-- CityLIGHTS Award: Given to an individual that has made a significant impact on the Illinois technology community. -- Linda Darragh, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship -- Anna Belyaev, Type A Learning Agency -- Jerry R. Mitchell, Midwest Entrepreneurs' Forum -- Shelley Stern, Microsoft Corporation -- CEO of the Year Award: Given to the CEO who has driven his company to new heights in the past year. -- George Burciaga, smarTECHS.net -- Bill Conroy, Initiate Systems -- Scott Etzler, InterCall -- Gregg Kaplan, Redbox -- Douglas R. Waggoner, Echo Global Logistics -- Spotlight Award: Given to the CIO/CTO for leadership and outstanding contributions in the application of information technology. -- Eric Dirst, DeVry Inc. -- Michael Fineberg, SurePayroll -- Rich Holada, SPSS Inc. -- Laurie E. Lasseter, WMS Gaming -- Deepak Singh, Adeptia Inc. -- Lighthouse Award: Given to the company that best represents the region's growing stature as home to world-class information technology companies. -- ArrowStream -- BigMachines -- SmartSignal -- Trustwave -- West Monroe Partners -- Rising Star Award: Given to the company that has emerged from its start-up phase to distinguish itself in the technology marketplace. -- Aleri Inc. -- Geckotech -- InXpo, Inc. -- MediaBank -- Open Kernel Labs -- Newcomer Award: Given to the company that has the strongest potential to emerge from its start-up phase and distinguish itself in the technology marketplace. -- crowdSPRING -- CTH Technologies, Inc. -- LifeSnapz, Inc. -- OptionsCity Software, Inc. -- Telemedicine Solutions, LLCCityLIGHTS is the Midwest's premier technology-related award event and Illinois' largest gathering of technology executives in the state. All Illinois companies and executives are invited to attend the event, which drew more than 700 attendees last year. Sponsors of the 2009 CityLIGHTS Awards include Platinum Sponsor Grant Thornton; Gold Sponsors Aladdin Knowledge Systems and McGuireWoods; and Event Sponsor SPSS. For more information, or to register to attend the event, please visit www.itacitylights.com About the ITA The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) represents the interests of a diverse membership of more than 550 companies in Illinois that create, deploy and utilize information technology as a core part of their organization. By connecting members with industry peers and participants, providing the latest strategic information, market research and critical market insight and by promoting key thought leaders to raise visibility and gain a greater market awareness and presence, ITA is focused on building and developing the Illinois technology community through collaboration. Additional information is available at www.illinoistech.org.
Contact Information: Contact: Margaret Plett Illinois Technology Association 312.924.1044 mplett@illinoistech.org