TCM News

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Michelle Ferrone
Tech Council of Maryland
240.243.4047

Tech Council of Maryland Announces Winners
of the 20th Annual Dinner & Tech Awards Celebration

ROCKVILLE, Md (May 16, 2008) – The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) announced the winners of its 20th Annual Dinner & Tech Awards Celebration last night in front of a sold out audience of technology professionals, legislators, educators and other VIPs including Governor Martin O’Malley at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Each year TCM recognizes the outstanding work and achievements of area companies and individuals that are helping Maryland become the nation’s leading technology State.

TCM Annual Dinner & Tech Awards Celebration brings together the best and brightest of Maryland’s IT and Biotechnology sectors making it Maryland’s Best Night of Networking. This year’s dinner was enjoyed by over 850 attendees with over 60% being C-Level Executives. The number of companies competing for awards in five categories was 47 percent higher than last year.

“I want to congratulate our winners and personally thank every attendee, many of whom worked diligently to help us defeat the Computer Services Sales Tax,” said Julie Coons, TCM Chief Executive Officer. “This year marked the 20th anniversary of these awards and it was a celebration of the repeal of the Tech Tax led by the Governor himself.”

Governor Martin O’Malley thanked TCM members for their measured and visionary approach to lobbying against the Computer Services Sales Tax. “The Tech Council of Maryland led the effort to get this tax repealed and did so by explaining how it would impact the future of Maryland. That was visionary thinking and it made the difference,” said Governor O’Malley.

When the awards were handed out, the following companies walked away with the 20th Annual Awards:

  • Biotechnology Firm of the Year: Vanda Pharmaceuticals
  • Emerging Company of the Year: Sanaria
  • Executive of the Year: Steve Mayer, CoGenesys
  • Government Contracting Firm of the Year: Aquilent, Inc.
  • High Tech Firm of the Year: Hughes Communications, Inc.

Citi Bank was the Platinum sponsor for the night and Patricia Lenahan, Maryland/DC/Virginia Marketplace Manager Commercial Banking said, “This is a great organization and was a wonderful event. And we’re especially proud to help celebrate the Council’s 20-year anniversary last night. Congratulations to the Tech Councill, all nominees, finalists and especially the Award Winners.”

The event is sponsored by:

  • Platinum Sponsor: CitiBank
  • Award Sponsors: Human Genome Sciences, MedImmune, PNC Bank, SC&H Group, Scheer Partners, TEDCO
  • Gold Sponsors: Computech, Grant Thornton, IBM, Kenyon & Kenyon LLP, Lockheed Martin, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Thales Communication, University of Maryland Bio Park
  • Silver Sponsors: Biotechnology Industry Organization, CNSI, Comcast, John Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus,Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, Montgomery College, Regent Education Incorporated, Social and Scientific Systems, Transwestern, Watkins, Meegans, Drury and Company
  • President’s Table Sponsor: Northrop Grumman
  • VIP Reception Sponsors: Appits, Gilbert Tweed Associates
  • Bronze Sponsors: Amgen, Deloitte & Touche, GenVec, Hughes Network Systems, IBiquity Digital Corporation, Intuitive Business Concepts, Marsh, Middlebrook Pharmaceuticals, Saul Ewing, Lore Internet Systems, M&T Bank, Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy & Ecker, UK Trade & Investment,Verizon

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ABOUT THE TECH COUNCIL OF MARYLAND
The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) is the largest technology trade serving the advanced technology and biotechnology communities of Maryland. TCM’s mission is to advocate for the interests of the technology community, further the role of technology in the Maryland economy, and nurture an environment where technology companies can collaborate, grow and succeed. For more information, visit www.techcouncilmd.com.