CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS

UIC

Robotic Surgery Program

Our Robotic Surgery Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago is the largest in the country performing complex general and thoracic surgical procedures. Our program has the highest volume in the most complex mix of advanced robotic surgical procedures. Our Chief, Division of Minimally Invasive, General & Robotic Surgery, Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, MD, has been the first to perform a number of surgeries that have not been replicated elsewhere.

How is the product/service is unique on the marketplace? Robotic surgery in major hospitals has been used for prostate removal of cancer. Our program has applied robotic technology to other fields of surgery both in the abdomen and the chest. In particular, we have been able to offer our patients complex procedures such as pancreas and liver resections previously considered not feasible in laparoscopic environment.

What has been the impact of the product/service on the medical community? Our program has been performing 150 new cases per quartile with minimal pain and suffering in situations previously treated only by open surgery, for example, patients with lung cancer can be treated at UIC without the need for a large painful chest incision that has resulted in reduction for blood transfusion, decreased length of hospital stay and earlier return to normal activity. Over 250 surgeons in the US and abroad have attended our Advanced Robotic Laboratory (the only one in Illinois) to learn basic and advanced robotic surgery. The number of international visitors for 2008 was over 80, Russia, China and India to name a few. All the professionals came to learn first hand from Professor Giulianotti who is considered the leader in this field and has recently been recognized and one of 100 Most Creative People by FastCompany Magazine.

♦ First living donor kidney-pancreas transplant in Illinois (1997) 

♦ First adult-to-adult living donor transplant in US (1998)

♦ First coronary artery bypass and liver transplant in the same setting (1998)

♦ First adult living donor bowel transplant in Illinois (1998)

♦ First robotic donor nephrectomy for living donor kidney transplant in the world (2000)

♦ First liver and small bowel transplants from same living donor into same recipient worldwide (2004)

♦ First combined living donor liver-bowel transplant in the world (2005)

♦ First robotic hepatectomy in the US (2005)

♦ First paired donation in Illinois for ABO incompatible kidney transplant (2006)

♦ First robotic combined donor nephrectomy and pancreatectomy for living donor (2007)

♦ First robotic pancreatectomy with auto-islet transplant worldwide (2007)

♦ First robotic lung resection in the Midwest (2007)

♦ First robotic whipple procedure in the Midwest (2007)

♦ First robotic total gastrectomy in the Midwest (2008)

♦ First robotic renal artery aneurysm repair in the United States (2008)

♦ First robotic total colostomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis in the United States (2008)

♦ First robotic right hepatectomy for living donor liver transplant worldwide (2008)

♦ First robotic right hepatectomy with hepatico-jejunostomy worldwide (2008)

♦ First parathyroidectomy without neck incision in the United States (2008)

♦ First thyroidectomy without neck incision (2009)

♦ Largest experience in Illinois in living donor kidney transplantation across ABO incompatibility and/or positive cross-match

♦ One of two programs worldwide offering living donors for all abdominal organs: kidney liver, pancreas, intestine, combined liver/bowel, combined kidney/pancreas

♦ Only program offering combined, liver/bowel living donor transplant from parent to child less than five years of age

Cohesive Flexible Technologies.

Cohesive Flexible Technologies.

Cohesive Flexible Technologies company offers crowd-sourced software in a new and innovative way. Much as Dell revolutionized build-to-order PCs, Cohesive Flexible Technologies has done the same with software. In other words, you choose an platform and then order whatever extra programs you want on top of it, CFT builds it for you, and then you download it directly from the website. Their tech breakthrough is software that builds a base image of a server and reformats it into a chosen virtualization configuration without first building a physical server. Its customers are businesses, not individuals, and it often configures the custom software on a cloud computer where it does the assigned tasks. Their "Elastic Server Platform" is a online service for custom configuration and assembling of application stacks (Elastic Servers) and making them available in a variety of virtualization-ready formats. It also provides a download directory of the stacks you have built, as well as stacks published by other users. It provides a dashboard view which highlights the most popular components as well as an overall view of community activity. Additionally the platform allows any individual, team or company to be a software component provider through importing their software offerings into the platform. Also, any individual, team or company can distribute or sell their finished servers through Elastic Server Sites which allow their customers to customize and download servers in virtualization and cloud-ready formats.

3DInternet

3DInternet

3DInternet has created a virtual world technology called Hyper-Reality; used by businesses and consumers on their computers. 3DInternet creates high quality immersive graphic and customized content, to allow their clients the ability to show their products and ideas on the internet and over a wide variety of platforms. Leading the way globally, we provide a broad range of services that include: 3D Training Simulators, 3D GIS (Ayris), 3DShopping.com, Studio Productions, Project Management & Life Cycle, 3D Design & Marketing, Virtual Tours and 3D application simulations.....and soon to be released to the public, a brand new 3D Collaboration tool (networking or conferencing using avatars) along with other types of 3D visualizations.

Viewpoints Network

Viewpoints Network

Viewpoints Network is a social technology and media company focused on helping consumers make smarter decisions. Viewpoints specializes in building online communities and motivating “social influencers” to share their experiences by writing reviews, blogs, and how-to guides while also participating in forums and contributing ideas that can be voted on.

