Board of Advisors view list of advisors »

The Chicago Innovation Awards’ Board of Advisors is comprised of business and civic leaders who understand the importance of innovation and what it means to the success of the Chicago region and the growth of its economy. Our members are ambassadors of celebrating innovation, help to spread the word about nominations from their networks, and aid in efforts to find sponsors, partners and other supporters who can advance the goals of the Chicago Innovation Awards.

Business Leaders
Mike Cherry Attorney
John Berschied Former Head of R&D and InnovationS. C. Johnson Co., Alberto Culver Co., and Church and Dwight Co.
Hardik Bhatt Director of Smart + Connected CommunitiesCisco
Angelo Bufalino Chair, Intellectual Property GroupVedder Price
Michael Krauss PresidentMarket Strategy Group
Tom Kuczmarski Co-FounderChicago Innovation Awards
Dan Miller Co-FounderChicago Innovation Awards
Nancy Ruscheinski Chief Innovation OfficerEdelman
Rich Rodriguez Vice President, Business Development DirectorLend Lease
Kate Shubert Chicago Regional Business ManagerDisney Institute
Tawfik Sharkasi Chief Science and Technology OfficerWrigley
Gary Slack PresidentSlack & Company
Rocky Wirtz PresidentWirtz Corporation; and Chairman and Owner, Chicago Blackhawks
Civic Leaders
Rita Athas Former PresidentWorld Business Chicago
Frank Beal Executive DirectorChicago Metropolis 2020
Ellen Barry Former CIOMunicipal Pier Exposition Authority
Kristi Lafleur Executive DirectorIllinois Tollway
Dan Lyne Head of TechnologyWorld Business Chicago
Stephanie Neely TreasurerCity of Chicago
Lance Pressl Senior Policy FellowInstitute for Work and the Economy
Orlando Saez Chief Operating OfficerCityScan, Inc.
Kevin Willer Former CEOChicagoland Entrepreneurial Center & 1871
Academic Leaders
Sally Blount DeanNorthwestern’s Kellogg School of Management
Dipak Jain DeanINSEAD
Philip Kotler Distinguished Professor of International MarketingNorthwestern’s Kellogg School of Management
Sunil Kumar DeanUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business
Venture Capitalists
Bret Maxwell Managing General PartnerMK Capital
Matt McCall PartnerNew World Ventures
Nick Rosa Co-Founder & Managing DirectorSandbox Industries
Entrepreneurs
Chris Gladwin CEO and FounderCleversafe
Eric Olson Deputy Director, Plan for Economic Growth & JobsWorld Business Chicago
Non-profit Leaders
Darcy Evon Executive DirectorCorporate and Foundation Relations at University of Illinois at Chicago
Maria Wynne CEOGirls Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
Technology Advocates
Fred Hoch PresidentIllinois Technology Association
Maria Katris Executive DirectorBuilt in Chicago
Matt Summy Regional VP for Government and Regulatory AffairsComcast
Media Experts
Michael Arndt EditorCrain’s Chicago Business
Matthew Saleski Vice President- Business DevelopmentGuaranteed Rate
Ray Boyer PresidentBoyer Media
Howard Wolinsky ProfessorNorthwestern’s Medill School of Journalism