Congratulations To GWATA's Award Recipients
GWATA, the NCW Technology Alliance awarded Howell at the Moon Productions as the Tech Savvy Business of the Year and Melissa Wisen, Borsa Bella Design Co. as the Entrepreneur of the Year at the Innovator Awards luncheon held today at the Wenatchee Convention Center. In addition to the award winners, Bradley Shipley and the RAMbots 4-H club were honored as Future Technology Leaders.
Since 2001, GWATA has presented an Awards Luncheon and recognized technology-based businesses in our region. Each year, two nominees are honored; a Tech Savvy Business of the Year and an Entrepreneur of the Year. The Tech Savvy Business Award honors an organization or entity that has successfully applied technology to one or more aspects of their operations to improve their efficiencies. The Entrepreneur Award is given to an individual(s) who develops a new innovative product or service or establishes as new enterprise to bring a new or existing product to the marketplace.
With record attendance, the event presented by LocalTel Communications featured keynote speaker, Microsoft’s Rick Bakken, Senior Director of Data Center Evangelism. Bakken represents Global Foundational Services (GFS), the group that is the platform for Microsoft’s search, advertising, live, cloud and other online services. His address provided businesses some insights to enhance their productivity in small and medium size markets.
The awards also recognized Future Technology Leaders Bradley Shipley and the RAMbots 4-H club for student led projects in technology, science, engineering or math fields. Bradley Shipley, a seventh grader at Orchard Middle School, produced and edited a LazyBoyBike commercial which exceeded class expectations. The RAMbots 4-H Club was recognized for building their first robot which was showcased at the event. RAMbots 4-H Club is comprised of students ages 12-18 years old whose mission is to inspire youth to explore science and technology in a mentor-based program through the use of robots.
The Tech Savvy Business of the Year, Howell at the Moon Productions, was recognized for their production of Leavenworth’s tourism commercial that has made national notoriety. Howell at the Moon is a fully digital video production house focused on the creation of broadcast documentaries and creative commercial projects.
The Entrepreneur of the Year, Melissa Wisen, Borsa Bella Design Co. is a custom purse and handbag company which started as a small, one women show that has blossomed into an international business. She found her niche market for making bags for eReaders and now regularly generates over $10,000 in online sales each month.
The nominees for the event were as follows:
Entrepreneur of the Year
Ben Field & Colin Brine, Be,Clearly
Judy Anderson, Anderson Design
Korey Korfiatis, KoreyKorfiatis.com
Melissa Wisen, Borsa Bella Design Co.
Roger Harnack, Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle
Warren & Heather Morgan, Quincy Valley School
Tech Savvy Business of the Year
Dr. Cara’s Children’s Dentistry
Good Life Magazine
Howell at the Moon Productions
Wenatchee Anesthesia Association
The top nominees in each category; Melissa Wisen, Roger Harnack, Steve Klock, Dr. Cara’s Children’s Dentistry, Howell at the Moon Productions and Lake Chelan Community Hospital were showcased with a 2-minute video. Luncheon attendees appreciated their work and understood why they received the awards. “We wanted to showcase not only our award winners but the nominees that work to build our economic climate and technology in our region,” states Jenny Rickel, GWATA President and CEO of Edge Strategies.
GWATA is a regional organization founded in 2000 to promote a vibrant technology-based economy benefiting the citizens and communities of North Central Washington. GWATA’s core values are to connect people and resources, provide an exchange of ideas, create a culture that encourages entrepreneurs, and to support innovators around North Central Washington.
For upcoming events or membership opportunities, visit www.gwata.org or call 509.661.9000.
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