Retired Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent Barbara Eason-Watkins was honored Nov. 20 as the latest John H. Davies Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest.

It wasn’t her first time receiving one of the Society’s awards. Society of Innovators CEO Jason Williams said Eason-Watkins was honored in 2013 as an inductee, 2016 as a fellow and in 2020 as part of a team.

She earned one of nine of the awards presented Nov. 20.

School district spokeswoman Betsy Kohn called Eason-Watkins “the textbook definition of an innovator.”

“She is truly an extraordinary educator,” said former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a video played at the luncheon. “She's always thinking outside the box. She's always finding ways to help kids who need the most help. She refuses to say ‘no,' and she refuses to accept any excuses for kids not learning.”

“You set a standard that all of us trying to try and reach every single day,” Duncan said.

“We would hope there would be someone like that in all of our organizations,” said Maggi Spartz, Unity Foundation of LaPorte County president. “You are an amazing leader and a perpetual innovator.”

Eason-Watkins gave credit to the team who worked with her throughout her career.

“I can tell you during my 50-year career there were some people who would say, ‘She wakes up with some nightmare ideas,' but they've made those things happen,” she said.

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana

The Richard C. Sussman Award for Team Innovation went to Food Bank of Northwest Indiana for its OrderAhead refrigerated lockers to deliver food at the convenience of individuals and families facing food insecurity in Lake and Porter counties.

President and CEO Victor Garcia said health care providers and other food banks across the country have expressed interest in the idea.

Five of these banks of lockers have been deployed with a sixth on the way.

Team members include Garcia, Julie Anderson, Steve Mehmert, Tricia Sheaks and Diane Wortz.

ArcelorMittal Global Research & Development Center

ArcelorMittal Global Research & Development Center in East Chicago received a team award for finding a simple yet elegant solution to coil “sagging, a problem unique to certain grades of high-strength steel for the automotive industry.”

Instead of trying to prevent the coil from sagging, they allow it to sag and correct the problem with installing inexpensive cradle rolls where the steel coil exits the hot strip mill. The coil is then rotated to solve the problem.

The solution has been deployed in seven hot strip mills around the globe, saving close to $60 million.

Members of the team include Gleyson Barbosa, David Colbert, Evgueni Poliak, Henry Williams and Joe Xiao.

Erosion & Construction Solutions Inc.

Merrillville-based Erosion & Construction Solutions Inc. received a team award for its Siltworm product. Siltworm is a rolled sediment filtration device using recycled wood waste to trap 97% of the sediment that passes through it. By deploying a Siltworm barrier around a construction site, erosion is limited and water runoff from the site is kept cleaner.

Team members include DJ Moore, Tiff Arcella, Ben Landis, Mike Lorenzo, Joe Moore and Scott Shelton.

Kidstuff Playsystems

Gary-based Kidstuff Playsystems was honored for creating KidsVision, a modular series of themed commercial playground systems for children ages 2 to 5. The KidsVision series can be adapted to almost any theme while keeping the same basic format of three decks, ADA transfer module, three panels and three “play events,” meaning slides or climbing equipment.

“It’s an innovative pattern; it’s a great pattern. We’ve got them all over the United States,” CEO Richard Hagelberg said. “A lot of people don’t even know we’re here in Northwest Indiana.”

The 42-year-old company’s playground equipment has been placed at schools, parks, childcare centers, HOA’s and churches in all 50 states and more than a dozen countries.

Team members include Hagelberg, George McGuan and Ed Rodriguez.

Tyamo Okosun

Purdue Northwest’s Research Associate Professor Tyamo Okosun is an individual inductee for his work at the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation at PNW’s Hammond campus.

He was honored for the integrated virtual blast furnace, which uses multiple components and technologies for 3D modeling that explore a variety of “what if” scenarios. His research is aimed at development methods and technologies to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, minimize carbon emissions and improve process stability.

Kristin Burton

Kristin Burton, assistant professor of entrepreneurship at PNW, was honored with the Advocate for Innovation award for her work focusing on creating inclusive, equitable opportunities for emerging ventures. She advises startups throughout the Region on growth strategies.

Through initiatives like the Big Sell Competition, Burton mentors and coaches local entrepreneurs to help them refine their business pitches and possibly secure venture capital.

Krissy LaFlech

Munster High School business teacher Krissy LaFlech received the Advocate for Youth Innovation award for her role in Northwest Indiana’s youth entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem not only at Munster but also the broader community.

She teaches entrepreneurship to over 150 students, including the new venture development class. LaFlech runs a business incubator program where students develop and pitch ideas in a “Shark Tank” format.

IronWorkz Corp.

Gary-based Ironworkz is a nonprofit business incubator helping empower minority students and small businesses in Northwest Indiana with a special focus on Gary.

“IronWorkz is transforming the entrepreneurial landscape in Northwest Indiana by fostering creativity and collaboration across generations,” Williams said. “They believe in bringing entrepreneurs of all ages together, recognizing that innovation thrives when people learn from one another. Their unique approach has successfully engaged participants ranging from ages 9 to 73 in shared spaces where they collaborate, exchange ideas and build together.”

IronWorkz provides the tools, resources and support to help entrepreneurial dreams become reality.

Team members include Faith Spencer, Emmani Ellis and volunteers.

Society of Innovators board chair Gary Johnson said a $500,000 READI grant has boosted youth entrepreneurship in Northwest Indiana. The Innovate WithIN program had 600 applicants here, of which only 10 could be sent to the state competition.

“There are many applicants that deserve recognition, so we would like to start a regional competition,” Johnson said. “We think that that new competition for students to share their ideas will provide the motivation and additional recognition that many of them so richly deserve.”

The Society is also developing a mentorship platform to connect classrooms with community business leaders and innovators.

“We think many of those mentors will come from past inductees into the Society,” he said.

Johnson acknowledged U.S. Sen. Todd Young for sponsoring the CHIPS and Science Act, “game-changing legislation to return the U.S. to leadership in semiconductors and to promote innovation through science.”

Young offered remarks by video.

“In America, we've always believed in the power of the individual, the belief that with hard work and ingenuity and a commitment to excellence anyone can achieve great things,” Young said. “The principles of innovation, self-reliance and entrepreneurial mindset are what have made our nation a global leader for nearly 250 years.”