advertising supplement to crain's chicago business

20142014

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

PROGRAM BOOK SPONSOR: PROGRAM BOOK PUBLISHED BY:

2014_Innovation_C1.indd 1 10/21/14 11:48 AM

HELPING LOCAL INNOVATORSMAKE A GLOBAL IMPACTMore than 75 years ago, a family business opened its doors in a Chicago suburb. Today, Molex has grown to a team of over 36,000 strong, with 45 manufacturing locations in 17 countries around the world. With a global impact spanning a range of industries, including medical, information technology and automotive, Molex knows fi rsthand how a local business can make a big difference. That’s why we proudly support Chicago businesses as a sponsor of The Innovators Connection; because innovation is only as valuable as the impact it makes.

Learn more at molex.com

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RECEPTION AND COCKTAILS5:00pm – 6:15pm

AWARDS CEREMONY6:30pm-8:30pm

PERFORMANCE AND SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AWARDDavid Garibaldi

WELCOMING REMARKSTom Kuczmarski, Co-Founder, Chicago Innovation Awards

Dan Miller, Co-Founder, Chicago Innovation AwardsLuke Tanen, Executive Director, Chicago Innovation Awards

SOCIAL INNOVATOR AWARD

COLLABORATION AWARD

UP-AND-COMER AWARDS

VISIONARY AWARDSam Yagan, CEO, Match.com

CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS WINNERS

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTERSTroy Henikoff, Managing Director, Techstars

Gerould Kern, Senior Vice President & Editor, Chicago TribunePhilip Kotler, Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management

Theresa Mintle, President, Chicagoland Chamber of CommerceToni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President

Hedy Ratner, President Emeritus, Women’s Business Development CenterAllison Rosati, NBC 5 Chicago

Terry Savage, Investment Advisor & Finance ExpertRob Stafford, NBC 5 Chicago

David Snyder, Publisher, Crain’s Chicago BusinessKevin Willer, Partner & Co-Founder, Chicago Ventures

Ed Wehmer, President & CEO, Wintrust Financial CorporationDonna Zarcone, President, Economic Club of Chicago

Andrea Zopp, CEO, Chicago Urban League

CHICAGOINNOVATION AWARDS

Hosted at The Harris Theater

HELPING LOCAL INNOVATORSMAKE A GLOBAL IMPACTMore than 75 years ago, a family business opened its doors in a Chicago suburb. Today, Molex has grown to a team of over 36,000 strong, with 45 manufacturing locations in 17 countries around the world. With a global impact spanning a range of industries, including medical, information technology and automotive, Molex knows fi rsthand how a local business can make a big difference. That’s why we proudly support Chicago businesses as a sponsor of The Innovators Connection; because innovation is only as valuable as the impact it makes.

Learn more at molex.com

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1 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS

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CONTENTS3 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS FOUNDERS

Tom Kuczmarski + Dan Miller

4 SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERSVISIONARY AWARD - Sam YaganSPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARD - The Joffrey Ballet SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AWARD - David Garibaldi

6-7 FEATURE The Innovators Connection Plays Matchmaker Between Local Startups and Big Firms

AuctionsByCellular, dough,Horizon Pharma, Keeper Security,

LMK Technologies, Mattersight, Radio Flyer, Rise Interactive,

Strata Decision Technology, Swingbyte

8-272014 CHICAGO INNOVATION

AWARDS WINNERS

28-29 COMPANY PROFILE: Molex

30 SOCIAL INNOVATOR AWARD WINNER - CaremergeTHE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER - alligatortekCOLLABORATION AWARD WINNER - Molex, Belltone

32-33 2014 UP & COMER AWARD WINNERS

34 JUDGING PANEL BOARD OF ADVISORS3536 EVENT CALENDAR 38,40 MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

42 PAST WINNERS 43 THE INNOVATORS CONNECTION

44 2014 SPONSORS 46 2014 PARTNERS

4847 INNOVATION AWARDS TEAMLETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR


2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS2 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS

5 FROM THE PROGRAM BOOK SPONSORMolex

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TOM KUCZMARSKICo-founder, Chicago Innovation Awards

THOMAS D. KUCZMARSKI, President of Kuczmarski Innovation, is a nationally recognized expert in the innovation and development of new products and services. The author of six books and many articles, Mr. Kuczmarski has taught product and service innovation at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for over 30 years.

DAN MILLERCo-founder, Chicago Innovation Awards

DAN MILLER is a long-time prominent Chicago area journalist. He was the publisher and executive vice president of The Heartland Institute. As business editor of the Chicago Sun-Times, he co-founded the Chicago Innovation Awards with Tom Kuczmarski. Before that, he worked as business reporter for the Chicago Daily News, helped launch Crain’s Chicago Business, serving as its editor for its first decade, and served as chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from 1996-2000.

CHICAGOINNOVATION AWARDS

Innovative new products and services are one of the most effective ways to help a business prosper and grow or for a nonprofit to achieve its goals. That is why we are proud to host the Chicago Innovation Awards. For the 13th consecutive year, the awards will celebrate the creative spirit of the Chicago region by recognizing and honoring the area’s most innovative new products and services.

INNOVATION AWARDS FOUNDERS


www.ChicagoInnovationAwards.com • @Chi_Innovation • #2014CIA

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SAM YAGAN is the CEO of The Match Group, where he oversees a portfolio of 40 global brands including Match.com, Tinder, and several other innovative companies. Previously, Sam co-founded Excelerate Labs (now Techstars Chicago) to provide seed funding and mentorship to support new entrepreneurs in Chicago. To date, this program has launched 40 new companies and created over 150 new jobs. Looking further back, Sam was the Co-founder of Sparknotes, which sold to Barnes & Noble for $30 million, and the Co-founder of OkCupid, which was bought by The Match Group for $90 million. Last year, Time Magazine listed Sam among their “100 Most Infl uential People in the World.”

DAVID GARIBALDI is a uniquely talented performance artist from Sacramento. His passion for music and color, or “rhythm and hue,” combined with his dynamic stage presence has taken him all over the world, from touring with the Blue Man Group to becoming a fi nalist on “America’s Got Talent.” He is also passionate about the potential of art to help those in need, having raised over $1,000,000 for nonprofi ts and charities such as Special Olympics, Echoes of Hope, Sacramento Children’s Home, and World Vision.

Now celebrating its 20th season in Chicago, THE JOFFREY BALLET has been hailed as “America’s Company of Firsts.” The Joffrey Ballet’s long list of fi rsts includes being the fi rst dance company to perform at the White House, the fi rst to appear on television, the fi rst classical dance company to go multi-media, the fi rst to commission a rock-n-roll ballet, the fi rst and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time Magazine, the fi rst company to have had a major motion picture based on it – Robert Altman’s The Company – and the fi rst U.S. ballet company to livestream video of a rehearsal on YouTube. The Joffrey Ballet’s innovative repertoire includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces, and cutting-edge contemporary works. Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, the company continues to thrive under internationally renowned Artistic Director Ashley Wheater.

VISIONARY AWARD - SAM YAGAN

SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARD JOFFREY BALLET

SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AWARD DAVID GARIBALDI

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As a leading provider of electronic components and solutions, MOLEX views innovation as a tool for solving complex customer challenges. This philosophy has helped us not only create many pioneering electronic solutions, but also build a globally recognized company.

FROM THE PROGRAM BOOK SPONSOR

BRIAN KRAUSEVice President of Marketing and CommunicationsMolex

BRIAN KRAUSE is Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications at Molex. Mr. Krause manages the Molex global brand, sales enablement & lead generation, sales planning and the global commercialization and promotion of Molex products, technologies, capabilities and services. Recently named by BtoB Magazine as one of the top digital marketers, Mr. Krause has dedicated his career to defining programs that demonstrate innovation, support customer needs, and drive long-term sales. Mr. Krause is a frequent speaker on B2B social media and global B2B marketing strategies.

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Think “Shark Tank” minus the personal drama. That’s the Innovators Connection, a Chicago program that links big corporations and

startup companies for potential collaborations. The entrepreneurs have about 20 minutes to present their ideas to executives from the larger, established company. Both sides then discuss how they might work together. Does the startup have a new technology or service the big company needs to solve a problem? Is the big company the right fit for a growing startup that needs customers and funding? “It takes networking to a whole new level,” says Tom Kuczmarski, founder and co-chair of the Chicago Innovation Awards, which launched the Innovators Connection program about 15 months ago. “This is an efficient and effective way to connect companies.” Though networking opportunities for Chicago’s startup community have exploded in recent years, the Innovators Connection is one of the few programs where companies go through an actual matchmaking process. With a database of about 1,500 local startups, the Innovators Connection draws many of the companies from among Chicago Innovation Awards nominees. The largest annual celebration of innovation in the Midwest to highlight creative new products and services, the Chicago Innovation Awards were founded by Mr. Kuczmarski, president of consulting

firm Kuczmarski Innovation, and Dan Miller, a longtime Chicago journalist and former chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission. The Chicago Innovation Awards fielded 552 nominees this year, representing potential new business opportunities for startups and big corporations alike. In 2014, the Innovators Connection matched local startups with 19 large companies from across the country, including high-profile names such as Molex Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Exelon Corp. “Chicago’s reputation is growing as a hub for innovation,” Mr. Kuczmarski says. He adds that big companies also are starting to recognize the value of connecting with startups instead of relying solely on their own research and development departments to stimulate growth. “It’s a mindset shift,” Mr. Kuczmarski notes. In advance of the Innovators Connection “demo days,” executives at the big companies are interviewed to find out what business challenges and opportunities they see. Their needs are then matched to 25 to 30 Chicago-area startups, which are then reviewed by the corporate executives. Five to 10 startups are selected to make in-person presentations. “It was well worth it,” says Brian Krause, vice president of global marketing and communications at Lisle-based Molex, the lead corporate sponsor of the Innovators Connection. Eight startups made presentations in July to a panel of Molex executives.

