Chicago Innovation Judges
Each year, our expert panel strives to build a balanced portfolio of Chicago area companies, both large and small, for-profit and not-for-profit, that best represent the results of a sustained commitment to innovation.

Michael Arndt
Executive Vice President & Executive Editor, Edelman

Ellen Barry
Former CIO, Metro Pier and Exposition Authority

John Berschied
Former Head of R&D and Innovation S. C. Johnson Co., Alberto Culver Co., and Church and Dwight Co.

Hardik Bhatt
GM of Smart Cities & Transportation, Amazon Web Services

Kristi Dula
Deputy Director, Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology at DCEO

Ron Gleason
Director of News and Programming, WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9 FM

Michael Krauss
President, Market Strategy Group

Tom Kuczmarski
Co-founder, Chicago Innovation; President, Kuczmarski Innovation

Dan Miller
Co-founder, Chicago Innovation

Maura O’Hara
Executive Director, Illinois Venture Capital Association

Orlando Saez
Founder, Aker

Gary Slack
Chairman & CEO, Slack and Company

Will Towns
Executive Director, Benefit Chicago

Leslie Vickrey
CEO & Founder of ClearEdge Marketing; Co-founder of ARA