Rising Stars Spring 2026 Meeting

April 15-16, 2026 | Mars Ice Cream Facility | Burr Ridge, IL

Hotel & Travel Information

Hotel Booking Information:

Group Rate: $ per night + applicable taxes and fees
Group rate is available from
Deadline to book is

Book Your Room Online

Travel Information:

Distance from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to hotel: 12 miles. View Directions
Distance from Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) to hotel: 22 miles. View Directions

Schedule

All times are listed in Central Standard Time (CST). Events take place at the Mars Ice Cream facility unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026
9:00am - 9:30am	Arrival & Kickoff - Breakfast & coffee at the hotel.
10:00am - 10:30am	Meet at the Mars Ice Cream facility - Sign waivers & safety briefing.
10:30am - 12:30pm	Group 1 Plant Tour \| Group 2 Session
12:45pm - 1:45pm	Lunch
2:00pm - 4:00pm	Group 2 Plant Tour \| Group 1 Session
4:00pm - 6:00pm	Free Time
6:00pm - 7:00pm	Group Dinner
Thursday, April 16, 2026
7:45am-8:15am	Breakfast - Breakfast and coffee at the hotel.
8:30am - 9:30am	Group Session
9:30am - 9:45am	Break
9:45am - 11:15am	Group Session
11:15am - 12:15pm	Lunch & Open Discussion - Attendees share key takeaways and insights over lunch.
12:15pm - 1:00pm	Closing Remarks & Action Plan Summary of discussions and actionable next steps Feedback session for future events

The Ice Cream Association fosters a vibrant ice cream industry by uniting distributors, manufacturers, retailers, and vendors, through a collaborative network - for the love of ice cream.