Connecting Our Business Community. Celebrating Janesville's Future.
Each year, Forward Janesville's Annual Dinner brings together hundreds of business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders for one of Rock County's largest gatherings of the business community.
It's an evening to celebrate the people and businesses moving Janesville forward, strengthen connections across our region and draw inspiration from ideas that can help our businesses, organizations and community grow.
From meaningful networking to engaging speakers and conversations about Janesville's future, Annual Dinner is an opportunity to recognize what we've accomplished together — and consider what comes next.
Looking Back at the 2026 Annual Dinner
A Story Worth Telling. A Future Worth Building.
On October 22, 2026, hundreds of business and community leaders gathered at the Woodman's Sports & Convention Center for an evening celebrating Janesville's history, its momentum today and the people helping write its next chapter.
Forward Janesville Board Chair George Cullen reflected on the values and decisions that have shaped our community through how we play, how we learn and how we work.
President & CEO Shar Hermanson explored the opportunities ahead and the importance of continuing to build a community where people and businesses can thrive.
And featured speaker Zach Atherton challenged everyone in attendance to think differently about the stories they tell — and the difference their businesses, organizations and individual efforts make.
Together, their messages offered a reminder that Janesville's future is a story we're all helping write.
What's the Next Chapter of Janesville's Story?
As attendees arrived at the 2026 Annual Dinner, we invited them to share their hopes for Janesville's future.
Their responses ranged from economic growth, housing and opportunities for young people to cultural experiences, stronger community connections and even another chicken restaurant.
We brought those voices together in a video that closed the evening.
Now we'd love to hear from you: What do you hope the next chapter of Janesville's story will be?
Annual Dinner Through the Years
For years, the Forward Janesville Annual Dinner has brought together hundreds of business and community leaders for an evening of connection, inspiration and celebration of the community we call home.