Remote Chicago Small Biz Expo to Bring Experts, Education and Connection to Current and Future Business Owners

Remote Chicago Small Biz Expo to Bring Experts, Education and Connection to Current and Future Business Owners

The free remote expo will be held on Thursday, March 12to connect entrepreneurs to business resources

CHICAGO -Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced the free remote Chicago Small Biz Expo will be held on Thursday, March 12, from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The remote expo provides Chicago's small business community with a centralized hub of resources to support business success and growth. Attendees will have access to expert-led webinars featuring industry professionals and government officials discussing community-level support for current and future business owners. The keynote speaker will be Julie Roth Novack, CEO and Founder of PartySlate. To learn more and register for the free remote Chicago Small Biz Expo, visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo.

"Small businesses are vital to our local economy and neighborhoods, and we are committed to providing access to accurate information and expert guidance that will ensure their success," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "The remote Chicago Small Biz Expo helps connect entrepreneurs with the resources, opportunities, and support they need to start and grow their businesses in Chicago."

The interactive remote expo will cover topics such as:

• From Licensing to Labor Laws: What You Need to Know About Business Ownersh
• Business Support 360: Full Suite of Resources and Insights from Business Service Organizations

"The remote Chicago Small Biz Expo brings Chicago's small business community together around resources designed to drive growth and long-term success," said BACP Commissioner Ivan Capifali. "Through a series of dynamic webinars, and a powerful keynote address, entrepreneurs gain practical insights to strengthen their operations and contribute to economic growth across our communities."

The keynote address will be delivered by Julie Roth Novack, CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate. PartySlate is a leading platform where event professionals showcase their work, connect with new clients, and turn their photo content into a powerful business asset. Since founding the company nine years ago, more than 30,000 planners, venues, and vendors have uploaded over 3.5 million photos and videos to the platform. Julie is now leading PartySlate's expansion into AI-powered photo management, including the launch of Photo Hub, a tool designed to help businesses use their photos more strategically across sales, marketing, and client communications. By making it easier to search, find, and share the right images at the right moment, PartySlate helps small businesses save time, communicate value more clearly, and convert opportunities into booked business. Julie brings over 25 years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies enhance their digital presence at top digital agencies, including Razorfish and Agency.com.

"PartySlate was built to help business owners meet their customers where they are-online," said Julie Roth Novack, CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate. "Today, that means not just being visible, but being able to respond faster, tell your story more clearly, and use your content to drive real business outcomes. I'm honored to serve as the keynote speaker and excited to share how technology, including AI, can help entrepreneurs connect with customers in more meaningful and effective ways."

The Thursday, March 12^th remote expo will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The schedule is as follows:
9:00 a.m.- 9:15 a.m.: Welcome Address
9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: From Licensing to Labor Laws: What You Need to Know About Business Ownership presented by BACP
10:15 a.m.-10:20 a.m.: Break
10:20 a.m.-11:20 a.m.: Business Support 360: Full Suite of Resources and Insights from Business Service Organizations presented by Neighborhood Business Development Centers

11:20 a.m.-11:25 a.m.: Break
11:25 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Keynote Address

The upcoming expo is sponsored by Wintrust Bank, CIBC Bank USA and Pursuit and in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago and the Chicago Treasurer's Office.

For more information and to register for the free remote Chicago Small Biz Expo, visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo. Follow @ChicagoBACP on social media for updates.

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