Judging

A local and a national panel of judges participate in the process of selecting the semifinalists, finalists and final winner. See the list of national judges and local judges.

Judging is as much an art as a science. The following criteria is evaluated for each award applicant in judging:

• Is the innovation real, not hypothetical? Has it been implemented in some way?
• Based on the narrative in the application, is the actual innovation understandable, supplemented by any optional attachments? Do you need any other information?
• Is the innovation central, not marginal, to the fortunes of the applicant?
• Does the innovation represent a competitive advantage? Are there barriers to entry for would-be competitors?
• Alternatively, could the method that led to this innovation serve as a learning model for other (non-competing) sectors?
• Is the source of the innovation well grounded in the Chattanooga region? That is, is it based on the knowledge and skills of locally based individuals or physical assets?
• If the innovation is subject to some form of intellectual protection, has the applicant taken steps to secure that protection, or are there good reasons not to do so?
• Would the story behind the innovation, if told in regional and national news media, be a representative reflection of the strengths of the Chattanooga region?
• Does the innovation have the potential to attract investors, partners, and/or customers?
• Are the advantages of the innovation measurable, if not necessarily quantifiable?

National Judges
Richard C. Adams, Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio
Michael Camp, PhD., Vice President, Research on Catalyst Communities, Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Kansas City, MO
Rob DeRocker, Executive Vice President, Development Counsellors International New York, NY
Stephen L. Dickerson, Professor Emeritus, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA
Jeff Finkle, President/CEO, International Economic Development Council, Washington, DC
David Gresham, Vice President for Industrial Design and Innovation, Steelcase, Inc., Caladonia, MI
Jan Haerer, Director of Technology Transfer and Economic Development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Dr. Lee Martin, Managing Partner, Clarity Resources LLC, Knoxville, TN
Art Molella, Director, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Tom Rogers, Executive Director, Tennessee Technology Development Corp., Oak Ridge, TN
Deborah Wince-Smith, President, Council on Competitiveness; Proxy by Judith Phair, Washington, DC

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Local Judges
Tim Andrews, Executive Director, Business Development Center
Dr. Jim Barrott, Associate Vice President of Technology and Dean, EE&ET and IT Divisions, Chattanooga State Technical Community College
Kingsley Brock, Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Dept. of Economic and Community Development
Dr. Richard Casavant, Dean, UTC College of Business
Ray Childers, Chattanooga Manufacturers Association
Dr. Brian Fikkert, Director, Chalmers Center for Economic Development, Covenant College
Doug Johnson, Attorney, Miller & Martin, Intellectual Property Section
Kevin Lusk, Technology Reporter, Chattanooga Times Free Press
Judy Mogul, Studio Arts, Sculptor of Spirit of Innovation Award
Lee Schilling, Executive Vice President, Collins & Aikman Floorcoverings (2001 SOI Award-winning firm)
Henry Schulson, Director, Creative Discovery Museum
Amy Walker Cherry, Special Assistant to the Mayor on Business and Industry
Ann Weeks, Principal, Signal Design Group

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