Lisa Anderson MBA, CSCP, CLTD president of LMA Consulting Group and chair for the Manufacturers' Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE)  Manufacturer's Summit E=mc² Innovation Awards,  a special award ceremony celebrating innovative businesses and students solving challenges in today's manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce the four category winners; Process Efficiency – CAI, Marketing – Adventure Cabins, Human Capital and Talent – Connect Products and People and Innovation by Students – Harvey Mudd College. Innovation Award candidates are judged on criteria based on which company or student demonstrates the most innovation and resulting benefits in improving resources or energy efficiency; employment and workforce issues; and effective marketing.

This year's Innovation Awards Committee consisted of experienced members with a combination of 100 years in the industry (both manufacturing and education) and deeply rooted in manufacturing success in the Inland Empire. Committee members included former chair and founding officer of MCIE Wallace Brithinee, president of Brithinee Electric, Kash Gokli, professor of manufacturing and engineering management, and the Director of Engineering Clinic in the Harvey Mudd College Department of Engineering and Innovation Awards Chair Lisa Anderson, president of LMA Consulting Group.

"We had a number of exceptional entries this year really showcasing their innovative talents in talent management, process improvement, marketing and, for the first time this year, innovation by students," shares Award Chair Lisa Anderson. "I'm always intrigued and proud of what innovation actually takes place here in the Inland Empire. This year did not disappoint, and I look forward to building on this success in the coming year."

Taking on a cultural innovation was the 2017 Human Capital and Talent Innovation Award winner Connect Product and People. "Connect's goals are to provide meaningful work to veterans and individuals with disabilities, equal pay for equal work, and to stop the exploitation of these tremendously talented individuals - require social responsibility," states Connect Products and People president, Jonathon R. Mills. "We are honored to be leading this change in culture and want to thank you MCIE for its support."

CAI President Kusum Kavia focused her organization on making the best use of all of its resources and it paid off with CAI being awarded the Process Efficiency Innovation Award. Says Kavia, "It is special to us because it comes from fellow manufacturers in our region."

Travis Saenz of Adventure Cabins expressed his appreciation for the Marketing Innovation Award, saying "Thank you to the MCIE Summit committee and members for presenting Adventure Cabins with the Marketing Innovation Award. Our company took on a new web-footprint and marketing strategy that is paying off."

New this year was the Student Innovation Awards recognizing the Harvey Mudd College students' contributions in partnering with Niagara Water to achieve significant results. "Students with no preconceived ideas of what works and what does not work can come up with great out-of-the-box solutions and innovations," Explains Kash Gokli, professor of manufacturing and engineering management, and the Director of Engineering Clinic in the Harvey Mudd College Department of Engineering. "We're excited that The Harvey Mudd clinic program, teaming up with industry, does 45 projects a year with a lot of innovation."

The 2018 Manufacturing Summit will be held next February. For more information, visit MCIE Website or cut and paste this link http://mfgcouncilie.com/homepage/.