ANNAPOLIS, MD – Nov. 7, 2007– The Anne Arundel Tech Council honored six area companies and tech leaders last night at its 3rd Annual TechAwards program.  Nearly 250 technology executives and leaders filled the Loews Annapolis Hotel as the AATC unveiled the winners.

Created by the AATC, a non-profit organization providing resources and education to regional technology companies, the awards recognized innovation and leadership in county technology firms.

Award winners were chosen by a 10-member selection committee after a rigorous two-month nomination and blind selection process. Top nominees in four categories vied for the top honor last night. Two other awards were appointed.

Awards and winners were:

• Good Chip Award: Carematic Systems Inc. is in the process of revolutionizing the lives of adults with developmental disabilities with its proprietary software. Its online software system reduces paperwork and errors, ultimately leading to a better quality of care for adults in assisted living facilities and beyond. Caretakers are able to track progress toward individual goals and, ultimately, spend more time with community members. Founded in 2005, Carematic is implemented in five facilities serving more than 1,000 individuals with plans to expand in the Maryland-DC-Virginia region over coming months. www.carematic.com

• Tech Service Award: NMR Consulting counts an 11 year history in Anne Arundel County, one that’s witnessed the IT services company’s growth to 95 employees. Its compete IT systems and solutions services – providing everything from storage to data to software - and its consistent revenue growth has landed NMR on the Fast 50 and Inc. 500 lists for several years. NMR Consulting has never lost a customer, the epitome of a successful tech service company. www.nmrconsulting.com

• Innovator Award: RXNT is revolutionizing healthcare today with its automatic prescription system. Several thousand physicians have signed up and generated more than seven million prescriptions through the service, which also has created cost efficiencies and gained the interest of the insurance industry. RxNT is an example of how successful alliances and strategic relationships can create an award-winning company. An SBA loan through the county’s economic development office provided the company important start-up resources that enabled it to sign on a core group of physicians and hospitals. www.rxnt.com

• Tech Company of the Year: Force 3 has easily become a long-standing force in Anne Arundel County, posting ever-increasing revenue and growing to some 300 employees. The company provides unified communication networks, network management, help desk and application support to mostly government customers throughout the US. However an expansion into the commercial market in 2006 has helped push the company’s revenues up thirty two percent over last year. Force 3 donates thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to area non-profits and, ultimately, betters the entire Tri-metro region. www.force3.com

The Anne Arundel Tech Council also honored Legend’s Circle inductees last night. The Legends Circle awards honor a technology company or executive in Anne Arundel County can receive. These winners are the stalwarts of the local community. Inducted into the Legend’s Circle this year were:

• John Belcher, CEO of ARINC was named the Legend’s Circle Individual honoree for his untiring passion in building ARINC in to a technology force to be reckoned with, but also as a strong proponent for the entire community in Anne Arundel County. Under his leadership, ARINC sponsors dozens of community initiatives that enhance the county’s quality of life, and has long supported the local technology community.

• Northrop Grumman was named the Legend’s Circle Company honoree for its long-standing presence, success and contribution to the local community over the past several decades that it’s operated from Anne Arundel County. Northrop Grumman counts thousands of employees, billions in revenues and a community coffer that’s fed dozens of programs and non-profits over dozens of years: Combine that with the company’s long-standing status as government contractor revolutionizing the armed forces and beyond, as well as the millions of dollars the company pumps in to the local economy and, with 7,500 employees, its role as the county’s largest private employer, and you have the makings of a Legend of Anne Arundel County

This is the third year for the annual TechAwards, an event made possible by the sponsors. We’d like to thank our Awards Sponsors: Take One Digital Media, The Pomerantz Agency, Presentation Media, Sidus Group, Maryland DBED, South River Technologies, TEDCO, Whiteford Taylor and Preston, Chris O Communications, Irving & Prass , BeCrypt, CBay Systems, SECU Credit Union, MavenLogic, Fiber Plus, Safe and Secure TV Channel

About the CRTC

Founded in 1992, formerly the Anne Arundel Tech Council, the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council is dedicated to supporting the area’s growing technology industry with events, symposiums, educational seminars and other various programs and events all designed to foster an exchange of ideas from the county’s vibrant tech industry. Some 225 businesses from the Annapolis/Baltimore/Washington D.C. tri-metro area are members of the council, including many of the area’s well-known leading technology companies. More info is at www.chesapeaketech.org.

For further information:
Laura Willoughby

Executive Director, Anne Arundel Tech Council

410-222-7410 ext 124