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Trading professionals will be converging on the Windy City this week to discuss ideas, chart trading strategies and make new connections in the year’s first affiliate meeting.

This week, beginning Wednesday, January 11, the Security Traders Association of Chicago (STAC) will be convening its 91^st annual mid-winter meeting at the Hilton Chicago hotel.

The event kicks off with opening remarks from John Castro, president of STAC, before giving way to a plethora of panels and discussions. Attendees can expect a Who’s Who of speakers including Paul Jigante, IMC; Phil MacKintosh, KCG; Pat Hickey, Optiver; Vlad Khandros, UBS; Mark Davies, CEO, S3; Phil Pearson, Director Execution Services Algorithms,  ITG; Jason Valdez, Managing Director, Penserra; Adam Inzirillo, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and others.

John Castro, Immediate Past President of STAC, told Traders Magazine that the conference comes at crossroads in the U.S. – both in terms of the geopolitical climate and trading markets.

“We’re excited about the content we have on tap,” Castro told Traders Magazine. “All of our content, from the keynote speaker through the panel discussions, are all this framed in what promises to be a transitional time for our country and industry. We wanted to touch on the things coming outside of the political area.”

Also, STAC, Castro added, is the first major affiliate conference of the year where the buy- and sell-side can re-connect after the holidays and network.

According to STAC, upwards of 650 people are registered for the event.

Dash Financial CEO Peter Maragos, who will be speaking on the retail options market structure panel on Thursday, said that STAC is one of best STA events of the year.

“We look forward to STAC each year, no question,” Maragos said. “A huge portion of the Chicago trading community turns out for it, providing a great opportunity for networking and discussion around some of the key issues facing our industry.”

Markit’s Samantha Foerster told Traders magazine that She believes that this year, more than ever, the financial markets need insight and bold leadership to meet the myriad challenges presented by MiFID II and evolving regulation in the U.S.

“The result will be a seismic shift in how research is produced, consumed, evaluated, paid for, and how buy-side orders are executed and analyzed.  It is, therefore, why a gathering like STAC, a conference with significant attendance and participation in a key financial center, is vitally important to help our community share information to help all firms serve their customers,” Foerster said. “Conferences like this, especially STAC which has a “reunion like” feel, embody the spirit of cooperation that is a hallmark of the financial industry we have so proudly served over the years, provide us all with an opportunity to renew our motivation to make 2017 the best year yet.”

The event concludes with a bang as Tom Ricketts, Chicago Cubs Executive Chairman and Incapital Co-Founder, will provide the keynote address to be followed by the Taste of STA Chicago mixer which features food stations serving Chicago favorites, a casino night and live music.