Game Night: A Camp Boundless Pop-Up!
2019-09-12 18:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Catalyst Ranch, 656 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Camp Boundless returns to wet your board-game whistle! Their Game Night comes back once again this September. Join in the fray and have a fun-filled night of tabletop games of all kinds!
It’s Game Night, Chicago.
Step outside of the box, away from the screen; come play with us.
We’ve got a selection of world-class games for our next Camp Boundless Pop-Up Event: Game Night, with seasoned pros on hand to teach rules and give out hot tips. Here’s your chance to ditch the sheets of instructions that take all the fun out of playing a board game and let the Game Leader teach you the basics and keep you on the path of adventure and creative play.
We’ll have tables set up with different games – you pick a seat at the table with the game that intrigues you the most and the Game Leader will lead the way to enlightenment.
Pizza and table snacks are most definitely included. BYOB if you’d like.
LET THE GAME BEGIN!

CHOOSE THE GAMES YOU’RE CURIOUS ABOUT
We’re bringing some of the most playable, interesting, and engaging games around; click the offerings below to read a description of each! Buy a ticket, and let us know which ones you’re interested in!

​**Don’t worry if you don’t know the rules; we’ll teach ’em to you right then and there.
This Camp Boundless Game Night pop-up event will awaken the player in you and may start a new healthy addiction. Better dust your coffee-, card-, and dining room tables at home: After attending this event, they can expect to get a whole lot more attention!
Special thanks to our partner for this event, Imaginary Services.

Camp Boundless offers a variety of engaging, hands-on experiences for adults who want to explore, learn and grow. All of our events are a chance to disconnect from your phone and reconnect with discovery. Try new activities, meet new people, play games and laugh. Rediscover your childlike imagination and curiosity.
Don’t stop growing just because you’re grown-up!
Visit www.campboundless.com to join our mailing list for all future Pop-Up news, and learn about our Annual All-Day Play Camp!

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

Beyond the Pride Parade: Celebrating True LGBTQ+ Engagement
2019-09-19 18:00 - 20:30
Join the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois for a panel discussion, Beyond the Pride Parade: Celebrating True LGBTQ+ Engagement. Registration is FREE.

With the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall, we saw a increase in corporate companies celebrating Pride in 2019. While this support was greatly welcomed, true LGBTQ+ engagement and celebration must be 365 days out of the year. Our panelists will share insights on ways your company can be a better ally to the LGBTQ+ community beyond Pride month and Pride month activities.
This exciting conversation will be moderated by Channyn Lynn Parker (Manger of External Relations, Howard Brown Health) and will feature four dynamic panelist: Michael Nordman (Community Affairs Manager, MillerCoors), Elizabeth Okey (Community Impact Manager, Wintrust Bank), Bernadette Smith (CEO, Equality Institute, and Mike Ziri (Director of Public Policy, Equality Illinois).

Catalyst Ranch has been proud to host previous networking and panel events for the LGBTCC of Illinois. The photos from past engagements below are courtesy of Starbelly Studios Photography.

Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch in September
2019-09-24 18:00 - 20:00
Ignite Chicago packs the house. Come to Catalyst Ranch September 24 for a night of great ideas!

Ignite Chicago is a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have a burning idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd.

Attending this evening’s Ignite Chicago does good for the city and for your neighbors. All proceeds from Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch go toward funding the volunteer-run, nonprofit organization We All Code (formerly CoderDojoChi), which teaches web, game and app development to youth ages 7 to 17. So when you buy your ticket to expand your mind at Ignite Chicago, you effectively contribute to expanding the minds of young people in our beloved city!

Speaking at Ignite is an unforgettable experience. You step up to the mic. Your palms sweat. You can hear the thump of your blood rushing. Your voice cracks for an instant and then you launch into a rant for 300 straight seconds, wearing your passion on your sleeve, barely pausing to breathe. The crowd goes wild.
Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch is open to everyone. All talks are 5 minutes (20 slides x 15 seconds/slide).

There is no theme for Ignite. You can talk about virtually anything as long as you can show us your passion for it. What’s the thing you most geek out about? What’s the topic of conversation that quickens your pulse and sets your toe a-tappin’? That is what we want to hear you speak about.
All speakers get equal time and equal billing. All talks are 5 minutes. You create 20 slides, and we set them up to auto-advance every 15 seconds.
Complimentary craft beer is generously provided by longtime sponsor Lagunitas Brewing Company.
Want to speak?
The audience at Ignite is generous and patient. They know the Ignite format is difficult, and they realize you might be an absolute beginner at public speaking. Don’t worry – they’ve got your back. You’re giving them your passion and your vulnerability, and they love you for that. You won’t find a more appreciative audience at any other event.
Some people think Ignite is about self-help talks. It isn’t. Nobody wants to hear a preachy pep talk. We’re already “good enough and smart enough,” so let’s keep this about you and your passionate ideas.
Finally, we’re serious about the no pitching thing. We know that sometimes a speaker must mention their profession in order to give their talk context, which is totally fine. But Ignite is not the place to tout your organization or to troll for clients.
Click the logo for tickets.

Find out more about the maestro behind both Ignite Chicago and CoderDojoChi, Ali Karbassi, by clicking here!

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

Chicago Ideas Week 2019 - Inclusion: the Key to a Successful Business
2019-10-12 11:00 - 13:00
Chicago Ideas returns to Catalyst Ranch this October with TWO thought-provoking events on October 12. At 11am, attend their Lab for Chicago Ideas Week 2019 – Inclusion: the Key to a Successful Business.
Chicago Ideas Week 2019 – Inclusion: the Key to a Successful Business
More than 81 percent of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) do not have paid jobs in their communities. Best Buddies (one of the world’s largest organizations dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation people living with IDD) is changing that right here in Chicago (their employees have a 93 percent retention rate). This engaging Lab will first give you a foundation for working with adults with IDD. Then, you and a group of young adults with IDD will work through a round of networking, an elevator pitch workshop, and a mock interview. You’ll learn the unique skills that individuals with an IDD bring to the table, and set them up with the tools they need to achieve their dreams.
Must be 21 or older, and provide valid ID.
Stay at Catalyst Ranch for a second Chicago Ideas Week Lab starting at 2:30pm this same day: Designing the Impossible with Illusionist Jeanette Andrews.

