Society of Innovators 2023 Innovators Awards Luncheon

Join the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest’s annual celebration of innovators from across Northwest Indiana.

Now in its 19th year, the Society of Innovators annual awards celebration focuses on the spirit of creativity and ingenuity by discovering, honoring, and celebrating innovators from across the seven-county region of Northwest Indiana. Dedicated to the idea that anyone can be an innovator, the Society recognizes that innovation is the key to 21st Century competitiveness.

Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. for check-in and open networking with the lunch program promptly following at 12:00 p.m. The event will conclude at approximately 1:30 p.m. All times Central.

Ticket Information

• $55 Individual Ticket
• $500 Corporate Table

Purchase Tickets

Sponsors

Award Sponsor

Lunch Sponsor

SOAR Sponsor

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Your support demonstrates your commitment to forward-thinking economic and community development in Northwest Indiana. For more information, please download our 2023 Sponsorship Guide or email us at societyofinnovators@pnw.edu. Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Celebrating Innovation

Now in its 19th year, the Society of Innovators celebrates the spirit of creativity and ingenuity by discovering, honoring, and celebrating innovators from across the seven-county region of Northwest Indiana. Dedicated to the idea that anyone can be an innovator, the Society recognizes that innovation is the key to 21st Century competitiveness.

Individuals and teams are nominated via an online application. Inductees are selected through a rigorous review process by regional leaders who form a Selection Committee selected by the Board of Directors of the Society using criteria established by the Board.

The key things we’re looking for are:

• What problem is being solved?
• What is the innovation? (i.e. solution to the problem)
• What new value is the solution creating?
• How is the solution unique?
• What is the impact of the innovation?

Individual Honorees

The Society recognizes exemplary individuals who have made it through the selection process as Inductees into the Society of Innovators. Anyone who lives or works in Northwest Indiana is eligible for consideration.

Team Honorees

The Society recognizes exemplary teams and individual team members who have made it through the selection process as Inductees into the Society of Innovators. Teams from an individual company, government unit, not-for-profit agency, or a group of organizations from a specific project are eligible for consideration.

Society of Innovators Fellows

The Society of Innovators selects up to five innovators each year as Fellows from among previously inducted Individual and Team Lead honorees. Fellows must live or work in Northwest Indiana and demonstrate significant achievement in innovation and contribution to our community.

Richard C. Sussman Prize for Team Innovation

One team may be selected annually upon recommendation of the Selection Committee and Board approval, from among Team Inductees to receive the Richard C. Sussman Prize for Team Innovation. The Sussman Prize is dedicated to promoting 21st century innovation in the private, public, not-for-profit and government sectors. The Sussman Prize is to be considered a traveling award and is to be held by the recipient(s) for one year or an equivalent partial year as determined by the Board of Directors.

The award was created to honor the late Richard C. Sussman PhD, former chairman for the Society of Innovators and head of the Research Laboratory at ArcelorMittal East Chicago. Sussman is credited for pushing creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship as critical elements to remain competitive. This award builds on his legacy for a stronger Northwest Indiana.

• 2022 – Michigan City Area Schools

John H. Davies Lifetime Achievement Award

A Lifetime Achievement Award winner may be selected upon recommendation of the Selection Committee and at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Not only must our Lifetime Achievement Award winner demonstrate significant innovation, but that the work was sustained over a significant amount of time and their success was not limited to just one role, company or sector. We recognize that the community impact of our Lifetime Achievement Award winner will last more than one lifetime, that the impact of our winner will be felt for generations to come. This award is the Society of Innovators’ highest honor for an individual leader.

The award was renamed to honor John H. Davies who was recognized as the Society’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2019. As the founder and retired managing director of the Society of Innovators, he successfully led the organization from its inception in 2005 until 2018.

• 2019 – John H. Davies
• 2022 – Calvin “Cal” Bellamy

Interested in sponsoring this year’s awards? By supporting the 2023 Innovators Awards, you are helping catalyze Northwest Indiana’s innovation community. This event provides an opportunity for your team to connect with companies and organizations building innovative products and services while networking with other creative and visionary thinkers. Here you can reach Northwest Indiana’s talented problem-solvers and build your brand’s image as a forward-thinking organization.

Please email societyofinnovators@pnw.edu for more information.

To request a disability-related accommodation, please contact the Office of Institutional Equity at oie@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2163 five days prior to the event.