Business Related Educational Seminars & Articles
Free and Charged seminars, webinars, podcasts, and articles are made availabel to you to increase your knowledge and awareness about laws, good practices, business operations. These topics will help you sustain your business and grow with your Cahokia Heights Chamber of Commerce. Most are sponsored by non-associated organizations and other Chambers.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in any of the following offerings, products, services, and/or presentations are solely those of the presenter and do not represent any policies or any positions of the Cahokia Heights Chamber of Commerce. We offer these links for information and educational purposes only.
Date/time: Wed, Mar 11/Apr 15/May 13, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: An on-line/Virtual event
Presented by: Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT)
Mastering the State Contracting Game
Presented by experts from DoIT’s Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) and the IT Procurement Office (ITPO), these sessions will provide practical guidance to help you strengthen your RFP (Request For Proposal) submissions and improve your compliance readiness for future solicitations.
March 11 – RFP Part 1: Reading Between The Lines This webinar will take a deep dive into the RFP structure and evaluation, how to dissect requirements, identify mandatory compliance items, and map solutions for evaluation criteria. The session includes BidBuy orientation for RFP access and submission steps.
April 15 – RFP Part 2: Building A Winning Proposal This webinar will cover advanced techniques for building proposals and writing technical narrative, Statement of Work creation, and required documentation preparation. The session will address common submission mistakes and proper file management in BidBuy.
May 13 – RFP Part 3: Price Proposals, Questions, and Post-Submission Process In this final session, learn to master financial and administrative proposal requirements. We’ll guide you through cost development, amendment handling, and clarification responses, while showing you how to use BidBuy effectively for post-submission monitoring and negotiations.
Cost: Free!
Date/time: Wed, Mar 25, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: An on-line/Virtual event
Presented by: Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT)
Office Hours: Supplier Diversity & IT Procurement Office
Connect directly with procurement experts from DoIT’s Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) and the IT Procurement Office (ITPO), for real-time guidance. This session offers a platform to ask questions about state contracting, BEP certification, compliance, and upcoming business opportunities with DoIT.
Cost: Free!
Date/time: Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: NIU Center, 1120 E. Diehl Rd., Naperville, IL 60563
Presented by: Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Why Performance Management Matters!
Discover the difference between managing performance and evaluating it. This workshop helps leaders understand how continuous performance management builds stronger teams, improves communication, and drives long-term growth. Participants learn how to shift from once-a-year reviews to an ongoing, collaborative process that supports employee development.
Through interactive discussions, practical tools, and real-world scenarios, attendees explore performance management techniques such as goal alignment, coaching conversations, and real-time feedback. The workshop also clarifies the limitations of traditional performance appraisals.
Some topics addressed
· Definitions and differences between Performance Management and Performance Reviews
· Explain why performance management is a continuous process, not an annual event
· Identify the limitations of traditional performance appraisals
· Apply modern performance management techniques
· Conduct effective feedback conversations
· Build performance plans aligned with organizational goals
· Why performance management matters
Join us for an interactive workshop to enhance your Performance Management!
Cost: Early bird IL Chamber member: $249.00; Early bird non-IL Chamber member: $299.00
Date/time: Wed, Apr 15/May 13, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: An on-line/Virtual event
Presented by: Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT)
Mastering the State Contracting Game
Presented by experts from DoIT’s Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) and the IT Procurement Office (ITPO), these sessions will provide practical guidance to help you strengthen your RFP (Request For Proposal) submissions and improve your compliance readiness for future solicitations.
This is part 2 of a 3 part Seminar. The first seminar was held on March 11 – RFP Part 1: Reading Between The Lines.
April 15 – RFP Part 2: Building A Winning Proposal This webinar will cover advanced techniques for building proposals and writing technical narrative, Statement of Work creation, and required documentation preparation. The session will address common submission mistakes and proper file management in BidBuy.
May 13 – RFP Part 3: Price Proposals, Questions, and Post-Submission Process In this final session, learn to master financial and administrative proposal requirements. We’ll guide you through cost development, amendment handling, and clarification responses, while showing you how to use BidBuy effectively for post-submission monitoring and negotiations.
Cost: Free!
Date/time: Wed, May 13, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: An on-line/Virtual event
Presented by: Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT)
Mastering the State Contracting Game
Presented by experts from DoIT’s Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) and the IT Procurement Office (ITPO), these sessions will provide practical guidance to help you strengthen your RFP (Request For Proposal) submissions and improve your compliance readiness for future solicitations.
This is part 3 of a 3 part Seminar.
May 13 – RFP Part 3: Price Proposals, Questions, and Post-Submission Process In this final session, learn to master financial and administrative proposal requirements. We’ll guide you through cost development, amendment handling, and clarification responses, while showing you how to use BidBuy effectively for post-submission monitoring and negotiations.
Cost: Free!
Presented by: Score St. Louis – Bi-state Region
St. Louis Business Workshops
Click on the “Info-Register” button to the right to check out all the availableopportunities, workshops, and webinars Score/St. Louis Region makes available to you.
SCORE St. Loius also offers local mentoring. It is a free and confidential service for anyone starting, running, or growing a U.S.-based small business. Work one-on-one or in a small group with an experienced business mentor who will listen to your goals, ask thoughtful questions, and share practical advice based on real-world experience.
Their mentorship program will match specifically you with a mentor based on your business needs and can meet virtually, by phone, email, or in person. Together, you’ll tackle specific challenges – from starting up and managing cash flow to hiring, marketing, or planning your exit – and create an action plan for your next steps. You can return to your mentor as often as you need, for the life of your business.
Cost: $10.00 (in general – cost may vary based on Registration requirements)
Date/time: On demand
Location: Online
Presented by: salary.com
Events and Webinars
Join our expert-led webinars and discover the industry events we’re proud to sponsor. Whether you want to refine your compensation strategy, explore cutting-edge HR technology, or connect with peers, our sessions deliver the insights and tools to help you Get Pay Right®. Gain knowledge that transforms compensation data into compensation intelligence.
Cost: Free