The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has announced the applicants for the third annual James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award. The 2014 applicants are both innovative and diverse in many ways. Some are using technology to create efficiencies in “old time” industries. Others are revolutionizing the field of UI/UX and operational development by working with social physiologist to understand human behavior and apply it to commerce. 
The award is given in honor of the late James Tyree, who served as Chairman for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Tyree was an advocate for the community, dedicating his time and talents to numerous organizations and causes in support of health care, education and children.
His surviving wife, Eve M. Tyree, serves as Chairman of the Board of the James Tyree Foundation. The foundation was created to honor the memory and continue the legacy of her husband of 15 years.
The companies will be evaluated based on their civic and charitableinvolvement, company leadership, growth and scalability. Finalists will be judged in-person by a panel of judges consisting of Eve Tyree; Anil Ahuja, President of CCJM; and John Rico, President of Rico Enterprises. The award will include a $25,000 cash prize in addition to valuable business training and consulting services donated by Chamber sponsors.
2014 James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership Award Applicants:
• AKTA
• Ale Syndicate
• AlgoFast
• Angel Flight Marketing Services
• Blue Daring
• Built in Chicago
• Child's Voice
• Deneen Inc.
• Des Plaines Office Equipment
• DevMynd Software
• Dig Right In Landscaping
• Dreams For Kids
• Employee Resource Systems
• Project HUGS
• Opcon Inc.
• Pajj Boutique & Salon
• Shades of Green Building Services
• SMB Help Desk
Previous winners of the award are Jim Alvarez, CEO of AuctionsByCellular, and Matt Matros, Founder and CEO of Protein Bar.
About James Tyree
During his tenure as CEO, Jim Tyree led Mesirow Financial to exceptional levels of growth in all areas of the business. Among the 50 acquisitions completed during that time are firms such as Stein & Company, a premier real estate organization; Near North Insurance Brokerage's Chicago office and Dann Insurance, two leading insurance agencies; and the U.S. Corporate Recovery practice from KPMG. Throughout his career, Jim served on more than 50 corporate, civic and not-for-profit boards of directors. He also served as chairman of Sun-Times Media Holdings, a media firm that publishes 58 newspapers and corresponding websites, including The Chicago Sun-Times. In 2007, he was appointed to the board of PrivateBancorp, Inc., a publicly held commercial bank.
Contact
Greg Stevens
Manager of Strategic Partnerships
312.494.6772
gstevens@chicagolandchamber.org