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDS

BY JANE ADLER

The Innovators Connection Plays

CREATIVE MATCHMAKERBetween LOCAL STARTUPS and BIG FIRMS



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Mr. Krause declines to provide details about the startups, but says some presented technologies that could be incorporated into Molex products, while others pitched completely new ideas. “The hope is that we will find a couple of golden nuggets to drive a new technology or business,” Mr. Krause says.

ROBUST MATCHMAKING Andrew Cronk heads a Chicago startup that participates in the Innovators Connection. “It’s like online dating,” says Mr. Cronk, CEO of TempoIQ Inc. “The Innovators Connection is good at making matches.” TempoIQ manages data collected by sensors that track everything from street lights to gas pressures. The data is used to identify trends and improve efficiency. The Innovators Connection matched TempoIQ with Cisco. Though discussions are still ongoing, TempoIQ could possibly play a role in the Internet of Things, an initiative led by Cisco and other companies to expand the internet and computer networks to places such as manufacturing floors, energy grids and healthcare facilities. TempoIQ also was matched with Exelon, which is installing sensors in homes to accurately measure energy usage. “The Innovators Connection gave us the kind of access to big companies that we’ve never had before,” Mr. Cronk says. “We’re very excited.” Recognizing the need to find new business ideas, Exelon launched its own program called Dancing with the Startups, a take-off on the popular television show “Dancing with the Stars.” A key element of the program is participation in the Innovators Connection. “We’re such a big company,” says Brian Hoff, director of emerging technology at Exelon, Chicago. “We were missing out on new ideas and realized we needed to get more involved with startups.” Exelon reviewed a portfolio of some 30 startups from the Innovators Connection and whittled the final list to about 10 contenders. Exelon’s review panel consisted of the chief innovation officer and other senior managers. It’s important for key executives and decision-makers to attend the presentations, participants say, because they can get projects started. Another lesson: The corporate review panel should include executives from different divisions. That increases the chances of connecting a business unit with a particular need to a startup with a solution. As the Innovators Connection enters its second year, Chicago is coming into its own as a hub of

innovation. Cisco opened an innovation center here, one of a handful of cities across the globe where the company is looking for new ideas. “We are investing heavily to make sure we are picking the right communities where innovation is happening,” says Hardik Bhatt, Cisco’s director of global market development. Mr. Kuczmarski, co-founder of the Innovators Connection, notes that Chicago has developed a substantial innovation community over the last decade that cuts across all industries and the public sector. “We’ve gone over the tipping point,” he says. “Now people recognize the benefit of being part of that community.”

CREATIVE MATCHMAKER Recognizing the need for a location where startups can showcase their products and ideas, Innovators Connection has partnered with Morgan Manufacturing, an 88,000-square-foot event, meeting and work facility in Chicago’s Fulton Market district. The site will host demonstration days for Innovators Connection in 2015, connecting big companies with local startups. Large corporations review pitches from the startups during day-long sessions to see how they might work together. “This effort grows local jobs and the tax base,” says Luke Tanen, executive director at the Chicago Innovation Awards, the organization that launched Innovators Connection last year. “It’s a win for startups, big companies and the Chicago region.” Innovators Connection held its first event last July, a reception for 300 government and private-sector leaders from big companies and local startups. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was the keynote speaker. Mr. Tanen says the Chicago Innovation Awards will hold its annual Un-Gala at Morgan Manufacturing next year. —Jane Adler



Innovators Connection Finds a Home with Morgan Manufacturing

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A 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS



R emember your last big charity event? Waiting to bid on a silent auction item. Checking back to see if you’d been outbid.

Enduring the long check-out line at the end of the evening. It’s all for a good cause, of course, but AuctionsByCellular LLC is simplifying the process with a new technology that automates silent auctions at fundraising events. Instead of paper bid sheets, donors use their cell phones to bid on items. The system allows the donor to monitor the bidding process via phone. Donors also receive a text message when someone outbids them, so they can boost their offers. Even donors unable to attend can bid by phone from wherever they are. “We make our donors’ lives easier,” says Jim Alvarez, founder and CEO of Westmont-based AuctionsByCellular, now in its fourth year. “We streamline the process.” The technology makes the auction process easier for charities, too. AuctionsByCellular builds the event website, conducts registration and handles the payments. Typical charity auctions generate four to fi ve bids per item, Mr. Alvarez says, while items at his auctions often snare 40 to 50 bids. “It helps the charity raise

more money,” he says. AuctionsByCellular has conducted about 1,500 auctions to date, helping to raise about $140 million for a variety of charities. The company handles events as small as golf outings to big trade shows. Last year at McDonald Corp.’s worldwide convention with 16,000 attendees, AuctionsByCellular helped raise $250,000 for Ronald McDonald House, a charity for families with sick children. What really sets AuctionsByCellular apart from its competition, Alvarez says, are the employee teams that attend every event. Dressed in easy-to-spot red shirts, team members answer donors’ questions and make sure they know how to bid by phone. Team members also handle the payments, mostly via phone. AuctionsByCellular has 50 full-time employees and 600 part-timers. Employee teams operate in 11 markets, though the company has covered events in 43 states. Mr. Alvarez’s goal is to have teams in 100 markets within three years. “It’s a huge honor to win a Chicago Innovation Award,” Mr. Alvarez says. “Companies that win the award seem to catapult to the next level.”

Outbids the CompetItionBY JANE ADLER

AUCTIONS BY CELLULAR

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER

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Dough Introduces a New Generation to Options Trading BY JANE ADLER

DOUGH

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER

2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS10

T rading options is traditionally considered a strategy only for seasoned investors. But Dough Inc., with its online platform, fi gures

to change that mindset by educating the masses about trading options. Meant for newbies and experienced investors alike, Dough.com features trading lessons that are fun and interactive. Short, entertaining videos teach users about the options market while quizzes reinforce the concepts. Another section enables users to follow expert traders, including local entrepreneur Tom Sosnoff, co-CEO of Dough. The trading interface is highly visual and easy to use compared to similar platforms, according to Kristi Ross, co-CEO and president of Dough. A dashboard helps the user better understand probability and place only the trades that are best for a portfolio. “We are making the fi nancial markets approachable,” Ms. Ross says. Dough also helps users learn how to trade by practicing, the way athletes do. “With each real trade you learn so much,” Ms. Ross says. The free service was launched last January and already has 50,000 active users. Anyone can visit Dough without actually trading, though users can open an account with a brokerage fi rm, which pays Dough a referral fee.

Dough is an offshoot of Tastytrade.com, a fi nancial content network that produces eight hours of market-focused live programming every weekday. Since its launch in 2011, Tastytrade has become the fastest-growing digital fi nancial content provider, offering a mix of market information for various levels of investors from beginners to professionals. Dough and Tastytrade attract more than 1.4 million combined visits per month. “We want to appeal to millennials,” Ms. Ross says. Brokerage customers are getting older, she explains, and the industry needs to educate a new crop of investors. With 67 employees combined, Dough and Tastytrade merged last April. The company is now expanding overseas and opened last July in Canada. Plans are in the works to launch the network next year in England, Germany and Australia. “The Chicago Innovation Awards is a collaborative group that celebrates the spirit of innovation throughout the Chicago community,” Ms. Ross says. “It’s an honor to have Dough chosen as a winner.”

