"From Idea to Impact: Building Business with Local Partners" Panel Discussion Event

Description

Entrepreneurs and small business leaders are invited to attend the upcoming panel discussion, From Idea to Impact: Building Business with Local Partners, on Tuesday, May 27 at the West Chicago Community Center at 306 Main St., West Chicago. Doors open at 5:30 PM for this free, open-to-all event that brings together key regional organizations dedicated to supporting business growth. Attendees will gain valuable insight into a wide array of local resources, including programs and services from the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce, Innovation DuPage (part of the College of DuPage), the City of Warrenville, the City of West Chicago, and Fox Valley Score.

The panel will cover everything from municipal grant opportunities to comprehensive entrepreneurial training. Highlights include the “Owner to CEO” program from Innovation DuPage, which helps business owners scale operations and leadership capacity, and free expert-led workshops from Fox Valley Score covering essential business areas such as marketing, accounting, and legal compliance. This session is a must-attend for both new and established entrepreneurs looking to tap into high-impact, low-cost (or no-cost) support systems that can turn business ideas into lasting success.

About Our Panelists
 

		Larry specializes in retail operations, marketing, pricing, commercial real estate site selection, lease negotiations, food product development, business planning, financial proforma preparation, and securing bank loans. With extensive experience in retail operations, real estate, marketing, and financial planning, I have mentored over 600 SCORE and SBDC clients, helping them start, grow, combat competition and optimize their businesses. My background spans corporate leadership roles where I have successfully guided supermarket operators, retailers, and entrepreneurs in making strategic decisions related to business expansion, market positioning, and profitability.				Amy Emery, AICP is the Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Warrenville.  With nearly 30 years of dedicated service in local government, Amy is a seasoned expert in urban planning and economic development with consulting experience in communities across Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  In 2006, Amy relocated to Illinois to work as a Community Planner for the City of Naperville.  She was promoted within Naperville to Assistant to the City Manager and Development Team Manager before accepting her current role in Warrenville in 2023.  She holds B.S. in Land Use Planning and Management, a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning, and a Master’s in Public Administration. A certified professional in her field, Amy has worked with municipalities of all sizes, helping communities craft long-range plans, shape policy, attract and retain businesses, achieve sustainability goals, and navigate the complexities of intergovernmental collaboration.
		After retiring from banking, he formed a small company with his wife and son which partnered, for seven years, with College of DuPage to deliver their Commercial Driving License Training Program. This program grew to be an important component of the College’s Continuing Education offerings and has consistently exhibited a high level of graduation and a 100% job placement rate.   In February 2019, he accepted an offer to join Innovation DuPage (“ID”) a small business incubator and accelerator located in Glen Ellyn. IL. College of DuPage is the principal driving force behind the creation of I.D. and is the principal founding partner. As Director of Operations and Partner Engagement, his responsibilities include ensuring that the organization effectively serves its existing Members as well as its Economic, Academic and Corporate Partners.				More details to come!
		More details to come!