[Archived] Deadline Extended for Technology Award Nominations

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

PIO 012-04
For Immediate Release

Deadline Extended for Technology Achievement Award Nominations

The deadline for nominations for the 2004 Alexandria Technology Achievement Award has been extended to Friday, Jan. 23. Nominations are being sought from Alexandria-based companies that exemplify the exceptional development or use of innovative products, services or ideas. All innovative Alexandria- based companies including technology companies, associations, engineers, architects, consultants, retailers and non-profits are eligible for nomination. Companies can be nominated by their clients, customers or other businesses, or they may nominate themselves for the 2004 Technology Achievement Award. Nomination forms are available on line at www.alexchamber.com/ataa04.htm or by calling 703.549.1000, ext. 210.

The City of Alexandria joined the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Inc. (AEDP), for the eighth year in sponsoring the 2004 Alexandria Technology Achievement Award. The 2004 Alexandria Technology Achievement Award will be presented during Alexandria Technology Achievement Week, March 15 - 19, part of the week-long program celebrating innovation in the City's technology and information-based economy.

A blue ribbon panel of technology industry experts will review the nominations and select the finalists, which will be announced in February. The winner of the 2004 Alexandria Technology Achievement Award will be announced at an awards luncheon on Friday, March 19. Mayor Euille and the Chairman of the Commission on Information Technology will present the Technology Achievement Award to the winning company. All the finalists will be featured in a video produced by the production team at T.C. Williams High School.

Alexandria Technology Achievement Week and the Alexandria Technology Achievement Award are sponsored by the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Inc. The award originated in 1997 with the Ad Hoc Task Force on Information and Communication Technologies, which has been succeeded by the Commission on Information Technology. The Commission is comprised of members of the Alexandria City School Board, the Chamber of Commerce, the Library Board, City telecommunications providers, citizens, Vice Mayor Del Pepper and Councilman Rob Krupicka.

The winner of the 2003 Technology Achievement Award was BriarTek, Inc. (www.briartek.com), which developed and patented a maritime survivor locating beacon used as a man-overboard alarm, receiver and direction finder known as the Overboard Recovery Communications Apparatus (ORCA). The ORCA system consists of a beacon worn by sailors while at sea, a receiver that alerts crew members and rescue authorities in the event of an emergency, and a directional finder that helps locate the individual in need of assistance. The technology is currently being used by the Sandy Hook Harbor Pilots and the United States Navy and is also being applied to industrial safety alarms, firefighter locating beacons, and wildlife tracking tags. The 2003 Technology Award finalists included BriarTek, Inc., Relatable, Inc. (www.relatable.com), and The Templar Corporation, www.templarcorp.com.

Technology Achievement Week and the 2004 Award are part of the City's efforts to promote Alexandria, which is home to more than 350 technology firms employing an estimated 12,750 workers, as a location for technology companies.

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