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A n estimated 52.5 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with arthritis, a potentially crippling and painful

condition doctors often treat with ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling. But digestive problems, such as ulcers in the lining of the stomach and small intestine, are common side effects of such treatment. The prescription drug Duexis addresses both problems by combining ibuprofen with a medicine to protect the stomach. Launched in 2010 by Horizon Pharma plc, Duexis is projected to book sales of $100 million this year. “Duexis benefi ts patients,” says Tim Walbert, chairman, CEO and president of Horizon, which has its U.S. headquarters in north suburban Deerfi eld. He cites government studies that show the adverse effects of ibuprofen and similar medicines account for more than 100,000 hospitalizations and more than 16,000 deaths in the United States each year. The advantages of Duexis are twofold. Doctors treating arthritis patients sometimes forget to prescribe a stomach-protecting medicine along with the pain reliever. And patients who do get the stomach-protecting medicine sometimes forget to take it, leading to illness. “Duexis is a two-in-one medication,” Mr. Walbert says. It treats arthritis-related pain

while preventing the gastrointestinal symptoms associated with pain relievers. Horizon subsidizes the insurance co-pays of patients for each prescription so their monthly out-of-pocket cost is less than $20. More than 95 percent of patients pay nothing for Duexis. “We believe every patient should have access to the drug,” Mr. Walbert says. A former Abbott Laboratories executive who introduced the widely-advertised anti-infl ammatory drug Humira, Mr. Walbert started Horizon from his kitchen table with Duexis as the fi rst product. “The success of Duexis demonstrates that even small companies can develop innovations,” he says. Horizon has grown quickly by introducing other products. Revenues totaled $18 million in 2012, but are expected to reach $275 million this year and $400 million in 2015. Horizon went public in 2011 and currently has a market cap of $1.5 billion. In addition to heading Horizon, Mr. Walbert is the co-chair of MATTER, a healthcare innovation hub expected to open next July in the Merchandise Mart adjacent to 1871, the incubator for tech startups. “Winning the Chicago Innovation Award is proof that small companies can succeed,” Mr. Walbert says.

HORIZON PHARMA BRINGS EXTRA RELIEF TO ARTHRITIS PATIENTS BY JANE ADLER

HORIZON PHARMA

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER

Duexis


2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS

Innovative therapies for life

Horizon Pharma is one of the area’s fastest growing healthcare companies and honored to be a winner in this year’s Chicago Innovation Awards.

As a global specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on providing innovative therapies, we help people live better lives.

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Innovative therapies for life

Horizon Pharma is one of the area’s fastest growing healthcare companies and honored to be a winner in this year’s Chicago Innovation Awards.

As a global specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on providing innovative therapies, we help people live better lives.

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P assword management can be a real headache. Just ask Darren Guccione and Craig Lurey. Six years ago, the business

partners and owners of a mobile device company were on a trip to China and had just gotten new iPhones. Often struggling to keep track of their own passwords, they were surprised the app store didn’t have a program to organize passwords. Skilled software programmers, they built an app while they were still on their trip and had the fi rst version fi nished by the time they got back to Chicago. “We should turn this into a business,” Mr. Guccione recalls saying at the time. He provided $250,000 of seed funding and in 2009 they launched Chicago-based Keeper Security Inc. Their product is called Keeper, a password manager and virtual safe that runs on smartphones, tablets and computers. Users can store confi dential login credentials and sensitive

fi les, photos and videos in a secure digital vault. Keeper employs the latest security technology and encryption to make sure only

the user has access to the vault. “We’ve never been hacked,” says Mr. Guccione, CEO of Keeper Security. Another benefi t: Users have only one master password to remember. Keeper remembers everything else. The system even generates high-strength passwords for users. “I don’t even know my account passwords,” Mr. Guccione says. Today, Keeper boasts 5.6 million users worldwide and attracts 7,000 to 20,000 new users a day. The application is also pre-loaded on AT&T phones. Keeper is sold as a “freemium” app. Users get 30 days of free service. Subscriptions for unlimited storage and multiple devices are $30 a year. Users also can purchase the service for $10 a year per device. Keeper’s paid subscription base has grown by more than 4,000 percent in the last four years. “The business has tremendous velocity,” Mr. Guccione says. What’s next? The company just added biometric authentication. Users with devices that allow fi ngerprint login can access their vault with a touch. The company is also expanding its B-to-B channel for work groups. Noting that the company’s top competitors are based in California, Mr. Guccione says, “It’s a great honor to win a Chicago Innovation Award.”

KEEPER SECURITY KEEPS PASSWORDS LOCKED UP TIGHT BY JANE ADLER

KEEPER SECURITY

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER


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examples from within the businesses we operate,

we offer a collaborative approach from insight to

implementation. The result is a strategic roadmap

enabling your organization to drive real change.

000183-WDW-13_DThinkLightbulbs_Fortune.indd 1 7/25/13 1:06 PM2014_Innovation_WInners.indd 8 10/21/14 10:07 AM


H eavy rains and old sewers are a bad combination. Leaky pipes can’t handle the high volume of water that seeps into the

ground and often fi nds its way into basements after a storm. At the same time, runoff during big rainstorms can drain into cracked sewers, putting a big strain on wastewater treatment plants. New pipes could be the ultimate solution, but digging up the old sewer lines and replacing them is costly and disruptive. LMK Technologies LLC has introduced a technology that solves the problem. Called a T-liner, the product is a textile sleeve that slips into the old pipe. The T-liner is saturated with a liquid resin that cures in place, essentially creating a new pipe. A special gasket is installed simultaneously that provides a water-tight seal at the connection to the main sewer line. “Infrastructure in the U.S. is rapidly deteriorating,” says Mike Reardon, CEO of LMK Technologies, based in Ottawa, Ill. “The options are to dig up the sewers and put in new pipes or use this new technology.” The system was invented by Larry Kiest, a former plumber, who founded LMK and serves

as the company’s president. Mr. Kiest holds more than 100 patents on technology related to sewer repair. The T-Liner is mostly used on so-called lateral pipes that connect to the main sewer lines, such as the pipes that take wastewater from homes. The City of Naperville, for example, has experienced rapid growth over the last 20 years. Increased population, along with big rainfalls led the city to consider spending millions of dollars to expand its water treatment plant. Instead, Naperville opted to install T-Liners in its lateral pipes, a process that’s ongoing. As a result, the city was able to defer the plant expansion and realize other savings because the sealed T-Liner system helps reduce the amount of wastewater being treated. The T-Liner system is in use nationwide, and more than 2,500 units have been sold. LMK has 70 employees and new confi gurations of the T-Liner are under development. “We’re very excited to have this technology recognized by the Chicago Innovation Awards because it can make the world a better place,” Mr. Reardon says.

LMK TECHNOLOGIES SAVES OLD SEWERS WITHOUT THE DIGGING BY JANE ADLER

LMK TECHNOLOGIES

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER

T-Liner


Infiltration. The Root of All Evil.Stop in�ltration with the LMK T-Liner® and Insignia™ gasket sealing system.

There is a reliable long-term fix for infiltration problems associated with laterals and their connections.

The answer: The proven combination of T-Liner 3.0 and Insignia sealing technologies. Only the T-Liner and Insignia system provides an engineered

solution to ensure a verifiable, non-leaking main to lateral cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) connection.

T-Liner is a continuous one-piece, full circle structural CIPP connection system that extends up into the lateral

pipe, eliminating both leak paths and root intrusions. Insignia compression gaskets are specifically engineered for CIPP applications. When strategically positioned at the main to lateral connection, at the upper end of the lateral pipe and at the manhole penetrations to the mainline pipe, Insignia gaskets create a watertight collection system.

The result: A trenchless renewed lateral pipe including an engineered gasket system that provides a service life to match CIPP design life. LMK’s CIPP lateral lining and connection solution exceeds the ASTM F2561 standard.

To learn more, visit www.lmktechnologies.com/t-liner or call 815-433-1275.

T-LinerT-LinerT-Liner

InsigniaGasketInsigniaGasketInsigniaGasket

T-Liner 3.0 with Insignia™ hydrohat

junction seal now Available



Infiltration. The Root of All Evil.Stop in�ltration with the LMK T-Liner® and Insignia™ gasket sealing system.

There is a reliable long-term fix for infiltration problems associated with laterals and their connections.

The answer: The proven combination of T-Liner 3.0 and Insignia sealing technologies. Only the T-Liner and Insignia system provides an engineered

solution to ensure a verifiable, non-leaking main to lateral cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) connection.

T-Liner is a continuous one-piece, full circle structural CIPP connection system that extends up into the lateral

pipe, eliminating both leak paths and root intrusions. Insignia compression gaskets are specifically engineered for CIPP applications. When strategically positioned at the main to lateral connection, at the upper end of the lateral pipe and at the manhole penetrations to the mainline pipe, Insignia gaskets create a watertight collection system.

The result: A trenchless renewed lateral pipe including an engineered gasket system that provides a service life to match CIPP design life. LMK’s CIPP lateral lining and connection solution exceeds the ASTM F2561 standard.

To learn more, visit www.lmktechnologies.com/t-liner or call 815-433-1275.

