The Exchange 2025, presented by Southwest Airlines, is more than just Chicago’s largest networking event—it’s a space for business leaders to gain actionable insights that drive success. This year, we’re introducing Chamber Chats, a new series of 20-minute interactive sessions designed to provide practical takeaways and actionable strategies for navigating today’s real-world business challenges.
Session 1: The Future of Work – Navigating Talent Trends in a Dynamic Market
Presenters: Thomas Vick | Senior Regional Director and Kieran Costello | Branch Director | Robert Half
As the job market continues to shift, businesses must adapt their hiring, retention, and talent strategies to remain competitive. In this session, Thomas Vick and Kieran Costello of Robert Half will explore:
- Key talent trends shaping the job market
- Strategies for building strong talent pipelines
- Retention tactics to keep top talent engaged and invested
With extensive experience in talent solutions and workforce strategy, Thomas Vick and Kieran Costello bring deep insights into hiring trends, talent retention, and market dynamics. Whether you’re hiring, restructuring, or planning for future growth, this session will provide practical strategies to help your business stay competitive in 2025 and beyond. This session will be offered at 2 and 3 p.m. at Soldier Field.
Session 2: Small Business Health Insurance – What the Heck?
Presenter: Marcus Newman, RHU | Senior Vice President | ALERA Group
For small businesses, health insurance costs and quality of care have been major pain points for decades. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) addressed some challenges, it also introduced new obstacles, including rising premiums, declining care quality, and hospital network consolidations.
In this insightful and straightforward session, Marcus Newman of ALERA Group will break down:
- The current landscape of small business health insurance
- How the ACA has shaped employer options
- Strategies businesses are using to manage costs while maintaining quality benefits
This session will equip you with valuable insights, comparative data, and strategic approaches, empowering you to navigate health insurance challenges and explore alternative solutions with confidence. This session will be offered at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Soldier Field.
Bring the Squad to The Exchange 2025
Join the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce at The Exchange 2025 on April 10 at Soldier Field for these must-attend Chamber Chats, alongside hundreds of professionals, exhibitors, and sponsors. Registration is now open—bring the whole squad by purchasing 4 tickets for the price of 3!
Presented by Southwest Airlines, The Exchange is one of the city’s top annual networking get-togethers and it brings together professionals and companies at Chicago’s iconic Soldier Field. Attendees will enjoy sharpening their business edge, expanding their network, and unlocking new opportunities as they join hundreds of fellow professionals from across industries for an afternoon of targeted networking, invaluable insights, and delicious culinary delights.