Blog
Edison Award
We’re pleased to be recognized recently with a 2013 Edison Award, which honors the best in innovation in the development of new products and services. The Elevance biorefinery was voted a silver winner in the material science category for processes. The ballot of nominees was judged by a panel of more than 3,000 peers, including business executives, past winners, academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medicine. Learn more about the Edison Awards and other innovations at http://www.edisonawards.com/winners2013.php
“Chemical” Is Not a Bad Word
At Elevance we are striving to improve on how things are done in the chemical industry. While there’s plenty of space for improvement in our industry, its also always good to remind everyone how important “chemicals” are to us all. This article from Scientific American does a very good job. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2013/03/08/chemical-is-not-a-bad-word/
Elevance Ranked #4 in Biofuels Digest “30 Hottest Companies in Renewable Chemicals and Biobased Materials”
Elevance recently ranked #4 in the Biofuels Digest “30 Hottest Companies in Renewable Chemicals and Biobased Materials.” The rankings were based on a voting system that recognized innovation and achievement in biobased chemicals and materials development, and Biofuels Digest tallied more than 300,000 individual company ratings by invited international selectors, subscribers and Twitter voters.
Elevance was also ranked on the Biofuels Digest “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” at #31.
To see the Biofuels Digest “30 Hottest Companies in Renewable Chemicals and Biobased Materials” for 2012-2013, visit the following link: http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/biobased/2012/10/30/the-30-hottest-companies-in-renewable-chemicals-and-biobased-materials-for-2012-13-are-announced/
To see the Biofuels Digest “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” for 2012-2013, visit the following link: http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2012/10/30/the-50-hottest-companies-in-bioenergy-for-2012-13-are-announced/
Elevance Named Finalist for the Chicago Innovation Awards
Elevance was recently named as one of 75 finalists for the annual Chicago Innovation Awards. The distinction recognizes Elevance from the 380 nominations that were submitted this year.
Celebrating its 11th year, the Chicago Innovation Awards is the only organization in the country dedicated to honoring the most innovative new products and services brought from a specific region and celebrating the creative spirit of the Chicago region by honoring its most innovative new products and services. The winning organizations are large and small, for-profit and not-for-profit, high tech, low tech and no tech, but they are all tied together by their commitment to innovation.
With this recognition, Elevance is recognized alongside other Chicago companies such as Crate and Barrel, Redbox, Motorola and Allscripts.
Summer Update
Where did summer go?
It was very busy summer at Elevance – hard to believe we are already headed into fall.
In June, we welcomed 10 summer hires to provide support to the Woodridge offices. Students from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University, Iowa State University and Northwestern University gained valuable work experience ranging from Technical Development and Engineering to Accounting.
In July, Elevance was also pleased to be awarded with a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award by the Environmental Protection Agency.
We also celebrated our first anniversary at the Natchez, Mississippi facility with our employees there and several community leaders. Over the past year, the Elevance Natchez team produced more than 10 million gallons of product.
In August, Elevance also held its annual employee Family Picnic, inviting colleagues and families to spend some casual time together. The picnic had bounce houses for children, ice slushies and games and activities for both adults and their children.
The children even showed their parents a thing or two about catching fish in the pond behind out building – every kid that tried caught a fish; the parents were less successful.
And congratulations to Michelle Xheka and Don Baldwin, our 2012 Bean Bag champs and Erica Meyer and David Kelsey our runners up!
Jeffery Duncan Featured in Life Science Leader
Jeffery Duncan, vice president of intellectual property for Elevance, was recently featured in Life Science Leader in an article about why and how companies should reassess and adapt their patent strategies in light of changes resulting from the America Invents Act that will take final effect next March.
Duncan’s article discusses the amendments to Section 102 under the American Invents Act that dramatically change long-standing provisions concerning the principles of novelty and prior art. The amended Section 102 adopts a first-inventor-to-file approach commonly found outside of the U.S., thus departing from the first-to-invent patent system that has been unique to the United States. Duncan’s article discusses the changes to Section 102 and the course of action that life science companies should take to be prepared for them.
“The America Invents Act spells big changes in U.S. patent law. Those life science companies that depend on protecting their research and their intellectual property for the success of their business, should study it and adapt their patenting strategies accordingly — or risk losing valuable patent rights,” said Duncan.