T-LinerT-LinerT-LinerT-LinerT-LinerT-Liner

InsigniaGasketInsigniaGasketInsigniaInsigniaInsigniaGasketGasketGasketInsigniaGasket

T-Liner 3.0 with Insignia™ hydrohat

junction seal now Available


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M aking a good match can also mean making a sale. By analyzing speech patterns, Mattersight Corp. matches

call center employees with customers based on personality type to improve interactions and ultimately boost sales and customer retention. “The most important time of a customer call is the fi rst fi ve minutes,” says Kelly Conway, president and CEO of Chicago-based Mattersight. “That is the moment of truth.” With a background in customer relationship management applications, Mr. Conway and his team spotted the opportunity to apply linguistic analytics to call center operations. “We had the intuition that personality matching was important,” he says. The system uses an emerging technology called predictive behavioral routing to automatically connect customers to like-minded agents. Algorithms identify subtle speech patterns, such as tone, tempo and syntax, to reveal the caller’s personality and behavioral preferences. Employees are also screened so they can be matched to callers with a similar style. It takes about two minutes to size up a caller. “Every word someone speaks is an advertisement of their behavioral needs,” Mr. Conway says. People who pair well are more likely to connect, Mr. Conway says. “It mirrors our

day-to-day experiences.” A better personal interaction often leads to a sale, or the satisfactory resolution of a problem. Angry callers who have a positive experience can often be retained. Less stressful conversations benefi t call center employees, too. Mattersight works with both domestic and overseas call centers, but only English-speaking ones. The system handles a variety of accents and dialects to make the perfect match. Today, Mattersight is used in 75 commercial call centers, including those operated by CVS Health Corp., Esurance Insurance Services Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Mattersight customers report a 10 to 25 percent improvement in sales, customer retention and other metrics. “Clients see results from day one,” Mr. Conway says. Mattersight has 200 employees and expects 2014 sales of $40 million. With fi ve million people working in U.S. call centers, Mr. Conway fi gures his fi rm has a lot of room to grow. “Our focus is on getting out to as many call centers as possible,” he says. Winning a Chicago Innovation Award validates Mattersight’s emerging technology and its huge market opportunity, Mr. Conway says, adding, “This is great.”

MATTERSIGHT BRINGS MATCHMAKING TO THE CALL CENTER BY JANE ADLER

MATTERSIGHT

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER

Predictive Behavioral Routing2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS18



Now in its second year, the Summer Design Program is a five-week professional development effort to empower educators from public schools across Chicago

to solve classroom and school challenges and improve student learning.

Investing in Innovative Leadership and Supporting 21st Century Schools

To learn more about The Fund, please visit our website at www.thefundchicago.org or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheFundChicago.

Academy for Urban School Leadership — Marquette School of Excellence

Belmont-Cragin Elementary School

Budlong Elementary School

Calmeca Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language

Chopin Elementary School

Chicago Vocational Career Academy

Chicago International Charter Schools (CICS) — Irving Park

Chicago International Charter Schools (CICS) — Northtown Academy

Consuella B. York Alternative High School

Daniel S. Wentworth Elementary School

Edgebrook Elementary School

George Westinghouse College Prep

Gillespie Technology Magnet Cluster School

Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy

Jacob Beidler Elementary School

James Monroe Elementary School

James Wadsworth Elementary School

John Spry Elementary

Jorge Prieto Elementary

Laura S. Ward Elementary School

Lawndale Elementary School

Lindblom Math and Science Academy

Noble Network of Charter Schools — Johnson College Prep

Noble Network of Charter Schools — Munchin College Prep

Nicholson STEM Academy

Oscar DePriest Elementary School

Parker Elementary Community Academy

Roger C. Sullivan High School

Rowe Elementary School

Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy

South Shore Fine Arts Academy

Spencer Elementary Technology Academy

Sullivan High School

Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy

Urban Prep Academies — Bronzeville Campus

Wells Community Academy High School

Wildwood World Magnet

The Chicago Public Education Fund is a nonprofit organization committed

to great schools for all of Chicago’s children. We are grateful to the Chicago

Innovation Awards for recognizing The Fund’s Summer Design Program.

Congratulations to the school teams that completed the 2014 program!






P eople of a certain age fondly remember the little red wagon by Radio Flyer. But people of a much younger age also love

the company’s latest product, the Ziggle—a ride-on toy that requires kids to wiggle their bodies to make it move. “Our brand is associated with outdoor play” says Robert Pasin, CEO, aka chief wagon offi cer, at Chicago-based Radio Flyer Inc. “Kids love the Ziggle.” Radio Flyer launched the toy in 2013 and has already sold more than 100,000 at $50 apiece. The product is available online and at stores nationwide. The Ziggle’s journey to market is a tale of innovation. Radio Flyer is a 97-year-old company started by Mr. Pasin’s grandfather, who created the iconic red wagon that has sold some 100 million units to date. Radio Flyer’s in-house research and development team rolls out about 10 new toys a year. The company’s West Side headquarters includes a play lab where kids test new products. “We do a ton of research of kids riding on things,” Mr. Pasin says. “But some of the products

never see the light of day.” The Ziggle, on the other hand, was an instant hit. Mr. Pasin brought home a Ziggle prototype to test with his own four kids. He also took it to a neighborhood block party where kids lined up for rides, spinning out and doing 360-degree turns. “I emailed my team right away,” Mr. Pasin says. “We have a winner.” The secret is in the wheels, high-quality casters that smoothly rotate as the child moves back and forth. The toy has no pedals, but provides a fun ride that’s also great exercise. The marketing campaign includes online videos of cute kids, and even a dog, riding a Ziggle. The toy got a big boost when it was featured on the television show “Ellen.” Radio Flyer’s sales have tripled in the last 10 years, mostly due to the company’s entry into the tricycle market, where it’s the top brand, Mr. Pasin notes. The Chicago Innovation Award is wonderful recognition for Radio Flyer, Mr. Pasin says. “Even though we’re a classic brand, we have an innovative team that creates new products. It’s an honor to be recognized.”

RADIO FLYER PROVES AN OLD TOY CO. CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS BY JANE ADLER

RADIO FLYER

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER

Ziggle

ZIGGLE®

Continuing to innovate with a focus on design.

Visit www.radioflyer.com/careers for open positions.

2007

PROUD TOHAVE WON

AGAIN!

THECHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDAWARD

2014twist and wiggle to go


ZIGGLE®

Continuing to innovate with a focus on design.

Visit www.radioflyer.com/careers for open positions.

2007

PROUD TOHAVE WON

AGAIN!

THECHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDAWARD

2014twist and wiggle to go



G oodbye, Don Draper. Swaggering “Mad Men” who relied on gut instinct to develop ad campaigns are a thing of the

past. Savvy marketers today rely instead on data and lots of it. But sometimes all that data can be overwhelming and confusing. Rise Interactive Inc. is a digital marketing agency that cuts through the clutter by using analytics to drive the greatest returns from online campaigns. “We help marketers allocate their budgets more effi ciently,” says Jon Morris, CEO of the Chicago-based fi rm with 120 employees. Successful campaigns rest on a framework developed by Mr. Morris that he calls Interactive Investment Management. He describes the approach as a way to make smart decisions about how to spend marketing dollars online. Statistical modeling is used to determine which online channels deliver the best results. Say, for instance, a marketer generates $10 in sales for every dollar spent in search-engine optimization, and only fi ve dollars through banner ads. With that information in hand, marketers can shift their budgets to the search channel. “We take out the subjectivity,” Mr. Morris says.

A graduate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Mr. Morris likens his system to that of a fi nancial adviser who uses data to make real-time investment decisions. “If you hire a portfolio manager, you want the highest return possible for a certain level of risk,” he says. Mr. Morris’ approach gets results. He started Rise Interactive 10 years ago from his home, and the company just announced plans to double its offi ce space from 15,000 to 34,000 square feet. Mr. Morris also expects to hire 150 additional employees in the next three years, though only math nerds need apply. New hires must make the grade on an analytics exam that only 22 percent of applicants pass. Long-standing agency clients include Ulta Cosmetics, Abt Electronics and NorthShore University HealthSystem. Refl ecting on the Chicago Innovation Award, Mr. Morris notes that his company has a dedicated budget for innovation. “We want to make sure we’re coming up with new ways to allocate marketing dollars more effectively,” he says. “The award is validation that we’re doing something right.”

RISE INTERACTIVE HELPS MARKETERS MAKE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONSBY JANE ADLER

RISE INTERACTIVE

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER




RISE INTERACTIVE HELPS MARKETERS MAKE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS


ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

As the $3 trillion U.S. healthcare system undergoes a massive upheaval, hospitals are under tremendous pressure to reduce

costs. Already operating with slim two percent margins, many hospitals have the added problem of not even knowing their actual costs. “There’s a real crisis,” says Dan Michelson, CEO at Strata Decision Technology LLC, Chicago. The concept of “big data” may have come to healthcare, he explains, but in practice many hospitals are fl ying blind when it comes to cost. This need has helped drive the rapid growth of StrataJazz, a cloud-based fi nancial analytics and performance platform for healthcare providers. The system puts cost information at the fi ngertips of physicians and administrators so they can realize value for the hospital and patients alike. For example, StrataJazz speeds the cost accounting process. Many hospitals run reports only once or twice a year since the process puts such a strain on their teams and systems. StrataJazz can run daily, or whenever needed. At a six-hospital system in North Carolina, the old cost accounting program took more than 10 hours to run, while StrataJazz

takes just 10 minutes. The platform can provide more accurate cost data, too. A hospital in Atlanta using StrataJazz found their original cost data was off by 20 to 30 percent. “They thought they were operating at a profi t, but they were actually operating at a loss,” Mr. Michelson says. StrataJazz recently introduced Continuous Cost Improvement, a new module that helps hospitals set cost reduction targets, track progress and ensure the savings stick. A pilot with a fi ve-hospital system in Minnesota identifi ed $12 million in potential savings. “It’s a novel solution that helps bend the cost curve,” Mr. Michelson says. With 120 employees, the company has projected 2014 revenues of almost $26 million—a total that’s doubled in the last three years. More than 1,000 U.S. hospitals, almost one in fi ve, now use StrataJazz. “The Chicago Innovation Award is a wonderful acknowledgement of our team and the importance of the work we’re doing,” Mr. Michelson says. “Making cost data available will help hospitals improve their margins so they can further invest in their mission to provide high-quality care.”

