Thursday. What can we say? What a night. What a night!

We are still recovering and are thankful to everyone who came out to help us honor innovation in Savannah.  It was our second year, and wow - it was just as big (but not quite as wet) as last year, and still drew close to 500 of Savannah’s finest (YOU!).

(Having trouble viewing the slideshow? Check it out over at flickr.)

The Winners

For those of you who missed the big night (or the great follow-up coverage in the Savannah Morning News, Connect Savannah and Savannah Business Journal), we present the winners of the 2009 Innovation Awards!

In the Small Business category, Music Intelligence Solutions, Inc. (uPlaya) took home the gold for their interactive online services - including creative development, branding, social networking and discovery tools - for established and budding musicians and songwriters, producers, music supervisors, mobile distributors and anyone who has an affinity for music.
One of only a host of resources for musicians, producers, songwriters and consumers, uPlaya.com uses proprietary and patent-protected technology to produce immediate, scientific market analysis and popularity ranking prediction of music worldwide.

Hometown heroes Chatham Steel Corporation won the award for Big Buisness thanks to their innovative “Steel Fit” Wellness Program, designed to help improve employee health, thereby positively impacting company health care costs. Ten years after its inception, the Wellness Program has resulted in a total annual average health care cost per active employee that is 33 percent below the industry average, prescription drug expenses below the industry norm, 31 people covered under the health care plan quit smoking due to the affordability of tobacco cessation products, and a PPO utilization discount of $1.4 million.

In the highly competitive Community, Education and Government category, the Savannah Music Festival’s off-season communications initiative won the heart of the judges. The initiative has resulted in new media programs - such as online streaming of Savannah Music Festival (SMF) concerts - and the new use of technology for internal data management, which have more efficiently cultivated patron relationships, and streamlined production processes, allowing it to generate a 20 percent revenue growth in a down economy.

Newcomer Structured Green, LLC scored a big win at the Innovation Awards. The local leader in eco-friendly product design and manufacturing places heavy emphasis on community involvement, awareness and education. Their high-quality, green furnishings and installations infuse the distinct sustainable character of Savannah resources in manufactured signature pieces and trademark builds across the region’s commercial and residential markets. They’ve worked with local businesses, such as the Savannah Bee Company, Melaver Inc., SEED Eco-Lounge and SCAD, to develop state-of-the-art furnishings through “closed loop” processes to continue challenging conventional building methods and materials.

Last but certainly not least, Stephen J. Stephens, Jr. of Stage Front Presentation Systems took home the prestigious honor of the Howard J. Morrison Leadership Award. Past HJM Award winners collectively decide who the next winner will be. The award honors an individual who exhibits outstanding commitment in Coastal Community leadership within the advancement of creativity, innovation or technology through his/her partnership building and collaboration-oriented contributions. Such contributions may be business, civic and/or educational in nature.

Finally, we have so many to thank for helping us make last Thursday possible.

Our Sponsors

Truly, we could not do this without you!  In fact, it is your support that allowed us to lower the ticket price again this year.  

First and foremost, Lott+Barber our title sponsor. You guys are our “early adopters.”  You joined us late in the game last year and you’re still with us today. Thank you for leading the way and setting the standard.

For the first time ever, this year we offered Award sponsorships, actual sponsorships for each award given. Several companies stepped up right away.

For Small Business, the Small Business Assistance Corporation.

For Big Business, Georgia Power.

For Community, Education & Government, AT&T.

For Sustainability, Paragon Design Group.

Thank you for supporting our organization and business community in such a meaningful way.

We must also recognize and thank our GREEN sponsors. Their contribution represents their great commitments to the future of this city.  They are:

• Banker Optical Media
• Catamount Constructors
• Connect Savannah
• Cordasco, Sundem & Powell, P.C.
• Energy Launch Partners
• Georgia Ports Authority
• Georgia Tech Savannah
• Gulfstream Aerospace
• Herty Advanced Materials Development Center
• Hunter Maclean
• Jim Goodlett & Jimi Meuse
• Memorial University Medical Center
• Savannah Economic Development Authority
• Seed Eco Lounge
• Stage Front Presentation Systems
• Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
• Smack Dab Studios
• Southern LNG
• South Magazine
• The Southern Environmental Law Center.

Finally, thanks to the people who helped secure this impressive list of sponsors — Lynn Pitts, Mike Polak, Howard Morrison, Steve Stephens and Rick Winger.  We are forever in your dept for  coming through once again in a less-than-favorable economy.

Our Judges

One of the most important things to know about the Innovation Awards (and one of the things we inherited from the CBETA Technology Awards that preceded it) is an independent panel of judges.

Like last year, we have a star-studded cast of expert judges that toiled over almost 100 applications in 4 categories.

• State Representative Ron Stephens
• Craig lesser, former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, now Managing Partner of  Pendleton Consulting Group
• Retired CFO/business consultant/angel investor Gordon Matthews
• UGA Small Business Development Center Area Director Lynn Vos
• WTOC General Manager Bill Cathcart
• SCAD Professor of Graphic Design and Sustainable Design Scott Boylston
• Executive Director of the US Green Building Council (GA Chapter) Leesa Carter
• And a 2008 winner, Union Mission President/CEO Michael Elliott

Our In-Kind & Volunteer Supporters

This event is a fund-raiser and any money raised is invested by the TCCa advisory board in ways it deems most important to the fulfillment of the TCCa mission. Money raised at last year’s event supported the Savannah Science Seminar, the Savannah-Ogeechee Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Savannah’s Engineering Academy and local middle and high school robotics competitions.

