Events

The IEEE Industry & Community Outreach Summit brings together IEEE leadership, industry professionals, educators, students, and community partners for a multi-day program focused on STEM education, workforce development, and industry–community collaboration. Anchored by the visit of the IEEE President-Elect, the summit integrates K–12 outreach, university engagement, professional development, and community programming designed to connect students, practicing engineers, educators, and local leaders. Programming emphasizes the human side of engineering, lifelong learning, and pathways that support individuals at every stage of their technical careers. This summit strengthens regional STEM ecosystems, highlights IEEE’s global commitment to education and professional growth, and builds sustainable partnerships across IEEE Regions 4 and 5, with models that can be adapted and replicated by other IEEE Sections. Co-sponsored by: Society of Women Engineers Agenda: February 22nd, 2026 Morning | Women & Community Leadership Brunch Venue: Peoria Women’s Club Audience: 50–100 (community leaders, philanthropists, AAUW, senior professionals) Focus: - Humanitarian impact of engineering - Outreach to girls and women in STEM - Building sustained local WIE engagement Program Elements: - - Welcome & networking brunch - Remarks by IEEE President-Elect - Local & Chicago WIE leadership participation - Emphasis on continuity beyond the visit Afternoon | Caterpillar Engineering Day (Family-Friendly) Venue: Caterpillar Visitor Center Time: 2:00–5:00 PM Audience: Engineers, families, K–12 students, university students Activities: - Hands-on STEM demos (circuits, robotics, AI-enabled systems) - IEEE education & humanitarian outreach booth - Engagement with Caterpillar recruiting and engineering leaders February 23rd, 2026 Morning | High School STEM Outreach Confirmed School: Metamora Township High School Time: 8:30–10:00 AM Messaging Focus: - Engineering as a viable, attainable career path - What to do after graduation - Practical perspectives from industry and IEEE volunteers Format: - Opening talk by IEEE President-Elect - Follow-on perspective by non-Caterpillar industry leader - Student Q&A Midday–Afternoon | Caterpillar Engineering Headquarters Program Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Audience: ~50 practicing engineers and executives Session 1: Executive & Leadership Perspective Presenter: IEEE President-Elect Topic: Progress Over Perfection: Engineering Careers, Digital Transformation, and Lifelong Learning Key Themes: - Progress over perfection in engineering practice - Adapting to digital transformation - The role of professional communities in career resilience Session 2: Professional Engineer Perspective Presenter: Jessica Bian Topic: More Power to Your Future: Life-Long Learning through IEEE Key Themes: - Half-Life of knowledge is decreasing - Danger of becoming technologically obsolete - Workshops, webinars, mentorship, coaching and other programs IEEE provides. Session 3: Early Career & Talent Pipeline Perspective Presenter: Maxwell Mamishev Undergraduate, Electrical Engineering (UIUC); IEEE member since high school Topic: Why Early Engagement Matters: Developing the Next Generation of Engineers Key Themes: - Value of early technical engagement and mentorship - How IEEE supports students from high school to industry - Preparing young engineers for professional success Evening | Industry & Community Networking Dinner Venue: Distillery Labs Time: 6:00–8:30 PM Co-Sponsors: SWE, Peoria Chamber, Women’s Business Council February 23rd, 2026 Morning | High School Outreach School: Peoria High School Focus: - Academic pathways and opportunity awareness - STEM careers as tools for upward mobility - Relationship building with school leadership Midday–Afternoon | University & Student Engagement Location: University of Illinois Springfield Participants: ISU, UIUC, Bradley, UIS students Program Includes: - - Women in Engineering “Ask Me Anything” lunch - Student project competition & judging - IEEE Student Branch collaboration session - Award presentations by IEEE leadership Peoria, Illinois, United States