Distinguished Achievement Award in Business

Patrick Emmons ’96

Patrick Emmons is tireless.

Those words appear at the top of his nominator’s statement, and by the end of it, it’s clear why he wrote them. Patrick’s life is remarkably full.

To begin with, he is a serial entrepreneur, having built and sold several business. In addition, he has founded organizations, led others, volunteered in many and spent enormous time and energy lifting up the people around him.

Patrick is passionate about community, a mindset that blossomed at SNC. As he himself notes, “The college’s values of community, integrity and service encapsulated in the Norbertine ideal of communio resonated with me and have become a part of my core values. I keep these in mind whenever I’m making choices or decisions.”

The software companies Patrick has successfully brought to life and nurtured — DragonSpears in Chicago being the latest — have given him an outlet for the critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills he picked up through his liberal arts education, not to mention the math and computer science knowledge he acquired studying under Drs. Poss and Pankratz, among others. He also shares his expertise as host of the Innovation and Digital Enterprise podcast to spotlight visionary leaders in Chicago, as a member of the Artificial Intelligence Council for the ITA, and as an advisory board member for the DePaul University Innovation Development Lab.

Aside from excellent career preparation, Patrick also took from his SNC experience a deep commitment to the well-being of others. Influenced by the military service of many of his family members, he is a member of Project RELO, bringing business executives together with retired military, changing the narrative from hiring veterans only as a social good to hiring them because it is a strategic advantage.

He is the leader of a community that gathers to discuss topics focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. He is a dedicated mentor to SNC graduates and soon- to-be graduates. He also works closely with the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Patrick is also a mentor and contributor to i.c.stars, which identifies, trains and jump-starts technology careers for low-income young adults who demonstrate extraordinary potential for succeeding in the business world and for impacting their communities. He founded the Innovative Executives League in Chicago to encourage business leaders to embrace innovation. He is a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Patrick also coaches lacrosse, and he is a proud, longtime supporter of SNC — in particular the Green Knights hockey team.

To this “modest” list of achievements and engagements, add this: Together with his wife, Erin, Patrick has raised five children!

For his tireless dedication in applying mind, heart and spirit to the needs of the world, Patrick Emmons is well deserving of the Distinguished Achievement Award in Business.