James P. Baum '86 is the 2011 WPI Innovator of the Year. The award recognizes annually a graduate or friend of WPI who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishments as an innovator, showcasing individuals who have excelled in driving innovation within enterprises of all kinds. Known for his ability to recognize powerful new technologies and advance them to their full potential, Jim Baum's work has transformed the way businesses do business and, in many ways, some of the fundamental underpinnings of the global economy. A leader in the development of new products, processes, and systems that change industries, Jim Baum passionately believes that innovation first and foremost depends on the "human element" and establishes cultures and teams that enable innovation to thrive.