Ambassador's Meeting

Monthly meeting for members of committee only. The Ambassador's serve as the Chamber's representatives to our members.  They serve as mentors to new chamber members, and attend ribbon cuttings, ground breaking ceremonies, Business After Hours, and other chamber network......More

Monthly meeting for members of committee only. The Ambassador's serve as the Chamber's representatives to our members.  They serve as mentors to new chamber members, and attend ribbon cuttings, ground breaking ceremonies, Business After Hours, and other chamber networking events.

Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Office 402 Court

Get Your Business on Google Search and Maps: Optimizing for AI and Gemini- Grow with Google

If your business isn’t on Google, you don’t exist to the modern customer. But today, "being on Google" means more than just a pin on a map. It means being the answer when AI-powered search engines recommend the best local spots. This workshop walks you through how to bu......More

If your business isn’t on Google, you don’t exist to the modern customer. But today, "being on Google" means more than just a pin on a map. It means being the answer when AI-powered search engines recommend the best local spots. This workshop walks you through how to build a high-performing Google Business Profile that speaks to both humans and AI. Whether you’re a local staple or a brand-new startup, you’ll learn how to feed Google’s ecosystem the right data, so you show up exactly when and where customers are looking. A practical roadmap to becoming the most "findable" business in your area. What You’ll Learn: * The AI Connection: Understand how Gemini and Google Search use your profile to recommend your business to customers. * Claim & Optimize: How to set up your Google Business Profile to rank higher and look better. * AI-Assisted Management: Using Gemini to draft high-impact business descriptions and respond to reviews in seconds. * The "Trust Factor": What specific data points (photos, hours, attributes) make Google "favor" your business over competitors. * Visibility 2.0: How to avoid the "hidden profile" trap and ensure you're visible across Search, Maps, and AI-driven results

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IpAGcfhETzq6q3Z7Lwaszw

Starting Your Business in Illinois

This workshop is for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to learn all the components of how to start a successful business in Illinois. Get a realistic view of the requirements to start a business and the resources available to support your new venture. While attending this......More

This workshop is for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to learn all the components of how to start a successful business in Illinois. Get a realistic view of the requirements to start a business and the resources available to support your new venture. While attending this no cost 2-hour workshop, you will learn how to get your business name registered, where to obtain a tax ID number, which legal form to choose, business planning, taxes, financing options and much more. After attending the workshop, our team of certified business advisors are available to work with you, one-on-one, to navigate the process and help you succeed! This workshop is sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University and co-sponsored by Morton Community Bank. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email.

Peoria Next Innovation Center, 801 W Main St, Peoria, IL

Sharpen Your Product Idea with Gemini - Grow with Google

Have a product idea but unsure if it’s worth building? In this practical workshop, you’ll learn how to use Gemini AI to validate your concept before investing time, money, or resources. We’ll walk through how to use Gemini to research your target market, analyze competi......More

Have a product idea but unsure if it’s worth building? In this practical workshop, you’ll learn how to use Gemini AI to validate your concept before investing time, money, or resources. We’ll walk through how to use Gemini to research your target market, analyze competitors, refine your value proposition, pressure-test your assumptions, and identify your ideal customer profile. You’ll also learn how to generate early user feedback questions, define problem statements, and clarify what makes your idea different in the marketplace. Whether you’re a founder, small business owner, or aspiring product creator, this session will show you how to use AI as a strategic validation partner — helping you reduce risk, increase clarity, and move forward with confidence.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kfgG3MoxR7-QoNF4O42MoA

Enhancing Customer Engagement with AI: Personalization and Predictive Analytics - Smart Brand System

From email to ecommerce, AI is now the engine behind deeper personalization. Learn how to use AI to create tailored experiences, anticipate needs, and drive conversions without guesswork. What You’ll Learn: * How AI tools personalize experiences at scale * Using custome......More

From email to ecommerce, AI is now the engine behind deeper personalization. Learn how to use AI to create tailored experiences, anticipate needs, and drive conversions without guesswork. What You’ll Learn: * How AI tools personalize experiences at scale * Using customer data to predict behavior and drive timing * Ethical use of personalization in small business * Integrating AI into CRM and content delivery * Boosting retention and conversion with minimal manual work

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4IYQItNPSeeDWwn6qMGhOw

Starting Your Business in Illinois

With special thanks to the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship is offering the following workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to learn all the components of how to start a successful business. This flagship training event is le......More

With special thanks to the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship is offering the following workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to learn all the components of how to start a successful business. This flagship training event is led by the Illinois SBDC every month, but with a twist - tonight we present this information live in Tazewell County! Sponsored by the Turner Center and Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University and co-sponsored by Morton Community Bank. This 2-hour workshop is offered at no cost.

Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, 402 Court Street, Pekin, IL

Building Marketing Assets Faster- Grow with Google

Creating consistent, high-quality marketing materials can be time-consuming — especially when you’re running a small business. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use Nano Banana to quickly generate polished marketing assets that support your sales and growth......More

Creating consistent, high-quality marketing materials can be time-consuming — especially when you’re running a small business. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use Nano Banana to quickly generate polished marketing assets that support your sales and growth goals. We’ll walk through how to create social media graphics, promotional visuals, campaign creatives, and branded content in a fraction of the time it typically takes. You’ll see practical examples of how entrepreneurs are using Nano Banana to move from idea to finished asset quickly — without needing a design team or advanced technical skills. By the end of the session, you’ll have repeatable workflows and real examples you can use immediately to accelerate your marketing execution, stay consistent, and bring campaigns to life faster.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eh5PCoWBSpCnZN5tb7f3xg

Marigold Festival Planning Committee

Marigold Festival Planning Committee Meeting        

Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce 402 Court Street Pekin

Mexico and the United States: The Value of a Strong Neighborhood

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University is cohosting a reception with Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, Consul General of Mexico in Chicago, with the Peoria Area World Affairs Council (PAWAC). Mexico is one of the United States’ and Illinois’ ......More

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University is cohosting a reception with Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, Consul General of Mexico in Chicago, with the Peoria Area World Affairs Council (PAWAC). Mexico is one of the United States’ and Illinois’ most important trading partners, supporting millions of jobs and driving economic growth. Under the USMCA, cross-border trade in manufacturing, agriculture, and services continues to expand, strengthening North American competitiveness. With deep and broad experience navigating the relations between the United States and Mexico, Ambassador Torres will offer her insights during a public reception at 4:30pm - 6:30 pm. "Mexico and the United States: The Value of a Strong Neighborhood" at Distillery Labs - 201 SW Adams Street, Peoria, IL 61602. Topics: * The economic impact of U.S.–Mexico trade, including job creation and regional growth in Illinois *Key opportunities and challenges under the USMCA across manufacturing, agriculture, and services *The role of diplomatic relations in strengthening North American competitiveness *Insights on fostering cross-border partnerships and building a “strong neighborhood” between the U.S. and Mexico Speaker: Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil took office as Consul General of Mexico in Chicago on July 14th, 2019. During her diplomatic career she has held various positions in the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including General Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Deputy General Director for International Policy on Human Rights, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. She was posted as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Mexican Embassy in the Czech Republic and as political liaison in the Embassy of Mexico in the United States. Before assuming her current position, Ambassador Torres Mendivil served as Consul General in San Antonio, Texas, and before as General Director for Protection of Mexicans Abroad. Ambassador Torres Mendivil was a resident Fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and participated in the Hemispheric Security Program at the Inter-American Defense College in Washington DC. She graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and holds a Masters degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Distillery Labs: 201 SW Adams Peoria IL 61602

Memorial Day - Chamber Office Closed

Shield. Sharpen. Scale: AI Strategy for Small Business - Smart Brand System

AI isn’t a trend-it’s the new terrain. In this clarity-driven session, you’ll learn how to navigate that landscape with a practical AI strategy that protects, sharpens, and scales your small business without the overwhelm. This isn’t about learning AI for AI’s sake - it......More

AI isn’t a trend-it’s the new terrain. In this clarity-driven session, you’ll learn how to navigate that landscape with a practical AI strategy that protects, sharpens, and scales your small business without the overwhelm. This isn’t about learning AI for AI’s sake - it’s about using the right tools and systems to grow smarter, faster, and more securely. What You’ll Learn: * How AI search changes the way your business gets found—and what to do about it * What “Privacy by Design” really means for small businesses * How to set up simple AI systems that boost efficiency and clarity * Why trust and visibility are now linked—and how to stay ahead of the curve

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PEGyQOhuSOq6QkUyrJsYZw

Turning Business Documents into Action Using NotebookLM - Grow with Google

Your business is full of valuable information — proposals, contracts, SOPs, reports, meeting notes — but too often those documents sit unused. In this intermediate-level workshop, you’ll learn how to use NotebookLM to transform your existing business documents into clea......More

Your business is full of valuable information — proposals, contracts, SOPs, reports, meeting notes — but too often those documents sit unused. In this intermediate-level workshop, you’ll learn how to use NotebookLM to transform your existing business documents into clear insights, decisions, and action plans. We’ll walk through how to upload and organize key materials, ask strategic questions across multiple documents, extract themes, summarize long reports, and identify gaps or opportunities hiding in plain sight. You’ll see how NotebookLM can help you synthesize information faster, prepare for strategic planning sessions, streamline operations, and make better data-informed decisions without hiring an analyst. Designed for growth-minded entrepreneurs who already have established processes and documentation, this session will help you move from information overload to operational clarity — turning what your business already knows into smarter next steps.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OXo-5rXVTuSahjs8UeYS3g