Illinois Search & Staffing Association upcoming events

Markets and Economies in an Age of Conflict: Understanding Risk in an Uncertain World (July 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for an engaging discussion of how geopolitical uncertainty and shifts in domestic policy are shaping economic growth, inflation, and risk across the economy.

Geopolitical conflict is no longer an extreme left-tail risk but is now a macrovariable affecting markets and economies across the world. In the United States, political polarization and shifts in government policy are also having a destabilizing impact on consumers and businesses.

This presentation will discuss some of the key areas being impacted by these dual influences that have combined to shift the world from an age of certainty and globalization into an age of conflict.

July 16, 2026 - 1PM CST

ISSA Members Free / Nonmembers $39

MEET THE SPEAKER

Jason Turner is the Chief Investment Strategist of Great Lakes Advisors. He is a member of the firm’sinvestment committee, authors market and economic commentary, regularly presents in the media andto professional conferences, and works with client portfolio managers to support institutional and private clients.

As the Head of Multi-Asset Strategy, he is responsible for portfolio strategy, asset allocation, and for overseeing the firm’s manager due diligence and selection efforts. He is also a member of the firm’s Operating Committee and Management Committee.

Prior to joining Great Lakes in 2009, Jason served in various roles for Skyline Asset Management and Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting.

Education and Professional Credentials

Industry Start: 2001
North Central College, BA
Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, MBA
Yale School of Management - EDHEC Risk Institute, Certificate in Risk and Investment Management

Thank you to our event sponsor, TRICOM!

2026 Midwest Staffing Owners and Executives Retreat (August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Join us August 20-21, 2026 at the Q Center in St. Charles, IL

for the Midwest Staffing Owners and Executives Retreat -- an unparalleled opportunity for high-level leaders to exchange insights, challenge perspectives, and walk away with fresh strategies that drive real growth.

SPEAKERS

Will Bowen, CSP - Speaker, Author

Bruce Ebel - Director and Client Portfolio Manager at Great Lakes Advisors

Lia Elliott - Co-Managing Partner at Staffing GC

Tiffany Ingram, Ed.M. - Change Management Strategist,

Founder at Luxe Link Business Solutions

Erin Ramirez - CEO at Real Change Studio

Annette Wehrli - Business Advisor, Founder at Effectivity Consulting

Click here for Agenda, Speaker Bios and Sessions

Your Hosts for the 2026 Owners and Executives Retreat:

Illinois Search and Staffing Association

Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services

Michigan Association of Staffing Services

Early Bird Member Discount through June 30th.

Book your accommodations at the Q Center before July 30th!

You will be booking an Executive Room. This room type can accommodate 2 people sharing the one queen-size bed. If one person is not attending the training, there will be an additional guest fee.

Room Rate: $181.44 per night includes 12% Room Tax (subject to change).

Booking Link for Accommodations at Q Center

Check-in after 4PM (16:00) on Wednesday, August 19th. A casual meetup for dinner is planned on Wednesday evening.

Q Center and the Q Center property is a smoke-free environment.

Take a Virtual Tour

Attendance at this event earns 6.0 CE Hours

toward ASA Certification

Thank you to our event sponsors!

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available

Email info@issaworks.com

Virtual Event - Why YOU? How Staffing Firms Become the Obvious Choice for Clients and Candidates (August 27, 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

In a staffing marketplace where speed, technology, and process are often assumed to be the differentiators, clients and candidates are quietly asking a more fundamental question: Why should I choose you?

This webinar invites staffing leaders, recruiters, and sales professionals to step back and examine what truly drives trust, loyalty, and long-term success. Drawing from decades of business leadership and relationship-driven sales experience, Maureen O’Brien – The Sales Sage™ and CEO of the Global Wisdom & Leadership Forum, explores why the most successful staffing firms stand out not because of what they offer — but because of how they show up.

Participants will be challenged to rethink differentiation through a human lens and to uncover the often-overlooked elements that influence client and candidate decisions in moments of uncertainty, change, and risk. This session moves beyond tactics to help staffing firms clarify and communicate what makes them genuinely choose-worthy in a crowded market.

At the conclusion of this webinar, the participant will be able to:

Identify the real factors that influence why clients and candidates choose one staffing firm over another — beyond speed, tools, or price.
Strengthen trust and credibility at every touchpoint by aligning leadership, communication, and relationship-building across the organization.
Clearly articulate their firm’s value in a way that feels human, confident, and differentiated — especially in competitive or uncertain environments.

August 27, 2026 - 1PM CST

ISSA Members Free / Nonmembers $39

MEET THE SPEAKER

Maureen O'Brien is a dynamic business leader, globally recognized keynote speaker, and bestselling author known for helping organizations build high-performing teams through trust, clarity, and human-centered leadership.

With more than 30 years of experience leading a multi-generational, service-based construction business, Maureen understands firsthand what it takes to attract talent, develop people, retain clients, and grow revenue in competitive, relationship-driven industries. She is the founder and CEO of O’Brien & Son, Inc., a company she has successfully led for over 38 years, and the founder and Managing Partner of the Global Women’s Leadership Forum®, where she partners with organizations to strengthen leadership at every level.

Maureen’s work sits at the intersection of leadership, sales, and resilience. Her expertise in Relationship Sales and Point of Light Leadership™ equipping staffing professionals to build stronger pipelines, deepen trust with clients and candidates, and lead confidently through uncertainty and change.

A Stage IV lymphoma survivor, Maureen brings a powerful, real-world perspective on resilience, decision-making under pressure, and what truly matters when the stakes are high. Her message resonates deeply with leaders and sales professionals navigating rapid change while still being expected to deliver results.

Maureen is the author of four bestselling books, the most recent, “26 Points of Light—Illuminating One Cancer Survivor’s Journey from Diagnosis to Remission.” All profits from the book go to cancer research and patient care. She is a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award, and she has been recognized as one of Illinois’ most powerful women. Audiences consistently describe her as insightful, grounded, and refreshingly real — a leader who speaks from experience, not theory.

ASA Staffing World (October 12, 2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The Future of Staffing: Driven by People, Powered by Tech

The staffing industry is being rewritten. Staffing World is the industry’s premier event where the community comes together to drive change. Attendees gain actionable strategies from leading experts, turn challenges into opportunities, and build connections that move careers and companies forward.

NAPS IGNITE 2026 Annual Conference (November 01, 2026)

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

For Information and Registration

Click Here

ISSA Annual Meeting and Holiday Event (December 03, 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 06:00:00 GMT