Austin, TX (PRWEB) November 06, 2013
The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business has announced recipients of the 2013 Innovation Awards. Recipients received their John David Valdez custom designed awards during the Friday, Nov 1st Innovation Gala ceremony hosted by the McCombs MSTC Alumni at the Driskill Hotel in Austin, TX. The annual Innovation Gala celebrates leadership and excellence in innovation, wealth creation, and growth. "By highlighting the importance of technological innovation, the awards are also meant to inspire future generations of innovators," stated President of McCombs MSTC Alumni Ryan Miller. "We recognize those individuals who have made lasting contributions to change the world through innovation and substantial contributions to strengthening America’s role in leading technological innovation and transformation on the world stage."
The Dr. George Kozmetsky Distinguished Achievement Award "Kozmetsky Coin" honors an individual whose on-going contributions have significantly affected the state of innovation. Dr. Kozmetsky started over 100 high-tech companies, authored 23 books and countless papers, served on numerous corporate boards, and was a sought-after public speaker. He was the first recipient of M.I.T.’s Entrepreneurial Achievement award and in 1993 President Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Technology award, the nation’s highest honor to America’s leading innovators for technological achievement.
Dennis Haggerty is this year’s recipient of the Dr. George Kozmetsky Distinguished Achievement Award. Ever the champion for innovation, Dennis Haggerty is known for turning around failing manufacturing companies into thriving businesses that are changing the landscape of the manufacturing industry. To this end, Haggerty has pioneered an unconventional solution for a conventional industry developing innovative approaches through customer driven manufacturing solutions.
The Dr. Gary Cadenhead Distinguished Achievement Award "Cadenhead Coin" honors an individual whose contributions over time and demonstrated leadership have substantially impacted innovation and wealth creation throughout the world. Dr. Cadenhead has had a lifelong involvement and distinguished contributions in innovation, intrapreneurial, and entrepreneurial activities that have fundamentally changed the way entire generations think and experience life. His substantive work at Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of California at Santa Barbara and now as Director of the MSTC Program at the University of Texas, has garnered Dr. Cadenhead many honors including the prestigious Top Ten Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year recognized by the Kauffman Foundation.
Dr. Donna K. Kidwell is this year’s recipient of the Dr. Gary Cadenhead Distinguished Achievement Award. The work of Donna Kidwell is fostering transformative online experiences, impacting the way entire populations at home and abroad consume knowledge and create wealth. As a result, Kidwell’s pioneering programs provide critical business wisdom and innovation readiness. She has developed platforms that have reached over 85,000 franchise agents and 2,000 scientists in over 10 countries. Her current work is helping to bring an understanding of drug development to consumers and scientists worldwide through MOOCs and efforts to bring innovation online education into South Africa.
The ceremony encompassed renowned leaders in technological innovations selected by McCombs; this year’s distinguished speakers included Peter L. Denagy, Former General Manager for Samsung Telecommunications America; Kris Looney, President of Emergent Technologies, Inc; and Jason Seats, Investor and most recently Managing Director of the TechStars Cloud program.