11/17/2006

Innovation and the creation of new products are fundamental to success in today’s business environment. Entrepreneurs, business expansions and new ventures all depend upon the introduction of new products to remain competitive.

The Business School’s New Product Innovation Competition was established to encourage students and alumni to turn their new product ideas into a commercial reality. Where most business schools hold business plan competitions, the Sawyer Business School is the first business school to develop a “New Product Innovation Awards” initiative.

Over 25 groups consisting of students and alumni of the Executive MBA and Global MBA programs entered competition. All entries were evaluated by an expert panel of judges from Motorola, Netezza, Merrill Lynch, Silicone Valley Bank and Amerivault Corporation.

Each group competed for one of three cash prizes--1st prize: $3,500
2nd prize: $1,000, 3rd prize: $500, to further their new product idea.

Mr. Art Fry, the legendary innovator of the Post-it Note Pads was the keynote speaker. 

And the Winners are...

1st Prize:  $3,500.00
Product:  EMBA 900 Chair - A portable multi-purpose deck chair with front tray
Innovators:  Ed Cunnally, Kevin Morris, Joanna Trainor, Emily Bugbee, and Kamaraj Arockiasamy (Executive MBA students)
 
2nd Prize:  $1,000.00
Product:  CTM (Close To Me) - Alerts parents when their child has moved beyond a pre-set area
Innovatiors:  Lisa Hachey, Tom Santos, Jim Landary, Charu Deodas, and Wallace French (Executive MBA alums)
 
3rd Prize:  $500.00
Product:  Insulin Voyager - A portable refrigeration system for diabetics
Innovators:  Lorenzo Petruzesiello, Marie Texier, Isa Perez, and Erik Raynor (Global MBA alums)  

In his concluding remarks, Professor Sushil Bhatia, innovator and event organizer said that all Suffolk students--undergraduate, graduate and law will be eligible to participate in next year’s competition. For more information contact Professor Bhatia at sbhatia@suffolk.edu.

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