The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the 9th Annual Kruesi Award for Innovation. This prestigious award is presented each year to the local company that best exemplifies the inventive spirit in business.
The deadline for entries is December 15, 2008. The preliminary application process has been streamlined so that companies are asked to submit nothing more than a paragraph describing the innovation and its impact. A team of facilitators will help companies complete the more detailed entry form needed for the judges' consideration.
Companies which have developed an innovative idea that resulted in a creative new product, service or way of doing business are encouraged to apply for the award.
The Kruesi Award recipient will be announced during the Chamber's Spirit of Innovation Award event next spring at the Convention Center.
"Innovation underpins our competitiveness," said Tom Edd Wilson, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber. "Through this award, we've found a way to identify and recognize the best examples of innovation. This event is intended to draw attention to the most creative and inventive companies and individuals in our region."
The award selection committee approaches the definition of "innovation" in the broadest sense, Mr. Wilson said.
"They look for new technologies and new ways of doing things," he said. "These innovations may originate on the manufacturing line, in the research lab, the marketing department, the training room, or the board room. Some innovations reflect a major breakthrough. Others result from an accumulation of small developments. All innovations influence positively a company's performance, productivity, quality or competitiveness."
The Kruesi Award application may be accessed by logging on to www.chattanoogachamber.com and choosing "Nominations & Surveys."
For more information, please call Lindsay Hiatt at 423 763-4337 or email her at lhiatt@chattanoogachamber.com.