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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$544,920                                                        January 21, 2002
                                                               Chicago, Illinois

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, C. RUDY PURYEAR, ("Borrower"), hereby
unconditionally promises to pay to the order of LANTE CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation ("Lender"), at the office of Lender at 600 North Fulton Street,
Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60611, or at such other place as the holder
("Holder") of this Promissory Note (this "Note") may from time to time designate
in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately
available funds, the principal sum of FIVE HUNDRED FORTY FOUR THOUSAND, NINE
HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS ($544,920). The outstanding principal amount of this Note
and all accrued, but unpaid, interest hereunder shall be due and payable on the
earlier to occur of (a) June 30, 2003, or (b) six months after termination of
Borrower's employment with Lender for any reason (the "Maturity Date").

Interest. Interest on the unpaid principal balance of this Note shall accrue
from the date hereof at the fixed rate of 2.73% per annum (the "Interest Rate"),
compounded annually. If Lender in its sole discretion so elects, following the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (as defined below),
interest on the unpaid principal balance of this Note shall accrue at a rate
(the "Default Rate") equal to the Interest Rate plus 7%.

Prepayment. Borrower shall have the right to prepay the Note, in whole or in
part, at any time without premium or penalty. All payments hereunder shall be
applied in the following order of priority: (a) first, toward the payment of
interest which has accrued on the outstanding principal balance of the Note; (b)
next, toward payment of any costs of collection as provided herein; and (c)
last, toward payment of the outstanding principal of the Note.

Extension of Maturity Date. If Borrower is still employed by Lender on June 30,
2003, Borrower may extend the Maturity Date of the Note by one additional year
by providing written notice of such extension to an executive of Lender no later
than June 15, 2003. Upon any such extension, the Note will bear interest based
upon the then-current short-term applicable Federal rate. Should Borrower's
employment with Lender terminate for any reason during such one year extension,
the outstanding principal amount of the Note and all accrued but unpaid interest
hereunder shall be due and payable on the date that is six (6) months after
Borrower's final day of employment with Lender.

Event of Default. Borrower's failure to pay any amounts owed pursuant to this
Note within 10 calendar days after such payment is due shall constitute an
"Event of Default" under this Note. Lender's rights, remedies and powers, as
provided in this Note shall be in addition to any other right or remedy
available at law or in equity. Additionally, Lender may resort to every other
right or remedy available at law or in equity without first exhausting the
rights and remedies contained herein, all in Lender's sole discretion. Failure
of Lender at any one time, for a period of time or on more than one occasion to
exercise any of its rights or remedies hereunder or at law

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or in equity shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the same
right or remedy at any time thereafter. Any and all waivers must be in writing
to be effective.

Cost of Collection. If any suit or action is instituted or attorneys are
employed to collect this Note or any part thereof, Borrower hereby promises and
agrees to pay all costs of collection, including attorneys' fees and court
costs, if Lender prevails in the suit or action; and Lender hereby promises and
agrees to pay all of Borrower's attorney's fees and court costs if Borrower
prevails in the suit or action.

Waivers. Borrower hereby waives presentment for payment, protest and demand, and
notice of demand, protest, dishonor or nonpayment of this Note. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, Borrower also waives all rights to notice and
hearing of any kind upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and prior to the
exercise by Lender of any of its rights. No delay on the part of Lender in the
exercise of any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, and
no single or partial exercise by the Lender of any right or remedy shall
preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or
remedy.

Excess Interest. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this
Note, Borrower shall not be required to pay and Lender shall not be permitted to
collect, any amount of interest in excess of the maximum amount of interest
permitted by law ("Excess Interest"). If any Excess Interest is provided for or
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been provided for in
this Note, then in such event: (a) any Excess Interest that Lender may have
received hereunder shall be, at Lender's option, (i) applied as a credit against
the outstanding principal balance of the Note or accrued and unpaid interest
(not to exceed the maximum amount permitted by law), (ii) refunded to the
Borrower, or (iii) any combination of the foregoing; (b) the interest rate(s)
provided for herein shall be automatically reduced to the maximum lawful rate
allowed from time to time under applicable law (the "Maximum Rate"), and this
Note shall be deemed to have been and shall be, reformed and modified to reflect
such reduction; and (c) Borrower shall not have any action against Lender for
any damages arising out of the payment or collection of any Excess Interest.

Choice of Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE INTERPRETED AND THE RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF
THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS AND
DECISIONS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW
PROVISIONS.

Miscellaneous. Whenever possible, each provision of this Note shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this Note shall be prohibited by or invalid under
applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision
or the remaining provisions of this Note. Whenever in this Note reference is
made to Lender or Borrower, such reference shall be deemed to include, as
applicable, a reference to their respective successors, assigns, heirs and
estates. The provisions of this Note shall be binding upon and shall inure to
the benefit of successors, assigns, heirs and estates, provided that Borrower
may not hypothecate, transfer or assign its obligations hereunder.

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            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has executed this Note as of the day
and year first written above.


                                                       /s/ C. Rudy Puryear
                                                       -------------------------
                                                       C. Rudy Puryear