STRATA DELIVERS BIG DATA FIX TO AILING HOSPITALSBY JANE ADLER

StrataJazzStrataJazz

2014

STRATA DECISION TECHNOLOGY

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER

2014



...you could control yourhearing aid with your

iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch®?

...an app* recognized your location and

automatically applied the right settings?

...you could live-streamphone calls, music,

movies, and turn-by-turn directions,

into both hearing aids?

What if...

What if we told you

Beltone made it happen?

Beltone First is compatible with iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPad Air, iPad (4th generation), iPad mini with Retina display, iPad mini and iPod touch (5th generation) using iOS 7.X or later. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

*With HearPlus App.

Introducing a revolutionary Made for iPhone hearing aid—Beltone First™

www.beltone.com


ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

N othing bedevils golfers like the swing. Maybe the angle was wrong. Perhaps the backswing was too fl at, or maybe too

high. It was defi nitely too jerky. Wouldn’t it be nice to get immediate feedback on every stroke? Enter Swingbyte, a mobile golf swing analyzer that captures 3-D motion. Here’s how it works: A thumb-size sensor attaches to a golf club just below the grip and uses Bluetooth to wirelessly send data from the club to an iOS or Android device. An app displays an animation of the swing that can be played back from any angle. A video feature enables users to create a side-by-side comparison of the actual swing and the 3-D swing. Users also see 12 swing metrics, such as club head speed, tempo and projected shot path. “A lot of products measure movement,” says Alex Pedenko, CEO and co-founder of Chicago-based Swingbyte Inc. “What we do is record the full motion in 3-D so you can see what the club is doing throughout the entire swing. That’s what we brought to the market.” Mr. Pedenko got the idea for the product after purchasing a guidance system from a robotics

website. “I thought the system would work well to track motion,” he says. So he strapped it onto a golf club and realized he had the makings of a business. Then an MBA student at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Mr. Pedenko partnered with classmate Nathan Wojtkiewicz to roll out the product, which placed third in the school’s new business competition. They raised $500,000 and launched Swingbyte at the PGA trade show in 2012. “It was a hit,” says Mr. Pedenko, who doesn’t golf. Since then, the company has sold tens of thousands of Swingbytes. Designed as a practice tool, the product, which was updated last year, is available for $169 at golf retailers, online and at AT&T stores. Headquartered in River North, Swingbyte has 20 employees. Next up: Swingbyte plans to further update the app so that it fl ags swing problems and offers corrections. “We are a Chicago business,” Mr. Pedenko says. “To be recognized by the business community with a Chicago Innovation Award is a big honor.”

SWINGBYTE ENABLES GOLFERS TO ANALYZE EVERY STROKEBY JANE ADLER

SWINGBYTE

2014

CHICAGOINNOVATION

AWARDSWINNER




Celebrating Chicago Innovation

S M S A S S I S T. C O M | 3 1 2 . 6 9 8 . 7 0 0 0 | 8 7 5 N M I C H I G A N A V E | S T E 2 8 0 0 | C H I C A G O , I L 6 0 6 1 1

© Commonwealth Edison Company, 2014

For a smarter business, visitComEd.com/SmartMeter or call 866-368-8326

Managing energy use is a smart way to do business. Smart meters give you greater control over your electricity use and keep your business running more efficiently with:

· Access to your electricity-usage information online· No need for meter readers to visit your business· A reduction in the number of estimated bills· Improved monitoring of power quality on the smart grid· Automatic notification of outages when the smart grid is complete

SMART METERS HELP YOUR BUSINESS SAVE

WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK

© Commonwealth Edison Company, 2014

Managing energy use is a smart way to do business. Smart meters give you greater

· · No need for meter readers to visit your business· A reduction in the number of estimated bills· Improved monitoring of power quality on the smart grid· Automatic notification of outages when the smart grid is complete


Chicago — where innovation goes to work

well as our end customers. Innovative companies, in the aggregate, substantially strengthen the region’s prosperity and future growth. Traditionally associated with the launch of new products, genuine innovation is much more than a catchy marketing phrase. Innovation does not wait around for the next best idea. Sustaining a pipeline of product innovation demands a broader mindset

and dedication among the leadership of a corporation to actively mine for both internal and external opportunities.

What advice do you have for corporations looking to jump-start innovation internally?

Don’t ever underestimate people. People bring ideas and products to fruition. At Molex we strategically recruit, recognize and reward quality work by employees with the talent and initiative to pursue and bring better electronic solutions to the forefront. Concurrently, it is important to foster and take full advantage of opportunities for effective collaboration within the larger community.

That means working closely to support our customers in developing and manufacturing new engineering designs, leveraging the strengths of valued distribution partners, collaborating with academia, and active involvement with industry organizations tasked with developing new standards for next-generation products. By building these robust innovation ecosystems within the corporation and among external stakeholders, Molex keeps the innovation product pipeline full. By bringing next-generation electronic products to market, our work can have a direct positive economic impact on the corporation and growth regionally.

As a leading provider of electronic components and solutions, Molex views innovation as a tool for solving complex customer challenges. This philosophy has helped us not only create many pioneering electronic solutions, but also build a globally recognized company. Here, our Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Brian Krause, talks about how we view the role of innovation at Molex and in Chicago.

The word “innovation” is everywhere. Is innovation still relevant?

There is a reason that innovation has become ubiquitous. Innovation is not only still relevant, but absolutely vital to growth and success in today’s competitive economic climate. We have seen firsthand how innovation creates long-term value for corporations like Molex, as

Brian KrauseVice President of Marketing and Communications

What makes Chicagoland a unique center of innovation?

Chicago has been referred to by some as the center of the world. That definitely depends on one’s perspective, but it is very fair to say that this region serves as the nation’s most centrally located metropolitan hub. Chicagoland provides abundant cultural vitality, educational resources, economic development, and an expansive talent pool to tap. These are all important ingredients to attract talent, build value, and create robust innovation ecosystems. �at’s why global corporations from myriad industries call Chicago home. Molex and other leaders in the business community commit significant resources toward educational, training and award programs that mobilize talent and encourage innovation. The region offers exceptional resources for

professionals and corporations to flourish. Chicago is the right place to do business, and it’s the right time.

“The region offers exceptional resources for professionals and corporations to flourish.”

To see how Molex continues to innovate, visit: molex.com

MOL-14182-Crains-Advtrl-2PgSprd_FINAL.indd All Pages 10/13/14 4:41 PM

Untitled-6 1 10/21/14 10:27 AM

Chicago — where innovation goes to work

well as our end customers. Innovative companies, in the aggregate, substantially strengthen the region’s prosperity and future growth. Traditionally associated with the launch of new products, genuine innovation is much more than a catchy marketing phrase. Innovation does not wait around for the next best idea. Sustaining a pipeline of product innovation demands a broader mindset

and dedication among the leadership of a corporation to actively mine for both internal and external opportunities.

What advice do you have for corporations looking to jump-start innovation internally?

Don’t ever underestimate people. People bring ideas and products to fruition. At Molex we strategically recruit, recognize and reward quality work by employees with the talent and initiative to pursue and bring better electronic solutions to the forefront. Concurrently, it is important to foster and take full advantage of opportunities for effective collaboration within the larger community.

That means working closely to support our customers in developing and manufacturing new engineering designs, leveraging the strengths of valued distribution partners, collaborating with academia, and active involvement with industry organizations tasked with developing new standards for next-generation products. By building these robust innovation ecosystems within the corporation and among external stakeholders, Molex keeps the innovation product pipeline full. By bringing next-generation electronic products to market, our work can have a direct positive economic impact on the corporation and growth regionally.

As a leading provider of electronic components and solutions, Molex views innovation as a tool for solving complex customer challenges. This philosophy has helped us not only create many pioneering electronic solutions, but also build a globally recognized company. Here, our Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Brian Krause, talks about how we view the role of innovation at Molex and in Chicago.

The word “innovation” is everywhere. Is innovation still relevant?

There is a reason that innovation has become ubiquitous. Innovation is not only still relevant, but absolutely vital to growth and success in today’s competitive economic climate. We have seen firsthand how innovation creates long-term value for corporations like Molex, as

Brian KrauseVice President of Marketing and Communications

What makes Chicagoland a unique center of innovation?