Chicago Ideas is a movement built on one core belief: When a broad spectrum of thinkers and instigators share ideas, we have the power to transform our world.
Chicago Ideas Week, October 12-17, 2019, is a seven-day festival featuring over 200 global thought leaders and innovators speaking on a variety of topics ranging from leadership and life’s lessons, to science and technology, to the most pressing issues of the day and the most creative insights in entertainment. We offer more than 150 engaging programs each Chicago Ideas Week to stimulate, inspire and enlighten participants while providing the opportunity for attendees to think, dream and connect. The best part? Most tickets are only $15, ensuring that anyone who wants access to great ideas can have it.
Chicago Ideas Week Labs offer opportunities for participants to experience and explore the best of Chicago like never before.
Exclusive, behind-the-scenes experiences give participants a unique glimpse into the inner workings of businesses and institutions that are otherwise unavailable to the public.
Small groups will explore what it’s like for business leaders in the boardroom, go behind the curtain at leading theaters and venues, and discover “how-it-works” in hands-on workshops.
Labs sell out quickly, so become a member to enjoy early access to Labs tickets.

Chicago Ideas Week 2019 - Designing the Impossible with Illusionist Jeanette Andrews
2019-10-12 14:30 - 16:00
Chicago Ideas returns to Catalyst Ranch this October with TWO thought-provoking events on October 12. At 2:30pm, attend their Lab for Chicago Ideas Week 2019 – Designing the Impossible with Illusionist Jeanette Andrews.
Chicago Ideas Week 2019 – Designing the Impossible with Illusionist Jeanette Andrews

This interactive and educational workshop delves into the intricate designs behind the process of illusionist Jeanette Andrews. In an exploration of the mysteries of the human senses, Andrews will perform a few of her pieces, then extrapolate with the audience on her unique creative process, outlining what goes into designing the seemingly impossible. Participants will learn how psychology, object making, writing, and the choreography of viewer experience are fused into “impossible” designs in Andrews’ work.
Must be 12 or older. Anyone 12 to 17 must be accompanied by a ticketed parent or guardian who is 18 or older with a valid ID.
Make it a day at Catalyst Ranch by attending this event AND the earlier 11am Lab for Chicago Ideas Week 2019 – Inclusion: the Key to a Successful Business.

Chicago Ideas is a movement built on one core belief: When a broad spectrum of thinkers and instigators share ideas, we have the power to transform our world.
Chicago Ideas Week, October 12-17, 2019, is a seven-day festival featuring over 200 global thought leaders and innovators speaking on a variety of topics ranging from leadership and life’s lessons, to science and technology, to the most pressing issues of the day and the most creative insights in entertainment. We offer more than 150 engaging programs each Chicago Ideas Week to stimulate, inspire and enlighten participants while providing the opportunity for attendees to think, dream and connect. The best part? Most tickets are only $15, ensuring that anyone who wants access to great ideas can have it.
Chicago Ideas Week Labs offer opportunities for participants to experience and explore the best of Chicago like never before.
Exclusive, behind-the-scenes experiences give participants a unique glimpse into the inner workings of businesses and institutions that are otherwise unavailable to the public.
Small groups will explore what it’s like for business leaders in the boardroom, go behind the curtain at leading theaters and venues, and discover “how-it-works” in hands-on workshops.
Labs sell out quickly, so become a member to enjoy early access to Labs tickets.

Brainstorming: Time Management - real people, real conversations
2019-10-16 18:30 - 20:30
Dr. Benjamin Ritter brings the Brainstorming series to Catalyst Ranch to foster real conversations among real people. The evening’s theme: Time Management—from procrastination to prioritization and everything in between.

Do you have issues with time management?
Is procrastination your middle name?
Are you ready to learn how to prioritize?
Come Brainstorm as we dive into the topic of time management and come up with REAL solutions to YOUR concerns.
—
This isn’t an event where you are given a drink ticket and thrown to the wolves.
We have real conversations and meet real people.
None of that “what do you do?” or “wow that weather outside was something”…
This is a brainstorm, where people come together to think deeply and speak openly.
Brainstorming is an event that is focused on bringing people together to talk about a specific theme, cultivate community, and hopefully inspire personal and professional growth. This month we are focusing on the topic of time and schedules.
The event (doors open at 6:15 PM, to provide time for refreshments and icebreakers) consists of breakout and group brainstorming sessions and to discuss specific questions related to the theme of the event: Time Management.
Brainstorming events are limited in size to promote authentic relationships and building community. Get your ticket ASAP if you are planning to attend.
Ticket prices increase on the Monday before the event.

—
Hosted and facilitated by:
Dr. Benjamin Ritter is a Chicago based social entrepreneur, coach, consultant, mentor, and expert in the fields of personal and professional internal leadership development.
Throughout his career he has worked in the areas of hospitality, the entertainment industry, public health, education, childcare, healthcare, and personal and professional development, constantly seeking new experiences to learn more about the world, and himself.
The culmination of his previous personal, professional, and educational experiences led him to create Live for Yourself (LFY) Consulting, a coaching/consulting company that is focused on helping successful professionals find more meaning at life and in work.
LFY Consulting bases its coaching practices on the unique LIVE system, which integrates doctoral level applied learning theory, and curriculum and leadership development research.
Dr. Benjamin Ritter is also the host of the Live for yourself podcast and Live for Yourself events, author of The Live for Yourself Workbook, and The Essentials, creator of The Breakup Supplement, and a freelance expert and writer.

Building Better Leaders - Professional Development
2019-10-21 13:30 - 16:30
Learn how to cultivate the best leadership in your organization from J.K. Egerton, author of Business on the Board.
Building Better Leaders, from Business on the Board®
Do you need a new and creative way to develop the talent in your organization? Do your leaders need a place to practice and improve their strategic thinking and decision-making? Give your team the opportunity to learn strategy skills in an innovative learning series drawn from a surprising source: the chessboard.
Business on the Board® takes the centuries-old and still timelessly relevant tactics of chess and wields them to impart vital thinking skills in a unique game-driven format sure to engage. This creative afternoon workshop will help you begin to build the leaders who will run your company using the mindset and skills of a chess master.

What You Will Learn:

How to think like a CEO
Three powerful leadership styles and when to use them
Using the power of visualization
Generate the strategies and tactics a winning team needs
How problem solving drives better bottom line results
How to delegate, evaluate, eliminate, manage risk, & generate a profit

It’s not another case study. It’s not the same old role-playing routine. It’s a dynamic learning experience designed to give you the strategic edge your competitors can’t duplicate and won’t see coming.
What you get:

3 hours of hands-on, interactive business related training
The #1 Best Selling Book
All training materials
Chessboard & set
Snacks provided

About the Presenter:
Jim Egerton is the CEO and founder of Business on the Board®. He is a corporate talent developer, speaker, Best-Selling author, teacher, coach, manager, leader, and entrepreneur.
For more information, visit www.businessontheboard.com.

Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch in October
2019-10-29 18:00 - 20:00
Ignite Chicago has something to say! Come to Catalyst Ranch October 29 for a night of great ideas.

Ignite Chicago is a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have a burning idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd.

Attending this evening’s Ignite Chicago does good for the city and for your neighbors. All proceeds from Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch go toward funding the volunteer-run, nonprofit organization We All Code (formerly CoderDojoChi), which teaches web, game and app development to youth ages 7 to 17. So when you buy your ticket to expand your mind at Ignite Chicago, you effectively contribute to expanding the minds of young people in our beloved city!

Speaking at Ignite is an unforgettable experience. You step up to the mic. Your palms sweat. You can hear the thump of your blood rushing. Your voice cracks for an instant and then you launch into a rant for 300 straight seconds, wearing your passion on your sleeve, barely pausing to breathe. The crowd goes wild.
Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch is open to everyone. All talks are 5 minutes (20 slides x 15 seconds/slide).

There is no theme for Ignite. You can talk about virtually anything as long as you can show us your passion for it. What’s the thing you most geek out about? What’s the topic of conversation that quickens your pulse and sets your toe a-tappin’? That is what we want to hear you speak about.
All speakers get equal time and equal billing. All talks are 5 minutes. You create 20 slides, and we set them up to auto-advance every 15 seconds.
Complimentary craft beer and satisfying pizza are generously provided by sponsors Lagunitas Brewing Company and Jet’s Pizza!

Want to speak?
The audience at Ignite is generous and patient. They know the Ignite format is difficult, and they realize you might be an absolute beginner at public speaking. Don’t worry – they’ve got your back. You’re giving them your passion and your vulnerability, and they love you for that. You won’t find a more appreciative audience at any other event.
Some people think Ignite is about self-help talks. It isn’t. Nobody wants to hear a preachy pep talk. We’re already “good enough and smart enough,” so let’s keep this about you and your passionate ideas.
Finally, we’re serious about the no pitching thing. We know that sometimes a speaker must mention their profession in order to give their talk context, which is totally fine. But Ignite is not the place to tout your organization or to troll for clients.
Click the logo for tickets.

Find out more about the maestro behind both Ignite Chicago and CoderDojoChi, Ali Karbassi, by clicking here!

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

Lunch & Learn: Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
2019-11-01 11:30 - 13:00
We are the authority on everything Meetings-related. Our lunch-hour workshops focus on the ins and outs of this industry to grow and share knowledge with our peers. We invite Facilitators, Meeting Planners, Retreat Programming Coordinators, Administrative Assistants and everyone in between to get insider insight with a delectable meal!
Join us as Brendan Sullivan shows us proven techniques to tackle Public Speaking in Meetings and beyond!

Lunch & Learn: Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

What’s at stake when you speak to an audience? Your project? Your credibility? Your company’s reputation? A promotion? Your job?
Unfortunately, whether you are speaking to two people or two thousand, your audience judges you on how you present your ideas, as well as the ideas themselves. There are simple physical adjustments you can make to appear more confident, knowledgeable, relaxed, engaging, approachable and professional.
In this interactive session, Brendan will share some of these techniques which you will then be able to apply immediately in order to become a more effective speaker and presenter, no matter what communication situation you face.

Admission price of $10 includes a mouth-watering meal from our catering partner Big Delicious Planet.

Purchase your admission by Thursday, October 24.
Please email bryan@catalystranch.com with any dietary restrictions.

About Our Presenter for Lunch & Learn: Improve Your Public Speaking Skills:
Brendan Sullivan is an experienced presentation skills, public speaking and communication skills coach. He has coached and trained thousands of professionals to be more effective speakers and presenters over the last 15 years. Find more at www.bpscommunicationskills.com.
Brendan has coached and trained presentation skills directly on his own, as well as through a number of presentation skills providers, including Communispond, Vautier Communications, IMPAX, Hit Your Stride, Corporate Learning Institute and other training companies.
Brendan has taught and coached presentation and public speaking skills as a corporate class, as an open enrollment course, to project teams before “the big one”, and as private coaching for senior leaders. He has also spoken on the topic of presentation skills in keynote addresses and as breakout sessions at business conferences.
Brendan has taught these skills to employees of many large and small organizations, including GE, Lockheed Martin, Kimberly-Clark, AT&T, Aetna, Whirlpool, Walmart, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sherwin Williams, US Steel, Verizon, Charles Schwab, Abbott Labs and many others. Brendan has also taught presentation skills as an adjunct professor at DePaul University.
Brendan’s training style is influenced by his early career as an advertising sales manager for the New York Times Magazine Group. There he delivered many sales presentations to Fortune 500 consumer products companies and their advertising agencies.
Brendan’s style is also impacted by his lifetime of experience as a professional improvisational actor, teacher and coach, trained at the world famous Second City Conservatory. Brendan still performs in Chicago on Monday evenings when he’s not traveling.
Brendan is also a creativity coach, helping individuals and teams to create a culture of collaborative creativity and innovation (see www.creativitycoach.net), as well as a published novelist, and commercial/film actor. Brendan and his wife Susan are the parents of four children.

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

17th Anniversary Party - Supporting Women Entrepreneurs!
2019-11-04 18:00 - 20:30
For a recap of this event, check out our blog post here!

You’re invited to our 17TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY, where we’re sharing the spotlight with other women entrepreneurs—and kickstarting a fun round of fundraising for them!
Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space is celebrating 17 wonderful years in business, and we couldn’t have done it without support. That is, support not just from our closest friends and family, but also from our women peers in the business world.
That’s why, for this 17th Anniversary Party, we’re sharing the spotlight with an inspiring set of Chicagoland women in business. On November 4, we’ll party while we meet and collect funds for five promising small business owners!
Come to our annual shindig, where on top of enjoying our usual food and drink and fun, you’ll get to know the pioneering business projects of a select group of women entrepreneurs.

You’ll meet them in person;
You’ll learn about their business progress and their next steps; and
Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to donate money to fuel their progress.

And of course, you’ll be following the lead of our own pioneering founder Eva Niewiadomski, who will be donating her own money to these women with your guidance:

In a fun twist on fundraising, each of the first fifty people to arrive will get a token worth $5 dollars (courtesy of Eva), which they’ll donate to the entrepreneur of their choice!

It is our hope that those first tokens of donated money from Eva will encourage our guests to make donations of their own, to one—or every one—of these inspired women!
So mark your calendars, because you have a date with us on Monday, November 4 to celebrate the accomplishment, vision and future successes of Catalyst Ranch and a few other incredible women.

