September Chapter Meeting

Topic: How to Stop Gossip in the Workplace

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Format: Hybrid meeting - choose from in-person or virtual options:

• In-person: Join our speakers at the Illinois Soybean Association office with lunch and networking provided
• Illinois Soybean Association - 1108 Trinity Lane, Bloomington
• Virtual: Presentation streamed via Microsoft Teams 

Featured Speaker

Brenda Neckvatal

CEO, Mission Critical Impact

What You'll Learn

If gossip feels out of control, you’re not alone. Leaders see the signs—cliques, cold behavior, hushed conversations, slipping performance—but when they confront it, gossipers deny everything. Without proof, you back off and hope it stops. It doesn’t. Gossip spreads, derails projects, drives away top performers, and turns meetings tense. You lose time chasing rumors instead of leading, your authority gets tested, and trust erodes. Learn how to spot gossip, confront it directly, break the cycle, and set clear expectations so it stops—for good.

This session breaks down:

• Define gossip vs. legitimate venting or problem-solving
• Understand why it persists and its real cost
• Identify and confront it—even without direct proof
• Break the cycle with clear consequences and authority
• Prevent spread and rebuild team trust

Agenda

• 11:30 AM – In-person attendees join for networking + lunch
• 11:50 AM – Virtual attendees join the Microsoft Teams meeting
• 11:55 AM – Chapter announcements + speaker introduction
• 12:00 PM – Presentation + Q&A

Lunch Options (In-Person Only)

Select from the following lunch options from Panera:

Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad – Mixed greens and crisp romaine topped with grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, fresh avocado, applewood smoked bacon, and a hard-boiled egg with green goddess dressing on the side. Served with a piece of French Baguette and a cookie.

Mediterranean Veggie – Zesty sweet peppers, feta, sliced cucumbers, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, hummus, with salt and pepper on a Tomato Basil Miche. Served with chips and a cookie.

Bacon Turkey Bravo® – Oven roasted turkey breast, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, with salt and pepper, and drizzled with Signature Bravo sauce on our Tomato Basil Miche. Served with chips and a cookie.

Grilled Chicken & Avo BLT – Grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh sliced avocado, garlic aioli, salt and pepper on our Country Rustic Sourdough. Served with chips and a cookie.

Recertification Credits

Pending

Registration Policy

• Registration deadline is Friday, September 18 at 12:00 pm
• Anyone may attend in place of an active BNHRC member
• Guests welcome ($15 guest fee due by registration deadline)
• First-time guests and potential new members attend free!
• Review our event payment policies

Questions?

Email us at hello@bnhrc.org