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/

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.

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!

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 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.”

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

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

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.

Newton, Galileo, Edison, Nobel, Pauling, Van Gogh, Picasso, Renoir…..you might expect to find protégés of the first four scientists at Elevance, but would it surprise you to find one of the three artists listed?

Our employees explored their artistic side by creating original works of art for display at Elevance’s new office location in Woodridge, Illinois. Individuals and teams were challenged to help decorate the halls of our new building.

Elevance provided the supplies and the employees and families provided the creativity and talent. The results were as varied and impressive as our team and provide a striking addition to our offices.

Contributions included The Catalyst & Chemicals Technology Team with the theme of Natural Transition; the Sales and Market Development Team work entitled Metamorphosis; our Application Development & IP Legal contributed Entropy; and members of our Leadership team (or their families) each contributed paintings.

It’s a pleasure to work with such talented people!