WHEN IS THE PARTY?

Monday, November 4.
Open House style, 6pm-8:30pm.

WHERE IS THE PARTY?

Our house, naturally! 656 W Randolph St., Chicago, 60661

HOW CAN I ATTEND?

Simply RSVP with an email to erica@catalystranch.com! Click here to auto-generate an email!
There’s no ticket to buy for admission.
The evening is family friendly.
Bring cash to donate to the women entrepreneur(s) of your choice!

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

Incredible food from our longtime catering partner, Big Delicious Planet—which also happens to be an inspiring, woman-owned business!
Beer, wine and soft-drinks!
Getting to know and support some women movers-and-shakers!

AND THE CATCH?

Your attendance means you’ll play a large part in donating a portion of money directly from Catalyst Ranch and Eva Niewiadomski, to awesome women entrepreneurs.
What’s more, you yourself get to make a modest** but meaningful monetary contribution to promising, women-owned small businesses.
**There is no limit to how much you can donate! Don’t feel limited to “modest” donations, should you feel inclined!

Our 17th Anniversary Party is going to be just as fun as you’ve come to expect after all these years. We can’t wait to share the spotlight with this community. We’ll see you on November 4!

RSVP with an email to: erica@catalystranch.com
Click here to auto-generate your RSVP e-mail!

REALAPALOOZA Homebuyer-Realtor "Speed-Dating"
2019-11-07 18:00 - 21:00
Professionals from KoenigRubloff Realty Group and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services host home-buyers in an info session and an introduction to a variety of real estate agents to meet.

Realapalooza
How to Buy a Home and LOVE IT
Homebuyers: Learn how to buy a home, get pre-approved on the spot, AND find the perfect real estate agent (speed-dating style) !

Win prizes and enjoy apps and drinks on us!

THE HUMAN JOURNEY: One-Day Training for Therapists NOV 8
2019-11-08 09:00 - 16:00
Catalyst Ranch welcomes frequent collaborator and facilitator Sara K. Schneider for a set of one-day sessions in THE HUMAN JOURNEY, a new and important Professional Development education for psychotherapists and nurses.

What is the dominant story you’re inviting your clients to tell?
Does that story actually promote healing?
Every story can be packaged a thousand ways, for a thousand different listeners.
But what kinds of stories actually heal in 360° ‘round—that is, not just the individual who tells it, but the family, or family of choice, of which they are a part?
6 CEUs for social workers, LCPCs, and nurses for this one-day training to become a Conductor of THE HUMAN JOURNEY®, a new tool for families—and families of choice—who are facing the challenge of their lives to co-construct their story.
Sessions available:

Friday November 8th, 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Saturday, November 9th, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

You’ll leave with a deluxe boxed THE HUMAN JOURNEY® Conductor’s Kit and supporting materials in your bag, lunch in your tummy, CEUs to your name, and the uplift and zap to the imagination that a day at Catalyst Ranch provides.
Discount for early registrants and for practitioners from the same organization who wish to share a single Conductor’s Kit.

THE HUMAN JOURNEY® training provides unforgettable consulting and learning and growth experiences across the professions and for mission-driven organizations.
More at http://The-Human-Journey.com and http://sarakschneider.com. Books at Amazon.com.
Video and more information:
http://The-Human-Journey.com

Sara K. Schneider, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO, THE HUMAN JOURNEY
Sara K. Schneider, Ph.D. is a Yale- and NYU-educated book author, organizational consultant, workshop leader, and theatre-maker who analyzes groups from a social-science perspective. From data-derived insights, she creates experiences for service enhancement in healthcare and the deepening of the web of service provider and family relationships.
Sara has been a tenured education professor in leadership studies, guiding working professionals in education, healthcare, the clergy, and law enforcement in accessing and growing their own and their colleagues’ wisdom and resources. Her deep experience across the social sciences and applied performing arts, along with her practical role as a learning and retreat design consultant, make her workshops an experience of rich insight for professionals striving to enrich what they already do so well.

*Sara is one of the five pioneering women entrepreneurs whom Catalyst Ranch is celebrating at its 17th Anniversary Party on Monday, November 4. The gathering recognized inspired small Chicagoland businesses and the amazing women behind them!

THE HUMAN JOURNEY: One-Day Training for Therapists NOV 9
2019-11-09 09:00 - 16:00

AMA Chicago's Connex: Marketing Networking in November
2019-11-13 17:30 - 20:00
AMA Chicago brings together colleagues, friends, entrepreneurs and creative professionals from the best companies in the Midwest. Meet your Chicago Chapter Board and learn about what we’ve got planned for you. Mingle with current and prospective AMA members or chat up the leadership team over drinks in a casual setting. Simply bring yourself, your charm and your business cards.

Light supper will be served.

Round Robin Discussion Tables

AMA Chicago makes networking easier and focused on sharing your marketing skills. This event features four round robin discussion tables, each dedicated to a popular marketing topic and hosted by a thought leader. Join this small group discussion to share your knowledge and gain new insights from your peers. Rotate tables every 20 minutes, stick with one, or opt out – traditional networking is always an option.
View discussion topics at the AMA Chicago website by clicking the button below!

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

Ignite Chicago: 2019 ALL-STAR Night
2019-11-26 18:00 - 21:00
Ignite Chicago wraps up the year with a lineup of crowd-pleasers and all-stars on November 26!

Ignite Chicago is a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have a burning idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd.

Attending this evening’s Ignite Chicago does good for the city and for your neighbors. All proceeds from Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch go toward funding the volunteer-run, nonprofit organization We All Code (formerly CoderDojoChi), which teaches web, game and app development to youth ages 7 to 17. So when you buy your ticket to expand your mind at Ignite Chicago, you effectively contribute to expanding the minds of young people in our beloved city!

Speaking at Ignite is an unforgettable experience. You step up to the mic. Your palms sweat. You can hear the thump of your blood rushing. Your voice cracks for an instant and then you launch into a rant for 300 straight seconds, wearing your passion on your sleeve, barely pausing to breathe. The crowd goes wild.
Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch is open to everyone. All talks are 5 minutes (20 slides x 15 seconds/slide).

There is no theme for Ignite. You can talk about virtually anything as long as you can show us your passion for it. What’s the thing you most geek out about? What’s the topic of conversation that quickens your pulse and sets your toe a-tappin’? That is what we want to hear you speak about.
All speakers get equal time and equal billing. All talks are 5 minutes. You create 20 slides, and we set them up to auto-advance every 15 seconds.
Complimentary craft beer and satisfying pizza are generously provided by sponsors Lagunitas Brewing Company and Jet’s Pizza!

