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Now Live: 2016 Awards Gala Photo Gallery 
Visit the gallery of 2016 Awards Gala images by Tod Cohen Photography.


Images courtesy Tod Cohen Photography
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
2016 CBIC Awards Gala Official Photos by Tod Cohen
Recap: Congrats to 2016 CBIC Award Winners

This year, over 400 people attended the annual CBIC Awards Gala to honor Charlottesville's leading innovators. Who won?


MEET THE WINNERS
  • The 2016 CBIC Entrepreneur of the Year is Dr. Brian Wamhoff at HemoShear Therapeutics for a novel method of assessing drug candidates. It's too bad we don't have a similar method for assessing political candidates!

  • Suz Somersall took the top honor as CBIC Innovator of the Year for her work founding KIRAKIRA 3D Printing Academy teaching girls mechanical engineering through fashion design.

  • CBIC Student Entrepreneur of the Year for 2016, Kevin Eisenfrats, CEO of Contraline, is helping level the playing field in reproductive responsibility through the development of a unique male contraceptive that is long-lasting, non-hormonal, and reversible.

  • CBIC Volunteer of the Year goes to the amazing Kim Wilkens, who last year snagged the inaugural CBIC Social Good Award for her work with Tech-Girls and the SPARK Teen Hackathon. Kim was recognized by the CBIC Board of Directors for her generous service to the Council in the past year.

  • The CBIC Social Good Award went to Grow Oyster Reefs for its work creating patented tiles used in the restoration and repair of oyster reefs. 

  • CBIC recognizes a Job Creator of the Year for not just bringing money and technology to the community but also well-paying jobs. App developer WillowTree took the title this year. A four-time INC 5000 company, WillowTree's website has a photo for every job they've created in the region: keep scrolling!

  • University of Virginia spinoff BrightSpec took the top honor as CBIC Startup of the Year. The company manufactures next-generation spectrometers that are cheaper, faster, and better at a variety of crucial chemical tests.

  • The CBIC Business of the Year recognizes maturation and growth in an area technology firm. The 2016 Award goes to Apex Clean Energy, builder and operator of utility-scale wind and solar power facilities. With a team of 200 professionals and the nation's largest wind energy project pipeline, Apex is a leader in the transition to a clean energy future.

Awards Gala News

News to know from this year's Awards Gala:
  • More than 400 local business, government and education leaders attended this year's sold-out awards.
  • A total of 19 companies showcased their products and services as part of this year's Innovators Row.
  • Since 2003, CBIC has gifted more than $35,000 to area teachers to help further the use of technology and learning in area classrooms. This year's $2,500 education grant went to CBIC Educator of the Year Eric Bredder, who will use the funds for technology in his Monticello High School classroom. 
  • New this year, the Student Entrepreneur grant awarded $1,000 to Kevin Eisenfrats for his work with Contraline. Along with that, students Laura Habermeyer of Monticello High School and Robert Wright of William Monroe High School each received $2,500 Tech Tour scholarships.