Ivy Tech Community College Northwest and The Society of Innovators announced the 31 new Members of The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana to be inducted at the 9th Annual Innovators Induction Ceremony at the Horseshoe Casino, Hammond Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013.
“We are proud of all of our new members who exemplify the twin pillars of creativity and innovation,” said O’Merrial Butchee, Director, Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, Ivy Tech Northwest. This year’s Fellows and Chanute Prize recipients are selected from among the new and existing members of The Society of Innovators.
Each year, The Society of Innovators – a project of the Lamkin I & E Center – seeks nominations of the most innovative people in our region, Butchee said. Nominations come from Jasper, Lake, La Porte, Porter, Newton, Pulaski and Starke Counties. The two categories for membership are for individuals and teams.
Society Individual Members:
The 16 new individual members are: Julie Bombacino, Just Food Blends, Chesterton; Mike Falk, PE LS, Falk PLI, Portage; Nina Fonstein, Ph.D., retired scientist, ArcelorMittal Global R&D Center, East Chicago; Lisa Hopp, Ph.D., RN FAAN, Purdue University Calumet; Micky Gallas, Tip Tee Toe Ladies Golf Shoes, Long Beach; Don Keller, Tri-State Industries, Hammond; Kathleen Kane, SNS, Michigan City Area Schools; Chris Mahlmann, Ideas in Motion Media; Valparaiso; Adela Ortega, Professional Locomotive Services, East Chicago; Michelle Robinson, YOUnique Yoga, Schererville; Mayor Keith Soderquist, Lake Station; Joshua Deboer, Tech Team 911, Dyer; Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, Superintendent, Michigan City Area Schools; Barb Tracy, Marilyn’s Bakery, Hobart; Bonnie Trout, European Market, Chesterton; and Lana Zimmer, Ph.D., Hoophouse Farming Eduventure, Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer.
Society Team Members:
The new 15 team members also being inducted are: The Homelessness Prevention Internship Team, Gary; Lake County Community Transition Court Team, Crown Point; Beyond the Beach Discovery Trail Team, Indiana Dunes Tourism, Porter; GLC NASA –
ARISS Contact Experience Team, Gary Literacy Coalition, Gary; Dunes Creek Daylighting Team, Indiana Dunes State Park; Quality Patient Safety Strategic Initiative Team, Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital; 2020 Vision: From Diesel to Natural Gas Team, Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete, Inc., Gary Division; South Shore Clean Cities, Crown Point; South Shore Civil War Memorial Trail Team, South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority; Nature in My Neighborhood Team, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; Kemin /Lambert Spearmint Team, Kemin Food Technologies, Inc., & Ed Lambert Jr., Lambert Bros., LLC, North Judson; Porter County Veterans Treatment Court, Porter County PACT, Inc.; Innovative Technology for Better Patient Care, Prompt Ambulance Service, Highland; and Take 5 for Life Program, Community Healthcare System and Community Hospital Fitness Pointe; and Tuskegee Airmen, EAA Young Eagles Program at the Gary/Chicago International Airport, Chicago DODO Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.