Want to speak?
The audience at Ignite is generous and patient. They know the Ignite format is difficult, and they realize you might be an absolute beginner at public speaking. Don’t worry – they’ve got your back. You’re giving them your passion and your vulnerability, and they love you for that. You won’t find a more appreciative audience at any other event.
Some people think Ignite is about self-help talks. It isn’t. Nobody wants to hear a preachy pep talk. We’re already “good enough and smart enough,” so let’s keep this about you and your passionate ideas.
Finally, we’re serious about the no pitching thing. We know that sometimes a speaker must mention their profession in order to give their talk context, which is totally fine. But Ignite is not the place to tout your organization or to troll for clients.
Click the logo for tickets.

Find out more about the maestro behind both Ignite Chicago and CoderDojoChi, Ali Karbassi, by clicking here!

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

LIVE: Networking, connecting, and building relationships that last
2019-12-11 18:30 - 21:00
Dr. Benjamin Ritter of Live for Yourself Consulting brings his LIVE series to Catalyst Ranch with speakers sparking conversations around the theme of “Finding your purpose”.
LIVE: Networking, connecting, and building relationships that last

Have you ever wanted to attend an event that was focused on YOU and your growth?
Have you ever been to a “networking” event and wished you could just have a real conversation and not small talk?
Have you ever been out at a bar and wished there were other ways to meet people?
LIVE events focus on YOU, facilitates open and honest conversations, and brings people together.
—
LIVE events feature men and women who make a difference in their community, providing an open forum to talk about life struggles, challenges, keys to success and lessons in relationships, health, business and more.
Each event is focused on a specific theme and involves incredible thought-provoking speakers, and networking activities in-between.
This upcoming event we are focused on the theme of NETWORKING and RELATIONSHIPS and speakers will be sharing their personal stories as it relates to the theme and we will be diving into the topic of finding your purpose through group and breakout discussions.
Make sure to get to the event by 6:30 PM to grab some refreshments, meet your sponsors, and chat with other attendees. During the event we will have three speakers and in-between two of the speakers a chance for all of you to dive into the theme of the event with other attendees.
—
Note: This is NOT a networking business professional event. You will get real, open, authentic, and vulnerable, and warning, you may be inspired, transform, meet some new people, and grow personally.
Refreshments are provided.
Tickets will increase to $20 the Monday before the event.
Speakers:

Erin Coupe
Kevin P. Davenport

Click the ticket link to read bios for each of the evening’s guests.
—
LIVE event director and host:

Dr. Benjamin Ritter, is a Chicago based social entrepreneur, coach, consultant, mentor, and expert in the fields of personal and professional internal leadership development.
Throughout his career he has worked in the areas of hospitality, the entertainment industry, public health, education, childcare, healthcare, and personal and professional development, constantly seeking new experiences to learn more about the world, and himself.
The culmination of his previous personal, professional, and educational experiences led him to create Live for Yourself (LFY) Consulting, a coaching/consulting company that is focused on helping successful professionals find more meaning at life and in work.
LFY Consulting bases its coaching practices on the unique LIVE system, which integrates doctoral level applied learning theory, and curriculum and leadership development research.
Dr. Benjamin Ritter is also the host of the Live for yourself podcast and Live for Yourself events, author of The Live for Yourself Workbook, and The Essentials, creator of The Breakup Supplement, and the online instructor for the course “Craft a Job you Love from a Job you Have.”

JANUARY OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue!
2020-01-13 17:00 - 19:00
You’re invited to our monthly OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue with our friendly staff while enjoying warm, soothing winter drinks!
Catalyst Ranch’s JANUARY OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue!
Looking for a the perfect venue for an upcoming corporate meeting or an unforgettable party?
Curious about what it’s ACTUALLY like when you’re ACTUALLY here?
Then come ACTUALLY be here January 13, and immerse yourself in the Catalyst Ranch experience!

Catalyst Ranch is a one-of-a-kind venue that is best experienced first-hand. Our OPEN HOUSE welcomes you to tour our venue and meet our staff, all while nibbling on refreshments and indulging in a delicious winter beverage.
Stop in between 5pm and 7pm, on Monday, January 13 to experience firsthand what we’re all about:

Tour our venue—EXPLORE our lively and stimulating rooms, just waiting to make your next meeting or event unforgettable.
Meet our friendly Client Services and Special Events staff—the heroes who guide your meeting or event planning every step of the way.
For this JANUARY: Savor a selection of warm beverages intended to sooth your winter-worn soul: Hot chocolate with marshmallows; Mulled apple cider; or even a spirited Hot Toddy!

And as a bonus for coming out in the cold, each person we meet will be entered into:
A drawing for a $50 GIFT CARD to one of our hot West Loop neighbor restaurants!
All this is FREE. There’s no admission. You’re welcome here.
Gatherings at Catalyst Ranch are uniquely creative and always unforgettable. Come meet us and tour our venue to see how great YOUR meeting or special event can be. See you at the OPEN HOUSE…
Register to let us know you’re coming!

Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch in January
2020-01-28 18:00 - 21:00
Ignite Chicago has something to say! Come to Catalyst Ranch January 28 for a night of great ideas.

Ignite Chicago is a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have a burning idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd.

Attending this evening’s Ignite Chicago does good for the city and for your neighbors. All proceeds from Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch go toward funding the volunteer-run, nonprofit organization We All Code (formerly CoderDojoChi), which teaches web, game and app development to youth ages 7 to 17. So when you buy your ticket to expand your mind at Ignite Chicago, you effectively contribute to expanding the minds of young people in our beloved city!

Speaking at Ignite is an unforgettable experience. You step up to the mic. Your palms sweat. You can hear the thump of your blood rushing. Your voice cracks for an instant and then you launch into a rant for 300 straight seconds, wearing your passion on your sleeve, barely pausing to breathe. The crowd goes wild.
Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch is open to everyone. All talks are 5 minutes (20 slides x 15 seconds/slide).

There is no theme for Ignite. You can talk about virtually anything as long as you can show us your passion for it. What’s the thing you most geek out about? What’s the topic of conversation that quickens your pulse and sets your toe a-tappin’? That is what we want to hear you speak about.
All speakers get equal time and equal billing. All talks are 5 minutes. You create 20 slides, and we set them up to auto-advance every 15 seconds.
Complimentary craft beer and satisfying pizza are generously provided by sponsors Lagunitas Brewing Company and Jet’s Pizza!

