IWF Chicago upcoming events

Summer Soirée (August 19, 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:30:00 GMT

A Summer Evening of Connection!

Join us for one of IWF Chicago's favorite summer gatherings as we come together for an evening of connection, conversation, and celebration at our Summer Soirée. This special event offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with fellow members, welcome new faces, and strengthen the relationships that make our community so extraordinary. Whether you're catching up with longtime friends or expanding your network, the Summer Soirée is designed to bring our members together in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

Enjoy drinks, light bites, and lively conversation while reflecting on the season's highlights and looking ahead to an exciting year of programming and engagement.

Guests are warmly welcome and encouraged to attend.

We look forward to raising a glass with you and making new memories together at this signature summer gathering.

Behind the Scenes: Secure Community Network (SCN) (September 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Join us for this IWF Chicago Program: Behind the Scenes at the Secure Community Network (SCN)

Event Description

Members will enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Secure Community Network (SCN), the organization serving as the security shield for Jewish communities across North America. In an era of rising antisemitism and increased threats, SCN stands as the first line of defense protecting Jewish life, culture, and community.

During this immersive experience, you'll step inside SCN's national command center, where intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security professionals use advanced technology to monitor risks, share real-time intelligence, and coordinate rapid responses with agencies across the country. Visitors will see analysts monitoring live threat data on a 16-foot video wall, drawing from thousands of sources, including social media and extremist online spaces. You'll also view artifacts from real-world incidents and learn about the stories behind them, bringing today's threat landscape into sharp focus.

The experience highlights SCN's 24/7 intelligence-led operations, site security support, and life-saving training programs. You'll gain valuable insights into how partnerships, preparedness, and proactive defense help safeguard not only Jewish communities, but all people and organizations targeted because of who they are or what they believe.

Details

The evening includes:

An overview of their mission and operations.
A guided tour of SCN’s monitoring facility.
A Q&A session with members of SCN's organization.
A reception before and after the program for networking and conversation.

Space is limited to 25 people — reserve your spot today.

Learn More About Secure Community Network

Beverage Innovation Panel (September 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Leadership, Trends & Transformation in Beverage

The beverage industry is experiencing revolutionary change. Join our expert panelists to gain insight into today’s market trends and evolving consumer dynamics across the beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic categories. As you explore the transformation shaping the industry, enjoy a curated beverage tasting that brings these trends to life in an engaging and interactive experience.

Guests warmly welcomed.

Speakers:

Cristina Desmond, Regional Vice President, Breakthru Beverage Group
Experienced Beverage Alcohol executive.

Maggie Lapcewich
Maggie is a 35+ year C-suite executive and board member of the beverage alcohol industry where she held Sales, Marketing and Corporate Strategy leadership roles at Breakthru Beverage Group, the 2nd largest beer, wine & spirits distributor in North America and Diageo Plc, the largest distiller of spirits globally. Maggie will moderate and lead an interesting discussion with a talented group of expert panelists.

Esther Park, VP of Portfolio, InvestBev
Esther Park serves as the VP of Portfolio at InvestBev, where she specializes in accelerating high-growth brands and optimizing operational strategies within the adult beverage sector. A seasoned leader in P&L transformation and brand scaling, Esther previously held key marketing and commercial operations roles at industry giants Molson Coors and Bacardi.

Her career is rooted in a chemical engineering foundation and extensive CPG leadership experience at Procter & Gamble and Revlon. This unique background allows her to bridge technical, operational, and consumer-driven strategies to fuel sustainable brand growth. As an investor, Esther leverages her holistic expertise to identify market opportunities and provide strategic oversight for the next generation of beverage leaders.

Mara Smith, CEO and Founder of Inspiro Tequila
Mara Smith is a former attorney, corporate strategist and stay-at-home mom who is the founder of Inspiro Tequila. Mara began her legal career at Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago before joining the corporate strategy team at McDonald’s Corporation.

After her twins were born prematurely, Mara made the difficult decision to leave the corporate world to stay home.

She never stopped thinking about what was next. Mara always envisioned running her own company and in February of 2020 she set out on her journey to create a new tequila brand, Inspiro Tequila.