Tech Star Award

NET Technology Council Honors Businesses with TechStar Awards
Saturday, October 23, 2004

By MATTHEW LANE
Kingsport Times-News

KINGSPORT - The Northeast Tennessee Technology Council recognized seven local businesses Friday that are making a difference in the community with the use and application of technology.  NETTC hosted the second annual TechStar Awards at the MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center Friday afternoon.

Vivian Crymble, executive director of NETTC, said the TechStar Awards were created to encourage the development or use of technology by regional businesses in Northeast Tennessee and to celebrate those successes.  "I think the reason for the awards is to celebrate what we really are doing in this region and because we don't tell each other about it," Crymble said. "We can also role model some of the things we're doing, and someone else may use that project in their company.

"We are sharing what we're doing, our best practices in the technology field."  Anne Pope, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, gave the keynote address Friday afternoon.  "You are doing what is absolutely essential for this area and the nation," Pope said. "Like roads in the last century, the Internet is providing opportunities we're just beginning to realize."  Pope said the use of technology is the future, and the ARC is available to help companies help themselves in competing in today's market.  "This region has all the tools here," Pope said. "We are prepared for the future. We've got the people here to make things work."

Twenty-four businesses from across the Northeast Tennessee region were up for the following seven awards.

•The Development of New Technology Award went to Protokraft for its creation of harsh environment optical transceivers.

•The Use of Technology in Education Award went to Northeast State Community College for its online orientation program.

•The Use of Technology by a Non-Profit Group Award went to Frontier Health for its electronic medical record system.

•The Use of Internet Technologies Award went to n.tara for its flash-based interactive Web site, which is designed to appeal to younger audiences of retail sales companies.

•The Application of Technology within a Smaller Business Award went to Landmark GIS for providing market study data to businesses.

•The Application of Technology within a Larger Business Award went to Mountain States Health Alliance for its Intranet system.

•The Community Service Award went to East Tennessee State University for its use of technology in innovative ways such as teleconferencing, telemedicine and medical assessments.

In addition to these seven awards, NETTC also gave a special TechStar Champion Award to Bill Locke, president of NSCC, for his commitment to championing technology in Northeast Tennessee.  "All I have done is come to an institution and shown people who are ready, what they can become," Locke said.  Chartered in 2000, NETTC is an organization whose mission is to educate, engage and support a region of technology-based businesses and entrepreneurs.