Catalyst Ranch

Stop Motion Plant's Salon for experimental art
2024-09-29 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Performance art cohort Stop Motion Plant brings their monthly Salon of new experimental works to Catalyst Ranch.

Stop Motion Plant, in their own words, is a performance art company producing live theater that is personal and truthful. This company began collaborating while studying with the storied Chicago company The Neo-Futurists, and in their three years of devising and producing, they have been notably featured in American Theatre Magazine and Block Club Chicago.
Stop Motion Plant’s monthly Salon is their designated free space available to artists of myriad backgrounds and media for trying out new works with a receptive audience, plus the option of receiving feedback from peers and attendees.
Find more info on attending, as well as for submitting your work for consideration, at Stop Motion Plant’s Instagram.

More info for the Salon

Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago - An Evening with Prof. Sergio Rebelo
2024-10-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago
An Evening with Professor Sergio Rebelo:Wine, AI and the Global Economy
Catalyst Ranch welcomes back members and guests of the Kellogg alumni network as they host an enlightening and engaging social event.

From Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago:

Join us for an exclusive evening where Prof. Sergio Rebelo will share his passions—wine, AI, and the global economy. We’ll enjoy a curated wine tasting of Sergio’s preferred Portuguese brands, paired with his expert take on global economic trends and AI advancements. This is a unique chance to dive deep into these engaging subjects with one of the world’s greatest minds, and to engage with Kellogg alumni. This event will be held at the vibrant Catalyst Ranch in downtown Chicago. Guests are welcome too!

Click here for tickets

Catalyst Ranch's 22nd Anniversary Fundraiser - for Greater Chicago Food Depository
2024-10-21 - 2024-11-22 | Online
Help us combat hunger to ring in Catalyst Ranch’s 22nd Anniversary!
In honor of our big TWO-TWO, every donation we collect will go TWICE AS FAR.
We’re celebrating 22 years of providing creative space for connection and innovation, and our Anniversary is our favorite occasion to extend the good will to our community.

This year, we’re holding this *virtual food drive* for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This organization is very dear to us because they support our Chicago and Cook County neighbors in need with resources to end hunger and reduce poverty.

Donate now

Why you should donate:
⭐ – Every $1 donated helps provide 3 meals.
⭐ – Your impact will be DOUBLED with our Anniversary pledge to match every donation.
⭐ – Your gift helps keep pantries and programs across GCFD’s 800+ community partners stocked with fresh, nutritious and culturally affirming foods such as produce and perishable items.
⭐ – And as a thank you, we’ll name you as a donor on our social media, because your gift deserves celebration!

Donate now

About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
This organization has been fighting hunger and its causes since 1979.
The GCFD partners with a large network of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and programs to distribute food and resources for any of our neighbors facing hunger.
In addition to providing help to anyone in need, they support and administer programs tailored towards specific populations.
In Spring of this year, they completed a 38,000 square-foot facility expansion, including a prepared meal center with the capacity to create and distribute up to 10,000 prepared meals daily.

Thank you so much for 22 years of support for our business, and for your consideration in helping us benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Donate now

From Heartbreak to Healing: A Grief Retreat for Women
2024-10-25 - 2024-10-27 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
From Heartbreak to Healing:A Grief Retreat for Women

Heartbreak to Healing is a two-and-a-half-day grief retreat for women of all ages who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

What if the most impossible loss turned out to set you free in ways you couldn’t imagine?
What if instead of going through loss you could grow through it?
What if you become a more self-actualized, tapped in, and tuned in empowered version of yourself, because of what you’ve been through (not despite it)?
What if love really lives forever and you can learn to continue a relationship with your loved ones on the other side?
What if you didn’t have to go through terrible loss alone or struggle to find the right kind of support or community who understands?
All of that is possible for you. You don’t have to go through the grief journey alone. There is a community of healers, helpers, and sisters ready to walk beside you, support you, and give you the sustainable tools and practices that will make all the difference.
If you are a woman who has lost a loved one at any time in any way, come join us to go from heartbreak to healing!
Heartbreak to Healing is an uplifting and inspiring two-and-a-half-day grief retreat for women of all ages who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It will be led by Dr Laura Berman, a seasoned therapist with 30+ years of experience, a best-selling author, podcast, radio, and television host, and a grieving mother of her son, Sammy, forever 16. She will be joined by a faculty of some of her favorite healers and teachers (more information on faculty below).
Together they will guide attendees through a transformative healing weekend with• lectures• mediumship• somatic experiencing• grief yoga (all levels)• sound baths, breathwork, and other healing & inspiring group activities

All profits from this event will go to Parent Collective, a foundation dedicated to parent education around the dangers of social media and fentanyl and parent healing after child loss.

