The Collective Entrepreneur Group

08/13/2026

Members, a reminder to register for next week's Collective Connect event if you have not already. Join us as we visit one of the most unique homes in the US. The House on Garling is entrepreneur Tom Kirk’s personal home turned one-of-a-kind art piece.

We’ll start with a discussion with Tom about his entrepreneurial journey and then take a self-guided tour through the property. The tour starts at 4 p.m. Check your email for full details.

This is an invite-only event for current and prospective members. If you are interested in learning more about joining The Collective, please fill out our Interest Form (link in comments).

08/12/2026

The Collective Entrepreneur Group welcomes new members quarterly. Interested in learning more? Send us a message or check out our website for more info!

08/05/2026

Collective Member Vivian Kong took the floor Friday at the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council's BN By The Numbers: Entrepreneurship Edition, held at the newly built Petrick Idea Center at Illinois Wesleyan University.

During her talk, Vivian shared valuable insights on entrepreneurship and unveiled The Collective's Community Partners initiative. This program was created for businesses, organizations, and individuals who believe in supporting the local entrepreneurship ecosystem and strengthening our local business community. You don’t need to be a Collective member to make a meaningful impact!

07/27/2026

☀️ June Monthly Member Social:

Once a month, we carve out time for our members to connect in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. This month, we chose the perfect summer day for a swim (just kidding, it was the coldest day of the season)!

Although we missed some of our member friends, those who joined enjoyed delicious food, great conversations, and, as always, plenty of laughter. A huge shoutout to Ryan Scritchlow for being such a fantastic host!

Can't wait for our next gathering. Stay tuned for more fun!

07/02/2026

The Pantagraph Readers' Choice Awards are back for 2026. This annual contest highlights some of the best businesses in our area, and we’re thrilled to see many of The Collective Members featured!

Get ready to cast your votes! 🗳️ The contest runs from now until July 26th, and you can vote once per day in each category. A huge congratulations to our members who made the list! Let's show our support and make our voices heard!

🎥 Fly Square Media - Best Video Production
🍪 Grove Street Bakery - Best Bakery, Best Cookies, Best Donuts
🍥 Kobe Revolving Sushi Bar - Best Sushi
📷 Liz Walsh Photography - Best Photographer
🧑‍💼 Ryan Scritchlow (The Scritchlow Agency - COUNTRY Financial) - Best Financial Planner and Best Insurance Agent
🌳Scritchlow Landscaping and Hyrdroseeding - Best Landscape Company
👟 Sneaker Box- Best Shoe Store

Link to vote in first comment...

06/28/2026

While our weekly Small Group sessions are all about deep discussions and business goals, our Member Socials are a whole different vibe!

Last week we enjoyed each other's company at Lil Beaver Brewery supporting local business. (If you were nearby, you definitely heard the fun we were having!) Cheers to connecting, collaborating, and supporting our local community! 🍻

06/24/2026

Congrats to Brian Plath and Sneaker Box!

06/23/2026

Meet our Members: Meet Aimee Biles

Aimee Biles is the owner of Normal Flight Volleyball and Flight Club 24/7 Volleyball Rentals. A leader, coach, and entrepreneur, she believes the most important lessons sports teach aren't athletic skills - they're leadership, teamwork, and resiliency.

She joined The Collective because she was inspired by the way members openly share knowledge, support one another, and genuinely care about each other's success. Aimee values being part of a community where collaboration, encouragement, and growth are at the center of the conversation.

We're proud to welcome Aimee as one of the newest members of The Collective!

06/22/2026

We love seeing our members do big things! We're thrilled to celebrate Brian Plath and his latest venture, Sneaker Box, on the grand opening of their retail location. Don't miss out on the opportunity to support Brian and see what he has created. See you there!

Tuesday is the big day! Can’t wait to see you in the store!

06/05/2026

📸 The creative force behind the lens...

A heartfelt "thanks" to Collective member Liz Walsh for capturing the memories of our recent gathering.