The Viewpoints Technology Platform is a hosted technology service that helps leading brands engage their customers in a conversation to create online communities that drive organic traffic, increase conversion, provide customer insight and build brand equity. The Viewpoints Technology Platform was originally developed to power the Viewpoints Network’s own ratings and reviews site, http://www.viewpoints.com, one of the fastest growing consumer-generated communities, where consumers share product reviews and engage other like-minded individuals in conversations about the products and services they use. However, the technology was soon in demand from other brands seeking to take advantage of the power of consumer-generated reviews and to build their own online communities.

While there are many consumer review platforms available on the market, the Viewpoints Technology Platform is truly unique because it marries product review features with true social networking capabilities. For the first time, companies can combine social features such as friending, commenting, private messaging, photos, reputation rankings, RSS feeds, and tight connections to social networks, with important customer feedback opportunities such as reviews, discussion boards, blogs, idea submission, voting and ranking.

This combination of services in one platform is particularly important because it meets an unmet need for companies. Brands looking to benefit from rise in social media previously could only participate by having a presence on third party product review or social networking sites. With the Viewpoints Technology Platform, they can now take full advantage of all of these capabilities on their own site to engage and respond to their customers and build long-term relationships.

In total, the Viewpoints Technology Platform helps brands achieve what Viewpoints calls the Triple Bottom Line impact of a strong online community: With better consumer engagement, brands can 1) achieve better insight into what their customers want 2) strengthen their brand and 3) drive profitable sales.

PC Rebuilders and Recyclers

Purge King

Since 2000, hardware manufacturers started putting software on the hard drive mother board that permits data destruction through a purge methodology. Using the hard drive on board capability to purge data, Purge King™ directly destroys all the data, in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines, in all the drive sectors permanently.

Prior to Purge King ™ the option was using “wipe” technology, which sent data from the central processing unit, through the computer’s mother board, through the bus, and finally to the hard drive to overwrite the data.

Using the Purge King ™System, we are now able to directly send a command to the hard drive to destroy the data content entirely, and do so 80% faster than with traditional wipe technology. The resulting clean drive is tested, certified, and ready for reuse. In addition, the original drive owner can receive an email report of the Purge King ™ Data Purge Event.

theWit Hotel

theWit Hotel

On June 23, 2009, the Chicago Tribune noted, "As an entertaining hotel, Chicago's Wit is unmatched."

Creating a new standard for urban hotels, theWit, located at the historic intersection of State & Lake Streets, is a groundbreaking achievement in the hospitality category and is an exemplar of the best of innovation at work in Chicago and throughout the country. Like the powerful yellow lightning bolt on the front façade of the property, innovation strikes at every turn at theWit.

Developed by Chicago-based real estate developer Scott Greenberg, president of the ECD Company, theWit has led to the creation of hundreds of new jobs in the city and the development of an entirely new business brand around a new hotel chain. Most recently, Greenberg created, found financing for, and opened a hotel where very few, if any, properties are opening because of the inventiveness of his concept and the quality of his product. The fact that Scott not only found financing for but created an entirely new vision, speaks to his perseverance and original vision. As a result, the skyline of Chicago has changed in one of its most historic quarters.

"More Experience than Hotel," the hotel pulses each day with an energy and excitement because of the surprising combination --and concentration -- of stimulating experiences that engage visitors on all levels—be them intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. theWit must be visited to be believed and experienced to be understood. Simply put, the hotel is an urban destination experience like none other.

Each element of the design, technology and hotel operations have all been focused to support a powerful sense of place that both draws from and adds to Chicago's urban environment. In the realm of architectural and interiors design, the building has been described as a visual feast. The hotel was designed by rising Chicago architect Jackie Koo and interior designers Cheryl Rowley and Johnson Studios.

theWit transforms a 9,500 square foot pad of land in a key downtown corridor, which languished over the past 30 years, into a vibrant 250,000 square feet, 27 story, concentrated package of individually complex elements and experiences. The result: 298 hotel rooms (including 60 suites with kitchenettes); a 40-seat state of the art multi-media digital theater (SCREEN); three restaurants (State &Lake, ROOF, and Cibo Matto), each with its own distinctive flavor and identity; a full service spa (Spa@theWit); and highly functional and variable banquet and meeting space complete with state-of-the art technology embedded to maximize the efficiency of the hotel and the overall guest experience. For a complete overview, visit us on the web at http://www.thewithotel.com.

The innovative hospitality experiences at theWit come about, in part, by its unique group of "Wit" experiences that are sprinkled throughout the hotel’s design, artwork, technology and operating procedures. Examples include the following:

• A first-of-its-kind audio programming system that automatically plays custom pieces of "Wit" entertainment each hour in the public spaces of the hotel.

