiasm will not sustain you during the many challenges that will lie ahead. Your passion must translate into a labor of love. For your developing business to succeed, you must focus all your energies and attention on your company, and accept the demands and sacrifices it will place on your personal life.

The April 9th event will feature:

Michele Honomichl is founder and CEO of Celergo, LLC

Celergo (www.celergo.com) manages local and expatriate payrolls for multinational corporations in the oil, financial services, real estate, technology, and various other industries. Celergo currently supports over 65 clients with payrolls in more than 60 countries, including many Fortune and Inc 500 companies.

In 1999, Michele started her entrepreneurial career with an expatriate technology company, GPSLink. She was the chief architect of the technology and raised capital from a strategic partner for this venture. As the needs of international corporations changed in the early 2000’s Michele realized there was greater potential in providing payroll services to multinational companies. With a new technology capability of supporting complex payroll consolidation, Michele launched Celergo in late 2003. Today, Celergo has 24 people based in offices in Deerfield, IL, and London, UK.

Greg Padovani is Founder and President President One to One Communications www.penscommunications.com

Greg is one of the pioneers of One-to-One communications. While at Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago, he listened to patients. He learned firsthand that people wanted information that is relevant, brief and useful. With this insight, in 1993 he implemented the first individualized newsletter.

Realizing that there was a customer need and a client demand for this type of communication, Greg founded PENS Communications Systems (PCS) in 1998. PCS combined unique new software with print production technologies allowing clients to deliver true One-to-One communications to their patients while tracking results using their own billing data. All this was delivered using a business model that delivered high value services at acceptable costs and profits.

A.J. Singh has been the President and CEO of Modularis

(www.modularis.com) since he founded it in 1999. Modularis is a Chicago-based software and services provider to Independent Software Vendors worldwide. At Modularis, A.J. has been the driving force behind Accelerator, Modularis’ cutting-edge software automation toolset and framework for the Microsoft .NET platform. Through his efforts and those of his close-knit team, Modularis has been chosen to provide the core technology for several large-scale, mission-critical software applications sold in the public safety and telecommunications sectors.One example of their international clients is TATA India.

Before founding Modularis, A.J. worked as a software architect for Whittman-Hart, and Computer-Integrated-Manufacturing manager for Motorola.

He obtained a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A.J. has over twelve years of experience in software architecture, design, and engineering.

The Midwest Entrepreneurs’s Forum (MEF) promotes and strengthens the process of starting and growing companies by providing services, which educate and inform entrepreneurs. MEF meets the second Monday of each month (except July, and August ) at the Downtown Campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology, 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A suburban meeting is held the last Tuesday of each month (except July and August) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Daniel L. and Ada F. Rice Campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology, 201 East Loop Road, Wheaton, IL (directions listed).

Each MEF meeting normally features a case presentation/panel discussion that spotlights a single company in a critical stage of development. MEF membership is $ 60 per year or $ 20.00 to attend a single meeting to see if membership is something you think would benefit you. If you decide you want to become a member bring your receipt for $ 20.00 within 30 days to the next meeting and you will only be required to pay an additional $ 40.00 to become a member for the year. Year is from your payment to the next year. Students with a valid ID pay $ 5.00. IIT students with a valid id get in free.

Questions? Contact: mef@ jerryRmitchellandassoc.com

Hmmm.. This seems a bit of a stretch for Techsocial, but I definitely advocate deeper integration of tech and biz types with the creatives. -JAW

• Thu. Mar 15th, 2007 @ 12:00am - Fri. Mar 16th, 2007 @ 12:00am
• PII (Print Industry of Illinois/Indiana Association)
• TMA Training Center
• Address: 1177 S. Dee Road, Park Ridge, IL
• Fee: $ 275 members/$ 550 non-members
• Call PII at 312-704-5000

March 15 and 16: 8:30AM - 3:30PM

This two day seminar is perfect for creatives that work closely with the print industry to gain a greater understand of the entire process, which in turn, will provide them with a chance to save money on future print jobs!

For more information, please visit the PII website, www.pii.org or call us at 312-704-5000.

Questions? Contact: braval@pii.org