Wi-Tronix co-founders honored

Chicago’s Daily Herald Business Ledger has selected Wi-Tronix co-founders Lawrence (Larry) B. Jordan, Jr. and Michael (Mike) Heilmann to receive the 2015 Entrepreneurial Excellence Award in the Innovation category.

Jordan, President, and Heilmann, Executive Vice President, started  Wi-Tronix in 2004 “with a vision to bring remote monitoring to the rail industry,” the company said. “Today, their innovative idea has led to more than 9,000 high-value mobile assets being monitored around the world.”

The award recognizes suburban Chicagoland business leaders “who demonstrate the best qualities of an entrepreneur, including perseverance, drive, business creativity and willingness to take risks,” the Business Ledger said. The honorees were selected from nominations of business leaders from suburban Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois.

The Innovation Award is presented to nominees who “transform the entrepreneurial dream into the reality of a tangible product or technology that will solve a problem is the first defining benchmark of entrepreneurial success. This award recognizes the best innovation-based products, technologies, systems or practices,” according to the Business Ledger. Other award categories include Early Stage, Growth, Lifetime Achievement, Outstanding Service to Entrepreneurs, Regional Spirit and Young Entrepreneur (under age of 40).

Jordan and Heilmann will accept their awards at a reception on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Naperville Campus of Northern Illinois University.