The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest's 20th anniversary induction will include 11 different organizations.
Since 2005, the Society of Innovators has inducted 537 innovators, and recognized 75 fellows and three Lifetime Achievement award winners.
“For 20 years, the Innovators Awards have celebrated the people and ideas that shape Northwest Indiana’s future,” said Jason Williams, CEO of the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest, in a press release. “This year’s honorees carry that legacy forward, proving that innovation is not a moment but a movement that continues to grow stronger across our Region.”
Individuals and teams were nominated and a selection committee determined winners based on whether the innovation offered a new solution, benefited society and created value that can be measured. Advocates are recognized because they “embody the mission of the Society of Innovators to champion innovation in Northwest Indiana.” Innovators must also live or work in Northwest Indiana.
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest Class of 2025 includes:
Champion of Innovation Inductee
- Jose G. (Lupe) Valtierra: Community development educator, Purdue Extension in Lake County in Crown Point
Team Inductees
- Earthwise (Valparaiso): Innovation: Thriva, the end-product of Earthwise's proprietary system that transforms cow manure into organic nitrogen fertilizer. Team Members: Scott and Annmarie Severson
- WJOB (Hammond): Innovation: JEDtv Sports Network, a 24-hour channel to broadcast small college and high school sports. Team Members: Ben Cowart, Jim Dedelow, Peter Kruowski and Sam Michel
Individual Inductees
- Sean Liu (Valparaiso) – Founder and CEO, PingCares. Innovation: PingCares, a senior-focused smartwatch that combines emergency response, wellness monitoring, and social connection into a single, affordable device, unlike traditional medical alert buttons.
- Joseph Podgorski (DeMotte) – Founder, Chicago Additive. Innovation: AMOS line of 3D Printers
Advocate for Innovation Inductees
- Angie Nelson Deuitch (Michigan City) – Mayor, City of Michigan City
- Gloria “GoGo” Morris (Saint John) – Lead AI Specialist/Consumer Packaged Goods, Google
- Economic Development Corp. Michigan City (Michigan City) Team Members: Karaline Cartagena Edwards, Liliana Franco, Tristan Gaston and Clarence Hulse
Advocate for Youth Innovation Inductees
- Kristina Fleming (Cedar Lake) – CTE business teacher, Hanover Central High School
- Debera Hinchy (Lowell) – CTE business teacher, Lowell High School
- Eric Sera (Munster) – Business teacher, Munster High School
The inductees will be honored during the Society's annual awards from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Avalon Manor Banquet Center in Merrillville. Brian Schutt, director of Indiana’s office of entrepreneurship and innovation, will offer the keynote speech.
Learn more about the Society of Innovator's 20th year in a special section in the October-November issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.