For more information on Jeffery Duncan’s article, please visit http://www.bioresearchonline.com/doc.mvc/why-life-sciences-needs-reassess-their-us-patent-strategies-0001
Elevance Ranked Among Chicago’s Most Innovative Companies by Crain’s Chicago Business
Elevance was recently mentioned as one of Chicago’s Most Innovative Companies in Crain’s Chicago Business.
Elevance was ranked 14th in patent quality and 9th in per capita output.
“Patent Quality Scores” were determined by which were most likely to be retained by companies that issue them. “Number of Total Employees per Patent” was determined by the number of patents per capita output.
We are pleased to be listed along side large, technically savvy firms including Boeing Co., Abbott Laboratories and Motorola. See the entire article and list here: “The Eureka Index.”
2012 Summer College Hires
In what is hopefully a new annual tradition, Elevance welcomed ten 2012 Summer College Hires to the team this past month. Each summer hire is either related to or was recommended by an Elevance employee. The students represent a number of universities, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Illinois State University, Iowa State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Northwestern University. They will be working on projects providing valuable support in our Woodridge office and receiving valuable work experience in return.
We look forward to an excellent summer working with:
Cameron Mitchell – Accounting
Connor Firth – Application Development
Lizzie Bebel – Corporate Development
Jessalyn Lafrenz – Human Capital
John Denlinger – Market Development
Lauren Shafer – Wax Team
Matthew Schmidt – Technical Development & Engineering
Michael Mortimer – Technical Development & Engineering
Sean Crowley – IP Legal
Susan Mazurek – Technical Development & Engineering
Elevance Celebrates One Year in Natchez, Mississippi
Earlier this month, Elevance celebrated its one-year anniversary in Natchez.
The year has experienced many milestones, including:
- Producing over 10 million gallons of product - filling over 1,100 trucks and unloading approximately 30 barges
- A significant capital project - have begun the installation of our first capital project, a $1 million dollar investment to upgrade an area of the plant
- 24/7 plant operation – we ran the plant in continuous operation mode – something that had never been done at the site before and a critical step toward operating as a biorefinery
Elevance is grateful for the hospitality and the warm welcome we have received. We are already enjoying being an involved member of the community through participation in the Natchez River City Run and giving presentations at local community colleges on the importance of science and engineering jobs. We are proud to be in Natchez and thank the community and local leadership for their support.
Congratulations to our Natchez team for their accomplishments in this first year!
Natchez Anniversary Guests – left to right: Chandler Russ, Natchez, Inc. John Harvey – Elevance VP Manufacturing Darryl V. Grennell, Natchez, Inc. K’Lynne Johnson – Elevance CEO Sue Stedman, Natchez, Inc. Chris Hinson – Elevance VP Jake Middleton, Mayor of Natchez Benny Jeansonne – Elevance VP
Elevance Renewable Sciences Receives EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award
Elevance was named a recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2012 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards today in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The EPA selected Elevance for its work using metathesis catalysis to produce high-performing, green specialty chemicals at advantageous costs Members of Elevance’s leadership team attended the ceremony in D.C. to accept the award on behalf of the company.
Back (L to R): Robin Weitkamp, Elevance; Tim Gilligan, Elevance; Brian Pease, Elevance; Brady Dreyer, Elevance. Front(L to R): Jake Middleton, Mayor of Natchez, Mississippi; Chandler Russ, Executive Director, Natchez, Inc.; K’Lynne Johnson, CEO of Elevance; Darrell Grinnell, President, Board of Supervisors, Natchez, Inc.; Donde Anderson, Elevance
The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge was established to recognize and promote innovative chemical technologies that prevent pollution and have broad applicability in industry. The Program recognizes individuals and organizations on a national level for successfully researching, developing, and implementing outstanding green chemical technologies.
Elevance is honored to be recognized by the EPA for this prestigious award and we thank our strategic partners and development team for working with us to bring technology and innovation to the marketplace.
For more information on Elevance’s 2012 Presidential Green Chemistry Award recognition, please visit http://www.elevance.com/media/news-releases/elevance-renewable-sciences-named-recipient-of-epa-presidential-green-chemistry-challenge-award.
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