Contact Information: Contact: Lee Figora Senior Account Executive Ruder Finn +1.312.329.3978 figoral@ruderfinn.com
ITA Announces 10th Annual CityLIGHTS Award Winners
Nearly 1,000 in Illinois Technology Community Register to Vote for Nominees and Participate in Inaugural Selection Process
| Source: Illinois Technology Association (ITA)
CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - April 27, 2009) - The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) is
pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 CityLIGHTS Awards. The
awards, which honor outstanding information technology companies,
executives and advocates in Illinois, were presented to the winners at the
Association's tenth annual CityLIGHTS Gala on April 23 at Union Station.
The 2009 CityLIGHTS winners are:
-- CityLIGHTS Award: Given to an individual that has made a significant
impact on the Illinois technology community.
- Linda Darragh, director of
entrepreneurship programs, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship, University
of Chicago Booth School of Business
-- CEO of the Year Award: Given to the CEO who has driven his company to
new heights in the past year.
- Bill Conroy, president and CEO, Initiate Systems
-- Spotlight Award: Given to the CIO/CTO for leadership and outstanding
contributions in the application of information technology.
- Rich Holada, vice president, technology, SPSS, Inc.
-- Lighthouse Award: Given to the company that best represents the region's
growing stature as home to world-class information technology companies.
- SmartSignal
-- Rising Star Award: Given to the company that has emerged from its
start-up phase to distinguish itself in the technology marketplace.
- Aleri, Inc.
-- 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
For the first time in the ten-year history of CityLIGHTS, members of
Illinois' technology community helped determine winners in five of the six
award categories, with nearly 1,000 registering to participate and vote.
The flagship CityLIGHTS award was selected by ITA's board of directors.
"We received an overwhelming number of high-quality CityLIGHTS award
nominations this year and were floored by the support we received in
deciding the winners," said Fred Hoch, president, ITA. "The crop of 2009
honorees is an excellent representation of the outstanding contributions
Illinois' technology executives are making to the advancement of technology
around the globe and reinforces our state's position as a substantial
technology hotbed."
CityLIGHTS is the Midwest's premier technology-related award event and
Illinois' largest gathering of technology executives in the state. This
year's event drew more than 600 attendees.
Sponsors of the 2009 CityLIGHTS Awards include Platinum Sponsor Grant Thornton; Gold Sponsors Aladdin Knowledge Systems and McGuireWoods; and Event Sponsor SPSS.
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.