The Social Wendy Group was LIVE@ the Tekne Awards 10.22.09 creating social content for the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA).
The Minnesota High Tech Association’s Tekne Awards celebrate Innovation. The awards honor Minnesota businesses and individuals who are changing the face of the world through technology innovation.
The awards are organized in the following categories, including Small and Growing and Established Business subcategories where appropriate:
(this year’s award recipient is listed below each respective category)
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AWARD
The Advanced Manufacturing Award is presented to companies that have excelled in the production of advanced materials and chemicals, machinery and equipment, electronics and components, measuring instruments, photonics, optics and lasers, computer and peripheral equipment.
Advanced Manufacturing recipient is Minnesota Thermal Science LLC. The Plymouth, Minn.-based company has developed the Credo Cube,
CLEANTECH AWARD
The Cleantech Award recognizes businesses that manufacture environmentally sound products or solutions that reduce costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution.
Cleantech Award recipient is Minneapolis-based Vast Enterprises LLC. It is using new technology to transform recycled materials into an innovative composite material used for green building.
GREEN AWARD
The Green Award honors businesses that practice environmental awareness/responsibility and incorporate sustainability principles into their overall business model.
Green Award recipient is Ecolab Inc. The company develops products to help companies lower their use of water and energy while reducing the amount of chemical waste released into the environment.
INNOVATION IN TEACHING (K-12) AWARD
The Innovation in Teaching Award recognizes innovative classroom use of technology in K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, expanding opportunities for students to be successful in technology-related careers.
Innovation in Teaching Award recipient is Laurie Toll of Weaver Lake Elementary School in Maple Grove, Minn. Laurie Toll lead the launch of a K-6 Science, Math and Technology magnet program.
INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award honors a business/community/higher-ed/K-12 collaboration or partnership that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to the Minnesota technology economy and/or community in general.
Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award recipient is Fabcon Inc and VAST Enterprises LLC. Minneapolis-based VAST Enterprises LLC and Savage, Minn.-based Fabcon Inc. partnered to launch the first precast wall panel with a composite masonry exterior.
IT-SOFTWARE & HARDWARE, COMMUNICATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD
This award is presented to companies that have shown great success on software and hardware (Web-based software, Web 2.0, etc.), networking, communications and wireless equipment and products.
Small and growing company recipient is SearchAmerica. Based in Maple Grove, SearchAmerica created Charity Advisor and Medicaid Advisor to enable users to identify all uninsured patients who qualify for hospital charity programs or other government initiatives, and enroll them immediately.
Established company recipient is CareerOneStop.org. Under the guidance of program director Mike Ellsworth, the state of Minnesota has redeveloped CareerOneStop.org, integrating a new Web content management system, a search engine, and a new information architecture and taxonomy.
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD
The Medical Technology Awards acknowledge companies excelling in production of devices, diagnostics and equipment relating to the medical field.
Small and growing company recipient is Plymouth-based Nonin Medical Inc. The company is committed to extending healthcare solutions into the home, giving individuals more freedom and reducing medical costs.
Established company recipient is Eden Prairie-based Starkey Laboratories Inc. The country’s largest hearing aid company offers a revolutionary new product, the S Series hearing aid.
TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Technology Executive of the Year Award honors individual members of executive teams who are responsible for the advancement of technology and technology strategy within a company or organization.
Small and growing company recipient is Phil Isaacson, chief technology officer and owner of Plymouth-based Nonin Medical Inc. Nonin began in Isaacson’s basement where the four founders started testing and prototyping their first pulse oximeter.
Established company recipient is Joel Ronning, chief executive officer of Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Digital River Inc. Founded in 1994, Digital River Inc. is the world’s leading e commerce solutions provider and has eight global data centers and clients such as Adobe, Microsoft, EA, and Kodak.
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AWARD
The Technology Services Award honors companies that succeed in innovative development and/or delivery of technology services, including consulting services, service providers and SaSS.
Small and growing company recipient is Eden Prairie-based Access Genetics LLC. Its Web-based software, laboratory materials and networked professional services have come together in its molecular information system, Access TeleGene.
Established company recipient is XATA Corporation of Eden Prairie. Its product, XATANET, allows customers to analyze their fleet operations in order to improve procedures and cut costs while adhering to U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.
TECHNOLOGY USER AWARD
The Technology User Award recipient has shown innovative application of products or services resulting in dramatic business improvement or market advantage.
Technology User Award recipient is Honeywell. The Golden Valley, Minn.-based company created a new wireless technology suite designed specifically for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) that eliminates the need to run wires for many applications.
