The Edison Awards is thrilled to bring its annual event to Fort Myers, Florida, April 21-23, 2021. The conference will begin Wednesday evening with an opening reception at the former winter home of Thomas Edison. Thursday will be a day of educational sessions and conference activities, culminating with the 2021 Best New Product Awards™ ceremony and gala in the evening. Enjoy a relaxing day on Friday with a tour at the Edison and Ford Winter Estate.

Note: Schedule details are subject to change.
Want to get a flavor for what you'll experience at the 2021 events?
Visit our Photo Galleries for a peek at past events.

The Edison Awards is committed to hosting a safe event during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please visit our Covid-19 page for responses and policies at participating facilities.

April 21
Welcome Reception


An opening reception will be held at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on on Wednesday, April 21st, the evening before the 2021 Edison Awards. All registered guests are invited to attend. Get to know fellow attendees and start cultivating connections. In the long history of the Edison Awards, we've seen many new collaborative relationships arise following a chance meeting at one of our events, leading to fruitful and profitable new ventures. We encourage you to participate and make the most of the experience.
Suggested Attire: Business Casual. Keep in mind that event is outdoors.

A trolley will run on a loop from the Luminary Hotel to the Edison Ford Winter Estates for entirety of this event. Pick up the trolly at the valet area at the Luminary Hotel.
Trolley Timing: 4:30-8:30PM



April 22 (Daytime)
Meet the Innovators Forum & Innovators' Showcase


Celebrate Earth Day at Babcock Ranch, an innovative new town that sets a whole new standard for sustainable, responsible growth. Participate in executive-level networking and presentations involving a spectrum of innovators and experts with topics ranging from water to space. Connect with your fellow innovators and view nominated products and services included in the Innovators' Showcase. Award-winning journalist Miles O’Brien will host the daytime events and Edison Achievement Award honorees Jennifer Holmgren and Reinhold Schmieding will speak. Suggested Attire: Casual. Note that SW Florida is very warm and this is an outdoors event.



7:30 a.m.
Registration Check-in Opens
All physical attendees of the 2021 Edison Awards must be registered by April 16th. If you are unable to join the audience in Fort Myers, attend our virtual event. The Meet the Innovators Forum will be presented live on April 22, 2021.
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Shuttle from the Luminary Hotel to Babcock Ranch/Continental Breakfast
Continental Boxed Breakfasts available at the The Silver King Restaurant (located in the lobby of the Luminary Hotel) starting at 6:30 a.m. Buses will depart from the Luminary Hotel at 7:45 a.m.
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome / Intro to Innovation in Southwest Florida

Edison Awards Steering Committee Member, Clinton O. Robinson will introduce the daytime host, Miles O'Brien, who will give us his opening remarks on innovation in Southwest Florida.


Miles O'Brien, Journalist, PBS NewsHour, CNN, NOVA View Bio
Clinton O. Robinson, Associate Vice President, Black & Veatch View Bio
8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Panel – Future of the Space Economy
Kevin DiMarzio, Vice President, Business Development, Redwire View Bio
Dale Ketcham, Vice President Government & External Relations, Space Florida View Bio
Samer Elhoushy, 9th Grader at The Weiss School, Palm Beach Gardens, FL;
Student Co-Investigator of the NASA-selected CapSat-1 mission View Bio
9:30 a.m. - 9:35 a.m.
Break
9:35 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Panel – U.S. Sugar: American Farmers Feeding American Families Sustainably
Miles O'Brien, Moderator, Journalist, PBS NewsHour, CNN, NOVA View Bio
Michael Ellis, VP of Strategic Environmental Affairs, U.S. Sugar View Bio
Ryan Duffy, Director of Corporate Communications, U.S. Sugar View Bio
Gene McAvoy, Associate Director of Stakeholder Relations, University of Florida View Bio
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Break
LIVE Attendees will select two tours and board the buses for the field trips:
- FPL Solar Energy Center Tour and Sustainable Agriculture Innovations at Finn Farms
- Sustainable Water Management Tour
- Project Based Learning, Fostering Future Generations of Innovators, Babcock Neighborhood School
10:30 a.m.
Interview with Bob Maughon (pre-recorded)
Bob Maughon, Executive Vice President, Sustainability, Technology & Innovation and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, SABIC View Bio
11:00 a.m.
Interview with Jim Fitterling (pre-recorded)
Jim Fitterling, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dow Inc. View Bio
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch - Food Trucks (Wicked Streatery, Gator John’s BBQ, Lauri Belle’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese, Red Roc Cravings)
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Panel - Lewis Latimer Black Innovators
Jon Cropper, Moderator; Founder, Futurlogic Advanced Concepts View Bio
Patrick Pennie, Founder, President & CEO, EmCyte View Bio
Carmichael Roberts, Business Lead, Investment Committee, Breakthrough Energy Ventures View Bio
Rayvon Fouché, Director of the American Studies, Purdue University View Bio
1:30 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.
Break
1:35 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Panel - Future of Power - LIVE from Babcock Ranch
Miles O'Brien, Moderator, Journalist, PBS NewsHour, CNN, NOVA View Bio
Syd Kitson, Chairman & CEO, Kitson & Partners, Developer of Babcock Ranch View Bio
Mario Azar, President, Global Power Business, Black & Veatch View Bio
Matt Valle, Vice President of Development, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) View Bio
2:10 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
FireSide Chat - Creating a Carbon-Smart World
Miles O'Brien, Journalist, PBS NewsHour, CNN, NOVA View Bio
Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, Lanzatech View Bio
2:45 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Break
2:50 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Fireside Chat - The Future of Active Aging
Dr. John C. Kagan, Moderator; Orthopedic Surgeon View Bio
Reinhold Schmieding, Founder & President, Arthrex View Bio
3:30 p.m.
Adjournment
We will wrap up the day's activities and adjourn to prepare for the evening’s Gala at The Caloosa Sound and Convention Center. The Gala will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
Shuttle to Luminary Hotel

April 22 (Evening)
Edison Awards Gala


Celebrate with fellow innovators while we recognize and honor the best in innovation and innovators at the beautiful, new Caloosa Sound Convention Center. Attire: Black-tie Preferred.

All physical attendees of the 2021 Edison Awards must be registered by April 16th. If you are unable to join the audience in Fort Myers, attend our virtual event. The Edison Awards Gala will be presented live on April 22, 2021.

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Cocktail Reception

Mingle with those you met earlier in the day while sampling decadent hors d’oeuvres.

7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Dinner & Awards Presentation LIVE from Fort Myers

The 2021 Edison Awards Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be announced and prestigious Edison Achievement Awards will be presented to Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech and Reinhold Schmieding, President and Founder of Arthrex.

10:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
VIP After Party

All winners are invited to celebrate at a reception after the awards ceremony at the Luminary Hotel, Fourth Floor Pool Lounge.

April 23
Breakfast & Edison and Ford Winter Estates


Enjoy U.S. Sugar Virtual Harvest Tour Breakfast at the OxBow Bar and Grill from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. The breakfast is first-come, first-served and limited to 25 people.

Wind down with fellow attendees during a tour at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates - tickets are limited. A trolley will run on a loop from the Luminary Hotel to the Edison Ford Winter Estates between 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in beautiful downtown Fort Myers!

Attend the 2021 Edison Awards!

Register for the Virtual Event
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