The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce hosted The Exchange 2026, presented by Southwest Airlines, on Wednesday, April 15, inside historic Soldier Field. As the Chamber’s largest networking event of the year, The Exchange brought together more than 800 business leaders from across the region for an afternoon of energy, insights, and new connections.
Beneath the historic columns, guests explored two levels of activation throughout the stadium’s elegant club space. Exhibitors lined the main floor with colorful branding, interactive promotional giveaways, and welcoming representatives from businesses large and small. A broad cross-section of industries was represented—organizations like Cricket Wireless, PNC Bank, K&M Printing, Verizon, and the Field Museum to startups, creative agencies, nonprofits, universities, and community banks.
The day began with welcome remarks, where Chicagoland Chamber President & CEO Jack Lavin was joined by Aileen Furlong, Vice President of Sales at Southwest Airlines, to officially open The Exchange. Together, they set a collaborative, forward-looking tone for the day, highlighting how The Exchange fosters stronger business connections across Chicagoland.
Meanwhile, on the showcase floor, more than 100 businesses shared their services, products, and ideas—creating an open marketplace of opportunity and discovery. The Culinary Showcase presented by Grubhub featured samples from 17 local restaurants, bars, and brands along the east wall, offering everything from empanadas and barbeque to pizza and ice cream. Drinks for the afternoon were provided by Glunz Family Winery & Cellars and Goose Island Beer Co.
Throughout the day, attendees heard from leaders across five Chamber Chats. Sessions were led by Robert Half, American Airlines, EMPIST, Pillur powered by MSUFCU, and Citrin Cooperman on various business-related topics.
New this year—Zeal IT Consultants hosted a 360 video booth for guests to capture their experience from all angles on the busy showcase floor.
Upstairs on the third floor, Wintrust hosted two Speed Networking sessions. These fast-paced sessions matched participants based on their industry preferences to help maximize the opportunity for building meaningful relationships.
From the sun-soaked field views to the sound of handshakes, laughter, and introductions echoing through the stadium, The Exchange 2026 captured the essence of Chicago’s business community: vibrant, resilient, and ready to grow.
View the full photo gallery from The Exchange 2026 here.
