The EC Annual Awards Luncheon Recognizing Leadership In Innovation, Technology And Corporate Citizenship

CHICAGO, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today, The Executives' Club of Chicago hosted its Annual Awards Luncheon with more than 700 business leaders in attendance. At this program, the winners of the Innovator of the Year, CIO of the Year and Corporate Citizen of the Year awards were announced.

The Corporate Citizen of the Year recognizes an individual or company for outstanding contributions to the Chicagoland community in areas such as the environment, education, veterans' initiatives, workforce development, or governance. Amy Francetic of Clean Energy Trust has been chosen as our 2014 Corporate Citizen of the Year.

Amy Francetic of Clean Energy Trust was selected for her work leading the Midwest's premier clean energy business accelerator.  Francetic leveraged the Midwest's world-class research institutions, major corporations and venture capitalists to foster this thriving clean energy ecosystem. 

"The Executives' Club has helped advance corporate engagement and civic leadership in Chicago for over a century, and I am truly honored to be worthy of recognition by The Club," said Amy Francetic, CEO, Clean Energy Trust. "The Clean Energy Trust could not have succeeded in organizing the regional energy ecosystem and elevating the profile of local entrepreneurs and researchers without the support of the region's blue chip corporations and the generosity of our board of directors. We are fortunate to be working in a city that prides itself on building a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations."

Since 1998, The Executives' Club of Chicago, together with The Association of Information Technology Professionals and Society of Information Management Chicago, has recognized technology leaders with the CIO of the Year Award. Selection considers leadership in driving business value and technological innovation, business partnerships and creating best in class workplace for IT professionals. Congratulations to S. Yvonne Scott of Crowe Horwath LLP and Brian Hedberg of Health Care Service Corporation – our 2014 CIO of the Year awardees.

S. Yvonne Scott of Crowe Horwath LLP has served as Chief Information Officer at Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the largest public accounting and consulting firms in the United States, for the last six years.  One of Scott's most notable accomplishments was the conceiving of and delivering of the firm's external client portal - a secure, internet-based document gathering and collaboration tool.

Brian Hedberg of Health Care Service Corporation is responsible for all of HCSC's technology and is focused on delivering operational excellence and innovative enterprise solutions in a rapidly changing environment. His leadership has enabled the IT organization to partner closely with the business to deliver critical work that makes the difference to HCSC's customers.  

The Innovator of the Year is awarded to a company whose new product, service, process or business model has resulted in organic growth and measurable economic benefit to the region. This award emphasizes and strengthens connections between emerging companies and the established business community, which is one of the primary objectives of the Club's Innovation Council. The EC is proud to announce LanzaTech is our 2014 Innovator of the Year.

LanzaTech, listed as one of Forbes "Most Promising American Companies" is revolutionizing the way the world thinks about waste carbon by treating it as an opportunity instead of a liability.  Using waste carbon streams as a resource, they provide innovative and economic routes to sustainable fuels and chemicals. By reducing the impact of carbon emissions from industry, LanzaTech estimates that its products decrease greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% when compared to equivalent products derived from fossil fuels.

Awardees were chosen based on a nomination process and formal application. Nominees need not be a member of The Executives' Club, AITP or SIM, but must work in Chicagoland. Nominations for the 2015 awards open in December 2014.

About The Executives' Club of Chicago:
The Executives' Club is Chicago's premier membership and business forum.  For more than one hundred years, The Club has been a valued resource for Chicago's business leaders - connecting members, and providing opportunities for strategic relationship development, access to intellectual exchange and world class speakers, and enhanced exposure to the global business community. Through its Global Leaders, Women's Leadership, Chicago CEO Series and other programming, The Club brings together business, civic and academic leaders from all industries to discuss strategies that address challenges and opportunities affecting Chicago and the world. For more information on The Club, visit www.ExecutivesClub.org.

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SOURCE The Executives' Club of Chicago