KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Prof. John Lynch, Associate Professor, Director of Institute of Leadership Excellence and Development (iLEAD)

Join the WCA for our first Speaker Series Luncheon of the 2026! Professor John Lynch will present the results of the Chicagoland Small Business Outlook Survey and share the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses in our city.

Prof. Lynch is a respected economist and Director of Institute of Leadership Excellence and Development, he leads research on labor markets, firm performance, and survey-based business indicators. He’ll reveal key findings on Chicago's small business revenue, hiring, capital access, and tech adoption.

Agenda:

12:00pm - Welcome & Networking

12:15pm - Lunch

12:30pm - Small Business Survey Presentation

1:00pm - Q&A with Professor Lynch

1:30pm - Networking

2pm - Event close

Register today - seats are limited