Friday, May 30, 2008
The Southwestern Virginia Technology Council (SWVTC) held its annual gala, tech expo, and awards ceremony at the Higher Education Center on the grounds of Virginia Highlands Community College on Wednesday, May 28, 2008. The first keynote speakers for this year's event was Virginia's Secretary of Technology, Aneesh Chopra, who gave very interesting remarks concerning the future of technology in Virginia and the rapid growth in technology jobs in the SWVA region. Next, Dr. Jerry L. Miller, the President and Founder of Holston Medical Group (HMG) discussed the state of the medical profession and how medical technology is being used and embraced at HMG including the new OnePartner Tier III Advanced Technology and Application Center (ATAC) scheduled to open in June in Duffield, VA.
After the speakers, several companies and individuals were recognized for Excellence in Technology. Awards were presented by Dan Minahan, Past President-SWVTC, Donald Purdie, President-SWVTC and Aneesh Chopra, Secretary of Technology.
Recognition and a standing ovation were given to Senator William Wampler and Delegates Terry Kilgore and Joe Johnson for enacting Virginia's new commercial space launch policies ushering-in a new era in space launch national security while providing new business and science opportunities for all Virginians. Sharing in the recognition ceremony was a delegation from the Hampton Roads Technology Council.
Return to Roots, Engineered Products of Virginia, The Southwest Virginia Technology Development Center, DMME and OnePartner were awarded Excellence in Technology awards in the areas of E-Commerce, Entrepreneurship, Education, Government and Innovation. The 2008 President's Award went to the Wellmont Regional Cancer Network for deployment of their CyberKnife technology.
Event sponsors for the Awards Banquet were Alpha Natural Resources, First Bank and Trust, CGI, Northrop Grumman, Crutchfield Corporation, Embarq, The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), Dominion, Powell Tate, Wise DEVELOP, The University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy, BVU, OnePartner, Emory and Henry College and Verizon. There were also several table sponsorships from regional companies and institutions, and high tech and innovation displays during the evening around the banquet room. The Southwestern Virginia Technology Council was organized in 1999. The Council exists to lead Southwestern Virginians in addressing technology issues for business, education and government with the purpose of enhancing the vitality and social well-being of Southwestern Virginia. Council membership includes businesses, institutions and individuals from the Wytheville region to the far western corner of Virginia.
To find out more about SWVTC, contact:
Esther Bolling, Executing Director, SWVTC, PO Box 859, Norton, VA 24273,276-679-7800, ebolling@swvtc.info