Chicago has been referred to by some as the center of the world. That definitely depends on one’s perspective, but it is very fair to say that this region serves as the nation’s most centrally located metropolitan hub. Chicagoland provides abundant cultural vitality, educational resources, economic development, and an expansive talent pool to tap. These are all important ingredients to attract talent, build value, and create robust innovation ecosystems. �at’s why global corporations from myriad industries call Chicago home. Molex and other leaders in the business community commit significant resources toward educational, training and award programs that mobilize talent and encourage innovation. The region offers exceptional resources for

professionals and corporations to flourish. Chicago is the right place to do business, and it’s the right time.

“The region offers exceptional resources for professionals and corporations to flourish.”

To see how Molex continues to innovate, visit: molex.com

MOL-14182-Crains-Advtrl-2PgSprd_FINAL.indd All Pages 10/13/14 4:41 PM

Untitled-6 2 10/21/14 10:27 AM


3 0 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS

CAREMERGE forges meaningful connections between providers, payers, families and seniors seeking to improve communication in today’s complex healthcare environment. With a revolutionary, easy-to-use cloud-based coordination platform, Caremerge keeps the entire care team informed and

cohesive through an intuitive interface that enables real-time staff interaction, provides families with peace of mind, and improves overall senior wellness.

SOCIAL INNOVATOR AWARD CAREMERGE

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD ALLIGATORTEK

COLLABORATION AWARDMOLEX, BELTONE

Beltone First™THE BELTONE FIRST™ is the first hearing instrument to receive wireless audio streaming directly from an iPhone®, iPad®, or iTouch® via 2.4GHz technology. Virtually invisible, it can be used with other wireless accessories

without the need for an intermediary device. Beltone First fits more than 90% of all patients and features sound processing that allows the wearer to adjust to virtually any environment. The Beltone First provides more connectivity to the outside world than ever seen in a hearing instrument.

Produce Offer and Vetting PortalALLIGATORTEK developed a custom web portal to allow donors to submit offers and review their offer history on any device, while also allowing the non-profit’s staff to review offers and quickly decide

which ones to forward on for bids. A process that could take potentially a week has been reduced to minutes, with immediate feedback on donation targets and a one-click bidding system. Three parties directly benefit from this innovation: the donors have an easier time submitting offers; Feeding America reduces the amount of time it takes to process offers, and reduces errors; and the recipients of the produce receive fresher produce faster.

The Molex Interconnect System for DOW POWERHOUSE™ Solar ShinglesTHE MOLEX INTERCONNECT SYSTEM was uniquely designed for the DOW POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle to form a revolutionary new roofing

product that offers the protection of a conventional roof and powers the home as an integrated photovoltaic (PV) system. Molex developed three integrated products – Header, Biscuit and Harness – designed to link each shingle together to provide the optimum electrical circuitry needed to generate power. Molex addressed key requirements in the design of the Interconnect System including making the product durable, easily installed, aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective. The result is a solar solution that gives consumers energy empowerment – allowing them to take control of their utility bills by using the sun’s clean abundant energy.

Untitled-6 3 10/21/14 10:27 AM

What do all of these past Chicago Innovation Awards winners have in common?

Their legal counsel.

Q:A:

W h e t h e r it ’ s int e lle c t ua l p r o p e r t y p r o t e c t io n, e mp lo y me nt la w , f ina nc ing , M & A , e x e c ut iv e c o mp e ns a t io n, r e a l e s t a t e , e nv ir o nme nt a l ma t t e r s o r lit ig a t io n, V e d d e r P r ic e d e liv e r s h ig h - v a lue le g a l c o uns e l t o s o me o f C h ic a g o ’ s mo s t inno v a t iv e c o mp a nie s .

w w w . v e d d e r p r i c e . c o m

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Untitled-6 4 10/21/14 10:27 AM



UP& COMER2014

Real-Time Sensor AnalyticsAt TEMPOIQ, we’ve developed a scalable, real-time sensor analytics platform that enables our customers to monitor, analyze, and store sensor data for their connected applications. From our proprietary data store to our real-time monitoring engine, we’ve built an integrated solution, running on a private cloud, specifically for the challenges companies face adapting to a measured world.

RIPPLESHOT’s cloud-based technology detects bank card data breaches, usually before card issuers or merchants have any idea. Rippleshot uses a big data approach in order to stop bank card breaches by focusing on merchant behavior instead of consumer behavior. By analyzing millions of credit and debit card transactions per day, Rippleshot can spot common shopping history in fraudulent cards, pinpointing where the data was stolen down to a particular store, on a particular day, and even the specific point-of-sale terminal. Rippleshot can stop more than half of the fraudulent spend from compromised cards, saving money for issuers and brand reputation for merchants.

Recognized as one of the most innovative new companies in travel, OPTIONS AWAY® is the world’s only Online Travel Agency that allows consumers to lock-in the price of an airline ticket while finalizing their travel plans. Options Away leverages the concepts and technologies of the financial markets and applies them to the travel industry. The Options Away solution provides a revolutionary approach to travel planning – customers pay a small fee upfront knowing that if the price of the flight increases, they will never have to pay more than the locked-in fare.

THINKCERCA is an education technology that helps students in grades 4-12 build critical thinking skills such as analytical reading, writing and speaking, and listening. Using a research-based proprietary framework, the online programs provide teachers with a library of lessons that they can assign to students to introduce key skills and concepts, then apply those skills with a rigorous and interactive lesson design. ThinkCERCA also provides teachers with tools to monitor their students’ progress and adjust lessons based on the individual’s learning level. In turn, students are given the chance to engage with each other and collaborate on ideas through debate. Now available in all 50 states, ThinkCERCA’s free version is used by 7,500 teachers and has over 32,000 students on the schoolwide enterprise version.

LuminAID Solar LightThe LUMINAID Solar Light is an inflatable, solar-powered lantern that packs flat and inflates into a lightweight, waterproof lantern. The LuminAID light is ideal for emergency use, camping, or in the home as an extra light source. Tuck it away in a first-aid kit or hook it on your backpack to take with you on your next adventure. It provides up to 16 hours of LED light and recharges in approximately 7 hours of direct sunlight.

rippleshotstopping fraud at the speed of data

®

luminAIDR

Solar-Powered Inflatable Light

2014_Innovation_BOB.indd 5 10/21/14 3:49 PM


2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS 3 3

AWARDS WINNERS

One-Day eTextbook RentalsPACKBACK is the first company to ever offer on-demand, One-Day eTextbook Rentals, giving college students the control to rent their college textbooks as needed for $5 or less per day. All of Packback’s One-Day eTextbook Rentals are Rent-to-Own, meaning that a student can never spend more than the purchase price of the book. Facing an industry where textbook prices have risen at 800% inflation and student debt has surpassed $1.2 Trillion, Packback provides affordable, flexible textbook solutions that meet the needs of students today and pave the way for a digital future in higher education. Packback is currently helping over 80,000 students save on textbooks through their One-Day eTextbook Rentals and Price Comparison tools.

640 Labs PlatformThe 640 LABS PLATFORM provides a simple, effective and economical means to collect, aggregate and analyze the wealth of agricultural data that has previously been left in the field. Farmers around the world now have direct access to unfiltered, unbiased analysis on an unprecedented scale, allowing them to optimize their operations. The 640 Labs Platform consists of the 640 Drive, the 640 Labs mobile app and the cloud-based 640 Dashboard. The elegantly designed 640 Drive connects directly to the diagnostic port present on all farm equipment and delivers the collected data to the 640 Mobile app via a wireless Bluetooth link. The 640 Labs mobile app displays the data to the operator in real time and transmits it to the 640 Dashboard over the mobile device’s cellular connection. Never before have farmers been able to capitalize on all this information in order to benchmark and improve operations year over year.

SHIFTGIG is a transparent marketplace that connects service industry workers with jobs. We collect client requirements, worker skills, and real-time shift data to provide smarter matches. We’re helping millions of workers get millions of shift jobs.

Money Transfer PlatformPANGEA is a new way to send money to anywhere in Mexico for only $3.95. Users can register with Pangea and complete a transfer in three easy steps. The platform currently accepts payments with any US prepaid or debit card with a nationwide cash solution coming soon. Receivers can collect the transfers in cash at 10,000+ locations in urban and rural areas in Mexico, or receive the money directly on any (65,000,000+) Mexican debit card or bank account. Pangea has built a state-of-the-art performance monitoring system with rigorous fraud, risk and security controls. The solution is currently in public beta and can be accessed at gopangea.com or through the iOS Pangea Money Transfer app.

eKnowIDKENTECH’s eKnowID is a personal background checking solution helping job seekers get ahead. With eKnowID’s new proactive technology, candidates can confidently and conveniently perform all necessary checks prior to speaking with an employer. This will allow applicants to take control over their personal information and give them the ability to challenge any inaccuracies that may exist.