Want to speak?
The audience at Ignite is generous and patient. They know the Ignite format is difficult, and they realize you might be an absolute beginner at public speaking. Don’t worry – they’ve got your back. You’re giving them your passion and your vulnerability, and they love you for that. You won’t find a more appreciative audience at any other event.
Some people think Ignite is about self-help talks. It isn’t. Nobody wants to hear a preachy pep talk. We’re already “good enough and smart enough,” so let’s keep this about you and your passionate ideas.
Finally, we’re serious about the no pitching thing. We know that sometimes a speaker must mention their profession in order to give their talk context, which is totally fine. But Ignite is not the place to tout your organization or to troll for clients.
Click the logo for tickets.

Find out more about the maestro behind both Ignite Chicago and CoderDojoChi, Ali Karbassi, by clicking here!

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

Boost Your Pop-Up Event Sales
2020-01-29 18:00 - 20:00
This energetic workshop is designed to help small businesses tap into the highly lucrative world of pop-ups and in-person live events (festivals, markets, etc). Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your sales at events, I’ll walk you through what it takes to have major success.
This class will help you BOOST YOUR SALES and CUT costs by helping you plan and execute to have a successful event and how to avoid costly pitfalls. I’ll share my formula, my event planning guide and my list of resources that I personally use to build my brand.
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars in vendor fees only to lose money or break even. That’s so 2019!!
Limited seats so book your TODAY while the early bird pricing is available and invest in YOURSELF and YOUR BUSINESS this year!!!
Light refreshments will be served.

Hosted by Kendi Amani, a sales professional with over 15 years experience working with Fortune 100 companies on major trade shows as well as running her own fashion brand KENDI AMANI in Chicago.

THE HUMAN JOURNEY® Conductor Training: 6-CEU Professional Development for Clinicians Jan 31
2020-01-31 09:00 - 16:00
Catalyst Ranch welcomes frequent collaborator and facilitator Sara K. Schneider for a one-day class in THE HUMAN JOURNEY®, a new and important Professional Development training for therapists, nurses, and counselors.

THE HUMAN JOURNEY®: Helping families face the challenge of their lives
“For families needing to lean forward in the face of big challenges, THE HUMAN JOURNEY® is a novel method that draws on archetypal psychology, narrative facilitation, systems theory, and group process to help groups build belonging, and individuals construct meaning, when challenges lie on the road ahead.
Styled as a game, and organized as a facilitated experience with the dramatic shape of a three-act play, THE HUMAN JOURNEY® boosts listening and inquiring skills, the respectful sharing of disparate experiences, and the commitment to going forward together.”
Sara K. Schneider, PhD, leads one-day trainings for clinicians on Jan 31 and Feb 22. 6 CEUs are included for social workers, nurses, and counselors.

For more information about THE HUMAN JOURNEY® program and the one-day Conductor Trainings, please see http://the-human-journey.com and the Eventbrite registration page.

Sara K. Schneider, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO, THE HUMAN JOURNEY®
Sara K. Schneider, Ph.D. is a Yale- and NYU-educated book author, organizational consultant, workshop leader, and theatre-maker who analyzes groups from a social-science perspective. From data-derived insights, she creates experiences for service enhancement in healthcare and the deepening of the web of service provider and family relationships.
Sara has been a tenured education professor in leadership studies, guiding working professionals in education, healthcare, the clergy, and law enforcement in accessing and growing their own and their colleagues’ wisdom and resources. Her deep experience across the social sciences and applied performing arts, along with her practical role as a learning and retreat design consultant, make her workshops an experience of rich insight for professionals striving to enrich what they already do so well.

*We at Catalyst Ranch were pleased to feature Sara among five pioneering women entrepreneurs celebrated at our 17th Anniversary Party in 2019. The gathering recognized inspired, Chicagoland small businesses and the amazing women behind them!

From Passion to Paycheck: How to Launch a Successful Side Hustle
2020-02-05 18:00 - 20:00
General Assembly, in partnership with Fiverr, hosts an evening workshop to inspire and empower budding and beginning entrepreneurs: From Passion to Paycheck: How to Launch a Successful Side Hustle

Have you been sitting on an idea for a while but haven’t had time, money or confidence to start it?
Wanting to branch out on your own and create something is a very common desire – yet so few of us act on it, because of our other commitments or the fear that it won’t take off. This event will provide you tools, tricks and inspiration to set up your dream business while maintaining your full-time job.
Here’s what you can expect:
Ideas: How do we form them? How do we choose which one to work on?
Building: How do we build a first version of an idea with minimal time and money?
Hustle: How do you keep up momentum and create opportunities for your new business while working full time?
Who is this for?
The entrepreneurially frustrated: learn what small steps can enable you to explore that entrepreneurial itch alongside your current day to day.
Community lovers: build your network Advice hunters: practical tips to help you start your side hustle
Doers: action focused exercises to launch your business in an evening

Lunch & Learn: Engage Your Audience at Company Gatherings
2020-02-07 11:30 - 13:00
We are the authority on everything Meetings-related. With the goal of growing and sharing knowledge among our peers, our lunch-hour workshops focus on the ins and outs of our industry. We invite Facilitators, Meeting Planners, Retreat Programming Coordinators, Administrative Assistants and everyone in between to get insider insight with a delectable meal.
Join us as Linda Whitlock teaches creative ways to maximize engagement among peers at company meetings and events!

Lunch & Learn: Engage Your Audience at Company Gatherings

How do you keep your team and/or participants engaged during meetings, conferences or other gatherings? How do you encourage your team to show up, get excited and truly take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow and bond.
Linda Whitlock, President of Corporate Event Interactive, will draw from her 25+ years’ experience producing interactive and team events, to provide you with creative ways to engage your audience of peers and professionals. In this interactive and hands-on session, Linda and her CEI colleague Trent Snyder will teach attendees practical strategies to better engage with their target audiences, which include stakeholders, presenters, the community, and each other.
Session topics will include…

Learn how to foster relationships through ice-breaker and networking activities
Help your team and participants spark conversation through small group/table top discussion
Cultivate fun with a friendly competition
Promote philanthropy within your organization by giving back to the community
Participating in Sample Activities

Admission price of $12 includes a mouth-watering meal from our catering partner Big Delicious Planet.

Purchase your admission by Thursday, January 30.
Please email bryan@catalystranch.com with any dietary restrictions.

