MOMENTUM AWARDS DINNER

The CEC launched its annual Momentum Awards Dinner in 2008 to honor the early-growth stage entrepreneurs who have demonstrated success since their inception and are poised for continued growth. The award recognizes rising entrepreneurial stars in alternative energy, consumer products and services, and information technology for the new media, financial services and healthcare markets — similar in profile to the CEC’s existing client base. Entrepreneurs who have demonstrated momentum and have found ways to “rev it up” will be nominated by the CEC and recognized at our annual event. Every year the CEC will honor finalists spanning a range of industries and recognize one of them with the Merrick Momentum Award, sponsored by Merrick Ventures, at the event. The event also honors an Entrepreneurial Champion, a prominent and successful member of the business and entrepreneurial community.

Save the Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010

Time: Reception 5:30 pm – Dinner 7:00 pm
Location: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park
Contact: Scott Issen, 312-494-6734
RSVP to: Christy Sherding, 312-553-2000

Register Today

2010 Momentum Awards Dinner

Entrepreneurial Champion Award

The Entrepreneurial Champion Award honors a prominent member of the business and entrepreneurial community who not only is successful in their own business ventures, but is also concerned with the success of their surrounding entrepreneurial community and each individual in it – giving his or her time and experience to help others succeed.

2010 Entrepreneurial Champion - Richard Melman

Richard Melman is Founder and Chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago-based corporation that owns over 80 restaurants nationwide. The restaurant business has been Melman's life work, beginning with his early days in a family owned restaurant, and later as a teenager working in fast food eateries, at a soda fountain, and selling restaurant supplies. After realizing that he wasn't cut out to be a college student, and failing to convince his father that he should be made a partner in the family business, Melman met Jerry A. Orzoff, a man who immediately and unconditionally believed in Melman's ability to create and run restaurants. In 1971 the two opened R.J. Grunts, a hip burger joint that soon became one of the hottest restaurants in Chicago. Here Melman and Orzoff presented food differently and with a sense of humor, creating the youthful and fun restaurant which was a forerunner in the trend towards dining out as entertainment that swept this country in the early '70's. Read more

2010 Merrick Momentum Award

Merrick Momentum Award

The Merrick Momentum Award honors entrepreneurs on the long road between successful start-up and well established enterprise. The award recognizes the entrepreneurial stars from all industry segments that have demonstrated momentum since their inception and are poised for continued growth.

2010 Merrick Momentum Awards Finalists

Contact Information:

Scott Issen
(312) 494-6734
scott@chicagolandec.org