TM

640Labs

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3 4

DAN MILLERCo-Founder

Chicago Innovation Awards

GARY SLACKChairman & CEOSlack & Company

MAURA O’HARAExecutive Director

Illinois Venture Capital Association

ORLANDO SAEZChief Operating Officer

CityScan

DAN LYNESenior Vice President

Occupier Services Group, CBRE

ELLEN BARRYActing Director of

Information TechnologyMetropolitan Water

Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

JOHN BERSCHIEDFormer Head of

R&D&Innovation S.C. Johnson Co., Alberto Culver Co., & Church &

Dwight Co.

HARDIK BHATTDirector of Smart +

Connected Communities & Internet of Everything,

Cisco

MICHAEL ARNDTEditor

Crain’s Chicago Business

MICHAEL KRAUSSPresident

Market Strategy Group

TOM KUCZMARSKICo-Founder

Chicago Innovation Awards and President, Kuczmarski

Innovation

RON GLEASONDirector of News & Programming,WBBM Newsradio

780 & 105.9 FM



JUDGING PANEL

HOWARD WOLINSKYProfessor

Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism

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MICHAEL ARNDT, Editor, Crain’s Chicago Business

ELLEN BARRY, Acting Director of Information Technology, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

FRANK BEAL, Senior Executive, Civic Consulting Alliance

JENNIFER BENTZ, VP: Consumer Insights & Strategy, Hillshire Brands

JOHN BERSCHIED, Former Head of R&D and Innovation for S. C. Johnson Co., Alberto Culver Co., and Church and Dwight Co.

HARDIK BHATT, Director of Smart + Connected Communities & Internet of Everything, Cisco

SALLY BLOUNT, Dean, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management

RAY BOYER, President, Boyer Media

ANGELO BUFALINO, Chair, Intellectual Property Group, Vedder Price

MIKE CHERRY, Attorney, Myron M. Cherry & Associates

DIANE DAHL, Founder & Managing Partner, The Hartell Group

JAY DIRKMAAT, Vice President of Business Services, Comcast

DARCY EVON, Executive Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations at University of Illinois at Chicago CHRIS GLADWIN, CEO and Founder, Cleversafe

FRED HOCH, President, Illinois Technology Association

DIPAK JAIN, Professor, INSEAD

PETE KADENS, Co-Founder & President, SoCore Energy

PHILIP KOTLER, S.C Johnson & Son, Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management

MICHAEL KRAUSS, President, Market Strategy Group

TOM KUCZMARSKI, Co-Founder, Chicago Innovation Awards and President, Kuczmarski Innovation

SUNIL KUMAR, Dean, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

KRISTI LAFLEUR, Executive Director, Illinois Tollway

DAN LYNE, Senior Vice President, Occupier Services Group, CBRE

BRET MAXWELL, Managing General Partner, MK Capital

MATT MCCALL, Partner, Pritzker Group Venture Capital

DAN MILLER, Co-Founder, Chicago Innovation Awards

ERIC OLSON, Associate, OriginVentures

STEPHANIE NEELY, Treasurer, City of Chicago

LANCE PRESSL, Senior Policy Fellow, Institute for Work and the Economy

RICH RODRIGUEZ, Vice President and Business Development Director, Lend Lease

NICK ROSA, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Sandbox Industries

NANCY RUSCHEINSKI, Chief Engagement Officer, Edelman

ORLANDO SAEZ, Chief Operating Officer, CityScan, Inc.

MATTHEW SALESKI, Senior Director, Marin Software

TERRY SAVAGE, Investment Advisor & Finance Expert, Board of Directors, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group

MOHAN SAWHNEY, Foundation Chair of Technology & Clinical Professor of Marketing, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management

TAWFIK SHARKASI, Former Chief Science and Technology Officer, Wrigley

KATE SHUBERT, Chicago Regional Business Manager, Disney Institute

GARY SLACK, Chairman & CEO, Slack & Company

MATT SUMMY, Regional VP for Government and Regulatory Affairs, Comcast

KEVIN WILLER, Partner & Co-Founder, Chicago Ventures

ROCKY WIRTZ, President, Wirtz Corporation, and Chairman and Owner, Chicago Blackhawks

HOWARD WOLINSKY, Professor, Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism

MARIA WYNNE, CEO, Leadership Greater Chicago

ANDREA ZOPP, President & CEO, Chicago Urban League

CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDSBOARDOF ADVISORS

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2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS3 6

Chicago Innovation Awards Ceremony


EVENTS ANNUALLY CELEBRATING, EDUCATING, + CONNECTING CHICAGO’S INNOVATORS

Ringing the NASDAQ Bell

Kickoff Reception

• Past Winners Showcase• Innovators Connection Reception

Media, Capital & Talent Day Reception

Scholarship Competition Un-Gala

SEPTEMBER

• Nominee Reception• The Practical Innovator

FEBRUARY

MARCH

MAY

JUNEJULY

AUGUST

OCTOBER

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ANNUALLY CELEBRATING, EDUCATING, + CONNECTING CHICAGO’S INNOVATORS

The more hunches you follow.

The more bars you raise.

The more we’re inspired.

Dell salutes the entrepreneurialspirit in everyone.

Dell.com/Entrepreneurs

F O U N D A T I O N

salut e s

Chica go’s InnovatorsFor more information about the foundation visit

www.hillshirebrandsfoundation.org

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2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS3 8

All VIP Members and Angel VIP Members will be recognized as Chicago innovation leaders:

• Recognition at all events• Recognition on the Chicago Innovation Awards website• Recognition announcements in the Chicago Innovation Awards newsletter

Memberships may be tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor for further details.

Sign up today at www.Chicagoinnovationawards.com

TICKETS: FOUR guaranteed spots at all events throughout the year ($620 value), including:

• Front section seating at the Chicago Innovation Awards (Angel VIP Members only)• Kick Off event in June 2015 — 400+ attendees ($80 value)• Past Winners Showcase in July 2015 — 300+ attendees ($80 value)• Media, Capital and Talent Day in August 2015 — 300+ attendees ($80 value)• Nominee Reception in September 2015 — 800+ attendees ($80 value)• Chicago Innovation Awards in October 2015 — 1500+ attendees ($200 value)• VIP After Party in October 2015 — 300+ attendees ($100 value)

Tickets are transferable, so you have the flexibility to use them under any name at all events.

TICKETS: TWO guaranteed spots at all events throughout the year ($310 value), including:

• Kick Off event in June 2015 — 400+ attendees ($40 value)• Past Winners Showcase in July 2015 — 300+ attendees ($40 value)• Media, Capital and Talent Day in August 2015 — 300+ attendees ($40 value)• Nominee Reception in September 2015 — 800+ attendees ($40 value)• Chicago Innovation Awards in October 2015 — 1500+ attendees ($100 value)• VIP After Party in October 2015 — 300+ attendees ($50 value)

Tickets are transferable, so you have the flexibility to use them under any name at all events.

ANGEL VIP MEMBERSHIP

$500

Membership is for FOUR people

MEMBER RECOGNITION

VIP MEMBERSHIP

$250

Membership is for TWO people

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Chicago_Innovation_Awards_GreaterChicagoFoodDepository_Oct_2014.pdf 1 10/15/2014 4:26:26 PM

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40

Holly BarocioBob DutziRussell EvansRaymond Genellie Jr.Chad GillesJohn KrupnickMichael PersicoDave PhillipsonPatrick SandercockGregory ScurtoTawfi k SharkasiMike Warren

Ellen BarryCale BradyHaydee CalderoAndrew CampbellDianne CampbellScott CotterPatrick CovenyEric CrowleyGrace DaigelPaul DavidovitchEdgar DouglasLaura DribinDarcy EvonBrian FerrentinoSabrina FeskoKelli GarciaBob GirolamoScott GlicksonShannon GrzywaczKaren KaneKatherine KimDennis KleperBruce Leech

Narendra LingegowdaPatricia LockJames Mark Jr.Bill McHenryJon MorrisBarbara OlsonJonathan PaskyLorenzo PizarroGary RabineKiran RamineniGregory ScurtoDinesh SheshadriWes SmitheLester TeichnerSrinivas VeeramasuneniIvy WalkerRobert WalkerSteven WiltKeelin WymanShayna YagodaLauren Young

INDIVIDUALANGEL VIP MEMBERS

INDIVIDUAL VIP MEMBERS

CORPORATE ANGEL VIP

For information about becoming a Corporate Angel VIP member, please contact Luke Tanen at [email protected]

iSucceed.

Apple, the Apple logo and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Read the entire issue early - fi rst thing Sunday morning.Download the Crain’s iPad app now.

a08-iSucceed-Full-PG-No-Sponsors.indd 1 2/19/13 3:49 PMUntitled-6 13 10/21/14 10:27 AM

iSucceed.

