Skokie Review

Thousands network at Lincolnwood Town Center

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Attendees visit June 14 in the center court of the Lincolnwood Town Center during the second The Business Event. The gathering drew thousands of people to the networking event for small businesses. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: July 22, 2012 6:15AM

Shalom Klein of Skokie held his second annual The Business Event in Lincolnwood last week, expanding to a larger venue to accommodate thousands of people interested in small business.

Klein has become a networking guru of sorts.

He has helped create many networking opportunities for small businesses and job seekers including The Business Event, which was held for the first time last year at the Holiday Inn in Skokie.

But the 3,000 people who attended last year were expected to expand to 5,000 this year, which is why Klein decided to take over the Lincolnwood Town Center.

Sponsored by Klein’s Jewish B2B Networking, Inc. and the Small Business Advocacy Council, The Business Event featured more than 100 vendors, 5,000 business networkers, more than 30 employment recruiters and prominent speakers. The mall was still open for shopping, but the event activities were scattered throughout.

An important educational component was held at the Lincolnwood Place retirement home next to the mall, offering various day-long seminars for employers and job seekers.

Lincolnwood proclaimed June 14 The Business Event Day in the village. Skokie and the state also have made proclamations recognizing Klein’s work supporting small businesses.

Klein and his father, Moshe Klein, run the small MK & A Ltd. on Dempster Street, a Skokie bookkeeping and accounting firm that assists small businesses.

— Staff writer Mike Isaacs





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