• Unique and distinctive morning and evening sounds in the corridors of all of the guest room floors (such as roosters crowing in the morning and harbor sounds in the evening)

• The choice of "witty" wake-up calls each morning to greet the hotel visitor with colorful Chicago personalities (theWit commissioned Second City to impersonate President Obama, Mayor Richard J. Daley, Harry Carey, Al Capone, Muddy Waters and noted columnist Ann Landers for a rousing start of the day)

• An homage to legendary “wits” in LIBRARY, a second tier lobby, that captures the energy and grit of downtown Chicago with a unique sense of whimsy and flair

theWit employs groundbreaking technology for in-room guest entertainment and guest communication. Not only does such technology enhance the guest experience, but it also provides greater efficiency and responsiveness, and costs savings in labor. Examples of this technology include the use of in-room touch screen color phones, which allows guests to have all hotel services at their finger tips through an automated delivery system so that a request for turndown service, extra towels or a car from the valet, is relayed through a multi-lingual delivery system that translates the request to the primary language of the end recipient and includes an automatic relay and confirmation system to ensure all such requests are promptly executed without the need for a repeat request by a guest, and theWit Media+ Entertainment consoles that provide IPTV with over 45 HD (High Definition) channels, which allow international guests to enjoy television channels from all around the world on the LG 42 inch flat panel televisions in their guest room.

From a technology standpoint, theWit uses the most comprehensive and powerful technology deployment ever installed in a hotel, much of which was created and designed by and for theWit. In an effort to set a new standard in the hospitality technology arena, theWit contracted some of the best minds in the business for various services, including Muzak (customized digital audio selections), Lorca Solutions (Fiber, CAT6, wireless network backbone), NEC (SV8500 VoIP phone system), Full Aperture Systems (SCREEN), MTech (HotSOS rapid response), CentraLite (ZigBee wireless energy management devices), Saflok (ZigBee wireless door locks), FourWinds (interactive lobby & meeting room displays), Roomlinx (Media+ Entertainment IPTV rooms with full PC on TV functionality), Bartech (Networked IP mini bars), Crestron (audio/video wireless controls), Siemens (Networked IP HVAC controls), etc.

TheWit also has pioneered "SCREEN", a studio quality (40 person) professional theater with an 11 foot by 24 foot wide screen that is designed for HD broadcast events, film and business presentations. As an example, SCREEN is designed to be used for watching NFL games or other sporting events, while guests are seated on electric reclining seating or luxury couches, with wait-staff available to provide full food and beverage service at their seats. With skyrocketing ticket prices, SCREEN provides a skybox venue at considerable cost savings and convenience. At the same time, SCREEN adheres to the most demanding theatrical standards in order to meet the demands of Hollywood directors, advertising executives and/or the media and the arts community, whether for private screenings or premieres or corporate presentations or pitches. SCREEN is an amenity for our hotel guests as well as a venue for the surrounding business and arts community. To date, no Chicago or American hotel has constructed a facility comparable to SCREEN with its complement of state-of-the-art professional audio and visual technologies and access to food and other hospitality services. For more information on SCREEN, please visit http://www.screenatthewit.com.

Additionally, theWit is proud to deploy the most advanced technologies to reduce its carbon footprint including the most advanced technologies for in-room plumbing, HVAC and lightening systems. For more information on these technologies, please visit http://www.thewithotel.com/the-experience/eco-consciousness.cfm. theWit continues to explore and implement green practices and is committed to promote the best standards of corporate eco-consciousness.

For all of these reasons, taken together, theWit represents a revolution within the hospitality industry. We invite you to visit and become believers.

Dotomi, Inc.

Adtopia

Dotomi can provide extremely focused and relevant advertising online. There has never been such a relevant way to advertise. Yair Goldfinger, the inventor of instant chat, took it a step further by applying the concept to online advertising. Now businesses can communicate on a one-to-one level with consumers. People around the world (not just Chicago) will benefit from personalized media delivered by Dotomi.

World Bicycle Relief

Rugged Bicycles for the terrains in LDCs

Provides bicycles as simple, sustainable transportation for care givers in Zambia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Malawai...to efficiently visit people afflicted with HIV/AIDS in the country and provide the much needed healthcare.

EveryBlock

EveryBlock.com

EveryBlock is a new experiment in online journalism, offering a news feed for every city block in 15 cities. Enter any address, neighborhood or ZIP code in those cities, and the site shows you recent public records, news articles and other Web content that’s geographically relevant to you. To our knowledge, it’s the most granular approach to local news ever attempted.

Coskata Inc.

Coskata’s feedstock flexible ethanol production process

Coskata is pioneering an innovative approach to ethanol production using a variety of input material including biomass, agricultural and municipal wastes, as well as other carbonaceous material. The company utilizes a hybrid thermo-biological process leveraging proprietary microorganisms and patented bioreactor designs to yield one of the most efficient, flexible, and sustainable means of ethanol production available today. The company will sustainably produce feedstock flexible ethanol from non-food, renewable resources that will reduce ghg emissions by as much as 80-90% (Argonne National Laboratory). Feedstock flexible ethanol from Coskata has the ability to reduce dependence on foreign sources of oil, address food-for-fuel concerns, and create green infrastructure and jobs to fuel economic growth and environmental sustainability. Coskata is currently producing ethanol at the pilot scale at its headquarters in Warrenville, Ill. Later this year, the company will produce ethanol at its semi-commercial plant located in Madison, PA. Commercial scale production is anticipated in 2012. visit www.coskata.com for more information.

