The SWFRTP Board had great representation at our partners', the FGCU SBDC Distinguished Entrepreneur Award Dinner, May 19th at the Coconut Hyatt in Estero, FL.  SWFRTP values the work the SBDC does in our community to develop companies and coach entrepreneurs to grow in the region.  The winner this evening was Gary Mart of Global Tech LED, LLC.  Gary started Global Tech in 2008 in Naples, FL.  His idea was to create a LED light that fit multiple light fixtures, a concept called retrofitting.  With wattage levels at 60-1000 watts, the lighting is well suited for industrial uses like parking lots, roadways and warehouses.  Well done Gary!!

We would like to announce the awards winners from our Seventh Annual Awards Dinner, sponsored by Adecco, Chico’s FAS and Zuora, CenturyLink and 21st Century Oncology on March 25th. This year at Southwest Florida’s longest running, “Excellence in Technology” event there was record breaking attendance to congratulate the finalists and hear David Trimm, former CIO at The Hertz Corporation, speak to “The Five Technology Trends You Can’t Ignore.” Thank you everyone for supporting the continued growth of our organization as we celebrate technology in the SWFL region.

Winner of the inaugural Women in Technology Award to recognize contributions made by women in technology through professional expertise and leadership is Denise Spence with Dunbar High School. Spence runs the information technology program and teaches there, as well as serving as an adjunct professor at FGCU. Other finalists were Jodi Harrison with Interactyx and Tracey Lanham with Hodges University.

For the Transformation Award, for a business that has achieved success through implementation of IT to overcome a challenge, the winner is Ted Todd Insurance for the work they did developing customized applications for automated quote responses. Other finalists were the Canterbury School and DeAngelis Diamond Construction.

The Innovention Award is given to a company that has invented or demonstrated an innovative and creative technology solution and MassiveU has created a whole new way for teachers and students to interact, learn and develop online. Arthrex and SkyLink Data Centers were the other finalists.

Another new element to the dinner was a $500 scholarship given to freshman Christian Irving for higher education. Christian won the Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science and Inventor’s Fair for his device that is built into the sole of a shoe to charge mobile devices.

Join Florida's SBDC for the fourth annual Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards and Dinner presentation to recognize and celebrate the spirit and the success of entrepreneurs throughout SW Florida!

Guest Speaker will be Michael Wynn. Michael is a native of Naples, FL and Chairman of the Wynn Family Board of Directors and President of the chain of Sunshine Ace Hardware stores. He has spent his career working to honor the tradition of community involvement and customer service his family began back in 1938 when they first arrived in Naples. Michael is a committed volunteer in the business and civic community of Southwest Florida. He is the Immediate Past-Chair of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, Co-Founder of the Partnership for Collier’s Future Economy; served as a Trustee for the YMCA of the Palms; was recognized in 2009 as one of Gulfshore Business’ Forty under Forty; received the 2010 Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award, and was also the 2010 YMCA Volunteer of the Year. The culture of innovation and values that Michael has fostered at Sunshine has been recognized locally and nationally. He was a 2014 state finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award; received the National Retail Hardware Association’s Top Gun award in 2014; and is a recipient of the Uncommon Friends Award for Business Ethics. He is a member of the SWFL Junior Achievement Hall of Fame, a proud member of Vistage, a 2008 graduate of Leadership Collier and a 2012 graduate of Leadership Florida. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University. Michael and his wife Paula have two daughters, Sydney and Olivia.

Time/Duration: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – 3 Hour(s)

Location: Hyatt Regency at Coconut Point, 5001 Coconut Rd, Bonita Springs FL 34134

http://fsbdcswfl.org/annual-events-january-june-2015/2015-distinguished-entrepreneur-program-registration/

Innovention
2009 Harvey Software
2010 4what Interactive
2011 Arthrex ( for SOS web-based solution)
2012 Interactyx
2013 dESCO

Transformation
2009 City of Cape Coral
2010 Dunbar High Academy for Technology Excellence
2011 WCI???
2012 Lee Memorial Health System
2013 Polygon Solutions

Nominations are now open for the Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership Seventh Annual Awards Dinner.  The deadline for nominations is 5:00pm, Friday, January 9, 2015.  Nominations – including self-nominations – can be submitted by individuals, organizations and companies to info@swfrtp.org

The awards are for Innovention, Transformation and Women in Technology:

The Innovention Award. Awarded to a Southwest Florida organization that has invented, improved or demonstrated an innovative and creative technology solution or product that created business worth by saving money, improving efficiency, reworking a business process or generated a completely new way of doing business.

The Transformation Award. Awarded to a Southwest Florida organization that has achieved success through the application or implementation of an existing technology in an innovative manner to overcome a business challenge.

            Woman in Technology Award. Recognizes the success and contributions of a woman to the technology industry of Southwest Florida through professional expertise and leadership.  The recipient will exemplify the commitment of the partnership to a vibrant community of technology professionals and opportunity for all.