In continuing its tradition of innovation, the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the winners of the 2010 Acadiana Innovation Awards. "The chamber is committed to building an eco-system that supports innovative ideas such as these. The goal is to provide an environment to nurture ideas into marketable products that create jobs and wealth. These award winners are examples worthy of emulation,” said Chamber President & CEO, Rob Guidry.
Public Sector - National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies Institute -- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The National Incident Management Systems & Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute was conceived as a "national-scale” research institute, based on the experiences of researchers at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the devastations caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The Institute's research team accomplishes its national-scale mission through research into public-private partnerships, and by establishing best-practice linkages between government and industry stakeholders at all levels and across all critical infrastructure sectors. The team focuses on analyses of critical infrastructure and supply chain interdependencies in an overarching effort to minimize the loss of life and impact on economy. The NIMSAT Institute is working on many projects that contribute to the overall innovation within the community and the state.
Private Sector - Frank's Casing Crew and Rental Tools, Inc -- 1250 Ton Drill Pipe Spider and Elevator
The Frank's 1250 Ton Elevator and Spider are the first-ever drill pipe handling tools in the industry to boast a safe working load rating greater than 1000 tons..This is beneficial to Acadiana because of the fact that Frank's main headquarters is located here in Lafayette. This technology that is used around the world, was developed, manufactured, and tested here in Lafayette, by local workers.
Bob Miller, Vice Chairman of the Innovation Division, announced the winners of the awards during the Chamber's Annual Banquet held on Thursday, January 20th at the Cajundome Convention Center. Ramesh Kolluru accepted the award for NIMSAT and Jeremy Angelle & Robbie Thibodeaux accepted the award for Frank's Casing Crew.
Other Innovation Award finalists included:
Affinity House Calls for nurse practitioner-based medical house calls
Apex Innovations for interactive, online education tools for healthcare
The Schumacher Group for innovative analytics in emergency medicine
The Chamber established the Acadiana Innovation Awards to help build upon its long-term goal of perpetuating a "Community of Innovators." The award is designed to educate, celebrate and inspire the people of Acadiana to create the transformational changes found in an economically and culturally thriving community. Please contact the Chamber's Marketing Relations Specialist, Carley Ste. Marie, carley@lafchamber.org or by phone at 337-408-3655 with any questions about the award.
