February 27, 2026 Small Manufacturers Council

Description

Last month's kick off for this new initiative designed exclusively for small manufacturers across Illinois to connect, collaborate, and conquer shared challenges generated a lot of excitement! Open only to our IMA manufacturing members with 150 employees or fewer, we are committed to building this momentum on a monthly basis.

So, next up: SMC Chair Nirel Inman, President of Chicago Glue & Machine, has organized a timely and essential conversation on innovative strategies to reduce benefits and insurance costs. Brian Freedman, CEO of Mployer Advisor and author of the IMA’s statewide compensation and benefits survey, will break down what small manufacturers are offering today - and what they’re experiencing across employee health plans and broader insurance trends.

The discussion will cover group health, property & casualty, and cyber liability, all through the lens of benchmarking how other manufacturers are mitigating risk. You’ll gain practical tools to align these insights with your company’s goals and make more informed decisions.

You definitely won’t want to miss the Myths and Truths segment!