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Experts from prestigious design firms and healthcare groups are among the Best of NeoCon jurors

4 Best of NeoCon healthcare jurors

The jury for this year’s highly anticipated Best of NeoCon competition brings a wealth of experience and insight into the nuances of product design and specification, along with a profound understanding of evolving industry trends.

Handpicked from diverse industries and realms of expertise, the jurors will evaluate some 300 new product submissions in person at THE MART in Chicago on June 7 and 8. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 10, marking an exciting kickoff to the NeoCon 2024 show, which will run June 10-12.

With a collective specifying scope encompassing millions of square feet across commercial, life science, healthcare, education, government, hospitality, and public sectors, this year’s group has unparalleled expertise and will bestow the Best of NeoCon honor upon only the best solutions for the built environment.

Eileen McMorrow, Best of NeoCon Director

Best of NeoCon: Healthcare

Four of the Best of NeoCon healthcare jurors, clockwise from top left: Tina Macica, Montefiore Medical Center; Suzanne Lefebvre, CannonDesign; Pat Guichet, SSM Health; Sonja Bochart, Shepley Bulfinch

With unique needs and specification requirements, the Healthcare categories include Flooring, Guest & Lounge Seating, Patient Seating, Storage and Accessories, and Textiles. Judging these categories, as is fitting, are healthcare design specialists and representatives from healthcare organizations. Among these experts are:

  • Sonja Bochart, Director, Shepley Bulfinch, Phoenix, AZ
  • Deborah Carruth, Project Manager, FF&E UT Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
  • Pat Guichet, Senior Planning, Design, Construction Project Manager, SSM Health, St. Louis, MO
  • Suzanne Lefebvre, Interior Design Practice Leader, CannonDesign, Buffalo, NY
  • Tina Macica, AVP Design and Construction, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
  • Linnea Rehnke, Manager Capital Projects, Advocate Aurora Health, Chicago, IL

In the days leading up to NeoCon, jurors will travel from across the country to convene at THE MART to meticulously assess and, if applicable, test out each and every Best of NeoCon product entry. This immersive approach affords jurors ample time for thoughtful deliberation while offering exhibitors the opportunity to present their introductions to the jury and address their questions in real time.

The Best of NeoCon awards program annually honors outstanding new products across dozens of categories (PDF) encompassing workplace, healthcare, hospitality, and education domains. Winners may receive a Gold, Silver, Innovation, Sustainability, or the coveted Best of Competition award. Take a look at 2023 Best of NeoCon winners here.

This year, entrants have the opportunity to opt-in to be considered for the Business Impact Award and pre-vetted by a jury of facility end-users, real estate planners and specifiers, who will evaluate their contributions based on the degree to which they contribute to business operations and enterprise-oriented built environments across verticals. Finalists will undergo additional evaluation on-site by a panel of business journalists from leading publications, including Fast Company, Forbes, Entrepreneur and Bloomberg.

Winners will be unveiled during a live ceremony at THE MART on Monday, June 10, at 7:30 AM, ushering in the 55th edition of NeoCon.

NeoCon exhibitors can submit entries through the Best of NeoCon online portal. Eligible products must be on display at NeoCon 2024 and have entered the U.S. market since June 2023. Products previously entered in Best of NeoCon 2023 are ineligible. The submission deadlines and entry fees are as follows:

  • Late entry by May 20: $1,000 per entry
  • Business Impact Opt-In: $100 per entry

More details on the program and entry process can be found at Best of NeoCon.

Show registration is complimentary for all attendees.

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