Deb Benning

I'm delighted to speak at PROMPT. AI Innovation Series on July 20. Our panel, By Design, will discuss the ethics, governance and design choices behind AI as active decisions being made right now. I'll join Malvika Jethmalani, Kristi Zuhlke & Carl Kutsmode to say the things most rooms won't. PROMPT. is one full day bringing together the people who actually have to answer for where their businesses go next. Cross-industry, honest, and unlike anything else happening during TechChicago Week by P33. I spend most of my time heads-down building CoGo with Rachel Zargo so I'm looking forward to sharing what we've learned building ethical AI and learning from everyone else! Thank you Jazmyn Lopez, Vikas Srinath & Bree Whitehead for bringing us together in community to move the conversation deeper. And Rajiv 'RajNATION' Nathan for MC'ing! Join us! #PROMPT  #TCW26  #TechWeekChicago  #AIInnovation  #ChicagoTech

It's been an honor to be nominated for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Being recognized for the outstanding work United Scrap Metal, Inc. does each and every day is a big achievement. Our success would not be possible if it wasn't for all of the hardworking people who help bring this business to life. Thank you to EY for hosting a wonderful event last night and to my family and team for all the support. #UnitedScrapMetal #EY #Entrepeneur 

I wish I could remember who to personally thank for this idea. I know it was at an Illinois Manufacturers'​ Association SMC call. Thank you to whomever shared the idea for a slushie machine to make Gatorade slushies. Having lots of ways to stay cool 😎and hydrated 💦 are required on days like today. Please note in the fall I will be lobbying to use this for mocktail pina colada and mocktail margarita slushies. Cheers to a great day 🍹.

Founder of United Scrap Metal, Inc. Metal and an award-winning leader in recycling solutions, Marsha Serlin is a pioneer and sustainability trailblazer. She founded the company in 1978 and grew it into one of the largest recyclers in the United States. Proud to employ more than 750 team members throughout eleven operations in nine states, Serlin is dedicated to giving back and leads her team with the mission of making a positive impact on others. Learn more as we continue celebrating the Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame Class of 2026! https://lnkd.in/gUqGhnVU

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence — but they were so excited (and a bit disorganized) that they actually had to send the document out to be printed before most of them had signed it! Keeping to a tight timeline, John Dunlap printed about 200 copies overnight so it could be distributed across the colonies. The version we see today with all the fancy signatures came much later. Happy 250th, America!

Happy Retirement! This week is one that’s hard to comprehend for me. After 50 years of hard work, my father Michael Jerger is retiring. I know this moment is full of many emotions for him, so I wanted to make it more emotional with a post highlighting what made him special all these years. Professionally, my father has always been a shining example of hard work and perseverance paying off. He started his career working on the factory floor and concludes it as VP of Operations, a leader of others. There were plenty of long days/nights, weekends worked, business trips around the globe, and personal sacrifices made along the way. As I reflect on this accomplishment, two major things have always stood out about my father’s career. On one hand, there’s what he did during work hours and the industry overall. Automation and manufacturing to be more specific. My dad made a career in this space and was a large inspiration in my decision to do the same. Thanks to automation I’ve been able to see technology do more than just increase throughput and improve efficiency. I’ve seen workplaces become safer, employee morale increase, and have made strong relationships with so many people across the industry in the process. I’m truly grateful for my father’s introduction into this world and excited for what’s to come as technology continues to advance. On the other hand, and more importantly, I think about my dad outside of work hours. What sticks with me is how my father rarely “took his work home”. Instead of blending the stresses of work with his responsibilities as a husband and father, he simply parked the car on the driveway and left that world behind him. All of my memories of him as a father are those of a man who was fully present and fully committed to our family in every moment shared together. It’s not until I too got married and started my own family that I truly appreciated how difficult that type of work/life balance can be. I’m grateful for the example he set for me on a daily basis. Since the length of this post is approaching his several decades of work, I’ll wrap it up by simply saying - Congrats on a great career, Dad. I’m proud to be your son and can’t thank you enough for the doors your hard work has opened for our family. Also, the Cubs have a lot more pressure now that you’ll have more time to watch.

Frain Industries will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. As we celebrate our nation's independence with family, friends, and community gatherings, we also reflect on the freedoms and opportunities we are privileged to enjoy every day. This Fourth of July, we honor the vision, courage, and sacrifice of those who helped build and defend our nation throughout its history. Their dedication continues to inspire the values of freedom, opportunity, and service that unite us. From all of us at Frain Industries, we wish you and your family a safe, happy, and memorable Independence Day weekend. #IndependenceDay #FourthOfJuly #USA #Freedom #FrainIndustries

She stopped pushing back. You were relieved. She was done. That moment when your highest performer stops challenging decisions? That's not growth. That's the beginning of their exit. I've watched this play out hundreds of times. The best people don't quit loudly. They quit quietly. Over 90 days. While you celebrate the peace. First, they disengage. Stop volunteering. Stop debating. "Whatever you think is best" becomes their new default. Then they detach. Cancel 1-on-1s. Show up distracted. Stop caring about the future because they're not going to be in it. Finally, they prepare. Tidy loose ends. Document processes they never bothered with before. Take phone calls in their car during lunch. You think they've finally become a team player. They've already accepted another offer. Here's what kills me. Most of this is preventable. But you have to be looking for the silence, not just listening for the resignation letter. When your best people go quiet, that's not peace. That's a countdown. What warning sign did you miss before your best person quit? Follow Hayden Swerling Swerling for more People and Change insights For more weekly insights: https://lnkd.in/eysBEU_k