Tech Council's Nomination 'Season' open

Once a year, the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC) —the Valley’s regional non-profit organization for technology users and creators— recognizes and highlights the successes of technology firms, organizations and programs in the region and the entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders and educators behind those successes. Last fall the line-up of awards was refreshed/ updated: New & revamped: • Innovation in Emerging Business: Most recently called the “High-Tech Entrepreneur” award, it is given to a Shenandoah Valley start-up technology company or entrepreneur that has proven the ability to achieve commercial success. • Innovation in Development: As a branch of the previous “High-Tech Company” award, this honor is received by the company or organization whose development of new technology applications and/or systems creates new processes, methodologies, and/or services for their own or others’ benefit. • Innovation in Utilization: Also a branch of the previous “High-Tech Company” award, the Innovation in Utilization is presented to a company or organization whose creative use of existing technology enhances processes, methodologies and/or services for their own/others’ benefit. • Innovation in Community Impact: Awarded to individual, team, non-profit or civic organization, or company in the region that aspires to use its capabilities to help solve a social or environmental issue in a local community while using technology to amplify the impact of a service, mission, or project. Collaborative efforts welcome! • People’s Choice: Through hashtag voting, this award will be given to one nominee in any of the award categories who is given the highest amount of votes on social media. Special hashtag will be announced in March. Unchanged awards: • Dr. Noftsinger Leadership Award • Innovation in Education K-12 • Innovation in Higher Education Nomination season has begun and will last until March 18, 2017. Neither the nominator nor nominee has to be a member of the SVTC, though the nominee or operations must be significantly based in the Valley. Both nominations and self-nominations are welcome! For more information about who has been nominated or won in previous years, the guidelines for nomination, and the forms, visit www.svtc-va.org