Nalco Company

HAUL-EZ®81201

HAUL-EZ®81201

For 'less fuss - no rust' Road Dust Control at Industrial Sites

Road dust can adversely impact human health, welfare, and the environment.

HAUL-EZ 81201 is Nalco's latest proprietary road dust control product. Its patented chemistry has humectant and binding characteristics that helps to provide long-term dust control with a single application. Unlike calcium chloride and magnesium chloride-based products, HAUL-EZ 81201 minimizes road dust without being highly corrosive to haulage and personal vehicles. The HAUL-EZ program minimizes the frequency of applications.

HAUL-EZ 81201 is sold globally since its introduction. It received two US patents, nos 7,108,800 and 7,398,935.

HAUL-EZ 81201 is green chemistry, derived from agricultural products. It is considered non-hazardous and non-toxic.

Groupon

Groupon

Groupon is a Chicago-based deal-a-day website that delivers tremendous savings to consumers and high levels of extra business to featured companies. Launched as an extension of collective action website The Point in November 2008, the service has attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers and has breathed life into local economies by generating new customers for businesses of all types and sizes.

What sets Groupon apart is that it leverages the concept of collective buying power to negotiate great deals for consumers while guaranteeing businesses a minimum number of customers. Consumers only get the featured deal if a minimum number of people join – that is, if the deal reaches a “tipping point.”

Groupon now serves nine other markets – Boston, New York City, Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego and Seattle – with plans to be in a total of more than 25 cities by year’s end.

Groupon has been featured in numerous national and local media outlets as an innovative company that is helping consumers and businesses better cope with the reality of the current economic environment.

Beyond helping consumers save on life’s essentials, Groupon also encourages subscribers to explore new products, services and activities in their cities. Groupon has offered discounts to local restaurants, hair salons, spas, theatres, gyms, tours – even acupuncture, hypnotherapy, deprivation tanks and psychics. Offers span across all types of local businesses and we pride ourselves on offering an eclectic mix. National accounts include Zipcar and Britesmile.

Some examples of featured deals:

• $11 for Wendella Architectural Tour (normally $22) (6,000 Groupons sold – sold out!)

• $10 for $25 at Manny's Deli (2,000 Groupons sold - sold out!)

• $35 for Zipcar membership and $50 credit (normally $125) (420 Groupons sold)

• $50 for $125 at Denim Lounge (1,269 Groupons sold)

• $5 for $15 at Dinkel’s Bakery (3,984 Groupons sold)

• $95 for Golf for Two at Ruffled Feathers (Up to $190 Value) (764 Groupons sold)

• Choice of Three Services at Soothe Your Senses Day Spa—Only $33 Per Service (738 Groupons sold)

Suncast Corporation

Water Powered Hose Reel

This spring we launched a new hose reel technology which allows consumers to rewind their garden hose without the hassle or effort it used to take to keep hoses organized. The Hydro Powered Auto Rewind hose reel features a unique water piston engine inside the product that turns water pressure in to rewinding power. With the flip of a small lever, the hose automatically starts rewinding onto the hose reel.

This product is of particular interest to two types of consumers. First of all, the elderly gardener, who thoroughly loves to care for their yard and garden, but struggles with the strength required to rewind hoses while watering. This consumer finds renewed interest in their passion with the easy to use hose reel.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is the more youthful, gadget guru, who wants to have the I-phone of hose reels to display to his friends and neighbors. The up and coming youthful gardener is a hugely growing demographic as more and more consumers are staying close to home, growing their own food, and enjoying the exercise and beauty of gardening.

i.c.stars

i.c.stars training program - civic, business and service leader development

Many low-income communities face major challenges such as low academic achievement, low graduation rates, massive incarceration, unplanned prisoner reentry, uninsured families, unmet housing needs, and other social challenges. Often residents of these communities are single parents and working poor who are unable to make ends meet or contribute in a meaningful way to the economic development of their communities.

The current situation is part of a vicious cycle that reduces the ambitions and opportunities afforded to each successive generation. In addition, policy responses continue to be informed by individuals from outside the community, who often times exacerbate the lack of opportunities.

i.c.stars mission is to provide opportunities for inner-city young adults to harness the strength of business for social and economic leadership. By integrating business training and leadership development, i.c.stars is shaping the next generation of community leaders.

To break the vicious cycle, our program develops three types of leaders: Civic, Business, and Service Leaders. Civic Leaders engage directly in the policy arena through volunteer participation in local school councils, chambers of commerce, advocacy-focused non profits, and electoral politics. They break the “bad policy” part of the cycle through the ability to organize and mobilize a base of people.

Business Leaders directly create economic opportunities by achieving levels of managerial responsibility where they make hiring decisions and/or own their own businesses that employ community members and break the opportunity gap through the creation of local GDP.