Faculty (may be adding a few more):

Dr. Laura Berman, Therapist, Author & Grieving Mama
Rebecca Rosen, Medium
Bryan Grijalva, Fascial and Body Work, Psychic, Healer & Visionary
Annmarie Chereso, Mindfulness/Meditation
Tracy Elizabeth Levy, Grief Writing and Grief Yoga
Kristen Burns, Somatic Healing
Tina Cameron, Producer & Healer
Maria Gonzalez-Terrazas, Healer

Click here for more details and ticket purchasing

Vote for Catalyst Ranch for the Summit Awards
2025-03-13 - 2025-03-28
Vote for Catalyst Ranch as your favorite Chicago venue!
The Summit Awards rcognize excellence in Chicago’s hospitality and events industries, and we’re a finalist in their VENUE category…
Vote for Catalyst Ranch — up to twice per day per email, through March 28 — to help us snatch the crown!

Vote now

Impact Grants Chicago — Member Mission Meetup
2025-03-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Impact Grants Chicago:
Member Mission Meetup
Like its sister chapters in the worldwide Impact 100 network, Impact Grants Chicago unites at least 100 women, who each contribute a $1,000 tax deductible donation, to collectively award $100K grants to local nonprofits.
Current and prospective members gather at Catalyst Ranch in March to share a meal and discussion.
From the organization:

You are invited to a Member Mission Meetup on Wednesday, March 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to discuss:
Your ImpactYour InputYour Member ExperienceYour Leadership Opportunities
Together, we will discuss our collective giving impact in Chicago and hear your ideas for our future. We will also share information about how our board operates and leadership opportunities. Women interested in learning more about becoming a member of Impact Grants Chicago are welcome.
A casual dinner of pizza, salad, cookies, and water will be provided. Feel free to bring a beverage of your choice (BYOB).Glasses, bottle openers, and corkscrews will be provided.
There is a $20 per member non-refundable fee.Guests who have never been members of Impact Grants Chicago are free.

Catalyst Ranch is an Open Books collection site. Book donations are appreciated. Open Books was a recipient of $100,000 Impact Grant in 2023.

Register here

Niimbus Influencer Innovation Summit
2025-03-31 - 2025-04-01 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Niimbus Influencer Innovation Summit
Event Description:

Exclusively for decision makers in the influencer marketing industry.
Niimbus is not your typical marketing conference.
The immersive nature of Niimbus allows brand executives to prioritize and elevate the discussions and topics they deem critical, in real time, while developing strong relationships with their industry colleagues.
Why Niimbus?
Spend two days whiteboarding, brainstorming, troubleshooting, and validating what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next in the influencer industry.
Collaborate with your peers to solve critical issues like scaling influencer outreach, standardizing compensation rates, filling tech stack gaps, and leveraging talent management.
Core sessions offer real-time ideating and problem-solving discussions in an intimate setting. Keynotes focus on professional development topics to maximize connection. The event wraps with brand/influencer speed-dating.
Put your hands in the clay to create the very takeaways you came to discover.
Then take those leading edge solutions and ideas back to your team to supercharge your results.

More event info and registration

Crisis Communications Boot Camp
2025-04-10 - 2025-04-11 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Crisis Communications Boot CampPresented by P-World
P-World returns to Catalyst Ranch with their two-day Crisis Communications Boot Camp.

From P-World:

The Crisis Communications Boot Camp is back for its third edition in Chicago, and it’s our most highly anticipated yet! With fresh speakers, cutting-edge topics, and exclusive insights from industry leaders, this is your chance to equip yourself with the critical skills to navigate today’s most pressing reputational challenges.
Why Attend?

Exclusive Case Studies: Gain real-world insights from top crisis experts from PwC, United Airlines, US Gymnastics, Walgreens, IBM, and more. Learn how industry leaders tackled their most challenging crises and emerged stronger.
Reputational Threats Unpacked: Address today’s most urgent issues—deepfakes, political polarization, cancel culture, and the mounting pressure to take a public stance on sensitive topics.
Essential Crisis Skills: Discover the power of internal communications, effective messaging during sensitive issues, and how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) can shape your crisis response.
Mini Workshop with United Airlines: Join United’s top communications team for an interactive session on critical skills every crisis communicator needs and how DEI can strengthen your crisis response.
Full-Day AI Workshop: Dive deep into AI-powered crisis communications with Peter Heneghan, former Deputy Director of Digital Communications, 10 Downing Street. Develop your strategies and sharpen your skills with this hands-on, immersive workshop.

