Chicago reminder: Take your business to the next level....tomorrow

A reminder for our Chicago-based readers: Tomorrow ASID's Illinois chapter (ASID-IL) is hosting its fifth annual Design Summit: Taking Your Business to the Next Level. The one-day conference is taking place on the 8th floor of the Merchandise Mart from 8 am - 3 pm.

The event is open to designers, students, and vendors in the interior design industry and features speakers, career building, networking, and educational sessions. The breakdown is:

Morning keynote: 8 - 9 am

Mitchell S. Chaban, J.D., B.S., Levin Ginsburg, Ltd.

Business Law Essentials for Interior Designers

Afternoon keynote: 12:30 - 2 pm

Carmen K. Iezzi, Fair Trade Federation

Great Products, Tremendous Impact: An Introduction to Fair Trade

Seminars:

10 - 11 am

Rick Gilman, CPA, CITP, Partner at Virchow, Krause & Company

Successfully Integrate Your Front and Back Office

10 -11 am

Jim Stockstill, Hansgrohe

The Bathroom Through the Ages

11 am - Noon

Jim Accetta, MS, CPCC, Certified Trainer-Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Truly Human Coaching

Instant Rapport: Building Rapport in 60 Seconds or Less

11 a.m. - Noon

Joanna Mineau, Page 1 PR, Jan Parr, editor of Chicago HOME + Garden magazine and a local photographer specializing in interiors.

Launch a PR & Marketing Campaign in 2009: Get started, get noticed and get the media's attention

2 - 3 pm

Mary Hoffman, Color & Design Specialist, Benjamin Moore

Color Pulse 2010

2 - 3 pm

Joan Kaufman, ASID, IIDA, FSII - Registered Interior Designer, ASID Illinois Chapter President-Elect, Interior Planning & Design, Inc.

From Backpack to Briefcase: Reaching the Summit of Design

There's also an expo where vendors will showcase their latest products and services, and a number of them will host demonstrations in their booths throughout the day. A complete list of vendors is online.

Registration begins at 8 am.  The Expo floor and Summit runs from 10 am - 3 pm. The Design Summit is $50 for ASID and IIDA design members (includes seminars, lunch, Expo); $75 for non-members; and $25 students with identification (includes seminars, lunch, Expo). There is no charge to visit the Expo only.