And lastly, Service Leaders focus on developing the ambitions of the youth in our communities through writing, teaching, being role models, and mentoring.

A critical mass of what we call “Level 5 Leaders” within a geographic region creates a force-multiplier that is capable of reversing the vicious cycle. As policy responses become better informed, and as more job opportunities exist, and as ambitions begin to rise, the vicious cycle turns into a virtuous cycle. Change happens only with a coordinated effort that focuses on leadership at every level and across all three areas. Traditional workforce programs that address the basic economic needs of the individual fail impact the system because they only focus on the ambition side of the problem and because they only focus on the individual.

i.c.stars measures leadership by the opportunities each participant makes in their community, either through civic, business, or service leadership actions. The impact of each opportunity is a function of the social, financial, and intellectual capital a leader brings to each situation.

Our strategy is to turn the vicious cycle into a virtuous one. We provide direct service programs that enable individuals to accumulate the social, financial, and intellectual capital necessary for effective leadership and systematic change in our communities.

ACCO Brands Corporation

GBC eBinder 200

Why is the new GBC eBinder 200 from ACCO Brands so innovative? The new machine is the first of its kind to provide the automated, in-line punching and binding of printed documents that allows users to produce lay-flat, bound documents as easy as printing them. Users can now print and bind their materials all from the convenience of their desktop computer.

Beyond the groundbreaking solution it provides to end users, the eBinder 200 is an impressive piece of innovation on three levels: the engineering of the machine itself to solve an unmet consumer need, the creation of groundbreaking binding fasteners, and the level of collaboration between ACCO Brands and outside partners to develop the system.

As a result, the GBC eBinder 200 is set to revolutionize the mechanical binding of printed documents at digital printers and copy centers across the country because it satisfies most all criteria of the Chicago Innovation Awards. Those include: a recently introduced product, creating a new category of business, elevating consumer expectations, solving an unmet consumer need, and receiving market support and financial success.

InnerWorkings

PPM4, the InnerWorkings proprietary database and technology--74 c

PPM4 is one of the largest independent repositories of equipment profiles (more than 13,000) and price data (more than 400,000 job records) for print and promotional products suppliers. By using PPM4, InnerWorkings is able to create a competitive bid process to procure, purchase and deliver printed or promotional products to our clients. By using a system that is transparent Innerworkings can discover excess manufacturing capacity, select optimal suppliers, and negotiate favorable pricing while still procuring high-quality products. The wealth of information accessible throughout PPM4 allows for increased efficiency, reduced printing costs, simplified project development processes, and improved communication. PPM4 has one patent issued and 5 patents pending.

Valent BioSciences Corporation

RyzUp SmartGrass™ For Advanced Pasture Management

A top 25 finisher in the 2008 CIA process, Valent BioSciences Corporation is back with an updated nomination package for RyzUp SmartGrass™ that includes more information, including new details on the US market. RyzUp SmartGrass™ (branded as ProGibb SmartGrass™ in some markets) is based on a patented formulation of Gibberellic Acid (GA3), a growth regulator that occurs naturally in plants. Our novel 40% WSG formulation (US Patent No. 6,984, 609) is a concentrated organic, shelf stable, dust-free, and highly water dispersible product ideally suited for developing new uses of GA3 such as RyzUp SmartGrass™ (Devisetty et al., 2007). The positive effects of GA3 on grass growth were first described in the 1950s, but the use for pasture grass production was never successfully developed on a large scale basis, even after 50 years. Valent BioSciences Corporation recently discovered that targeted applications of RyzUp SmartGrass™ deliver significant economic benefits when used in highly managed pastures in times of cold weather stress. This innovative use of RyzUp SmartGrass™ allows the production of high quality forage during periods of grass shortage, thus increasing overall pasture efficiency. Applied to pastures in early spring or late fall, RyzUp SmartGrass™ will promote higher growth rates at suboptimal growth temperatures. Farmers & dairymen can thereby increase livestock numbers or shorten grazing rotational intervals for pastures under an intensively managed production system. Such practices also reduce the need for supplemental feed for livestock, and may allow for more efficient use of fertilizers.

Art Institute

Modern Wing

The Art Institute of Chicago is a world-renowned art museum housing one of the largest permanent collections in the United States. An encyclopedic museum, the Art Institute collects, preserves, and displays works in every medium from all cultures and historical periods as well as hosts special exhibitions. With a collection of more than 260,000 art works and artifacts, the museum has particularly strong holdings in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, early 20th century European painting and sculpture, contemporary art, Japanese prints, and photography. The museum just completed the largest expansion in its 130-year history, the internationally acclaimed Modern Wing designed by Renzo Piano. The Modern Wing features the latest in green museum technology and 264,000 square feet dedicated to modern and contemporary art, photography, architecture and design, and new museum education facilities.

I-GO Car Sharing

Chicago Card Plus/I-GO Card

I-GO Car Sharing and the CTA formed an unprecedented collaboration—between a major public transit agency and a non-profit car-sharing organization—to create the nation’s first joint smart card combining both modes of transportation.

