Chicago's Leading Supply Chain Management Professionals

ISM—Chicago is a non-profit association dedicated to strengthening the community of procurement and supply chain professionals in the greater Chicago area.

As a chapter of ISM, we are committed to the ongoing professional development of our members and the purchasing/supply chain profession through education, research, and communication.

Our membership is comprised of procurement and supply chain professionals and managers employed in host of companies from the government, private and public sectors. For more information on becoming a part of ISM—Chicago, click here.

Join us at an Upcoming Event!

The Dirty Data Dilemma

Join David Wild, for an engaging, hands-on workshop on putting AI to work in procurement. With more than 20 years of procurement leadership experience—including leading procurement technology at Amazon—David brings a unique blend of industry expertise and real-world innovation.

Through live demonstrations, interactive exercises, and practical use cases, you'll discover how AI can improve data quality, streamline procurement processes, uncover savings opportunities, and solve everyday procurement challenges. You'll leave with actionable insights and strategies you can immediately put into practice. Guest speaker: Mike with Simms Group, formerly the CPO at Microsoft

September 17, 2026 | 5:00-9:00pm | 1.0 CEH

Location
My Social Loft, The Glen
2011 Tower Dr, Suite D9A
Glenview IL 60026

Price
FREE to attend!

REGISTER TODAY!

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Negotiating the AI Terms That Matter: From the Contract Table to the Mediation Table

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of nearly every procurement relationship, yet many of the most important AI contract terms are negotiated without a full understanding of how they'll actually operate when something goes wrong. This interactive session will help procurement professionals identify and negotiate the AI-related contract provisions that matter most.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of which AI provisions to negotiate, why those provisions matter, and how they can impact the organization when the vendor relationship is tested. They will also gain practical experience in mediation, dispute resolution, and interest-based negotiation, skills that strengthen their effectiveness as both procurement professionals and strategic business partners.

September 24, 2026 | 5:30-8:30pm | 1.0 CEH

Location
Bar Siena North Shore
4999 Old Orchard Rd Ste A2, Skokie, IL 60077

Price
$25.00 - Member
$45.00 - Non-Member

*Early Bird Pricing Ends September 1

REGISTER TODAY!

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ISM-Chicago: Barks, Brews & Networking

Join ISM-Chicago for our annual charity event at Parched Pug, where supply chain professionals and industry peers come together for an afternoon of networking, great food, and community impact.

Enjoy food and beverages while connecting with fellow members and guests in a relaxed setting. Best of all, proceeds from this event will benefit a local animal shelter, helping support animals in need throughout our community.

October 3, 2026 | 12:30-2:30pm

Location
The Parched Pug
1590 S Milwaukee Ave, Ste 100, Libertyville, IL 60048

Price
$15.00 - Member
$30.00 - Non-Member

REGISTER TODAY!

A message from a corporate member!

Click to VIew

Ready to Build a High Performing & Competitive Team? ISM offers a suite of customized solutions to assist organizations in their talent management and pursuit of operational efficiencies. From department assessments, to interactive onsite training and brand awareness, ISM has it covered.

Learn More Today

September

09 2026

MEMBER WEBINAR

Member Only

Member Orientation

This webinar provides knowledge regarding the many benefits that come with being a part of the ISM community. Join us and learn about the essential tools, vibrant community, and exceptional learning that enhances your professional development. You'll also gain insight into the array of programs, services, and resources that are available to you through your membership.

Online

Megan Hays

Register Now Group Registration

May

16-18

2027

EVENT

ISM World 2027

The ISM World experience gives you the opportunity to be face-to-face with thought leaders, peers and suppliers and have dedicated time to build your network and expand your knowledge on critical topics impacting the supply management profession. Get inspired by amazing keynotes, interact in engaging breakout sessions and have fun swapping supply chain “wins” (and war stories) in a variety of attendee celebrations and small group experiences.

