TechNite 9.0

The Tech Nite 9.0 Awards Dinner was held on May 15, 2008 at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. View Award Categories, Nominees, and Winners or view photos from Tech Nite.

Tech Nite 9.0 was a great success. Our President, Neil Wilkin, and Virginia's Secretary of Technology, Aneesh Chopra both highlighted the fact that our region is at a critical junction of economic progress. The quality and achievements of our Tech Nite nominees confirm this proclamation. The NCTC community is re-inventing and innovating a brighter future for this part of Virginia and people are starting to notice the NewVa region.

In addition to the five award categories previously announced, a new award was created for special acheivement within the NCTC community. This award will recognize those that serve as a role model for others to emmulate. The Academy presents the EMMY, ESPN has the ESPY, and now the NCTC has the NEWVY Award. This year's NEWVY Award was presented to Pat Matthews of Mailtrust.

Please join us in congratulating all of the 2008 NCTC Tech Nite 9.0 Award nominees and winners.

Thank you,
Cory Donovan
Executive Director

Rising Star Award

This award recognizes a local technology company which "star is rising". It may not be a household name yet, but it could soon be another local success story in the NewVA region. Nominees include:

Rising Star Award Winner: TORC Technologies

Entrepreneur Award

Entrepreneurs are a different breed. Sometimes it takes nerves of steel to blaze a new path. The Entrepreneur Award recognizes someone in our community who exemplifies what it means to be a risk-taker in the technology field. Nominees include:

Bill Boebel and Pat Matthews, Mailtrust FINALIST
James Rancourt, Polymer Solutions FINALIST
Victor Iannello, Synchrony FINALIST
Guo-Quan Lu, NBE Technologies

Entrepreneur Award Winner: Victor Iannello, Synchrony

NewVa Leadership Award

This award recognizes one of our own who not only succeeds in the workplace, but also leads by example by contributing significantly to the community in which we live. Nominees include:

Doug Juanarena, GenTek Ventures FINALIST
Pat Matthews, Mailtrust FINALIST
Beth Deel, MyScoper.com
Joe Meredith, VT Corporate Research Center FINALIST
Brett Malone, Intrexon

NewVa Leadership Award Winner:
Joe Meredith, VT Corporate Research Center

Innovation Award

This award recognizes an individual, a group of individuals, company, or other organization that sets the standard for thought leadership and innovation in their respective field. By definition, they are doing something new or different, and they are doing it well. Their innovation represents a significant technological breakthrough or addresses a great market opportunity or both. Nominees include:

Pixel Optics
Public Consulting Group
Aegisound FINALIST
Harmonia
EverGrid
NBE Technologies FINALIST
SmithLewis Architecture
TechLab
Intrexon FINALIST
Bill Powers & Mark Deardorff, City of Roanoke
Portaqua

Innovation Award Winner: Intrexon

Educator Award

This award recognizes a K-12 educator in the NewVA region that promotes math,science and/or use of technology in creative ways to transfer knowledge and help develop future technology leaders. Nominees include:

Molly Bullington, Arnold R. Burton Technology Center in Salem
Bill Birdlebough, James Breckenridge Middle School, Roanoke City Public Schools
Heather Blevins, Herman L. Horn Elementary School, Roanoke County Public Schools
Craig Hodge, William Byrd Middle School, Roanoke County Public Schools
Mark B. Baetz, Salem City Schools
Gary Gogerty, Roanoke City Public Schools
Fred Hoffman, Roanoke Valley Governor's School
John Wright, Montgomery County High School High Tech Program

Educator Award Winners: Bill Birdlebough and Gary Gogerty

NEWVY Award

From time to time, there are achievements that are not easily classified into an award category. During this year's award process, it became clear that we had one of these situations. To recognize outstanding achievement within our community, the NCTC has created the NEWVY Award. This award will recognize those that serve as a model for others to emulate.

NEWVY Award Winner: Pat Matthews, Mailtrust