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Michael Ferro founded Merrick Ventures, a Chicago-based technology holding company, in 2006 and currently serves as Chairman. Formerly he served as Chairman of Merge Healthcare, a medical technology company, and was the Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Health Green. Prior to that he founded and served as Chairman and CEO of Click Commerce, Inc., the leading provider of on-demand supply chain management solutions. Under Michael's leadership, Click Commerce posted 14 consecutive quarters of growth and profitability and acquired and integrated nine companies. During this time, the company's stock value increased 900 percent. Because of Click Commerce's industry reputation and proven ability to deliver results, Illinois Tool Works, a multi-billion dollar Fortune 150 company, acquired the company in October 2006 to serve as the platform to launch their software and technology group. Michael has won numerous awards, including the KPMG Illinois High-Tech Award, and was named 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Technology, the CEO National Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and the Humanitarian of the Year from the Holocaust Memorial Foundation. He has been listed as one of the "Top 40 Under 40" by Crain's Chicago Business. He currently serves as a Director on the board of trustees of The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum of Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Northwestern University, and The Economic Club of Chicago. He also serves on the boards of Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Big Shoulders Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, RAND Health, and AfterSchool Matters. In addition, he is the Chairman of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, a board member of the Economics Club of Chicago, and a director of The Executive's Club of Chicago, and is a member of YPO and the Commercial Club of Chicago. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois. He and his family make their home in Chicago. Michael is a 2006 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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