Ø      IBM’s Leadership Award – Presented to that individual whose leadership has served as a key catalyst for positive technology-related activity in the Greater Richmond community.
Winner: Lemuel C. Stewart, Chief Information Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia, and Director, Virginia Information Technologies Agency
In February of 2004, Lem Stewart became the Commonwealth’s first Chief Information Officer and director of Virginia’s centralized “IT Utility” – VITA.  Since that time, he has led one of the most aggressive and comprehensive technology reform efforts in the nation.  His leadership has resulted in; the successful consolidation of technology support operations from 90 diverse state agencies, revolutionized the procurement of IT goods and services, increased state government business to small, women, and minority owned businesses, implemented cost savings and cost-avoidance initiatives with savings of nearly $17M, and used technology to dramatically improve the delivery of service to citizens, and provide partnerships for businesses throughout Virginia.

Ø      Strategic Staffing Solutions’ IT Builders Award – Presented to that information technology services provider that demonstrates an outstanding ability to deliver technology-enabled business transformation solutions to either its internal or external clients.
Winner: Computer Resource Team… provides database development solutions including; business systems engineering, enterprise portal solutions, database and UNIX administration, and data warehousing.
As one of the mid-Atlantic region’s most respected Oracle consulting practices, CRT has leveraged this expertise and core project foundation to provide full technology solutions in the areas of Systems Engineering, full-life-cycle development of self-service corporate portals, Database Administration, Data warehousing, and high level infrastructure analysis and design for a myriad of technologies including as Microsoft and IBM.  CRT has established a history of customer satisfaction, and a corporate culture of value, trust, strong work ethics, and superior technical prowess.

Ø      Cherry Bekaert & Holland’s Emerging Company Award – Presented to that local technology company whose recent growth in revenues and/or employees, recognized accomplishments and prospects have demonstrated the ability to achieve commercial success.
Winner: CyMed, Inc… provides outsourced medical transcription services to hospitals, clinics, and government healthcare organizations, including more than 15,000 physicians.
CyMed documents over 10 million healthcare patient visits annually with electronic medical records generated through a unique application of technology, labor and process management.  Utilizing US-based tele-work transcriptionists, voice recognition, electronic signature, and Six-Sigma management principles, CyMed has become the third largest national service provider in an industry with over 1000 domestic and off-shore competitors.  In the last five years, CyMed has grown from 43 employees to 450, while revenue has mushroomed from $170K to over $20M in 2004.Ø      Infineon Technologies’ Technology Innovation Award – Presented to that organization whose new technology or use of technology that holds significant promise.
Winner: TCSC’ Forensic Advantage… this suite of software products allows forensic sciences agencies to quickly manage the receipt, workflow, and examination of forensic evidence in support of criminal investigations by law enforcement agencies.
Forensic Advantage is designed to assist public safety and criminal justice agencies manage, access, analyze, and share the unprecedented levels of information now available to forensic scientists.  The suite of software applications maintains the critically important chain of custody while facilitating timely analysis, reporting, and disposition of evidence by laboratories in support of criminal investigations.  Forensic Advantage is currently in-use statewide in Virginia, and will also be deployed later this month throughout the state of Michigan.

Ø      Spanish Moss Holdings' Community Support Award – Presented to that technology-based organization or corporate division whose community involvement has enhanced the Greater Richmond community and added to their company’s and the region’s quality of life.
Winner: The CapTech Foundation… established by Captech Ventures as a non-profit organization dedicated to giving back to the community.  Their premiere event – The CapTech Classic – directly benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond.

The CapTech Foundation was established by the owners and employees of CapTech Ventures to provide direct financial support and employee involvement to the Richmond community.  Through the foundation, CapTech employees participate in economic development initiatives, assist numerous local charities, and promote active and healthy lifestyles through programs such as the CapTech Classic.  This annual international cycling event has received media coverage from ESPN and Fox Sports, and has been the source of thousands of dollars in contributions to the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond.

Ø      Computer Resource Team's Technology SkillBuilder Award – That institution or organization that executes its mission by integrating and promoting technology as an integral part of the learning or work experience.
Winner: The Mathematics and Science Center… a consortium of K-12 school divisions in Central Virginia that provides leadership for the teaching and learning of math and science. 
Since 1966 the Mathematics and Science center has provided children from local school districts with hands-on opportunities to have fun with math and science.  Traditionally, this was done via field trips to the center in Mechanicsville, and was limited in the number of students and educators it could reach.  In 2002, the Center began a transformation that now includes the original buildings, and a virtual center that reached over 220,000 participants in 2004.  The Math & Science Center features innovative, nationally recognized learning programs for children such as Spider room, and Mystery Cargo, as well as workshops and model lessons for teachers.  Their website www.mathscience.info proves learning math and science CAN be fun.

2004 Award Winners

Congratulations to our 2004 Technology Stars Winners!

IBM’s Leadership Award – S. Brian Farmer, Hirschler Fleischer
Brian has devoted his career to the development and growth of technology companies and the investors who finance that growth. He was the driving force behind the I-64/81 Corridor Committee that coordinated the activities of startup-support and angel investor initiatives throughout the western, central, and eastern regions of Virginia. Brian was the principal author and leading advocate of the “angel investor” tax credit which has promoted a cumulative $64 million of funding to 270 companies – with a particular focus on the biotechnology industry. Through his professional and personal commitment to technology entrepreneurs, and his service on many regional and statewide boards and commissions, Brian Farmer has substantially contributed to the success of future generations in our regional technology sector.