About Our Guest Presenters:

Linda Whitlock-Graziano is President and Co-owner of Corporate Event Interactive, Inc. She specializes in creating custom interactive & team experiences for corporate meetings and events. Her genuine and collaborative approach brings authenticity to each program she produces.
Some of her favorite programs include bringing contentious corporate teams together in friendly competition, engaging new-hires and students with their new setting, and coordinating hundreds of heartwarming charitable team events.
Linda started at CEI as Production Coordinator in 1993. Now, as President, she continues to guide the enthusiastic CEI team in producing award-wining events. She is a longtime contributor to the meetings and events industry, actively involved in the MPI and ILEA Chicago chapters. When she isn’t collaborating with clients, she enjoys attending her son’s sports games, hanging out with her college-bound daughter and traveling anywhere with her husband Ed. You can reach her at Linda@CorpEvent.com or www.linkedin.com/in/lindawhitlock.

An ambitious and creative event specialist, Trent Snyder brings to Corporate Event Interactive an ideal combination of work ethic, practical business skills and customer service experience. He is able to balance many tasks simultaneously and never gets rattled. In many ways he is the backbone of the organization as he plays a part in almost everything in the office from designing and creating the latest techno hunt to coordinating event logistics. Trent received is BA from Northern Illinois University in 2016.
In his free time you can catch Trent singing a cappella on stage, running on the lakefront, or freelancing for local events. You can reach him at Trent@corpevent.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-snyder.

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

FEBRUARY OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue!
2020-02-10 17:00 - 19:00
You’re invited to our monthly OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue with our friendly staff and get the full Catalyst Ranch experience.
Catalyst Ranch’s FEBRUARY OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue!
Looking for the perfect venue for an upcoming corporate meeting or an unforgettable party?
Curious about what it’s ACTUALLY like when you’re ACTUALLY here?
Then come ACTUALLY be here February 10, and immerse yourself in the Catalyst Ranch experience!

Catalyst Ranch is a one-of-a-kind venue that is best experienced first-hand. Stop in between 5pm and 7pm, on Monday, February 10 to see for yourself:

Meet our friendly Client Services and Special Events staff—the heroes who guide your meeting or event planning every step of the way.
Snack on goodies—house-made and served with our signature flair—while you EXPLORE our lively and stimulating rooms, just waiting to make your next meeting or event unforgettable.

And to thank you for visiting, each person we meet will be entered to win a $50 GIFT CARD to one of our hot West Loop neighbor restaurants!
All this is FREE. There’s no admission. We want to meet you!
Gatherings at Catalyst Ranch are uniquely creative and always unforgettable. Come meet us and tour our venue to see how great YOUR meeting or special event can be. See you at the OPEN HOUSE…
>>Register to let us know you’re coming!

LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois Mix & Mingle
2020-02-11 17:30 - 20:30
Join the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois for their February Mix n Mingle. Enjoy an evening of networking, appetizers, and drinks while experiencing an amazing venue within the city of Chicago. We will have free format as well as structured networking opportunities available.

Silver Members (Before February 4th) – $20
Silver Members (After February 4th) – $25
Guests: $30
Gold, Platinum, Rainbow, and Corporate – Included with membership

LIVE: Your Health
2020-02-19 18:30 - 21:00
Dr. Benjamin Ritter of Live for Yourself Consulting brings his LIVE series to Catalyst Ranch with speakers sparking conversations around the theme of “Your Health”.
—
Have you ever wanted to attend an event that was focused on YOU and your growth?
Have you ever been to a “networking” event and wished you could just have a real conversation and not small talk?
LIVE events give the stage to men and women who make a difference in their community, providing an open forum to talk about life struggles, challenges, keys to success and lessons in relationships, health, business and more.
Each event is focused on a specific theme and involves incredible thought-provoking speakers, and networking activities in-between.
Make sure to get to the event by 6:30 PM to grab some refreshments and chat with other attendees. The event will start promptly at 7 PM.
Tentative agenda:

6:30 PM – Doors Open
7:00 PM – Introduction
7:10 PM – 1st Speaker
7:25 PM – Facilitated discussion
7:45 PM – 2nd Speaker
8:00 PM – Facilitated discussion
8:20 PM – 3rd Speaker
8:35 PM – Q&A
8:50 PM – Closing

—
Note: This is NOT a networking business professional event. You will get real, open, authentic, and vulnerable, and warning, you may be inspired, transform, meet some new people, and grow personally.
Tickets will increase to $20 the Monday before the event.
—
Speakers:

Corene Summers
Regina Trillo
Evan Shy

Click the ticket link to read bios for each of the evening’s guests.
—
LIVE event director and host:

Dr. Benjamin Ritter, is a Chicago based social entrepreneur, coach, consultant, mentor, and expert in the fields of personal and professional internal leadership development.
Throughout his career he has worked in the areas of hospitality, the entertainment industry, public health, education, childcare, healthcare, and personal and professional development, constantly seeking new experiences to learn more about the world, and himself.
The culmination of his previous personal, professional, and educational experiences led him to create Live for Yourself (LFY) Consulting, a coaching/consulting company that is focused on helping successful professionals find more meaning at life and in work.
LFY Consulting bases its coaching practices on the unique LIVE system, which integrates doctoral level applied learning theory, and curriculum and leadership development research.
Dr. Benjamin Ritter is also the host of the Live for yourself podcast and Live for Yourself events, author of The Live for Yourself Workbook, and The Essentials, creator of The Breakup Supplement, and the online instructor for the course “Craft a Job you Love from a Job you Have.”

THE HUMAN JOURNEY® Conductor Training: 6-CEU Professional Development for Clinicians Feb 22
2020-02-22 09:00 - 16:00

improve it! Business Improv - Q1 Workshop
2020-03-10 17:45 - 20:15
Catalyst Ranch sets the scene for an improve it! Business Improv Q1 Workshop. This Chicago Innovation Award nominee establishes an atmosphere of fever-pitch fun to grow attendees’ workplace confidence and leadership skills.

