The Illinois Technology Association chose its CityLights award winners last week. The awards are held annually “to celebrate the state's thriving technology ecosystem and highlight some of the advancements of the past year” according to a press release.
This year featured two new categories – and contained two of Inc. Well’s “Futures Exchange” members, Howard Tullman and Andrew Mason. The New Concept Award and the Best Strategic Use of Technology Award were added to recognize new ways technology is used and celebrated in the state, expanding from educational programs to non-tech industries (the CTA is on the list this year).
The 2011 Award winners are:
- CityLights Award: Howard Tullman, Flashpoint Tribeca Media Arts Academy
- CEO of the Year Award: Adam Caplan, Model Metrics
- Technologist of the Year Award: Dr. Mohammad Shahidehpour, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Newcomer Award: Tap.Me
- New Concept Award: MentorMob
- Rising Star Award: Aircell
- Lighthouse Award: Groupon
- Best Strategic Use of Technology Award: Chicago Transit Authority
This year, voting participation set a new record in 2011. Perhaps the city's new Mayor will think of hiring a tech czar, as his predecessor did in the late 1990s.
More information on the awards can be found here.
