CEG Honors Tech Valley Innovation at 12th Annual Technology Awards Luncheon
CENTER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2008
Albany, N.Y. – The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) today recognized companies and business leaders from throughout the Region in the following categories: Rising Star, Economic Winner, Technology Entrepreneur, Technology Mentor, Intern of the Year and Leaders of Tomorrow. The awards were presented at CEG’s 12th Annual Technology Awards Luncheon, which took place at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany.
The event attracted more than 450 business leaders and professional from Tech Valley. The awards ceremony featured a keynote speech by Dr. John E. Kelly, III, IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research, on “A Golden Age for Innovation in the Capital Region.” “Dr. Kelly, and our award winners, engage and inspire us. They are the best and brightest, bringing a positive focus on the economy and our potential as a region. Our future is bright,” said R. Mark Sullivan, Ed.D, CEG’s Chairman and President of The College of Saint Rose.
RISING STAR: Troy-based Agora Games (www.agoragames.com) received the Rising Star award as a high tech start-up venture with long-term promise. Agora Games develops online video game technology and provides online community development services to developers and publishers.
ECONOMIC WINNER: InfoEd International (www.infoed.org), an Albany-based provider of comprehensive software solutions for research compliance and administration, was honored with the Economic Winner award for exhibiting substantial and sustainable growth in sales and profitability while contributing to the region’s economy and employment.
TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEUR: John Schneiter, former President of GlobalSpec and current CEO of Veratag (www.veratag.com), received the Technology Entrepreneur award for personifying the spirit and risk-taking nature of the true entrepreneur.
TECHNOLOGY MENTOR: John Cavalier, former President and CEO of MapInfo, received the Technology Mentor Award for championing the vision of Tech Valley, as well as offering his time, expertise and knowledge networks in support of individual technology companies.
INTERN: High School student John Hodges received the Intern of the Year award for his significant contributions to IntelliSites, an Albany-based Web site development company.
A new award given out by CEG this year in partnership with Vicarious Visions, LEADERS OF TOMORROW, was presented to the GenNEXT Council for the organization’s significant contribution to the development and retention of graduating students and young professionals in the Tech Valley region.
“This year’s award winners are true leaders in Tech Valley. They are our start-up ventures as well as long-standing companies; they are both interns and mentors,” said F. Michael Tucker, CEG’s president and CEO. “These companies, along with their technology colleagues, drive the region’s success.” Former CBS-6’s Executive Business Editor and Anchor Jack Aernecke emceed the awards ceremony. The event was underwritten by Platinum sponsor IBM. Other sponsors included Silver: Times Union and Nixon Peabody; Bronze: Fenimore Asset Management, CDPHP, Cabot Microelectronics, Pepco Energy Services, Vicarious Visions and Absolute Promotions.
About the Center for Economic Growth:The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is a regional economic and business development organization dedicated to attracting high-tech talent and companies and to providing innovative services to bolster local businesses in New York state's Capital Region and Tech Valley. CEG receives significant financial support from the NYS Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), a public benefit corporation that helps grow New York’s innovation economy with its support of high technology development and commercialization through academic and business partnerships, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). CEG serves as NYSTAR’s designated Regional Technology Development Center for Tech Valley, one of nearly 350 MEP locations across the country assisting local manufacturing and technology companies with generating new sales, creating stronger operational infrastructure and overcoming barriers to growth. CEG is based in Albany, N.Y. Visit www.ceg.org for more information.
