Guaranteed Rate founder and CEO Victor Ciardelli was named “CEO of the Year” at the 2014 CityLights Awards, sponsored by the Illinois Technology Association.
Victor Ciardelli was one of five finalists for the award, and the only finalist not to come from a traditional tech or software company. Ciardelli received the award at the CityLights Awards ceremony held at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago’s West Loop. The event was attended by more than 600 people, including Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The CityLights Awards recognize excellence in the technology industry. The CEO of the Year award is presented to the CEO who has utilized technology to lead successful company growth through leadership, ability to attract and retain talented resources, financial accomplishments and strategy for continued company growth.
“The winners represent the leading companies and individuals in Illinois tech, and if history is any indicator, they will do even greater things,” Illinois Technology Association CEO Fred Hoch said in a statement announcing the winners. “We are proud to recognize them and be a part of their growth stories.”
The honor is an affirmation of Ciardelli’s commitment since Guaranteed Rate’s inception to streamline and modernize the mortgage process through technology. The company’s award-winning online loan application has been central to that effort, helping to fund more than $3 billion in home loans.
The company has received numerous honors for its innovation, including the 2013 Built in Chicago Moxie Award for “Best Corporate Digital Innovation” for the online loan application, beating out other entries from Walgreens, Hyatt, and Redbox. Ciardelli’s longstanding goal is to create the first fully digital mortgage.
Check out more coverage of Victor’s recognition by the 2014 CityLights Awards in the
Chicago Tribune and in Crain’s Chicago Business.
