University of Illinois Research Park

Join Research Park on Tuesday, June 16 from noon to 1 p.m. at EnterpriseWorks for the next edition of the Power Skills Series: Managing Up with Jen Quinlan!

Jen Quinlan, IT Manager and Site Director at Dow Delivery Center, brings more than 20 years of tech experience to a conversation about managing up. She'll cover personal accountability, deliberate communication, and how building the right relationships with your supervisors can move your career forward.

The Power Skills Series occurs every Tuesday in June and July, and is designed to enhance essential workplace skills.

Click the link in the comments to register 🔗

Interning at Research Park this summer?

Sign up for the weekly intern newsletter to stay in the loop on everything happening at Research Park. Each week you'll get event updates, tips for making the most of your internship, and everything you need to get the full Research Park experience.

Click the link in the comments to subscribe 🔗

Our next Women in Tech Luncheon is almost here!

Join Research Park on Wednesday, June 17 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at EnterpriseWorks to hear from Melinda Miller, CEO and co-owner of Pixo, a woman-owned Champaign-Urbana tech firm based in Research Park.

Since its origins, Pixo has completed more than 1,500 tech projects spanning web applications, mobile apps, custom databases, and AI tools for clients in agriculture, manufacturing, and higher education. As CEO, Melinda leads the firm's strategic planning, management, recruiting, and project consulting.

Register using the link in the comments 🔗

Calling Research Park Interns! Don’t miss the annual Intern Networking Social on June 11 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at 2100 S. Oak St.

Kick off your summer by connecting with fellow interns over food and refreshments. It's a great chance to casually put faces to names, swap stories, and settle in. Plus, get a free headshot.

Click the link in the comments to register 🔗

The Power Skills Series is back! Join Research Park on Tuesday, June 9 from 12 to 1 p.m. for the next edition: Networking - The Second Impression with Bryan Goode.

Everyone talks about the first impression, but the second one is where relationships are actually built. This session digs into how to follow up with intention, stay memorable after the room clears, and turn a brief introduction into a lasting professional connection.

Bryan Goode leads workforce development and recruitment programs for Research Park, with a background spanning professional recruitment, and talent strategy.

The Power Skills Series occurs every Tuesday in June and July, and is designed to enhance essential workplace skills.

Click the link in the comments to learn more and register 🔗

Research Park is launching a Practical AI Accelerator, a four-week cohort for UIRP professionals ready to build practical AI skills.

Led by Brad Miller, CEO of First Pro and University of Illinois instructor, the program is built for non-technical and light-technical participants. You will build workflows using tools you already have and leave each week with something you can immediately apply.

The cohort runs Wednesdays, June 10 through July 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided.

Register using the link in the comments.

Congratulations to Research Park's graduating interns and the Class of 2026! 🎓

We couldn't be more proud of you. Your work and dedication to our community have left a mark, and we cannot wait to see what you accomplish next as you become official Illinois alumni. 🧡 💙

Congratulations:
Audrey Chang, Graphic Design Intern
Sydney Gardner, Communications Intern
Gizelle Salumbidez, Communications Intern
Nicole Vestidas, Graphic Design Intern

We also want to extend a sincere thank you to all of our interns. Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed, and we are grateful to have you as part of our team.

Research Park Intern Team:
Jose Andino Guerra, Events Intern
Arianna Gandhi, Communications Intern
Don Hopkins, Business Development Intern
Dhruv Oak, Graphic Design Intern
Isabel Stoltz, Outreach Intern

🌟 Speaker Spotlight: Bryan Goode

We’re excited to welcome Bryan Goode, Research Park Talent Manager at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, to the 2026 Agriculture & Food Roundtable Conference.

Bryan will lead a breakout session, “Let’s Hear it Right from the Employer,” sharing real‑world employer perspectives on talent and workforce challenges in ag & food.

📍 Join us August 4–6 in Champaign, IL.

https://web.cvent.com/event/eaee60df-926d-480d-ab27-698509091365/summary
University of Illinois Research Park

How does your generation define success at work? And how does that compare to the person sitting next to you? Join University of Illinois Research Park on Tuesday, May 5 from 12 to 1 p.m. at EnterpriseWorks for Connecting Across Generations in the Workspace.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, students from the College of Education's M.S. Mental Health Program will be leading a research-backed conversation on how generational differences shape the way we communicate, collaborate, and define success at work.

Register using the link in the comments 🔗

ICYMI: The Wall Street Journal featured EnterpriseWorks startup Cache Energy and CEO Arpit Dwivedi, spotlighting its thermal battery technology and the real-world traction it's gaining.

Cache Energy is already powering installations in Alaska, on university campuses, and inside private manufacturing facilities. Their approach stores heat rather than electricity, offering a rechargeable, long-duration energy storage solution with serious potential to reduce fossil fuel dependence.

Read more here:

The 2,000-Year-Old Cement Battery That Could Reduce Our Reliance on Fossil Fuel Thermal batteries, such as the one being developed by Cache Energy, store heat instead of electricity, and can be recharged and discharged over and over.