Ernst & Young's Emerging Company Award –  AdvanceTEC, LLC
Since being formed in 2000 with two employees, AdvanceTEC has grown to 17 full-time staff and has current contracts of $25 million with a backlog running through mid-2005. They are a nationally recognized leader in the development of Nanotechnology Research facilities. AdvanceTEC facilities are now supporting President Bush’s Nanotech Research Initiative at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC, and in university research at Purdue, Penn State, and Maryland. These projects are critical links in current national priorities related to research in chemical warfare protection, healthcare initiatives, and for cancer research and diagnosis.

Infineon Technologies' Technology Innovation Award – Environmental Solutions Inc.
Throughout its 14 year history, Environmental Solutions has focused on the development of environmentally sound processes and products that provide a base of renewable raw materials. Their latest product - PAVEMEND – was developed in partnership with Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology, and includes both domestic and international patents on a core chemical bonding process that can dramatically cut repair time and cost in a variety of high end applications. This product is currently being used by the U.S. Military, and hopefully in the near future by VDOT on I-64.

Live Oak Holdings' Community Support Award –  Microsoft Corp. and the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond
We had two great finalist in separate categories that were related to the same important program. It was truly the partnership of the private sector – Microsoft, providing direct funding and software through their “Club Tech” program – with a great community focused organization – Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond through their “Operation Connect” (along with other corporate partners, including IBM) that a successful and important program for our community was possible. Together they have helped 10,000 children in 16 computer labs at local Richmond clubs to learn about business applications, hardware, networking, troubleshooting, system management, computer programming, and careers in technology. The Greater Richmond Technology Council is pleased to recognize both as winners.

Computer Resource Teams' Technology SkillBuilder Award – The Community College Workforce Alliance
The Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) is an innovative collaboration that capitalizes on the skills and experience of two great regional resources… John Tyler Community College and J. Sargent Reynolds Community College. The CCWA develops and delivers customized and open enrollment workforce technology training and support services for corporate, government, and individual professional needs. This alliance has destroyed the “stovepipe” model that had become the norm in the Community College system, and now places the priority on the needs of our regional employers.

Strategic Staffing Solutions' IT Builders Award – GE Financial Information Technology
Since its creation here in 1996, GE Financial Assurance set about changing the consumer insurance and investment industry through the use of technology. This strategy, and the IT workforce that enabled it, has resulted in GEFA’s growth from $3 to $13 billion in revenue over that period. They have become the industry leader in imaging technology and secure transmission of sensitive documentation. GEFA’s information technology initiatives have allowed the company to slash the typical time for underwriting new policies from 45 days to 5.

Del. Samuel A. Nixon Jr. , R-Chesterfield, received the chairman's award

Photos from Reception

Photos of Presentation of Awards

2003 Award Winners

Congratulations to our 2003 Technology Stars Winners!

IBM’s Leadership Award – Paula Gulak, founding partner of SyCom Technologies.
Deloitte & Touche's Emerging Company Award – Payerpath Inc.
Infineon Technologies' Technology Innovation Award – PhysioAdvantage, LLC.
Ernst & Young's Community Support Award – DNDS.com.
Computer Resource Teams' Technology SkillBuilders Award – Engineering Specialty Center – Highland Springs High School.
Reed Smith's IT Builders Award – CapTech Ventures Inc.

2003 Winner Press Release

Photos of Winners

Photos of the Gala

2002 Award Gala

Parikh Advanced Systems' Leadership - Dr. Henry McGee, Jr.
Infineon Technologies' Technology Innovation - Visual Programs Inc.
Reed Smith's IT Builders - SyCom Technologies Inc.
Computer Resource Team's Technology SkillBuilders - Henrico County Public Schools
Deloitte & Touche's Emerging Company - Networking Technologies and Support Inc. (NTS)
Ernst & Young's Community Impact - Applied Materials Inc.

Awards Night

Meet the Finalists

2001 Awards Gala

Leadership - Robert T. Skunda,
        Virginia BioTechnology Research Park
Technology Innovation - Servus Robots
Community Impact - Xperts, Inc.
Technology Skill Builder -
        VCU School of Engineering and FIRST Robotics Competition
Emerging Company - Tridium, Inc.

Leadership - James P Donehey, Capital One
Emerging Company - AgilQuest
Breakthrough - Tridium, Inc
Impact - Cisco Systems, Inc.
Workforce - VCU ISRI

1999 Awards Gala

Leadership - Gary D. LeClair
Breakthrough Technology - Digital Video Express, LP
Emerging Company -Xperts, Inc.
Community Impact - GE Financial
Workforce Development - John Tyler Community College

1998 Awards Gala

Chairman Award: Gov. George Allen
Leadership - Stan A. Maupin
Breakthrough Technology -.The United Network for Organ Sharing
Emerging Company -.Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc.
Community Impact - Capital One
Workforce Development - Cisco Systems' Cisco Network Academies

1997 Awards Gala

Leadership - Dr. Robert G. Templin, Jr.
Breakthrough Technology - MacroSonix Corp.
Emerging Company - Dozier – EDI Legal Network
Community Impact - White Oak Semiconductor
Workforce Development - J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

1996 Awards Gala

Breakthrough Technology - Hemodyne, Inc.
Leadership - Dr. Eugene P. Trani
Community Impact - Crestar Bank
Emerging Company - Nimbus CD International, Inc.

For more information on The Awards Program & Gala, contact the council.