Launched in January 2009, the Chicago Card Plus/I-GO Card provides access to CTA buses and trains, Pace buses, and every car in I-GO’s metropolitan-wide fleet. Besides the technical integration involved in the production of the card itself, the partnership involved a major undertaking in integrating the two organization’s data-sharing systems as well.

I-GO has car locations in more than 30 neighborhoods, including Evanston and Oak Park (with further suburban expansion underway), and every car is within close proximity of a CTA rail line or bus route. Many are located directly at rail stations.

The new card makes it easier to transition from one mode of transportation to the other, integrating car sharing with public transit as the first step towards a seamless regional sustainable transportation system. The program also emphasizes both organizations’ environmental initiatives. I-GO uses only low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles (gas-electric hybrids make up nearly half the fleet, and I-GO also has two plug-in hybrid electrics), and is focused on lowering greenhouse gas emissions and urban congestion by reducing car ownership. Public transit complements I-GO’s mission, and CTA has made important eco-conscious progress as well, such as its implementation of hybrid buses.

Novus Ice Machines

Novus Ice Systems

The complete In-Store Ice Management System. Novus Ice Systems offers an unprecedented opportunity to control your own ice making, packaging, merchandising and advertising, all in one In-Store System. It is the most advanced and reliable system on the market today. The Novus ICE System will enable your store to cut costs, generating up to 50% more profit compared to delivered or self bagged ice. The state of the art technology incorporated in the system assures the highest quality packaged ice possible while increasing profits. No more daily deliveries, no more consuming labor to bag and fill the storage units and no more out of stock! Being in control of your ice production and packaging will also give you the ultimate convenience, efficiency and economy.

Novus Ice System’s standard Model # 4005, features a Hoshizaki 1300lb. air cooled ice maker, capable of producing up to185 7 pound. bags per day. The 4005 is an automatic ice maker, ice merchandiser and bagging unit all in one complete system. The stand alone unit is 4 feet wide and 33.5 inches deep and 9’ 6” high. Other sizes are available to fit your individual store’s needs.

Merchandisers are also available in 6’ and 8’ wide, double door models.

It is also considered a "Green Product".

Quixote Corp.

Vorteq Trailer Mounted Attenuator

http://www.energyabsorption.com/products/products_vorteq_trailer.asp

Truck mounted attenuators (TMAs) are typically big yellow cartridge boxes that hang off the back of Depart of Transportation (DOT) work trucks. TMAs are typically filled with material that absorbs the energy of an errant impacting vehicle and safely brings it to a stop. They have been in use on highways all over the world for over 20 years. The three main functions of a TMA are 1) To protect Workzone workers, 2) To protect the motoring public, 3) To protect the vehicle asset.

The Vorteq® Trailer Mounted Attenuator (TMA) system is a cartridge-less system that is easy to install, use, remove and maintain. Instead of utilizing cartridges to absorb energy, the Vorteq curls steel tubes. This makes for a sytem that is much lighter, easier to maintain, and easier to use.

The Vorteq TMA has been designed in response to a market need for a basic, yet high performing TMA that meets all mandatory and optional Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) TL-3 requirements. The Vorteq system answers this need because it is uncomplicated and easy to use yet still provides protection at specified design impact speeds.

There are four main features that make the Vorteq ideal for contractors and others looking for a safe, efficient, and easy to own TMA:

• Quick and easy to use with a single point attachment, meaning it can be ready to use in less than a minute.

• Simple, straightforward design with few components that is easy to assemble, easy to inspect, and virtually eliminates maintenance.

• Robust unit resulting in longer life cycles due to a lightweight design that has been proven with thousands of miles of road testing.

• Fleet flexible, meaning it can be used on most vehicles with a standard pintle hook, typically requiring no additional host vehicle modifications.

With any high-speed accident, it is expected that some material will scatter throughout the accident “zone”. This debris scatter presents a hazard to other traffic, pedestrians, personnel in the work zone, and ultimately, the clean -up crew. The Vorteq unit is designed to minimize the TMA debris scatter by curling the energy absorbing frame rails inwardly. This inward spiraling of the tubes creates a contained and compact system that is safer, easier and quicker to clean up and remove after impact. Furthermore, the wheels and axle are designed to stay connected and functional after design impacts, thus allowing the damaged unit to be driven away by the host vehicle without additional equipment or special tow vehicles.

At less than 1300 lbs, the Vorteq TMA is the lightest TMA available in the market today. Very significant in the European market where trailers above 750kg require special licenses to operate. The Vorteq is shipped “Arrow board Ready” with a full range of arrow board mounting options available ranging from basic Tripod style fixed design to full automated electronic tilt.

About Quixote Corporation

Quixote Corporation (http://www.quixotecorp.com) through its wholly owned subsidiaries Quixote Transportation Safety, and Inc., Quixote Transportation Technologies, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of energy-absorbing highway crash cushions, truck-mounted attenuators, intelligent intersection control systems, computerized highway/advisory radio transmitting devices, electronic wireless measuring and sensing devices, weather monitoring stations, fixed and variable electronic message signs, flexible post delineators and other highway safety products and services.

