Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards Finalists Showcase Best and Brightest Innovators in Arizona’s Technology Sector

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Arizona Technology Council, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Commerce and in conjunction with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, today announced the finalists for the 2008 Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards (GCOI). Winners will receive Arizona’s highest honor for technology innovation on November 13, 2008, at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix.

This year’s event features a theme of “Shift to Green” highlighting green technologies and will honor internationally recognized architect, artist and philosopher Paolo Soleri with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition for his contributions in addressing Arizona’s issues of sustainability and the environment. Tickets for the prestigious awards gala include the pre-award show cocktail reception, awards ceremony, strolling dinner and a VIP Backstage “Green Room” party, and can be purchased at http://www.aztechcouncil.org.

The finalists were selected by a committee independent of the Council and chaired by Alaina G. Levine, director of Special Projects at the University of Arizona, College of Science. One company within each category will be announced as the winner at the GCOI event. The finalists in their respective categories are:

Individual Award Finalists:

• William F. McWhortor Community Service Leader of the Year: Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare; Jeff Morhet, InNexus Biotechnology Inc.; Terree Parlett Wasley, ASU Technopolis
• Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year: Steve Irons, ImageTag, Inc.; Roy Vallee, Avnet, Inc.; Jeff Morhet, InNexus Biotechnology Inc.

Company Award Finalists:

• Pioneering Innovation: Telesphere; Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems; Microsoft Corporation
• Green Innovator of the Year (NEW): i-Linc; Trilogy by Shea Homes; Global Research Technologies LLC
• Innovator of the Year - Start-Up Company: Flypaper Studios, Inc.; FetchBack; Ubidyne, Inc.
• Innovator of the Year - Small Company: Succeed Corporation; Kutta Technologies, Inc.; Infusionsoft
• Innovator of the Year - Large Company: Raytheon Missile Systems; IBM Corporation
• Innovator of the Year – Academia: Phoenix Mars Mission; Biodesign Institute; Center for Applied Nanobioscience

Young Innovator of the Year Award Winners:

The "Best of the Best" of the Arizona Engineering and Science Fairs (grades 9-12) for the year 2007. Each of these students will receive a $1,000 scholarship to further enhance their education.

• Steven Fan, Tucson High Magnet School; Shemonti Hasan, Hamilton High School; Adrian Laurenzi, Tucson High Magnet School; Smitha Ramakrishna, Coronoa del Sol High School

Teacher of the Year Award Winner:

• Kenneth Zeigler, Eagle Point School

About the Governor’s Celebration of Innovation

The Governor’s Celebration of Innovation was established in 2003 by combining two technology award ceremonies: the High Tech Industry Cluster’s 17-year Innovator of the Year awards ceremony and the Arizona Software and Internet Association’s 10-year “Celebration of Innovation.” With the addition of the Governor’s support, the Governor’s Celebration of Innovation has become the premier technology community gathering of its kind in Arizona. For more information on GCOI, please visit http://www.aztechcouncil.org.

About the Arizona Technology Council

The Arizona Technology Council is a private, not-for-profit trade association founded to connect, represent and support the state's expanding technology industry. To promote economic growth and professional development in Arizona's technology sector, the Council provides members networking opportunities, business support and access to educational forums. The Council strives to distinguish Arizona as a leader in the technology community and offer resources that are exclusive to its members. To become a member or to learn more about the Arizona Technology Council, please visit http://www.aztechcouncil.org.

About the Arizona Department of Commerce

Collaborating with economic development partners statewide, the Arizona Department of Commerce works to create jobs, expand the tax base, increase per capita income and promote a globally competitive business environment. The agency provides reliable information and research, community assistance, targeted business attraction and development coupled with strategic workforce development. Nationally and internationally, the Department of Commerce promotes Arizona assets: a growing, high-tech workforce; competitive operating environment; easy access to major markets; affordable, available real estate; reliable utilities; abundant natural resources and an unmatched quality of life. For more information, visit www.azcommerce.com.