Greetings,
For 25 years, we have celebrated the bold thinkers, groundbreaking ideas, and collaborative spirit that make our city a diverse and welcoming hub of innovation.
This year, we invite you to join us for a special 25th Anniversary Chicago Innovation Foundation In-Gala—a night to come together as a community to celebrate and fuel the power of inclusive innovation that will define the next 25 years still to come.
Sincerely,
Luke Tanen, President & CEO
Paul Kitti, VP of Marketing & Events
Tom Kuczmarski, Co-Founder
Chicago Innovation Foundation
|
|
|
|
Founder, OpenTable
Managing Partner, S2G Investments |
Chicago entrepreneur best known for founding OpenTable, which was later acquired for $2.6 billion. As Managing Partner of S2G Investments, Chuck continues to drive innovation by investing in breakthrough companies in food, agriculture, and sustainability. Active investor, mentor and Chicago tech ecosystem builder. |
|
|
|
|
As one of America's most visible economic voices, Diane is called upon by policy makers and business leaders around the world. Named one of the "100 Most Influential Economists in the World," she is frequently featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. |
|
|
|
|
Co-Founder, Chicago Innovation |
25 years ago, Tom started Chicago Innovation to educate, connect and celebrate innovators in the Chicago region. He established a leading innovation consultancy that created over $8 billion in new revenues for its clients, and has taught innovation at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management for 46 years (and counting). Tom is the author of 9 books on innovation and leadership. |
|
|
|
Join 500 business, civic and tech leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs for an interactive night with... |
|
Creative Dining Experiences |
|
| | |
|
A Chicago-based ensemble that brings together musicians from immigrant communities to collaboratively create and perform music rooted in diverse global traditions. |
|
Held at Bridgeport Art Center |
| 1200 W 35th St., Chicago, IL 60609 Free Parking On-site |
|
|
To educate, connect and celebrate all innovators across the expanding Chicago innovation ecosystem. |
|
|
To lead a movement that ensures innovation is for everyone. |
|
|
Illinois Student Invention Convention | 41,000 K-8th grade students 97% increased critical thinking and problem-solving skills |
|
|
|
| 400 Black and Latine participants 100% of mentees progressed towards achieving their goals last year |
|
|
|
| 1,300 women 97% of mentees progressed towards achieving their goals last year |
|
|
|
| 490 intergenerational innovators 95% of co-mentors progressed towards achieving their goals last year |
|
|
|
| 140+ Climate Champion Award nominees 1,500 climate focus innovators convened |
|
|
Sid Bala
KOIOS,
Founder & CEO |
| Pal Iaconetti
Dell Technologies, Global Account Executive |
| Megan McCann
McCann Partners, CEO & Founder |
| Tope Sadiku
McDonald's,
Global Director of Organization Effectiveness and Design |
|
Brandon Austin
The Executives' Club of Chicago,
Chief Insights & Innovation Officer |
| Elise Awwad
DeVry University, President & CEO |
| Ranga Bodla
Oracle NetSuite,
Vice President, Field Engagement & Marketing |
| Carlos Cardenas
Wintrust, SVP Group Manager |
| Yoana Dvorzsak
Solésence,
Vice President, Innovation & Product Integrity |
| Colleen Egan
Chicago Community Sculling,
Executive Director |
| David Emsheimer
Clean Earth Renewables,
Managing Director |
| Darcy Evon
Tremonia Partners,
Co-Founder |
| Todd Greenwald
Heartland,
President |
| Craig Hamill
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning,
Chief Data Officer |
| Jane Hamner
Centric Consulting,
Client Partner |
| Emma Harper
Solésence,
Executive Director, Strategy, Marketing, and Communications |
| Renu Kulkarni
Kulkarni Associates,
Partner |
| Inna Larson
Clear Irons,
Board of Directors |
| Kevin Leurck
Comcast Business,
Senior Director, Enterprise Sales |
| Joanna Rodriguez
SecondMuse,
Senior Director, Business Development, Climate |
| Aneta Pietraszek
Social Impact and Engagement Executive |
| Kevin Rooney
West Monroe Partners,
Chief Admin Officer |
| Patrick Thomas
Milwaukee Tool,
Director of Engineering |
| Garrett Woody
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago,
Sr. Enterprise Architect, Cloud & AI/ML, VP |
|
Michael Arndt
The Harris Poll,
Director of Communications |
| Sid Bala
KOIOS,
Founder & CEO |
| Ellen Barry
EBarry Group,
Principal |
| Cassidy Beadle
Accenture,
Managing Director |
| Kate Bensen
The Chicago Network,
Former President & CEO |
| Hardik Bhatt
SDI Presence,
CEO |
| Ray Boyer
Boyer Media,
President |
| Angelo Bufalino
Retired Intellectual Property Attorney |
| John Burke
Vedder,
Chair of the Intellectual Property Group |
| Carlos Cardenas
Wintrust, SVP Group Manager |
| Jeff Cobb
Comcast Business,
Regional Vice President |
| Holly Copeland
impact.c3,
Founder & CEO |
| Diane Dahl
The Hartell Group, Founder & Managing Director |
| Matthew Doubleday
Creative Advisors, Principal & Founder |
| Ana Dutra
Mandala Global Advisors,
CEO |
| Darcy Evon
Tremonia Partners,
Co-Founder |
| Pat Iaconetti
Dell Technologies, Global Account Executive |
| Dipak Jain
China Europe International Business School,
President (European) |
| Sandee Kastrul
i.c.stars,
Co-Founder |
| Michael Krauss
Market Strategy Group,
Co-Founder |
| Tom Kuczmarski
Chicago Innovation; Kuczmarski Innovation, Co-Founder; President |
| Susan Lorenc
Dorsey + Whitney LLP,
Partner |
| Howard Males
Town of New Buffalo,
Trustee |
| Mike Maresca
Ulta, Former Chief Technology & Transformation Officer |
| Bret Maxwell
MK Capital,
Managing General Partner |
| Megan McCann
McCann Partners, CEO & Founder |
| Dorri McWhorter
The Executives' Club of Chicago,
CEO |
| Maggie O'Brien
J.P. Morgan Private Bank,
Managing Director, Co-Head of Chicago |
| Richard L. Rodriguez
Acero Schools,
CEO |
| Kristi Ross
tastytrade; U3 Coffee,
Co-Founder |
| Mike Rothman
SMS Assist,
Founder |
| Tope Sadiku
McDonald's,
Global Director of Organization Effectiveness and Design |
| Nancy Ruscheinski
Zeno Group,
Former Chief Operating Officer |
| Luke Saunders
Farmer's Fridge,
Founder & CEO |
| Mohan Sawhney
Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, McCormick Tribune Professor of Technology |
| Jai Shekhawat
Fieldglass,
Founder |
| | Dev Singh
AiRo Digital Labs, Founder & CEO |
| William Towns
Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, Adjunct Professor of Social Impact |
| Eric VanAlstyne
Molex Ventures,
Director of Corporate Development |
| Kevin Willer
Chicago Ventures,
Co-Founder & Partner |
| Andrea Zopp
Cleveland Avenue,
Managing Partner |
| Maria Wynne
Leadership Greater Chicago, Former CEO |
| |
|
|
