TechBash 2026

About this event

i.c.stars |* TechBash 2026

Tuesday, November 17th, 2026 5:30 PM VIP Reception | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Event

Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL

PURCHASE EVENT TICKET – $350

. . .

TechBash 2026: Where Art Meets Tech—and Connections Come to Life.

This year at a new venue- Zhoa B Art Center!

Join us for evening of connection- bringing together Chicago’s technology leaders, emerging talent, alumni, and community partners for an experience built around creativity and innovation.

You’ll meet rising i.c.stars interns — the next generation of tech talent — and network with CIOs and senior tech leaders from Chicago’s most influential companies.

In addition to interactive exhibits, IT Leaders will be cohosting a unique “speed networking” station. You won’t want to miss it.

Contact Sarah at scook@icstars.org for information about investing in i.c.stars mission by sponsoring a speed networking station with a CIO, the TechBash Open Bar, or memorable CIO Gift.

Check out our VIP Networking Session Hosts: (More to be announced in the coming weeks)

• Shafeek Abubaker, Practice Group Leader, ZUMITIN Inc.

• Wendy Betts, Information Security Officer, Rotary

• Neal Bloomfield, Sr. Director – IT, ITP Division, Baxter

• Gopinath Cataram, Head of Corporate Systems, William Blair

• Julianna Cole, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners

• Kelly Coomer, Chief Information Officer, Kemper

• Katie Dowling, Head of Global Technology, Delivery and Operations, Morningstar

• Danielle DuMerer, VP of Technology & Information Security, Shedd Aquarium

• Dean Haacker, Founder & President, Highland Grove Partners

• Lamar Heller, Sr Director, IT, Security, and DevOps, SPINS

• Darin Hurd, EVP and Chief Information Security Officer, Guaranteed Rate

• Chris Kapcar, VP of Technology, BrightStar Care

• Jack King, CIO, American College of Surgeons

• Michael Lambert, SVP, Chief Technology Officer and Director Research & Development, Wintrust Financial Corporation

• Merredith Lewis, Fellow, AI for Leaders, Intentional Gravity, LLC

• Michael Limjoco, SVP Business Line Information Systems, Corporate, Wintrust Financial

• Jennifer Macalaguin, Chief Strategy Officer, ex9

• Maxim McCoy, Senior Manager IT – Security & Business Continuity, ALDI USA

• Scott Oliver, CIO, Nationwide Acceptance LLC

• Brian Palmer, Director of IT, Ventas Inc.

• Dayo Popoola, CIO, Thresholds

• Jack Recinto, Director of Applications, Ice Miller LLP

• Raj Sampoornam, Senior Vice President & CIO, Byline Bank

• Kader Sakkaria, Global CDO, Marsh

• Tim Turner, Vice President, Business Intelligence & Data Analytics, Thresholds

• Rod Warren, Deputy CIO – Head of IT Delivery, City of Chicago

From i.c.stars