Winners announced for 11th Annual Technology Awards

ESTERO, Fla. (May 20, 2019) –The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership (SWFRTP) has announced the winners for the 11th annual Technology Awards. The awards event was held May 16 at the Club at Grandezza in Estero. A​nn E. Joyce, Chief Customer Officer and EVP, Technology, Supply Chain and Field Operations at Chico’s FAS served as keynote speaker and the emcee was Lindsey Sablan, News Anchor, WINK-TV.
The winner of the Innovention Award given to a company that has invented or demonstrated an innovative and creative technology solution is Cigent Technologies. Vectra Digital and VeraData were also finalists.  

The winner of the Transformation Award for a business highlighting the use of technology in government, nonprofit, or companies outside the technology sector to address a business or operational challenge is Chico’s FAS.  BMP Logic and NCH Healthcare System were also finalists.

Reema Bhatia, Managing Partner, Stickboy Creative won the Woman in Technology Award which honors the accomplishments of a Southwest Florida woman in a technology role and her commitment to diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.  Michelle Borders, Naples Network Services and Priya Janardhanan, Chico’s FAS were also finalists.

The winners of the Technology Student Award recognizing a high school or college student pursuing higher education or a career in technology are Klaudia Fisheku, Florida Gulf Coast University; Elisabet Ortiz, Cape Coral High School; and Sophia Vellozzi, Gulf Coast High School.

The Partnership Award, which honors a person who has made significant contribution to the SWFRTP, was won by Linda Lyding. Other finalists were Jon Boynton and Dr. Robert Totterdale.

Photo: Transformation Award Winner - Chico’s FAS

L to R: Cathy Devine, Holly Wilson and Ann E. Joyce of Chico’s FAS accept the 2019 Transformation Award

Photo Credit: Gwen Greenglass

Photo: Innovention Award Winner - Cigent Technologies

L to R: John Kennedy, Rachel Busch and David Glass of Cigent Technologies accept the 2019 Innovention Award

Photo Credit: Gwen Greenglass

Photo: Woman in Technology Award Winner - Reema Bhatia

L to R: Harrison Ambs and Bryant Jackson of Stickboy Creative accept the 2019 Woman in Technology Award on behalf of their colleague Reema Bhatia.

Photo Credit: Gwen Greenglass

Photo: Partnership Award Winner - Linda Lyding
Linda Lyding, Vice President, SWFL Regional Technology Partnership

Photo Credit: Gwen Greenglass

Technology Student Award Winners
L to R: Sophia Vellozzi, Gulf Coast High School; Elisabet Ortiz, Cape Coral High School; and Klaudia Fisheku, Florida Gulf Coast University.

Photo Credit: Gwen Greenglass