TROY – Midwest Technology Leaders presented two awards at its sixth annual symposium held at the MGM Grand in Detroit ? the Midwest Collaboration and the Corporate Commitment to Michigan Awards.

Both awards honor companies and individuals who have made a commitment to furthering the region’s technology industry.

Cisco and Michigan schools and colleges received the 2010 Midwest Collaboration Award (MCA), an award created in 2005 to identify, create, support and honor impacting partnerships between Midwest companies and local individuals or groups.

This collaboration was honored for its role in providing over 19,000 Michigan students since 1999 with the knowledge to design, build, troubleshoot and secure computer networks in an attempt to increase access to career and economic opportunities in communities around the Midwest and the world.

Ann Arbor Spark and its collaboration in creating the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC) was also honored with an MCA. MLSIC has moved in 13 new start-up companies who directly and indirectly provide work for over 70 people. The tenant companies have secured over $65 million in venture capital, private equity, debt and grants funding to support operations for several years.

The 2CMICHIGAN award honors corporate individuals who actively participate in community relations, organizations and other philanthropic activities to promote a healthy, highly functional Michigan.

Denise Ilitch, Founder of Ambassador Magazine was honored with one of three 2010 Corporate Commitment to Michigan (2CMICHIGAN) Awards.

Ilitch has been an integral part of Detroit?s business and philanthropic communities for 30 years as a dedicated business leader, a devoted community servant, a supporter of many charitable causes, and a tireless advocate for women and children. Ilitch has served on the Boards of several civic, businesses, professional, charitable and civil rights organizations. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Branch NAACP. She served as a Detroit Red Wings Alternate Governor for the National Hockey League, and as a Board Member of Major League Baseball. Among her numerous awards and commendations are the B’nai B’rith International Great American Traditions Award and the Clara Barton Award from the American Red Cross.

Robert C. Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager, DPS also received a 2010 Corporate Commitment to Michigan (2CMICHIGAN) Award. Bobb’s efforts with Detroit Public Schools earned the successful passage, of a $500.5 million bond issue for use of Federal stimulus funds to build and/or modernize 18 schools, an enrollment drive that exceeded budgeted projections by some 900 students. The creation of Emergency Student Achievement Summer School Academies serving 34,000 children and retaining $30.5 million in Federal Title funds, restoring the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, and ratification of a new reform contract with the teachers union. Recently a pledge to have all Detroit children reading at grade level in third grade by 2015 resulted in the launch of the DPS Reading Corps, which has since attracted more than 4,750 volunteers from more than 130 jurisdictions who have pledged 545,000 plus hours of service to district pre-kindergarten students in one year.

Stephen McMillan, Chairman, President & CEO, Stryker Corp, the final winner of the 2010 Corporate Commitment to Michigan (2CMICHIGAN) Award was honored for his dedication to the Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce.

Nominations are submitted by the Michigan Business community and voted on through Midwest Technology Leaders’ executive board based on three categories including Innovation, Excellence and Action.

Open nomination for the 2011 awards will begin on July 1, 2010. If you would like to submit a nomination, please contact Midwest Technology Leaders at 248-275-1337.

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