Wisconsin innovation leaders to be honored at 'Ideas to Profits' conference

September 10, 2009

Four Wisconsin innovation leaders will be honored for their outstanding work in promoting entrepreneurship and supporting inventor and entrepreneur clubs this year at the Oct. 1-2 "Ideas to Profits" Conference.

The annual conference is sponsored by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC) at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and will be held in Wisconsin Dells at the Chula Vista Resort.

The Innovation Champion awards are presented to individuals who have had a significant impact on entrepreneurship in Wisconsin. "All of these people have contributed to economic development within the state and for that we applaud them," said Ronald Gayhart, director of the center.

The 2009 Innovation Champions are:

• Steve Sengstock, executive director of Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. This economic development organization creates jobs by fostering business start-ups, supporting expansion of existing businesses and attracting new businesses to the region. Since 2002, Sengstock has been a leader in economic development by creating strong partnerships with agencies that share the mission of creating jobs and building communities.  He has played a large role in building a network of successful small businesses within Shawano County.
• Pam Owen, manager of the NanoRite Innovation Center and a business and industry representative for Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire. Developed with entrepreneurial and applied research needs in mind, the NanoRite Innovation Center offers a unique approach to product development. It was built to accommodate the development of business start-ups for nanotechnology, microfabrication and other advanced technologies. Owen builds awareness of the center's capabilities, establishes connections for technology- based businesses within the incubator and builds collaboration across resources in northwestern Wisconsin and beyond.
• Randy Hulke, executive director of the Discovery Center at UW-Stout, Menomonie.  By integrating UW-Stout's applied research strengths, its faculty, staff and students, and its relationships with community and industry leaders, the Discovery Center creates collaborative partnerships and provides leadership for innovation-based and knowledge-driven solutions for businesses, student learning, and economic development. Hulke provides leadership and direction to the Discovery Center and a multidisciplinary collection of centers built around UW-Stout's polytechnic programs. The Discovery Center works with companies and organizations to enhance research and development efforts, develop innovative product design solutions and implement continuous process improvement techniques to enable businesses to compete globally.
• William Chaudoir, executive director of the Door County Economic Development Corp., Sturgeon Bay. Founded in 1989, the corporation has been successful in helping businesses create and retain thousands of jobs through a myriad of programs and initiatives. It hosts the Business Development Center, one of the most successful business incubators in Wisconsin. During his 20-year tenure as executive director of the corporation, Chaudoir has coordinated business retention, expansion and recruitment programs and has helped develop innovative programs in business incubation, entrepreneurial training, international business and workforce development.

The Innovation Champion awards began in 2005.  Since then, more than 30 individuals have been honored. 

The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center at UW-Whitewater is a national service that offers market research for inventors and manufacturers to help them make profitable decisions on product development and market expansion.  It has a national reputation as a valuable resource for inventors, manufacturers and engineers seeking objective research to identify the market potential for innovative ideas.

For information on the "Ideas to Profits" Conference, see wisc.uww.edu.