Upcoming Events
Trades Connect - Networking Event
Join us for Trades Connect, a dynamic networking event designed specifically for contractors! This event powered by Always Be Connecting, offers a unique opportunity to build valuable relationships within the industry. Connect with fellow contractors and explore the possibilities for collaboration that can arise from every interaction. Don’t miss the chance to expand your network and unlock new opportunities—every attendee represents a potential gateway to success. Come ready to network and grow!
THIS EVENT IS FOR TRADES PROFESSIONALS AND CONTRACTORS ONLY.
Date and time: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa (Milwaukee)
2201 North Mayfair Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226
ABC Pack Day at Feed My Starving Children
Join Always Be Connecting for a Pack Day at Feed My Starving Children – Schaumburg!
We’re coming together as a community to give back in a meaningful way. This special ABC Pack Day is all about rolling up our sleeves, building connections, and making a real impact—together.
Whether you're part of a business, organization, or simply looking to do some good, this is a great opportunity to serve alongside like-minded people and help feed children in need around the world.
Date and time: Friday, March 27, 2026 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Feed My Starving Children, 740 Wiley Farm Court, Schaumburg, IL 60173
The Networking Supercharger:
From Transactional Networking to Power Partnerships
Stop collecting contacts. Start building high-value partnerships.
Are you tired of the cold, transactional nature of traditional networking? Are you ready to move beyond the inefficiency of basic small talk and build relationships that actually grow your business?
Join Raghu Sundara, Founder of Always Be Connecting, for The Networking Supercharger—a group coaching workshop designed to transform how you connect.
Date and time: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Venture X Roliing Meadows
1701 Golf Road, Building 3 suite 300, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Trades Connect - Networking Event
Join us for Trades Connect, a dynamic networking event designed specifically for contractors! This event powered by Always Be Connecting, offers a unique opportunity to build valuable relationships within the industry. Connect with fellow contractors and explore the possibilities for collaboration that can arise from every interaction. Don’t miss the chance to expand your network and unlock new opportunities—every attendee represents a potential gateway to success. Come ready to network and grow!
THIS EVENT IS FOR TRADES PROFESSIONALS AND CONTRACTORS ONLY.
Date and time: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
2307 East Lincoln Highway, New Lenox, IL 60451
Connection Catalyst: Connect & Play
Always Be Connecting is taking over Cube Challenges Schaumburg for a high-octane networking event that swaps awkward small talk for collaborative victory. We’ve designed this experience to break the ice instantly, helping you find those "Power Partners" while navigating 20 immersive, skill-based challenge rooms.
The Experience
Located in the heart of Schaumburg, Cube Challenges is a real-life gaming arena. You’ll be grouped with fellow pros to tackle tasks that require strategy, agility, and a bit of wit. There’s no better way to see how a potential partner thinks on their feet than by working together to beat the clock!
Date and time: Thursday, April 2, 2026 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Cube Challenges - Schaumburg
1317 East Golf Road #Suite 200 Schaumburg, IL 60173
Connection Catalyst: Networking Event
Join us for Connection Catalyst!
Powered by Always Be Connecting, this dynamic networking event is designed to ignite meaningful relationships and spark transformative opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, Connection Catalyst offers a space to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and expand your network.
Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and be inspired. Together, we’ll fuel the sparks that drive success!
Food and Connections included.
Date and time: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: Workbox Chicago – Civic Opera
20 North Wacker Drive # 1000 Chicago, IL 60606
Village Networking Lunch Connect
A midday lunch where you can connect and get to know other business folks in a family room atmosphere. Lunch will be provided.
Date and time: Thursday, April 16, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub
100 West Higgins Road, South Barrington, IL 60010
Connection Catalyst: Networking Event
Powered by a collaboration between Always Be Connecting and Northwest Business Network, this one-of-a-kind networking experience is designed to spark powerful conversations, foster meaningful collaboration, and help you build lasting relationships—including potential power partners.
Set in the vibrant and relaxed atmosphere of Swing Loose Indoor Golf in Hoffman Estates, Connection Catalyst combines professional networking with the excitement of indoor golf on world-class simulators. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or picking up a club for the first time, you'll enjoy swinging, socializing, and sharing laughs in a fun, interactive setting.
Date and time: Thursday, April 23, 2026 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Swing Loose Indoor Golf
2000 Center Drive, #Suite A206, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
Collaborate to Elevate:
Always Be Connecting the S.M.A.R.T. Way
Collaborate to Elevate is Always Be Connecting’s keynote series featuring inspirational speakers who explore topics vital to business leaders and nonprofits. Rooted in our core values of collaboration, relationship building, and community engagement, this series offers practical insights to elevate both individual and organizational impact.
In this 4th installment, Brian Smith, PhD introduces S.M.A.R.T. Communication, a disciplined framework for transforming networking conversations into measurable, lasting influence.
Networking is often treated as a numbers game, more meetings, more conversations, more visibility. But sustainable growth does not come from more connections. It comes from better ones.In this dynamic and interactive session, Brian Smith, PhD introduces S.M.A.R.T. Communication, a disciplined framework for transforming networking conversations into measurable, lasting influence.
Date and time: Thursday, May 14, 2026 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: BluSky Restoration Contractors
3200 Squibb Avenue Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
ABC Partner Event: Build The Team You
Wish You Could Afford presented by Solvo Global
Learn how smart companies scale their teams without exploding payroll.
Growing companies often reach a point where revenue is increasing, but operational capacity is not. Hiring locally becomes expensive, leadership bandwidth gets stretched, and critical work stays stuck on the founder or executive team.
In this session, you will learn how high-performing organizations structure their teams to remove operational bottlenecks, delegate effectively, and build scalable workforces that grow alongside revenue while protecting margins.
This talk focuses on the practical strategies that successful founders and operators use to increase output without increasing overhead.
You will walk away with a clearer framework for identifying which roles should be delegated first, how to structure teams for efficiency, and how to build operational capacity that supports real growth.
Date and time: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Venture X - Rolling Meadows
1701 Golf Road, Building 3 suite 300, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008