Chicago Auto Show Partners with Technori Pitch Event for 2013 Show
November 28, 2012
The Chicago Auto Show features big names such as General Motors, Toyota and Ford, but in 2013, they’ll also be featuring some of Chicago’s technology startups like SpotHero, the creators of an app that helps people find parking in Chicago.
As the largest auto show on the continent, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space, the Chicago Auto Show hosts multiple world and North American vehicle debuts.
For the first time, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago Auto Show, announced plans to bring Technori Pitch to the 2013 Chicago Auto Show Social Media Preview Feb. 8 at McCormick Place.
Technori Pitch is a monthly event at which Chicago's most innovative companies have the chance to pitch their latest technologies before an audience of entrepreneurs, executives, and enthusiasts.
This year, Chicago entrepreneurs will take the stage at the Social Media Preview to present their automotive-related innovations to manufacturers and media alike.
"Technology is continuously evolving and sparking change within the automotive industry," said Michael Ettleson, Chicago Auto Show chairman.
He added, "By bringing the Technori Pitch event to the Social Media Preview, we're able to provide Chicago entrepreneurs with a powerful platform to reach key influencers, as well as fuel conversation around new technologies that may be industry game-changers."
The Technori Pitch event will open with a keynote from Howard Tullman, founder of Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, a premier digital arts college and venture with Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Enterprises.
Then, four hopeful businesses will have five minutes each to pitch their innovation to the audience. Directly following each pitch will be a three-minute Q&A session during which the audience submits questions directly from their mobile devices.
Those four lucky startups scheduled to present include parking convenience pioneers, SpotHero and FasPark; auto repair estimate app Body Shop Bids; and budgeting tool Motozuma.com.
"Startup companies have become a global phenomenon, each with the opportunity to become much greater than the sum of its parts," said Seth Kravitz, CEO and co-founder of Technori.
He added, "The Chicago Auto Show is a perfect partner to help us achieve our goal of positioning Technori Pitch participants in front of an influential crowd, and we applaud show organizers' efforts in supporting local Chicago startups."
The Social Media Preview will be open to Chicago Auto Show credentialed media and the general public and will have a strong focus on technology and social media.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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