Dage-MTI wins innovation honor
the News Dispatch
By Deborah Sederberg
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY — At Dage-MTI, the expert engineers and other electrical engineering specialists can produce high-definition microscope cameras that, with the RealView Magic Box, make it possible for physicians to examine single cells on high-definition monitors.

And the Dage people can produce cameras that help the military keep an eye on a missile target from 10 miles away.

With only 14 employees, Dage, 701 N. Roeske Ave., owned by John and Peggy Moore, produces a variety of high-tech products for customers around the world.

On Monday, Dage-MTI was honored with the Chanute Prize for Team Innovation.

Chancellor J. Guadalupe Valtierra of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Northwest gave an overview of the award, which is presented by The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana, an organization founded by Ivy Tech Northwest in 2005.

The traveling trophy, which pays homage to Octave Chanute's contribution to the world of flight, was presented by J. Brian Hittinger, a partner in Krieg De Vault and a sponsor of the award.

Others who spoke about the prize and about Dage were O'Merrial Butchee, director of the Gerald I. Lamkin Center at Ivy Tech and John Davies, managing director of The Society of Innovators.

"Dage-MTI was selected for this award in rigorous regional competition for transforming itself into a company producing some of the finest video digital cameras in the world through its new Excell series of firewire cameras and analog video cameras and monitors," Davies said.

The Chanute Prize is given annually to a team that demonstrates outstanding innovation, Davies added. The hope is that the award will serve as an inspiration for other innovative teams, he said.

Purdue University-North Central Chancellor James Dworkin said he was honored to be one of those who nominated Dage for the award.

Also speaking at the event were Bil Thon, Ivy Tech executive director of workforce and economic development, John Regetz, executive director of the Michigan City Economic Development Corp. and co-director of La Porte County Economic Development Alliance, and Don Babcock of NIPSCO

Dage is the first private-sector for-profit from Michigan City or La Porte County to be honored with the Chanute prize Davies said.

In 2007, Franciscan St. Anthony Health, Michigan City, together with sister hospitals Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Hammond and Dyer and Franciscan St. Anthony Crown Point, was honored for applying Lean Six Sigma principals to virtually eliminate ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units.

The Moores received a $300 check with the Chanute award to donate to the charity of their choice. Because of their support of education, Peggy said, the Moores gave the money to Lake Hills Elementary School, which will be Michigan City's magnet school for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In accepting the check, Lake Hills Principal Connie Bachmann said the donation will be used toward building a video production studio.

Receiving the award was an emotional experience for John and Peggy Moore, who came close to choking up as they spoke of their employees and a variety of business partners, ranging from insurance providers to bankers and many others, including Peggy's parents.

"We would not be here if not for our employes," Peggy said. "Each employee makes us able to meet the needs of our customers."