JumpForward, LLC

JumpForward Traveller

JumpForward is trailblazing a new industry called Sports Relationship

Management (SRM). Within the SRM industry, JumpForward has recently released

its "JumpForward Traveler" Mobile Phone Application for the Blackberry and

iPhone. The JumpForward Traveler Mobile Phone Application is targeted for

three main communities in the sports world: youth sports, high school

student-athletes/parents, and college coaches and compliance officers. These

target markets are constantly on the move, to a game or class, tournament or

dinner, and need access to information and communication options from their

mobile phones. JumpForward Traveler's patent-pending technology solves this

problem!

For college coaches, the JumpForward Traveler provides contact management,

marketing, and compliance solutions via the web and mobile phone. The

contact management solution is a "SalesForce" type solution specifically

tailored for the coach and their staff, providing all their necessary

recruiting information on their mobile phone! The patent-pending technology

enables the compliance solution to proactively stop phone calls, text

messaging, and e-mail compliance violations before they happen. Effectively,

the JumpForward Traveler provides internal controls that act as an insurance

policy for the athletic department to ensure its college coaches adhere to

NCAA compliance rules.

Youth and club coaches using the JumpForward Traveler application on the

Blackberry or iPhone can facilitate bulk text or voice broadcasting to

everyone on the team with critical information, such as changes in game

times or locations, updated injury reports, conference standings, or simple

congratulations on a game well played.

For high school student-athletes and parents, the JumpForward Traveler

allows users to search for over 55,000 college coaches for critical contact

information and over 2,600 colleges with information on tuition, majors, and

other critical vital details for choosing the right school and program.

See video's of the solution below:

Coach (Blackberry): http://vimeo.com/5843864�

Athlete (iPhone): http://vimeo.com/5843513

Chicago Climate Exchange

Cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions and world's leading environmental futures exchange

Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) operates North America’s only cap and trade system for all six greenhouse gases, with global affiliates and projects worldwide. CCX Members – including Chicago area entities such as Abbott, Baxter, the City of Chicago, and Motorola – are leaders in greenhouse gas management and represent all sectors of the global economy, as well as public sector innovators. Reductions achieved through CCX are the only reductions made in North America through a legally binding compliance regime, providing independent, third party verification. The founder and Chairman of CCX is economist and financial innovator Dr. Richard L. Sandor, who was named a Hero of the Planet by Time Magazine in 2002 for founding CCX, and in 2007 as the "father of carbon trading."

CCX emitting Members make a voluntary but legally binding commitment to meet annual greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Those who reduce below the targets have surplus allowances to sell or bank; those who emit above the targets comply by purchasing CCX Carbon Financial Instrument® (CFI®) contracts.

The Chicago Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE) is a Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulated market which offers standardized and cleared futures contracts on emission allowances and other environmental products. CCFE is the leading futures exchange for mandatory environmental markets in the U.S. and the main price reference for sulfur dioxide (regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and carbon in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

National Collegiate Scouting Association

The NCSA

The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) was founded in 2000 by Chris Krause, a former full-ride scholarship football player at Vanderbilt University, with a two-pronged mission: To provide a means for college coaches at every level to find the recruits best suited for their programs and to educate high school student athletes and their families about the college recruiting process.

Since 2000, NCSA has grown quickly, becoming the leading collegiate recruiting source for more than 35,000 college coaches across the country. NCSA's experienced scouting team helps student athletes gain acceptance to the collegiate program that best fits their needs.

We use a high tech approach to monitor the specific wants and needs of college coaches and match student athletes with the appropriate collegiate opportunities that will allow them to succeed at the next level.

NCSA's high tech approach includes our Recruit-Match™ database, which helps us track more than 100,000 of the top high school student athletes in the country. The Recruit-Match™ database also houses permission-based contact information and recruiting standards and requirements of coaches at more than 1,700 colleges and universities in more than 25 men's and women's sports.

NCSA believes in providing opportunities for all qualified student athletes, regardless of economic status. Every year, NCSA enrolls hundreds of underprivileged student athletes through corporate sponsors and private grants.

Baxter International Inc.

Baxter International’s HYLENEX recombinant (hyaluronidase human injection) for pediatric rehydrati

HYLENEX is an innovative approach to rehydrating infants and young children suffering from mild to moderate dehydration. It is the first and only purified preparation of the enzyme, hyaluronidase, which breaks down hyaluronic acid, a space-filling gel that exists in the tissue beneath the skin.

HYLENEX safely allows fluids and medications to be administered under the skin (subcutaneously) rather than through a vein (IV). IV therapy, which traditionally has been used for rehydration, is rated as one of the leading causes of pain for hospitalized children, since it can take multiple needle sticks to find a vein for treatment initiation and cause subsequent trauma and discomfort for patients, parents and clinicians.

HYLENEX temporarily makes the tissue beneath the skin more permeable (capable of being passed through) and able to absorb fluid, allowing fluids to be absorbed more readily into the blood vessels. It has been shown to be quick, simple and relatively painless. In addition, research has shown that parents whose children receive HYLENEX for rehydration are highly satisfied with the results, report their experience is better than IV administration and would opt for the alternative approach in the future.