Limited availability; Group discounts available.

Learn more

The Big Pivot: HR's Guide to Working Through Uncertainty, an ImproveIt! Workshop
2025-06-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
The Big Pivot:HR’s Guide to Working Through Uncertainty
Professional and workplace development get a revitalizing spin via improv comedy techniques, as guided by the pros from improve it! They return to Catalyst Ranch for a high-energy workshop for boosting confidence, staying grounded, and leading through uncertainty.
From improve it!:

Get ready for a high-energy, highly interactive experience designed to help you and your team build resilience, boost confidence, and thrive in the face of uncertainty. Our seasoned improv facilitators will guide you through hands-on activities and thoughtful debriefs that turn chaos into clarity.
In this dynamic session, you’ll:

Get real about how uncertainty affects you—and learn how to manage stress
Discover how to stay grounded and make confident decisions when things feel shaky
Strengthen your adaptability muscles with creative problem-solving techniques

Join us for a workshop that will leave you feeling empowered, energized, and ready to take on whatever curveballs come your way. This isn’t your average leadership training—it’s an improv-fueled reset for thriving through change.
The first 30 attendees will get a free signed copy of Erin Diehl’s (improve it!’s CEO) debut book: I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy.

Agenda:

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Working through Uncertainty Workshop
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Optional Networking

Purchase tickets and find more information about the event, improve it! and I See You at the Eventbrite link below!

Tickets and additional information

AMA Chicago: Marketing Collaboration Lab 2026
2026-03-04 18:00 - 20:30 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
AMA Chicago: Marketing Collaboration Lab 2026
The Chicago chapter for the American Marketing Association, who host their regular Connex networking series at Catalyst Ranch, return to launch a new event concept on March 4 for AMA members and non-members alike:

The Lab creates a collaborative space where expertise meets real-world challenges.
Get fresh insights and peer-to-peer learning at the first annual Marketing Collaboration Lab! The Lab is an immersive, ideas-driven experience that brings brand-side marketers and small marketing agencies together for structured, themed roundtable conversations.
Hosted atCatalyst Ranch, Chicago’s vibrant creative hub, the Lab offers a high-energy setting that inspires fresh thinking and authentic connections.
Whether you’re a marketer actively seeking a new agency partner or simply looking for fresh insights and peer-to-peer learning, you’ll engage in meaningful conversations that tackle real marketing challenges, without the pressure of pitches.
With multiple rotation sessions and plenty of informal mingling, the format blends expert facilitation with collaborative problem-solving to spark ideas, build relationships and elevate your marketing strategy.
Key Takeaways

A stronger professional network: Engage with specialists and peers in a relaxed, creative atmosphere that sparks collaboration.
Insights and tools for managing your current challenges: You’ll choose from multiple hot topics aligned to your pain points, rotating among the tables that pertain to you.
Insights and practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Registration: Free and open to all — members and non-members.

Learn more and register

Thursday Therapy - Wedding and Event Industry Networking Night
2026-03-19 17:30 - 20:30 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Chicago’s wedding and event professionals unwind and connect at Thursday Therapy, coming to Catalyst Ranch in March…

SAVE THE DATE: March 19, 2026
Catalyst Ranch is pleased to welcome the long-running, monthly get-together for the folks who throw the best parties: Chicago’s wedding and event planners and vendors!

If you’re looking to meet, mingle, and share with other wedding professionals in Chicago, look no further!
Thursday Therapy provides the perfect agenda-free atmosphere for wedding pros to unwind and connect with friendors old and new.

More details will be announced by Thursday Therapy organizers about what to expect on March 19, including food and drink and entertainment. When registration for this FREE event becomes available, we’ll share the link here, as well as in our newsletter — Sign up here.
We’re can’t wait to see all our wedding and event vendor peers and do our part in providing a fabulous time. See you then!

Thursday Therapy photo by Ed & Eileen Photography

AMA Chicago: Connex - Networking for Marketers
2026-05-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
AMA Chicago: Connex – Networking for Marketers
Stay connected through Connex! Chicago’s chapter of the American Marketing Association hosts this series on the second Wednesday of every other month, bringing together colleagues, friends, entrepreneurs and creative professionals from the best companies in the Midwest. Connect will fellow marketers to talk over what’s happening in marketing in small groups.
Round Robin Discussion Groups
At each event, you’ll rotate tables for short discussions around a hot marketing topic. Experts and topics change for every event, giving you a new experience and skillset every time.

Tickets and additional information
