MOLINE, ILLINOIS (August 6, 2020) — The Quad Cities Chamber will host its virtual Annual Celebration, presented by TBK Bank, 1:30-2:30PM, Thursday, August 13, 2020.

This year’s version of the Chamber’s annual meeting will focus on two challenges facing businesses right now: Addressing economic trends during COVID-19 and creating successful diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. In addition, the event will highlight the Chamber's role in assisting businesses through this challenging time and beyond.

The Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year also will be announced during the livestream. The event is a major fundraiser for the Quad Cities Chamber, a 501c6 nonprofit organization.

“It’s been a challenging year, but we’ve still got a lot to celebrate,” said Paul Rumler, president and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber. “We have a great line-up of speakers, addressing some of the top concerns we’ve heard from businesses this year.”

Speakers will include:

  • Skot Welch, Global Bridgebuilders: Discover the difference between success and failure of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your company;
  • Paul VanDuyne, IMEG Corp.: Fast-growing QC-headquartered company CEO shares how their business is thinking big-picture when addressing economic trends;
  • Paul Rumler, President & CEO, Quad Cities Chamber: Business recovery following COVID-19 and the Chamber?s role in assisting businesses through this challenging time and beyond; and
  • Cathy Edwards, Board Chair, Edwards Creative: Business and Volunteer of the Year awards.

Tickets are $25 per person.  Register at https://bit.ly/anncelebration by 5PM, Wednesday, August 12. Advance registration is required to receive the event link, which will be emailed to registered attendees after registration closes.

Businesses or individuals that are unable to attend but would like to support the Chamber's efforts also may donate via the registration link.

Additional event sponsors include dphilms, Edwards Creative, Genesis Systems Group, IMEG Corp, Kimberly Car City, Northwest Bank and Trust Company, TAG, UnityPoint Health  Trinity, and Winsor Consulting Group.

About the keynote speakers:

Skot Welch, Principal/Founder | Global Bridgebuilders

Skot Welch is the Principal/Founder of Global Bridgebuilders, a firm focusing on organizational development, cultural transformation, and inclusion. Welch has been a global bridge-builder long before he founded the company in 2006. Growing up in a military family gave Skot a unique perspective on diversity that he still carries and a passion for helping organizations tap into the vast experiences of their employees to create stronger businesses. Currently, Global Bridgebuilders serves a wide range of clients in the US and in 7 other countries. Welch has worked in International business and Diversity/Inclusion Management for nearly 20 years and has developed an in-depth knowledge of diversity, inclusion, and workforce development that brings together and maximizes the perfect blend of people and process. Prior to the launch of Global Bridgebuilders, Skot served as Vice President of Business Development and Benchmarking Services for DiversityInc magazine in New Jersey, where he worked with many of the Fortune 500's biggest global brands across a broad range of industries including:

  • Manufacturing: Motorola
  • Technology: Sprint Communications, Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems
  • Financial: Washington Mutual, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
  • Health-Care: Duke University Health System
  • Retail: McDonald's, Starbucks Coffee Company
  • Construction Services: Bovis Lend Lease
  • Automotive: Ford Motor Company
  • Pharmaceuticals: Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Co
  • Media: ABC/Disney
  • Municipalities: The City of Dallas, Texas
  • State Government: State of Missouri
  • National Non-Profits: National League of Cities, American Association of Retired People (AARP)

Welch received his Bachelor's degree from Albion College and his Masters in Management and International Marketing from Aquinas College.

Paul VanDuyne, President and CEO | IMEG Corp

Paul VanDuyne is President and CEO of IMEG Corp, the leading US-based engineering design firm that delivers that rare combination  the broad expertise of a national leader with the personal relationships and deep collaboration of a local firm. IMEG is employee-owned and results-driven with a passion for transforming environments and communities through high-performance design and infrastructure. With more than 50 offices and 1,500 team members, they serve regions and markets with full-service, in-house engineering design services.VanDuyne graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Drexel University in 1974. He then attended Rutgers University to work on an MBA and later earned a Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College. He ultimately chose a career in engineering, having joined IMEG Corp (then KJWW) in 1976 as the firm's sixteenth employee. He became the firm's vice president of engineering in 2003 and its president in 2004.Today, VanDuyne is President and CEO of the firm, which has grown to 1,500 employees at more than 50 locations. He was named Senior Engineer of the Year by the Quad City Science and Engineering Council and a "Mover and Shaker" by the Quad City Business Journal. He is a member of the Design Futures Council, NSPE, IES, and AEE, and serves on IMEG's Board of Directors. Additionally, he has served as chairman of multiple not-for-profits, is a member of Strategic Coach and Chief Executive Network and attends the EFCG annual conference.

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