Innovation can come from anywhere.

History and milestones

Twenty years of seeing what others overlooked.

The Society of Innovators was founded in 2005 through the vision of John Davies, who believed Northwest Indiana needed to see itself differently.

When John first came to the region, he heard young people speaking about how eager they were to leave. He made a personal commitment to celebrate Northwest Indiana and discover the great things happening here. As he traveled across the region, he continued to encounter people creating new products, improving organizations, solving community problems and finding better ways to serve others.

Innovation already existed here. Few people were talking about it.

That became the Society’s founding insight and its original model: find innovators, tell their stories and celebrate them publicly. By discovering, honoring and celebrating innovators, the Society could make their work visible, encourage others and help build a stronger culture of innovation throughout Northwest Indiana.

From the beginning, the Society looked beyond conventional definitions of who could be considered an innovator. Recognition extended across the region’s seven counties and included people working in manufacturing, education, healthcare, technology, the arts, economic development, nonprofit organizations, public service and community leadership. Individuals, teams, entrepreneurs, advocates and established organizations all had a place in the Society’s story.

This inclusive approach helped establish one of the Society’s foundational beliefs: anyone can be an innovator, and innovation can come from anywhere.

The Innovators Awards became the Society’s signature platform for sharing these stories. The awards helped people see that innovation was not limited to Silicon Valley, research laboratories or emerging technology companies. It was happening in Northwest Indiana’s factories, classrooms, hospitals, studios, small businesses, nonprofits and neighborhoods.

The Society became an eye-opener for the region. It introduced innovation into Northwest Indiana’s vocabulary and helped build a greater sense of possibility and regional pride. By celebrating both legacy industries and emerging ideas, the Society demonstrated that innovation could honor where the region had been while helping shape where it was going.

As the Society grew, its work expanded beyond recognition. Innovators Cafés, workshops, public conversations and regional events created opportunities for people to meet, exchange ideas and learn from one another. The Society increasingly served as both an advocate for innovation and a connector within Northwest Indiana’s developing innovation ecosystem.

In 2018, Innovators Northwest Indiana incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization, adopted bylaws and formed a board of directors. The organization received federal recognition as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2019. During this period, the Society began an eight-year chapter housed at Purdue Northwest that expanded its visibility, strengthened regional partnerships and created new opportunities for programming.

A new strategic plan in 2019 positioned the Society to contribute more directly to Northwest Indiana’s economic and community development. The Society continued celebrating established innovators while exploring how innovation skills, stronger connections and shared knowledge could help more people turn ideas into meaningful change.

In 2022, the Society received a major READI grant to lead the development of a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem across Northwest Indiana. That work grew from a pivotal question: If we want more innovators to recognize in the future, what role should we play in developing them?

The answer moved the Society from recognition alone toward a broader model of activation. Through SparkED, the Spark Series, educator resources, student experiences and connections with entrepreneurs and mentors, the Society began helping young people see themselves as innovators. These efforts give the next generation opportunities to develop creativity, confidence, connections and the skills needed to move ideas into action.

In 2026, the Society announced that its chapter housed at Purdue Northwest would conclude and that it would begin 2027 as a fully independent regional organization. This transition represents both a return to the Society’s roots and the beginning of its next chapter.

Today, the Society carries forward the belief that inspired its founding: innovation already exists throughout Northwest Indiana, but communities must help people believe, meet and create. We remain committed to discovering and celebrating the innovators shaping the region today while helping develop the problem solvers Northwest Indiana will recognize tomorrow.