The Boeing Company

The Game Changer Award

Established by Boeing Chicago Global Corporate Citizenship in 2007, The BOEING GAME CHANGER AWARD supports new community leaders (or those new to their current positions) in Chicago whose hard work and vison help support diverse communities. The $100,000 award will fund organizational development or a diversity-related project. Award winners are required to mentor someone in their field from an underrepesented community. Not-for-profit organizations are an important part of Chicago's busines community. They contribute to Chicago's global image in a major way. Boeing, whose corporate center is in Chicago, has chosen to build the progressive strength of diversity in Chicago by highlighting young leaders who are focusing on developing this aspect of our great city through their not-for-profit business. As the years go along, the BOEING GAME CHANGER AWARD will bring attention to the uniqueness of Chicago's celebration of diversity and nurturing of all races, creeds, talents, ages and genders, combating the legacy of Chicago's segregated history.

Textura Corporation

Textura – Construction Payment Management

Textura is the first company to fully automate the entire construction payment application (invoicing) process. Owners, developers and general contractors use Textura’s services to automate invoicing, lien waiver collection, electronic payments, document compliance and reporting.

Subcontractors and suppliers enter desired invoice amounts and the Textura system automatically generates properly completed invoices. These are electronically signed and submitted. Documents can be reviewed and approved or marked-up online.

Lien waivers are automatically generated to match invoices submitted. The waivers are electronically signed and notarized and then held in an electronic ‘lockbox’ until payment is made. Disbursement is validated against compliance status. Electronic payments can replace manual checks.

Textura’s services provide financially intact and legally correct documents, improved visibility & control and reduced risk. Project information is always current. Reporting format and level of detail can be varied based on need.

Textura’s services dramatically improve efficiency of the interaction between construction project participants. The overall payment application time is typically reduced by 1 - 2 weeks per month. An interface to accounting and project management software eliminates data entry. Other cost savings includes elimination of document errors, document tracking, faxes, phone calls and meetings.

Restaurant.com

Feed It Forward

As the 2008 holiday season approached, an unprecedented economic storm struck the nation. Dwindling jobs, retirement funds, credit, homes, businesses and “hope” had forced consumers to re-think how to make ends meet. For many people, gift-giving would be scaled back or altogether eliminated as financial stresses curtailed purchasing ability.

Restaurant.com weighed how the situation impacted its own unique consumer base and network of thousands of restaurants to understand what action, if any, could be taken to lend relief. On November 26, 2008 Restaurant.com launched “Feed It Forward,” an online initiative that supported the act of giving during the down economy. Restaurant.com aimed to empower consumers to give to one another without financial obligation, while filling empty tables at local restaurants to stimulate much needed business.

The initiative was built upon a single giving Web site stocked with three million $10 Restaurant.com gift certificates. The site allowed individuals to go online to give as many as three gift certificates per day for 30 days to friends, family, co-workers and people who might not otherwise make their holiday gift lists. People who participated in the “Feed It Forward’ initiative every day for 30 days, would have an opportunity to give away as much as $900 in gift certificates--for free. Restaurant.com gift certificates were sent via email and printable upon redemption. Recipients decided where to dine among more than 5,000 participating Restaurant.com restaurants nationwide. After receiving a gift certificate, they were also encouraged to join in the giving.

With more than $5 million in gift certificates given away by consumers in all 50 states, “Feed It Forward” was a true success. The entire gesture of sharing and empowering people during difficult economic times won over the hearts, minds and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of people.

The innovation and the impact of “Feed It Forward” can be demonstrated by the thousands of participants who wrote in to share heartfelt notes of gratitude:

• "I’m out of a job now and have no extra money for a gift and some of my family is out of work due to lay offs just like me and we’re all hurting...this gift is so kind hearted I want to thank you from my heart!" ~Mark
• “I’m not very high on funds this year, or any year really, and I just got back from Iraq a bit ago. I am glad I can appreciate the people who supported me with a little something. Thanks for helping me show those who supported a soldier that I love the respect they’ve given me and all soldiers for the past years.” ~ Sean O.
• “During these restricted times, it is so great to be able to send even a small gift to people who mean so much to you during the year. Thank you for allowing me to do this.” ~Linda S.
• “What a fun and unique way to give to one another and forget about the recession. I hope you inspire other companies to be so generous.” ~Kathy T.
• “There’s not enough thanks in the world for what you are doing and letting people like me share in your generosity… Thanks and happy holidays to you and yours!” ~ Terri D.
• “I think what your doing is absolutely awesome. It really makes me feel in the holiday spirit by giving and I'm glad this gives me the opportunity to do so. I never really see any type of business doing this ever, so it is nice to know thee people that still care.” ~ Nicole

Rehabtek LLC

IntelliStretch Rehab Robot

Treat patients with neurological impairments using both passive stretch of the impaired limb under intelligent control and voluntary movement training through motivating robot-computer games. The rehab robot is portable and low-cost and can be used in the hospital/clinic setting and in patients' homes.