We’re excited to announce the second Silicon Prairie Social, a technology networking event in the western Chicago suburbs. The event will be held Thursday, January 24 at Mullen’s Bar & Grill in Lisle. After our successful first event in September, we’re excited to do it again. This is a great opportunity to connect in a fun, informal setting with like-minded people in technology!

This time around we have more drinks, more food, and some great sponsors! IT vendor ChicagoMicro joins us as the event’s Premier Sponsor, along with sponsors Microsoft, M5 Networks, HostedLabs, Kirix, Optimus Solutions, Piocon, Bradley Wiltjer Marketing Group, and M. Hedayat + Associates. Be sure to pay our sponsors a visit as they’re the ones who make this all possible.

Why should I come?

• Free admission (RSVP required)
• Free drinks and hors d’oeuvres!
• Mingle, network, and learn with other successful tech oriented professionals like yourself.

Who Can Attend?
Silicon Prairie Social is specifically for upwardly mobile tech professionals, tech executives, tech entrepreneurs, technology service providers, Internet professionals, Web 2.0 and startup companies, and the mobile industry.

What’s different from last time?
Our goal is to make Silicon Prairie Social a place where quality business relationships can be fostered, resulting in mutually-beneficial business relationships between attendees. In keeping with this goal, and due to feedback we received from the first event, we will be focusing the audience by limiting access: No professional recruiters, staffing agencies or active job seekers will be permitted.

Who’s behind this?
Silicon Prairie Social is founded and hosted by Lisle-based XNet. XNet has shown its commitment to growing the suburban tech community by contributing both money and effort to continue to make this a success. The driving force behind Silicon Prairie Social is XNet’s Tim Courtney and Arthur Zards.

When and Where?

Silicon Prairie Social 2
Thursday, January 24
6:30pm-10:00pm (bar open until 1:00am)

Mullen’s Bar and Grill
3080 Warrenville Rd.
Lisle, IL 60532
(Get directions via Google Maps)

At I-88 and Naperville Rd., Silicon Prairie Social is centrally located and easy to get to from all along the llinois Technology and Research Corridor on I-88, the Golden Corridor on I-90, downtown Chicago and the western suburbs.

Want to attend? RSVP here.
The event is free to attend, and RSVP is required. Word is spreading of the first event, so RSVP early as space is limited. Registration closes at noon on the day of the event, or once the RSVP list reaches its limit. No professional recruiters, staffing agencies or active job seekers are permitted.

We look forward to seeing you in January!

Thanks to everyone who came out on Wednesday for our Very Prairie Christmas Gathering! For those of you who missed it, Very Prairie Christmas was a more intimate, informal get-together. The smaller crowd provided a good opportunity to talk to everyone who attended. It’s great to see how many people are truly committed to making a suburban technical networking event a true success.

Apologies for the dark, grainy photos. These photos below link to Flickr photos tagged “veryprairiechristmas.” Upload your own if you were there!

Sponsors Needed: Silicon Prairie Social 2 in January

We’re planning on holding the next Silicon Prairie Social in late January, and looking forward to making an announcement very soon. We just need a few more sponsors to make it happen.

The first Silicon Prairie Social was a great success. Our wonderful sponsors are the ones who made it possible. If you’ve thought about sponsoring before, now is the perfect opportunity. Please email Tim today at tim {at} siliconprairiesocial [dot] com to discuss possibilities.

We’re excited about getting everybody together again!

Arthur Zards