The Shenandoah Valley Connection

March 11, 2022

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TechNite22 [ SAVE THE DATE: MAY 4, 2022 ]

Nomination Season Closing Soon [March 15, 2022]

Been thinking of a nomination to help highlight the region's tech entrepreneurs, educators, developers, leaders, tech-users (*), and those that used tech to make a difference for the community?

Well - go "tie it all together" and push the submit button by Wed, March 15, please.

Tell us about the successes of technology firms, organizations, and programs in the region and the entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and educators behind those successes.

Scroll down for details on the 8 categories, and click through to the guidelines, forms, Q&A, and who won/was nominated previously.

(* Utilization category ... includes "an established company or organization that produces/offers more traditional products and services (where technology itself is not the core business purpose)." Often this fits ventures from ag, food, service, manufacturing, etc)

JMU College of Integrated Science and Engineering (CISE)'s

Innovation in Community Impact Award

The ICI is awarded to an individual, team, non-profit/civic organization, or company in the Shenandoah Valley that aspires to use its capabilities to help solve a social or environmental issue in a local community while using technology to amplify the impact of a service, mission, or project. A metric or measurable result of the impact is desired. Collaborative efforts are welcome and encouraged.

GreeneHurlocker's

Innovation in Emerging Business Award

Awarded to a Shenandoah Valley start-up/emerging technology company or entrepreneur. Must have 1-25 employees.

JMU Research & Scholarship and JMU School of Professional and Continuing Education's

Innovation in K-12 Education Award

Awarded to the educator or program in K-12 that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use, and/or development of technology while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering, or math.

Rockingham Clerk of Courts

Innovation in Higher Education Award

Awarded to the educator or program that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use, and/or development of technology in the Shenandoah Valley region’s higher education system or technology-training program, while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering, or math.

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation's

Innovation in Development Award

Awarded to a company or organization whose development of new technology applications and/or systems creates new processes, methodologies, and/or services for their own or others’ benefit.

Dynamic Aviation's

Innovation in Utilization Award

This award recognizes outstanding commercial growth and achievement by an established company that either produces or markets high tech products or services, or an established company or organization that produces/offers more traditional products and services (where technology itself is not the core business purpose).

Glo Fiber Enterprise's

Dr. Noftsinger Leadership Award

The recipient’s leadership has served as a catalyst for positive technology-related activity in the Shenandoah Valley.

Serco's

People’s Choice Award

Awarded to one nominee from the other categories. All nominees are candidates — and the company, organization, or individual with the most votes through social media before and during the event will win. Voting starts the day all nominees are publicized and continues during the gala. (A special hashtag will be used; look for the announcement)

Get Your Co. or Org. in Front of the Premier Tech Crowd in May.

Tech Nite 22 sponsorship details (PDF)

Spotlight Sponsor, $1,000

If virtual: Labeled virtual table hosted by your rep, includes logo option. (Remo platform) 4 event attendees.
If in-person: Logo included in the scrolling presentation in the ballroom and posters. 3 attendance tickets (general seating). Logo displayed on the bar or food area.
Regardless of venue/format: Logo or name placement in newsletter and the Tech Nite pages online (composite logo with other sponsors), logo in the event program (aka nomination summaries), 2 ads in the DNR.

Table sponsor, $1,750.

If virtual: Labeled virtual table hosted by your rep, includes logo option. (Remo platform). 10 event attendees.
If in-person: Specially marked table, logo included in the scrolling presentation in the ballroom, and posters. 8 attendance tickets.
Regardless of venue/format: Logo or name placement in newsletter and the Tech Nite pages online (composite logo with other sponsors), logo in the event program (aka nomination summaries), 2 ads in the DNR

Networking Reception Sponsor. $2,500.

If virtual: Center spot on the event canvas and a 'Welcome and Hello' to the crowd (together with me) from "the stage". 10 event attendees. Virtual table hosted by your rep. (Remo platform)
If in-person: address the attendees with a 'Welcome and Hello' in the JMU Festival Foyer. Logo in the foyer of the Festival (eg on banner) while you address attendees; logo included in the scrolling presentation in the ballroom and posters. 8 attendance tickets. Specially marked table.
Regardless of venue/format: Logo or name placement in the newsletter, Tech Nite pages online (composite logo with other sponsors), logo in the event program (aka nomination summaries), 2 ads in the DNR.

Level III Member

March Events

Join Us for Coffee With Virginia Venture Partners

March 18, 2022 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Join host Jen O'Daniel, Virginia Venture Partner for a Fireside Chat with Tom Weithman, Virginia Venture Partners, & Ashish Kachru, Co-founder & President of Altruista Health.

***Registration is Required***

Luncheon Registration

SVTC Luncheon:

How Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VPIC) Helps Entrepreneurs and Startups

March 24, 2022, | 11:45 am - 1:00 pm | Wood Grill

VIPC is Virginia’s state-funded grant-making and investment organization that supports emerging entrepreneurs and scalable technology-based startups.

Sean Mallon, VP of Commercialization, will talk about VIPC’s funding and entrepreneurial support programs. (There are many, e.g. Virginia Venture Partners (formerly CIT GAP Funds); Virginia Founders Fund; Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF); VIPC’s Federal Funding Assistance Program called Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR); and the Regional Innovation Fund (RIF). VIPC Market Development focuses on Smart Communities, Unmanned Systems, and Cybersecurity. More: https://www.virginiaipc.org/

About Sean Mallon

Sean Mallon serves as Vice President of Commercialization. In this role, he provides strategic vision for the Commercialization Division’s mission, and he oversees the Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF), a grant program that supports the commercialization of Virginia-based high-potential research and technology.

Level III Member

Level III Member

Future Events

Virginia Association of Colleges & Employers (VACE) Conference

Mark your calendar to attend the April Conference in Harrisonburg, VA.

VACE is the Virginia chapter of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

The chapter's mission is to strengthen relationships between colleges and employers in Virginia by facilitating connections, communication, and networking between employers who hire college students and alumni, the career services staff who serve those students, and the associate members who serve the profession.

In addition to traditional programs, the conference will include "think tanks" around internships and other talent challenges, as well a closing keynote from the NACE President, and Vice President of Talent Acquisition at MAXIMUS, Dave Ong .