Are you a business professional who would like to be fully present in the moment so there is no room for self-consciousness or shaky nerves? Are you looking for new ways to show leadership in your office or community? Are you looking to get to the next level in your profession but have trouble finding the confidence?
Most importantly, are you the kind of person who likes…FUN?!?
Then, say no more! Come join improve it! in our quarterly public workshop, and we’ll teach you the healing powers of improv for the workplace.
Our energetic and unique workshop will highlight the impact that improvisational techniques can have on your communication skills, and overall professional presentational presence! (Try saying that five times fast.)
Over the course of two hours, you will participate in an interactive lecture and series of improvisation-based exercises led by improve it!’s professional improvisers — all who have trained and performed at top theaters in Chicago and around the United States. The workshop will provide you with an intimate, and hands-on experience to show you exactly what we do.
What do we do? We’re glad you asked…
improve it! LLC is a Chicago-based company that provides high-energy, laughter-filled corporate events & team building workshops that incorporate improvisation teams & techniques, while donating a portion of proceeds to charity. To learn more about improve it! visit www.improveitchicago.com.
Sound good to you? Great! We’ll see you there.
Additional Details:
Time: March 10th, Registration opens at 5:45 pm and the workshop will begin promptly at 6:15 pm.
Location Details: Catalyst Ranch, 656 West Randolph Street, #3W Chicago, IL 60661
About Catalyst Ranch: Catalyst Ranch was the first venue in Chicago to realize that the results of any offsite meeting or event can be enhanced if participants are placed in the right environment. We refused to believe that only Creatives should be allowed to work in non-businesslike, fun, eclectic spaces. Everyone can be more productive if the conditions are optimized, which is why we customize each and every meeting that we host. By stimulating all the senses, Catalyst Ranch helps break down barriers and create positive disruption of thought and new ideas. We offer all-inclusive pricing and provide all the technology and meeting supplies you require. Partner with our team for exceptional customer service and the perfect meeting experience.
Attire: Although this is a professional event, comfortable professional clothing is encouraged as this will be an interactive workshop.

See more public offerings at Catalyst Ranch by clicking the logo below!

CANCELLED: International Coach Federation - IFC Chicago Chapter
2020-03-23 17:30 - 20:30
The IFC Chicago Chapter has cancelled this event. Please refer to their website for any updates.

The Chicago chapter of this network of business and personal coaches holds their March meetup at Catalyst Ranch. See their description of the event below, and click through to see more details!

Jean-Francois Cousin presents:
ICF game-changing initiative to boldly lead the future of Coaching and what’s in it for us all
Key Takeaways:
-Which kind of leadership organizations need, to thrive in a VUCA world
-How the world’s most successful companies in the Silicon Valley enhance interpersonal trust within small teams and larger groups, value and leverage diversity, to foster inclusive ways of being and an inclusive workplace
-Traits of a collaborative leader
-Traits of an agile leader
-Latest most-successful leadership practices, and provides recent research from ICF, Accenture, PWC and HCI about what makes workplaces successful
-Impact of Coaching cultures
-How we need to be, as leaders, and practical steps we can take, to support the growth of inclusion, trust, agility and collaboration and the emergence of collective intelligence in our own organizations
-Latest update on ICF transformation and opportunities for volunteer leaders and members

If you’d like more information on hosting your organization’s public event or workshop at Catalyst Ranch, click here to let us know more about your needs!

Ignite Chicago
2020-04-28 18:00 - 20:00
The March 31 event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 precautions.
Please join Ignite Chicago at their April 28 event. Details below!

Ignite Chicago has something to say! Come to Catalyst Ranch on April 28 for a night of great ideas.

Ignite Chicago is a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have a burning idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd.

Attending Ignite Chicago does good for the entire city: All proceeds from Ignite go toward the volunteer-run, nonprofit organization We All Code (formerly CoderDojoChi), which teaches web, game and app development to youth ages 7 to 17. So when you buy your ticket to expand your mind at Ignite Chicago, you expand the minds of young people in our beloved city!

Speaking at Ignite is an unforgettable experience. You step up to the mic. Your palms sweat. You can hear the thump of your blood rushing. Your voice cracks for an instant and then you launch into a rant for 300 straight seconds, wearing your passion on your sleeve, barely pausing to breathe. The crowd goes wild.
Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch is open to everyone. All talks are 5 minutes (20 slides x 15 seconds/slide).

There is no theme for Ignite. You can talk about virtually anything as long as you can show us your passion for it. What’s the thing you most geek out about? What’s the topic of conversation that quickens your pulse and sets your toe a-tappin’? That is what we want to hear you speak about.
All speakers get equal time and equal billing. All talks are 5 minutes. You create 20 slides, and we set them up to auto-advance every 15 seconds.
Complimentary craft beer and satisfying pizza are generously provided by sponsors Revolution Brewing and Jet’s Pizza!
Want to speak?
The audience at Ignite is generous and patient. They know the Ignite format is difficult, and they realize you might be an absolute beginner at public speaking. Don’t worry – they’ve got your back. You’re giving them your passion and your vulnerability, and they love you for that. You won’t find a more appreciative audience at any other event.
Some people think Ignite is about self-help talks. It isn’t. Nobody wants to hear a preachy pep talk. We’re already “good enough and smart enough,” so let’s keep this about you and your passionate ideas.
Finally, we’re serious about the no pitching thing. We know that sometimes a speaker must mention their profession in order to give their talk context, which is totally fine. But Ignite is not the place to tout your organization or to troll for clients.
Click the logo for tickets.

Find out more about the maestro behind both Ignite Chicago and CoderDojoChi, Ali Karbassi, by clicking here!

Learn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!

Monthly OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue!
2020-05-11 17:00 - 19:00
Open House: On hiatus until further notice
Due to social and business restrictions limiting the spread of COVID-19, our recurring Open House is currently on hiatus until city and state recommendations allow for us to welcome you back safely.
In the meantime, roam our space virtually with our interactive interior Google map, and don’t hesitate to contact our Client Services team for assistance planning your future meeting or event!
For Meetings, contact kira@catalystranch.com or matt@catalystranch.com. For Special Events, contact erika@catalystranch.com.
You’re invited to our monthly Open House: Tour our meeting and event venue with our friendly staff and get the full Catalyst Ranch experience.
Catalyst Ranch’s OPEN HOUSE: Tour our venue!
Looking for the perfect venue for an upcoming corporate meeting or an unforgettable party?
Curious about what it’s ACTUALLY like when you’re ACTUALLY here?
Then come ACTUALLY be here May 11, and immerse yourself in the Catalyst Ranch experience!

Catalyst Ranch is a one-of-a-kind venue that is best experienced first-hand. Stop in between 5pm and 7pm, on Monday, May 11 to see for yourself:

Meet our friendly Client Services and Special Events staff—the heroes who guide your meeting or event planning every step of the way.
Snack on goodies—house-made and served with our signature flair—while you EXPLORE our lively and stimulating rooms, just waiting to make your next meeting or event unforgettable.

And of course, it’s FREE to attend—We want to meet you and hear about your event needs.
Gatherings at Catalyst Ranch are uniquely creative and always unforgettable. Come meet us and tour our venue to see how great YOUR meeting or special event can be. See you at the OPEN HOUSE…
>>Register to let us know you’re coming!