National Harbor, MD

Register Now Group Registration

Anytime

MEMBER WEBINAR

Member Only

AI-Native Cost Intelligence to Turn Procurement into a Profit Center

Procurement leaders are under pressure to do more than manage spend—they’re expected to drive measurable business value. This member-only webinar explores how AI-native cost intelligence is reshaping procurement into a strategic profit lever.

Join Gautam Pasari, Founder and CEO of True ValueHub, a 2025 ISM Supply Chain Trailblazer winner, for a focused discussion and case study on how organizations can move upstream in the cost lifecycle, increase transparency across global supply networks, and accelerate sourcing decisions without compromising rigor. You’ll gain practical insight into how AI is enabling faster, more informed collaboration across engineering, sourcing, and supplier ecosystems.

What you’ll learn:

Why early-stage cost intelligence matters
Understand how influencing the first 70–80% of cost during design can unlock greater savings and reduce downstream trade-offs.
How to build transparency and tariff resilience
See how breaking costs into clear drivers—materials, manufacturing, logistics, and carbon—creates a shared understanding with suppliers and strengthens your ability to model and respond to tariffs and trade shifts.
How AI is accelerating sourcing cycles
Explore how AI-enabled workflows can compress RFQ timelines from months to days, enabling real-time collaboration and more strategic decision-making.

Learning Objectives

Identify how early-stage cost intelligence influences 70–80% of total product cost and apply this insight to improve design-phase decision-making.
Evaluate cost drivers across materials, manufacturing, logistics, and carbon to improve transparency, strengthen supplier alignment, and model the impact of tariffs and trade changes.
Apply AI-enabled approaches to accelerate RFQ and sourcing processes, reducing cycle times and enabling more effective real-time collaboration.

Online

View All Education

Welcome from the President

Welcome! On behalf of the board, come on in and stay a bit.

ISM—Chicago, Inc. is a non-profit organization, it has been our goal to maintain the highest level of excellence to the procurement and supply chain professionals in the Midwest to continue leadership in Ethics, Professionalism, Education, Research, and Networking. Our chapter has membership meetings where we discuss topics relevant to today's professionals and networking opportunities. We'd love to see you on-line or in person!

ISM—Chicago offers certification courses for professionals to earn Certified Professional in Supply Management® (CPSM®) and Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity® (CPSD®). These courses help attendees prepare to pass each section of the exam. Each certification broadens your competencies in supply management.

Not a member of ISM—Chicago? Please join us. Consider this a personal invitiation from myself and the board to join as a member. Becoming a member offers many benefits at the local and global level. Members can find many options to help become leaders of their careers.

If you need more information, please contact the office via email at contact@ism-chicago.org or call our office at 847.298.1940.

Read Our Mission & Vision Statement

Chicago Business Barometer^™

Explore more insights and access the full Chicago Business Barometer™ press release in the Research section of the Chicago Report.

Read Press Release

Supply Chain Cybersecurity Defenders

July 08, 2026

Articles

How digital breach mitigation is becoming a procurement discipline that keeps operations moving when threats strike.

Join ISM

Your membership in ISM will provide a powerful path to stay connected, engaged, and up-to-date with everything happening in supply management. Serious procurement and supply chain professionals are dedicated to staying in the know about their profession and staying at the top of their game. An ISM membership will provide you with that and more.

More than 100 years of experience speaks for itself – ISM can help you succeed. It's our mission.

Become A Member

Build the Credibility That Opens Doors

Earn your CPSM to build credibility, strengthen expertise, expand opportunities, and increase professional impact.

Prove You’re Ready for What’s Next

You’ve built the foundation. Now build the credibility that helps you stand out. A CPSM shows employers and colleagues that you have the expertise to navigate complex supply chain challenges, lead with confidence, and drive smarter business decisions. Along the way, you’ll deepen your knowledge, strengthen your professional network, and connect with a community of supply chain leaders committed to excellence. If you're ready to expand your impact and prepare for what's next in your career, earning your CPSM® is a powerful next step.

Enroll Now