Apple, the Apple logo and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Read the entire issue early - fi rst thing Sunday morning.Download the Crain’s iPad app now.

a08-iSucceed-Full-PG-No-Sponsors.indd 1 2/19/13 3:49 PMUntitled-6 14 10/21/14 10:28 AM



42

CONGRATULATIONS on 13 YEARS of INNOVATION

2012 SMS Assist, Polybrite, BrightTag, Catamaran, Champion Medical Technologies, Coyote, Cummins Allison, Littelfuse, Medline, OptionsCitySocial Innovator Award: Feeding AmericaThe People’s Choice Award: New FuturoUP AND COMERS: NuMat Technologies, Inc., BriteSeed, Moneythink, MentorMob, 1871, Northwestern Global Health Foundation, Food Genius, Belly, Mobcart

2013 Life Spine, Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Belly, Rabine Group, Protein Bar, FarmLogix, First Alert, Braintree, Anova Technologies, iLight TechnologiesSocial Innovator Award: Chicago Public Library � e Collaboration Award: Ingenuity� e People’s Choice Award: tastytrade UP-AND-COMERS: Autonomy Works, PortaPure, Everpurse, Moxie Jean, Nordic Auto Plow, SceneTap, SimpleRelevance, Sinode Systems, SwipeSense, FarmedHere

2011 Red Frog Events, Trustwave, Elkay, Appolicious, Narrative Science, Callibra, World Bicycle Relief, Illinois Tool Works, Navman Wireless, Tripp LiteThe People’s Choice Award: Fresh MovesUP AND COMERS: Power2Switch, Eved, Nexvu, Alltuition, GiveForward, FeeFighters, Clean Urban Energy, Technori, Excelerate, Tap.Me

2010 crowdSPRING, MJSI, Molex, Lextech Labs, SoCore Energy, Master Lock, Smart Medical Technologies, CTA, Tripp LiteThe People’s Choice Award: TouchTaste TechnologiesUp-and-Comer Award: InContext Solutions

2009 Visible Vote, UIC, Suncast, RescueVac, Groupon, comScore, gogo The People’s Choice Award: Abbott Visionary Award: HeroPipe

2008 National Pasteurized Eggs, Fieldglass, Cleversafe, GTI, Zorch, First Alert, Flashpoint, Molex, Prepme

2007 Threadless, SAVO, S&C, Radio Flyer, Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Fellowes, Experiencia, CDOT, Drifi re, Abbott

2006 USG Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation, Ocean Tomo, Motorola Mobility, LoggerHead Tools, Goettsch Partners, FeedBurner, CNT Energy, “Check, Please!”, 37signals

2005 Abbott, Intellext, Inc., Laminar Technologies, LLC, LISC Chicago Millennium Park, Inc. and the City of Chicago, Motorola Mobility, Novarra Inc., Solvent Systems International, USG Corporation

2004 Acco Brands, Inc., American Cancer Society, Illinois Divi-sion, Inc., Arryx, Inc., Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade, Digital Kitchen, Middleby-Marshall, nPhase, LLC, Orbitz Worldwide, TriTeq Lock and Security

2003 Abbott Laboratories, Archipelago Holdings, LLC, Authentify, Inc., CoolSavings, Inc., Globus, Motorola Solutions, PAWS Chicago, Shure, Inc., SmartSignal Corporation, Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

2002 Aon Risk Services, Argonne National Laboratory, City of Chicago Initiate Systems, Northwestern Memorial Hosptal, QuesTek Innovations, Rubbermaid Home Products, Sara Lee Corporation, United Air Lines Inc., Walgreens

THE INNOVATORSCONNECTION

Building bridges between the region’s most innovative small companies and large corporations in the Chicago region.

NOW HEADQUARTERED AT MORGAN MANUFACTURING

visit www.ChicagoInnovationAwards.com/Innovators-Connectionor contact Luke Tanen at [email protected]

Are you a large company looking to discover how start-ups can help you?

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A 2014 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS 3 9

THE INNOVATORSCONNECTION

Building bridges between the region’s most innovative small companies and large corporations in the Chicago region.

NOW HEADQUARTERED AT MORGAN MANUFACTURING

visit www.ChicagoInnovationAwards.com/Innovators-Connectionor contact Luke Tanen at [email protected]

Are you a large company looking to discover how start-ups can help you?

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44

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Untitled-6 17 10/21/14 10:28 AM

Make the brand you trust for business news your full-service content marketing partner. From in-depth research and white papers to high-impact print and digital supplements, events, videos, webinars, apps, microsites and social campaigns, Crain’s Custom Media produces the quality content you need to reach your target industries and demographics across all communication platforms.

As original as ChicagoCRAIN’S CUSTOM MEDIA SERVICES

For information, contact Chris Janos at 312-280-3132 or [email protected]

Crain’s Custom Media connects you to a VIP audience you won’t find anywhere else in Chicago. That includes 64% of print readers in top management (along with 57% of digital readers), and average net worth of $2.2 million across print and online. All told, Crain’s Chicago reaches well over a million unique readers each month across all platforms. Let us help you connect with the ones you need in exactly the way you desire.

Untitled-6 18 10/21/14 10:28 AM



46

MEDIA

MAJOR CONTRIBUTING

2014 PARTNERS

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STATE OF ILLINOIS

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62706

Pat Quinn GOVERNOR

October 30, 2014

Chicago Innovation Awards Greetings!

As Governor of the State of Illinois, I am pleased to welcome everyone gathered for the 13th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards. The Chicago Innovation Awards recognize and honor individuals from all industries and sectors who are committed to innovation in the Chicagoland area. Their critical work has brought about a wealth of positive change by creating a competitive advantage and driving the region’s economy. Today’s event provides a wonderful opportunity to recognize the outstanding work of these individuals who demonstrate a commitment to innovation and recognize it as an on-going process by celebrating, educating, and connecting community members with their organizations through collaboration.

I am privileged to congratulate all 20 of tonight’s distinguished honorees. You have all worked hard to incorporate innovative principles within your organizations and achieved great success, embodying the spirit of opportunity in Illinois. As honorees, you have distinguished yourselves as civic leaders by introducing new products and services into our growing regional economy. Your professional accomplishments and community contributions have truly created a lasting impact. It is an honor to join your family, friends, and colleagues in recognizing you on this remarkable occasion. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I once again congratulate this year’s honorees, and offer my best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable event.

Sincerely, Pat Quinn Governor

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48

Special thanks to:JESSICA YACCINO, ALEX HALLADAY, GABRIEL NATHAN, SARA MOHR,

ALEK RINHOLM, and COLE SHUBERT

LUKE TANEN Executive Director

RAY BOYER Advisor

BRYAN BROCHU Advisor

ROSALYN KING VP of Finance & Operations

PAUL KITTIProgram Coordinator

INNOVATION AWARDS TEAM

After the Rainpas de deux

After the Rain© by Christopher WheeldonMusic by Arvo Pärt

Costumes Designed by Holly Hynes

Victoria Jaiani and Fabrice Calmels

Music Credits:

Arvo Pärt, Spiegel im Spiegel

Christopher Wheeldon’s pas de deux from After the Rain is the second half of a two-part work,

the fi rst featuring three couples. The pas de deux is set to Arvo Pärt’s spare and tender duet for piano and violin, Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in the Mirror). In a series of unfolding partnering

moves, the dancers explore the shifting emotions of their relationship. At times they are close and

tender with one another, while at other times they inhabit the same space but are separated and

searching for one another.

DISCOVER HOW CHICAGO’S INNOVATORS HAVE

FOUND SUCCESS.

TONIGHT’S PERFORMANCE FROM THE JOFFREY BALLET

Buy today on amazon.com

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INNOVATION AWARDS TEAM

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THE COFFEECAKECONNECTION COMPANYWEST CHICAGO, IL

From one day to the next, this city is constantly changing. At

Wintrust, we understand that our business community is part

of what keeps this city innovative. Chicago’s strength exists, in

part, thanks to the local economy that keeps it energized. And,

if an area’s local businesses are any indication of its success,

then from our perspective, Chicago’s doing quite well. Nobody

knows how to be innovative like a growing business. Most

business owners can tell you, the more resources you have, the

better off you are. At Wintrust, we’re proud to be an ally to our

local business community. We work to provide the tools that

allow local entrepreneurs build their business into whatever

they dream it to be. When you bank with us, you’re the boss.

THAT’S PART OF OUR STORY.

CHICAGO’S BANKS FOR BUSINESS

To fi nd a location near you, visit wintrust.com/fi ndus

CHICAGOBUSINESSES INNOVATE

EVERY DAY.

Banking products provided by Wintrust Financial Corp. banks.

WE SUPPORT THEM. MORE THAN 40,000 LOCAL BUSINESSES COUNT

ON A WINTRUST COMMUNITY BANK.

PROUD TO BE WINTRUST. We are nearly 3,500 community and commercial bankers, home loan offi cers, fi nancial advisors and specialty lenders focused solely on our customers and the communities in which they live. We all have the same mission: to provide best-in-class fi nancial services

to all of our customers, be the local alternative to the big banks,and improve the communities we call home.

LITTLE RICKY’S RIB JOINTWINNETKA, IL

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PATTERSONADVERTISING REPORTS INC.

NORTHBROOK, IL

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