CEC NAMES PATIENTIMPACT THE ATHENAPOWERLINK^® BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

PatientImpact, a leading software developer that serves the healthcare industry, specifically around patient satisfaction, received top honors at the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center’s (CEC) annual ATHENAPowerLink awards reception on June 4. Throughout the past year, a seven-member advisory panel consulted with Patricia Riskind, Founder and President of PatientImpact, to refine the company’s strategic goals to achieve significant business growth. The company has grown progressively since they opened their doors, including an increase of annual revenues by nearly 100 percent in the last year. The company’s current clients include Northwestern University, MinuteClinic, Concerta and Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH. In addition to their steadily increasing revenues, PatientImpact has doubled their staff and expanded their service offerings. This innovative company attributes much of their recent success to the CEC’s ATHENAPowerLink program. “Working with the CEC and my ATHENAPowerLink panel, PatientImpact focused its sales and marketing strategy, expanded its product offering, and doubled its revenues this past year, demonstrating that effective mentoring and guidance brings results,” said Riskind. Riskinds’s advisory panel was also recognized during the celebration for its efforts that helped PatientImpact achieve its goals through quarterly strategy sessions where she consulted with successful professionals from a variety of backgrounds including healthcare, banking, sales strategy, IP development and protection and fundraising. The following people served on the PatientImpact panel: Maria Burud, President, Zanon Group Andy Crestodina, Principal and Strategic Director, Orbit Media Studios Dee Farrell, Vice President, Sales for Neat-Oh! International Nik Rokop, Managing Director, the Knapp Entrepreneurship Center Cynthia Stevens, Senior Counsel, Foley and Lardner Nancy Sullivan, Office of Technology Management Director, University of Illinois Chicago John Weber, Senior Vice President, National City Bank, Now a part of PNC David Weinstein, President, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center “Patty has a vision for automating a process of the healthcare industry that is better, faster and more cost effective than current substitutes, addressing a serious pain point in the marketplace,” said CEC President David Weinstein. “PatientImpact has huge prospects for market leadership and it has been fun to watch the company grow.” A number of additional women-led technology companies participated in the CEC’s ATHENAPowerLink program through this past year. The CEC would like to recognize the following entrepreneurs as runner-ups for the 2009 Business of the Year Award: Jennifer Bertoglio of LawyerLink. LawyerLink leverages attorney talent and technology to streamline e-discovery, document review, and other data-intensive processes within the legal services supply chain. Traci & Brian Knudson of NogginLabs. NogginLabs develops custom, performance-based training software and curriculum for corporate clients. The CEC's ATHENAPowerLink program is a 12-month strategic development initiative that matches high-growth women-owned businesses with customized volunteer advisory panels to help them to accelerate business growth and reach new milestones. As a result of the program, client businesses average a 63 percent increase in revenues and a 44 percent increase in staff size. For more information on the CEC’s ATHENAPowerLink program, visit www.chicagolandec.org/athena.

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