CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Last night the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) revealed the winners of its 2018 CityLIGHTS Awards. The ITA CityLIGHTS Awards, with presenting sponsor Deloitte, is the premier annual event that celebrates and honors achievements from the local tech community.
Because of the rigorous and balanced judging process, the awards have become a strong indicator of future success. Not including last night's honorees, CityLIGHTS award winners have amassed $53.4 billion in exits, $1.1 billion in IPO and $3.5 billion in venture capital.
"This year's winners symbolize the unbelievable success the Chicago tech sector has attained in the last decade," said ITA CEO Julia Kanouse. "Even as Chicago tech has gained national notoriety, the CityLIGHTS Awards remain crucial in celebrating the achievements that are reshaping our economy and driving Chicago's future forward."
Congratulations to the 2018 winners:
CityLIGHTS Industry Champion: Presented to the company or individual who actively and consistently supports the growth of the Illinois technology industry through leadership and/or collaboration.
CEO of the Year: Presented to a CEO who has successfully scaled their company through outstanding leadership, ability to attract and retain talented resources, financial accomplishments and the implementation of strategic growth opportunities.
- Amanda Lannert, CEO, Jellyvision
Industry Disrupter: Presented to the company that has developed or introduced an ingenious, non-traditional, and innovative product or service that has significantly disrupted its industry.
Lighthouse: Presented to the growth-stage company, (more than $25 million in revenue) that, through innovation in products, services, or business approach, has grown to become a serious competitor in the marketplace.
Prominent Woman in Tech: Presented to a preeminent woman in the local industry who has championed a leading role for her female peers by supporting their growth and prominence in the industry.
- Colleen Egan, Director of People, Culture & Endless Possibilities, Clarity Partners LLC
Outstanding Company Culture: Awarded to the company that has instilled a high-performance culture in their workplace by encouraging employees to take their career to the next level, fostering diversity and inclusion, and are committed to positively contributing to the community.
Rising Star: Presented to the company with the strongest potential to emerge as a leader in the technology industry ($5 to $25 million in annual revenue).
Technologist of the Year: Presented to the individual whose talent has championed true innovation, either through new applications of existing technology or the development of technology to achieve a truly unique product or service.
- Adam McElhinney, Chief of Machine Learning & AI Strategy, Uptake
Thank you to the 2018 presenting sponsor: Deloitte; premier sponsors: Armanino, Gogo, Hyde Park Angels, Madison Dearborn Partners, OneSpan and Silicon Valley Bank; VIP reception sponsor: Lantern Partners; opening reception sponsor: Redbox; wine sponsors: Cognos HR and Imagineer; and photo-booth sponsor: Neighborhoods.com.
About ITA
The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) scales Illinois tech companies. With innovative resources that allow members to collaborate with each other, build their talent networks and elevate their local and national presence, ITA is the region's strongest advocate for fostering innovation and growth. Founded in 2005 and supporting 500-plus growth-stage tech companies, ITA has a rich history of driving business forward. For more information, visit illinoistech.org, follow @ITAbuzz on Twitter or find us on LinkedIn.
SOURCE Illinois Technology Association
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