UA President Luis M. Proenza, left, receives the Smart Business magazine Visionary Award from Frank Bloomquist, regional vice president of sales for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
For a decade, University of Akron President Luis M. Proenza has vigorously advocated economic leadership through innovation; development of a regional economic identity for Northeast Ohio; and increased collaboration among communities, academia, government and industry.
For his achievements, Smart Business magazine presented Proenza with a Visionary Award as part of the 2008 Innovation in Business Conference on Sept. 18 in Westlake, Ohio.
History of innovation
Proenza is a clear example of whom the award committee seeks to honor each year — executives who have demonstrated a history of innovative ideas through their careers or have developed processes or procedures that are on the cutting edge, says Dustin S. Klein, executive editor for Smart Business.
The magazine honored a number of leaders with Visionary and Rising Star awards during the conference.
"This year's Visionary and Rising Star honorees represent an impressive group of forward-thinking business and community leaders," Klein says. "The diversity of the organizations represented in the class of 2008 is a testament to the level of innovation being plied at established companies, start-up firms, nonprofits and universities in Northeast Ohio. At a time when the bulk of the news being reported about the region can be negative, it's time to shine a light on the depth and breadth of the positive things that are happening. At least from our vantage point, the future of this region seems bright, indeed."
Leadership regionally and nationally
As chief executive officer of The University of Akron and through his leadership positions with numerous national and state organizations, Proenza has been a strong advocate for regional unity and identity, and boosting economic development throughout Northeast Ohio.
By initiating or expanding more than 600 partnerships with businesses throughout the region, the university has fostered strategic regional cooperation in economic development. Proenza's leadership has resulted in the creation of technology transfer and workforce development programs such as:
- the Medina County University Center;
- collaborations with companies such as PolyOne, RPM, Timken and Diebold; and
- multiple educational partnerships with numerous colleges and universities including Cleveland State University, Youngstown State University and Lorain County Community College.
Under Proenza's leadership the university has successfully undertaken many major programs, including a $500 million New Landscape for Learning campus enhancement initiative, and the University Park Alliance, which is revitalizing a 50-block area in the neighborhoods surrounding campus.
Nationally, Proenza is a member of the Council on Competitiveness, where he serves on the Executive Committee and the National Innovation Initiative (NII) Advisory Committee, co-chairs the Regional Leadership Institute Steering Committee, and chairs the NII Working Group on Intellectual Property. In 2001, Proenza was appointed to serve on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Proenza is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and sits on the board of the State Science and Technology Institute.
Other Smart Business Visionary honorees were:
- Jon Ratner, Forest City Enterprises Inc.;
- Dennis Roche, Positively Cleveland;
- Mike and Dave Catan, Darice (Pat Catan's);
- Chuck Fowler and Jenniffer Deckard, Fairmount Minerals Ltd.; and
- Steve Peplin, Talan Products.
Rising Star honorees were:
- Laura Bennett and Alex Krooglik, Embrace Pet Insurance;
- Scot Rourke, OneCommunity;
- Adam Roth, StreamLink Software; and
- Richard Adamany, Crestwood Partners LLC dba Swiss + Tech Products.