TECNA Announces Winners for Annual Innovation Awards: OhioX a winner

Pittsburgh, Pa., (July 22, 2021) — The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), which represents approximately 60 technology associations across the U.S. and Canada, announced the winners of its third-annual Innovation Awards. The awards program recognizes and honors tech council staff and teams who are integral to developing and implementing innovative and impactful work on behalf of a tech association. The 2021 Innovation Awards can be viewed on TECNA’s YouTube Channel.

“This year’s nominees for the TECNA Innovation Awards showcase great examples of extraordinarily talented people working inside the organizations supporting North America’s technology industry,” said Ryan Weber, TECNA Board Chair and President & CEO of KC Tech Council. “It is a privilege to recognize this year’s award winners and all of the nominees who showcased the innovative and creative programs Tech Councils provide to our industry and their communities.”

The TECNA Innovation Awards celebrates seven award winners along with seventeen finalists. A panel of judges was formed to evaluate the nominations, and awards were presented online in a virtual awards presentation by TECNA Awards Co-Chairs Cara Turano from Technology Association of Oregon, and Doug Robertson, from Venn Innovation in New Brunswick.

“The staff at TECNA member associations are so passionate and committed to serving their member companies and have truly gone above and beyond this year,” said Jennifer G. Young, CEO of TECNA. “It’s really exciting to be able to celebrate their creativity and success especially when so much of their work is dedicated to the success of their member companies.”

Full list of 2021 Innovation Awards winners and finalists:

Innovation in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - recognizing team members who have developed innovative initiatives in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

• Winner - MassTLC - Team Members: Tom Hopcroft, Sara Fraim and Ruth Morris

• Finalist – MKE Tech Hub Coalition – Team Member: Aaron Davis

• Finalist – Technology Association of Oregon – Team Members: Justin Martinez, Ruthie Ditzler

• Finalist – VIATEC – Team Members: Dan Gunn, Rob Bennett, Michelle Gaetz, Georgia Cowell, Tesa Bousfield, Dominic Ohl, Eve Olynyk, Lindsay Richmond, Paula Parker, Shelley Voyer

Creative Marketing & Communications - recognizing team members who developed innovative marketing, communications or social media strategies strengthening the brand and community engagement of the tech council.

• Winner - OhioX - Team Members: Chris Berry, Jeff Leo Herrmann

• Finalist – Arizona Technology Council – Team Members: Steven Zylstra, Jill Brownley, Don Rodriguez, Alec Robertson, Linda Capcara

• Finalist – Massachusetts Technology & Leadership Council – Team Members: Tom Hopcroft, Kristen Keane, Mackenzie LaBert, Ruth Morris

Public Policy Advocacy - recognizing team members who have led creative efforts on behalf the tech council in the area of public policy advocacy.

• Winner – Arizona Technology Council – Team Members: Dianne McCallister, Jason Bagley, Rachel Aja, Doran Miller, Jill Brownley, Steve Zylstra

Talent Pipeline and Workforce Development - recognizing team members who have developed innovative workforce or talent pipeline initiatives.

• Winner – TechPoint – Team Members: Mike Langellier, Lauren Petersen, Jennifer Merrell, Roger Shuman, Jordan Isaacs, Joshua Hall, Cheryl Reed, Merillat Flowers, Al Carroll, Kat Locascio, Joe Perin, Anna Rauh

• Finalist – MKE Tech Hub Coalition – Team Member: Laura Schmidt

• Finalist – PACT – Team Member: Jennifer Cohen

Major Impact on Tech Community - recognizing team members who have made a substantial impact on the tech community on behalf of the tech council.

• Winner - Technology Association of Oregon – Team Member: Cara Turano

Innovative Member & Client Services – recognizing team members who implemented innovative work or projects that creatively recruited or retained council members and/or clients beyond normal daily operations and events to recruit or retain member clients.

• Winner – Venn Innovation – Team Members: Alicia Grayeb, Norbert Demps

• Finalist – Technology Association of Oregon - Team Members: Skip Newberry, Cara Turano

Innovative Virtual Events – recognizing team members who have developed an innovative virtual event.

• Winner – KC Tech Council – Team Members: Kara Lowe, Alexa Chmieleski, Ryan Weber, Haley Regan, Erin Christensen

• Finalist – Massachusetts Technology & Leadership Council - Team Members: Tom Hopcroft, Nayla Daly

• Finalist – TechPoint – Team Members: Mike Langellier, Lauren Petersen, Jennifer Merrell, Roger Shuman, Jordan Isaacs, Joshua Hall, Cheryl Reed, Merillat Flowers, Al Carroll, Kat Locascio, Joe Perin, Anna Rauh,

• Finalist – WEtech Alliance – Team Member: Adam Castle

About TECNA
The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) represents approximately 60 IT and Technology trade organizations that, in turn, represent more than 22,000 technology-related companies in North America. TECNA serves its members and the industry through its strong peer-to-peer network and its regional initiatives to raise the visibility and viability of the technology industry. This is accomplished by empowering regional technology organizations and serving as their collective voice in growing the North American technology economy. More information on TECNA can be found at: www.tecna.org or @techcouncils on Twitter.