Chesapeake Regional Tech Council Announces Annual TechAwards Call for Nominations 

Annapolis, MD – December 2, 2009 – The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council (CRTC) is now accepting nominations for its prestigious 5th Annual TechAwards 2010: Race to Renewal, a celebration of technology excellence in the Chesapeake region that recognizes outstanding achievements in the areas of innovation, strategic growth, customer service and stewardship.

The awards are open to companies operating in the Annapolis/ Washington/ Baltimore region. Nominations will be accepted through January 15th, 2010, and interested parties can review criteria and submit nominations online at www.chesapeaketech.org/techawards.

Winners will be announced at the 5th Annual TechAwards 2010: Race to Renewal celebration, to be held March 25th, 2010 from 6 to 9 pm at the Westin Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis, MD.

Past winners have included a wide range of companies, from innovative start-ups to well-known industry leaders. Finalists gain high visibility in the region through pre- and post-event marketing and publicity.

Following is a summary of the award categories for 2010:

•    The Innovator Award is given to a company that best exemplifies the entrepreneurship and innovative style it takes to keep the technology industry cutting-edge and forward-moving.

•    The Tech Company of the Year Award is handed to the area tech company that has proved its dedication, vision and ability to make things happen by working with a sustained, strategic business plan that has enabled it to steadily grow into a player in the area's tech industry.

•    The Tech Services Award was created because some of the best tech companies around are service-focused. This award honors a company whose core mission is focused on providing a service in any tech-related industry. They are the unsung heroes of the tech community, providing the fundamental basis of continued tech growth.

•    The Good Chip Award recognizes an individual or company that shows a social responsibility towards a cause such as saving the environment (green tech development), developing a technology to better the life of an individual or group (bio pharm or software systems for developmentally disabled adults) and/or growing the region’s pipeline of tech talent (STEM education/workforce development).

About the CRTC

The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council (CRTC) is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to supporting and enriching the area’s growing technology industry. Originally founded in 1992 as the Anne Arundel Tech Council, the CRTC offers events, symposiums, educational seminars and other programs designed to foster an exchange of ideas, expertise and business partnership opportunities from the region’s vibrant tech industry. More than 230 businesses from the Annapolis/ Washington/ Baltimore region are members of the Council, including many of the area’s well-known leading technology companies. More information is available at www.chesapeaketech.org.

Media Contact:

Kris Valerio

Executive Director, Chesapeake Regional Tech Council

410-222-7410 ext 124

kris@chesapeaketech.org