2009 TechNite Award Nominees and Winners

On May 21st, in front of a record TechNite crowd, the first-ever People's Choice Award was presented along with five other awards. NCTC President Mary Miller, Master of Ceremonies Peter Jobse, and multiple award presenters commented on the growing momentum of the NewVa region's technology community. The largest-ever crowd and common theme of the presenters indicate the growing importance of the "knowledge economy" in our region's future. If you were not able to join us for this year's TechNite, we hope to see you next year!

The 2009 TechNite Award nominees were announced on April 15th by United States Senator Mark Warner at a reception in Roanoke. The award categories and nominees for this year's TechNite Awards are as follows. (View the 2008 nominees and award winners.)    

Rising Star Award  Sponsored by: 
2009 Award Winner: ADM Micro
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. The nominees are:
      - 88Owls
      - Finalist  Aegisound/Adaptive Technologies
      - Finalist  ADMMicro
      - Design Marketing/Performance Link
      - FITnoke
      - Inorganic Ventures
      - Koofers
      - Librato
      - Finalist  Modea
      - Prime Photonics
      - Schultz-Creehan
      - Pixel Optics

Entrepreneur Award  Sponsored by: 
2009 Award Winner: James Rancourt, Polymer Solutions 
Entrepreneurs are a different breed. Sometimes it takes nerves of steel to blaze a new path. This award recognizes someone in our community who exemplifies what it means to be a risk-taker in the technology field. The nominees are:
      - Finalist  Kevin Bloomfield, NetVentures
      - Anne Giles Clelland, Handshake 2.0
      - M. Tyson Daniel, Esq., LimbGear
      - Jonathan Hagmaier, Interactive Achievement
      - Finalist  James Rancourt, Polymer Solutions
      - Finalist  Dan Sable, VPT
      - Tracy Wilkins, TechLab

NewVa Leadership Award  Sponsored by: 
2009 Award Winner: Neil Wilkin, Optical Cable Corporation
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. The nominees are:
      - Stanley Breakell, Breakell
      - Bev Fitzpatrick, Virginia Museum of Transportation
      - Finalist  Jim Flowers, VT KnowledgeWorks
      - Finalist  Stuart Mease, City of Roanoke
      - Andre A. Muelenaer, Jr., M.D., Carilion
      - Dan Smith, Valley Business FRONT
      - Finalist  Neil Wilkin, Optical Cable Corporation

Innovation Award Sponsored by: 
2009 Award Winner: Attaain Inc.
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. The nominees are:
      - TORC Technologies
      - Finalist  Attaain Inc.
      - CMR Institute
      - Finalist  EnergyWare
      - ExperiED
      - Interface Advantage Systems
      - Finalist  Maxtena
      - Moog Components Group
      - Pixel Optics
      - Qualtrax
      - Wireless MedCARE
      - Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Educator Award  Sponsored by:   
2009 Award Winners: Molly Bullington and Georgette Yakman
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. The nominees are:
      - Molly Bullington, Burton Center for Arts and Technology 
      - Michael Collver, Montgomery County Public Schools 
      - Dr. Kurt Grosshans, Montgomery County Public Schools
      - Rebecca Hertling, Montgomery County Public Schools
      - Cathy Huffman, The Gereau Center for Applied Technology & Career Exploration 
      - Nancy McCrickard, Science Museum of Western Virginia 
      - Stuart Rawlings, Cave Spring Middle School 
      - Kim Williams, Roanoke City Public Schools
      - Georgette Yakman, Pulaski County High School


People's Choice Award Sponsored by:
2009 Award Winner: Wireless MedCARE
This award is chosen by the TechNite audience, giving them a chance to learn more about a few "up and coming" companies in the NewVa region and contribute to the awards process. This isn’t a popularity contest, but each attendee determines their own criteria: whether it’s who has the most innovative technology, the best idea, or the most commercial potential. The nominees are:
      - Aegisound/Adaptive Technologies
      - Attaain
      - Maxtena
      - Modea
      - Wireless MedCARE