By Judy Carmack Bross
Chicago Innovation Co-Founder Tom Kuczmarski, Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Boehm, Co-Founder and CEO of Boka Restaurant Group, and Chicago Innovation President and CEO Luke Tanen.
“Chicago’s unique strength is its ability to collaborate. As a city, we know the value of relationship building,” Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation.
And no organization has driven this collaboration more than Chicago Innovation which recently celebrated its most successful In-Gala, themed “the Power of the CommUNITY,” held at the Bridgeport Art Center. Tanen told us about the milestone event and upcoming events for the Fall.
NetSuite’s Ranga Badla presents the Hall of Fame award to Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, with MC Luke Tanen
“We raised a record-high $375,000 and had nearly 500 people– luminaries, visionaries, innovators and leaders–attend. Honorees Chef Rick Bayless, CEO of Feeding America Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, and Co-founder and Co-CEO of Boka Restaurant Group Kevin Boehm were inducted into the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame. All gave inspiring speeches, all three are humble and kind people who acknowledged the many who have helped them along their way.
“At the end of his speech Kevin Boehm, who has opened 40 restaurants in the past 30 years, called on the audience to acknowledge one thing: that we all need to be kinder to one another. Bayless stated that it was great that the event was held in Bridgeport, not downtown or in the West or South Loop, and how we have to work towards a diverse tapestry showcasing all parts of the City. Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, who is head of the largest public charity in Chicago, said that the people she looks up to as innovators are the people that Feeding America serves because they’re so resourceful in feeding their families.”
Businesswoman and philanthropist Christie Hefner presents the Hall of Fame award to Rick Bayless, with MC and CEO Luke Tanen.
What’s a typical day like for Luke Tanen, who has been driving Chicago’s innovation ecosystem forward for the past 15 years? He told us:
“Alongside everyone on the Chicago Innovation team, I always try to be a connector of ideas and people. I try to be a champion of people in the Chicago region who are taking risks and solving problems by providing them with a platform to tell their stories. I also try to help leaders and companies become more innovative. Our Chicago Innovations Fellows program with Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management is a case in point. We’re currently recruiting 15 people for our second cohort from mid to larger organizations to join this innovation-focused leadership development program. These are high-potential leaders who will be learning from world-class Kellogg faculty and Chicago Innovation Award winners in order to elevate their knowledge and networks, and fuel more innovation at their organizations as well.”
“In 2002, our co-founders Tom Kuczmarski and Dan Miller created Chicago Innovation because they were tired of Silicon Valley, New York and the Coasts getting all the credit for innovation. They knew that we have great innovators here in Chicago, so they started the Chicago Innovation Awards to be their champions and cheerleaders.”
Chicago Innovation Ladders program mentee Mario Gonzalez at the In-Gala.
Darcy Evon, former CEO of The Village and founder of the Ageless Innovators Program with Chicago Innovation, speaks at the In-Gala.
Sahar Alkhatib, teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, talks about the power of the Illinois Student Invention Convention
All funding raised from the In-Gala fuels Chicago Innovation Foundation’s key programs that advance its “Innovation is for everyone” vision, including the Women Mentoring Co-op, the Climate Change Initiative, Ageless Innovators which champions intergenerational sharing of ideas, The Ladder which supports Latine and Black innovators in advancing their careers, and the Illinois Student Invention Convention, which educates, connects and celebrates K-8th grade student inventors.
“The Chicago Innovation community prides itself on its diversity. It’s our greatest strength. People join us from big companies, startups, for-profit and non-profits. We encourage all to tell their own stories, and we are there promoting and cheering them on,” Tanen said.
Climate innovator Joanne Rodriguez
Barry Jean Fontenot, who starred in this season of NBC’s The Voice, performs to open the event
Chicago Innovation will hold its 24th annual Chicago Innovation Awards on November 13th to recognize 20 winners at the UIC Forum. On September 9th, Chicago Innovation is convening the 315 nominees in the running for the 24th annual Awards. These nominees cut across all industries, from large corporations to startups, for-profits and non-profits. Held at Venue West, the event welcomes all to come and learn about the innovative work of the nominees.
On October 8th, Chicago Innovation, The Second City and World Business Chicago co-host a new event called The Complete Innovator, focused on the skills that people need today to become the innovators of tomorrow. The event features speakers discussing the need to develop “core skills,” such as emotional intelligence, relationship building and storytelling, as well as the “technology skills” that are most in-demand, especially embracing AI to be more effective and productive.
Adedunla Akerele-Ale, a mentee in Chicago Innovation’s Women’s Mentoring Co-op
Co-hosts of the In-Gala celebrate an innovative and record-breaking evening
For further information visit: chicagoinnovation.com
