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Innovation conference for business, community leaders

Business professionals and community leaders are invited to learn about the importance of preparing and inspiring future leaders in a competitive workforce during a September workshop organized by the DuPage Children's Museum.

"Invitation to Innovate: Leading Through Inclusion and Engagement," sponsored by the museum, in partnership with Chicago Innovation Awards, starts at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville. The evening includes a keynote speaker with panel discussion and network reception.

Keynote speaker Tom Kuczmarski, co-founder of Chicago Innovation Awards and president and founder of Kuczmarski Innovation, will lead a lively discussion with a panel of experts on how to systematically unlock the value of innovation.

Event attendees will take away three things: a framework for creating a culture of innovation within their organization, five principles for activating this culture, and perspectives from senior-level professionals who have done it.

"Organizations require innovation more than ever before. Disruptions in markets and industries are now commonplace, which mandates that companies create innovation cultures," Kuczmarski said.

"In order to achieve this, inclusivity and engagement must become core strategic imperatives within innovative organizations - not just a 'nice to have.'

"Moreover, I have chosen to do an event targeting the business community because it is essential that today's leaders recognize the role and importance of bringing innovation to children and teens - the future leaders of our companies. We need to create an innovation mindset and new way of thinking in young minds."

Kuczmarski has helped hundreds of clients, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations. He teaches product and service innovation at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management as senior lecturer and visiting scholar in the Center for Innovation and Technology. Kuczmarski is the author of six books and many publications on innovation and leadership, including "Values-Based Leadership" and "Apples Are Square: Thinking Differently about Leadership."

DuPage Children's Museum board member Joe Nelligan, the chief operating officer of Molex and chairman of the innovation event, will introduce Kuczmarski.

"Molex competes in a constantly changing global electronics market that is driven by innovation," Nelligan said.

"For us to be successful, we must continually reinvent ourselves and use 'creative destruction' to stay ahead of the market. To enable this level of innovation, we must develop and nurture an engaged, inclusive and diverse workforce.

"Hiring, developing and retaining the technical talent we need to compete in the global marketplace is a key priority. That's why Molex has been a long-standing sponsor and supporter of the DuPage Children's Museum and its mission to develop leaders of tomorrow through hands-on learning in math, science and technology."

The panel discussion features:

• Charles Allen, vice chairman, Crowe Horwath LLP; co-chairman, Crowe Horwath International;

• Cynthia Mark-Hummel, board director and member of Early Learning Research in Action Council, DuPage Children's Museum;

• Connie Lindsey, executive vice president and head of corporate responsibility and global diversity, Northern Trust;

• Leslie Vickrey, co-founder, ClearEdge Marketing; and

• Lily Yeung, director of corporate development, Molex;

DuPage Children's Museum created the annual innovation event five years ago to address an adult audience about the importance of investing in children in their earliest and most formative years through early learning STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) experiences to nurture and inspire the future workforce and citizenship.

The fee to attend is $25 per person. Registration is required. Visit dupagechildrens.org/innovation to learn more or to register.

If you go

What: "Invitation to Innovate" panel discussion

When: 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15

Where: Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville

Cost: $25

Info: dupagechildrens.org/innovation

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