Choose Initial Director(s). You must choose a minimum of one director to oversee your corporation until at least the first shareholder meeting.How are Mentors and Mentees matched? Members must first enroll as a Mentor, Mentee or both. This document is sometimes referred to as the charter. The first step to beginning a corporation is filing your articles of incorporation. Do this with the Illinois Secretary of State. Learn how to start a corporation in Illinois. We'll help you open an Illinois corporation, create bylaws, and form a board of directors. This is the document you file directly with the Illinois Department of Business Services to form your corporation.