With that perspective, it is no surprise then that volunteer efforts, discounts and donations are vital to any success achieved.  So, there are some other very special people who deserve our thanks. 
 
Ariel Janzen and Brightwhitespace
Thank you for stepping up to do the program again this year.  Thanks also to Fillup Carter and Spanish Moss printing for giving us a deal on the printing!

Jim Carswell and Spy Hop Productions
Jim, thank you so much for stepping in at the last minute to take on the role of MC. We know Rick Winger (president of SEDA), who has done it (for what? five years or something?) is particularly grateful. 

Diana Morrison, Chairwoman of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and President of Advertising Specialty Services
Diana, you ROCK. Your help with the awards trophies was fantastic. Thanks for getting down and dirty with us to hunt for used car scraps at Newell Recycling. (And don’t think it didn’t cross my mind that I was dumpster diving with the Chairwoman of the Savannah Chamber, because it did. I’m just sad I don’t have pictures.)

Howard Paul and Benedetto Guitars
For those of you that don’t know, Howard is the CEO of Benedetto Guitars and was the guy next to Ben Tucker who was playing the verrrry pricey guitar.  Howard, thanks for continuing to lend your exceptional talents to the Innovation Awards.

Jerry Lancaster & Port City Metals
Jerry, what can I say?!  Thank you for taking off your Saturday to bend, weld, sculpt and polish recycled car intestines into these amazing awards.  (For those of you who know Maria Lancaster at the Savannah Music Festival, Jerry is her husband.)  Maria, we can only assume that you’re house is rarely in need of repairs.

Len Cripe & Trustees Theater
Len, thanks for your support of the event and your generous donation of the 2 free GOLD Film Festival passes for tonight’s raffle. You and your staff were WONDERFUL and we are very grateful for all your cooperation and assistance.

Carson Company, SCAD and Safeway Scafolding
The Saturday before the event we realized that the Jen Library (on which we had planned to project video during the cocktail reception) was blanketed in scaffolding. From head to toe.  With great support and teamwork from all involved — The Carson Company, The Savannah College of Art and Design facilities director, Stage Front Presentation Systems and the scaffolding company itself (Safeway, out of Jacksonville) — we were able to make the scaffolding work for us, and not against us.  Thank you!!

Stratton and Mary Leopold, Darryl Siddel and Leopold’s Ice Cream
Darryl, thanks for the crash course in ice cream making and our special take on mint chocolate chip — “Mintovation??”.  New knew ice-cream math was so dang hard??

Mike Ayres of Structured Green and Ruel Joyner of 24e
Thanks to you both for coming through in the clutch once again.  The conversation areas outside look like only you could make them look. 

Bobby Newell & Newell Recycling
Bobby, thank you for allowing us to use your recycled car scraps for our fantastic awards trophies tonight.  They are truly one-of-a-kind because of it.

Paragon Design Group
Susan, Drew and Phil - we’ll still be thanking you when we’re all dead and gone.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your hard word and generous time and effort for this year’s awards animation and graphics.  

Kendell Wayner and Ranco Tents
Thank you for working with us to make sure we had ample “weather insurance.”  I know we all slept a little better this year knowing that even if it did rain again this year, our guests wouldn’t go home too soggy.

Steve Stephens, Paul Mazo and Jon Carter of Stage Front Presentation Systems
You guys always make  eveything look good, even scaffolding. Thank you for your generous support and making this look like a “real live awards ceremony.”

Yvonne, Tommy and Shannon James
Yvonne, your wrangling of Lynn, Rick, Mike and Howard was epic. Tommy, thanks as always for contributing even more whacky ideas to the mix than we do.  And Shannon, you are the best judge herder there is.  Thank you for helping us make sure our expert judges felt comfortable and get their scores in on time.  We’re also very grateful to Shannon James LLC for the sponsoring of the judges attendance this evening. Every little bit helps…

The City of Savannah
Once again the City is a stand-out.  Assistant City Manager Chris Morrill, Revenue Director Buddy Clay, Sean Brandon. You have no idea what it takes to close a street or serve alcohol outside until you have tried to do it.  These guys helped us every step of the way.  As they always do!

Tammy Ray & The Detail Department
This year we decided to hire an event coordinator to help with logistics, and it was the best decision we’ve ever made.  Thank you for catching every ball I even thought about dropping and adding considerably to a general sense that “everything will be ok.” 

Last but not least, the TCCa Staff (and semi-staff!) and SEDA Staff
The whole TCCa staff came out in full force once again this year, helping to make 2009 run a bit smoother than 2008.  Thanks to Brynn, Leigh, Jamie (and Summer!) for helping us make this year the best one yet.  Katie, Amanda, Ann and the whole SEDA crew also came through in the clutch as always.  THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Well, I think “That’s all folks.”  See everyone next year!!

Popularity: 12% [?]